Disneyland Adventure (part 1) and Happy New Year!

A few weeks before Thanksgiving, we ventured off to Anaheim, California for a weeklong family vacation! We had been wanting to make this happen for a while now...so when the opportunity to go really presented itself (due to a work conference Jared had that week in Anaheim) -- we took full advantage!

We went to Disneyland when AnnMarie was only 3-yrs. old (and Carlie was 1), but this go around was SO PERFECT since all four of the kiddos were at FUN FUN ages to embrace the magic.

Luke was so cute with all the different characters we ran into!! Here's the play by play of him embracing one of his favorites:

Our first day there was one of the last days of Halloween Time at Disneyland, and our last day there was the first day of Disneyland at Christmas. I've always wanted to experience Disneyland at Halloween AND Christmastime, so we were so very fortunate to be able to experience BOTH!! Oh, how I wish I had a picture of the Haunted Mansion at Halloween Time!! It was unbelievable. We are grateful for every photo we took, but truly, ALL of our energy was spent keeping track of our kids in the midst of endless crowds and mayhem.

The Christmas Fantasy Parade, however, was well documented - haha!! I've never seen such color and excitement, my goodness!!

In other news, I'm so excited for 2018!! We had several unexpected surprises in 2017 -- some great...others, not so great -- but I know that regardless of what happens this year, changes are in store!! I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and four happy, healthy children by my side through it all. Jared and I are looking forward to teaching the 15-yr. olds in Sunday School every week, and this year will begin my 3rd year of a 5-yr. endeavor to achieve a Master's Degree which I have grown SO MUCH from. I never would've thought that life would take me to so many different communities away from my beloved roots in Idaho, but I greatly appreciate every opportunity I've had to get to know God's children in various parts of the world.

Wishing you and yours all the best in the coming year!!

Our Christmas in Utah

Our little space here in Farmington has created plenty of cozy evenings...all of us being right here on top of each other. ;) In all seriousness though, I haven't minded the "squishiness" -- which is how I would describe us right now. Life in Utah has so many great things to offer, and we really had a GREAT Christmas this year.

The kids had a snowman building contest a few days ago. Gabe built this snowman, but of course it wouldn't be complete without Luke's hat on top...that we're all ready to burn, haha! He will NOT leave the house without his "tracks hat," and it is seriously SO ragged!

I did NOT cry the day we took the tree down (a little earlier than usual this year), but space is exciting to me these days...and besides, all children need to see their mama doing something dangerous from time to time.

Christmas Eve was a late one, but we had such a nice time at Jared's sister's house in Mountain Green (which is only about 20-minutes from our place). We let the kids do a few sled runs down a hill close to their house, and then we helped my sister-in-law's family light up their neighborhood as part of a tradition that they do on Christmas Eve every year. Luminary candles (or tea lights) are placed and lit in white sacks roughly 15-ft. apart along the streets to honor a family who lost a child many years ago. We all nearly froze to death (haha!), but it was touching to participate in a service that remembered those who are grieving at Christmastime.

We enjoyed our traditional Humble Feast of homemade soups and rolls, played Minute to Win It, and had a special program that included Carlie singing, "O Holy Night." She sounded lovely, and it made my heart so happy. :) Grandma Wolfley told the story of the Wise Men's gifts -- and even had samples of Frankincense and Myrrh oils to smell. We watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas...and then drove home during a light snowfall.

6:30 am came way too fast the next morning, but the kids were so delighted with their treasures, and we were spoiled with a heap of gifts under our tree. Year after year, Jared and I find ourselves just smiling at each other from across the room -- the quiet "knowing" of just how much time and energy goes into witnessing those moments of pure joy in our babies' faces when they see or open a gift they've been wanting for awhile. I can't even imagine Christmas without our little ones around us (although I know it won't always be this way)! I'm so grateful for LIFE and the opportunity it is to be a parent.

December Moments

December 26th has always been one of my most favorite days of the entire year!

I love that Christmas has been celebrated. I love that we get to sleep in and that the whole house is quiet and partially lit from the winter wonderland peeking through our windows by 7 o'clock am. I love that all the kids are completely exhausted from the excitement of Christmas Day...and that we usually have no particular plans because Jared is home from work. I love that we can play boardgames ALL DAY and eat delicious leftovers. And I especially love that a new long year is on the horizon, "untouched, full of things that have never been (Rainer Maria Rilke)."

Today I let the kids delve into the gingerbread German cabins we made last week. In general, this was a HUGE PROJECT (all homemade), but when it finally came time to decorate the houses...it was well worth it! A friend of mine directed me to the tutorial on the beautiful website called: Frog Prince Paperie. The kids had SO MUCH FUN, and I loved watching their imaginations unfold!



We ended up doing it about a week after Luke's birthday, but in the future, my goal is to make "gingerbread operation" an annual tradition ON his birthday. :) I can't believe he's 3 years old!! He LOVES to snuggle, drink chocolate milk, wear hats, draw on EVERYTHING, and hang out w/Daddy and big brother. He woke up extra early on his birthday morning this year...so this is him smiling with a cute little sleepy glow.

One of the BEST moments this month was discovering this little event in the boys' bedroom, haha! Poor Luke got roped into being Gabe's whipping boy.