Soldier Hollow

We love tubing up @ Soldier Hollow.  It's so beautiful and peaceful, and of course FUN!  On the way home we always stop in Heber @ the "Train Restaurant".  

When we got in the car, McKay asked if his hair was messy?  

What do you think?  

Sledding @ the Park

The kids absolutely love sledding.  They would be out all day if we let them.

 

 

 

Aren't they cute kids!?!

CHRISTMAS!!!

I love Christmas morning it's so magical! (gotta love morning hair)

After opening presents we are so lucky to be able to have everyone over for Christmas Breakfast!

Checkout Craig's apron. 

   

It's Christmas Eve!!

Christmas time is full of fun traditions.  These are some of ours on Christmas Eve.

Frosting Cookies for Santa

We love having a fantastic Christmas Eve feast @ Grandma & Grandpa's:

Back home to act out the Nativity Scene & open a present each ... shh, new jammies ;0)

Another Great FHE

McKay & Abby worked an entire week on this fantastic lesson & activity.  It was based on missionary work.  McKay had cut a ton of houses out of yellow construction paper.  Then he cut a drew and cut a person for each one of us, including our name tag.  We then got our mission call and he flew us to our continent.  (Josie was my companion we served in Australia :0).)  We then had to knock on the doors and hope they would let us in.  We then would tell them what we believed in by reciting the Articles of Faith.

    

I am constantly amazed at my fantastic kids.

So Thankful!!

We recently had a friend in from Russia.  She was asking the update on Kimball's foot.  For a min. I wasn't sure what she was talking about.  Her daughter was trying to go into more detail about what it was.  Then it hit me.  How could something that was such a worry and blessing for me be almost forgotten.  

Kimball was born with a port wine stain on his foot.  This is not like a normal birthmark.  I hope I explain this right.  It is actually clusters of blood vessels close to the skin.  As the child matures the skin become darker, bumpy and ruff.  This part was not my concern.  With it being on his foot I figured it was just fine.  But... they can bleed easily if they get scratched or rubbed etc.  With it being on his foot of course it will get scratched and rubbed.  I'm a total research dork, so I hit the internet, books, people, our doctor.  What I found was there was a treatment that was done by lazier.  When it is fired (which feels like a rubber band snapping on you) it destroys the blood vessels.  It then turns to a bruise and heels and the younger the better.  It was hard for me to decide to get treatments at all.  "Will he think I didn't approve of him, will it hurt, then there was the whole thing about sedation.  There's only a couple in Utah who treat Port Wine Stains and they require sedation.  McKay has been under anesthesia a couple of time and neither time came out of it well."  Our pediatrician told us about the "Port Wine Doctor" in Colorado.  Of course I went home and researched him.  He had great reports, I called his office and got a really good feeling.  The more Craig and I talked about it the more we new medically he needed to have this done.  So we took the plunge.  His first appointment started in Feb. following his birth. Kimball & I flew back to CO every 6 week for treatment.  His Dr. was amazing.  I loved him.  He was kind, nice, fun, fast & always wore Converses.  That following Oct. he thought we should take a break.  Let it completely heal and start back up the in a year.  

As this October approached I knew it was time to schedule our appointment again.  I was hesitant.  He was older, would treatments be as effective, would he remember the pain more.  So I examined his foot to guess what the next little while would bring.  It looks like a dirty foot.  There are some small clusters in between his toes that when he was tiny they couldn't get the lazier in.  I couldn't believe it.  I don't know how I didn't pay more attention to it.  It looked great.  At his well child check our pediatrician looked at it and was astonished that it looked so well.  So we never made another appointment.

After our dear friends concern, it has been on my mind.  A few days later I was working on yet another project and was scrolling through older photos.  

I was scrolling quite fast, but these caught my eye: 

Oh how I'd forgotten.  To see these picture again brings tears to my eyes.  Not tears of sadness but tears of relief, gratefulness, thankfulness.  Knowing that the Lord has taken care of us.

I pulled out the camera to remember how good it looks now!

Isn't it amazing?  And truly a blessing from the Lord.  This was suppose to take three years at the min.  to treat.  I know the Lord guided us and directed us through this process.  I am so so grateful and I hope I won't forget this wonderful blessing again.  I know He loves us.

SANTA AT THE MALL

We were at the mall.  Kimball ran out of the line .  And when ever he did I went to get him.  He screamed.  But he like it till got on Santa's lap.  And the people who worked there got him to smile.