Snow Grateful

We had a great Thanksgiving this year. It was great to be among family and enjoy all the things the Lord has given us. The older I get the more and more thankful I become. I am able to see things for face value and appreciate both the small and large things in my life more fully. I am blessed to have a healthy family and kids. That to me is the biggest blessing of all. Every day I love being a mom more than the day before. My boys are my life. 

I have a wonderful husband. He works harder than anyone I know. He always provides for us temporally and spiritually, and makes sure we are taken care of. He is a worthy priesthood holder and leads our family in faith.

I am grateful for the path of our Father. I love being back in Idaho and providing the life I so desperately wanted for the boys. I love our home, our neighborhood, our city. I love where we live. I know we are here because we were lead by a Heavenly Hand. 

I am thankful for the trivial things. My stove, the car, warm blankets, shoes, etc. I just feel so blessed.

We spent the day in Inkom with Scotts family. The boys had a wonderful time playing in the snow at Grandma and Grandpa Packards house. 

But first, some sweet pictures of baby Kyle. I love this boy madly. 

I love this picture of him and Tayden. Kyle is so busy and it shows his little moving personality perfectly. 

Tayden loves being a big brother and loves the baby fiercely.

Now to the snow. 

The boys love cousin Aimslee. 

The timing of this picture was too good not to share. Tayden was getting ready to make a snow angel and I caught him mid fall.

After Thanksgiving, we enjoyed white Friday. Much better than any black Friday.

Cache working hard bringing in snow. 

Beckett drawing his name in the snow. 

The boys enjoyed a day out with Dad building a snow wall. 

The cold fun didn't end there. We went to the light parade tonight. It was freezing and we only got a small handful of pictures and it was a fun memory. 

Its been a great Thanksgiving break and we're enjoying the change of seasons.

Makes being Idaho even more wonderful. 

Hidden Blessings

This morning had the makings of a perfectly awful start. I woke up after a long night with a very sick Cache,  entering my 14th hour of a personal fast and to a six year old with a painful abscessed tooth. After a pep talk from my mom, I consented to the day and got to work. The dentist was booked and we'd have to go into the office and wait until he had a minute to help us. And we needed to be there ASAP as they were closing for early for the holiday. I got the kids dressed, woke up sick Cache and headed to McD's to grab some breakfast. We converted the back of the car into a movie party and got comfy as we waited for the dentist. What was supposed to be an hour wait, miraculously turned into five minutes. Tayden got in, braved the shot and got his tooth pulled while I went back and forth between him and the sick car. I decided to take Cache to the doctor, whose office is across the street from the dentist. I spoke with a nurse about what was happening and she told me they had an opening and go bring him right in. 10 minutes later, we were out the door with a croup diagnosis and a steroid RX. It could have been one of the hardest mornings as a mother, BUT it wasn't. I know that Heavenly Father was aware of me and my little molehill that felt like a mountain. I know He got me through my morning and my fast that was nagging me so strongly this morning, held me up and gave me the strength I needed. I love when you think things can't possibly get worse, and they turn into a lesson of love and awareness from our Father in Heaven. I can't help but feel blessed today.

Indian Program

Beckett had a cute little Indian Program at his preschool this week. I have been so impressed with his teacher and her program. Beckett is doing really well and is taking to learning much more than I thought he would. I was worried he wouldn't like it, but it turns out he loves it. 

He is also doing great socially. I walked in and a mom asked if I was Becketts mom. When I told her I was, she told me how her son raved about B. They are the cutest little friends. 

The kids doing the Pledge of Allegiance. Becketts hand is on his heart under his costume. Next to him is his little buddy, Crosby. 

I love this classic trying not to smile face.

His part was about what the indians wore. He also said he was grateful for cars.

His candy teepee. He was quite proud of it.

I love watching Beckett blossom. He is really coming into his own and it is a pure pleasure to watch. 

Vegas, an Elk and some Strep

Two weeks ago I spent a lovely weekend in Vegas for a girls weekend. And I would have loved to blog about it sooner, but two days after I arrived home I got strep and Scott headed out for his last hunting trip of the season. It's been a whirl wind of crazy the past two weeks, but I finally have a minute to document a few pictures of my epic weekend. 

The flight to Vegaa was great. Kyle and I got a whole row to ourselves and he snoozed about 95% of the flight. When I landed, Melissa and Chelsea surprised me and I burst into tears the minute I saw them. We hit lunch at Skinny Fats, which was amazing, and then hung out at Melissa's the rest of the day. 

Honestly, the whole weekend was so great we hardly took any pictures. We just enjoyed ourselves and played until we couldn't anymore. We we went out to dinner a couple times, hit our favorite breakfast joint, got pedicures, were spiritually uplifted at a RS meeting and even scored free Criss Angel tickets. It was the best weekend and I cried harder than the first time I left them a year ago. 

Me, Kacy Hasting, Chelsea Mann, Sheena Perry, Breann Campbell, Melissa Turney, Cori Gage.

Criss Angel was a crazy magic show and slightly terrifying. It was like a strange rock concert magic show. But our seats were amazing, 6th row front and center, and he was a great performer. But more than anything it was fun being with my friends. 

I love the girls. I anticipated this weekend for so long and I can't believe it's over already. Seeing these pictures breaks my heart all over. I can not express the sisterhood I feel with these women. But I am grateful for it and grateful for an eternal friendship with them. I know that we'll always be close and no matter how long I am away will never be too long. 

1st Grade Parent Teacher Conference Date

Last week we had parent teacher conferences with Taydens teacher. He is doing great in school and turning into a fine young man. He is getting almost all 3's, regardless of going to three different kindergartens and working through a few educational gaps. His teacher said he is so helpful and kind to the other kids. 

His school picture.

After the chat with his teacher we went to go get some frozen yogurt. We talked about life and about school. His ups and downs and how to make good choices. It was awesome. I haven't had much one on one time with him lately, so this was a real treat for me. I hope this becomes a fun tradition. 

One quick story about Tayden. He was having a rough time with a little girl at school and wasn't being kind to her. At all. One day when they were walking home, he and another little boy were hitting her with their backpacks. I was being mad when I found out. I was so angry and disappointed. I know he knows right from wrong and he knew that was a bad choice. After it happened, I had the chance to help him make it right. I spoke to him about repentance and apologizing to Heavenly Father as well as Haley. He sat down and prayed to his Father In Heaven and said sorry for being mean. He asked for help to be nice and to remember to make good choices. It was so innocent and pure. After the prayer we walked to the little girls house to make amends. I was expecting Haley and her mom to be on the porch for a quick chat, but instead it was her whole family. Tayden walked into her home, nervous as ever, and said his peace. He told her he was sorry and he would try harder to be nice. He asked her to be nice and quit chasing him at school. He told her that he wanted to be friends with her again. I watched my little boy own his mistake and made it right. 

I am extrememly proud of him and my heart bursts with pride for this little boy. I am grateful for this learning lesson and the things he learned through it. He came out better and I am glad he is mine.