full day

Laun and Clayton headed out the door before 6am to go fishing. They wore their long johns under their clothes to keep warm.

 

They picked up Trent and his two older boys to join them. Porter stayed home since he wasn’t feeling too great.

I love that Laun takes all these pictures, makes me feel like I was there, sort of, even though I  was warm at home.

Strawberry Reservoir…

Trent with his boys.

Tonight we decided to pick out our Christmas tree. Most years we cut one down, but this year we just went to a lot.

I’m loving my vest I won at Laun’s work party, it is so warm.

For dinner Laun got some fun sodas and we got salads from Costa Vida.

The before picture of our tree. 

I’m loving having a fireplace.

Clayton put the star on the tree and that’s it. After that he was in a teenage mood and went to bed early.

 

Porter took full advantage of the fire and roasted some marshmallows.

I always love a lit Christmas tree.

These two were so proud of their work.

I think this girl is feeling the Christmas present.

We broke out the nutcracker…Laun bought this for me when he was in Germany (on his way home from Saudi).

This felt-wood nativity has been loved by all our kids, my sister in law Martha made it years and years ago.

It will be fun to live somewhere where it snows on Christmas!

cute kids & sweet treats

I love Marlee’s doily Santa. She wrote: My Santa likes Cooes (I think she means cookies).

Carter loves our dogs Dutch and Raggles.

Carter loves his Daddy.

Tonight after running errands in Provo, we stopped by The Sweet Tooth Fairy for treats.

I’ve wanted to try this place for awhile and the vanilla cupcake with the cherry on top was amazing. The other’s were good, but I’d go back just for the vanilla one alone, so tasty.

Clayton chose a rice crispy treat.

brotherly love

Laun was home when I was taking the kids to school, so Carter stayed back with him. I love how  Clayton is looking at Carter as we are leaving home and headed to school. Clayton is an amazing big brother.

great day

I love morning snuggles with my babies…

Yes, we still need a stair gate, even though Carter is in a body cast. Nothing can hold back this kid. He army crawls right over to the stairs.

Tonight was great. Laun and I went on a real date and got a sitter. Normally, Clayton babysits, but since Carter is so young and in a cast it complicates things, so we decided a sitter would be best. It was Laun’s work Christmas party at the restaurant Ruby Rivers. He got a gift card and we both came home with vests. I got a carhartt vest and Laun got a wool vest. We were pretty pumped because it is cold and they will come in handy.

Bethlehem

Tonight was the ward Christmas Party. The new ward seems nice. It actually consists of much older couple and few young families.

Everyone dressed up like we lived in Bethlehem.

Porter and Marlee double stacked and sat on my lap.

You paid for dinner with coins. At dinner, I saw an older gentlemen sitting alone, so I asked Porter if he would sit by him and he did, what a sweet boy.

I always love watching nativity's that consist of young children, they do the cutest things.

rainy day and basketball

I always loved rainy days when I was in elementary school.

Porter and Marlee

Tonight Laun’s work went to a Utah Jazz basketball game.

It’s funny that these two work at IFA now, since they both went to Utah State and knew each other years ago.

Robert and Laun at the Jazz game

Work got hotel rooms for the employees, since they have an early meeting in the morning at the Salt Lake office. But Laun still drove all the way home, just to see me and will drive back early tomorrow. This guy is the sweetest.

my little ones

mommy and baby selfies

Marlee has hours with me and Carter, while the boys are still at school in the afternoons.

Today she was my little helper in the kitchen.

Cutest little mixer there is and I like how she uses my nursing cover as an apron.

first day- AGAIN

The kids had their first day of school, for the third time this school year!!! This is their third school for the semester, crazy! They were in Tucson, Show Low and now here!

Clayton will attend Spanish Fork, Junior High, which goes from 7th-9th grade. He is in 7th grade.

 

At the last two schools, Porter was at the Junior High, but here the elementary school goes from Kindergarten to 6th grade. I’m actually happy about it, because Porter is so young anyways, sine he skipped first grade, and plus Marlee will get to have a sibling with her at school for once! Porter is in the 6th grade and has Mrs. Summerfelt and Marlee is in Kindergarten with Mrs. Money. They will go to Canyon Elementary School.

Marlee will attend the morning class. Show Low was full day, so she’s back to half day again.

I still have a hard time carrying Carter, so Porter carried him for a bit.

After I walked the kids to their classrooms, I had to carry Carter to the Tahoe all by myself. I got so worn out, that I had to stop at least 4 times to rest before getting out the door! It was kind of scary to me that I am still so physically weak and have to manage taking care of Carter by myself today. It’s a hard feeling as a mom, but I have to remember that I will get stronger. Normally, I will just drop the kids off at school, so I won’t have to get out or carry Carter. I’ll only have to get from the house to the car with him. And in the mornings and afternoon the boys can carry Carter. I will only have to carry Carter after I drop off the kids to school and when I pick up Marlee.