Everyday

We went to see the Peanuts movie

Raking leaves- Hattie jumped and played in the leaf puddles, as she called them.

We went to Lily's birthday celebration.  You are so loved and missed sweet girl!

At the Kangaroo Zoo with friends!

We've been going to the Children's museum most weeks with the cousins.

It has snowed a ton!  Hattie loves sledding this year!

Swinging on the back porch with the icicles:

Watching the girls- we made a cake!

More of the Children's museum.  Hattie loves the costumes.

The participlay!  Hattie has yet to go on stage.  Her cousins do great though!  It's so fun to watch them.

Watching Lena!  I thought they looked alike this day.  Blonde hair, blue eyes, and pink.

Christmas 2015

I was apprehensive about Christmas, but it turned out better than I imagined.  I'm learning the anticipation of an event can be worse than the event itself. We actually had a good time with family and were able to visit Henry every day we were in Idaho.

On Christmas eve we put a couple decorations on Henry's grave

Mom gave the kids new pajamas (and I didn't get a good picture) and we sang Christmas Carols while I played the guitar.  It was a pleasant evening.

The kids stayed with Moppy and Poppy in the hotel and the rest of us got all the presents out and under the tree.  Christmas morning was great- there were tons of presents for all the children and Hattie loved everything.  After she opened on present she just wanted to admire and play with whatever it was and kept on having to be reminded that there were more to open.

I think the costumes were her favorite, but she also loved her tea set!  And the nail polish and playdoh.  I know, the playdoh.  She LOVED it.

Later we went back to visit Henry.  The Roths and Mom came with us.  Earlier this month Kurt and I decided we were going to make Henry Resolutions and invited our family to join in with us.  They're basically New Year resolutions, but the purpose is to improve yourself so you can live with Henry again in the next life.  We placed them in Henry's stocking and read them to him at his grave.  We also released balloons...only a couple floated away (slowly) but the others just kind of hovered.  I guess because it was freezing cold.

The day after Christmas we went to Heise Hot Springs to go swimming.  Our family was not prepared, we hadn't bought swim suits.  But on of mom's old ones has been at G&G's for a couple decades, so I got to wear that.  Kurt wore a pair of Uncle Todd's shorts, and Hattie girl wore a swim diaper.  What a good sport she is.  The hot springs were really fun!  It was around 10 degrees outside, but the water was plenty warm.  We played a fun game of getting out of the pool, rolling around in the snow, and then jumping back in.  Sounds crazy, but the kids loved watching all the adults.  Char and Afton were daring enough to go walk in the snow and then jump back in the pool.  Then we got pizza afterwards.

Even though we had a few rough moments, and missed Henry the whole time, it was an enjoyable weekend.  I'm so grateful for all the family I was able to spend time with!  We love you guys TONS!  Merry Christmas!

Ward Christmas Party

Our ward Christmas Party was amazing!  The theme was Polar Express.  Everyone got a ticket when they arrived and then boarded the train and the conductor took them to the North Pole...aka the gym.

Hattie got up on stage to sing with the primary.  It was adorable!  She knew the snowman song, but none of the others after that!

Santa and Mrs. Clause made an appearance!  Hattie was too scared to go up and get her picture taken, so I shared a secret with her.  I told her they were actually Kirk and Mary (who we're good friends with) dressed up in costumes.  She stared at them for a moment and then comprehension dawned on her face- "oh! It's Kirk and Mary!"  She was now willing to go get her picture taken.  But I reminded her that it was a secret and she wasn't supposed to tell anyone.  Just moments later Charlotte came up and asked "Hattie, do you believe in Santa Clause?"  I didn't know what to do, but happily to my surprise Hattie just looked at Charlotte for a moment then up at the ceiling and to the wall.  She just ignored the question all together and didn't answer at all.  It was hilarious, but I was so proud at the same time.

Hattie and her friend Meiken!  Their PJs matched pretty well.

It was a great evening!

Carolers

Our amazing ward surprised us one evening.  They knocked on the door and when I opened it started singing.  They had lined our walkway with dozens of candles placed in bags.  It had snowed several inches and was still snowing.  What a beautiful sight that warmed my heart.  We have felt so incredibly loved this Christmas season.  We love our ward!  Thank you to everyone who came.

Secret Santas

A couple weeks before Christmas I received a text from Megan (who received a text from someone else who got a text from someone else) that there was a surprise on our doorstep that I should go out and get.  I opened the door to a huge box and smaller one next to it.  This note was attached to the large box:

I brought the gifts inside, sat down on the ground, and cried.  It had been a hard day and I hadn't been the most patient with Hattie.  I didn't feel deserving but I was so grateful at the same time!  Inside were 12 gifts, one to open each day.  Each had a note attached and all the gifts were so thoughtful! Hattie loved the big box!

Here are some of the gifts!

Gingerbread house kits for each member of the family

Ornaments- several glass ones that we can fill up each year with memories (and glitter)

And one with feathers from the wings of our guardian angel

Gifts for Hattie!

A charm necklace for me!  I seriously love it.

Gifts for Kurt- he shared with Hattie!

There were also several gift cards, a beautiful blanket, and our final gift with the big reveal:

Our wonderful friends Courtney, Sarah, and Dianna did this for us.  We were all in the single's ward together in Seattle and all now live in Utah.  It was so wonderful to have something to look forward to everyday, to keep me cheerful even for a little while (sometimes all day!), during a time when I was missing Henry so much.  We love you guys and I can't thank you enough!