a few more Decemember moments...

We discovered Waffle Crush and what a wonderful discovery it was!

It was part of our advent activities and it will be a repeat :) 

 

Another advent activity was to put a list together of all the titles or words we use to refer to Jesus Christ.  Then we each chose one and used our Sunday down time to study up on it.  We came together at the end of the day and shared what we had learned.

It was a wonderful way to end our last Sunday of December. 

Brent's Priest Quorum got together to finish up the 12 days of Christmas for a couple of their buddies.

I love to see these young men taking care of one another. 

 

Tiger boy and Wolf boy bring a lot of personality to the group!

 

Our celebration with the Slade family is always a favorite tradition!

Megan and Luis added little man Slade to the lineup of darling babies and he's just too much!

Cooper is so good with the tiny ones.  Here are the cuties reading about visions of sugarplums or maybe it was trucks.

And Kristi added baby Emerson. A sweet little angel with curls like her brother :)  One of the best parts of having Kristi and Megan in my life is that although we believe differently in some matters it never interferes with our love for each other.  I honestly laugh with these girls so much it hurts!


 

Goodness.  No words to describe how much I love this family.

Dave and Maggie are truly some of my most favorite people.

When Maggie hugs me and kisses my cheek, I'm pretty darn sure my mom's love is wrapped around me too.  It's sweet, safe and comfortable. Perfect.

Finishing out the break on a bike ride with my boys.

Although I often wish for snow during Christmas,

it's gorgeous days like this one that make it absolutely okay that there's not.

December happenings in fast forward...

He had a birthday ~ Shout hooray!

Davis turned 15. 

He is now sporting a cool looking leather jacket and

trying his hand at shot put and discus on the track field.

He rocks.

 

Hannah came to visit for a week.

Maddie needed some girlfriend time.

I only wish her momma could have joined her!

 

I was happy that my phone camera was able to capture the beauty of the reflection pool at the temple Christmas lights.

 

This girl finished up her first semester of college...

being named on the Principal's List.

She rocks too.

 

We found our Christmas tree!

 

Hot chocolate weather set in!

Mmmmm.....

 

We had a lovely Christmas together.

My absolutely favorite part is having my kids all to myself.

 

 

Choosing a garden to tend...

It's been long enough that I can't actually remember the last time we took our Thanksgiving holiday on the road.

But this particular year our youngest nephew/cousin on the Brown side was set to be baptized on Thanksgiving Day.

 

Traveling long distances with my three kiddos is so much easier now.

Gone are the days of car seats, sippy cups, blankies, binkies and reaching my arm into the back seats in the most obscure ways to satisfy the tiny travelers with fishy crackers and fruit snacks. Now they pacify themselves with naps, music, movies and good 'ol conversation.  (It's true we have to intervene as referees on occasion here) But for the most part it's smooth sailing.

 

 

I'm definitely the most restless of the passengers now but my awesome driver keeps me happy with m&m's and hand holding.

 

We made it to Peter's baptism by the skin of our teeth, screeching in on two wheels.  WHEW!

 

But I love to get these cousins together.

It really is fun to see these guys interact and play and hang out and enjoy their family. It's my favorite!

Brent's little sister and her husband were the hostesses with the most-esses.

It was great to be in the kitchen with my sisters in law and chat and catch up and laugh as we put the finishing touches on our Thanksgiving feast. The food was plentiful and delicious but I must say it was a beautiful thing to combine the sweetness and the importance of the baptism with the deep feeling of gratitude that fills the heart on Thanksgiving day.

 

I found this something significant to ponder...

 

"Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend.  When we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that is present - love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us happiness - the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth." (Sarah Ban Breathnach)  

 

When I look at these three blessings I choose to tend more carefully to THIS secret garden.  Along with my sweetheart, they are the abundance in my life.

They are my heaven on earth.

(at the LA temple grounds)

 

 

 

 

And the temples make it possible for the gardens of this earthly life to continue to flourish eternally.

Already January?? Playing catch up...again!

In mid November we did a little holiday shopping.

It was a beautiful day in our sunny little town and the boys agreed to come along for the sunshine.

 

I took a detour into Charming Charlie and the guys decided they would rather wait outside and people watch.  When I emerged from Charlie's Charming grasp I found my Davis had made a fast friend.

 

This is Hank.

He told Davis every possible exaggerated tale of traveling across the U.S. in an RV and the glory of living the retired life.  He was a fun character and Davis polite enough to indulge him.

 

Meanwhile, Brent had made a quiet purchase while I was only a few necklaces, scarves, earrings and bracelets away from him.

 

This was sitting on my pillow at bedtime that night.

 

I'm really in love with this guy!

Flag football CHAMPS!

Now here is some football I can totally handle!



Cooper's team went undefeated this year and Brent even got to coach the championship game (by default as the real coach was out of town).

 

 

 

From baseball, to football and in a few weeks it's on to basketball.
He is our real life Energizer bunny!

Somewhere we squeezed in Halloween...

Dressing up is going by the way side for this 'too cool for school' teenager but he did fully participate in his school Spirit Week.

This is Throwback Thursday.

 

Cooper decided that dressing up was worth it to get the stash of candy.
He took the easy way out and only had to look as far as his sports drawer for something to wear.  I didn't have to lift a finger.  At this point in my life, I like not lifting my finger.
 

Brent worked his carving skills on this masterpiece...
 

And Cooper got his stash!

I'd say it was a Happy Halloween.

Watching him play has been really great! REALLY!!

 

 

 

 

And suddenly I have a new favorite number!
#55 or Double Nickels (as we call it) has a nice ring to it : )

Davis finished up his first season of football and although his team wasn't very successful...

INDIVIDUALLY HE WAS!

And this smile tells us how he felt about it.

 

 

G O   H A W K S!

Four years seems too long...

Me and mom on a Lake Powell boat tour.
Back when mom was hip I was her sidekick.

Thinking of you and how absolutely blessed I am to be your daughter.

Missing you still.
Loving you always.

Back when...

 

My two big brothers.
Bookends to their little sister.
I'm feeling nostalgic and grateful and very blessed.

Brotherly L O V E...

Dave, Jim, me and Craig
 

I have three really wonderful brothers.

I have been loved by them, teased by them and protected by them for as long as I can remember.  Even back in elementary school I can clearly recall the day that Jim threatened to hunt down the boy that made fun of my hair-do walking home from school one day.

My brothers are awesome like that.

Today is Jim's birthday.

H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y
big brother!
Thanks for taking on all that arises with Dad.
I know it's more than we will ever know and that your efforts might go unseen but I'm forever grateful for your strength and service.

I love you 17.
Love, Sis