FORTY-EIGHT and FORTY NINE

December 31, 2021

FORTY-EIGHT and FORTY NINE

November 30- December 13 2021

The week after Thanksgiving we went and got a tree. Decorating the tree has always been one of my favorite traditions. So simple and fun and magical, especially with the kids. This year was Esther's year to put on the star.

Wild baby won't hold still for a second these days.

Annual raking of the leaves. Our giant Sycamore has millions of leaves but they don't fall until it gets really cold and big wind comes to blow them off. So in November and December is when we have to rake them up before it snows. The kids love making nests and homes in the leaves.

One day Esther lamented that we don't have any Thanksgiving decorations so she took it upon herself to make this turkey for us. I'm going to save it forever.

Walks at the nature center as it finally started to get slightly cold.

Nights alone at the temple fill my soul.

Esther had her first ever piano recital! She has only been playing a few months but she's done so well. I think she has a talent for music. She played Ode to Joy and Old Macdonald.

Nature group enjoying the warm weather.

We made our annual trip to pick out ornaments. This year we went to Rainbow Gardens, the kids were so cute there. They don't often go into stores these days so they loved looking at everything there was to see there.

Sisters and babies

We moved the kids all around and the boys were thrilled to get the girls old bunk bed.

Making cookies and trying to take pictures to document it.

This little angel face was in response to all the kids making him smile.

As our family has grown we have contemplated moving from this house sometime in the near future. One of the hardest things has been having this small kitchen. Just a bit of counter space on either side of the sink. No pantry, just a coat closet filled with food. But I've made it work these five years. I could make it work for many more if I had to. Still this small kitchen is the heart of our home and so many great memories have been made here.

Early in December we went to Christmas Village. Israel is obsessed with trains and was very happy to ride on one.

Blue Children

We finally got our first snow. The kids made a snowman all by themselves.

Some kind soul left gingerbread kits and a whole bunch of other great gifts on our porch for us. The kids wanted to decorate the houses right away. They were decorated and eaten very quickly ha.

Moses watches children in the snow, a series.

Moses joins in the snow.

This baby, Look at his deliciously plump body all wrapped in his sleep sack. I adore everything about him.

We were invited to a foster family breakfast with Santa. It was so nice and so fun. They even had princesses there!

Errands with my beanie baby.

This year I attempted to make night shirts for the boys to sleep in. It started because they never wanted to sleep in pants and are always stealing the girls nightgowns. But there weren't any boys nightshirts to buy so I had to make them. It was quite the long frustrating process but they got done and I guess they like them because Julian has been wearing his every night.

Getting them all nice and ready for church is my favorite part of the week. Once we get there is not, mind you. This week I ended up leaving with Israel, Baby Boy and Moses in a huff of frustration only 20 minutes into church because Moses was tired and fussy, Israel was clinging to me and Baby Boy ran off and turned all the lights off in the back of the chapel while the sacrament was being passed. It's quite a circus we make, quite a circus, but at least they look cute.

December 13th was St Lucia's Day. We made the traditional Lussekatter and Pepparkarkor the day before so our little Lucia's could have it all ready in the morning.