Four

Some of you may remember that January 3rd four years ago was a bitterly cold day. There was snow on the ground, but none falling from the sky. It was the coldest day of the winter up to that point - a freezing -30, closer to -40 with the wind chill. That is the day I got married. Luckily for me and my handsome groom, we had our love to keep us warm, at least a little warmer than our bridal party. That day was one of the happiest days of my life. 

Four years later, Matt and I found ourselves out on the town with a real babysitter at home with Oakley (real means she was paid with money. Thanks again Janessa for watching Oakley!) so I introduced Matt to the succulent taste of Famoso. If you haven't been, for the love of all that is good, go! It is so scrumptious! Afterward, we explored the catwalks in the Strathcona Science Provincial Park. I'm looking forward to going in the spring when it's lush and green and maybe a tad warmer. :) After that, we had no plans. But we had a babysitter and were going to make the most of it! So, we invited ourselves over to my sister's house to play some games. It was a delightful evening celebrating our married life. 

Four years is quite a long time. I've been married for 48 months, 208 weeks, 1461 days or 35,063 hours. We have had our share of ups and downs but we are still together and continually growing in love. I am grateful that Matt held out those long four months I made him wait. I can't imagine my life without him in it. 

Happy Anniversary Matt!

Ringing in the New Year

We have been blessed with a wonderful ward. Since September, we have met many new people, attended fun activities and been spiritually fed at our church meetings. There was an activity planned to ring in the New Year as a ward. Tal and Kelly Pizzey graciously offered their house for our ward party and there were many activities available throughout the evening. There was a theatre that was dominated by guys playing video games, a pool table, treats, games, basketball court, trampoline, camp fire, puzzle and movie watching and lots of visiting. I was so delighted to spend the last of 2012 and the first of 2013 with the amazing people that attended. There were 3 babies there. Oakley was the oldest of them and all three of them stayed up until midnight and later. I was so impressed with them all but I would really like to know from Erin and Caitlin how long their babies struggled with schedules after that night. Ha ha! Oakley should not stay up until one o'clock ever again. That might be the last New Year's Eve party I ever go to with kids in a long time. Thank you to the Elders Quorum for planning the party! It was a wonderful time.

Oakley liked our noise maker

This was right after midnight and Oakley was scared by all the noise.

Facial hair is so comforting

Forts

When I was younger, we had a chesterfield with removable cushions. I remember taking the cushions off and making forst with them. Well, they were actually stables because my sister and I would play "horses" in them but they were still forts. I loved it! I have recently been reminded how fun forts are. Twice in the last week and a half, Matt has build a fort in our living room for Oakley to enjoy. It's been a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to see what other designs he can come up with in our living room.

This one popped up while I was at the temple. It was quite a surprise when I came home!

What memories do you have of childhood forts?

Christmas

Christmas this year was anticipated with excitement. It would be our first Christmas with a little one. Oakley practiced opening gifts in November and I was interested to see how he would react to the pile of gifts that would be within his reach. Our little man had been army crawling since middle of November and learned how to furniture walk and traditional crawl about a week before Christmas so anything on the floor or coffee table, side table, etc. became very accessible - as did the presents. :)

For some odd reason, even though I was so excited for Christmas this year, putting up the decorations seemed like more work than I was willing to do. Luckily, I had the opportunity this year to take out my Christmas decorations, go visit my mom, and come home to a decorated house. Thank you Emily and Stacey for decorating my house! But I have a confession. Even though they did the bulk of my decorating, I didn't even take out my Christmas tree and put it up. How sad is that?

Christmas time is filled with traditions. Some of the things we did as a family were attending our ward Christmas party, watching the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, reading from our Christmas book, watching The Muppet's Christmas Carol, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and White Christmas (Ok, the last one is just for me). Matt and I had decided that as Oakley is just little and will not even remember this Christmas and doesn't need a whole lot, we would buy him some shoes and a stuffed animal and make any other gifts we wanted. Matt made him so beautiful blocks and I knitted him a scarf. Have you found that handmade gifts are so much nicer to give? I feel that way. :)

So, Christmas 2012 started out at my mom's on Christmas Eve day. Six of the eight kids were there at some point during the day. It was wonderful. There was a nativity puzzle to be made, sledding, Christmas dinner to prep and then eat, the nativity to act out, my mom's Christmas story to read, and Christmas pyjamas to open.

Puzzle time!

See? Crawling!

Mom! You're embarrassing me!

The completed puzzle

All the troopers

Banana slush is a huge Christmas tradition in my family. My brother made it green this year to be more festive.

The chaos

Thank you Sam for the music!

Mary and Joseph

The angels and shepherds

Head angel

Wise men

Greg's scrumptious cheese

Mom's Christmas story. She always cries and that makes it even better. :)

Oakley loves his cousin Ben

Gabby started "grooming" my mom during the story! Funny girl.

Matchy Matchy!

Cute pjs!

Mama and baby in Christmas pyjamas

After pajamas were on, it was high time to take our sleepy babe to bed so we hopped in the car and drove the 15 minutes to Matt's parents' house. I must admit Oakley did not get to bed right when we got there. :) I don't even know when we got up but I was adamant that everyone let me sleep until Oakley woke up. :) The last time we were with my in-laws for Christmas the boys got Matt and I up at like 4:00 and that was so not happening this year. Ha. So, we got up when Oakley woke up, opened stockings while his cereal cooled down, fed him and then the present opening began. Zak was astounded by the pile of gifts under the tree. Every time he was around the tree, I had to laugh. Oakley was spoiled and we all enjoyed watching each other open gifts. After gifts were opened, there were naps taken, people headed out to the acreage for 3 hours for sledding and a walk, games were played and then we had Christmas dinner. We also attempted to take a family picture before Rachel left on her mission. There were about 25 pictures taken and only one was acceptable. Justin, I'm looking at you. 

The loot

I love the bow!

Oakley wanted to play the piano more than open presents

Matt wearing the cowl I made him. :)

OH! A tree to undecorate!

LEGO

Piano time

Look at that face!

I was practicing for family pictures. 

Serious

Goofy

It was a wonderful Christmas full of activities and moments that allowed me to reflect on the real reason that we celebrate Christmas. I am grateful for the birth and life of my Savior and ultimately for His Atonement that makes it possible for me to become perfect like my Father in Heaven and to be with my family throughout eternity. I hope all of you had a merry Christmas too!