The Most Special New Year's

This year I did something I have been dreaming of for 7 years...

We watched family home movies.

And not just any home movies. Ones that I have spent days and days creating.

I took our whole 2014 and edited small clips into monthly videos with music.

By the end, we were all wishing there were 20 more.

Patrick and I were both crying...especially since we ended by watching our Ranch vacation.

There really aren't words to describe the magic I felt in my heart as I watched my whole world on the big screen...it left me awestruck of just how perfect my life really is.

And next year, I hope to have not only 2015 chronicled in family movies, but 2008 as well.

It may not be much, but to me, this represents a gigantic part of the legacy I want to leave for my family...a compilation of all our memories, traditions, and small and simple moments.

A Birthday Wish

We like to do a family activity around the day of each of our children's birthdays.

This year (two days before his birthday) we surprised Tate with a trip to Gram and Pop's house since his ever-present and unceasing wish is to live at Grammy and Poppy's house.

We kept the party a secret and when we pulled in the driveway Tate opened his eyes and exclaimed, "This is where we're going?!" He was so happy.

Gram made him a peanut butter cake--pure delight for my little peanut butter boy.

It was a perfect day.

On his birthday he chose to have a French Breakfast Muffin with an orange lego candle for breakfast.

At 10:00 seven little boys came over to our house for Tate's birthday party. Unfortunately, I misplaced my phone right before they all came so I didn't get a single picture. (My hands were quite full once the party started...I'm sure you can imagine...)

We had a pin the flag on the treasure map, pirate stories, and then a treasure hunt that led them to their party favors. We ended the party with pirate treasure cake and ice cream.

 Oh Tate,

I can't imagine my life without you. You are the sweetest little boy I've ever met. You are learning to read so well this year; I'm so proud of you. I love how your teacher thinks you are the sweetest boy and are so good with some of the difficult boys who misbehave and bother people. You are so patient, you cooperate so well in your class, and help everyone to get along.

You amaze me with your endless supply of hugs and kisses and your mischievous antics that still keep me on my toes every day. I wouldn't change a thing about you.

You are perfect--just the way you are.

Thank you for being such a perfect little boy.

I'm so glad you are mine forever and ever!

Love always,
Mommy

You're 6?! Wow, you are growing up so fast! I have loved growing with you this last year and seeing you begin so many new things! You have been so brave as you have embarked on many new adventures!

This past year you played T-ball for the first time and made so much improvement in hitting the ball! You also began school for the first time with kindergarten and you have done so well! You have grown up so much as you have become so much more brave and independent in all your activities. Your reading is also improving so well as you can pick sight words out anywhere, especially as we read scriptures. Mom is right about how accelerated your reading skills improve as you read from the Book of Mormon.

I love you Tate! Happy Birthday!

Love,

Dad

This Christmas

By Christmastime this year, I was all photo'ed out {and I still am.} 

Sometimes the end of this year does this to me.

I always look forward to January when I can relax a little and recover from the holidays and our birthdays of the season.

So a Christmas synopsis will inevitably be short today.

And sometimes that's okay...

Christmas Eve found us secretly bringing lots of the boys' toys all wrapped up and leaving them on a doorstep of some sweet little boys who we thought might like them.

It was so magical to see their excitement as we all hid in the car and watched the door open...

We came home to a Christmas Eve "feast" complete with my gorgeous Portuguese tablecloth and Portuguese dishes.

The stockings were hung....

...and we had a Christmas Eve fireside with stories and testimonies to celebrate the evening.

After the nativity was completed,

the little ones opened their Christmas pajamas and we snuggled in together to watch a Christmas movie before bed.

Christmas morning was brilliant. The children slept in till about 7:15 and we spent the next hour opening presents.

We loved every minute.

After we got ready, we drove over to Nana and Papa's for Christmas brunch and presents. When we arrived, we were astounded by the amount of snow they received. We had none at our house. We only wished we had brought the kids' snow clothes!

 Easton and I agreed that our favorite part was watching an old nativity from when my sisters and I were little. It was hilarious and so sweet.

I love my family. I love the Savior. It was a very merry Christmas indeed.