Christmas Trip- Part 2 AKA Christmas Eve and Day!

So Saturday morning we left Sandy to head for Idaho. We were so excited to get there! The kids were coming down with something so we had more stops than we expected, but eventually rolled into Ucon about 1:00. I was so happy to get there :) We didn't do much that afternoon which was really nice to just visit and veg a bit. After dinner we went to see the Christmas lights that were synchronized with music. (Very cool displays!) Our kids were completely exhausted and fell asleep in the car (they almost never do this so it was astonishing to say the least.) I had been looking forward to finishing our 24 Days of Christmas Book (reading the story of the Nativity in the Bible) and setting out treats and a note for Santa with the kids, but since they were already asleep we skipped those events and tucked them into bed. Luckily before we left to go see the lights, we did put out the "Reindeer Food" that our friends (Thanks Torri!) gave us to take on our trip to make sure Santa could find us at Grandma's house. So we had no excitement about getting to bed or anything like that, and I was tired so I didn't mind :) Then we did the Santa thing and watched a movie I think. But I can't remember because I think I fell asleep or something! I was so sleep deprived this whole trip (mostly by my own choice of course!)

Unfortunately, the kids were really getting sick at this point and we had another pretty tough night-- When morning came I was debating back and forth should I take them to sacrament meeting or stay home?! In the end we decided to take them-- since it was first thing in the morning and we had already decided not to open gifts until after church it was going to be seriously impossible to keep them happy while we waited for the rest of the clan to come home from Church! We let them open stockings before church and ate a traditional Christmas Breakfast Hill Family Style (Poptarts!)

Sacrament meeting was beautiful and really wonderful, I was so glad we went. After coming home and changing our clothes we divided up the packages and took turns opening gifts. We were completely spoiled and thankful for all of the beautiful presents :)

Becky made Rebekah a beautiful dress for the wedding. Rebekah still calls it her wedding gown. So cute! She also received a beautiful afghan made by her talented Grandma. I don't know why I don't have a picture of it? It is a favorite item for sure! Her most favorite present? $8 Dora nightgown from Walmart. Hands down favorite!

Santa's gift to Rebekah

Preston's Gift from Santa (although I think he figured it out this year but went along anyway. He still wants to believe I guess!)

Ornament Preston made in school to give as a gift. He chose to give it to . . . Riley (Will I EVER be as cool as him?!)

I think here I am opening the beautiful skirt Becky made me for the wedding. She is so talented and generous. I also loved the cash-- not sure what I am getting with that yet :)
I finally for once in my life surprised my husband with a gift. Sort of. He told me what he wanted and then forgot or decided I wouldn't get it for him?! I don't know, but he was actually surprised when he opened the packaging! I ordered it online and had it shipped to Idaho so my secret elf Becky really helped me pull it off I think. I still haven't figured out how he likes it, but he is the proud new owner of an ultra cool Panasonic electric razor :)

Through Christmas day we played games and ate yummy dinner, visited with Grandparents, and Burke and Preston were absorbed in all things legos for many hours!

Merry Christmas!!

Cause and Effect

I neglected to post this in the right place-- Oh well! Preston heard at school that if you wear your Pajamas backward it will snow. He wanted it to happen-- so he tried it a few times and the second time he did it sure enough we woke up to our first snow! I love the enthusiasm and excitement of the first snow :)

PS: Yes Rebekah is wearing her beloved pink cowgirl hat here in the background. Always dressed up somehow, this little lady enjoys being a girl ;)

Christmas Trip- Part 1 AKA Temple Square

The first leg of our trip home for Christmas was more anticipated by me than any other event. Not that nothing else was exciting-- we had so much fun throughout the whole trip, but this part actually started to be planned a few years ago. I remember before Rebekah was even one and Preston not yet 3 we were driving through SLC at Christmas time. I told Burke I really wanted to take our kids there to see the lights and the Christus when they were both big enough to remember it. He said, "Let's do it when Rebekah is 3" So the idea was planted a long time ago. And this was finally our year to do it!

I was so giddy when Burke told me he would take half of the day off Friday the 23rd so we could go to temple square that night and then venture the rest of the way to Idaho on Christmas Eve! We had have so many fun family members that live in the greater SLC area and it is always a treat to get an "extra" visit with any of them. I always feel a little silly inviting myself to stay with someone (even our wonderful family), but they are always all so good to us and welcoming. This time we were fortunate to get to stay with my awesome brother Sheldon and his equally awesome wife Becki :) So fun. Plus my beautiful sister Rachel and her family came to join us for the evening-- so it was a double treat!

We rode the TRAX from Sandy right up to Temple Square.

Our plan was to go the The Lion House Pantry for dinner, but the wait was outside (and LONG) so we opted for something else. And that took a while to find someplace else that was open and ready to serve us. But we made it happen. It was cold and we were hungry, but we hit Michelangelo's on Main and enjoyed our meal.

Then we ventured back into the cold and went out to see the lights! I was so excited to see them and the beautiful nativity scenes. The temple as always was an impressive site.

The Bryans-- wish I had caught a pic with all of their eyes open! They were so cute (and cold!)

The Christus. Even as crowded as it all was, I could feel that special spirit of reverence and worship at this awe inspiring site. It was really a wonderful evening, and even though my sweet kids caught cold and were up half that night, I was still so glad we went and had this fun evening! Thanks again to the Bryan's and Andrus' So enjoyable to celebrate Christ's Birth with you!

Christmas Time

I was busy this December, but I wanted to fit some fun Holiday traditions in. We were able to manage a lot of them and really had a great time celebrating the season of Christ's Birth. I didn't take enough pictures of these events but I wanted to write about them anyway! Burke and I talked about some of the things we wanted to do with our children this year-- and it was super nice. We didn't do it all, but what we did was meaningful to us and I really cherish the moments we had absorbing the sights and sounds of Christmas with our little children. Because we were out of town for Thanksgiving, I was exhausted for several days the next week. Traveling does this to me. I feel like it just leeches all of the motivation out of me. It is a big downer for me. So anyway the tree was not thought of until we were well into the first week of December. I seriously contemplated not putting it up at all-- we weren't going to be home for Christmas was my super tacky thought process. Thank goodness for Burke! He is so willing to pick up the slack when I feel icky. It is an immense blessing that he is able and willing to step up this way. It seriously brings me to tears when I think of how blessed I am to have him. A few unpictured events include christmas caroling as a family and taking a small treat to a few of our friends and neighbors, going shopping together as a family for a few gifts, singing around our piano, introducing my kiddies to the music of George Friedrick Handel's Messiah, and listening to Daddy read the "Green Story" every single night. We also enjoyed a few other fun projects and events detailed in the pictures below! All in all it was a wonderful season, and when it came time to put all of Christmas away before our big trip to Idaho, I felt really satisfied :)

Ward Christmas Party Santa! I wish I could see their faces in these :)

My two little "Wise Men" amid many other sweet little wise men, shepherds, angels, sheep, birds, donkey, and of course Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Love all my primary kids so much!

A little out of order-- sorry-- the HUGE Reeces Peanut Butter Cups Daddy bought for us to share! They were a little too much for my liking, but it was all about the WOW factor right? Burke is a great Daddy.

Burke reading one of the stories out of the 24 days of Christmas book I grew up on. I never get tired of this tradition!

Project complete!

We are NOT really skilled at this. But it was fun anyway!

I should actually only say that I am not skilled at this! Burke's frosting sections were MUCH better than mine :)

Made this CUTE advent calendar with my wonderful Mother in Law over Thanksgiving. I loved it and look forward to using this for years to come!

Hero Husband saves the day and sets up our Christmas Decorations. Seriously what a guy!! (I only feel bad that I never managed to take a real picture of it once it was decorated-- it is in the background of other pictures, but really it was pretty and I am a little sad I missed that detail)

The one where Baby G left

I have been putting this post off-- because it still makes me get teary. I didn't mean to fall head- over-hills in love with someone else's baby. But I did. And I feel like someone cut off my arm or something because this cute face is not smiling at me everyday anymore. Sweet Baby G started coming to play at our house when she was still brand new-- 6 weeks old. I could not believe how tiny she was. I wondered how to feel about her at first-- would I be stepping over my bounds to tell her I loved her? What should I call myself when I was talking to her and I was telling her understood when she was in pain? (For my own children, I still tell them "Mommy knows, I am sorry it hurts, I love you, we will find a way to make it better"), Would it be okay to sing my baby lullabies to her--even though she wasn't mine? -- before long it is was clear that I had no say in the matter: she had my whole heart. Perhaps mothers only know one way to love. And oh my how I fell in love with those "chocolate" eyes (according to Preston) and that sweet little grin.

My children were completely enthralled with her from the beginning and couldn't wait to have a turn to hold her, to run for her diapers and bottle, to talk to her through tummy time and to just bask in her delight-fullness-- You know I have lost my mind to unabashed affection when I start making up my own words to describe a little person. And that is how I feel about Baby G. She has filled a hole in our home and our hearts when a new baby has not been a possibility. We have been so blessed with all of the blessings a baby brings to a home. Babies bring so much love. Everyone speaks a little softer, and a little kinder when there is a little one around. And love just grows and grows.

Wonderful changes have come for Baby G's family that have made her days with us no longer necessary. But I will always remember this year as the one where we had Baby G and how many beautiful blessings she brought to us. We will always have great love for this little sweetie.

What are you going to be on Halloween Night?

Halloween was fun as it always is. My kids were disappointed that I didn't dress up (which was funny because I never do--but this year they noticed) We went to a friend's Halloween party a few weeks ago and then we hit the trunk or treat at the church on Halloween night. My kids still think this is awesome and I think it is so simple so I love it too.

Preston as a ghost-- he made me keep cutting the hole for his face bigger and bigger-- it really bothered him to have it on his face at all. I pinned it to this hat which I guess should have been white-- I was not really worried about the details on this one :) He liked it, but was really ready to get out of it when the night was over (by 7:30).

Waiting in line for the "Haunted Spook Alley" that went through a trailer and was mostly cute less scary. My kids thought it was great.

This is classic Rebekah-- can't decide what to have so I will just have it all at once!

Our pretty fairy princess.

Thirty

I guess I am growing up! I am finally 30. I actually have been looking forward to it all year-- even though I am not sure why. I have so many blessings and I feel content with many things in my life. I have so much room to progress, but this year I feel like I have finally embraced who I am and have stepped into my unique role and my unique voice in ways I have been unwilling to before. And I am grateful that it only took me 30 years to love myself enough to be different from everyone else. I am glad that I look like myself. I am glad that I have my husband, my children, my life. It is mine. No one else has one like it. Even though there are certainly things I would love to have different, I have spent a great deal of time on my knees this year asking God to give me a grateful heart. Not just gratitude that things aren't worse. Gratitude for what IS. All of it. It is still a work in progress. I still need more humility, more trust in my Savior, more selflessness, more understanding and willingness to see things from another's viewpoint. I don't pretend that I have mastered this, only that I aspire to have this attitude. To be grateful with all of my heart that my life is mine. To feel peace with both my blessings, and my trials.
Burke made me this yummy cake for my birthday. He was so cute fussing over the whole thing and working to make my day special. He is so fantastic. Seriously, I wonder how I got such a wonderful husband. So blessed!

I got a new camera! And I like it. It is not too fancy (which is good, I get intimidated by fancy)--overall a HUGE improvement :) So who knows? Maybe I will take more pictures which always helps me blog more. I just have to get in the habit of taking more pictures again!!

Here are the kids posing for me as I was trying it out!

Rebekah was seriously out of control and crazy. I have about 10 more pics of her being crazy. What a funny girl!

Of note other un-pictured highlights:

• Preston and Rebekah insisted on taking me to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner and games Friday night. It was really fun and so cute that they thought of that fun way to celebrate with me.
  
• They also helped Burke pick out my presents and they were amazingly good at not giving any direct hints. So cute & I loved sharing their excitement about birthdays!
• Beautiful New Bedroom Bedding set. I can't believe Burke and the kids picked this out themselves. I love it!
  
• Burke took me out to dinner Saturday night and then we browsed the bookstore for what seemed like hours. I love going to the bookstore without my kids!
• The primary had their first practice for our Sacrament meeting Presentation on my birthday. They were amazing. I love those children so much and even with the stress of putting this all together, I am excited to see them working so hard and sharing their developing testimonies. It is so beautiful to be with the primary children each week.