8 Years

Kev and I celebrated our eighth anniversary on December 27th. Eight years seems like a long time, I feel a tad old. It only feels old because we are close to 10 years and I always thought people who celebrate their 10th anniversary were old. We went out to dinner at this delicious restaurant called Stanley and Seaforts. And our waitress was shocked when we said we were celebrating 8 years. Glad I still come across as young. :)

It was a lovely evening without the children! Kevin's parents were still in town and were so sweet to watch all three kids while we went out to dinner. All three kids were sick too, so I really appreciate them doing that for us. We don't ever get date nights like we should so it was just fun to be out together. Amongst all the chaos of our life I sometimes forget how important it is to still date each other.

But I still love this guy to pieces.


It wasn't my favorite married year by any means, I know that sounds harsh but it is the truth. We just don't get to spend any time with one another. So I miss him. He is a busy man. He has a demanding job, he teaches early morning seminary and he comes home to three little kids who want to play with him non-stop. By the time they are in bed, seminary lesson is prepared all the other stuff is done, we are just exhausted.

However, he does this all very well and never complains. And I am so grateful for how hard he works and the job he has. And I know that he is suppose to be teaching seminary, he is great with the youth and they love him. And my favorite thing of all is watching him with our children, whether it be rocking Zac right after he had his surgery, wrestling with Ty or reading with Gracie. He is the best daddy to them.

So really I just feel blessed. As hard of year it was, I am so grateful to have such an amazing husband to share it all with.

Happy Anniversary Kev! I love you!

Christmas

Christmas morning came! It goes so fast! The first thing Ty said when he woke up was, "I heard Santa's bells!" and "Did the reindeer eat the carrots?"

We had a lovely day. We got up and opened stockings, the kids played with their big toys, opened a few gifts and we ate pancakes for breakfast. Then everyone went to church. I stayed home with the sick Gracie girl and let Zac nap. My sister got picked up and left.

We did Ty's presents after church and then Gracie opened hers later when she was feeling a little better. We had a delicious Christmas dinner and enjoyed playing games after the kids went to bed.

Kevin is the best! He is so sweet to help with the wrapping. We decided this year that Gracie would have princess wrapping, Ty had Toy story and cars wrapping. And Zac just had Chrismas red. They knew exactly which were their presents.


Stockings are my personal fave, I love finding stocking stuffers and enjoy stuffing them just right.


Santa came!


Such a cute picture, I love Zacs face.


The first gifts the kids opened were from Grandma and Grandpa Jenkins. Oh Ty was so excited for his John Deere Tractor.


Gracie got a doll with a little wagon to pull her in. Gracie enjoys pulling that wagon around.


Hehe, love this of Ty. He and Gracie had a blast playing in the playtent and playhouse from Auntie.


Gracie helping Zac learn his new toy.


He knew right away which train was Thomas.

Zac knew just which toy was his and crawled right to it. His musical mirror stand, he loved playing with it.


Ty was super excited to see his train set. He immediately went to it and started playing with it.


Auntie and her nephews. The boys getting in some time with her before she left.


Mr. Zac was just so happy to crawl around and get into everything and play with all the wrapping.


Ty all ready for church writing a get well note to Gracie on her chalkboard.

Ty had a blast this Christmas and he was just in heaven with all his backhoe loaders. Santa really came through as well as the Grandpas with his favorite trucks.
He was so full of excitement and energy. It was so fun to see him so happy and enjoying all the moments.

Ty thought this was the coolest thing from Uncle Nick and Amber. It is a nightlight fish tank. The twins sit and stare at all the fish going by.


Grandpa Jenkins was so good to put together all Ty's trucks right then and there.


"Bang!" "Got you!" Ty loves his gun from Grandma and Grandpa F. He has wanted this gun since we went to Montana for a visit back in the summer. Gracie however hates this gun and freaks out every time he points it at her.


Alright another loader truck! This boy loves his trucks! Thanks Grandpa Morgan.


The expressions Ty had when he opened his gifts were the best.


Poor Gracie girl was just so sick on Christmas. She had no energy and just wanted to sleep. She came down with this virus the day before and it just took over, such a bummer for her. I know she would have been so excited.

The most energy I saw her have Christmas morning was when she opened this and saw her Tangled dress up dress. She was so happy and had to have it on. Then like a minute later her fever spiked and I took her up to bed.


Gracie didn't finish opening her gifts until after her nap later in the day. She loved everything she got and has since enjoyed playing with it all.

Gracie loves this princess book from Uncle Nick and Amber.


This is her new favorite thing to do with Mommy.


Oh this just made her Christmas, to have her own TinkerBell doll that flaps her wings. She was so happy!


All the kids admiring their snowglobes with Grandpa Jenkins.


Such a fun day! Love all the family time and enjoying making these memories with my sweet kids.

Christmas Eve

The thing I love about being married and having a little family is beginning your own holiday traditions. It seems there always has to be a little give and take because you seem to be partial to doing what you did as a kid. So I am sure Kev and I will continue to add and refine what our traditions will end up being. But we definately want to build tradtions that are essentially are own family's.

Christmas Eve was filled with preparing for Santa to come, preparing our lovely dinner and having some time with family. We were lucky to have Kevins parents and brother come visit us for Christmas. And an extra treat to have my sister come for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Sadly Gracie girl came down with a virus on Christmas Eve and was pretty much without energy the whole weekend.


Our centerpiece for Christmas. For Christmas Eve we had cornish game hens, and dinner turned out great.


Making cookies for Santa. This was the second round of making sugar cookies this season. The twins knew just what to do. They wanted to help me roll out the dough.


Grandpa licking the divinity bowl, and trying to sneak Zac some too. He is always wanting to sugar my kids up. And I must add here that Kevin made the most delicious divinity. It is not an easy task and I was highly impressed. He says it may be hard to repeat that so its a good thing I ate alot of it.


So I smile when I see this picture because I just envision Auntie talking to Gracie and explaining to her how to frost and decorate cookies all the while miss Gracie has decided she would just like to eat the frosting.


Gracie was super sick on Christmas Eve, this was the most energy I saw her have, when Auntie arrived and helped her decorate cookies for Santa.


mmmmm.....yummy!


"Help me Auntie, help!"


Making cookies with Auntie is so much fun.


This is out of order because Zac was so tired he got his Christmas jammies early and went to bed before our Christmas Eve program. So stinkin' cute if you ask me.


Grandpa read the Christmas story from Luke 2 while Kev acted it out with the kids using our "kid friendly" nativity set. They did a great job and stayed real engaged. Gracie loves the "baby Jesus" and had to use our more real looking one. I tried hard thoughout the month to explain to the twins why we celebrate Christmas and the real meaning. Whenever I would ask them they would say, "baby Jesus' birthday".


Daddy read aloud, "The Night Before Christmas".


After we read, we had a surprise knock at the door with a big red bag, it was sent from Santa with a note from his elves. We were to open the gifts inside to help us go to sleep so Santa could come.


Ty was so excited to open a present and even more thrilled when he saw it was pjs with a loader on them.


Gracie so sick, she was so ready for bed and loved her jammies and slippers.


The best picture of Ty in pajamas. He was a little apprehensive about the Cars slippers.



Christmas Eve was so fun. We made sure we put cookies out for Santa, carrots for the reindeer, and just in time to hear Santas bells and off to bed. Ty seemed so excited and started to really get into it. Love the magic of it all.

December Moments

Some moments from our busy month of December. IT always goes too fast and somehow we always end up sick during some part of it. But we have fun! I love the magic of the holidays.

Zac is so mobile now and into everything! It is so fun seeing him engaged in everything that is around him. He loves exploring and figuring things out. He loves playing with all the twins toys. I just love this little guy.


So my twins right here, I know Ty is thinking, "Gracie you are not suppose to eat the frosting!" "You go to timeout!" And in response, Gracie would just chew and swallow faster.


Ty just liked to mix the color in and watch the frosting change.


Daddy trying to show the twins how to decorate the cookies without over sprinkling. A skill we will continue to practice.


For family night we like to take holiday treat plates to our friends and neighbors. I would like to say we carol too, but nope not so much. Maybe when the kids know the words.


Our first round of decorating sugar cookies. They loved to lick a little as they went.


In a "aha" I caught you moment. This is a devious smile from miss Gracie.


Gracie girl has really gotten into coloring lately. If only she would put the lids back on the markers and not get any on her clothes. We are still learning.


Gracie and Ty riding the horsie together. This usually ends in some sort of wrestling match.


Zac decided it is fun to climb into the fridge when the door is open. Silly boy.