New Years 2017

For New Years we were in GR this year. I was able to see both my brothers with their families. That was fun. Then for New Years my sisters hubby surprised her and showed up. We had so much fun eating, playing games, laughing, and watching the count down. We played a ton of minute-to-win it games and had a great time. 

Isabel shared a Spain tradition that on New Years you eat 12 grapes, the 12 seconds before the New Year. You have to shove them in and eat as fast as you can. Doing this brings you good luck. That was fun to do. 

Before the New Year we went swimming, and ice-skating with all the kids. It was a good day to get out of the house. We packed a lunch and ate at the rec center too. The kids thought that was fantastic. 

My dad took up light looking and one house was all decked out. It played to music, and had all sorts of things to look at. 

Family, gotta love them! 

Christmas

I'll try to go through Christmas without the picture overhaul. Like I said in my last post, I have loved this Christmas season and Christmas did not disappoint. We made a lot of our food Christmas Eve, the kids cleaned the fish tank, and Lil gave us our surprise gift. We did our traditional PJ's and books. Then we read and acted out the story of Jesus' birth. Oh, and we finally got our Father Christmas put up on our tree. 

Christmas morning was like most. A few kids woke up early and watched cartoons while waiting for the rest to wake up. Then we came down and enjoyed opening our gifts. 

It was a Christmas miracle to have a white Christmas. But we did. In fact, the roads were so icy RB grabbed his ice-skates and had a great time before church. Luckily we made it to church on time, since we were the first family to sing on the program. 

After, the family all came over to our home for dinner. We had a good time, and I'm glad they were all able to make it with the crummy roads. 

The next day we went sledding and had a blast. 

Another successful year. Love my family!

December

The Christmas season can be so hectic. Some years I have a hard time feeling the spirit of Christ in Christmas. Not this year. We followed the churches #LIGHTtheWORLD calendar and every day we watched a short video and talked about what we could do to follow that teachings of Jesus. Then we talked about what we did. Some days were as simple as watching a video, and others we went and did things. But I LOVED this holiday season this year. I felt I was focused on the right things and was helping my kids focus on Christ as well. So here are a few of the things we did leading up to Christmas. 

The ward party. I visited with a lot of people this night. Got out of my comfort zone and talked to many new and old faces. Plus the kids had fun going around to the various activities. Buddy Boy had Itty Bitty Basketball and so he only made it to the dinner with daddy. 

The days are long when you are playing so hard. :) 

One of the #LIGHTtheWORLD days was visit the nursing home. So we got a group together and went caroling. We also handed out pillow cases to them that the middle school kids had made. It was a great activity. We sang Silent Night to one man and his kids. His wife was "on her way out" as he put it. He cried. I cried. It really reminds you of what is important having experiences like that. 

Make-up time. 

Sugar cookies. 

Shopping and an Aggie game. 

My cute brother-&-sister-in-law!

MJ's FHE with a Minecraft tree. 

Watching the city lights.

Talking with the parents. The Em-A-Nator LOVES to FaceTime. She even says "phone." She gets so excited and smiles ear to ear. 

Have a great day everyone!