Siblings, In Lego Form

"The greatest gift our parents ever gave us was the gift of each other." 

Noah's Lego representation of this fabulous four is my favorite new addition to the bookshelf in the living room! These kids are my life, and I have no greater hope than that they always want to be in each other's lives. They share the past, the present, and hopefully the future! Big changes are coming just around the corner, and it will be up to them more than ever before to choose each other. I hope they always do! 

 

Wrapping Up 2024

There is nothing I love more than catching my kids enjoying each other's company of their own free will and choice. Luckily, we got lots of moments like that over Christmas break. 

We had a super fun and not too chilly first time at Top Golf - thanks to Grandma and Grandpa! 

El Fadre and I snuck away to the temple one morning. The 4 hours in the car make for a lovely time of connection, but we were both dreaming about the day that we will be able to walk into the temple doors 20 minutes after we leave our house. Soon!

We continued to find adorable signs of Auntie Al around the house! 

There was a wonderful bit of lazing around every day. 

And bundling up from the cold!

The girls got permanent bracelets! 

We rewatched all of the Twilight movies, 

and we had a mini Christmas party with the missionaries!

"Merry Christmas!" 

And although it's largely against tradition, we went out for New Year's Eve! The night was mostly fun and a great way to pass the hours until the new year, but when midnight rolled around there was not the same level of ringing in the new year as we put on at home. 

It was still memorable though, and a great reminder that nothing about the new year is most likely going to go the way it always has. Things are about to change in a big way! In that sense it was a great way to welcome in 2025. 

Still, we wrapped up the party then went home to celebrate in really loud style- complete with bubbly, yelling into the night, hugging and kissing all around, 

and the settling into finish a movie before heading to bed around 2 AM. 

We are ready for whatever the new year is going to bring! 

Christmas Day

 The most highly anticipated day of the year! Christmas Day finally came! 

After hearing about a cute tradition from a friend, I suggested that the kids wake the parents up on Christmas morning by singing Christmas carols. I was thinking "Away in a Manger" or "Silent Night". We woke up to "Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer" and "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas".  So close and yet.... not quite what I had in mind. 

Santa ate the cookies and wrote the kids back!

And we went through the entire glorious day feeling loved and spoiled by each other and our families, who we always miss extra during the holidays. 

Adam's big gift was a gift to the whole family- a keyboard with headphones so he can practice day or night without disturbing anyone else (and he does practice day and night!). 

Santa knows best - these little mounds of stocking stuffer moon sand were mesmerizing!

Santa's little helpers were ready for a long winter's nap by Christmas Day!

So many fun games and good foods and hugs and FaceTime visits with family - Christmas Day is the best day of the year, and this one was especially sweet as it's the last one we'll have 'the way it's always been'. It was a really wonderful one! 

Christmas Eve

We kept watching movies, shopping for last minute gifts, and wrapping presents right up until it was time to commence with our Christmas Eve traditions - starting with the Jesus Dinner! 

This is quite possibly everyone's favorite meal of the year. 

We even got a live donkey at our nativity this year! 

And the fluffiest little sheep-pup to accompany these wise men.  

Adam did all of the carol playing this year!

I remember the telling of the nativity going somewhat off the rails when I was a teenager too.  I'm glad our 25 Days of Christ and Jesus Dinner traditions keep us focused on Christ throughout the season. 

Swapping sibling gifts is another favorite tradition on Christmas Eve - these are everyone's most highly anticipated gifts! 

 The traditions of spreading reindeer food, hanging the stockings by the chimney with care and writing letters to Santa continue to be upheld as Jolly Old St. Nick continues to play a smaller and smaller part in our Christmas season festivities. 

But the magic was definitely in the air as we all headed to bed on Christmas Eve! 

17, 15, 13, 11

We made the deadline this year! The sibling picture tradition lives on, and I refuse to let my tender heart dwell too long on how many more years I will be able to get this picture captured.    

Standing up so straight! Emma is horrified at the possibility that she might be done growing.  She does not want to be the shortie of the bunch, but Noah hasn't even started his major growth spurt.  My guess is the final heights will be Adam, Noah, Leah, Emma (sorry, sis). 

How can I ever adequately express how beautiful this sight is? These four have each other through thick and thin. They love each other, they support each other, they defend each other and call each other out and they teach each other so much every day. I love listening to them figure out things like how to respond to a text or how to act at a stake dance or what to do in various social situations. And we all laugh when they reveal some of the trials they've growth through together, like when they were all younger and the worst insult they could throw at each other was to, "Stop being the star of the show!!" 

There is a great question mark hanging over the future of these four, as Leah gets ready to head off to college in the fall and relationships are bound to shift and grow.  Their connections with each other have a very secure foundation to get them started as they all continue to navigate life together, and that is probably the greatest gift I could ever wish to give them as their mother. 

Also, Laney made it into the pictures this year. And then someone stuck her in the ottoman. 

Predictions for the Future

This lunchtime conversation had to be recorded for posteristy's sake

Most likely to have a blog- Noah or Leah

Most likely to have a greenhouse- Noah because he’s mostly overcome his fear of butterflies

Most likely to get married young- Emma 

Most likely to get married old- Noah

Most likely to have a life similar to the life that we have- Leah

Most likely to get famous- Emma or Adam

Most likely to have a dog just like Laney- Adam

Most likely to become a model (according to Noah) Emma

Most likely have the most kids- everyone pointed to Adam. Emma wants five kids, Leah wants a maximum of four kids, Noah wants max four kids, Adam wants 4 kids plus or minus so 3 or 4 or 5 kids

Most likely to have a cat- Emma because she loved Gwenny and picked her up when no one else would

Most likely to marry somebody from another country- Emma, who agrees she would travel abroad to meet a hot Brian. 

Most likely to marry an old man for his money and accidentally kill him off- Emma

Most likely to dress up like a Santa for the workers for Christmas party- Adam

Most likely to drive a minivan just like Marshmallow- Noah or Leah 

Most likely to drive a truck- Adam

Most likely to live in the city- Emma 

Most likely to serve a mission- everyone!

Most likely to voice act in a cartoon movie- Noah 

Most likely to win a prize for drawing comics- Noah

Most likely to win a Nobel prize- Adam according to Leah, Emma according to Noah, Noah according to Emma, Emma according to Adam

Most likely to become a meme- Noah because he’s hilarious

Most likely to have an inspiring movie about them- Adam

Most likely to let Mom live with you when she's old- Adam (after a solid 3 seconds of silence from everyone!) 

Most likely to live in his mom's basement until he gets married- Noah, who said "No! I don’t want to be Uncle Ted" 

Best Friends

 I realized a long time ago that there is a super special, memebers only club in this house.  I'm not qualified to join it but I am lucky enough to witness the frequent laughter, love, and joy that comes from it. 

I've written about it before, but it still stops me in my tracks regularly when I see just how much silliness and fun and acceptance and encouragement comes from this little club.  I am so incredibly grateful that I get to see it in action.

I'm sure lots of parents say this, but I am amazed at how much these four love each other and take care of each other and choose each other. As an adult I realize that the likelihood of this exclusive club lasting forever is pretty slim.  In fact, it's facing the potential for big changes starting just next year.  I hope over time this club grows to include spouses and children, and I pray it never fractures. 

Because this kids L.A.N.E. club is just about the most amazing thing I've ever witnessed.