Christmas Trip

Disclaimer: I am blogging while holdimg babies so any typos are from little toes, and me attempting to type one handed.

We went to Houston for Christmas and were able to see so much family it was awesome! Allen's came down from Rexburg to stay with the Christmans while we stayed with the Childs and we all partied and went on adventures. Besides being sick, I think my kids did really well on the nine hour drive, and with all the traveling and stimulation, and not sleeping at night.

Strong uncle Nathan did a push up with a few of his favorite little people.

Miriam usually takes a while to get used to the bath, but this one in Grammie's sink hit the spot right away.

Crazy family Christmas picture

Happy anniversary at the Potato Patch Mom and Dad!! Thanks for all of this.

Santa came Christmas eve and gave all the kids a candy cane. For a second I felt like I should be getting one, not handing one to my own kid. But, the half smiling half terrified look on his face was much more rewarding than a candy cane.

I got to Skype with Riley! We all did, and his companion who is awesome, they both sang a Christmas song and it was really good to see his face and hear his voice. I haven't realized how much I miss calling him up or having him call me just to chat.

We saw some pretty crazy Christmas lights, some were classy and some were trashy (haha) but I loved it all and am glad Asher was semi patient with the drive and that Miriam slept the whole time.

Nathan and I were able to go to Handle's Messiah with the Houston Symphony with Phil, Maren and Mom and Dad Childs. It was much more enjoyable this time, two years ago I was sick and pregnant and just wanted it to end.  This time I actually understood it, and very much enjoyed the talent of the symphony. And sneaking/sharing chocolate with Maren and her wonderfully sized purse.

 One item on my dad's bucket list since he was a kid was to go to NASA. Weirdly, none of us knew this, and he didn't realize until this Christmas how close it was to where we were spending Christmas SO, obviously, we had to go. Lucky for us a really nice guy in Jill and Jason's ward works there and gave us a ground tour that was cool. I got to shake a robot's hand! And he let us go inside a rover! Sadly, Asher had to go to the emergency room the night before and had croup. Ended up with a steroid shot, being on the breathing machine, meds for an ear infection, poor kid. So Nathan stayed back with him and let me go with Miriam since I had never been. Worth it. Even if I had been kind of a grump being worried about my kids and missing my hubby (sorry family).

Galveston is so much fun, even when its freezing.

 Strong man

Love this lady.

One request I had for this trip was to get professional family pictures from my talented brothers, Jason and Brian. They, along with everyone else, were awesome for dealing with crying kids on a cold beach. Asher was more crying because he wanted to get in the water and play in the sand than because it was cold. 

These are just a couple of my favorites. They all turned out so great!

Every Christmas gets better, and it becomes easier for me to remember the reason for the season. I have a testimony of Christ, his miraculous birth, life, death and resurrection. 

Miriam was blessed!

Both Miriam and Asher have been incredibly lucky to have most of their families present when blessed. It is humbling to see the love these wonderful people have for my children and the strength of the priesthood that is so readily available. 

I could not have chosen or been blessed with better family and friends.

Tis the Season

Life here in Arkansas has been a bit crazy lately. We had a major ice storm that closed down the whole town  for close to a week, not that the kids and I get out much anyway, but it was amazing the lengths they go to to keep people off the roads. Schools and businesses closed for days. We, being crazy northerners, decided to get out a bit and went to Fayetteville for part of the down time, 11 cars off the road on the way down and 13 the next day on the way home. We learned a few things, one that food storage is very important, so are batteries, flashlights and an alternative heat source-even if that source is family and friends. I gained a greater testimony of the social and emotional blessing of being part of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have only been here for a few months and because of the wonderful people in our ward I have people I would trust with my children, my house, and that I feel comfortable going to for help. We have moved a few times, but always we have family to break the ice and to go to (we do here to but they were too far away for me to go to in the middle of a snow storm with two kids on ice roads by myself.) I have never had to be an adult and fend for myself. Or, maybe I have, or I didn't really this time and it was just an inward 'ah-ha' moment. Either way I am grateful.
A couple other things we learned from the snow: Nathan was able to go sledding and still loves it, Asher does not like the snow on his feet but he is willing to touch it. We didn't bring any of our cold weather stuff here. I don't miss Rexburg winters at all, and we are super excited for Christmas!

There is a video, I'm sure most people have seen, called "What does the fox say", Asher thinks it is hilarious and today we realized how much he is starting to pay attention to the things we watch! 

(here is Asher's favorite version of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZM-72_Hr0k)

Our ward had a pancake brunch with Santa as a special guest. Asher liked the pancakes, the primary kids singing, and running around with his friends, 

but he did NOT like Santa, Nathan was so proud :)

Asher watching the first snow fall of the big storm at our friend's house.

Tucker and Millie after a long day of running in the snow.

Our lucky babies cuddling with their dad.

Asher and I made cookie dough (sadly they never made it to cookies...) while we have been trapped indoors due to weather, flat tires, sick babies, 

and me not wanting to practice juggling two by myself.

Asher at 17 months and Miriam at one month

Asher didn't need to be shown twice what to do with a beef rib!

Came out of the room to this guy trying to get an orange from the fruit bowel on the counter. New this week he can climb on the table, open the fridge, reach on top of the counters, take off his diaper, and say Tucker, point to his nose, quack like a duck, bring me my phone, and wipe his nose with a tissue.

Love em naked!

She has grown out of all her newborn clothes, this outfit included. Time flies!

My life is wonderful. I am tired, my house is a mess, I only get dinner made half the time. I apparently send Nathan off with conversation in my sleep in the mornings, and I haven't gotten out of the house in days. But my husband is amazing and handsome, my children are healthy and happy, and I am blessed this Christmas more than ever before. 

Comparisons: Him and Her

My two children on their first day of life.

My nephew Jack and Miriam on their birth day.

More of my children on their first day of life :)

 My beautiful babies.