Usually we spend New Years Eve at the Peaden House, celebrating the new year as well as celebrating Amy's birthday. But this year, we invited everyone to come to our house instead. It seemed to work out for everyone (and then we got to put our kids to bed at a decent time without having to wake them up and bring them home in the cold like we've been doing so often lately). I usually try to get a good picture of our family as a "This is the last picture of our family for the year." but David didn't get home until almost eight o'clock due to an inventory count at one of his clients, Mountain Country Foods, and I had already put Austin to bed. Then I was going to try to get one of just Lydia, David, and I, but failed to do that either. In fact, we didn't get a single picture of the festivities, because a lack of camera energy on my part - but picture some awesome board games/card games, lots of laughing during Mario coin battles on the Wii, and toasting with champagne flutes filled with sprite at midnight.
I thought that I'd do a little recap/tribute to the past year.
2015
The first four months, January to April, we basically spent in survival mode trying to adjust to being a family of four combined with it being so very cold outside.
In May we enjoyed finally getting to go outside and seeing the sun again, as well as celebrating Lydia's third birthday.
In June we continued loving every second of the sun and we celebrated out 6th wedding anniversary.
July and August were spent at the pool, doing fun summer stay-cation things, and yard projects. Oh, and we went camping as a family for our very first time (which was awesome).
September brought Austin's first birthday annnd a trip to Phoenix, AZ - with a stop at the Grand Canyon on the way. (Check that off our bucket list!)
We celebrated Halloween in October with a very darling Witch and Bat.
And November and December brought us back to Survival Mode, albeit with a bit more sleep, in that we had a jam-packed holiday season. (Filled with happiness, family, and laughter - so it wasn't really survival mode after all, just extremely busy.)
Twenty-fifteen, you were a difficult year at some points, but you were also so very, very good to us. Here's hoping to an equally as wonderful 2016!
These are all the insta-posts for the rest of the year. Putting it together, it's kind of ridiculous because it doesn't show any of the big things that we did. Like, Christmas was completely skipped. But I guess that's what I love so much about Instagram. It captures the small moments that would otherwise be overlooked.
{12.5.15}
insta-david
The high's and Low's of the Christmas season. High: playing with cousins, Christmas tree farms and shopping for a bunk bed with a slide. Low: being sick. Here is to a Merry Christmas to all and hoping Lydia starts feeling better and all of us remember that long ago a Savior was born.
I'm one lucky girl. On three different occasions today I stumbled across a sweet note from David. Two from last year, one written on our white board because he left for work before we woke up in the morning. These notes kept me smiling all day. I don't post to be all "look at me and my awesome husband" (although he is pretty great), But I post these on my blog and I want to remember how sweet David is and how his notes brightened my day today. #myownlittlelovenotes
Notes from David read as follows...
Top- From Valentines Day 2014: Dear Shan, Love is not about a few big things, but rather many little things combined together. So on this Valentines Day, let me tell you about a few little things that make me love you. I love that you introduce me to new things that I love, but never knew about. I love when you introduce me to new books that we love. I love when they turn those books into movies because I love to cuddle with you. Happy Valentines Day!
Bottom Left- A note written in the note program on our computer dated October 23, 2014: Dear Shantel, I love you a lot. I miss you and can't wait to see you. Love, Your Shark Tank watching, mostly awkward, but always amazed at how lucky I am to have you Husband.
Bottom right- A note left on the whiteboard in our kitchen, December 2015: I <3 Shantel. (I Love you Lydia + Austin.)
True love is when your wife brings the 2nd very awake child downstairs and then insists that you are the one that gets to get back in bed. Thank you Shantel.
Happy 30th anniversary to my lovely parents. They are examples of everything that is good and kind. I'm so grateful for them, their lives, and their marriage. I love looking at their wedding pictures and thinking about their lives when they were my age. I hope that when David and I reach 30 years together we will be as good of parents as they are and have lived as good of a life. I admire these two people more than anyone else in my whole world and am so lucky they are my parents. (Picture is from the table setting last weekend when my siblings and I threw them a surprise anniversary party, complete with a speech and toasts.) #30years#bestparentsever#boughtchampagneflutesfortheoccasion#usedsparklingcider
{12.23.15}
It's been a wonderful, but incredibly busy week. I haven't posted about my grandpa's 80th birthday party, our awesome Peaden family Christmas party, or about my little brothers wedding. So many wonderful things, but barely any time for Christmas prep. Today we spent finally finishing our shopping plus an awesome Christmas kickoff party with our little family, and now we are staying up way too late trying to get everything wrapped. Even so, can't help but be so so so excited for Christmas! #andfinishingneighborgifts#christmashallmarkmovie#canigetachristmaselftohelp?
{12.24.15}
insta-david
"All I want for Christmas is to vacuum. " First thing this morning Austin went straight to the closet and insisted on vacuuming. He loves it. Then we turned on Christmas music and danced. Happy Christmas Eve. I imagine Joseph and Mary may have spent Christmas Eve quite discouraged, but I am certain the Savior helped guide them to the quiet stable. If you feel tired or discouraged, keep moving and the Savior will guide you as well.#asaviorisborn
David has to go back to work tomorrow and I'm soaking up every second left with him with stocking candy, popcorn, and a movie.#christmasbreakshouldlastforever
As I previously mentioned (many times, I know), December was jam packed. I planned ahead almost zero percent and didn't think about "the next thing" until "the previous thing" was over. (Don't get me wrong, they were all wonderful things and we had a wonderful December and I was not stressed out almost at all, mostly due to my take it as it comes attitude.) But the time Christmas rolled around I was a little surprised to see it! Thankfully it was the absolute perfect Christmas for us. We just relaxed and spent time with family and didn't worry about a single thing.
We started the festivities in Morgan for Christmas Eve. It was the first year that everyone wasn't there but we had a good time. (Jenna and her family were at home with their new baby Jason, Matthew and Brooklyn were on their honeymoon, and Jacob - of course - is on his mission in Canada.) But Melissa and Blake were still able to make it - and my Grandma and Grandpa Knowles were there for Christmas as well so it was still a full house.
Christmas Eve is a great time at the Walker home. Christmas Eve Pizza, puzzles, games, Christmas Story, and family. We let the kids open their Christmas Eve present that was a sticker nativity and Nativity coloring book. We also got a Nativity ornament for the tree but forgot to wrap it. We ended the night with Frappe, the Christmas Nativity movie, and laying out our stockings under the tree.
I tried to trap Austin behind a present because I wanted a picture of He and Lydia sitting by the tree - smiling. (I know, so much to ask right?) He won that battle when he started unwrapping the presents. But, it worked out in my favor anyway because after I loaded the pictures on the computer I realized that I had captured some really really cute ones! I really love this series of pictures of them by the tree. Also, I'm in love with their Christmas Jammies. Like, I loooooooove them. I don't know that we'll do Christmas Jammies every year - but we might because they are so cute that I just can't resist. (Also, I got them on sale - so... win.)
We still don't know exactly how we are going to do Santa, but things went well this year. We talked a lot about how Santa loves Jesus so much that he wants to celebrate the gift that Jesus gave to us by giving gifts to others. (Although I felt like a huge liar when she asked me on Christmas Eve where Santa was and I was like "He's flying... in a sleigh.... with some... magic reindeer... you know?" Yeah - not sure how I feel about that. But Lydia was thrilled with her Sled and Hula-hoop, both of which she had decided to ask Santa to bring to her.
The kids slept pretty decent and although I may have been more excited about Christmas Morning than they were, they got into the excitement pretty quickly though. Lydia was just amazed that we were letting her eat whatever treats she wanted. Austin wasn't sure that he wanted in on any present unwrapping, but he was happy to sit in Lydia's sled and observe everyone else unwrapping their gifts.
It was a wonderful morning, with much love exchanged with the gifts given and received. Afterwards we took a slow morning just enjoying each others company. Highlights include Lydia taking the bubbly-est bubble bath ever, and Austin playing "Where did it go?" with a ball.
After a while, we packed ourselves up and headed to West Jordan to spend the rest of Christmas with the Peaden family. Once more - the sight of the Peaden Christmas tree decked out is a wonderful sight to behold. It never gets old, never gets less magical. This year Sue used "desserts" as the Christmas gift theme, which was fun and festive. (The majority of the presents get wrapped with the code name so that no one knows which present goes to whom. It's so fun.) Austin got into the unwrapping much more the second time around - but Lydia just wanted to play with her toys - and actually ended up with a pile of unwrapped presents that she opened the next day. Regardless, it was wonderful. Also, I surprised David with a large painting of the Utah State A/Old Main to hang in his new office. (Did we mention? He just got promoted to Manager, complete with his own office. I couldn't be prouder!) I pretty much ignored our budget and just made up my own, but I made it work - (just call me Mrs. Budget Manipulator) and it was SO worth it to see his face.
I couldn't have asked for a more laid back, happy Christmas day. The perfect, perfect thing for our busy lives. I'm so grateful for this day to come together to celebrate the most important person in our lives: our Savior Jesus Christ. This year we did a Christmas advent-type activity each night in December where we told a story of Jesus's Life, made a small ornament to represent it, then hung the ornament on a little tree in Lydia's room. We missed a few nights but overall I loved the spirit that it brought to our home as we prepared to celebrate Christmas.
The chorus of a song that I'd never really heard until recently keeps coming to my mind. Its from the song "In the Bleak Mid-Winter".
What can I give him
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
Yet
What I can I give him
I will give my heart
This echoes the thoughts of my own heart. What can I give to my Savior? How can I possibly show Him my gratitude? I hope my answer will always be "I will give my heart."
David shared a sentiment on Instagram that I would like to add here as well: "I imagine Joseph and Mary may have spent Christmas Eve quite discouraged, but I am certain the Savior helped guide them to the quiet stable. If you feel tired or discouraged, keep moving and the Savior will guide you as well."
