This is my favorite time of year! I don't like the busy malls, or the extra chores that need to be done, I don't even like getting presents as much as I used to. I do love the feeling I have this time of year. I love the strength of the Spirit, or perhaps I am just more sensitive to it. I love Christmas lights that add a glow to my heart. I love embracing friends, and contemplating my many blessings. I love spending time with family. We are truly blessed! This year we have been especially blessed as Uncle Matt returned home from his mission, and my boys met their cousin Cohen for the first time. Christmas is a time to delight in all of life's richest blessings. I am so thankful for the time we have spent sharing our love with those around us, and I am especially thankful for the love I have felt for, and from my Savior Jesus Christ. I only hope that I can not just remember what the true meaning of Christmas is, but strive to share that meaning with all those whos paths I might cross.

We Miss Daddy!

We miss Daddy! Unfortunately Chris has had to travel a lot for work lately. He was in Chicago last week, came home Friday night, and left this morning for yet another week in Chicago. He will be in Chicago again next week, and then he will spend pretty much the whole month of January out of the country. We really miss Daddy! I am trying hard to be a good mom. This week we made a gingerbread house. Actually, I tried to keep Brayden and Logan from eating all of the candy, so that Jake could decorate the gingerbread house. Now all three boys are hoping it falls apart so they can eat it (yuck!). The truth is, no matter how many places we go, or how many activities we do, it just isn't the same without Daddy! We love and miss you Chris!

I am so blessed

I am so blessed! I have been thinking a lot since Thanksgiving week about the many incredible blessings in my life. I am so filled with joy as I think about my beautiful family, and the privilege I have of staying home with my children. I am so thankful that I could go to Braydens Preschool feast, paper hats and all! I am thankful to have a home, one that I can decorate for the Christmas season, and invite the warmth of the Spirit into. I am so thankful for family and friends, without whom this busy life of school, work, and children would be utterly impossible! I am grateful for my own little "village" who take my children to get their faces painted when I am studying, and feed them dinner while I am off taking tests! As I look around tonight and see the beautiful white snow, and the Christmas lights, the greenery and bows, I am thankful for this time of year, and profoundly thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ. What would all of these things be worth without his birth and sacrifice for me?! I am so blessed!

Silly Boys

This morning I was feeling a bit stressed. I have two finals for school tonight, and so I was trying to get everything done, and maybe neglecting my kids a little. Jake was already at school, and Brayden and Logan had snuck upstairs. I could hear them in my room, and I started to get nervous. I called to Brayden and asked what he was doing. He replied "come see". Uh oh, trouble! I stormed up the stairs expected to find a major mess. As I got to the top of the stairs I saw two little pairs of feet intertwined, and heard sweet laughing. My bed was ripped apart, but my heart warmed at seeing my two little guys snuggling and enjoying a few precious moments together. How can you be mad when they look so sweet?

A Wonderful Weekend!

Well, yesterday was my 31st Birthday. I expected it to go by without much of a celebration, but because I have an incredible husband, it turned out to be a wonderful weekend away. Around noon on Friday I received an "e-card" from my hubby telling me to pack my bags, that we would be leaving at 4:oo. I was totally surprised, and of course called him and started asking probing questions. He had everything planned, and wasn't about to tell me what the plan was. We dropped the kids off (thank you mom and dad and mom and dad s), and we were on our way. We ended up at the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Resort (thank you Josh!) for a relaxing evening together. I just about died when I realized that the BYU football team was staying there too! We had a lovely evening, a leisurely Saturday morning, and then we met my fam at the Airforce Academy for the Airforce/BYU football game. BYU won, of course! After the game we enjoyed dinner with my parents, inlaws, and my three beautiful children. It was a wonderful birthday! I was so grateful for the much needed get away with Chris, and equally as grateful that I was dying to see my kids by the time we got back. Thank you Honey! You are truly wonderful!

So Funny!

As many of you know, The summer before last a friend of ours invited Jake and Brayden to be in a photo shoot for E-TOYS. Much to our surprise, Brayden was chosen to be the cover for the 2007 E-TOYS Catalog. Jake was devestated! Well, several weeks ago we got this years e-toys Christmas catalog in the mail, and there was Jake(in the lower right hand corner, profile shot). Not quite like Braydens solo cover, but Jake was thrilled. Chris and I just had to laugh, and for a moment all was right with the world!

Brayden

A few nights ago we were reading scriptures with the boys. We were reading in Mosiah, were Alma and his people escape from the armies of King Noah. When we were finished Chris asked the boys, "who helped Alma and his people to escape?" Brayden looked thoughtful for a moment and then replied with complete sincerity "Buzz Lightyear!" We had a good chuckle, and I was left wondering if anything we try to teach the boys is sinking in. This morning Brayden fell and hit his knee. It took him a while to get up. I looked over and he was kneeling with his eyes closed. When he got up he said "Mom, I had to say a prayer to get help with my knee. Jesus can help us with anything we need." Wow! Maybe it is sinking in! These are my favorite moments as a mother! I love to see my boys testimonies become their own! We love you Brayden!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I love fall! Fall is my favorite season, and as most of you know my favorite part of fall is Halloween. We absolutely love finding costumes, decorating the house, and of course trick or treating! Once again this year we decided on a family theme. Vampires! Of course I wanted to be a queen with my king and little princes, or even a princess with her knights. I would even have loved to be Cleopatra, but of course, as usual, I was out voted. I suppose that with four boys in the house, my chances of getting to be something truly girly are slim to none. Oh well, I think my boys were adorable, I mean scary, vampires. We had a great day. The weather was absolutely beautiful! I was thrilled to spend the evening with my little blood suckers! Sorry for the plethora of pictures, but I just couldn't resist!

so little time, so much to blog!

Wow! I have gone from having nothing to say, to having too much to say to blog all at once. We had a crazy, fun, frantic weekend last week. It was incredibly busy, but very rewarding. We are halloweenaholics! We love Halloween! We spend months preparing for Halloween. We visit every thrift store in town searching for just the right pieces to make our costumes perfect. This year we decided on vampires. The boys love the idea of being bloodsuckers! Although Halloween isn't until tomorrow, we have already gotten to dress up more than once. We attended the "Monster Mash" for Jakes school on Friday night, Then Chris and I enjoyed attending the Saunders annual Halloween party on Saturday. It is always so much fun! Chris and I flew to Utah early Sunday morning for the blessing of our Nephew Cohen Dustin Vohs. It was a crazy quick trip, but so worth it! We were exhausted when we got back Sunday night, but we wouldn't have missed it for the world! Isn't Cohen adorable?! Tonight we went to the "trunk r treat" at the church. The children came home with a boat load of candy, and we even got a few decent pictures. Scary aren't we?!

A wonderful fall Friday!

The weather has been just beautiful here in Colorado for the past several days. Nana's birthday was on Thursday, and she was lucky enough to get away from the office on Friday! We were invited for a special birthday lunch with Nana at the park. Thank you mom, for choosing subway at the park over Macaroni grill. Macaroni grill might have had better food, but I am sure everyone had more fun at the park. The cousins had a great time running around in the sunshine. The moms had a great timing sitting in the sunshine not having to entertain the kids! Happy birthday mom, you are great! Thanks for a spectacular sunny afternoon!

A little bit more Logan

Just a few more pics of my silly little man!

Isn't 1 fun?!

Sometimes I think Logan is going to make me crazy! Being 1 means getting into absolutely everything, and throwing fits about anything. Logan's favorite thing to do is wait until I am not looking, and then get into the cereal cupboard and eat some cereal while emptying the rest onto my kitchen floor. He also loves to make a mess of whatever he is eating. One morning he got a hold of Brayden's oatmeal while I was upstairs. He decided it would be more fun to wear it then to eat it. What a mess. Even though he makes a mess of my house and himself at least three times a day, I just can't help but love him! Those eyes, and a smile that lights up any room! Isn't 1 fun?!