Christmas 2016

December is always a flurry of activity, and this year was no exception. We tried to make it a fun and memorable Christmas for the boys since they were disappointed about not making the trip home to Montana this year. Brigham had been waiting for months for it to snow and we finally got some in the middle of December. He has a sixth sense for when it snows. He was awake by 6 am and ready to play in the snow. The snow didn't make it to Christmas though. Christmas Eve we went and viewed the live nativity our ward puts on every year. The boys and I also acted out the nativity while Jared read from the scriptures. Christmas morning the boys didn't wake up until 7 am (hooray!) and they had a great time discovering that their stuffed animals had come to life while Santa was at our house. Then we had them sit at the top of the stairs and wait for us to give them the signal because I wanted to record them (video to follow). They of course were excited about every gift and of course were spoiled. We had to stop halfway through the unwrapping to go to church for a special musical program which I sang in. After church the missionaries came over for lunch and skyped their families. Then later we had some fun playing Minute-to-win-it games holiday version with some friends. 

Benson playing in the snow storm called Helena. Everything shuts down around here when there is a big snow storm. People think we are crazy.

Helping Dad shovel our driveway

Did someone say sugar cookies???

Brigham really got into Santa this year and sent several letters to him. This one says Dear Santa, Welcome to our house. 

Sweethearts hanging out in the tree together.

Brigham was very excited for his primary to sing in sacrament meeting the Sunday before Christmas. He even invited our neighbors Larry and Ann Marie to come hear him sing. On the way to church however, he told me his stomach hurt and he threw up as I was helping him out of the car. He was devastated and mad that we had to go home. 

We spend a lot of time with the missionaries since Jared is the ward mission leader. Here are Elder Duggar's and Elder Sprahn's mini me's. 

This one says thank you for coming to our house. Enjoy these cookies. He is always grateful.

Santa hard at work Christmas Eve.

Paw Patrol sleeping bags!!

It is impossible to get a good picture of these two monkeys.

We went to the zoo over Christmas break and Brig made a friend with the African crane. The crane would move his head with Brigham's. 

 

 

Thanksgiving 2016

We had a nice, quiet, Thanksgiving together in Rhode Island. Mike and Kimmy Garbett (Mike is Jared's classmate) invited us to their house for a potluck turkey dinner. It was a delicious dinner and it was a fun afternoon to spend with our friends. I made several pies, including Jared's favorite, lemon meringue. My mixer broke in the middle of whipping the meringue for the pie. Boo! There was no way I was whipping it by hand and the stores were closed. My clever and handy husband grabbed his power drill and attached a beater and finished whipping the meringue. My hero! 

We took the boys bowling for the first time during the break. They had a great time rolling the balls down the "dragon" and doing victory dances. Jared and I had high scores thanks to the bumpers. Ha. 

We also made thankful turkeys. Some of the things Brigham was thankful for: Jesus, primary, Book of Mormon, missionaries, Hartford temple (can you tell we made them right after church? But I was super proud that he wanted to list all of the spiritual ones first.), kindergarten, cousins, chocolate milk and smashed potatoes. Benson was thankful for cupcakes, blankies, animals, mom and dad, grandmas and grandpas, and nursery. We really do have a lot of things to be grateful for this year!

Family Pictures 2016

Photo credit to Beckyann Photography.

Halloween and the Rest of October

We had a "SUPER" Halloween this year. The boys had a great time dressing up in costumes weeks before Halloween. They kept changing their minds about which costumes they wanted to wear for the big night. Benson ended up being Batman and Brig was a fireman. We trick or treated around our neighborhood with some friends from Jared's CRNA program. We knocked on Brigham's friend's house and his mom answered the door. She told Brigham that because he was Vincent's friend, he could have THREE pieces of candy. Brig thought that was a pretty neat deal and began to tell all his friend's parents that he deserved three pieces of candy because he was their friend. He figured out how to work the system and came home with a huge bag of candy, including several full size candy bars for being a good friend. Benson loved knocking on the doors and if he was allowed to choose a piece of candy, he was very careful to only pick his favorites (chocolate and lollipops). My favorite part of the evening, however, was when Brig and his friend Shameem went to a house that was scaring all the trick or treaters. They were hidden behind a bush and car and didn't come out until the kids were already at the door. When Brig finally saw them he dropped his bag of candy and RAN!

New England has many great Halloween and Fall activities for families. We went for a hay ride and picked pumpkins from a pumpkin patch. We also went trick or treating at the "spooky" zoo and a carnival at our YMCA. 

The Friday before Halloween was graduation day for the seniors in Jared's program. We attended the celebration dinner and dance afterwards. We had a good time and really looking forward to next year when it is Jared's turn to graduate!!

Graduation dinner 

Trick or treating at the zoo. The boys liked the skeletons that were "fishing"

The boys waited patiently to have their faces painted at the carnival. Brig wanted a monster face and Benson wanted a T Rex on his cheek

Benson painting his pumpkin. He painted for close to an hour. He is my little artist.

Here are a couple pictures of downtown Providence that I took when we were out on a date

Some sisters and I in my ward made quiet books. We each picked a page and then made ten copies and then exchanged pages with each other. It was a lot less work this way and I have some very talented friends!!

It was a very warm October, with one week being in the 80's every day. So, we went to the beach one last time.

Our stubby carrots from our garden

Benson trick or treating with his friends Nixon and Keanna.

I had fun making some Halloween snacks for our party