Provo firefighters still fighting tabernacle fire (Gallery Viewer)

The Provo tabernacle, the building that held my husband's graduation ceremony, burned down last weekend. It was a beautiful pioneer building from the 1800's. After the firefighters were able to go into the destroyed building they found this painting...

ksl.com - Provo firefighters still fighting tabernacle fire (Gallery Viewer)

What a beautiful reminder that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is always there; His light always giving hope amongst tragedy. I am so grateful, especially during this Christmas season, to know of our Savior's birth and perfect life. I am filled with gratitude that he willingly came into this world in the humblest of circumstances and descended below it all for each of us. As awful as losing this building is, what an incredible reminder of our Savior during this season of his birth.

More Christmas Magic

Day 8: Wrapped presents. Printed more cute Christmas tags from West Elm.

Day 9: Button wreath ornaments. {Thank you Kristen and Martha.} Not very festive colors but I was not making another trip to Michaels for buttons.Day 10: Ward Christmas Party. Caden was so excited to see Santa but as soon as he got up to his seat he was climbing Bryan like a tree to get away from him.Day 11: Burke Junction's Christmas train ride with Larsen's. Which somehow ended in a balloon sword fighting match.Day 12: Gifts to Jesus. I had read this idea on my friend Kami's blog and immediately wanted to do it. Apparently I got overly excited about it and didn't read the whole discription about giving your gift to Jesus on Christmas morning. Whoops, next year... This year we wrote down our gifts to him Sunday morning; They are now sitting under our tree with all the other gifts. I knew this would be a special activity but I didn't know how much the spirit would pour over our home as we wrote down the things we would be valiant in this year for our Savior. Caden was so excited as we wrote to Jesus. All on his own he said, "I go to nursery and sing songs for Jesus."
Day 13: Put together a snowman train that great-grandma bought Caden. He sat through 118 pieces. Miracle!
Day 14: Snowflakes.

My parents got 22 inches of real snowflakes Saturday. It made me homesick. Then they told me it was also 20 degrees below zero. Homesickness cured.Beginning of the day.End of the day.

My dad sent me a Christmas package and one of the items in it was a sweeeeet ornament with a picture of me from 2nd grade. I'm sure you all have one just like it. Bryan shows Caden and tells him this is mommy when she was little like you.

Caden's response: Nope, that not mommy. That's a pretty girl. A pretty skinny girl.

Wow. Merry Christmas.

{Happy Birthday to Lesley! Hope you are having a wonderful day!}

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

It's my very first Christmas without snow. Who knew it would bother me so much?!? As with most things you don't know what you've got til it's gone {...sing it with me} For me, snow has always been part of the magic of the Christmas season. Though you will not hear any complaints from me about being able to have my kids play outdoors in December, it is an adjustment as far as feeling the Christmas spirit goes. There is just something very weird about looking past your Christmas tree to lovely weather. Sun in December? Who knew that existed? It's throwing me off, so I've gone to extra lenghts this year to try and bring the Christmas spirit to our home.

I will also admit that I have been inspired by so many of my wonderful friends and all the amazing things they are doing this time of year. I've been doing one-ish Christmas themed activity per day with the boys. Here is what we've been up to:

December 1: Decorate the Tree
{This is normally the day after Thanksgiving but someone threw his back out...}

Read Llama Llama Holiday Drama

Day 2: Wreaths for the boys bedroom doors {inspired by Sutton Grace}. We also watched the classic Frosty the Snowman which has become Caden's favorite new show. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer has a scary monster in it that he has talked about nonstop since seeing it.

Day 3: Helping Great Grandma decorate her tree

and hanging our outside lights.

Day 4: Telling Caden about Santa and coloring pictures of him and his Elves.
Me: Caden, Santa only brings presents to good boys and girls that listen to their mommy's. Caden: OHHHHHHHHH, I be GOOD!!

Day 5: Making present tags. Don't judge, we all know I'm no artist.

Day 6: Yarn Trees {also inspired by Sutton Grace} and eating Candy Canes which carried over into day 7 because Bryan was unimpressed with a single tree. I'm still working on the ornaments.

Day 7: Putting up Candy Cane's on the deck.

Lots more Christmas goodness to come! :)

It was a big day at our house.

Bryan passed the Bar Exam!

I am Grateful to be a Mother.

My heart's desire was always to be a mother. In this season I am filled with gratitude that my prayers were answered. My life is pretty simple at the moment, but that doesn't belittle the magnitude of my blessings. These two have taught me how to be a mother; I am so grateful for them.
And to make this Thanksgiving time even more special, little Parky took his first steps!

Happy Halloween

Halloween is supposed to be fun. What kid doesn't love getting dressed up? Mine.

A friend let us borrow 3 adorable costumes for Caden to choose from: Robot, Dinosaur, and Hot Dog. We brought them over to the Grandparents house to try on. Caden Faaareaked out. He refused to put any of them on. And me being me, well...that wasn't going to fly. So you can picture me chasing him around the family room trying to pin one on him while he's throwing a major tantrum. Eventually I threw in the towel. Then Caden sees Makayla's old Cinderella shoes. Heaven help us. He puts them on and asks for a purse. Fantastic.

A few days later I coerced him into the dinosaur costume, with the promise of cookies and no wearing the head piece. Once we got it on he still threw a tantrum in the yard.
He got over it and wanted to show the goats his sweet costume. I take him down there and he starts roaring at them. I'm pretty sure, seeing as though I can now read goat's minds, they thought he was a little scary. This morning when I checked on the goats, I found them down at the very edge of our property next to the fence mmmahhhhhing at the neighbors newest additions. Apparently you can rent goats here in the country {love to know what that business is called}. I'm talking 100's of goats people. There are more goats on my neighbors land than there is grass. ANYWAY, I'm pretty sure my goats are planning a get away with my neighbors rent-a-goats because Caden scared them yesterday. They've been mmmahhhing with the enemy's all day. I'm worried.

"Do Project!"

I found this cute free fall/halloween clipart from FinchFamilyGames and decided to make it a morning project for the boys. Caden picked which pictures he wanted {bat, scarecrow, and owl}, we printed them, spent the morning coloring, and then taped them in the window.

Apparently he had a good time yesterday because this morning he woke up and asked to do another project! I used the leaf from the same clipart to make a chain for around the window. As you can see, it's nothing special {at all} as far as decorations go. But it was fun to get the boys involved. They felt special, and admired their work for the rest of the morning.

Straight from the Mouth of Caden

I have been waiting impatiently for the day that Caden would start saying funny things. I've looked forward to the this day since he was born really. Boy, let me tell you it was worth the wait...

We are leaving the house and I see that Caden brought one of my old cell phones.

Me: Oh, good. You grabbed your phone. You'll definitely need that.

Caden: Yeah, I got my phone. My cell phone. Examines me. Oh! I forgot my purse.

Runs back to the house. Bryan is left behind in disgust.

****

Caden's in my bathroom trying on my headbands while I do my hair.

Me: Headbands are for girls, not boys.

Caden: Headbands are for Caden, not boys.

****

We are driving home from Target, and a car goes by us.

Caden: Honk horn mommy.

Driving around too much with dad huh?

****

Caden's favorite place to play is in his closet and its best if Parker is with him whether Parker wants to be or not.

Caden: Come on, come on. Hurry. {waits} Follow me broder Parker. I help him.

Shoves him face first into the closet, and slams the door behind him.

Me: Hey! Is Parker okay?

Caden: Yeah. We playin'.

Parker: Bawling.

I open the closet door.

Caden: Hey, you go away. We playin'.

****

Caden: Water peeze. I do it. Take lid off.

I take the lid off and let him fill it at the fridge.

Caden: Ice too.

I put the lid back on.

Caden: That disgusting.

Spits it out.

Caden: I gotta clean this mess.

Comes out of the laundry room with the swiffer and some vacuum attachments.

****

I'm eating a peice of cake and Caden see's it. He crawls under the blanket with me.

Caden: Um, one bite, peeze.

Me: Okay, you can have one bite.

I give him a bite.

Caden: One bite. One more peeze.

Me: One more.

Caden: Okay, just one more. Um, I just do it.

Takes the fork out of my hands and eats my cake.

Me: Do you plan on sharing that?

Caden: Sure mom!!

Little Buddies.

Parker and Caden have started playing together. I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope that having my kids this close in age would make them best friends. My brother and I were 2 years apart and we did EVERYTHING together when we were little. To see my boys playing together brings me joy. It makes those hard days {when you feel like all you did was change diapers, and feed mouths, clean up messes, and carry little people on your hip} completely worth it. They started their own rock band. Parker totally has the rocker look down.Things aren't always perfect. {Like when Toy Story toys come out. Caden makes his best effort to share, but ultimately decides that they are his special toys, thus piling them away from Parker's reach.} But most days they do really well!
And I swear Parker is always fully dressed at the beginning of the day but no matter what, he gets a mess on some article of clothing leaving him looking unloved. Oh well, he's a boy. It's what they do. :)