Rewind: Family Christmas Party

A couple of days before Christmas we drove up to Downey, Idaho to my Grandma and Grandpa Salvesens for a grand 'ol Christmas celebration with all of us together. We had lunch, visited, played a Christmas scavengar hunt with the kids and opened cousin Christmas jammies! The current tally (and probably final total is: 10 grandkids (6 boys and 4 girls).

Here's Jared proudly displaying his new Christmas monster jammies

 Here are all of those nice, sweet, handsome boys (Grandpa, that includes you too!)

Ah...that's more like it

Here is Nana with all her grandgirls--sans Hazel

And after much toil, patience and a bunch of adults behind the scenes calling names, doing silly dances and making funny faces--here is everyone with G & G Salvesen...

...sans Ezra...dangit! 

 You see, he just wasn't in the mood. So he gets his own picture.

A sweet shot of Grandma Great and Hazel Ane

And to finish it off: TyTy. Because well, he's just so stinkin' cute.

Sydney Acquarium

A couple of weeks ago we checked out the Sydney Acquarium. We saw some pretty cool friends from the ocean and had a good time all around. 

Dear Kids: My Joy

Dear Kids,

I love you. For awhile now, I've wanted to jot down some thoughts directed specifically toward you. These thoughts might include my personal life lessons, perhaps answers to questions as to why I (or your dad) do the things we do as well as my testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. Some of these posts might be silly, some serious, but I hope they all contain some value to you in one way or another throughout your life.

I thought it appropriate to make my first entry about you. Marrying your dad and having you three is hands down, no questions asked, for sure, the best thing I've ever done. You are my joy. You make my world go 'round. The beauties this world has to offer pale in comparison when I get to wake up to your sweet faces every morning.

After your dad and I got married, we were so excited to get you here! Getting you here was more important than traveling the world and furthing our careers. In some social circles we even felt judged for doing so. But it didn't matter, because we had you and we knew. We knew that this was what it was all about. In today's world it's important for you to always know and remember, we wanted you more than anything else.

That still holds true today and I can safely say will continue the rest of your lives. You're the best company and our favorite friends. We think you're talented, clever and have the best senses of humor.

When each of you were babies,  I would whisper in your ear, "Thank you for coming to me. Thank you for coming to our family." My heart couldn't contain the gratitude I had for you in my life. And it still can't. So, my little loves, that's all I have to say for now--thank you for being ours.

Love you forever,
Mom