A neighbor from our old neighborhood still makes these advent calendars for our kids every year even though we've moved. Its the sweetest thing. She individually wraps each of these pieces of candy. It blows my mind!
Ellie's face haha
We went out to see Santa and they had an outside petting zoo! The kids loved it! We petted a donkey, sheep, bunnies, ponies and a llama!
Rylee and Gracie even got to ride the ponies!
After a ridiculously long ling waiting to see Santa, Gracie got scared and wouldn't sit with him. And then when we left the tent, she changed her mind. AHHHH! It was not pretty.
We've got a little monkey!
We've had a lot of good reasons to fast this year. it's been one of the main focuses for our family. Each fast Sunday, we all have something very specific to fast for, and it has changed the way we look as fasting. Rylee has joined in most of the weeks, but it is REALLY hard for her. She does so well for only being 6! We have 12 church, so we don't get home til around 2:30. This particular fast Sunday, she chose to fast for my dad who was having knee surgery that week. She was so hungry and struggled so much. She made her way to the table after church and was praying so hard we would finish dinner fast haha. I'm so proud of her for waiting and thinking of her Papa that day!
Before the roll, and after the roll haha!
We got another picture with Santa from Ellie and Boston's Ortho office! Thank goodness. Gracie was so upset.
Family Pictures
Gracie doing my makeup :)
Rylee got strep for the THIRD time this year. We've been into the doctors office so many times this year its not even funny. You can tell she doesn't feel well when she falls asleep wherever.
Our thankful tree this year! Boston came up with some really good unique things, but this one was my favorite :)
Parents and pastries with Ellie! She is such a good little reader and read every book on her "Battle of the Books" list (they're given a list of books, and they compete against other teams in the school to see who knows the most about those books) by September. The battle isn't until March. Her teacher made her captain of her team, and she is now re-reading the books to make sure she doesn't forget anything!
Ellie's Jr. Jazz Team! She had so much fun!
Trip to the theatre to see Wish! We loved it!
Santa and Buddy the Elf stopped by our house! We have the best neighborhood!
Gracie's Christmas Dance recital! This cute neighbor of ours does such a good job with these little girls!
Of all my years doing laundry, I've never quite botched a load like I did this time. I have a Christmas table runner that got spilled on (i've never washed it before) and it turned EVERYTHING pink. I didn't even use hot water, it was cold! What the? At least it was the girls clothes, and they were mostly happy about all the pink clothes haha!
Boston's Birthday
Boston's class went on a field trip on his birthday! I was lucky enough to get to go with them and chaperone his group of friends. I was literally fighting back tears all day. I can't believe he's so big. I'm so beyond proud of this boy! He is loyal, kind, respectful, responsible, trustworthy, and tries so hard all the time to do the right thing. He quietly helps and spreads kindness wherever he goes. He is chill, mellow, and so smart. Especially when it comes to building things. I love when we can get him to laugh really hard. Usually Jeff is the one to get him really going - He has the best laugh. He's always putting other people first, and thinks of everyone else before himself. I'm sobbing as I write this because I can't stop thinking of good things to say about him. I don't know what our family would do without him! He is the gift that never stops giving. We're so grateful for him!
Meanwhile, Gracie got to sleepover and hang out with my dad while we were at the field trip!
We got to have grandparents over for dinner, and Ellie had a choir concert that night! She did so well! She loves to sing.
We took this photo to see if Boston was as tall as my mom. I think they're about the same height!
Ellie and Kemry
Boston is 11!!
Rylee's dance performance! This girl loves to dance!
Making Christmas treats for the neighbors!
On the way up to the Tree Family Christmas Party. Gracie fell asleep with a cheese puff in her mouth haha
Three Wise Men
Gracie the Shepherd
So many grandkids!
We think Gracie has a grape allergy. Her rash from earlier in the year came back. We'll see if that's real...
Gracie and her "disappointed in dinner" face. She's happier when she gets to add sour cream to everything.
School Christmas Singing Performance! The girls begged for jingle bells in their hair. It made it easier to spot them in the crowd! And, Jeff got out 2 days earlier so he was able to go see them sing (never happened before!) and got to help in Boston and Ellie's class parties!
Boston gave the girls 1,000 rides to the church on his tote goat!
Gingerbread Houses! Aka, Graham cracker houses in jammies
Christmas Eve Sunday's are my favorite!
Just look at those kids who were forced to wear matching outfits and look so cute and happy about it!!!
I can't remember the last time I got to see my parents on Christmas Eve. My dad had a choir performance we had planned to see, but it got cancelled, so we went and had lunch with them after church! The kids got to make candy trains :)
We got home and made a new tradition. We got our snow clothes on and walked to the temple to see the Nativity setup. It was such a beautiful night. And the moon was incredible!
Christmas Morning!
It was a magical one!
I notice that the kids faces light up the most when they are watching their siblings open up the gifts they got them. We let them pick out a treat/snack/drink to gift their siblings instead of toys. They are the most excited to watch them open the gifts they picked out. Its my favorite part of the whole morning.
Gracie's face! I'm sobbing. She was so excited to pick out a present for everyone. Gosh I will miss this one day!
We had so much fun at our Roberts family Christmas party, I didn't take many pictures :-(
My parents reserved their church building and their gym has THREE pickleball courts in it! We played pickleball all day haha. It was so fun. The kids had scooters and we played basketball, and ate yummy food and Jeff set up the projector so the kids could watch a movie if they wanted! It was the best!
Boston loves his birthday twin! He's so great with little kids, but he especially makes an extra effort with Eloise. He loves sharing a birthday with her! My sister sent me this message after the party:
"Boston was playing with Eloise around on those seats with the wheels and he gave the rope to Ellie so that he could get a turn being pulled. Eloise immediately started crying with her hands over her eyes asking for Boston to come back and only calmed down when he came back to pull her around. It was so sweet. She loves him!
The kids got an art projector from my parents and spent so much time drawing and coloring.
Boston got two lego temples for Christmas! The Salt Lake Temple and the Manti Temple. It didn't take him long to finish the first one!
One last trip to Heber for the year to see Carson on his birthday!
