Saddest Anniversary on the Books...

On December 28th my best friend and I celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss.  It had potential to be the best celebration yet-- we had an overnight babysitter, ski day, and fancy dinner planned; but it all went awry.  I woke up congested, but not feeling terrible so we went along with our plans.  By the time we got my rentals, discount lift tickets, and were headed up the mountain I found out that poor Wyatt threw up late the night before and that my brother and grandma had taken shifts rocking him.  My family reassured me to go ahead with our plans, that the kids were in good hands.

Skiing was fun, but wouldn't you know that all day long I had a headache-- nothing made it go away (in fact, the elevation probably made it worse).  By the time we called it a day I was feeling too icky for our fancy dinner and anxious to give my family a break from my sick kidlets (in the afternoon Ruby threw up on Grandma's bed).  So, we showered, got a quick bite to eat, and picked up our sick babies.  As it turns out, we (including myself) were all fast asleep by 8:30.  Sad, right?!
Luckily, my husband is amazing and has a delayed anniversary celebration planned for next Friday and Saturday.  I hope my congestion is all gone by then.  It's been hanging around for a week now and only seems to be getting worse...

But a word about the man I married.  He is AMAZING.  When we met all those years ago (we were just 16 and 17 years old) I knew that he was someone special.  We became the best of friends and before long we each had secret crushes on each other.  Somehow we finally worked up the courage to hold hands and the rest is history.  Even back then I could tell he had a good heart and strong work ethic.  I knew that family mattered to him and that he was going to make some girl very happy.  It turns out that girl was me.

From the start he has always been sweet.  I remember a surprise picnic on the beach when he brought along his guitar and played our song for me just before the tide came in and tried to wash it all away.  He used to buy me "just because" roses from a local flower shop because they put little plastic lady bugs on the cards.  When he left on his mission he sent me his favorite lifeguard shirt doused in his scent; which made me miss him like crazy.  Let's not talk about how long I hung onto that shirt before washing it...

Anyway, here we are today nearly 13 years after we started dating.  We have made a wonderful life together with 2 and a half beautiful additions (Ruby, Wyatt, and Scout).  Each year I fall more in love with him and feel more blessed to be his eternal companion.  He is always the first to say sorry and much quicker to forgive than I am (I can be real stubborn).  He is gentle and fun with the kids.  He is hardworking and ambitious at work.  He is kind and supporting in the home.  We are all better people because he is part of our life.

So, here's to many more happy years with my sweetheart. These first few have been a great start.

When Christmas Comes Around

Brandon jokes that Christmas lasts longer and longer each year, because we spend so many days celebrating.  Usually, we spend Christmas Eve with his family, Christmas day at our home, and the 26th with my siblings.  Well, this year to accommodate my sister-in-law's rotating schedule we moved up our traditional Christmas Eve celebration to December 23; which meant that we had an extra day of Christmas festivities. Here's the run down of how we partied for four days straight:

Christmas Eve Eve (Dec 23):
After a nice worshipful service at church we took afternoon naps and headed over to my in-laws for dinner, games, and the traditional reenactment of the Christmas story. 

Little Mary

Little Joseph

Wyatt with Uncle Chris and Aunt Alyssa

 Baby Peityn was Jesus, Ruby was Mary, and Wyatt was Joseph.  I was a donkey (per Ruby's suggestion) and Brandon was a wise man.  Wyatt spent most of the time trying to remove his costume and Ruby was more interested in feeding me hay than watching over her baby.

Christmas Eve:

I had originally planned to work out in the morning, but wasn't feeling well; so we spent the day around the house taking it easy.  In the afternoon the kids helped me make sugar cookies-- err a giant mess in the kitchen (it was fun, though) and then we watched The Polar Express, played a game about the animals and people associated with the first Christmas, and read our scriptures before turning in for the night.

Ruby was sooooo excited about Santa that she had a hard time falling asleep.  She had an elaborate plan to spy him from her window and then jump into bed and pretend to be asleep so that she could get a glimpse of him and his reindeer.  At one point she came into my room (where I was putting away laundry) and told me that she had a "teeny problem."  Apparently, Santa hadn't come yet because Brandon and I were still up and Santa only visits when you're sleeping.  I told her that I had a few chores to do and that as soon as I finished them I'd go to bed so that Santa would come.  She later told me that I took too long to finish my chores and Santa ended up coming after she fell asleep.  No glimpse for Ruby this year...

Christmas Day:
Santa left Ruby the doll house of her dreams and Wyatt a workbench (and of course, the fast car that his sister requested for him). 

Going for a spin in Wyatt's wagon

Wyatt, Grandma Dona, and Molly

playing with her new favorite toy

Little man loves his workshop

He also loves the sippy cups Santa put in his sock.

The doll house is pretty amazing.  You can really tell that the elves put in lots of hours and thought into making it perfect.  

nursery

living room- kitchen was a present from Papa Gary that we later added

dance studio-- complete with pictures of Ruby and Brooke dancing

Front door

mudroom/entry

Bedroom

Their workmanship leaves a little something to be desired, but the vision is quite extraordinary.  It has a dance studio, nursery, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and mudroom.

trying out the new sled

4 generations

My mom and grandma joined us in the morning for breakfast.  In the afternoon we went sledding, skyped with my dad, and rested.  In the evening we enjoyed our traditional Italian feast.  This year we had Grandma's famous meat sauce and my browned butter and mizithera cheese sauce.  Divine!

Playing Scum with the Linford crew

The Linfords came over for dessert, presents, and games.  Did I mention that I beat Chris, Chelsea, and Russell at Settlers?  Gotta document that since it rarely happens... By the time we turned in we went to bed we were happy and exhausted.

Angry elves because I won settlers.

Post Christmas (Dec 26):

My siblings spent most of the previous night driving up from California, so we postponed our usual festivities until the afternoon.  When we got there after nap time we exchanged presents and had a big family dinner.  Sadly, I didn't take many pictures...

Uncle Nick

Lynsie-- my niece-- growing up way too quickly!

After dinner I convinced everyone to play Scum, and shockingly my mom whooped us! lol But, honestly, it was just nice to visit and laugh with everyone.  They are all such fun people and I feel blessed that we can have such a great time together.  I just wish it hadn't taken us years to get to this point...

Christmas Recital

The week before Christmas Ruby had a holiday dance recital.  She had been preparing for her dance to "Holly Jolly Christmas" for months and anxiously awaiting the day she could wear her costume, so it's funny that when the night of the performance rolled around she sat on the ground, cried for Mommy,  and refused to dance. 

Pirouettes in our living room before the show.

Posing with her buddies the twins-- Sera and Breck.

Perhaps she was tired, perhaps she got a little stage fright; but whatever the glitch, she was over it by the curtain call and proudly took her bow.  When we out for cupcakes afterward she danced the entire routine for us in the middle of the cupcake shop.  We sure love our tiny dancer and enjoyed seeing her do something she loves-- even if it didn't go exactly as planned.

Ruby and Miss Emily, her beloved teacher.

Christmas Traditions

I really love this time of year.  There are so many fun things to do with the kids.  Here are a few of the highlights from the past few weeks:

Building a gingerbread house--

Ruby and Wyatt both had a great time putting this together.  Although, Wyatt might have enjoyed sneaking in bites of candy more than assembling and decorating the house.

Pictures with Santa--

The kids love Santa, even if you can't tell it in this particular picture.  I hate waiting in line for an hour to see him, but it's always worth it to hear them talk to Santa and see them get excited. True to what we've been hearing for the majority of the year, Ruby asked for a dollhouse and even asked Santa to bring a fast car for her baby brother.  She told Santa that she had been good and gladly gave him what he wanted for Christmas-- a hug!  On our way out we stopped by the courtyard of Thanksgiving Point to visit his reindeer; which we assume is how he arrived from the North Pole on a cold Tuesday night in December.

Driving thru the lights at Thanksgiving Point--

The kids love that they can get out of their carseats and sit on my lap as we drive thru the the lighted park.  It's truly magical to watch their eyes light up and stare in astonishment at all the beautiful lighted scenes.

Nutcracker--

I've seen the Nutcracker every December for the majority of the past 12 years, usually because Brandon's sister is performing; so this year I just couldn't break the tradition.  I invited my mother in law to come with me and Ruby and we enjoyed a girl's night out downtown.

We had a quick dinner at the Olive Garden and then walked across the street to the Capitol theatre to see Ballet West's Nutcracker.  Ruby loved it!  The seats next to us were empty (and no one was seated behind us), so she alternated between dancing and sitting on my lap.  She made it thru the performance until the last 2 dances, then she got antsy and "needed" to get up and visit the water fountain multiple times.  I love bonding with my tiny dancer.

Playing in the snow--
We've had a white December this year. Brandon and the kids love playing in the yard when they can.  He made a sled run on the side of our house and could spend hours outside building snowmen, throwing snowballs, and making snow angels.

Elf on the shelf--

The year Ruby was born my mom gifted us an elf on the shelf, but last year was the first year we used it.  Ruby dubbed our little elf Platypus and anxiously wakes up every morning looking for him.  For those who don't know about elf on the shelf, it's a little elf that lives in your home and silently watches what you do throughout the day and magically flies home to Santa at night to report your behavior.  Every night when he returns he finds a new place to hide in the house.  You can look at him, but whatever you do, don't touch him (or else he'll lose his magic).  Wyatt actually gets quite excited about him, too. When he sees Platypus he'll point to it and smile and often point to other places he's seen Platypus.

Oh, Christmas Tree...

 Last Saturday we bundled up and braved the cold weather to find the perfect Christmas tree.  It really is spectacular-- perhaps our biggest to date (8 ft. ish?).  The kids had lots of fun decorating it-- so much
so that they routinely take ornaments off and on.

 

My favorite new tradition is that every night we sit down together around the tree and do our family scripture study.

As soon as we say it's time to read the scriptures Wyatt runs to the bookshelf, grabs them, and brings them to us in the dining room.  I have to admit that it's the best part of our day. #lovethechristmasseason

Letters to Santa

Last week Ruby wrote a letter to Santa.  She dictated the text to me and I wrote it for her.  The letter read:
Dear Santa,
Please can you give Wyatt a fast car and me a doll house?  Can you give Daddy a bell for his bike?
I've been a good girl so you can bring me some presents.
Thank you for all the gifts you bring the girls and boys.
Love,
Ruby Elizabeth Linford




She then had me draw a picture of a dollhouse for her to color and later drew her own picture of a dollhouse on the back. When I sealed the envelope she asked me to write "Santa I've been a good girl today." on the back.
We mailed the letter off to the North Pole and within a week we got a letter back from Santa!

Here's what his letter said:
Dear Ruby,
Thank you so much for you letter.  I will do my best to make sure the elves get you a doll house, Wyatt a car, and Daddy a bike bell.
I'm so happy that you're on my "good list."  It makes me smile to see you be so nice to your brother and listen to your mommy and daddy.
Merry Christmas.
Love,
Santa Claus

Living Nativity

Ahhh, it's the most wonderful time of the year again!  This weekend we took the kids to a living nativity in Alpine.  It was a fantastic way to remind us all about the true reason behind this season.

We piled into a horse trailer, sat on hay bales, and rode into the city of Jerusalem.  From there we took a journey and walked to Bethlehem.  Along the way we met guards, and shepherds, and got to pet lots of animals.

We also took a journey through the market place and learned about what life was like during Jesus' lifetime.  We finished our journey by adoring Baby Jesus in the stable.

 It was a wonderful spiritual experience.  As long as we live here I imagine that it will be a seasonal tradition.

Papa Gary Came and Went Too Quickly

Last week my dad came and stayed with us for an extended weekend.  Since we don't get to see him more than a few times a year (sniff, sniff) we try and pack as much action into every minute of his stay as possible.
Here's a quick run down of all the fun stuff we did:
Chuck E Cheese lunch date

Trip to the Sweet Tooth Fairy (for cupcakes, of course)

Bike ride to the school playground

Night swimming at the Treehouse Athletic Club pool
Boys bike ride (Flintsone Trail)

Cornbelly's pumpkin patch/ corn maze

Dinner at JCWs
Family bike ride to Draper Park

Lots of stories, fort building, and monkey business

Trip to the playground at Sandy Park
Ferris wheel at Scheel's Sporting Goods

Farm at Thanksgiving Point



Children's Discovery Museum at the Gateway



Oh, and every night we watched a movie in the basement and EVERY night I fell asleep before it was over.  Can you guess why I was so tired?

It was a good time-- it always is.  I'm lucky to have such a wonderful dad and my kids are lucky to have such an amazing papa.  We can hardly wait to do it all over again-- hopefully sooner than later!