Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Only resolution: Drink water.

I'm not making any other goals, picking any other words, or thinking about much else this year -- I just know I need to be drinking a lot more water! Ha. Here we go.

I made a big cleaning list for the boys and we worked, worked, worked Monday and I told them we'd get tickets to Zootopia 2 for Tuesday if we could knock it all out. It felt so good to get Christmas put away and things cleaned up.

This week we finished The Great British Bake Off, went to Zootopia, Michael took the boys on a little outdoor adventure while I fed all the Young Women a waffle brunch and played a slideshow of our activities this year. Katie and her boys came over later that day and Michael did a frenectomy for Oliver. The boys had fun playing together and we did a gingerbread house and played outside. Then the Baileys and Behunins came over to watch the Indiana game and Katie and Ryan stayed for most of it. I am so haaaappy when my house is full of people we love. I was looking at Katie's sweater all day thinking how cute it was and then I opened her Christmas present to me and it was her sweater :) Haha she's the best, I think I'll wear it all the rest of Christmas break!

Monday was WORK day. Michael went back to work and I had the boys tackle a big to-do list for me to get our house recovered from Christmas, with Zootopia 2 tickets promised if we could conquer it. We got so much done in one day, it made me grateful I didn't leave it for when they were back to school because these boys can really do so much with me!

On New Years Eve we did fondue and games over at the Behunins, and then we went to the Baileys for, well, more games and more fondue. Michael and Camden and Asher made it until 11:00, which we were shocked by but everyone was just having too much fun! Bennett and Westin and I stayed for the countdown. We've entered our midnight era again.

On Saturday the boys played football at Warren Park with some other dads and boys, and Camden especially loved it. He's catching Westin's football bug. He even wore his cleats and I thought that was the cutest thing. That night we went to get Thai food with the Baileys, Behunins, and Allemans for Matthew's birthday. We had a good talk and I just think it's so lucky to have friends that really relate to you in life. I feel like our ward is this pocket of people that I would just go crazy without during all that's happening in the world right now.

On Sunday after church, Westin was ordained a deacon. What a special blessing and happy milestone for him. He's going to be the Deacon's quorum secretary and he's just really looking forward to this year. He's so great.

Sunday we had a lowkey day full of football, and I made fajitas for the missionaries. Asher cuddled up to Michael and they took the cutest nap -- life is busy and moves fast and I forget that Asher is moving at a speed our other four-year-olds never did, but bless his happy little self for doing such a good job hanging with it all. Man, we love that little dude.

This is the mystery of Christmas to me -- this is all my Christmas decor apart from our trees and outdoor lights, 
and it doesn't look like much. BUT it takes up a whole closet! How do people deck the halls for all the holidays? I'll never understand. I'm always so impressed when I see people decorate for anything.

All my Christmas returns. Not bad, not bad at all.

Puzzling and finishing the Great British Bake Off (kids edition).

Someone got Puka Nacua and was STOKED.

Michael loves Samoas and I'm not into them.
He got this granola at Costco so I assumed he'd love it and I'd pass on it.
He didn't really like it and I was OBSESSED with it. It's gone now and I can't stop thinking about it.
My favorite treat I've had in so long.

Have to make these once a year!
Didn't get to them for Christmas but we brought them to the Baileys for New Years.

About to countdown!

The midnight crew!
Heading home from the Baileys.

Made a little gingerbread house with Camden while cousins were here.
We didn't get to everything we wanted to over Christmas, but after works just as well :)

Riding home from a football Saturday with dads and boys.
Camden wore cleats and had some super moves.

Making plans for my new blank wall after filling in our closet doorway.

Table came! Picture a big arched mirror... 

Look at these cuties...
I was late getting dinner on the table for the missionaries because who could wake up this Sunday nap?

Such sweet little buddies.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

I love a fresh start. I can't believe it's 2025. I still feel like we just moved here sometimes.

We said goodbye to my parents on Monday. It's hard for me to even recall what else happened this week... so many games of Cover Your Assets and Spot It, Westin went to Wendy's a few times to work on the movie they're making (apparently it's a horror film and I'm anxiously awaiting the premier), we spent New Year's Eve at the Baileys house but only Westin and I stayed until midnight, we went on a cold winter walk, we started 10:30 church, and we watched some football. This week felt like a nice kind of empty. I was thinking about how over the last few years I've often felt anxious when we had no plans because I felt like we always had to get the boys out every day or people melted down or went crazy. But they're just able to go with the flow more now, whether that's days of outings or days of chilling at home. I love that.

My only goals for 2025 are one new habit (no social media until I've studied my scriptures that day) and a project (catch up on our yearbooks and home videos). There is probably a long list of other things I should be focusing on, but that's where I'm at right now.

Here's to a brand new year!

I have really decluttered our Christmas decorations, and when I put them all together like this I feel like we don't have that many. But then it fills up almost a whole closet! I guess because the outdoor lights and the Christmas tree isn't here (it's still up until I catch up on yearbooks)... but still. It doesn't make sense to me. 

After gloomily putting away Christmas right after we sent my parents off,
I felt like I just related to Luna's Rudolph toy that I found like this.
Poor Rudolph. Didn't even last a day.

Operation teach Westin to KonMari.
I have cleaned out his desk every few months while he's at school,
but it slowly has become more and more out of control and I'm done doing this without him.
So we pulled everything out. Everything into like piles. Thought about what should be stored somewhere else, and what should be kept in the desk area. Rearranged the books. Went through all papers.
It feels SO MUCH BETTER and I feel like that's the BEST feeling,
so I keep asking him if he just loves it so much.
He does... but I don't know that everyone gets a high from a KonMari'd space in the same way.
I just can't believe how much I actively battle clutter coming into our house and keeping spaces in somewhat organized with these four little guys.

Speaking of KonMari...
Getting rid of Asher's too-small clothes always leaves me sad!
I just had so many cute little boys wear these shirts at such a cute stage!

Asher and I watched our German Pancakes puff up together for the entirety of the 20 minutes they cooked.
This is Christmas break.

New Year's at the Baileys.

I just love these ladies.

Westin has been so excited to stay up until midnight with Quinn.

Spot It addict. Westin is sweet to play with him.

Camden is such a goofball.
His prayers are my favorite thing to listen to right now.
He thinks about people so much.

Road Magnets have been a Christmas gift hit.
They build with magnets so much.

Poor Asher... a fine of 9 million and 2 years in prison, for crashing cars.
It's brutal in the backyard.

Look at that frost!
Technically called hoar frost. Michael really enjoyed telling me that throughout our hike.

The fences looked like barbed wire but it was just frost!

Happy little winter guy.
I feel like I haven't seen this coat since this hike...
oh my goodness, managing gear. It's a thing!

Easing into 2024

First week of the year!

Life is moving a little slowly during Christmas break, and we're very ok with it.

We had Westin's bestie and his family over for the Michigan game. Their football obsession has kept them close through third grade even being in different classes. We fed the missionaries, including a Swiftie elder that I feel extra maternal for haha. I knew he was high level Swiftie when he asked which night we went to Taylor in concert here in Denver and immediately knew what surprise songs we got. #iykyk

On Wednesday I took the boys down to Katie's for a half-day cousin party. Trying to fit in some time together before these boys are back in school! Then we ironically both had scheduled all our boys dentist appointments that afternoon, so we weren't together very long. But it was fun to play for a little bit! Saturday was High Fitness and Home Depot truck building and Michael made marmalade because we watched Paddington. 

On Sunday Westin and Bennett left with Michael after church to meet Katie in Keystone for their first time skiing the next day. They were a little nervous but they're going to have fun!

I love that he loves hats.

Michael took the older boys to see Migration and they loved a movie date.

Four Home Depot trucks later... Saturday morning required patience :)

Citrus from Phoenix! So sweet of the Walkers to send us some.

"Mom can you draw me a motorcycle? Just search one up on your phone!"

Camden really wanted me to make a motorcycle out of cardboard. He was happy his brothers wanted to help him color it. We don't have a lot going on during Christmas break, if you can't tell :)

Littlest chef.

I've had two bags of frozen breastmilk in my freezer for way too long. 
It just felt kinda sad to throw them away even though I knew fully well that they would be used for absolutely nothing at this point. So I let them go.

Wearing his cool glasses from the garbage man at the dentist.

Such a cutie when he's worn out in the car.

Sleeps with so many toys... just like all his brothers.

We had a Swiftie Elder for dinner before he left for his mission in Japan, he was just here temporarily. I asked him what he wanted his last American dinner to be and he picked lasagna. 
It's a tough time to be a Swiftie and a missionary... he knows he's missing out haha.

Caught Westin listening to an audio book and sorting through Subway coupons haha

Kindal gave me this art she picked up in Paris and I really love it. When it comes back out after my Christmas decorations I'm always happy to see it on my shelf again :)

I miss this picture when I put it away after Christmas time!

Baby woke up with a New Years Eve hangover attitude. And slept with that headband and wanted to put it on first thing the next morning :)