New Year's Eve

I try to throw a bash for the kids when we are home, although we never stay up until midnight. I think the only year we stay up until midnight was the year Brent helped his brother with a plumbing issue until 11:45. The traditions we have gained over the years is drink smoothies and watch the world celebrate the new year via YouTube.

8 years

Brent and I celebrated our anniversary. It was completely unglamorous, I will spare you the details, and share some highlights. We used our free babysitting in Utah to go out. I really wanted to take a picture with Brent in front of the temple, it was beautiful with all that snow, but he worked part of the week so I never made it over with him. On our actual anniversary he went hometeaching and made pizza for the whole family plus three kids who we were babysitting while their parents were in the hospital with a new baby. A day later he bought me a memory pad because he is dreamy like that and knew how much I wanted one. I am really ok with this as anniversary, I really have no need to waste our money in romantic getaways, and expensive dates. One day yes, but this season is little babies and one day when we no longer have to wipe their bums we'll travel. I adore my husband and his willingness to serve others makes me love him far more than flowers and candy.

A favorite

A few years ago my mom gave me one of her nativities. The Fontanini has always been one of my favorites I would always rearrange it and play with it as I was growing up.

 This year she gave me a stable, and an angel. I have wanted an angel for years and finally asked for one.

She also gave me a woman at the well sans well.

In a side note this piece has been one of my favorites this year. It's me, baby A and nan.

The inside of my stable looks a little silly, so I think I need a few more animals next year.  A donkey, and other such things, like maybe more sheep or some poultry.  I don't think I need anymore dogs.
Also one of these years I am going to buy some wiseman.  The downfall is the wiseman set I really love is discontinued so it costs a good $150, one of the wisemen is on a elephant.  I love it.  I think I'll settle for a different one, still the one where they are all riding camels is $75.  I think one year I'll save my money and get wiseman riding on animals, because that is really what I want.

Hanging lake

On the way home from Utah off I-70, we stopped to hike hanging lake. It was my husband's idea of romantic getaway with three kids. Three hours of snow hiking, with me carrying the baby, and he carrying the four year who wouldn't walk because her toe was smashed a day earlier. It was cold, beautiful, insane, slippery, and amazing. The water was still moving among all the ice.

A white Christmas

We went to Utah for Christmas. I really wanted to bring baby A out to meet my grandma, so we decided for a multitude of reasons this was the best time. It was nice between my grandma living 5 miles from my mother in laws and living in utah for years i haven't stayed with my grandparents in a long time. It was nice to be back.

 It was our first car trip with the minivan.

We saw cousins in Logan.

We spent Christmas Eve with Brent's mom for her birthday, his dad and a few siblings.

We spent Christmas Day with my grandparents, parents, aunt, uncle and a few cousins. My oldest got to play with my cousin's oldest. Which was great because even though the boys don't remember they have played together a lot in the past. Spent Boxing Day with my grandparents, parents, brother, sister, and families.

Then had two more days to spread between all the grandparents. Josh even got to go sledding with Brent's dad, and made a snowman. These are some highlights based on what I took on my phone.

Bottle

My husband has an upcoming work party, my plan was to pay a babysitter to put my older kids to bed and put the baby to bed before I leave. For at least two months he had been sleeping from 7 pm until at least 11 pm if not 3 am. Then the last 10 days happened he turned into a terrible sleeper waking up all evening to eat. I couldn't leave him with a teenager if he wasn't going to sleep. So I busted out the bottles and guess what he took!

I was so surprised my other kids wouldn't take a bottle until after they figured out a slippy cup. I wondered what I did wrong the previous times. Then I remembered this child takes a paci unlike the other children. Now we are ready for the babysitter. Plus after me sanitizing the bottles and such yesterday he slept through the night last night 9 pm until 6 am, then took two hour nap today and then a four nap. Thankfully today is looking a lot better than yesterday.

Clarification

I think I should clarify, we do not have our son make pancakes because we are fun.  In fact the exact opposite.  My husband taught my oldest to cook pancakes, because he is actively preparing to kick my son out of the house upon high school graduation or on his 18th birthday, which ever comes later. My husband often talks to my children about when they become adults at 18. My husband taught my son taught my son how to cook pancakes so he can be self sufficient.
I personally did not like my son making pancakes, they taste great, but I hate messes, and lack of control so teaching a 6 year old to cook is not pleasant for me.  I usually try to avoid being present for such self sufficiency lessons.  The unfortunate thing is we usually have pancakes when my husband is not around, so now I am that has to pay the price of the lesson.
My mother made me a lunch every day for school through my senior year of high school.  A few weeks ago, I realized in a few years Brent is going to declare I am no longer allowed to make my oldest a lunch.
My guess is act of service is not my husband's primary love language, or even secondary.
I guess if we really want my son to move out one day, we should teach him how to tie his shoes...
One step at a time,
We got reading
We got bike riding
We got pancakes
I guess now we need tying shoes.