Merry Christmas, Thomas Family Party and Frosting Cookies

Kids seriously make Christmas so FUN!!  The boys were so excited Christmas Eve.  Right before we went to bed Tegan told me, "mom, make sure you and dad shut your door when you go to bed because if you see Santa and he sees you then his magic will go away and we don't want to be the people responsible for his magic to be gone"  It was so cute, so we made sure to shut our doors. 

 

The boys were so excited Christmas Eve and were being so naughty because of all their energy and we kept saying, you are being pretty naughty I bet you are going to get a lump of coal.  Well, at about 4:00 am Kyson came into our room and said, "MOM, I can't see all the presents but there is no lump of coal out there" he had so much excitment in his voice : ) It was so cute!!  He was right, there was no lump of coal, just fun toys and treats.  Beckem didn't care about anything except the stupid candy cane thing filled with candy.  He thought that was the best present ever. 

 

Beckem and Boden were pretty sick on Christmas so that day was not so fun for them.  They still are so miserable, but I am hoping we are on the down slope.  It's hard to see your babies sick : (   

In this picture you can see how sick Beckem and Boden look in their eyes : (  breaks my heart!!

 

Zac finally had his surgery four days before Christmas so he was a little painful as well, but we have been icing it and he has been keeping it elevated.  Just glad to have the surgery over with so he can start recoverying finally!!

In the middle of December we had the Thomas family party at our house.  He we are playing the annual bean game.  Gotta love it!!

 My uncle Lynn is about 6' 7" and Beckem walked right over to him and put his arms up for him to hold him and when he picked him up Beckem just kept smiling so BIG, he loved uncle Lynn. 

 One night the elf had us frost christmas trees.  The boys had a blast going to town on their trees.

  We had our annual sugar cookie frosting party at Grandma Thomas house. It's something we have done ever since we were little girls, I love getting together and laughing with these crazy nuts. 

So Many Blessings

I can't believe the generosity of people.  I was so amazed at the special gift we first received previously, but the amazing story doesn't stop there.  About a week after that the bishop showed up to our house with a card and more money in it.  He said he was only the messenger and he wouldn't tell us who it was from.  Then a couple nights later someone knocked and I answered the door and there was a big box of food on our porch.  There was a spiral ham, potatoes, apples, oranges, and TONS more things.  Once again, we have no clue who did this generous act.  I am so GRATEFUL for these people and their generosity.  I just wish I could thank them for their kindness.  This is what Christmas is all about.  This has been the best Christmas ever and I want to give back to people for many years to come.   Happy Holidays and thanks to those special angels!!

A Christmas Miracle

Ever since Zac hurt his knee we have really been blessed in so many ways.  With Zac being unable to work for a total of a few months and the holidays just around the corner there have been many nights of tears shed from the stress of money, fatigue and stress.  Zac is amazing and always finds the good in situations.  When I have my breakdowns he takes me in his arms and reminds me to have faith.  He always reminds me that Heavenly Father hasn't let us down before and He isn't about to start.  We have had many small miracles come into our lives and everything so far has fallen into place.  My how my faith has been tried and strengthen so much this past month. 

Something happened last night though that was beyond anything I could ever ask for. . . I was scheduled to work at 9 PM.  I came into work only to find out that there was a miscommunication and they didn't really need me at work.  I was so grateful to go home to be with my family (I have been working crazy hours to try to make ends meet, so any little bit of time I can be home I am so grateful for!!) I was about to walk out the door to head home when Zac called me.  He was very overwhelmed and had a hard time finding his words on the phone.  I told him I was being sent home and I would see him shortly.  When I got home he explained the situation to me and we both just started to cry tears of gratitude. 

While I was on my way to work, Zac was out in the garage and heard someone knock on our front door.  He went inside to answer the door.  When he opened the door he found that someone had left a popcorn bucket with a card.  By the time Zac opened the door they were nowhere to be found.  Zac thought to himself, that was nice of someone to bring us a gift.  He brought the gift inside and proceeded to open the envelope.  As he opened the card he was shocked at what he found.  In the card they wrote, "please accept this gift from our families to yours with love" and lying in the card was a large amount of money.  We feel so inadequate and grateful that someone would do this for us. 

Words can never describe the feelings that are in our hearts and the gratitude we feel!!  I wish so badly we could thank these people that were so generous!!  I hope somehow I can thank them or let them know seriously HOW GRATEFUL we are for their generosity!!  It was such an amazing feeling in our home last night. 

As I was tucking the boys into bed they asked why we were crying.  I told them that someone was so amazing and brought us some money to help us and Kyson said, "mom, I bet it was Heavenly Father who brought it to us" and he was exactly right.  Heavenly Father sent angels to us last night and we will forever be grateful.  I hope I can one day be an angel for Heavenly Father as these people were tonight. Whom ever you are out there THANK YOU!!  I feel as though thank you is not enough and never will be enough to repay these people for what they have done for our family!!  GOD BLESS and MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

Zoo Lights and Candy Trains

We went to see the Zoo lights.  I was a little disappointed and probably won't go down there again, but it was something fun for the boys to do. 

We have had the "countdown elf" come every night and leave us a present under the tree.  The boys get to open it up each day and there is a paper in the present that tells us what activity we get to do for the day and then tells us how many more days until Christmas.  This has been such a fun thing for the boys and for us.  It has given us a chance to really have fun this whole Christmas season.  Today we made candy trains.  William (the neighbor boy) even got to enjoy this activity with us. 

And of course this this cheeser boy wouldn't smile normal for the picture.  He cracks me up!! 

Talking to Santa

We went over to see Santa in North Ogden by Lee's.  The boys LOVED talking to Santa.  Beckem just learned how to say Santa and when we got into his little house he pointed at him and got a huge grin and said, "Ho Ho Ho" It was so cute!! 

Nana Papa Sleepover

We had our annual Nana Papa sleepover.  This year was a little rough with two babies.  We ended up coming home at midnight to sleep and then we went up the next day.

 Beckem is the biggest cheeser, he kept going up to Zac's sister, Dani, and would stand there and cheese it so she would take a picture of him.  He loves his picture taken.  This kid is so dang happy all the time!!

 

 All the cousins in their jammies

 The girls in their jammies and new hats

 The men in their matching jammie bottoms

 

Brandje put together a fun game for the kids.  They rolled the dice and if they got a seven or eleven they got to pick a present.  I am pretty sure Teg and Ky got a present every time, they need to go to Vegas : )  

Somethings aren't taught

I try so hard to teach my boys to be polite, have manners, be nice, the normal things that any mother would want their boys to know.  My boys do things sometimes and I think, I never taught you that (good or bad) so how did you know that. 

Tegan has always been very sensitive and aware of other's feelings.  When he was about 9 months old or so we started noticing this because we were at pizzeria eating dinner and another baby started to cry and he looked at us and got huge tears in his eyes and started to cry.  After that happened if you pretended to cry or really were crying he would start to cry.  

A month ago we were at the doctor's office and I looked over at Tegan and he had tears in his eyes, I kind of ignored it because I don't like to embarrass him and I don't want him to feel stupid when he gets emotional about things.  I didn't say anything and then shortly after I looked at him he told me, "mom I feel sad for Boden".  I asked him why and then he told me "because he has to get shots and I didn't want Boden to hurt".  I then had to explain to him that he gets shots and has a little hurt now so he doesn't have a big hurt later and get really sick.  

When we go to pick up Kyson from preschool on Tues and Thurs Tegan loves to stop to get an Arby's roast beef sandwich because he gets dropped off at kindergarten after we pick up Ky.  About a year ago he would finish one sandwich and he would ask for another one, so now I order him two.  Well, a little while ago he finished his first one and I told him, "Teg, I have another sandwich for you" and he replied, "It's okay, Beckem can have it" I had to explain to him that I bought one for Beckem.  Then he says, "okay well, Kyson can have it."  I told him I bought one for Ky.  "Okay you can have it mom" was his reply, "Tegan I bought my own" was my response to him.  After going through everyone in the car and making sure everyone had been fed he finally took his sandwich.  I was so impressed by this small act but how huge it felt to me that my little boy would be so aware of others and make sure no one went without.  

Yesterday this similar thing happened again.  We stopped and got a sandwich but Tegan didn't want two.  This was our conversation,

Tegan: "mom, I don't want two today"  

Me: "I already ordered you two, how come you don't want two??"

Tegan: "Beckem or Kyson can have it"

Me: "I already got them one"

Tegan: "Okay I guess I will eat it"

Me: "You don't have to if you don't want it"

Tegan: "But mom, I don't want to waste it"

(What five year old worries about wasting food??)

Me: "It's okay it won't go to waste, I will give it to dad"

Tegan: "Okay mom, give it to dad, that will be good"

There was one time that Kyson got in trouble and I punished him.  After a few minutes Tegan came down from the bonus room with tears in his eyes.  I was frustrated at the situation of having to get after Kyson and said, now what is the matter with you?? He just looked at me with such a sweet look and said, mom I am sad because Kyson got in trouble. I was so humbled at that moment and felt bad for snapping at Tegan. 

There are multiple times this has happened, I wish I would be better at writing them down because they are so tender to me.

I don't feel that I have taught Tegan this.  I think that he has just been sensitive and has always had a huge heart.  I hope that he keeps this trait his whole life.  This is a quality that I pray all my boys will have.  However Tegan learned it I don't know how, but I truly believe that it wasn't completely taught to him, I think he was born with a huge heart and is so aware of others and their feelings.  He brings so much love to our family, I love him so much!!     

Called to Serve

This week in Primary the boys got mission calls for the Farr West 2nd Ward.  They got a letter that looked like an offical mission call and it stated all the things they need to do to prepare to become future missionaries.  They looked so cute wearing their tags with their black suits. 

 

Kyson had to give the scripture in opening exercises so I was sitting in the back of the room when they started primary and they went around and pinned everyone's tags on.  I watched Tegan stand up and he had the biggest smile on his face while he was looking down watching them pin on his tag.  It brought a tear to my eye, I could just picture him getting his offical mission tag pinned on and getting ready to go serve the Lord on a real mission.  That day will be here before I know it.  Whether or not he choses to serve is totally up to him though.  I hope that all my boys, whether they make that choice or not, gain a testimony of their own and gain a love for this Gospel and our Heavenly Father. 



Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day consisted of eating with the Mason family at a church in Perry, eating pie at Grandma and Grandpa Rogers house and our traditional bowling game.  You guys had such a fun day and were SO EXCITED to go bowling.  I was actually surprised you guys (Tegan and Kyson) broke a hundred, that's better than I usually do ha ha. 

 Happy Thanksgiving!! 

 

A time of blessings

About two weeks ago Zac tore his ACL and meniscus.  We didn't really know how bad it was until we went to the orthopedic surgeon and found out it was a complete tear.  Dr. Harrison told us he can't work until he gets it repaired and then after the repair it will need three months to heal.  The soonest they could fit him in is Dec. 21st for surgery.  Zac's job doesn't have any type of medical leave or benefits to help compensate for his wages.  I was very stressed after hearing the news and in my mind didn't know how we are going to make it, especially with the holidays coming up. 

Zac is not a hugely spiritual man, but he has a strong testimony of our Savior and has a ton of faith.  He could tell I was stressing, even though I was trying so hard not to show it because there was nothing he could do about the situation.  Zac just looked at me and told me, "Chelese, have faith.  The Lord will provide a way for us, just like He always has."  I love my Savior so much and truly believe with Him anything is possible, but I let life get in the way of that faith sometimes and I am so grateful for my husband's faith to help keep reminding me to have faith.  

There are so many things I am grateful for and I love Thanksgiving and this time of year that helps us stop and think about how blessed we really are.  This past Sunday in R.S. Katie Price taught our lesson and she said, "no matter how bad your life is, just remember it could always be worse" and that is so true!!  Even though our financial situation is tough right now and Zac is in pain, we could have such bigger problems.

I am so grateful for my life that I have.  I love spending everyday with my best friend.  I am so grateful that I have four amazing boys to call me mom.  I am so grateful for my career and the job I do have to provide for our family in this time of hardship.  I am grateful for the gospel and the strength it gives me and my family everyday.  I am so grateful for this beautiful world in which we live in and get to enjoy each day.  The list goes on and on, but mostly I am so grateful for all my many blessings that each day brings!!  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!    

 

Kyson's Birthday

My little Kyson turned FOUR!!  All he wanted for his birthday was a motorcyle.  This was as close as we are getting to a real motorcyle for now.  He was so excited, he rides it day and night in the basement, thank goodness for unfinished basements during the winter!! 

 He had a cake very similar to this last year, but he wanted the same one again, he LOVED it!!  He loves trackers, motorcycles, and pretty much anything else that has a motor. 

 During breakfast Beckem just sat with his blanket on his head, my kids are goofballs!!

 Boden stayed warm bunddled up in his blankets all day.

 We let the kids decide what they want to do for their birthday and Kyson chose to go to "Get Air" the trampoline park and eat at Chic-fil-a.  So, that is just what we did.  The boys love the trampoline park, they get to jump for a straight hour and do flips into foam pits, play trampoline basketball and just run and play. 

Happy Birthday buddy!!  We love you tons!!