Lydia's 1st Birthday...

How was this an entire year ago???

Amazing!!

She is still our bitty lydi...

now 18 lbs 9 oz (15th percentile)

and 27" tall (8th percentile)

What a joy little Lydia is in our home...

She is mellow,

Sweet,

Cute as a button,

Adorable,

loved by all,

Happy,

a head turner,

and already so compassionate to her big sisters.

If she hears Jadyn crying she comes crawling (or walking :)) over and gives her a big hug.

The other day Jady tripped down the stairs and crashed into the gate at the bottom knocking her and the gate onto Lydia who was sitting at the bottom.  Lydia looked up at me like she was going to cry... then saw and heard Jadyn cry... so she didn't... she just hurried to Jadyn and wrapped her little arms around her.

I think she is an angel...

Sometimes we pinch her just to see if she is real. :)

life wouldn't be nearly as fun without her!!

I thank my Heavenly Father everyday for her...

Wednesday night she had a party with some of her favorite friends...

Like her cousin Trey... and lots lots more of course. :)

She played with her balloons...

opened her presents...

...and thoroughly enjoyed her cake!!!!!

She was even willing to share some with her good buddy Joe...

...but she was NOT pleased when we decided she had enough...

We ended the night taking her to an Aggie Game.

One of my favorite things is that Lydia is soooo easy to have around...  she's just plain content... the above picture doesn't happen much... she just isn't a cryer.  And if she does it's for a good reason like her 4 shots she had yesterday. :(

Lydia has had lots of adventures in her year of life.  The Oregon Coast, Washington DC, Hawaii (twice), Jackson Hole, Bear Lake to name a few

 People think we are crazy for taking a baby all those places.  I just tell them they don't know our Lydia... because I haven't wished we had left  her home ONE time.

We love you Lydia and can't wait for all the adventures that we will get to experience with you...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Mormon Tabernacle Choir and David Archuleta...

What a fun night my momma, Tayler, Saige and I had last night!

We got to go here...

for a fabulous perfomance by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir... 

and gasp...

if you haven't heard...

David Archuleta was there!!

It was fun, and my mom was lucky to be drawn out for the lottery.  The plan was for my parents to take Tayler and Saige, but then Thursday my sweet daddy offered his ticket to me.  :)

Thanks Dad it was an awful lot of fun!

We were glad that my mom actually made it in after dropping us off and parking the car in the craziness of downtown SLC.  She BARELY made it and we were panicking!  Tayler told me that if Grandma didn't make it we would have to leave because she wouldn't be able to enjoy it because of the guilt. 

So we were extra excited to see her walk in RIGHT before they stopped letting people in... especially since the girls REALLY wanted to see a certain person!!

And... it was even better than we expected!

After it was over we hurried over to the Deseret Book to see how long the line was for "signings" by the one and only.

Let's just say that the rest of the Conference Center was there...

and we didn't wait.

But we did sneak around to snap a picture or two of him...

much to the freaking out Deseret Book employees dismay.

The picture is not the greatest, but people were moving so fast, and the "guards" were shooing us along!!

Thanks mom for a great night!

And thanks Dad for sacrificing your seat... that was some serious goodwill!!

A Weekend to remember...

We spent last weekend in SLC with our friends...

First it was the lights @ Temple Square...  The weather cooperated nicely...  And made walking around quite enjoyable.

Then we were off to our hotel...  the kids were so excited to be going to a hotel with a "water slide" in it.  It was fun... Jadyn was completely content playing in the shallow water with the small slides all by herself.  The older kids went down the slide again and again... and even all the adults went (minus Lisa :))

Of course there was a lot of fun and a lot of laughing.  And we got some Christmas shopping in too.  But the main purpose of our trip was to go volunteer here...

We dropped our little ones off at some friends and went to the "Christmas Box House."  Bearing gifts and our time.

We gained much more than those sweet kids that day...

We brought crafts to do with them...

Stories to read...

Games to play...

But it was heartbreaking...

Every once in a while I had to act busy in the corner so that I would stop getting emotional... and I wasn't the only one.

There were 5 boys between the ages of 10-11... who have seen more in their short lives than anyone should have to.  And although completely upbeat and willing to participate and play and laugh and act like kids with us... they just weren't.

Every once in a while they talked about "DT" (Detention) like it was something everyone went to.  One had been there several times for burglary, drug paraphernalia etc. etc.  They mentioned how one of their mom's hadn't been there at all to see them.  One said that his 16 year old brother was "on the Run" and had been to DT more time than you could count.  Some told about how their social worker had found them a foster home to go to.  And then when we tried to stay positive and say, "that's good isn't it."  They told us, "no, not really it's not as easy as you think, you guys just don't know, and we won't be with our mom."  It didn't REALLY matter what their parents had done, they all wanted to be with them.

They were the type of boys that would drive you crazy...

The kind that if we hadn't been in that situation I wouldn't want my kids hanging out with.

But they were kids who couldn't be kids... who act out... to get the attention that they aren't getting...  who are growing up in unsafe environments... who can blame them???

It opened all of our eyes, especially my girls, they were able to see that sometimes kids have a REALLY hard draw.  And that life isn't fair.  And it put all of our "problems" in perspective.

I spent most of my time with two little 3 year olds.  A boy and a girl.  I could have snatched that cute little 3 year-old "Bella" up and taken her home with us.  She was polite, eager, sweet, happy... and when she would grab my hand and want to run with me to show me this or that... I melted.

We left wishing we could do more...

that we had brought more.

We had Christmas shopping to do... and I thought a lot about how much we have.  And how carefree our lives really are compared to those sweet kids.

It was an experience that I and all of us will cherish.  This Christmas my older girls really "Get It".  They don't seem to care at all what they are getting.  They have tender hearts and the other night after we read a sweet story, "A Cardboard Christmas."  Saige broke down and told us about someone who she thought needed help.  And so a little project was formed.  She told me the other day, "I think this is the Christmas that I will remember forever!"  And I think she and all of us will, and it won't be because of the gifts we receive. :)

Caroling Party...

Monday was our neighborhoods' 5th annual "Caroling Party".

It's one of those traditions that we started that has totally stuck.

(Although many of us question the caroling part of the tradition.  hahahaha)

But this year... was a success.  It was a fabulously warm night for December (mid 30's).

 I think last year was in the single digits...

so 30's we were ecstatic about! 

And although we aren't the greatest singers...

we even have the door shut on us sometimes in the middle of our songs...

(That makes us feel really good about ourselves people!!!  )

I think it was Scott who compared it to his mission... hehehe.

But I'm sure they enjoy the treats we leave behind...

And most enjoy the carols...

Actually I thought we were amazing this year to be honest. 

It's a lot easier to sing when your mouth doesn't freeze every time you open it. :)

But what most of us look forward to at the "caroling party" is not the ride on Shane's trailer, it's...

Hot Cocoa...

Snacks...

and playing "CHRISTMAS SPOONS"...

Spoons is not for the faint of heart...

It's down right vicious!! 

Blood is drawn, fingers are almost broken, heads are knocked, the men forget all about "ladies first" and even pregnant neighbors like Laura aren't given any respect.

And we go through about a whole box of spoons. :)

It's hard to portray in pictures...

but it's SCARY!!

And a WHOLE lot of fun!!  We pretty much totally ignore all the kids and let them fend for themselves during this event.  They end up watching us brawling it out to the end.  This year some of the "older" girls decided that you should be able to join at 16...

I disagreed...

Pointing out that there should only be 2 representatives per household...

And guess what...

that little stink won!!

Just kidding Kelsee!! Good job!!

And then there was the passing of the "spoon trophy"...

The trophy that has been proudly displayed on Raquel's mantel for the past two years.  (Notice the tears in her eyes, and the joy in Kelsee's :)). 

Treat it well Kelsee... Put it in a place of honor...

Because one day... if we practice lots and lots that trophy will be on our mantel!!!

Merry Christmas!!

We have much to be thankful for... and this Monday we were extra thankful for our great neighbors.

Hooray!

Lydia learned to clap this week... and where better to practice her new skill than at an Aggie Game...

...and just in time to clap for her big sisters who perfomed with their dance group for halftime.

Good job girls!!

Our Santa Letters...

We've sent the girls letters off...

 Lucky for them I think they all made the NICE list!!

Thanksgiving Weekend...

Oh, how I loved Thanksgiving break... having the kids home from school, lazy mornings in our PJ's, it was fabulous!

Wednesday evening we had friends over for dinner, games and chatting. It had been far too long since a good games of "werewolves" was played.
 ...

Thanksgiving Day...

Was at my parents house.  I was assigned the mashed potatoes... much better suited to me than that darn pretzel salad  from a couple of years ago...

The food was delicious of course... and we were glad that Tara and Quincy were there.  But we missed Jeff and Shelly's family's. :(

After we were full of good food.  Shane and I took our girls and cousins Paige and Tara to the new Disney movie "Tangled" in 3D.  Such a darling movie... I would HIGHLY recommend it!

...

Friday...  Black Friday... the day that everyone goes shopping on.
Well...  I didn't set a foot in a store.

But I did find some awfully good "online deals".
I much prefer shopping in my pajamas...
(although I'm guessing that people who went shopping at 3 in the morning might have been in their pj's too!)

I stayed home in my warm house, cleaning and getting out all of our Christmas loot... while Shane took Tayler and Andy and Missy to Idaho to get us a "non-Charlie Brown Christmas Tree."
It was snowy and COLD, and although tradition I didn't feel bad at all that I didn't go.  They trudged through snow "waist" deep.  To bring us our gem of a tree.  It was perfect... good job guys.

...
That night my parents took us to a "must see" performance.  Pickleville Playhouses "Santa's Elves".  It was hilarious and fun for the whole family.

And there is no way that you could convince Jadyn that we didn't actually go to the North Pole... right to Santa's house.  Because he was there after all!!  I've heard her ask several friends, "Have you ever been to the North Pole?"  They always say, "No" or "I don't think so" and she quickly replies, "O, well I have, it's awesome, there's elves and Santa too... but I think the reindeer must have been outside because I never saw them!"

However at the time she was NOT excited about sitting on his lap.

Eventually she agreed... and actually let him hold her hand... no lap sitting yet, but it was a valiant step for her!

Lydia on the other hand, made no valiant steps she cried... and I think Santa was a little concerned that I left her there for a second while I got this shot!

 ...her sisters and cousins wanted to make sure he heard their list though...

The performance truly was a blast...  And at one point Tayler and Paige LITERALLY fell on the floor laughing.

Thanks Mom and Dad for taking us...

I think it was MEMORABLE!

...

Saturday was our 1st free Saturday since Labor Day that we didn't have dance.  YIPPEE!!  I didn't miss it one little bit... and Tayler and Saige were OK with it too!

That night we went to the Aggie Game...

 It was a fabulous weekend... one that shows us how very many things that we have to be grateful for.  My resolution for the coming year is to think about Gratitude more...

Because I truly do have SO much to be grateful for!

Who needs a vacuum...

When there is a baby around...

 

... It's really disgusting, but she's far more efficient than any vacuum!

She's like our own personal Roomba!

This afternoon I heard Kenna saying to Jadyn, "Jadyn pick up that piece of your corndog!  You know Lydia will eat that... and it's all hard and crunchy!"

Day old corndogs... yum, yum.

I'm sad to say she's had worse...

like the big dirt clod I fished out of her mouth...

and the dead fly I swiped right before it went in...

and the bug that I wasn't so fast with...

She'd do just fine on Survivor!!