Christmas

We had a wonderful month celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and trying to emulate his life by doing little things all month long to be more like him. We put up our light the world tree again and every time the kids do something Christlike or an act of service they get to put up a star. It always brings such a wonderful spirit in our home and helps to balance out all the crazy with what seems like nonstop things going on during the month. 

On Christmas Eve we decided to try a new tradition my friend told me their family does. It's a box they get to open on Christmas Eve filled with fun things to do that night like watching a Christmas movie, reading a book, popping some popcorn, a game and just fun stuff like that. The kids thought it was fun!

Then of course in there is a pair of jammies for everyone because you can't have Christmas Eve without new jammies haha

Christmas Eve candlelight Dinner- Ham and cheesy potatoes of course!

Gotta love the matching jammies. So much fun!

Christmas Morning!!

Jay's excitement over a lego set

We had the kids pick names again this year. So other than stuff from Santa they just get the one gift from someone in the family. The kids always love picking out and gifting their present. We didn't have the time and energy this year to do the homemade ones like last year. But it was still a ton of fun.

The one present Scott really really wanted....a soft cuddly blanket! So adorable!

Scott tricked Hailey and put weights in his present so she wouldn't guess what it was. What a stinker! You can tell Hailey wasn't quite as amused as he was. Ha!

I always love after the presents are opened and we stay down in the basement all day building legos, watching new movies, playing new games and just spending time together. It's the best.

We plan to spend our Christmas Break skiing our hearts out. Should be fun!

Ski Trips

Skiing is our family favorite pass-time. I really hate the cold and how long the winters are here, but skiing has helped tremendously pass the time. And watching the kids churn the slopes makes my mama heart so so happy! Here's some pics from the start of the season, but I'm sure there will be plenty more to come! ha! 

Check out this fog! It was so crazy! This is another reason why skiing is so nice where we live. (Even though it is SO cold!!!) We get a lot of inversions because we live in a Valley surrounded by mountains. So the bad weather comes in and sits in the valley. But when you go skiing you get out of the yucky weather to blue skis. Most days, anyways ;)

Lunchtime on the tailgate! 

Another successful ski day. Love how all the kids pass out on the drive home. So sweet.

Scott's 14th Birthday!!

Scott turned 14! Where does all the time go that this guy is 14 now? He's looking all grown up and only has about an inch to go before he's as tall as me.

For his birthday present he really wanted some skis of his own. Skiing is one of Scott's all time favorite things to do. He was so excited about having his own set!

His day was pretty simple since he had school. I went and decorated his locker the afternoon before to surprise him, he asked for his favorite breakfast burritos for breakfast, and then I went and picked up jimmy johns for him and his best friend David and brought it to the school for them. I usually take them out on their birthdays, but he thought that would be fun to get it delivered and boy were they excited! His friend David couldn't stop grinning "We've been waiting all day for this!" So cute!

Then he wanted beef sammies for dinner. He also had a Court of Honor for scouts on the same night, and he earned his Life Rank so that was a fun birthday addition! Then home for carrot cake and presents!

Opening up presents

These two melt my heart. They love each other so much. Hailey is so sad that Scott is heading off to highschool without her next year. She will miss him in middle school for sure. 

Scott is the best firstborn. He protects his siblings, loves them all so much, and is such a great example to them too. (Don't worry he also loves to pester and push their buttons, I didn't say he was perfect). He works so hard in school and has been on the honor roll all his trimesters in middle school, as well as getting Academic Excellence every year which is a 4.0 GPA in all classes, all trimesters. He's one smart cookie. He's still shredding up the slopes all winter long, and has been doing the rock climbing after school program for 3 years now. In scouting, he just earned his LIFE rank which is just before Eagle. Since our church is splitting from boyscouts, we found him a nondenominational troop that he is super excited to join! He starts up with them in January. 

Scott is just a great kid! We love him so so much! Happy Birthday Handsome Boy!