Cookies for Santa

After all the birthday celebrations on Christmas Eve, we got down to business and made some cookies for Santa. The boys had fun decorating a few cookies for Santa and a few for themselves too. 

They picked out a few of their favorite cookies they'd decorated and left them on a plate with a Dr. Pepper for Santa and hurried and got ready for bed. We had been tracking Santa on his journey that night on Norad and he was on the east coast, so we thought we better go to bed so he didn't have to skip our house.

Merry Christmas to all.... and to all a good night!!

Santa's Wonderland!

The week before Christmas I took the boys to see Santa at the Santa's Wonderland over at Bass Pro Shop. We were so busy during the month, that we didn't get around to going until the boys were out of school for Winter Break, unfortunately thats what LOTS of other people did too. Luckily we went with some friends, so it made the hour and a half wait in line a bit more fun. When it was finally our turn, Landon walked up holding Brayden's hand until he was about 10 feet from Santa, and changed his mind. I tried to just set him on Santa's lap, but he wasn't having any of that, and started screaming. So just Brayden and Conner got their pictures with Santa. Landon decided that Santa wasn't too bad when he was handing him a candy cane, but he only got close enough to snatch the candy cane from Santa's hand, then ran off. Oh well, maybe next year. 

We are looking forward to Christmas!!!

Helping Grandpa

While we were in Arizona for Thanksgiving, the boys spend most of their time outside in Grandpa's backyard. Between the swing set, the bikes, and lots of grass to run around in, it was heaven for little boys. They played out there everyday with their cousins and had a blast. 

One afternoon, I caught Landon "helping" Grandpa clear leaves out of the yard. A broom with totally get leaves out of the rocks....right???

Conner was supervising the project.

 What a cute little helper!

There ya go Grandpa. You're welcome!

The Polar Express

Over Thanksgiving, we went to my parents house in Arizona. While we were there, I took the boys on the Polar Express with my sister and her family. We had SO much fun. The boys just loved it. They got to get some new pajama's for the train ride. So fun to ride on a train in your pj's!

We got to wait next to the tracks and watch the train come in. It was a really old train, from the 1920's.

 This is the boys standing in front of the train, it was so big, it was impossible to get it all in the picture. We stood in line and waited for our turn to board.

 Here are the "Chef's" taking our tickets....

 Watch your step..... those were some pretty big and steep stairs.

 Then we waited for your journey to start to the North Pole!!!

Once the train was on it's way to the North Pole, we got some on Mrs. Clause's special cookies and hot cocoa! They were pretty dang good!

Landon was not enjoying the train at first. It was big and loud, and he had been in a car all day driving from Vegas to my parents house, then another hour and a half to the train. He was done. But it's amazing what a cookie can cure! He was a happy camper once he got one.

 Then the Conductor came and punched our tickets. 

As we rode, the story of the Polar Express was read to everyone by the Chef's. 

At one point in the book, it talks about how when they went through the woods you could see wolves running beside the train. The Chef told the boys to look out into the woods to see if they could see any. Later I was told they saw 13 wolves running in the woods.  hehe! They were just SURE there were some wolves out there!

 Landon and his little baby cousin Carter had fun playing with each other and taking each others binky's. They entertained themselves while the older kids were still watching for more wolves!

 Finally, we made it to the North Pole. But since it's so cold at the North Pole, they have you stay in the train. But you could see Santa, his reindeer, his toy factory, and his house. There were elves roaming about and getting everything ready for Santa. 

Lucky for us, Santa found time to come on the train and give everyone a bell for the first gift of Christmas. Landon wasn't too sure about this Santa guy. He reluctantly took the bell though. 

The boys also got their bells and we were off again back to the train station. We sang Christmas songs on the way back and heard lots and LOTS of jingle bells.

It was so fun! We were sad that Patrick wasn't able to go with us, but we figured a one and a half hour train ride wasn't the best thing for his back. The boys have already asked if we can go again next year with Daddy this time. I sure hope so! 

It was a great way to start our Christmas season! Thanks Auntie Janette and Uncle Jeff to taking us with you!!!!

Halloween Fun!

This year we had lots of fun Halloween activities going on. The boys had a blast! 

This year Brayden decided that he wanted to dress up as a Vampire. Although he refused to wear make up or fangs. I teased him and told him he could be a *sparkly* vampire like Edward, but for some reason he was appalled by that idea!  :)   He was still a cute little vampire.

 But he did let me spray his hair all black.

Conner wanted to be a Ninja.

And Landon was Yoda. So. Dang. Cute!

Yoda wasn't too interested in getting pictures taken, he was more interested in playing in the neighbors yard. 

First they had a Trunk or Treat at school. It was just a little one, which was fine. They got a little bit of candy to help them last a few more days until their next Trunk or Treat. They had a 4 day weekend that week and so we decided to have some more halloween fun and made some "scary" holiday food.  I got all these fun ideas from Pintrest (*love*) and some of my fav blogs

We had some "Baby Ghosts" with our lunch one day. (Bananas with chocolate Chips for eyes) from Brown Paper Packages

One night we were going over to a friends house to watch a movie and eat "spooky treats" so I made eyeballs on a fork. (donut holes dipped in while chocolate and decorated with a chocolate chip and red chocolate) 

For dinner one night, I made a whole Halloween themed dinner. Most of these ideas came from one of my most fav blogs Our Best Bites. We had "Mummy Dogs"

"Bones and Blood" (my camera somehow ruined my picture of this... super annoying, but they are yummy garlic breadsticks with pizza sauce for dipping)

"Goblin Guts" (which was just Jello) and "Witches Brew" (lime sherbet and Sprite) which only Brayden and I drank, no one else would try it! Crazy!

"Monster Heads" (sliced apples with slivered almonds for teeth and mini m&m's for eyes)

Later that weekend I made these super yummy and cute Candy Corn Cookies.

We also of course had to carve our pumpkins. 

Landon loved his Vampire pumpkin.

 Brayden's pumpkin, Conner's, and Landon's. The older boys helped to carve their pumpkins this year. 

 They turned out pretty good!

We also went to our ward's Trunk or Treat and the boys got so much candy there!! Landon was hardly able to lift his bucket by the end.

Then on Halloween, we went Trick or Treating with some friends. We had quite the crowd... at least 20 kids. It was so fun! 

It was a great halloween around our house, and we will have candy for a long time!!!

Lessons Learned

One year ago Patrick lost his job.

Never did we imagine that this would be a trial we would have to face. But here we are, and after quite a trying year, possibly the most difficult we have yet faced in our marriage we are hopefully coming out of it as better and stronger people. There is no denying that we have learned many things, like...

*There are worse things then losing a job

*Not having health insurance is not the worst thing in the world

*Never did I think that something would happen to my husband making it so I was fully responsible to take care of everything and everyone in our family. A year ago if you would have told me that, I would've told you I couldn't do it, but I did. And I now know I am stronger then I ever thought I could be and I will, and have, done whatever it takes to take care of my family, even when it really sucks! I didn't do it alone, there was tons of love and support from our family and friends and most definitely from our loving Heavenly Father.

*Helplessly watching your husband be in pain and suddenly not being able to walk or do things on his own and not knowing what is wrong or knowing that there is nothing you can do to help is just about the worst feeling ever.

*Preisthood blessings are amazing. I knew this before, but never have they been so A-MAZ-ING and helped us through so much.

*The Lord sometimes answers prayers in ways you never ever would've expected.

*He also places people in your path that you need. Sometimes it is a friend, sometimes it is an amazing surgeon who instantly knows something is wrong and knows just how to fix it... and is willing to do it even though you don't have insurance.

*Prayer is an amazing thing. Again, I knew this before, but some days it was a million prayers for help to just get through the day that carried me through. And sometimes when I just didn't think I could take one more step, it was the tender mercies that He blessed me with. Like a friend calling and after I broke down in tears to her on the phone, she came and picked me up to take me out for ice cream, or a feeling of love and comfort from the Spirit, or the strength to handle just one more day. There were prayers answered every day.

*My kids are pretty amazing. With everything on me, I found I just couldn't always do it all, and had to rely on them to help. Over the summer they learned how to empty the dishwasher, help separate, fold, and hang up the laundry, how to help clean the bathrooms, and how to help with Landon. They were awesome!

*My sister is pretty awesome! She was such a blessing to me over the past year. She is the only one who I truly told all the good, bad, ugly, and even uglier to. She always encouraged me and strengthened me. I would call her in freak out mode and she would somehow always know what to say. She was such a blessing! I love her to death and can't tell her thank you enough.

*This past year have been so extremely hard and seemed to have more trials then I ever saw coming. But it has also been a year of the most blessings we have ever received as a family. Every one of us has been blessed, strengthened, and made better over this past year. We have never gone without anything that we needed and we have been brought closer together as a family. Some say that difficult times like what we have been living through will either make you stronger in your marriage or break you.  I'm so grateful that it has only made us stronger and closer.

We really have learned so much this year and have been blessed more then we should have and for that my heart is full with love and gratitude for all those who have been there with us through out all this.

"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

Patrick's Progress

It has been 5 months now since Patrick's surgery. We are so happy and excited about his progress and the strength he has regained. In the past 5 months, he has made some amazing progress. In August he was "released" from his surgeons care, which basically means that he is doing so good that the surgeon doesn't need to see him again. Also the surgeon was really impressed and amazed at how quickly Patrick has healed and how well he was progressing. He is able to do most thing on his own now, including going up and down the stairs, something that took over 3 months of physical therapy and healing to do. He can get in and out of bed and chairs on his own now, something he was not at all able to do when he came home from the hospital, but now does without assistance. He can stand for longer periods of time. When he first came home, he wasn't able to even stand up long enough to wash his hands or brush his teeth, he had to sit to do those things and now he has no problem doing them. He is able to lift Landon up to sit on his lap or to change his diaper.... something I have missed his help with. :) Last week he even walked for the first time without any help from me, his walker, or cane. Something he has not been able to do since about last February. Amazing!!! I can not even describe how happy, excited, and grateful I felt as I watched him walk. I'm not gonna lie... it brought tears to my eyes to see him doing so well! He has been working so hard several times a week on his physical therapy and is quite often very sore from all his hard work, but it is paying off and he is healing and slowly returning to his normal state. 

We have continued to be abundantly blessed over these months since surgery. The Lord has definitely watched over and provided for us. Many prayers have been answered and it has often been through the amazing members of our ward, our friends both near and far, and our very loving and supporting families. More then once we have been overwhelmed by the generosity, concern, and service, and love from everyone. Not a day has gone by that we are not thankful for how much service has been given to our family through this trial. We will be forever indebted to the Lord for all he has done for us, we can only try to return it all by serving others in the loving and generous way we have been served.

So we are hoping that in the next few months Patrick will be strong enough to walk all the time on his own, drive once again, and be able to tackle the job hunt again. I know he can do it! He is amazing!

The Joys of a 2 Year Old

Landon gets into lots of thing around here these days. Sometimes it causes a huge mess and drives me crazy, but sometimes it is just funny and makes us laugh. So those are the times I have to pull out the camera... to help remind me that he isn't always a terrible 2 year old. 

One day after Brayden had gone to Scouts, Landon decided he wanted to wear his uniform too. So the boys dressed him up in it and send him downstairs to where Patrick and I were. It was so funny! He looked like he was wearing a dress.

One day as I was cleaning the kitchen Landon was being pretty quiet, and all mother's of 2 year olds know that is never a good sign, so I went to go see what he was up to, and I find him trying to play on the computer with his Daddy's headset. He thought he was being just like daddy with them on.

Another funny one was where he tried to put on Conner's swimming trunks, only he got a tad confused with the mesh underwear part....

And he tried to put them on over his own shorts. 

He is a silly kid, and always keeps me on my toes! At least he's entertaining!