Christmas

We had a wonderful christmas, we had many splendid memories. On christmas eve we were suppose to go to my husband's Grandma's house for their Christmas eve party, but unfortunatley, she had sugery and then ended up having a stroke a few days after so she spent Christmas in the hospital so we didn't do a Christmas Eve party, so we decided to stay home and make some christmas memories and traditions of our own. We had a fun filled activity day on Christmas Eve and here are the results. (above) Here are the kids in their Christmas church attire... I love these kids!!

This is Davis and I making a gingerbread house on Christmas Eve Day. The first time I have ever done that... very time consuming. But it was fun.

This is what Adie was doing while we were doing all these fun activities... she is such an explorer. (sorry picture is turned sideways)

These are the cookies we made for Santa... can you tell Davis was a big helper?

We went to the Ogden's Christmas on 25th street light show and walked around and looked at the lights and all the different little villages they had.... Davis loved the big lite up train.

When we got home, we opened up our Christmas Eve pajamas and watched 'How the Grinch stole Christmas'.... half way into the movie... this was Davis. They are so cute when they are sleeping...

Christmas morning... Davis LOVED his basketball hoop.... this is him jumping and saying 'yeah!' after making a basket, we might have a pro on our hands.

And last but not least... Adie with her little doll and stroller, she loves this thing and pushes it all over the house.

We had a wonderful day at home. We enjoyed it snowing because it made it feel more like christmas. I am so greateful for the Christmas Season to help us reflect on the wonderful birth of Christ and and the many sacrifices he has gone through for us so we can live with our families for eternity.

Dear Santa...I want...

So I went to a Christmas party at my Sister's
house and Davis and Adie finally got to see Santa!! As you can see.... Adie was not very happy, she started crying right when I took her up to him, one look at him and she knew she didin't want to get close. But of course you have to get pictures of with Santa every year!! It's what we do! And I was expecting Davis to cry too like he did the past 2 years. But this year he would sit on his lap but he didn't look at him once, I helped him sit on Santa's lap but when Santa was talking to him he wouldn't even look at him. I had to tell Santa what Davis wanted becasue Davis was to scared to say, so once I said "Davis did you want to ask Santa to bring you a basketball hoop?" Davis said " Yes" and then I took a picture and he was done. I am impressed though he didn't cry. So I was pleased that he is growing out of those kinds of things so it's more fun for him to enjoy. I am so excited for this year just because Davis is getting more into the Christmas spirit. It's fun to share Christmas with your kids, and I am really excited for the years to come, but enjoying the moment of it now.

Sweet moment

Things my son says are beyond me, but when it comes to tender moments... he totally melts my heart! The other day I was having a rough day and I just couldn't compose my self any longer, so I let the waterworks run and I sat down in my chair in the living room where the kids were playing and just sobbed. Davis was talking to me about his cars and trucks, he looks at me mid sentence and he comes and sits on my lap and says:

Davis: Mommy what's wrong? What's the matter? (He starts wiping my tears away)
Me: Mom's is sad
Davis: Mom you hurt?
Me: Yes a little bit
Davis: You hurt right here? ( pointing to my heart)
Me: Yes mommy's heart hurts a little bit
Davis: (Kisses my heart) You need a bandaid?

That kind of moment was so sweet to me. It helps me understand that even though they are small, they do notice grown ups and the things they do and their feelings. It makes me happy that he has a such a sweet spirit he was trying to heal my heart.

Needless to say, he made my day a lot better!!

Finally!

Finally!!! I have a potty trained child!! I thought this was NEVER going to happen! Davis finally decided to be a big boy and didn't want to wear diapers anymore and starting using the potty on his very own. He woke up one morning brought me his potty chair and said... 'look mom!' He had gone in the potty! We have been trying to get him potty trained since spring... and my goal was by christmas, but we never pushed him to really go because we didn't want to discourage him. Davis is in love with cars and trucks, so we decided to go to the store and buy a million hot wheels cars so whenever he would go potty, he would get a new car. And he really wanted this Mack Transporter truck and we told him that we would get that for him if he learned to wear big boy underwear and go in the potty, we would give it to him. Let me tell you, we tried stickers, and treats and all kinds of things, but this seemed to do the trick... he was trained in a week!! And guess what? No accidents....yet.

When he had gone in the potty for at least 3 days with no accidents, he would get this toy. I gotta tell you, the look on his face when he knows he has achieved something was amazing for me to see. He was so happy and felt very proud of himself. And the look on his face when we gave him this truck.... priceless. You can see in this picture how he's beeming with pride!! These are the times I remember how much I love being a Mom!!!

Thanksgiving

I was just going to drop a quick post about our Thanksgiving. We went to my mom's this year and had a great time. All of the family was there. The kids had fun playing with eachother. Davis loves it when we go to my mom's cause he has cousins to play with there!! So he always has a ball playing on the trampoline and the slide and swings. He loves his cousin Philip and will follow him everywhere he goes!! Philip is great kid and I love him dearly! Adie had fun chowing down everything we gave to her and then Davis had a great time not eating a bite!!! I don't know how that kids survives, is beyond me. And then I sent my husband and the kids home and went shopping at midnight at the Park City Oulets with my cousin and her boyfriend. We had tons of fun and it was jammed packed!!! I got a lot of great deals and can't wait for next year!!! I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving. I am now excited for christmas!!! Happy Holidays!!!

Gratitude and Blessings

With Thanksgiving and the Holidays coming up, I have been thinking alot about the blessings that I have overcome in my life. I am overwhelmed with the wonderful blessings that Heavenly Father has given me. When I hear things on the news or with things happening to people around me. I can't help but think of the overwhelming gratitude I have of my life. I can't think of anyone better to share my life with more than my husband and my children. Everytime I look at them, I always wonder "how did I get so lucky?" Everyone has trials in their life and we all take them differently and we all come out of it differently. And the trials I have had to overcome have become great blessings to me. A blessing particular I think of around the holidays especially is my son that I placed lovingly into another families arms. I know that is a trial I had to bear because it got me to where I am now. Placing him was something that I knew I had to do and I know Heavenly Father wouldn't let me down or let me fail because I know that I have blessed someone else's life because I gave them something they couldn't every have on their own. I believe I am here for that purpose. Every once in a while I go back and read letters that were sent to me from my special family and I know how happy they are and how grateful they are for what I have done and it always makes me feel so good to know that I have helped someone in a very special and rare way. I don't know where I would be right now if it weren't for my son. He has blessed my life in so many different ways. I haven't talked alot about this mainly because no one really has asked me about it. And it feels good to talk about it. I feel it's been bottled up for so long that i'm hiding it. I don't want to hide it because it is a huge part of my life that I am forever holding into my heart. And through this experience I want to thank all of my family for the love and support through this hard time, they are so amazing and I know that I couldn't have made it without them. I felt I needed to share this to anyone who feels like listening. I am grateful for Eternal Familes.

Updated photos (of the kids)

Well, these are updated photos of Davis and Adie. They were taken at the pre school my mother in law teaches at. The lady that does it is so great with the kids. Although it may not look it, but when Davis first sat down on the chair he kept his head down and he would not look up for the life of me. He was being so shy and was "trying" not to smile. But she was amazing and made him smile, and he is actually laughing in this picture which makes it even more like how Davis is. At one point Davis started picking his nose and she got a clear shot!!! It was hilarious I'm glad she didn't develope that one!!! And of course, Adie, she is so funny she wanted to play with the camera or eat her snacks, she had a snack in each hand just so we could get her to behave!!! Silly kids!! I sure love them to death though!