First Come Love...then Comes Marriage

My baby sister got married!  I will have to say it felt kind of weird to see the last of us tie the knot.  I guess in my mind I was secretly hoping that we would all stay the same way we always have been and never get old.  

In all honesty we are all thrilled for Kimberly!  We are so so so happy she found Caleb.  I don't think I could say that enough.  He treats her so well and loves her so much...which makes me super happy!

Their day was so special.  I couldn't help but let out a few tears while in the sealing room of the temple.  Somehow our family felt a little more complete that day.  The only thing I was missing was Paul.  

Kim and Caleb are so cute together!  I wish I had of gotten a few more photos of them. As you can see we all thoroughly enjoyed the after party.  Cookies for miles...I wish I had of eaten more.  

Congratulations kids!  We love you!

Thanksgiving

We did Thanksgiving at home this year.  I knew we would be alone so I tried to extend as many invitations as I could.  In the end I only had one friend who didn't have plans.  She was planning on doing Thanksgiving at home but her husband had to work.  I wouldn't wish making an entire Thanksgiving dinner and taking care of young kids alone on anyone.  I'm so glad that she could come.  Laurel truly is my favorite person.  She is so kind and never speaks an ill word of anyone.  I had so much fun visiting with her and Audrey loved having her friends over.  

After they left Paul, I and Audrey enjoyed a movie and leftovers.  I'm happy to say that I made less pie this year so we had just enough to last us a few days. :)  I also learned about freezing apple turnovers which are now my favorite breakfast snack.  

All the festivities aside I really enjoyed spending time with the two people I love the most in this world.  I was talking with my sister about it...we were both saying that we really don't remember what we ate for a specific Thanksgiving, or what we got for Christmas.  The only thing we remember are the traditions we had and the time we spent with each other. 

These were good times!  

Letter Sounds

When I was doing home school with Audrey I was always trying to come up with ways that I could help her love learning.  I came up with one of these for each letter of the alphabet and a few for letter blends.  She loved them!  

When Audrey started school I started helping a few days a week in a 2nd grade class. I was surprised find out that a lot of them still didn't know letter sounds.

While helping them I would draw these small drawings to help the kids remember.  After a few days the teacher approached me to put together these cards.  I had so much fun doing it and I hope it has helped. If you're looking for a way to teach letter sounds, let me know.  I'd love to send these your way!

Pretty Lights on the Tree

 We decorated early for Christmas. I knew we would be leaving for Utah so I had to get it up before Thanksgiving.  I think decorating might be our favorite part of Christmas.  Audrey and I enjoy the decorating part and Paul enjoys the Christmas cookies and pudding. :) 

This year he made us Spanish rice pudding, which is so different from what I grew up with.  I loved it so much that I requested it again the next day but we were out of rice.  I think we might have to revisit it soon! 

I didn't get too many pictures this time around.  I think we go side tracked with all the awesomeness going on.  Paul was sweet enough to get these few.  

I love this little girl in her Christmas hat and her Daddy.  Moments like this wouldn't be quite so special without the two of them.  

Audrey was so excited to open up her nativity this year.  She told me all about the story as she carefully pulled each piece out of the box.  Then I brought her over to their spot and she lined them all up in their places.   I couldn't help but be so grateful that she knows about Jesus Christ and the gift he is to each of us.  

Holiday Crafting

Audrey's favorite thing to do is paint.  When I pull out the paint she will usually be busy for at least a couple hours.  It's a little messy, but so worth it.  Lately I've used the holidays as a reason for anything crafty.  We always make simple things...I'm not too crafty of a Mom. :)  We made a paper turkey, we painted turkeys and Christmas trees, we made an ornament for our tree, and did countless coloring pages over the last couple months.  When we have extra time on a Saturday or after school I put out something like this that we can do together. 

 I really enjoy sitting with Audrey and talking while we work on something together. I've also noticed that anything that has to do with art has a calming effect on on her.  If she's really frustrated about something it's her way of working it out in her mind.  I also love watching what she comes up with when all she has is a blank sheet of paper and her imagination.  

When we are done I have a wall that we stick our projects up on.  She knows at the end of the month I take pictures of everything so we can remember, throw them away, and then we start all over again the next month.  

You better believe I'm going on milk Valentines day for all it's worth.  We might do this:

Heart hand warmers

 Or these cute notes for everyone we love

and as always a coloring page: https://bestofcoloring.com/coloring-pages-11724/

Our First Winter at Home

I'm so behind that I'm going to start blazing through these photos.  I was chosen to take candid photos for Audrey's school yearbook which has kept be so busy, along with my new job of substitute teaching.  I teach almost everyday this month and I have to say that I love it.  It's tiring, but so worth it. I feel like I'm busier than I ever have been...but it's a good busy.  

I'm hoping that with this new year I can make some commitments to my blog and get more done.  My journal/picture book has gone by the wayside and I really hate that. So here goes....

It happened.  We had our first snow in Montana and I would have to say it was magical.  I wasn't ready for it the day after Halloween but it was beautiful.  I was once again in awe over another season change.  Audrey made her first snow man away from Grandma's house and then made her very first ever snow angel.  I'm pretty sure it was everything she ever imagined it would be.  I've never heard so many giggles.  I showed her how to roll the balls for the snowman and as a result she wanted to build this one all by herself. She would have preferred to build a snowman a day for the next week and end up with a snow family but there wasn't enough snow.  It all melted away pretty quickly and we didn't see more for almost two more months.  

Poppy thought the snow was a gift from the heavens and it became even better when we started putting food in the snow for her to find.  She thought the carrot nose we put on the snowman was hers for the taking.  Audrey wasn't very happy that she had to keep saving the snowman from being nose-less.  It didn't help that it was the last carrot in the house. :)

I've come to realize that cold isn't so bad as long as you have a few things.  Paul bought an outdoor fire pit and with it I can handle endless snowman building as long as I can take a break here and there to warm myself by the fire.  Boots are a significant upgrade to shoes and wearing thermals might save your bacon when it's below freezing.  A hat, gloves, and wool socks are almost as good as wearing another coat and having a garage is very nice.  Winter isn't so bad in my book.  I might feel differently in a few years when the excitement has worn off, but for now I'm sticking with liking it.