Christmas.

HA! this note cracked me up. 

that middle one is such a weirdo!

I couldn't stop laughing at my Dad in this ill fitting shirt that Maria made him wear. This picture does not do it justice. The hemline was so short, so stretched out, so awkward! (it was one of those shirts that come in a tiny square & then you put it in water and it expands, FYI)

Christmas morning was awesome. This was the first year that Santa had some things unwrapped so we put up a sign not to go past the hall way before waking us. Brayden wanted a mini dirtbike and Kosty wanted a hot wheels jeep. They both got a basketball hoop and a couple other things. The rest of the morning was spent in pj's playing with toys, of course. Then at noon, we went over to the Figgins to talk to Zach who is on his mission. It was fun to be able to talk to him and see how well he is doing. He said he wasn't homesick "at all" which was sort of comforting and insulting all at the same time ;) We opened more gifts at Grandma's and spent some time there before heading over to my Dad & Maria's. We spent the next week pretty much waking up, going outside to play in pj's, coming inside to play our new favorite board game: Clue, and then repeating over again. One of my favorite memories this year was when we found this note Kosty had left for the elves a few days after Christmas. Sometimes it breaks my heart how sweet and grateful he can be. 

piano recital.

 Brayden had another Christmas piano recital. He has come a long way in a year! He begged not to wear a suit, but I adore him in it. He took it off to play since it "restricted" his arms. Lately, he's been slacking in piano practice and oh, it hurts! He used to practice all the time without being asked. Now he does not unless I ask and ask and ask...I don't want it to be like that, so I'm really hoping he turns it around. We sure love listening to him play. 

12 years.

Spent our anniversary in the freezing cold and rain. But at the temple where we needed to be. 

When I think about the last 12 years, I can't believe how much has happened. The last 5 years have been trying in every way. We have gone through many painful things that I never imagined we would. But we have the same goals and the same desire: to be together always as a family. Brayden lectured me recently on getting married way too young, and it does sound crazy when I say it... I was 17 when we got engaged. But I knew it was right and I am happy we made that choice and have chosen to stay together in good times and in bad. I love him and I love our little family; they are what matters most. 

12 days of Christmas

The days leading up to Christmas quickly fly by. I always want to incorporate new and fun traditions, but my intentions are always replaced with good old tradition and since I really don't like feeling overwhelmed, its ok with me. I do want to do the "random acts of kindness" next year but keep everything else the same. My very favorite as always is the opening a wrapped Christmas book and reading it by the tree every night in December. Jer's favorite is watching Christmas movies every night. Its funny which traditions the kids remember most...Kosty wrote in his journal at school that his very favorite Christmas tradition was eating reindeer pancakes. We had only done it once the following year, but now its sticking with us for sure. Brayden's favorite is sprinkling reindeer food on the grass & everything about Christmas eve.

Kosty insisted on "footie" jammies at the store and I giggled to myself every night when he wore them, that loooong little body! Kosty had such a sweet 'Christmas spirit' this year. He was the first and last one to hang ornaments on the tree, and then immediately he ran into his room and made us each a Christmas gift/card with a piece of Halloween candy taped inside and put them under the tree. One night after we read our Christmas book, he started begging for us to open one of his gifts to us. He said, "Please! I just really want to see the joy on your face." 

The boys got asked to be in the nativity for our ward Christmas party. Kosty was a wise man and Brayden was Joseph. They were so cute, and Kosty LOVED his crown and gold box. He was a ham. Another tradition we love is the hay ride our friends do every year. The kids sing and look at the lights and go back for hot chocolate and cookies. 

This year I decided I was totally DONE with all my Christmas decor and wanted to get rid of it all. The kids insist on the 'usual' decor so I just didn't pull out a few items from the box, and if they didn't ask where said items were, then in the box they stayed. I decided I only wanted a tree, a nativity, and a cute advent calendar. And I didn't even own the last two. So I went out and searched high and low for those two, who knew they would be so hard to find! I am so happy I finally found a good nativity, it warmed my heart many times as I saw the boys sit down & set up the figures over and over again, usually they always ended up positioning them all in a circle around baby Jesus. The advent calendar was a fail, sold out everywhere, so I settled with a cardboard $3 (chocolates and a scripture for each day) option and you would've thought I spent much more with how much the boys hugged and thanked me for it. They crack me up with their sweet gratitude for the most simple (and inexpensive) things ever! Love this about them. 

life from my phone.

-The sweet life of Kosty...staying home "sick" with his comforts: remote and blow dryer by his side.

-Brayden scored another perfect attendence and prinicipal's list

-Making my own version of baked cinnamon apple chips--why oh why did Costco stop carrying these?

-Possibly the last trip to the pet store Brayden ever takes. He followed me around the store and with his loudest voice complained about how I was depriving him of dog ownership and how desperate he is and how I will never get him one. Embarrassing. But I totally cracked up at his pathetic face and sign he held up.

-After church on the couch. Brayden's favorite part of the day. He always says, "I just really love it when we are all in the same room together!"

-Brayden has been dying to try KFC for the first time. I tried to talk him into anything else. But I realized I should let him try it out. He loved it. Posed and said, "Chuck Norris approved!"

-After our first (and hopefully last) KFC visit, Kosty spotted Baskin Robbins across the way...he begged and begged and then gave a good argument when he said that we ate it pretty much every night in CA and haven't had it since. This boy loves ice cream more than anyone I know. Also, after I said I didn't want to spend any more money on 'junk' food, he insisted he would pay me back. I laughed and told him that wasn't necessary but he kept insisting and it was darn cute. He listened and repeated the total from the cashier so he could know how much to pay me back. He is so dang sweet! (ps. I didn't make him, duh.)

-Brayden got behind the wheel and started asking who our will was made out to. Confused, I asked him why..."I just really can't wait to drive this puppy some day!!"

-Kosty's favorite hobby lately. Hard to get an in action pic, but he could toss a football or kick a kickball all day. He has a good arm! Love this about him.