January

We rang in 2017 with a house FULL of people. We were hosting the seven Wangsgards while they were in town for Glinda's funeral. Add in the Farrells and a few friends and we had 15 kids in the house! I feel like that's how this year is going to be for our family - big, loud, crazy, and tons of fun! 

Eliza has taken to stuffing Ellie in her shirt. One day I found this picture of me about her age doing the exact same thing! Like mother, like daughter! 

Orson spent the month climbing on everything he can reach, falling off, and doing it all over again!

Sweet Lenora had a birthday! (more to follow)

And Miss Hazel and I bravely walked 6 blocks to her friends house after an ice storm so she could keep her play date. It was treacherous! I love this girl and the great person she's growing up to be!

We played trains.

Ice skated inside...

.... and outside.

Enjoyed a family date for ice cream on a cold Saturday.

 Dreamed of mountains and skiing!

Played with this crazy puppy! She learned if she waits carefully by the front door until one of the little kids is going out she can escape and gallivant through the neighborhood enjoying the snow. Naughty!

We enjoyed a snow day from school complete with crafts and dress up.  

Eliza wrote the most adorable story....

Overall it was a typically winter month. Now to hunker down and survive another month or two. I'm already longing for spring.

A Sabbath Christmas Day

Christmas Day fell on a Sunday this year. I personally love when this happens. I love waking up and attending a Sacrament meeting centered on Christ to celebrate His birth. This year, the meeting was joyful and somber all at the same time. Christmas Eve we had received a call from "Grandpa Jones" from our ward. His sweet wife Glenda had passed away early that morning. They both are like grandparents to all the kids in the ward. He passes out candy and fruit snacks each Sunday. They both were always attending recitals, concerts, birthday parents, etc. For so many of us whose families are far away, they filled a void and loved us and our children like their own. Glenda was very dear to my children and Christmas Eve we all had a good cry over her death. Though our ward was somber with her recent passing, our Christmas Sacrament meeting was filled with joy. Joy because our Savior was born! Joy because He was resurrected and we will be as well! Joy knowing we will see sweet Glenda again as well as all our loved ones! Mourning the death of our dear friend yet celebrating the birth of our Savior. It was a touching and beautiful meeting. 

Our Christmas was wonderful! I was so proud of these sweet little girls this year. Their requests from Santa were not for the biggest and best toys or some electronic. They each asked for just one simple item. Hazel wanted a jewelry box, Eliza a mommy and baby elephant, and Lenora a Trolls thing. Santa was more than happy to honor the requests of these little girls who seem to understand the true meaning of Christmas. 

All the kids were very pleased with their gifts! Orson was cracking us up with the light saber his family secret Santa Eliza gave him.

It has become our tradition to have the missionaries over on Christmas day to eat, Skype their families, and play games. We love having them join our festivities! Merry Christmas!

Tradition Mash-Up

Uncle TJ drove out for Christmas again this year! We all LOVE having him come to visit. He hates being in pictures so of course we don't have a single picture from his trip (besides his legs in the background of the picture above). He arrived the 22nd just before the snow. This was a first snow deep enough to play in so the kids were so excited!

Crystal the snow-girl. 

This was Orson's first time really playing in the snow. He wasn't so sure at first, but then decided he loved it!

The dogs of course had fun too. Haley was so excited by this magical white stuff.

On Christmas Eve we invited our dear friends the Farrells to join us for dinner. We decided to have a mash-up of all our families traditions. It was perfect! For dinner we had:
     * Tostadas smothered in green chili (my family tradition)
     * Cheese enchiladas (TJ's pick - when they were young Michael's family did Mexican at Mi Casa)
     * Homemade pizza (Michael's pick - as they got older their tradition shifted to pizza)
     * Virgin Pina Coladas (Jon Farrell's family always has this and clam chowder)
It was SO yummy! And of course we all ate a ton.

After dinner the kids acted out the nativity which was something we always did growing up. 

It was such a perfect evening full of family, friends, traditions, and celebrations of our Savior.

Family Photos Fall 2016

This one perfectly captures their personalities and sweet relationships.

Real life - clingy, wild, bored, covered in kids. I love it!

Photo Credits - Michael and a tripod. We're becoming pretty good at do-it-yourself family photos!