Christmas 2015

Demitri's face when I asked to see his present...

He immediately ran it over to dad for protection. He didn't trust me with carrying his Halloween bucket when trick or treating either, but that one was probably justified. 

Christmas Candy tastes better out of a Halloween pumpkin?

We didn't really have the traditional Christmas this year, and we missed a lot of the Christmas festivities. I was bummed, but a lot of good things happened because of that. 

1.)   I threw my own Christmas Festivity at my house mid December with a few friends. It was a lot of chaos but a lot of fun. It felt good to be planning things rather than waiting for someone else to do it. We had lots of soups, played Christmas chimes, and decorated gingerbread men. We had 10 adults, and 10 kids with Daphney being the second oldest and Paisley not being the youngest- so emphasis on the chaos.  

2.)   It gave me time to think about the real reason we celebrate Christmas and evaluate my relationship with Christ. 

I started to think about the importance of testimony not only for my own well being but for my kids. In the Book of Mormon we read of the believers living in America who were going to be killed if the signs of Christ's birth did not happen. I think of the parents who had such a strong testimony to not only risk their own lives but their kids by continually teaching them to believe. They confidently led their children when the world might say to take a surer route, give up and just say you don't believe. 

I want to be a mother like that! 

I think of the pioneers who knew that following the prophet and obtaining temple blessings were important enough to cause them to leave everything and travel across the plains even if they or their children died in the process. The prospect of death would not blot out their faith for them. They led their children's growing testimonies, while the world might say to take a surer route, give up and just say you don't believe. I want to be a mother like that!

While I know we must let our children stand on their own testimonies, I want to be ready when they look to me with a relationship with Christ that is strong enough to dispel fear. So this December I set that as my present to myself and my kids - to look unto Christ and to invite Him to guide my scripture study. It made this Christmas really special and meaningful. 

-We all knows parents put first priority on their kids so scripture study sometimes at least for me would be shortened or forgotten after all my kids needs were met, but this mindset helped me prioritize scripture study more than anything else that the world might say we need to be doing for our kids.

Learning the Gospel as a Family

Shane and I recently got called to team teach the sunbeams. It includes eight active three year olds. After what I thought was our first successful class Daphney began asking if next week she could go back to nursery. I decided she could give us some honest feedback and asked her "what about nursery she missed," so we could incorporate it. She cried out in a defeated voice, "Mitri!" (Demitri)

We are starting to really have fun with our family nights whether the kids are comprehending much is still unknown. But, Daphney is right it is more fun together!

Here are two pictures from acting out the nativity. Shane is the Donkey...:D Daphney is the pillow stuffing pregnant Mary. And Demitri who also wanted a pillow... was the proud Joseph who is leading the donkey with care.

Shane was telling the Nativity story to Demitri and he said , "There was a man who was King over all the land and his name was...." "-Jesus!!" He is starting to learn the most important answer. :D

Mary is holding the newborn Jesus. 

This Is How We Roll

Boy and his "Raw Raw"

A box of monkeys!

1.)Yes it is winter.

2.) Yes I do have the pic of them both eating off the same Popsicle but I am saving it for blackmail.

3.) And yes even the outside walls of our house are covered in chalk drawings, (My painting chore is like unto your dishes chore. =DAILY NEED) It is the life of a stay at home artist mother. 

This is how Demitri wanted his picture taken...

Party in Mom's Bed

This was always fun growing up, and quite different as the mom but still fun once you give up on the idea of sleep. 

Demitri's Birthday

Decided to try a fruit pizza instead of cupcakes since the icing is all he eats anyways... :D

Happy little two-year-old!
He had lots of help opening his presents!

Another Dose of Paisley

Toddlers Definition of Mother

Mother daughter relationships...

...at this particular point I was valuing my individual time with my eldest.  One on one times are so presious that I really wanted to think of a question to get to know her and how she was doing not just the usual go to-"what is your favorite color?"

I turned the car radio off and decided I would let her take control of the direction of conversation. I lovingly asked, "Daphney what would you like to talk about?"
To which she responded I don't want to talk about anything... zero. I will just yell loud when I want you to wipe me.

Alright then I will leave ya alone if that is all you need from me. :D she is as much fun as a goldfish.