Our First Christmas

Saturday we had a full day open with nothing to do.  Next week we have our three Christmas celebrations all in a row.  So after a few minutes, I decided today would be the day we would have our Christmas.  We got all dressed up in our holiday colors and prepared to open gifts. 

Getting them to sit next to each other in front of the tree was impossible, so this is as good as it got. 

Finn didn't need any help opening gifts this year, he tore right into them.  He would open a present and want to just sit there playing with it, not really interested in the fact that he had more coming.

Selah on the other hand, loves the drama (as if that is a surprise to anyone!)  She would close her eyes till we brought her a present.  Then we would have to say Surprise! and she would rip into the gift, with big oooh's and aaaah's to follow.  She did thank us for each of her gifts, so that was nice to see.

Yes, this picture is blurry...I tell you he never pauses for a moment!

And what would Christmas be without the man I love by my side.  And you will never guess who took this picture...Selah!  We are going to make a photographer out of her yet.  I am afraid my "don't touch my camera" isn't going to work much longer when I ask her to take our picture the rest of the time.  Oh well.  For now, just enjoying the calm before the storm.

Sweets, sweets, and more sweets

The kids and I got to head to my mom's on Friday for a day of baking.  I needed to bring cookies for Christmas and wanted to try gingerbread houses with the kids so we made a day of it.  Yep, did it up big.  Brought the aprons along with us and everything! 

Selah getting ready to cut out sugar cookies.

Looking good!

Of course Selah had a little help.  Thanks Mom for being so patient and teaching Selah how to make cookies.  We are blessed!

As I said this year I wanted to do gingerbread houses.  I got a house for Selah and a train for Finn.  Great idea, I know.  Ha!  Luckily Selah's was assembled before we got started so all we had to do was frost and decorate.  Selah was excited to begin...or eat all the candy and frosting I should say.  By the time we got to the 2nd side of the roof she was ready to do something different.  Fun nonetheless!

Soaking up the moments, they go by so quick.  Love you sis!

This monkey wanted in on the fun too.  Oh, what an onery look!  And that is just what he was, onery!  He lasted about 3 minutes before I got him down so he could run around some more.

He got to put a few candies on the house.  By the way, his train, W-A-Y too much work!  We stuck with the house this year.

And mostly they didn't decorate, they ate lots and licked their little fingers!

The day was very productive, much to our surprise.  3 different kinds of cookies, peanut butter balls...mmm good!  Selah moved on to mixing up more batches of cookies, her idea of frosting which resulted in me taking away the knife after a while.  She hadn't eaten any breakfast or lunch hardly, but of course had many handfuls of candy, sprinkles, and frosting for the day!

Thanks Mama Leman for making this a memorable day!  Can't wait to do it again next year!  And yes, I HAVE heard I look a lot like my mother :)

The icing on the cake, or cookies should I say :) was staying until Grandpa came home!  She squealed with joy and ran into him arms when she saw him.  Priceless!

And since we didn't get enough sugar during the day, when Grandma Gerst came over that night later with my mom and dad we had round 2.  Pretzels with frosting and loads of turtles.  Hello holiday calories!

Once again just feeling overwhelmed by how blessed I feel, for Selah that she can have grandma's so close by to share these moments with.

I have to run now, time for a sugar break!

The Continuing of Traditions

Our family hasn't established many traditions yet.  The kids are still young so we are working on coming up with new things to hold onto in the next year. 

I had to stick this picture in first because last week Selah and I got a date night while Tadd and Finn went to a basketball game together.  It was nice spending time along together with her.  I had returns at the mall and I let Selah pick something to do.  She could go jump on the trampoline of sorts or get her toes painted.  Well, the trampoline was closed, so toenails it was.  The ladies thought it quite humerous when Selah wanted something Christmasy on her big toes.  A snowman it was.  It's still there so far :) 

On a more exciting note, our one tradition we have continued is going to the festival of lights every year.  Selah was so excited to go this year and even more thrilled because she got to go with Haley and Brooke. 

So we headed out to Chili's first with Nate and Emily Sauder.  Here is my cheese!  Isn't he the cutest!

A chance at a family photo, so you have to take it.

Brooke, Selah, and Haley waiting to head out to the lights.

Finn loves hanging out with all the girls too!

The best part is both of our families can still cram in one vehicle to view the lights, which won't last much longer :)

It was a great evening shared with friends.  One these girls will never forget.  I love this stage.  Seeing their amazement and talking of all the neat lights they saw.  So fun!

Preparing our Hearts and Home for The Season

What is it about the Christmas season that makes a person all gushy (is that a word?)  Like the second you open the tree box full of branches and hear the Christmas music playing in the back, that your heart skips a beat and no matter what is going on you feel giddy with excitement.  This year we had lots of 'helpers'!  Finn wanted so badly to climb on the step stool with Tadd and help put the lights on the tree.
Selah was eager to put the ornaments on and did quite well I might add.  Although all the ornaments were jumbled in one central area, but that was OK.  Now whenever I look at it, it makes me smile. 

And Finn joined in the decorating too.  Mostly we were just cautious that he didn't break any ornaments or pull the tree down in the process :)

Selah got to help put the angel on the top this year.


Most people know me as not a very sentimental type person, don't cry at movies very often, can remain strong during intense situations if necessary, in other words a great stuffer of emotions.  Ha!  But, Christmas always makes me all teary.  Maybe its the memories of past years' events that we remember as we are doing similar things the next year.  Or the smells and sounds around us that make us remember things of the past.  And this year is one of the same.

I am trying to pause more in life and soak up the moments.  It was one of the things I told myself after Laynie passed away that I was going to get better at.  Hold my kids longer, stop and enjoy each moment, each minute of the day.  So as we were getting our home ready for the holiday and time draws closer to the day of remembering our Savior's birth, I pause and remember past years, past moments...

Last year at Christmas...

and the year before that...(a side note: this is a present from Selah's birthmom that she loved the first time she received it and this year when we got it out of the box of decorations once again, she picked it up and hugged it close to her chest and said "I missed you so much!"  She was so HAPPY to see her friend again!  And we have been listening to him every since, as he plays a Christmas version of Shout as we all dance along)
And the year before that.  Our last Christmas with Laynie.  We didn't know it at the time...moments...

the pictures that take your breath away, because at any moment....

it could be your last...and we need to hold on to those we love, show them we care, tell them we love them...life passes in the blink of an eye...


So this Christmas my prayer for you is that you can experience the peace that only God can grant you.  That you can feel the love of Jesus Christ.  That no matter what may be going on in your life whether you are experiencing the struggles of raising children, burdens with providing for your family, a marriage that is struggling to unite, relationships that are strained, the heartache of a loved one who is gone, sickness, or so many other struggles in life...that you can remember that ALL things work together for GOOD to those who love HIM, to those who are called according to HIS PURPOSE!  I find so much comfort in our family's theme verse because I have found nothing to be more true.  Our family has so much to be thankful for.  God has been good to us this year and all the years before.  And even though at specific moments in my life things didn't always seem "good", My God knew what was best for me and worked all things towards His purpose and grew me closer to Him!  And for that I praise His High and Holy Name!  We have a peace and love from a Father that NEVER ends!  May you find rest this Christmas.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

We love you all! Merry Christmas!

Little cousins at the Farm

Just like us big kids had our fun together, we took the little kids out on the perfect fall day to Radar Farm.  A little local Farm where they can run and experience all kinds of things. 

Colt, Finn, and Selah (yeah, this was as good as the picture gets with 3 kiddos)

Watch out!  There are chickens that like to chase you around too during the day.  Ha! Selah didn't quite know what to think!

Cheese!

This is what I thought would be so much fun!  Selah was scared of it.  She lasted for about 1 minute before crying to get off and Finn cried if you tried to hold on to him.  Such are my two kiddos - the complete opposite!  Pausing to take a quick picture.

I'm on top of the world!

Colt feeding some of the goats.  I love the open mouth pictures.  Seems the kids were helping the goats know what to do.  Makes me think of feeding kids baby food when they first start learning.  Caught myself with my mouth open a few times too!

Grandma Leman - what a good sport!  Going down the slide.  This things actually moves you about 2 cm a minute as you try to shimmy down it.  Not too fast, but the kids still liked it!
Then came the time for the train ride.  We all waited for a turn.  We counted...I think we had 8 kids that day.  Almost filled every barrel up :)


Can't wait to watch these kids continue to grow up together!  Time just flies by - 'cause we are all having fun together!

Cousins Night Out

This fall we had the chance to have a cousin's night out, the first ever.  In the last couple years we have together added 7 or more kids.  Our lives have all changed from no kids, to having each having our own kids if not multiple.  Family events have turned into a free-for-all with the kids running the show.  Gone are the days of sitting down and actually having conversations, instead we are wiping noses, filling mouths with food, and chasing after crawling/walking kids. 

So a night out was definately in store.  We were missing a few cousins, but overall it was a great night.  We started out at Los Potrillos in Bloomington, great fast Mexican food.  Then we headed to a local bowling alley where we all got our game on. 

Bowling...how I have missed those wonderful shoes, those neon lit lanes...

We all had a great night out having fun with adult conversations.  The couples of the evening:
My brother Adam and sis-in-law Kristen

My cousin Tim and his wife Traci

My cousin Holly and her husband Joey

My cousin Trent and his wife Jenae

My cousin Kelli and her husband Ryan

And of course you know..my hubby Tadd :)


Most everyone played, except for Jenae as little Crey was almost ready to make his entrance into this world.  Isn't she the cutest pregnant person you have seen?  Hopefully she won't mind that I put this picture in here...but I love her bump!  And now that I am posting - Crey is here!  We are so excited to have him join the Leman crew!

After bowling it was back to our house for snacks, dessert, and games...Trivial Pursuit was the choice.  Guys vs. Girls of course!  And I know that you can all figure out who won...the women!  We all learned how horrible we were at the game.  And this was supposed to be the 90's one, which is easier right?

All in all, it was a great night of fun with cousins.  Can't wait to do it again soon!