{Waffles!}

Its not every day you get to have your favorite food truck in your front yard! The kids were so excited Thursday night as Waffle Love drove up to our house! I hosted the Relief Society Christmas party this year. The theme was waffles and pajamas. So naturally I had to have Waffle Love come to my house! They are originally out of Utah, but have trucks now in Arizona and here in our city. The children ordered their waffles before all the ladies so that I could settle them in my room for a picnic and Christmas movie. I loved having all the ladies in our home. Now the kids are asking for food trucks for all our parties.  & Tre wants to work for Waffle Love when he turns 16. wouldn't that be fun! 

We also have been using the hot tub at night. We play the 3 word game where one child says 3 words and another has to make up a story using those words. We get a kick out of it & its just nice to be in one spot  together. We do miss Rod so much though! We are excited for him to return in a few weeks. Its just not the same without him! 

j

{Deck the halls 2017}

Every year when I put our Christmas tree video together I watch the old ones. I see how much they have grown and I can see time slipping through my fingers. Reminds me of that Mama Mia song. I have myself a good cry every time.

Christmas 2017 from Jennifer S. on Vimeo.

{The Tree 2017}

We picked out our Tree tonight. Much later than we usually do, but we have learned that here in the desert the trees dry fast! So we pumped the breaks a bit. We finished off the night with cocoa and then tucked the children in bed as the Tree farm guys delivered and set up the beauty the kids picked out.

{Cooper turns 5!}

Five. It breaks my heart a bit. 5 is the no turning back point it seems. 5 years is a big age gap if we were to add another to the family. But our baby turned 5 on Monday and it seems like that day marked the conclusion of babyhood inner home. Its a hard pill to swallow. Cooper is such a sweet sweet boy with a mix of all of his siblings. Sweet like Tre, Smart like Britt, mischievous like Maddox, a bit sassy like Presley. He started school this year and is learning so much so quickly! He is a sponge and I get little glimpses of how successful he is going to be in life. I see that he will walk the strait and narrow path and bring great pride to our family. He is so very loved and still so very babied! & We are okay with that. We loved celebrating his day with Oma & Opa! If you were to ask what his favorite part of the day was I am certain he would say getting McDonalds.

{Maddox turns 9}

Oh Maddox. You never quit! Your teacher loves you to bits this year and says that you pretty much can do anything so long as you flash that big smile and scrunchy nose with those blue eyes. You have us all wrapped around your finger. & you know it. We love you so much! Your birthday was low key but fun. Oma & Opa were here to party with us! We kicked off the day with donuts and presents and celebrated you until you fell asleep. We are so glad you are ours. I still testify that you were hand picked for me! You and I were meant to be together from the start!

{Thanksgiving 2017}

We were not sure if Rod was going to be able to make it home for thanksgiving so my sweet parents, knowing that Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday, had planned to come to us so that the children & I would not be alone. They arrived early in the week and we were able to do some early preparations so that Thanksgiving could be more leisurely. It was nice. The Crosbys came to town too so they visited in the morning during the parade. I made home made donuts and we had cinnamon rolls and fruit. The Crosbys left to meet at the park with the Keys, but I was not feeling well at all. Of all days! So we stayed behind and continued cooking and visiting with my parents. Presley made the name places this year and my moms oldest cook book was in tow this thanksgiving. Its so fun to have such personal touches. We snacked on cheeses and dips and set up the table for a delicious meal. We went around & spoke of things we are grateful for. Its so hard to put into words the things of the heart sometimes. I think I often rush through the days and weeks and don't find a moment to truly reflect on what tremendous blessings our family has. We of course pray in gratitude for food and comfort and family...but is runs so much deeper than that. I used to keep a prayer journal that often read as a gratitude journal. I pay pick up the pen again & do that. I hope my children sense my profound gratitude to my heavenly father for my own parents, my devoted husband and the little spirits we have been blessed with. Our home is mostly loud and the spills are made. My heart is racing and my head aches a lot as the madness unfold s around me, but in the quiet of the night I feel the love I felt for them all day even in their naughtiest of moments. I am truly grateful.