a visit to idaho

Since Jacob was feeling much better and the weather was good, we decided to take a little trip to see G&G Brady in Idaho.  We left after church on Sunday and when we got there Mom had made a delicious dinner for us!  John & Karen were also there, so we got to visit with them as well.  After dinner we all played a few rounds of Wits and Wagers (a board type game).  On Monday morning, G&G pulled out their jars of spare change that they had been saving for the past year and let the boys have at it -- counting and rolling!  So very cool!  We counted it all up and there was more than $80!  Grandpa had the boys divide it up evenly between them and they got to bring it home and take it to the bank!  When they were finished with the money, Dad, Mark, and the boys went down to the church to play basketball.  Mom & I stayed home and Mom taught me how to knit a washcloth. Mom made another delicious meal for us and then we headed outside to play in the snow.  There wasn't a lot of snow, but it was enough for a plastic sled.  We went over to John and Karen's house and John offered to let us take the snowmobiles out in the field.  Ryan was loving this!  We spent the next hour or so taking turns on the snowmobiles and sledding.  It was lots of fun!  Then it was time to head back to our home.  We had a really fun time and a good visit!

legos

 Matthew and Jacob showing off their new lego sets that they got for Christmas!

christmas day

 Sheesh!  Christmas morning pictures always turn out so terrible due to the low lighting!  Anyway, we told the boys they couldn't get up until 7 a.m.  They were right on time getting out of bed and came up to get Mark & I.  We went downstairs and turned on the Christmas tree lights and sat around taking a look at what Santa had brought. He left full stockings and one gift for each boy this year.  After unstuffing stockings we took turns opening presents from each other.  The boys swapped names with each other for gift giving.  Above, Matthew is holding the Ironman hand that Mark & I gave him.  Santa left him a hexbug set.  Below, Jacob is holding a Nerf football that Ryan got for him.  Santa left a lego set for Jacob.

 Here's Mark opening a gift from Jared -- I think it was Gatorade.

 This is me holding the awesome "Matthew Claus" paper ornament that Matthew made at school for me -- love it!

 Ryan is shaking one of his gifts around -- not sure which one.  Santa left him a keyboard for his tablet.

 Matthew is holding a lego set from Mark & I.

Jared loves to watch Studio C, so Mark & I got him this t-shirt.  Santa brought Jared a Wii Fifa soccer game and a windshield cover for his car.

 After opening gifts we ate a hearty breakfast of sausage, eggs, and bacon.  We played with new stuff for awhile and then got ready to head over to G&G Vawdrey's for the afternoon.  Here's Jacob and Matthew starting to open their gifts from G&G.

 Matthew showing off his new clothes.

 Jacob showing off his new BYU clothes!

 Ryan got some Google play cards.

 And Jared showing off his new basketball.

We had a nice afternoon visiting with family and playing with cousins.  G&G fixed a yummy ham dinner as well.  So nice to spend time with family.  Merry Christmas!

christmas eve

 On Christmas Eve, we always open one present -- new pajamas!

Christmas was kind of quiet this year because Jacob was still recovering from his tonsillectomy.  In the afternoon (of the 24th) we all went to see the movie "Frozen" while Jared was at work.  Then we came home and made dinner.  We had taco salad (Jacob didn't feel like eating anything) and used the china and "good" silverware.  We also put some candles on the table to make things a little more special and festive. The evening was kind of quiet and then we finished it off by reading about the birth of the Savior from the Bible in Luke chapter 2.  The kids decided to let Santa fill their decorative Christmas socks that were already hung on the banister, so it was off to bed and quick to get to sleep so Santa could come!

christmas break

 Jared started off his Christmas break by playing some football on the Wii.  He has been working so hard in school and at work that he hasn't had much down time.  He was loving some video game time!

Ryan and Matthew decided to build a snowcave in the snowbank in the front yard.  They shoveled extra snow on top so they could make this awesome cave big enough for Matthew to sit in a lawn chair on the inside!  These two boys love playing in the snow!

jacob gets his tonsils out

 We decided that it was time for Jacob to have his tonsils removed because he wasn't breathing/sleeping well at night.  Unfortunately, the best time to do this was Christmas vacation.  So, in an effort to make his pain and recovery less boring, we let him have his Christmas present early -- an ipod touch!  It is Ryan's old one (Ryan obviously didn't need it anymore since he got a new phone), but it's all Jacob really wanted!  It came loaded with some great apps and space to get new ones.

 The surgery went well and Jacob is recovering well despite being in a lot of pain.  The new fleece BYU blanket I gave him and the ipod are helping to pass the time and ease the pain (i.e. get his mind off of pain).  Jacob has watched all the episodes of Granite Flats and has been enjoying playing the games on his ipod.

Before his surgery, Mark asked one of Jacob's primary teachers, Rob Kirkham, to help him give Jacob a blessing.  Rob has loved teaching Jacob in primary, and Jacob has loved having Rob as a teacher!  When Mark & I thought to ask Rob to help, we both felt at peace. The blessing brought a lot of peace and comfort to Jacob as well, and promised him healing and recovery. I'm grateful for the priesthood and for good men who are worthy to use it to bless our family.

icicles

We've had some pretty cold weather lately which has produced some BIG icicles on the north side of the house.  Mark decided to knock a few down and Matthew decided to show off a piece of one of the larger ones!  Wow!

early christmas present

Ryan got his Christmas present early this year -- thanks to a black Friday deal -- an iphone 4S!