Christmas Round 1

Evan had to work at the dairy Christmas morning, so we decided to let the kids open the gifts they asked for from Santa.
Riley got a purple Dora backpack.

Hyrum got his John Deere Sprayer so he could be like his cousin Elliott. And here is a photo after church where the kids were playing with their moose & pig pillow pets from Grandma Vicki. (Notice the rope on Hy's. I'm not sure if he was pretending it was a cow or a reindeer)

It really made Christmas last longer and the kids were playing with their one toy all morning. They had 3 jungle adventures with the backpack. Riley would say: "Say backpack. LOUDER! BACKPACK!!" Then she'd open her map and say, "Mom, I have to go to the jungle!". She was shooting crocodiles and everything :)

Bethlehem Dinner

I'm not sure where Mom got the tradition to do a Bethlehem dinner, but this year, I wanted to try it. So we dress like "Bethlehem-ites" and try to eat food like they do. I don't know if teriyaki jerky was really eaten there, but hey it was fun :)

I believe Hy was a "manly man" shepherd and Riley was a "Shepherd Princess". Ev is such a great sport to play along.

Happy 7th b-day Jeb!

Our angel baby would be 7. Hmmm....I don't really imagine Jeb as a baby. I often think of him as an older version of Hyrum. But I also know that they would be two totally different beings. If Jeb had lived, our whole family dynamics would be different. But it is fun to imagine anyway.

Hy was never disappointed when he found out that this next baby is a girl because he "already has a brother up in heaven". To him, Jeb is as real as Riley and the new baby, even though Hy never saw Jeb in this life. I love a child's faith and perspective. I love how much Jeb is a part of our family, even though most people don't remember or realize that he is a part. It doesn't matter to me that many don't know that we had a stillborn son, because it is very personal to me and those who do matter know.

I have realized that this life is tough and everyone is facing trials seen and unseen. I had so much love and support when we lost Jeb that I hope I can help even just one person in their trials. Time helps heal pain, but you never can forget those hardships and challenges you face in life. Love you Jeb.

O Christmas Tree(s)

We've kind of had a humble Christmas this year. Most of our decorations are put away in storage and I just pulled 3 little fake trees out for Christmas and we made ornaments out of a manila folder and aluminum foil. How fun! So each kid got a tree and one in their room. Riley put her star on upside down.

(Sorry for the dark pics) Here goes Hyrum with his star!!Hyrum is turning more into his daddy everyday with that lovely pose for the camera!

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

Hy was the big ol' helper. Riley was the candy snitcher

Ta-da....This house has a sleigh with a gum-drop horse and a marshmellow snowman.

And this house has a fence. Hy was the fence-builder to be like Poppa Bernie.

Hey Baby let's go to Vegas!!!

Really, I DO NOT like Vegas. But I love the NFR. Valaine "the Pain" Palmer (an old high school chum) introduced me to the NFR probably 10 years ago. Since then, I usually watch the NFR on the tv with my hunka hunka hubby. 6 years ago, we got the chance of a lifetime to watch the NFR in Vegas in the FRONT ROW seats from Humphries.

So this year, we got the opportunity to buy some tickets and go (especially good because we don't have satellite tv) for Round 8.

To start the night off, we survived the traffic and didn't get mugged as we went to the Thomas & Mack Center. As we were walking in, we saw Baxter Black in the crowd, one of the very funniest cowboy columnists in the world. He reminds me of my father-in-law...maybe how he talks, the big moustache, I don't know....

Tanya Tucker sang the national anthem. I've heard rumors that my brother-in-law, Justin, used to have a crush on her. I think this was Kaycee Field or Will Lowe on bareback.

Luke Branquino bull dogging or steer wrestling

Cody Ohl in the tie-down roping or calf-roping

Evan & I inhaling all the fumes of the booze ALL AROUND us!! Boo-yah!

We loved watching all of the events and a lot of the contestants we're fans of. We had a ball but were very glad to get back home :)