2018 - Mottos

Each Year I Attempt to Pick Out a Motto or Three to Remember and Remind Myself.

Last Year, I went with the simple word - SOFT 

And this one.... 

I can't say we were perfect, but we all did remind each-other all year and it makes us realize and switch our ways.

This Year I have Four. 

I am really working on trying to make our home the safest and calmest place for our family.

I also feel like with all the hatred outside our doors even between women and men in general, that I need to provide an example of love to my children by showing love to my husband.

With Clairana and Nephi starting to fully understand and become quite emotional about divorce it is honestly so very sad to see their faces when it is discussed. 

Clairana asked me yesterday - So at what age does everyone get divorced? 

Life is Hard. Parenting is Hard.  

Fun Times!

Nephi with Jace & Jaxson 

Being home during the holidays was SO much fun. 

We really enjoyed that everyone was out of school and could play late into the night or during the week.  

All The Boys
Elliot with Lewis, Damon, Levi, Nephi

Ms. Maggie Dale came over for Dinner!

Our Crew with the Dale Crew - Lewis and Maddie

My girlfriend, Brandy, and her crew plus her Sister, Brook, got a hotel room at the newest hotel down the road from us for their littles to swim on NYE so we decided to invade them and swim too!
So Much Fun. Late Late Night.

Around the House Catch Up

Sledding

The DO IT YOURSELF Instructions must not have included clean up with all this!

So Worth It. 

Dress Up Time 

Church Bathroom Selfie

My Girlfriend Amanda was doing a performance at Whyte Horse so Nephi and I had a date.
When we pulled up to the church Nephi was like Holy Cow Mom its A Stadium. I had to agree. It was huge!

 My Church Pew View - Rainbows and Sparkles

When it Rains....It Pours

I haven't posted in a little while - life has been a bit hectic. 

Our furnace was out for a week and we tried several different attempts to fix it. 

Thankfully, on Wednesday Levi surprised us when we got back from our homeschooling classes (we stayed late mostly because it was warm there and I was so tired of making a fire) and had another repairman come out who finally did the trick. 

In the midst, we had been spending the night all together in one room bundled up - which sounds warm and sweet but the sleep was awful. I would have been a really cranky pioneer. 

After buying and replacing several unnecessary parts and driving two hours to pick up parts it was fixed.  

That was Wednesday, on Thursday our Suburban ended up in the shop and it is still there....

Looks like more issues with our new engine we replaced last Spring. 

While taking the Suburban to the shop on Thursday, Coraline got sick. Lots. 

We braced ourselves for the stomach flu again but nothing hit for days....

We thought we were out of the clear. 

Sunday, Clairana and I spent the day on the bathroom floor together.

Today, Levi is there. 

Furnace. Suburban. Stomach Flu.

On the bright side, at least we are warm while having the sickness and we don't need our vehicle because I don't know that I could drive without getting sick anyways.

Christmas Party - Johnson Family

Jack and Rene (Levi's Aunt and Uncle) made us feel so special this year - they called and set up a night to bring over EVERYTHING for dinner and presents for all of us. 

It was Perfect. 

We had such a great time and I didn't have to do anything they brought everything, which was amazing. 

The kids were definitely spoiled and enjoyed all the love.

** I need to change out the lights upstairs, so we can get better pictures - seems we are always up there.   

Hot Tubing....

The Morning of Christmas Eve 

Levi and I most times get up early and try to have some time alone to read scriptures together - but because he was off for Christmas we decided to get up early and enjoy the hottub while it was snowing.

It was not even 6:15 and we see Mr. Nephi at the door spotting us....then he gets in. 

Then not five minutes later Coraline....she runs in her room turns the light on and we wait....

she comes out her and Clairana with their bathing suits on ready for the party! 

Fine. Its Christmas. And its Snowing. But only for a few minutes. 

Gator Sledding!

Christmas at the Ashby House

The Lava Cake. 

Levi has wanted to make this cake for awhile - when Emily asked us to bring something small or simple for dessert he insisted on this. Not Small. Not Simple. Overly Chocolate Amazingness.  

The Ashby family had us over for dinner - soup night which was SO fun during the holidays to have cozy soup and bread. 

Emily also came up with a cute craft for the kids and adults - headbands to make us reindeer!

Never a holiday without Cabbage Patch Dolls!
Grandpa Rick gave LOTS of DOLLS to the GIRLS.

Uncle Tanner with Clairana and Levi in the background.

Cheese!

Cutting the LAVA CAKE

Best. Photo - Grandpa Rick with the grandbabies!

Levi had a button on his shirt that did lights - the Ashby girls were impressed!
Uncle Tanner watching kid shows with the other famous show watcher - Clairana by his side.
Coraline snuggled in for a few minutes but it doesn't keep her attention. 

They all got pillows with their names on it! 

We all know how much I like embroidered things!!

They also got artsy/education gifts from Nick and Emily