The Continuing of Traditions

Our family hasn't established many traditions yet.  The kids are still young so we are working on coming up with new things to hold onto in the next year. 

I had to stick this picture in first because last week Selah and I got a date night while Tadd and Finn went to a basketball game together.  It was nice spending time along together with her.  I had returns at the mall and I let Selah pick something to do.  She could go jump on the trampoline of sorts or get her toes painted.  Well, the trampoline was closed, so toenails it was.  The ladies thought it quite humerous when Selah wanted something Christmasy on her big toes.  A snowman it was.  It's still there so far :) 

On a more exciting note, our one tradition we have continued is going to the festival of lights every year.  Selah was so excited to go this year and even more thrilled because she got to go with Haley and Brooke. 

So we headed out to Chili's first with Nate and Emily Sauder.  Here is my cheese!  Isn't he the cutest!

A chance at a family photo, so you have to take it.

Brooke, Selah, and Haley waiting to head out to the lights.

Finn loves hanging out with all the girls too!

The best part is both of our families can still cram in one vehicle to view the lights, which won't last much longer :)

It was a great evening shared with friends.  One these girls will never forget.  I love this stage.  Seeing their amazement and talking of all the neat lights they saw.  So fun!

Preparing our Hearts and Home for The Season

What is it about the Christmas season that makes a person all gushy (is that a word?)  Like the second you open the tree box full of branches and hear the Christmas music playing in the back, that your heart skips a beat and no matter what is going on you feel giddy with excitement.  This year we had lots of 'helpers'!  Finn wanted so badly to climb on the step stool with Tadd and help put the lights on the tree.
Selah was eager to put the ornaments on and did quite well I might add.  Although all the ornaments were jumbled in one central area, but that was OK.  Now whenever I look at it, it makes me smile. 

And Finn joined in the decorating too.  Mostly we were just cautious that he didn't break any ornaments or pull the tree down in the process :)

Selah got to help put the angel on the top this year.


Most people know me as not a very sentimental type person, don't cry at movies very often, can remain strong during intense situations if necessary, in other words a great stuffer of emotions.  Ha!  But, Christmas always makes me all teary.  Maybe its the memories of past years' events that we remember as we are doing similar things the next year.  Or the smells and sounds around us that make us remember things of the past.  And this year is one of the same.

I am trying to pause more in life and soak up the moments.  It was one of the things I told myself after Laynie passed away that I was going to get better at.  Hold my kids longer, stop and enjoy each moment, each minute of the day.  So as we were getting our home ready for the holiday and time draws closer to the day of remembering our Savior's birth, I pause and remember past years, past moments...

Last year at Christmas...

and the year before that...(a side note: this is a present from Selah's birthmom that she loved the first time she received it and this year when we got it out of the box of decorations once again, she picked it up and hugged it close to her chest and said "I missed you so much!"  She was so HAPPY to see her friend again!  And we have been listening to him every since, as he plays a Christmas version of Shout as we all dance along)
And the year before that.  Our last Christmas with Laynie.  We didn't know it at the time...moments...

the pictures that take your breath away, because at any moment....

it could be your last...and we need to hold on to those we love, show them we care, tell them we love them...life passes in the blink of an eye...


So this Christmas my prayer for you is that you can experience the peace that only God can grant you.  That you can feel the love of Jesus Christ.  That no matter what may be going on in your life whether you are experiencing the struggles of raising children, burdens with providing for your family, a marriage that is struggling to unite, relationships that are strained, the heartache of a loved one who is gone, sickness, or so many other struggles in life...that you can remember that ALL things work together for GOOD to those who love HIM, to those who are called according to HIS PURPOSE!  I find so much comfort in our family's theme verse because I have found nothing to be more true.  Our family has so much to be thankful for.  God has been good to us this year and all the years before.  And even though at specific moments in my life things didn't always seem "good", My God knew what was best for me and worked all things towards His purpose and grew me closer to Him!  And for that I praise His High and Holy Name!  We have a peace and love from a Father that NEVER ends!  May you find rest this Christmas.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

We love you all! Merry Christmas!

Little cousins at the Farm

Just like us big kids had our fun together, we took the little kids out on the perfect fall day to Radar Farm.  A little local Farm where they can run and experience all kinds of things. 

Colt, Finn, and Selah (yeah, this was as good as the picture gets with 3 kiddos)

Watch out!  There are chickens that like to chase you around too during the day.  Ha! Selah didn't quite know what to think!

Cheese!

This is what I thought would be so much fun!  Selah was scared of it.  She lasted for about 1 minute before crying to get off and Finn cried if you tried to hold on to him.  Such are my two kiddos - the complete opposite!  Pausing to take a quick picture.

I'm on top of the world!

Colt feeding some of the goats.  I love the open mouth pictures.  Seems the kids were helping the goats know what to do.  Makes me think of feeding kids baby food when they first start learning.  Caught myself with my mouth open a few times too!

Grandma Leman - what a good sport!  Going down the slide.  This things actually moves you about 2 cm a minute as you try to shimmy down it.  Not too fast, but the kids still liked it!
Then came the time for the train ride.  We all waited for a turn.  We counted...I think we had 8 kids that day.  Almost filled every barrel up :)


Can't wait to watch these kids continue to grow up together!  Time just flies by - 'cause we are all having fun together!

Cousins Night Out

This fall we had the chance to have a cousin's night out, the first ever.  In the last couple years we have together added 7 or more kids.  Our lives have all changed from no kids, to having each having our own kids if not multiple.  Family events have turned into a free-for-all with the kids running the show.  Gone are the days of sitting down and actually having conversations, instead we are wiping noses, filling mouths with food, and chasing after crawling/walking kids. 

So a night out was definately in store.  We were missing a few cousins, but overall it was a great night.  We started out at Los Potrillos in Bloomington, great fast Mexican food.  Then we headed to a local bowling alley where we all got our game on. 

Bowling...how I have missed those wonderful shoes, those neon lit lanes...

We all had a great night out having fun with adult conversations.  The couples of the evening:
My brother Adam and sis-in-law Kristen

My cousin Tim and his wife Traci

My cousin Holly and her husband Joey

My cousin Trent and his wife Jenae

My cousin Kelli and her husband Ryan

And of course you know..my hubby Tadd :)


Most everyone played, except for Jenae as little Crey was almost ready to make his entrance into this world.  Isn't she the cutest pregnant person you have seen?  Hopefully she won't mind that I put this picture in here...but I love her bump!  And now that I am posting - Crey is here!  We are so excited to have him join the Leman crew!

After bowling it was back to our house for snacks, dessert, and games...Trivial Pursuit was the choice.  Guys vs. Girls of course!  And I know that you can all figure out who won...the women!  We all learned how horrible we were at the game.  And this was supposed to be the 90's one, which is easier right?

All in all, it was a great night of fun with cousins.  Can't wait to do it again soon!

Hiking

We choose one fall afternoon in October to head to a nearby state park for some hiking and exploring. It was after church so we were a little nervous how that was going to go without naps, but they loved every minute of it.

Selah getting ready to head out with her cousins Addy and Brooks.

Finn had about a 20 minute nap on the way there so you either found him like this, checking things out, or...

Snuggling next to daddy. Tadd did great. This kid was not light :) I took him for a short while and that was about all I could last.

It was a fun day though. Selah was loving getting to climb along fallen trees, hike up the trail, and hide in every crevous they could find. She is lucky she had two aunts and grandma along to help too!

Mom G with the kids (minus Finn who we refused to unstrap for every picture, mostly because he would have not wanted to return to his backpack)


My little guy - what a cheese!

We did let Finn out once when we were taking a break. Of course, he took of running and squealing with delight! It should be quite the adventure when this little man is hiking on his own next year.

The kiddos love their Aunt Ti Ti

It was a great day spent enjoying nature and soaking in the warmth from the sun!