Happy New Year!

Well, 2008 is coming to an end. It's been an adventure from beginning to end. It's been a hard year in some ways, but a good year overall. It is amazing to look back to how the year started and what I would have expected at that point versus how it all played out. It seems like all of the most significant events of the year are the ones I never would have guessed. It makes me curious and a little excited to see what adventures are in store for 2009.

I just finished reading the year-end post of a blog I follow. This blog has been touching to me and I have benefited from my awareness of the tragedy and miracles this family experienced in the past several months. Take a moment to read it and remember that we truly have a Father in Heaven who will watch over us and get us through anything that we are called on to experience. And if you don't have that moment, at least take from her writing this thought:

"If any one year of my entire existence holds more sweet and sour than did 2008, I will be mortally surprised. I'm young though, and who knows what God will ask of me in years to come. He asks me to endure and then sends angels of every degree to help in the task. It is the definition of surreal. Try it sometime. (Or don't.)"

If there is one thing that my eyes were opened to this year it is this: All around us we have acquaintances, friends, even family members each with their unique and personal struggles. There is more heartache and difficulty in the world than I have really understood before. Not just in the extreme and obvious situations, but even in the subtle average lives all around us. Maybe it is the lady at the store, the person at church, or someone you know more intimately, but more likely than not you spend your day interacting with someone whose heart has a heavier burden than you would possibly have imagined. And as my eyes have been opened to this over the year, I have also learned that Heavenly Father is with us all. Always. And that peace and joy can be found through the Savior Jesus Christ in every circumstance.

As for what next year will bring? I have absolutely no idea. But ready or not, here comes 2009!

Expensive Tradition

Several years ago I made a costly mistake: I bought the Christmas ornaments made by Kiddie Kandids. Then I did it again the next year. They seemed like such a great keepsake. Each year I bought one for Ammon and one for our family. I love them! But, they are expensive! The expense really sunk in that third year when Peter was added to the mix. Three ornaments is a lot of money any time, but especially at Christmas.

This year I spent most of the Christmas season convincing myself that I would put an end to it. For the most part I was ok with it. Until, late into the season we got around to decorating our tree. I pulled out our ornaments and I was heartbroken to think we wouldn't do more this year. They are so adorable! I love looking back on the past few years and seeing the growth of my children all tied into the Christmas festivities. Still, I kept putting it off, not really having the money to get them. I ended up getting some Christmas money and so yesterday we broke down and got this years ornaments. I was giddy all day, I love them some much! It is so fun to see my collection growing.

Five Years Old

Yesterday my beautiful Angel Ammon turned five years old. He is a child who warms my heart and brings great joy to my life. He is full of life and energy, amazingly independant, and sometimes exasperating. But always, when it comes down to it, his motives are pure and intents good. I adore this little boy.

Ammon recieved this dress-up outfit and couldn't wear it enough!

He enjoyed licking the batter from the cupcakes we made.

I insisted on getting a picture of me with my boy on his special day.

I always love seeing these two together. What a great pair they make!

Sledding

So fun!

Geo-trax, a Quilt, and Cribbage

Merry Christmas

from the Shadel Family!

We had a wonderful day. We kept things simple. For the boys Santa brought Geo-Trax. Little did we know that grandparents on each side would follow suit. The delight you see on Peter and Ammon's face was over the fly-through barn and the airplane Santa brought.
After opening gifts from Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Joe we were able to add on a bridge with more flying track. What a fun surprise. It became quickly apparent that one plane for two boys was not cutting it, and we wondered if Ammon would have some additions to his birthday gifts the next day.
Turned out that wasn't necessary. Grandma Peggy and Grandpa Derrick showed up and along with them came the geo-trax airport and another plane! Ammon and Peter (especially Ammon) hit the jackpot when it came to the geo-air products. In one day he got the entire line of stuff with the exception of one plane. (And although two planes is really great with two kids, three planes would just be over the top right now!

Andy and I kept things even more simple between us. For him there was a quilt I made. It has some things about it that make it very sentimental and special for us. He got his quilt a few days early. I also received a homemade gift. We woke up early Christmas morning before the boys got up and I opened my much anticipated present. It was a beautifully crafted cribbage board that he designed and made for me.
I couldn't have asked for a nicer gift. Cribbage is a game that means a lot to us on a lot of levels. A couple of years ago he and I were both working opposite shifts. He would leave in the morning and before he got home I would have to drop Ammon off to get babysat until Andy could get him. I would head to work and by the time I came home Ammon would be sleeping. After Ammon was asleep, Andy would fix me dinner and when I got home we would play cribbage together while I ate. It was literally the only time we had together during those months, and the memories I have of that time are fond. The significance of this game runs deeper for both of us. I learned to play from my dad who learned from his mom. I can still remember the method my dad used to teach me and even which room in the house I learned and practiced the game.
Andy never learned to play as a child, but found that his grandparents have a great cribbage legacy of their own. When he started this project his dad mentioned that his grandpa has made several cribbage boards over the years. Andy called and talked with his grandpa and learned that they have played two games a night for longer than they can remember. They even went through an eight year period of time where they kept track of who won (in 8 years, Gram won 60% of the time). This game makes my heart happy as it reminds me of fond times in my life and special relationships in my family.

What a wonderful holiday we had!

Sugar Plums Dancing

It's Christmas Eve and ready for bed. What a fun holiday so far!

Merry Christmas!

Winter Is Here

Well, I have been enjoying the absence of snow so late in the season, but I have to admit the large amounts of fresh snow we've been getting last week has been kind of fun. Andrew had so much fun using the snow plow that he did multiple houses and the sidewalks in between.

Peter and I had our good times too. Before leaving to pick Ammon up from school, we spent a good chunk of time shoveling the driveway the old-fashioned way. It was fun - the snow was light and fluffy (easy to shovel) and even though it was still snowing on us, it was a warm winter day.

Cookies

Since my parents are trying to eat less sugar, we haven't had a lot of treats lately. As a compromise, we tried to make some cookies with Splenda. Frankly, they just aren't as good. But the kids were thrilled with them anyway. Here is Ammon signing cookie while Peter kept himself busy scarfing the thing. It was a fun way to spend the snowy afternoon.

We Are Friends

Ammon's cousin Michael recently moved to Utah and is now living nearby. It has been fun for Ammon to have a guy to hang out with! One day, as Michael was leaving he wrapped his arm around Ammon and started singing, "We are friends..." Jen told me it comes from the Jungle Book. Anyway, they were here eating lunch and started to sing to each other again. They are just so cute together!

It's My Birthday!

Can I really be thirty-one already? Am I only thirty-one? What does this crazy number mean?

Not much, really. On one hand I know that I am still so young and have so much to learn and master in this life. On the other hand I feel like I have already lived life-times of experiences both good and bad. No wonder time doesn't exist in the eternities. It is a very ineffective tool of measurement in most cases.

I am excited to be another year older - another year wiser. I am excited to have another year to improve life and to probably mess things up too. I feel happy and grateful as I celebrate this day. I am blessed. I am looking forward to what adventures may come my way this year!

Ward Christmas Party

We had our Ward Christmas Party this weekend. It was a breakfast and we had muffins, ham, eggs, yogurt, juice and hot chocolate. It was nice to eat without having to cook! (Or having Andy cook, as the case often is...)

The center of the tables were decorated with candy, so even though it was early in the morning, the boys were getting their sugar fix. This messy little face is Peter eating his very first candy cane. It ended up mostly as drool that and sticky fingers that ended up all over me!

Ammon had a lot of fun seeing the kids from his primary class, exploring the stage, and even watching the concert by the Bingham Madrigals. I was suprised that it held his attention, but he really seemed to enjoy it.

Independant

Peter is becoming increasingly independant as of late. One thing he has decided to tackle is dressing himself. It started in the evenings with him insisting that I don't come near him as he tries to put on his pajama pants. After a couple of days with that routine, I found that it had expanded the day-wear as well. Apparently he wanted to accessorize the clothes I had dressed him in and so he added the green shirt over top. It is so fun to see the things kids figure out on their own.

My Mechanic

Just wanted to say a big Thank You to my handsome mechanic who changed my breaks for free! He went to work the other morning and had some happy admirers watch while he worked.

I didn't have the camera at the right time for Peter - he spent quite a while carrying tools and copying what he saw Daddy doing. He was quite the little grease monkey. By the time I was there, he was ready for something new and the camera seemed like a good plan. (Yeah, you thought he was reaching for Mommy, but really he just wants to take his own pictures...)

Last time Andy changed the breaks, he bought the ones with a warantee for the life of the car, so not only was the labor free, the parts were as well! Whoo hoo! Great job honey!

Christmas Time Already?

I'm not ready for Christmas yet! The weather is still warm (for December) and Thanksgiving just barely ended. I can't believe that we are already racing through the last month of the year.

Hopefully we can take a deep breath and get everything up before it's time to tear it all down. At least the tree got started...

Come What May, and Love It

General Conference is always a time of inspiration. Sometimes, however, it can feel like being sprayed with a fire-hose with the deep concentration of jewels of wisdom. It often takes additional time and study to really grasp the individual application of each talk shared. Elder Wirthlin's talk was one that our ward used for the 4th Sunday RS/Priesthood lesson last month. There were some wonderful personal applications that struck me then and I have since read through it many times. Such simple words, cute stories and obvious statements were shared in this talk. And yet, the more I read it, the more depth I find. At the news of his death, I find myself ever so grateful for Elder Wirthlin and his inspired words.

My other all time favorite talk of Elder Wirthlin's was given in October 1999. The talk was entitled Growing Into the Priesthood and I will forever remember his voice sharing the words of his mother who said of an oversized football jersey and a pair of skates, "Don't worry Joseph, you'll grow into it". Isn't it interesting that both of these catch phrases, which he shared with the people of the world as great gospel insights, came from his mother in simple moments in the home. What a blessing and responsibility it is to be a Mom. What wonderful lessons have been taught by Elder Joseph B Wirthlin!