Christmas 2015

The past three years we have spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with one of our parents. It has been so fun to experience Christmas with them and  build memories to last a lifetime. Family is so important to us, and we want Warren to understand where he comes from, and that he will always have people who love him and are willing to support him. I really believe that if you  know where you come from you will have a better understanding of where you want to go, and where you don't want to go in life. I also feel that having a knowledge of our ancestors and extended family, and their history can help us overcome trials in our lives. 

BUT anyway back to Christmas. This year we spent Christmas with my dad at his home in south western Idaho. It was so much fun, we were off the grid, and were just able to spend time with one another and enjoy each other. My stepsister Jessica and her family were there as well and Warren loved playing with his cousins and building stronger relationships with them. My dad lives in a tiny town, in an old, brick farmhouse in a beautiful setting. His home is nestled in trees and you have to drive down a decent sized hill  to get to his house. That hill naturally leads to plenty of fun, especially in the winter. Christmas Eve and Christmas day were spent sledding down the hill and playing in the snow. We even took a canoe down the hill.

Warren was just the perfect age for Christmas, everything was magical and he was so excited. He loved everything he got and exclaimed that he received everything he ever wanted. I hope to never forget how he gasped, and had a huge smile on his face when he saw his stocking, remote control car, and Santa's footprints. I loved that when he opened his gifts he would jump  up and down with a HUGE smile on his face and show everyone what he got, then proceed to play with it right away, (at least until we got home, then he just wanted to open everything then play.) It was just what I was hoping for. Warren  was also so excited to talk about the true meaning of Christmas and was a cowboy for the nativity. We had a few cowboys present during this year's production, but it warmed our hearts. 

Christmas 2015 you were good to us, we loved the Christmas joy and spirit we felt that Christmas morning.Warren you made Christmas so amazing this year. We love you. 

Sledding Christmas Eve, a tradition

Oh the joys of childhood. He would only go down in  Dad's jet sled.

What Santa left Christmas Eve

Santa always leaves a note for Warren

And this year we got to see his footprints

This was a few days before Christmas. My mom and Kyle came down to celebrate Christmas with us since we would be gone. My mom made this tepee for Warren.  He loved it, if you cannot tell. Such awesome grandparents.

Christmas morning about 6:45 am

playing with a set of Legos he received

Ben Christmas morning. I sure am going to miss that boy  next year. My dad was reading the gifts he requested, letters describing acts of service we have performed this year. They were very heartfelt and it really made for some special memories.

A blurry picture of Warren's first attempt at operating his new car early Christmas morning.

This was how so much of Christmas Day and Christmas Eve were spend, holding and loving on animals. I wish we could get him a pet .

More sledding

Just playing Christmas morning

Christmas at home, Warren loved his toolbox from Grandma and Grandpa Ludlow, it now holds his Legos.

This is how we spent Christmas evening and most of the days since then, playing  with Legos. Our journey with those is just beginning.

Another First, Ice Fishing

One Saturday afternoon in December we were looking for something to do. We had, had a week or so of really cold days and Zack suggested we go ice fishing. I had never been before and was extremely nervous All I kept thinking was the ice is going to break, we are all going to die. Dramatic I know, but those were my feelings. We made a quick trip to Sportsman's to get some mil-worms, stopped at home for some fishing gear and headed out the door. I am not sure what I was thinking because silly me I forgot to grab Warren's snow pants. He had on several layers and we had to convince him that he needed to wear a coat when the sun started to go down, so I think he stayed pretty warm. Warren was super excited and just wanted to run around. I was overly nervous and did not want him to venture  off very far, or run at all because I was so scared, the ice was about 5 inches thick and Zack kept reassuring me we were safe, but like the great husband he is, he kept Warren close to calm my nerves. After we had been on the ice about a half hour I realized the ice was not going to break and enjoyed my book and watching Zack teach Warren about ice fishing. It was so fun to have this family time together, out in nature, even if it was cold, especially when the sun started to set.

Warren couldn't wait to try out dad's scoop. You would have thought it was the best toy EVER!

My two fishermen, such handsome boys.

Warren told Dad. "I'm to tired to walk back." Good thing he is still small enough to pull in the sled.

Even though I enjoyed myself, when they went New Year's Day at 5:30 am I opted to stay in my nice warm bed. Good thing too, the adventures that day were a bit crazy. This momma might not have ever agreed to go back had I been there.

A Magical Evening

 Saturday, the 23rd we got to spend a magical evening as a family. We spent a couple hours teaching Warren about ice skating. The evening was practically perfect. It was snowing, the ice rink was outside, hot chocolate and a trip to touch the temple after, and Warren ended up really enjoying himself. Every time we drive home he asks if we can go ice skating again, or if we can at least drive by the ice rink.

The evening did not start or end perfectly but there were moments in between that were perfect. And really, isn't that true about life. It is not always perfect; beginnings and endings are usually scary, sometimes sad, and messy but there are moments woven in the middle that are perfect or practically perfect in every way.

I was debating whether or not we should take Warren out in the cold, and was getting testy because Zack couldn't read my mind, (Imagine that!) Warren was crying as we were waiting in line to rent ice skates because he was scared to try, and didn't want to get knocked over. I was nervous and anxious that we had made the wrong choice and were just going to have a crying child all night. I was also disappointed because we did not get that "perfect" family photo, and that I looked different than I pictured in my mind. But in reality, does any of that matter? Will that be what sticks with me in 5 years, 10, 20? Is that what has already stuck with me? No, it's Warren's smile as he sat in the snow resting, hearing myself tell him "you've got this, keep trying, I am so proud that you are trying even though you were scared," hearing him say that he really likes ice skating, that is what has stuck with me. That, and the fact that the little things are just that little things, and that I can enjoy myself even if things are not "picture perfect." Because when is life really picture perfect?  When  I choose to look at it that way, that's when.

Warren's first time on ice skates.

Visiting the Logan Temple after ice skating because we can, and I was hoping for a better family picture.