FAMILY LETTER 03.02.14

Dear Loved Ones:

We could just call this week the Barf Chronicles because that’s mostly what the week was about.

  Monday was peaceful enough, but we had yet another cold snow storm. We had a nice FHE straight from the Book of Mormon. We talked about how when prophets are finishing their mission, they share the things that are most important to them and often share their most powerful testimonies, just like we had heard last Sunday from the former Stake Presidency. So we read the end of 2 Nephi and talked about The Doctrine of Christ, especially relating to James’ upcoming baptism. It was nice to just read a chat by the fire.

Tuesday was a good day—play dates and visiting teachers came and got stuck in our snow drifts (I helped 3 card get unstuck Tuesday morning). That night after dinner, the boys had baths and came running down stairs to the fireplace to get warm. That’s when Niles started the barfing. Our fancy virgin carpet has been majorly defiled. Rich got the carpet cleaner while I threw up in the nearby trash can, then got the boys ready for bed. We swaddled Niles in towels (towel after towel after towel) and let him sleep between us. He was sick about every 45 minutes between 7pm and 5am, and we were so tired!

Wednesday was the day I had signed up to read in James’ class for Read Week. I had been swapping kids with other moms during the week, but I couldn’t very well take him to a friend’s house sick, so Rich arranged to stay home with Maren and Niles while I cut my class room time as short as possible. I read “The Maggie B.” by Irene Haas (my first favorite book) and hustled home, but ot before all the second graders all made suggestions about what we should name our baby boy—“James Junior! Nicholas! Fudge! Ian!” Rich got to work just after nine and Niles was just fine the rest of the day. We napped til 1pm then ran to Target and came home to start dinner and get Maren home. After dinner, Rich was getting ready for scouts, Addie for YW, and I was going to take the boys to Family Night at the library, when James started barfing. Same scenario as the night before, but at least he hit the bucket every time and never complained or whined about it. James finally fell asleep around 4am and stayed asleep til 8am and felt better.

Thursday James stayed home from school and was actually kind of helpful. I was able to get caught up on the wash and clean up Heidi’s room (it had become a bit of a sty lately and needed a mom-level deep clean, plus I needed to sort out the clothes she’d grown out of). We were glad we didn’t have to be anywhere that night! We had a yummy Shepherd’s Pie and got everyone to bed relatively early—all quiet by 8:15! I made myself a nice hot magnesium bath and took some unisom and B6 and prepared for a nice sleep. Rich climbed in bed to watch a movie while I was soaking and it looked like we’d finally get some rest. At 9:15, Heidi burst into my bathroom and threw up in my toilet. I was half asleep in the tub and very shocked! Turns out she had also been half asleep, too, rolled over and just hosed her freshly-cleaned carpet. YAY. Rich headed down to get the carpet cleaner and we set up a bed on our floor for Heidi. Addie sent me instant messages from her room where she had quarantined herself, crying hysterically because she just knew she was next, telling me she wasn’t coming out until everything was bleached and lysoled (aside: yes, in case you’re wondering, I AM looking forward to the RAGING hormones of the next five years or so with these two emotional girls; it’s in full swing up in here!). So we did the same routine as the previous nights for Heidi and she was home from school Friday, but felt fine.

Friday I kept cleaning and got ready to go to Helena on Saturday for Sam Post’s baptism and Jake’s 10th birthday. That night we finally put up some curtains in our front window! The rods came from amazon dot com Friday morning and we were so excited to get them up. We decided we will do cellular blinds in all the other windows, but I hate them in the front window. Since our heating bills are so low and our fancy silk curtains are lined, we figured we can splurge this once on pretty over practical. We waited, knocking on wood, to see if Addie would take her turn being sick on Friday night, but she didn’t! Hooray! We did, however, have a huge storm blow in overnight.

Saturday we woke up to a total white-out and plunging temperatures—I think the high was -13. We decided against going to Helena and had a big yummy breakfast, a fire, and a movie instead. Addie and I went to Margaret Baker’s baby shower for her boy & girl twins, which was pretty fun. They had to relocate it from the Strupps house out by the gun range to the church because the roads were impassable without a Hummer. The church was pretty drifted-in, too, but we had fun. Heidi was sad to miss time with her cousins in Helena, but cheered up when she realized she could go to her friend Sidney’s birthday party Saturday night. We got word Saturday night that church was cancelled—first time in 12 years!—cuz half the ward was drifted-in. Addie and I watched the live stream of the Gilbert AZ Temple Dedication celebration on my iPad—it was lots of fun, thousands of kids in the pouring rain!

Sunday we had breakfast and “home church.” We absolutely love having the Mormon Channel and BYUtv on the Roku. We watched some church history scripture stories, then some favorite old conference talks, and the April 2011 priesthood session. After lunch, we watched “Gravity” which was very intense but a beautiful movie. We skyped with Grandpa and Grandma and I worked on finishing the Ward 2013 History. We napped, dinnered, and got kids settled down, then I listened to the Oscars while I tried to finish the Ward History. I was so tired from that work that I didn’t get our family letter finished, so now it’s Monday. The sun is out, it’s 50 degrees, and the kids just got home from school all wet and rosy-cheeked. Sounds like a great start to the week.

We hope you’re all well and happy. We missed our Posties so much this weekend, but we are so happy for Sam’s good choice and hope it was a wonderful (barfless) celebration! We hope Aunt Audrey is healing well from her back surgery. Sam Layton told me there was a happy family party for Spencer Post’s and Owen Layton’s birthdays this week at Nana’s house yesterday—sorry we missed that, too! I can’t believe that Spencer is already 10 and Owen is 5…Time’s a-flyin’! Let us know how you’re all doing, we love and miss you! Love, Rich, Jamie, and Family

Addie made these invitations all by herself!

Living Room Curtains

Niles being sick 02.25

Monday morning white-out 02.24
 

FAMILY LETTER 02.23.14

Dear Loved Ones:

Well, if last week was a joyful party, this week was the hangover.

  On Monday we said goodbye to Westenskows in the morning, then we cleaned up and went to a special family Presidents Day lunch at Olive Garden. Heidi has been begging for salad and breadsticks for months and she earned them by helping me get ready for guests last weekend. Everyone was astonishingly good, we had a nice time. Later Addie went to Hunter’s Safety and we went out to our anniversary dinner at Rib & Chop House. We were deliriously tired but we had a nice, snowy night out together.

On Tuesday we all were back to the grindstone. I was sad to learn that my dear friend, Beryl Gray (“My Gramma Gray”) passed away on January 18th in Idaho Falls. She and her husband served with me in my first area in Tarboro, North Carolina in Fall of 1992. They were from Wales, but moved to Lincoln, California in 1955 where they raised their 4 daughters. We stayed close, talking on the phone a few times a year until 2010 (Grampa Gray died in 2006), and I’ve been looking for her ever since. I’m sad that I didn’t get to say good bye, but so happy that she is reunited with Grampa Gray and I look forward to seeing them again someday. Thinking of them reminded me of all the good Mom and Dad Melin are doing in Missouri. Your influence on the missionaries around you can last forever!

On Wednesday, Jordyn went to the MTC—we tracked her progress on facebook with her mom. Addie brought Milenna Voyich over afterschool. They studied and played, then went to an Ettiquette Dinner for Young Women that night. They had such a good time. Heidi made bananas and strawberries with Nutella for her Activity Days treat and they made Faith in God binders that will stay at church and keep track of all the things they learn and do this year. I took the boys up to the church to join Rich for Court of Honor. He has a ton of new 11-year-old scouts…I think there are 6, two more coming in the spring, and 5 of the 6 new scouts earned their scout badges at this meeting (I may or may not have been listening to the Uof AZ vs. U of Utah basketball game on my iPad toward the end of that meeting –AZ won!).

Thursday was a quiet evening at home, and Friday, James stayed home sick with a fever and cough. Both the boys just stayed in their jammies and watched Netflix and snuggled on my bed. The morning started off with a text from my best friend, Erin in New Jersey (her husband is Marlena’s bishop). All her tests came back and she has stage three breast cancer—so she can’t avoid chemo and radiation, which I was hoping for. She has her port placed on Wednesday and chemo begins soon. I kept shedding tears on and off through the day, wishing I was in a position to go and help. At the same time, she has amazing kids (16-year-old twins and 14 & 12-year-old daughters…her youngest is 2 weeks younger than Addie) who are spiritually mature and capable, and a great husband, so I know they will handle this as well as is possible. I’ve had really sweet chats with her kids the past few weeks; I am so proud of them and have high hopes for this process. I love her dearly, can’t imagine losing her, so we don’t go there. The bright spot of the day was thinking about Sam Post and Papa Post celebrating their birthdays—Sam turned 8 and will be baptized in Helena next Saturday. We really look forward to that happy day!

Saturday we woke up to tons of snow, pretty much a white out. We decided to go to Bozeman and get a hotel so we wouldn’t miss stake conference. We stayed right next to Costco and that shopping center in Bozo, so we took the kids over to Michaels to choose something creative to do between/during the meetings. We swam and had Costco chicken bakes and smoothies for dinner, then left Addie to babysit the boys and took Heidi with us to the adult session. It was an emotionally and spiritually charged meeting, as you would expect with President Heap being released. He spoke first, then his counselors and the visiting seventies, Elders Dunnigan (area authority) and Walker. Elder Walker was very impressed with the reverence of the meeting and with our Stake in general and said so many times. This must have been sweet for President Heap. The Sunday session was pretty much doing the business of reorganizing the Stake (with the Dabells joining online from South Africa). Our new Presidency is President Jaeson Repscher, first counselor Mike Heatherington, second counselor Mike Kroffs. Then we heard farewell testimonies from the old presidency and their wives, then welcome testimonies from the new presidency and their wives (it’s a weird feeling to be the same age as the stake presidency…makes us feel old! Thank heaven for the Heatheringtons and their experience!). It’s hard to believe it has been nine years to the day since we sat in that same room with Addie and Baby Heidi and offered a vote of thanks for Dad’s service with President Dahl.

Wow, this is a looong letter again. Kudos if you made it through! Grandma Melin asked for pictures for her fridge—we are working on it. We hardly ever print them anymore, but I will send you some good files you can print the ones you like. We wish everyone and safe and happy week, and look forward to seeing our Postie family next Saturday!

Love, Rich, Jamie, & Family

Niles and James are in the habit of reading together after school.
Here they are with their feet under the couch, leaning on the ottoman, just a-readin' away.

Niles also likes to read in his room

Melin and Westenskow kids (except Niles)
Saying goodbye on Monday 02.17

Two tired mamas! Me & Melissa saying goodbye 02.17

Postcard from Melissa in reference to our visiting til midnight on Sunday night!

Last Friday's Pre-School Valentine Party
Kinsley & Bria Lowe; Autumn Larson, Porter Tyner, Naomi & John Larson, Niles Melin,
Brody Johnson, Gloria Jeffrey with Emma Jeffrey and Colton Johnson in front.

FAMILY LETTER 02.16.14

Dear Loved Ones:

Wow, what an amazing week this has been! Niles and I hung out with Baby Maren all week, the whole family endured the schizophrenic weather, and we celebrated Valentine ’s Day, a reunion, a baptism, and a mission farewell.

On Monday night, we had a fun Family Night making Valentines for grandparents and had yummy brownies made by Addie.

On Tuesday I went to Relief Society where we learned about freezer meals and made SIXTEEN dinners to freeze and deliver to all expectant moms in May. It was a good reminder that I should start doubling up and freezing family faves for when our baby arrives. Problem is we eat so much fresh food now, it’s hard to pass off casseroles and stuff with the kids, but I think I can come up with some good stuff. Addie came to the meeting, too, to babysit in the nursery. We had a good time.

Wednesday Rich had scouts and Addie had a fun multi-ward activity in Bozeman where she had swing dance lessons and learned the jitterbug. Our ward scout leadership changed this week (Aaron Roberts got a new job in Billings but is staying in the ward, so he can’t scout master anymore), but Rich is still the 11-year old leader…Mister Constant, 7 years and counting. Since dad and the girls are usually gone Wednesday night, the boys and I have a tradition: they have baths, then we all snuggle on my bed and watch Nature and Nova. This week was really cool; we learned about animals and the houses the build and then about how they built the dome in Florence, Italy with brand new technology: herringbone-style brick laying.

Thursday we finished up Valentines preparations making sugar cookies and dipping cake pops (cake pops: delicious but disastrous; only half of them made it thru the dipping process cuz we made them a little too big). We also did some serious cleanup in preparation to host the Westenskow family over the weekend. They have been with us since Saturday morning for Jordyn Yarborough’s farewell and we have had a blast.

Friday Rich got up early and made us a full breakfast of heart-shaped waffles with cream and strawberries, eggs, and bacon. Then he handed out Valentines to all of us and we sent the kids off to school with their bags full of goodies for their friends. Niles, Maren, and I went up to the church for a little pre-schoolers/toddlers Valentines party in the gym. The kids had snacks and played and exchanged Valentines til noon. It was a fun outing. The big kids came home from school with tons of fun treats and cute Valentines for us. Rich saved our romantic date for Monday (tomorrow) when we celebrate our 13th anniversary on President’s Day.

Saturday we went to Jordyn Yarborough’s Mission Farewell Open House, then an hour later came back to the church for Curtis Denniston’s baptism. Both events were edifying and fun. We are so excited for Jordyn, me especially, since she is serving in the Arizona Tucson Mission.

 Today’s church meeting was just beautiful. The building was full with all the Denniston’s visitors and Jordyn’s visitors. Jordyn spoke, along with Robyn Tyner and Colton Carter—they all gave great talks. I led the choir in a beautiful number called “Here I Am.” I will include the lyrics since it really captures the missionary spirit we have been feeling lately. I am suffering from a little mission envy, knowing all the great experiences awaiting Jordyn and the Heaps and mom and dad. At the same time, I know I am on my own mission, raising my own little missionaries, sharing the gospel in a different way. It’s wonderful to be a part of it all, and to have the best companion to serve with!

HERE I AM  by Daniel Schute

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin my hand will save
I who made the stars of night I will make their darkness bright!
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

CHORUS: Here I am, Lord! Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them—they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone; give them hearts for love alone.
I will give My Word to them. Whom shall I send?
[Repeat CHORUS]

I the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them, my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life for them. Whom shall I send?
[Repeat CHORUS]

We hope you all have a great week. New Jersey Melins—good luck with all that snow! We got a foot today, but the sun was out in the late afternoon, so who knows what tomorrow holds? We love you all so much and are so grateful for a loving and faithful family on both sides. We feel so blessed and love these good times spent with family and friends. We look forward to hearing about all of you cousins soon! G and G Melin, you’re in our prayers and we loved our Valentines letters with all the visitors’ center stuff. You are going to have great experiences!

Happy Birthday to Sammy Post, Papa Post, and Owen Layton this week!

Love, Rich, Jamie, and Family

Heidi, Jared W, Lydia W., Hailey W., Jillian W, and Addie
at Jordyn's Open House photo booth.

Niles MUSTACHE you a question...

Making Valentine and eating brownies for FHE.

     

Family Letter (a weekly feature, hopefully)

Dear Loved Ones:

We are going to try to follow the good examples of Elena and Mom Melin and write a weekly letter since I’m not the best blogger anymore. Perhaps I can use our facebook posts and photos as references. February is off to a good start for us, mostly.

Like most of the U.S. we have had extremely cold and snowy weather. Our lowest morning temp was on Wednesday the 5th, when we woke up to -29 degrees, which clocked in at -52 with the wind chill. Luckily we didn’t have much to do outside that day and Rich was out and about and able to bring the kids home from the bus stop. We are more grateful than ever for our warm house and our cozy fireplace. And I am more grateful than ever to be a stay-at-home- mom who rarely needs to leave the house.

Last month I started babysitting our friend Maria’s daughter, Maren. She will be one year old in May and is a very easy baby. I watch her from 8:30-3:45 M-F, and it’s working out pretty well. It has also been good practice for us—me for juggling two little ones again, and Niles for sharing Mom’s daytime attention. The only challenge is when the big kids need me after school, like if they’ve missed the bus or something—I have to have Rich’s help or they have to wait a half hour til Maren gets picked up. It will give us a little extra cash to finish some house projects and stock up for a new baby (and pay for his birth), as well as just having this sweet little friend...

Maren at her house

I blogged about last weekend—we had a nice cozy Saturday working around the house and playing in the snow, and even taking in a matinee of “The Book Thief.” Addie babysat for us and it was so nice. We are really starting to enjoy the benefits of having our very own Beehive in the house.  Even though we don’t really watch football, we invited some other lukewarm football fan families from our ward over to watch the Super Bowl, which turned out to be kind of a silly game. The Mexican finger foods potluck, on the other hand, was stellar. I was grateful to have felt good enough to do so many things is one day—church, food, socializing, clean-up—with a nap, of course--almost like a normal person! Rich was also a great help as usual, and had a good time with the other dads.

Most of us had a cold this week. Niles and I felt terrible on Tuesday and Wednesday. I have another sinus infection and can’t take anything but Tylenol and rinse like crazy. It got very painful, but a priesthood blessing Tuesday night helped me get some good sleep and start to heal. Niles got better, but started coughing yesterday, and so did James. As I type, they are wrestling like wild men while hacking like crazy. Silly boys. I have successfully weaned off escitalopram (SSRI for anxiety) –down from 20mg to 10 to 5, and this was my first week with none in 18 months. I have some dizzy spells and I can definitely feel some of my anxieties coming back (having to wash my feet, feeling claustrophobic when people snuggle me, etc), but I didn’t want to be taking it in my 3rd trimester since it has a small chance of causing fetal heart problems. My blood sugar is slowly climbing in spite of my low glycemic diet, so I will probably start insulin at my next appointment (2/19). The good news is I have gained a total of 1 pound so far this pregnancy, and the insulin will probably keep me right around that mark.

Rich, Addie, and Heidi have all been healthy and active. The heat at the office was finally up and running by the first of the month—FINALLY! Rich also got all of our storage units (including Kiwanis) clean and empty. We could have had another yard sale, lol! But we did find some treasures and get lots of art and photos hung on our new walls—FINALLY!

The girls are doing so great at school and at church. Addie made the honor roll in the newspaper, and Heidi just missed it (because she keeps not dressing out for PE and got a C). They both have great teachers. Addie was just made for the Young Women’s Program. She is loving having activities every week, being a counselor in her class presidency, learning the process of planning activities and setting goals and shepherding. She had her first BYC meeting last month and insisted on earning money to get a fancy planner to keep track of her increasingly busy life. She accepted a New Year’s challenge to read the Book of Mormon before conference and last I heard she was cruising toward Mosiah after being frustrated with Nephi’s Isaiah chapters (I told her she’s in good company ;)). Heidi’s Activity Days group has new leaders and girls in it and they have set some goals and she has refocused on her Faith in God goals. They are learning a lot about journals, record keeping, scriptures, and family history over the next few months. I get to talk to them about personal, family, Ward, and Stake histories next month as the Ward Historian. I look forward to it—they are such cute, fun girls. Heidi got to go to the Bozeman Symphony on Friday and came home excited about hearing movie themes from the symphony—Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, etc. (are those all John Williams?)—and wanting to make music herself.

I am rambling, but it won’t be like this every week. This is a catch-up letter! In closing, here are our highlights from facebook this week:

MON FEB 5: Enough Said

WED 5 FEB: : My busy little chef and I cooked up some love yesterday! I am sick today so he went away to play while I rest (bless u, Naomi!) and I miss him!

FRI FEB 7: " Please don't take my sunshine away"

I think one of the worst times in life is the time between a cancer diagnosis and the staging/treatment plan. Loathsome.

 

[my best friend, Erin, was diagnosed with “probably stage 2” breast cancer on Thursday…heartbreaking!]

 

SUN FEB 9: Pobrecito has a fever and cough, but keeps saying, "Mama, I'm not sick!" He was sad to miss nursery today!

 

Life is good, the gospel is true and we love and miss you all! Have a great week!

 

Love, Jamie, Rich & Family

Snow & SuperBowl

Well, February is off to a stellar start. Rich stayed home on Saturday and helped me get some house stuff done. We finally got our closet cleaned out and turned into a little nursery. The kids did their chores and frolicked in the fresh snow, and we went to a matinee of "The Book Thief", a movie I've been waiting to see since November (it was great, but of course the book is even better).

Peat and Repeat getting ready to play out in the snow Saturday afternoon.

Snowbaby!

James, Niles & Heidi in the back yard

Heidi

My funny boys!

Snow Angel!
 

On Sunday evening, we had some friends over to watch the Super Bowl even though we are not real football fans. We had some delicious food (especially yummy on Fast Sunday!) and good visits, and the kids had a blast together. Most of our guests were rooting for the Seahawks whom we believed to be the underdogs...

The most popular game of the night was sliding down the stairs on bean bag chairs and/or jumping down the stairs on to bean bag chairs. (here are Brody and James sliding down toward Gavin).

Niles liked spinning in the office chair while Dad and our friend Mike watched the game.

Jessie, Carter, Baby Colton, Aaron, Naomi, and Matt with Kai in the
foreground watching the saddest football game ever.

In the playroom we had a special screening of "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2."
Here is Ava holding up Matty with a Nerf gun.

Izzi and Addie took some quiet time in Ad's room to play "Would You Rather."
(PS: Izzi is going to play Young Eponine in the Shane Center's Les Miserables in March!)

***
I am grateful to be feeling better and to have time and space to catch up with good friends. We are so very blessed in so many ways, and tonight I felt that deeply. We also felt deep sympathy for all the Broncos fans out there. Dang.
 

Christmas 2013

So it has taken me a while to upload our holiday pictures, but we DID indeed celebrate Christmas and New Year's with the California Melins and Grandma & Grandpa Melin. It was a very relaxed holiday season. While I missed my family, there is something to be said about staying home and taking it easy (especially in a brand new house). We felt so grateful for the generous gifts and thoughtful activities planned by Jess & Kelli and mom and dad. Uncle Mike Melin came and stayed at our house and we loved having him here. It was fun to have friends and neighbors and missionaries drop by to share treats and good wishes...we felt so happy and loved.

***

On Christmas Eve we hosted family at our house starting around 2pm. Kelli brought gingerbread house kits from Trader Joe's and everyone teamed up to make the houses while I finished dinner prep. It was so fun to watch everyone work together and see their unique creations (and eat yummy candy!).

Grandma & Heidi

James & Cousin Matthew

Our little village of German Gingerbread Hausen

We ate dinner around 4:30pm. We have a tradition of choosing some kind of international menu and trying something new for Christmas Eve, but this year we chose Kansas City Barbecue in honor of Grandpa & Grandma Melin's mission call to Independence/ Kansas City, Missouri. We had pulled pork and corn on the cob and cole slaw...yum!

 

After dinner, the kids went down stairs for some wild cousin partying and the adults visited upstairs. Within the hour, the kids came up and invited us to  their "Christmas Program." What we thought was a wild rumpus was actually our kids putting together their own Christmas Pageant, straight out of the New Testament. At first we were giggling at their cuteness, but then I was holding back tears, thinking about how cool it was that THIS was how they chose to spend their cousin time together. I'm pretty sure Jess and Kelli would agree, it was the very best gift we got this year.

Very Sweet kids dressed as Holy Family, angels, shepherds, and sheep gathered around to sing to baby Jesus.
Precious.

***

We finally have a place to hang our stockings by the chimney with care!

Just as the kids finished their program, the missionaries knocked on the door and came to share a special
 Christmas video message with us. It was very sweet and helped to calm the kids down. The family headed back out to the ranch after that and we got the kids to bed after watching the MoTab Christmas Special with Tom Brokaw.

***

CHRISTMAS MORNING!



stockings first

Niles opening his bike

James with Duck Dynasty pjs

Addie's new suitcase

Heidi with part of our family gift from Jess & Kelli--
a basketball AND a hoop for our awesome new driveway!
We also got a trampoline for summer time, but that pic was blurry.

Heidi was so excited to get an Xbox and Minecraft.
 She has created quite the Minecraft world!

iPod speakers for both girls, and a jolly Uncle Mike!

Rich got Chicken Poop lip balm from his dad.

Niles ready to hit the road

Jess & Kelli brought us this GOLD MINE of a Trader Joe's gift basket!
So many spices and sauces and treats! If it had come with some magical eegee's making machine,
my culinary life would be complete! We enjoyed these treats for several weeks to the point of addiction.
Such a great gift.

Here I am amidst the Christmas debris with my two sweet boys.
A Merry Christmas was had by all!
***
Unfortunately we have no New Year's pictures, but we all attended our Ward NY party/ Talent Show and most of the kids performed--Addie & Heidi sang and played piano, Summer did a puppet show, Matthew read jokes, and we ate treats and enjoyed some amazing talents from our friends, as well. We headed home around 9pm. James came down with a bit of a tummy bug just as we were leaving for the night, so he and Rich stayed home and had a Men in Black marathon. I fell asleep around 10:30 pm, but Rich stayed up with the big kids to ring in 2014, then we spent New Year's Day out at the ranch sledding and enjoying family time. It was a sweet and mellow way to ring in the new year.