New Year’s Eve

Our peach tree-

I love her looking at Porter, like- “am I doing a good job?”

Got to take advantage of the doctor since we reached our deductible awhile back. Sydney was pulling at her ear and I wanted to make sure she didn’t have an ear infection. Today it’s free to check, tomorrow, probably a $160! And nope, no infection, but she loved the tissue paper.

We went to Brandon and Mary’s home and Trent and Lindsie came, too.

I love our traditional snacks of cheeses, meats, bread, crackers, etc. for dinner.

This is how you play when you’re in a body cast, either that, or laying on your belly. I can’t wait till he can get out of his cast. He’s a trooper!

We had fun chatting, playing games and eating. Great way to ring in the new year!

We played this game Jaques Crokinole, which I’ve never played and it was pretty fun.

Sweet 16

It’s our 16th wedding anniversary today. What a great way to celebrate by going to the temple & doing sealings.

Trying to remember what our grass looks like, sometimes I get sick of snow, even though it’s pretty.

We went to the Bombay house for indian food. It was good, especially the chicken covered with chick peas.

it’s all about the kids

The Larsen’s headed home, it was fun having them. I think they will miss Sydney the most! Carter smells pretty stinky in his cast and his attitude is a little stinky, too, but I’m sure they’ll miss him, too!

I love a sleeping babe.

Before the break, was parent teacher conferences. Clayton’s geography teacher is really impressed with him. He likes that he placed 2nd in the geography bee last year and on his big project he got 155 out of 150. The only part that made me sad is that Clayton chose Arizona, he misses it so much.

I love Marlee’s art pieces.

I’m so thankful for Laun and how hard he works to provide for us, even when he has to go out in the cold to dairies.

Took the kids to the festival of lights.

I love Sydney’s little profile, sitting on Laun’s lap and checking out the lights.

The joy of bigger siblings is that you get to enjoy their forts, just ask Sydney.

Porter

I think Porter is the most sandwiched child in this picture. I love that they are all jammed together to watch a movie. And I’m loving Carter’s haircut by Laun.

These 2 wooden pens made by Porter are amazing. He’s such a talented kid.

family matters most

Grandma Black passed away and today was her funeral. It was nice to see family.

All her children, had to document this.

Then I stayed at Brandon’s house and chatted with Mary, while my littles napped. Laun took our older kids with several other cousins, aunts and uncles, to go ice skate. I’m so glad he got some pictures…

Marlee and Grant

Marlee’s first time ice skating and I’m glad Laun was by her side.

I think this might have been Porter’s first time, too? He’s been skating, just not on ice.

This was Clayton’s second time and I think he fell less than the first time! He must get it from me!

Then we went out for a sushi dinner. I love this group of teenagers.

It’s been fun having some of Laun’s family in town.

puzzle & super hero's

For the last several years, I’ve gotten a puzzle for the family on Christmas. I get something to do with our year and it’s pretty much the only time we can actually put one together. This year I got one of Salt Lake City, Utah. Since Laun took the boys to priesthood session at the conference center in Salt Lake and we have spent a lot of time at Shriner’s hospital and some at Primary Children’s in this city, I thought it would be fitting.

I’m loving the Christmas tree gone and all this playing room for Carter.

Someone woke up happy from nap time and I love that he tucked his superheroes into his body cast.

Christmas

Before the chaos starts…Santa presents and stockings.

The boys got sport bags, Marlee a scooter and bank, Carter batman and superman toys and Sydney a doll.

I got my white Christmas…

And Laun and the boys did plenty of snow shoveling before church.

Stocking and present time-

For breakfast we had our traditional sour cream coffee cake and egg nog.

Marlee got a piggy bank with $60 and she will add money to it to save for Disneyland.

I love this personal puzzle I ordered for Carter of our family.

A memory game I ordered (also from Pin Hole Press) for Marlee, that has all pictures with her.

Marlee made the cutest reindeer envelope and book for her daddy.

And I love her Christmas tree drawing.

One of my favorites today- a wooden pen that Porter made for me in his school class.

What a talented kid!

Chaos -

Gifts from Daddy Clause (what Laun calls himself) this year- bank accounts for each child with money in them.

Grandma Lucy gave us a keyboard and Porter is going to do online lessons and teach Marlee, so excited!

And while Laun was napping, I took down the Christmas tree. It may seem like I’m a scrooge to take it down on Christmas, but I was so sick of a live tree in our home after a month! He woke up surprised.