SNOW!

The  boys have looked forward to playing in the snow for weeks now. On Christmas eve, their wish came true! Scotts grandparents have a nice big backyard in Inkom and we took advantage of it by making snow angels, having a snowball fight and riding behind the four wheeler. Tayden and Beckett had more fun than I could have ever imagined. 

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Packard for taking us over to play. We had so so so much fun!

Blessing Cache

Today, we blessed our sweet baby Cache. We had a nice small get together with our immediate families at the Packard home and blessed the babe. Scott did a great job and I liked how intimite it was doing it inside of the home. Sometimes, it can become a production doing it at the church. Making sure the baby looks just perfect, having loads of people there, doing a large dinner after, and so on. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that is a bad thing. We did it with our first two. It was just a nice reminder today what the blessing is about. Cache was in a simple white collared onsie with no pants and it didn't matter. He was blessed just the same. He was given a name and I could feel our Saviors love for him. He was a pure, sweet little child that we presented to him in gratitude and in turn, Heavenly Father filled our hearts with the spirit. It's a memory I will cherish.

This pregnancy was full of question, doubt and fear. When the health of Cache was in question, my sister organized a family fast. My grandma put our names in every temple in Utah. I could feel the power of Heaven pouring down on my family. Thank you. Thank you so much for your prayers, for your faith and for your fasting. I have never been on the receiving end of such a powerful movement and even being hundreds of miles away from family, I could feel your love and support. I will never be able to put into words the love and appreciation I have for you because of that. I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers and listening to our every want or care. I was blessed with the spirit of assurance more than once as I pled on my knees to keep my baby safe. I didn't know how things would turn out, but I knew they would be okay because I had the Lord on my side. I am grateful I was raised to have such great faith. I am grateful to have such an amazing family on both sides that love and support us. We would not have made it to this point without you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

We are so priveldged to have Cache in our family.
I'm grateful he is part of our eternity.

Early Christmas

Because we are traveling home for Christmas this year and have limited space in our car, we opted to do our family Christmas early. We let the boys open their gifts last night and boy oh boy did they have fun. We did a combined Christmas between T and B and got them an Imaginext set. They had so much fun...

... and so did their dad!
He's the best.

We are headed to Utah tomorrow and Idaho on Saturday.
Its going to be awesome.
I cannot wait.

Santa Baby

Tonight was our ward Christmas party. It was different considering our ward was split a few months ago and our friends were all moved to another ward. We still know people and feel loved, but we definitely noticed their absence. 

The food was great and the kids had fun running around. But the best part for Tayden was Santa, of course.

All the children sitting at Santa's feet, waiting their turn.

 Sweet baby Cache. He is (almost) always so chill.

 Waiting for Taydens turn. Love his double chin.

Beckett yelling at Santa. There were so many kids and we were pressed for time, so Beckett didn't get to sit on his lap. He was perfectly fine yelling at him from a distance and getting a prize from the helpers.

Tayden is continually surprising me with his bravery. Last year he didn't have the chance to sit on Santas lap, but this year he just hopped right up there without any hesitation. He told Santa he wanted a 'spider man plastic web shooter' and also slipped in that he has been really extra good.

It was a fun night. 

More Christmas Fun

Tonight, we headed to the Bellagio and Ethel M's for some more Christmas magic. I'll say it once and I'll say it again, we have some of the best friends in the world. We went with a group of them and had a blast hanging out. The parents chatted while the kids played. Couldn't have asked for a better evening. 

We practiced smiling with Tayden in the car while we waited for our friends. This shaggy hair boy sure melts my heart with his sweet grin.

Handsome Beckett. 

Tayden and Hannah sure love each other. Most of the time. Tonight was a good night for these two. 

 T, H and Jackson.

 The Christmas tree was huge and breath taking. I could have stared at it for hours.

 Anyone want to tell me when this boy got so big? Beckett, not my husband. :)

 The Gage family.

 The Turney Family

 The first picture of all 5 of us without Cache in a car seat. Tayden obviously forgot his nice smile. I wonder when we'll get an actual nice family picture with everyone looking and smiling? 

 Bahaha! Funny face, Cache.

We met up with 2 more families at the Ethel M's Chocolate Factory, but I didn't get their pictures! I didn't get many pictures in fact, I was packing around Cache and too busy keeping track of my kids among the crowd in the dark.

 I love this picture of Scott. He is so handsome.

 Me and the babe.

Some of the lights. It was spectacular.

What a great evening. I hate that there isn't snow for Christmas around these parts, but these awesome events kind of make up for it. 

Cache T--8 Weeks

Cachee Cache is 8 weeks today! EIGHT WEEKS! Holy Smokes, when did that happen? The past 56 days have flown by. We're all adjusted rather well, I'd say. We make it to church (mostly) on time and put together, I can get out of the house with all the boys when I need to (though I leave big grocery trips for the weekend when Scott is home) and everyone is fed and has their basic needs taken care of on a daily basis. 

The hardest part is finding a time slot for some mommy time. I've been dying to fit a daily workout into my schedule, but it just hasn't happened yet. Between Scotts crazy long hours, 3 kids with different needs at all times of the day and my need for a little sleep--I haven't figured it out yet. I'll get there...maybe.

At 8 weeks Cache:

-Is still an eating champ. He is on a great schedule, which makes my life much less stressful.

-Sleeps great. He gets up twice a night and promptly goes back to sleep.

-Is a little gassy. I cut out dairy for a few weeks and that seemed to help. I'm slowly introducing it back into my diet and he seems to be tolerating it okay.

-Is starting to smile. Its spontaneous, huge and totally on purpose. One day I'll get in on camera.

-His belly button is completely healed. His umbilical cord was abnormally thick and took about 4 1/2 weeks to fall off. It was nasty and so stinky. When it fell off, he had a bit of a herniated belly button, but it has retracted in and completely healed.

-Is showing signs for dark hair. Keeping my fingers crossed! Its starting to fall out a bit, but what is left is darker than Taydens.

-Coos. I love it. He coos and kicks his legs and wiggles his little arms. Its so fun.

-Weights about 13 pounds. We'll know for sure in a few days at his next doc. visit.

-Brings us so much happiness! He is the puzzle piece that makes us whole.

I am so grateful for Cache. I'm thankful for his health and his sweet spirit. It is so special to have a newborn in the home and I am soaking up every minute of it. 

It's been a great eight weeks and I can't wait for more.

Oh the Weather Outside....

...is nothing like Christmas!

But that's not going to keep me from decorating my front porch with snowmen and a Christmas Cardinal.

At least it feels like Christmas at home.