Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we woke up and went to Mariah and Benson's house to celebrate Christmas with them since M had to work on the real Christmas day! It was fun seeing Hazel open her gifts! 

After we went home and took much needed naps. Not me of course because I decided to start making the sugar cookies while I didn't have little hands trying to "help" me. Sugar cookies require a lot of counter space, time and patience. The kids loved decorating them but honestly we might wait another few years until they are a tad older. 

After that we went to the Martinsen's house for a family dinner and sibling gift exchange! So fun to be with them and see the kids reactions to their gifts. 

I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves! 

 M made those darling prints for Lora's room and they turned out so cute. One day when I can I've got to learn that illustrator program! For me in the past it's been a beast, but I'll get the hang of it. 

 We came back to our house and opened up Christmas jammies. We put reindeer food outside for Santa's reindeer's and then we were off to bed! 

Christmas Day

7am on Christmas Day we had a little boy come to our bed saying, "Santa went over the moon and came to our house last night!" (the over the moon part is from the "night before Christmas" book we read every. single. night.) He slept in his bed all night long which is rare so he was pretty excited to be awake and open presents. 

It was a good day filled with family and way too many darn toys. Why didn't someone tell me that kids don't need a lot of presents to make them happy? I went a little overboard on the toys with a million little pieces...so I think next time I won't do that! (think puzzles, games and legos..noooooo)

I'm kicking myself now for not taking pictures when we had family over that morning! There was just so much going on and the kids needed a very present mama to help them open gifts! 

(Hopefully by next Christmas I can figure out how to master the art of picture taking in dark light...that's also a beast to learn.)

 Those sleepy eyes kill me everytime.

 The kids got a tent to share and then Crew got a bike from Santa! We should have left it at that! 

 There's something about kids in pajamas looking like a mess that make it feel more like Christmas :) 

 Crew also got a Police officer outfit that he was over the moon excited about. Real handcuffs make this boy very happy! 

 Later on we just played around upstairs and did absolutely nothing. It was fantastic. 

 Love this raggedy little muffin with her cape on. Gifted to her by Grandma and Grandpa Lamb. 

 A favorite toy was this Mr. Potato head. The kids always play with it at cousin Hazel's house so I decided to keep one here too so they can play with it. It was a hit with Crew! It's such a darn cute toy. 

 Slightly jealous of this little girls hair. I also love the way she holds her upper lip. 

 A game of chase and they were off to bed! Ok just a nap for Laney doodle but it is so fun watching them become better friends each day. It's hard to imagine that this time last year Laney was just so tiny and Crew wasn't really interested in her. Oh how I can't wait to have a crawling chubby babe next Christmas chasing these two. 

That's a wrap! Christmas was so good this year. We feel so blessed to live close to family and see them often. We felt of our savior's love for us this season and feel so grateful to him for everything we have. Love this little family of mine! 

December

It's already December which blows my mind! I feel that way though every month. We have had a busy few weeks which make for long days and nights. (nights because the insomnia is back at it) Here are some pictures of what we have been up to:

 Park days in December are the best. The weather is just perfect in the winters here. I snagged these sand toys for free...so naturally we had to celebrate another good find by playing with them immediately! 

  We have a stage 5 clinger on our hands so whenever I take a shower she comes in too...or else she just screams at the shower door and opens it a million times. Which makes for a short and very cold shower. So lately she comes in with me and just claws onto me like a little koala bear while resting her head on my shoulder. I love it. 

 31 weeks and counting. Braxton hicks are in full swing over here and baby is hanging low. I'm still set on a boy--so if this one is a girl we will be very surprised! The typical aches and pains are to be expected at this point but man I somehow forget about them until they arrive. I guess that's a good thing. I am just getting so anxious to give birth! I really don't know how it's going to play out. I for one hate surprises so I don't know how I will react to finding out what the baby is. I can't believe we never found out. Won't do it again but at least I can say we did it once! I am very excited to meet this little one but I'm also getting real nervous about having 3 children. It's going to rock our world...mostly in a good way. I think I'm tired now?! Just wait. 

 Best purchase was this children's nativity set. They love it. 

 Laney literally chose her outfit the other day and I thought it was hilarious. She is the shoe girl and loves to wear her red ones. She also loves socks...so naturally those had to go on too. She's is full equipped with a baby in arms...she's a little obsessed. I can't blame her. I Snagged her headband on sale mostly because she loved it in the store. It's a little big but is always putting it on...her neck! 

 We went to a farm the other night with friends and it was so great. We love our ward and the people in it. My friend took these pictures and I love them. So grateful to be surrounded by so many women to look up to! 

 This 3 year old...is the best. It doesn't mean he is easy...but we can't get enough of his weird quirks and comments throughout the day. I don't think his brain ever shuts off. He is the most lovey and affectionate child in the world. (only concerns me a little) I love his hugs throughout the day and the random, "mom I love you so bad" statements. Can he just make it to age 5 and then never ever grow up?! (3 is proving to be a bit of a challenge...at first it wasn't but it is. Just requires a lot of energy!) We love our Crew!

We have had a great month so far! So anxious for Christmas to come. I have been so busy with photoshoots mixed with some school in there and a minor church calling, but busy is how we like it! For now!

Zach & Lindsey

We traveled to Utah for Thanksgiving but mostly for my little brother's wedding! Their wedding was the day before Thanksgiving so that most of the family could make it. They had their reception the day before the wedding at the Provo library which was beautiful! I had never been there and can't believe how pretty it is. Going back to Provo just made me homesick for the early newlywed days. Such sweet memories I have in that little city. 

It is a great feeling watching one of your siblings be married to their sweetheart in the temple. I wish I could have recorded their sealing because it was so simple and beautiful. It was short but the sealer did a wonderful job bringing the spirit into that room. Zach and Lindsey served their church missions in the same city but never in the exact location (?) I still don't exactly know the entire story, but the parts I have heard are cute. How exciting for them that they can share that special time in their life together! A part of me has always wanted to know what it was like to serve a mission with Alex, but I know we will get to find out someday. 

Lindsey is just perfect for Zach. I just left the wedding feeling so sad that we don't live close to them, but we will try to make it up there as much as we can.  

They were sealed in the Draper, UT Temple. Can I just say how darn cold it is up there? And the wind....but it is one of the prettiest temples. 

 I snagged some pictures before the reception. This is Laney's signature look lately. She cracks us up. 

 I think I could just bawl my eyes out watching these two grow up. I can't believe we will have their little sibling here soon. The more kids I have, the more I want and need. They teach me so much and I just can't get enough of them! Something in the sealing that is talked about a lot is having children. I think that in today's world, the question of "how many kids do you want?" is asked a ton. During the sealing I had the impression that it really isn't up to us. I had an overwhelming love for my calling as a mother and felt impressed to shift gears on how I thought about the "number" of children I wanted.  I could tell you all day long how many kids "I want" but that's a little selfish of me. So we will just see how things go one baby at a time:) 

 She was biting me here...she does that a lot :)

 Once again Crew wanted nothing to do with pictures so these are mostly of Laney. He was off running around with Lindsey's nephews who he called "my brothers" the entire time. Man I really hope this little boy gets a brother. 

 Grateful my mom knows how to work my camera so she could snap this of us! Alex saw it and said, "man I'm glad we spent all that money for family pictures and got the best one for free." Sorry about that...next time I'll learn! I love these peeps way too much. (we loved our family pictures but just couldn't get the kids to sit still)

 I can't wait for them to start a family someday! They will be so great. 

 My cute parents...aka the ones who are way too obsessed with the grandkids. Lindsey and Zach need to have a baby soon so my kids can have a break! HA! They really are the best though. 

 Crew has been obsessed with my cousin Tyson since he spent time with him over the summer. He wouldn't leave his side the entire night. Sorry Ty! 

 All week Laney would really only go to me. She is still very clingy...but whenever Zach is around she doesn't seem to mind him. It's sweet. 

 And Crew during the dancing...always covering his ears. In his defense the giant speaker was right above him, but man alive does he hate noises. I'm right there with you Crew. 

It was such a great week with family! I can't believe Zach is married. We facetimed them a few days ago and they seem to have the marriage thing down. So happy for them!