Days before Christmas and Christmas Eve

I hate the I feel like December comes and goes so fast. I tried really hard this year to get most my shopping and busy stuff done early. I did ok at that but could have been better. I love seeing all the little reminders though on Facebook, blogs, Instagram, and in my home of the real meaning of Christmas. Sometimes I get so distracted by all the worldly things.

I saw this picture posted somewhere and I loved it. 

With Thanksgiving so late this year and too many other things going on at the beginning of December we didn't get our tree until mid month. Once we got it I has stuck getting all the decorating done because Josh just wasn't around and didn't have time. 

I did make some effort this year to do some fun activites with the kids. (I don't love doing this because of the mess and the long processes)

The first thing we did was make salt ornaments. The kids loved it.

The next day we painted them and even got Josh to help before he headed off to work. 

We made sugar cookies

The kids enjoyed eating the dough while making shapes.

Scarlett and Payton's snowmen.

I printed out some coloring pages and we colored christmas pictures.

The kids each decorated a gingerbread man. We got the kit for free.

We got to decorate our sugar cookies.

The kids ate the candy and made a mess of course. 

We then had homemade pizza on Christmas Eve before Josh left for work.

The kids each got to open their one gift from Josh and I (Pajamas) and their Aunt Stef sent them a package to open on Christmas Eve also.

This picture melts my heart and fills my eyes with tears. Josh and I are unbelievable blessed to have these 3 kids in our life!

One quick picture with Josh before he left for work on Christmas Eve night. 

The rest of the night the kids and I ate treats and watched a Christmas movie together. It was a very quiet Christmas Eve but we enjoyed it. 

Classroom, Date Night, Girls time!

I LOVE every chance I get to help in Payton's classroom at school. I love his school and I love being on campus. I enjoying being in the classroom and seeing the kids Payton associates with each day. I enjoying watching him and seeing how he behaves. I enjoy getting to know his teacher each year and helping them in anyway that I can. They do so much and give so much time the least I can do is help when I have time. I truly appreciate the staff at his school. They have created an atmosphere that I feel is very beneficial to the students. Its not like any other school I have seen or been a part of. 

For christmas this year in Payton's class his teacher set up a little book exchange. Every kid brought in a book wrapped and signed from them. Then the teacher read a story with the words 'left' and 'right' in it a ton. Each time she said any of these words the kids would pass the book that direction. Once the story was over you opened your book and thanked the student it was from. 

She also read them a story or two and the kids got to wear their pajamas to school. They all loved it.

His class with their books.

Listening to the story. The ended the day by watching Polar Express and having snacks and hot chocolate.

We enjoyed a date night out with our good friends Lo, Mel, Krista and Justin. We wore some interesting sweaters/outfits to dinner and the movies.

It was a fun evening and we had lots of good laughs.

Scarlett and I got to enjoy a few hours together on a Saturday. She chose to go and get manicures and then get ice cream. 

Scarlett is such a sweet girl. I enjoy the few times that I get with each of my kids alone. I want them to always fell loved and special. 

Showing Payton, Josh and Mckinley our nails. 

Had to take a pregnancy photo since I am so bad at this. I am 26 weeks in this picture.

These girls are total hams and they love posing and being cute. 

This picture makes me laugh all the time. Mckinley cracks me up. My girls definitely keep us on our toes. They are VERY different from Payton. I'm very curious to see how this 3rd girl will be. Payton is definitely an amazing big brother to his sisters. 

Oakland Temple Christmas Lights

Our yearly tradition of going and seeing the temple lights this year was a little different but not much. We did have our normal company of our friends. Instead we got to enjoy having Tracie and John and their family come with us. (we love that they live closer to us) Our two good friends and their families were supposed to join us but they couldn't for various reasons. Tracie and John have never been to see these temple lights so we were excited to have them join us and be a part of our family tradition.

We all loaded into our car and headed to the Oakland Temple.

We walked round and enjoyed the atmosphere of being on the temple grounds.

It was a little cold and wet, but not that horrible. The kids got cold near the end. 

Enjoying the View!

Beautiful!

Mckinley inspecting her gloves! Cedar and Scarlett posing for a picture.

Tracie, John, Cedar and Bren

Our family picture in front of the temple.

We went into the visitor center and walked around, watched a short video and had another family picture taken.

We headed back to the car for some cookies, hot chocolate and apple cider (Josh made and it was amazing)

Being able to go to the temple with our kids and walk around is a tradition I hope our kids never forget. I remember going it as a kid. I love being at the temple and the feelings you have while being there.