This Christmas season I have been blessed to remember more than ever that our Savior is the miracle and blessing that we should celebrate most. If you haven't seen "He is the Gift", check it out here.  I've seen it three times and each time I cry like a baby :)  It is less than 3 minutes long but more than worth every second!!  Merry Christmas!

Here's a photo of Birch on our way into church this morning. Ami got these suspenders/pants for him and I may have to put them on him every week until he grows out of them!

I ran to the mall the other day while Oakley was at preschool and I thought it would be fun to let Birch play in the tot area since he'd never done it before. As you can see, he took advantage of every moment ;)

We took a trip up to Cascade last week, just like we do every fall. And just like every time it was beautiful!

We ended up doing a four mile hike while we were there, which is the furthest the kids have ever gone, and they did wonderfully! Not a single complaint about being tired. It was great. Of course it helped Aspen that I told her an hour long story about a witch named Griselda. I told her a story about her while we were at the cabin a couple years ago and now she's a popular subject when we're up there.

Eric took the kids fishing one day but with no luck. Eric said he wanted the kids to catch a fish but that on the other hand he didn't want to have to clean one and cook it ;)

The cabin only has a shower so Birch bathed in this bug bucket that's up there. He's getting better about enjoying his bath time.

I remember when this aspen tree was much smaller; it has grown so much! The Aspen trees up there in the mountains are so vibrant; the whole feel reminded me so much of Boston.

Here I am with my precious baby boy. Birch was so good on the hike. He loved being on his daddy's shoulders. I think I look like my mom a lot in this picture. Happy fall!

We had a huge stroller box in our living room once, for two years. Occasionally I would transport it upstairs to keep it interesting, but most of the time it was visible in our main living area. Every time I tried to recycle it the kids would beg me to keep it, and I always gave in. After all, it served as a canvas for marker art, a castle, a cave, a house, etc. but eventually it gave up the ghost and out the door it went.

 A few months ago we bought a bistro table and chairs and haven't let go of the box it came in yet. Birch thinks it's the best thing, as you can see. Oakley has whipped up several pretend ice cream cones in it, but I will be sneaking it to the garage soon since it is literally falling apart and will soon be a health hazard to the kids.

To me few things are as rewarding as seeing my babies sleep at night. When I opened Birch's door last night his right leg was up high, resting on the side if his crib. Before I took this photo he had put it down, but I still couldn't resist.

I was looking through our photos today and found these from a trip to Arches a few years ago.  Eric and I drove out there and spent a few days with Eric's brother Danny and his then-girlfriend Shelby (they are now married).

I was just 2 months pregnant with Birch, and not feeling great.  But it was such a fun trip, and I'm so glad we did it.

 One day, it started snowing.

The contrast of the white against the red rock was breathtaking!  One of God's beautiful creations.

Can't wait to get back there ;)

Well Eric and I took Aspen to her first day of first grade today. She could. not. wait. and wanted to wear her "flakey shirt" that I found and knew she just had to have (it's sequined). I feel like I wrapped her in a hug, patted her little behind and sent her out the door.  Feelings of guilt and motherly self reflection have plagued me for weeks. Have I done all I can? Taught her all I should have? Will I still have as much influence in her as I have in the past? Etcetera, etc. Seven hours is way too long for her to be gone.

After we dropped her off Oakley wanted a ride in the trailer so Eric hitched it up for me and the boys and I rode around for a bit before Birch's nap. Today has been a cloudy, cooler, gorgeous day so it was marvelous. I'd love to do that every morning. I don't ride my bike a fraction of the amount I used to!

We spent the past 10 days in Washington. It was perfect and wonderful, which is good and bad. Good for obvious reasons and bad because it makes coming back to reality difficult. What can I say, I've still got Washington on the brain. Maybe blogging about it will help.

My brother Ian was married on the 8th to a wonderful girl in the Seattle temple, and I'm kicking myself I don't have a photo of them to post! Just imagine two beautiful, hilarious and incredibly happy people. In love.

I got to see some amazingly wonderful family and friends that day, and loved every minute. At the end of the day I thought to myself, "I knew today was going to be amazing, but that was even more fun than I could have imagined." We spent the following day with my Dad and stepmom Lisa, my sisters Sasha and Demri and their families, and our cousin Bethany, her husband Josh and their beautiful children. It was such a fun day and so great to catch up and make new memories.

After Seattle we went over to Fidalgo Island and spent a week in Anacortes with family. We went to Rosario Beach one day and it was breathtaking! I couldn't believe how gorgeous it was. Eric said, "this looks like a scene from Peter Pan." And I agreed (see below).

My dad and Lisa were wonderful hosts! I gained 5 pounds while we were there and it was soooo worth it!  One day we made my grandmother's white cake. Mmmmmmmmmm.........

We spent lots of time at the beach, but it still wasn't enough ;)

Here's Dad collecting rocks with the kids. My dad loves to collect rocks and polish them. The last time we were there the kids had found some pretty rocks and Dad sent them to us weeks later, all polished and perfect.

We picked lots of wild blackberries, something I did a lot growing up. I remember the first time I saw blackberries for sale at the grocery store in college. $4 for 6 ounces?! I couldn't believe it! Hence I don't buy blackberries, so picking and feasting on so many was a treat.

Me and my baby who decided to finally start walking on his own while we were on our trip. He calls every animal a "woof," or a "woof woof". But he says it like it's always a question. "Woof woof"? So cute.

Sash and James, trying to stay warm. Sasha always owns the cutest sunglasses. I especially liked these ones.

Oaks fortifying a wooden structure the kids found on the beach with sand. They were so excited about it, and they worked on it the whole time we were there that day.

Tidepoolin'

We found hermit crabs. Lots of hermit crabs. Need hermit crabs? Washington Park's got 'em.

Not the best family photo, but you get the idea ;)

Here's another one minus Oakley, who's running around somewhere up ahead ;) Good night!