Light at the end of the tunnel...

I was able to catch this special moment of mutual and unpromoted play on camera...

...my little guys playing happily and not "fighting."

Christmas

Jackson wrote a sweet little letter to Santa this year to tell him what he wanted to Christmas this year. He told me what to write and was so excited to give it to the big guy in person. Santa was so sweet to take the time to read it over and let Jackson explain what he met in his letter.

 Jackson was sweet enough to mention that Santa could bring something for his little brother too!

Bradley lasted just a few seconds, but enough to get our annual picture.

We spent Christmas Eve with the Riggs side of the family. It was really nice to feast on yummy Christmas goodies and specialties. I put together a little craft for the kids, they loved it and were so excited to show it off.

Except Bradley, he wasn't a fan!

Grandma Riggs read the kids "The Night Before Christmas," they loved it. They quickly changed into their jammies and hurried into the car to drive home and go to sleep.

Christmas Day was spent with the Andersens. It was so fun to have all the excited chaos everywhere and all the fun toys and presents everywhere. There was no gathering of the family to get a formal picture but this is generallly how the day was spent...playing, running, talking and eating. So fun, we ended up spending the night with all the extended family....minus Ryan's family :( It was so great to catch up and be like old times!

The next day we went over the Riggs for more present opening. It was fun the see Boston, Spencer and Jessica too. Christmas was so fun. What a blessing to have such loving and generous family to make our holidays so exciting.

Christmas Lights to see the light....

My favorite family tradition that John and I started was seeing the Christmas light downtown before Christmas. I know, very original right, but they really have become some of my most favorite family memories.

Waiting at the trax stop by our house, the boys we hardly able to contain themselves for all the excitement.

We had dinner downtown and then pushed our kiddie around temple square. They loved every second of it and didn't even mind the cold in the air.

 Jackson was enthralled by the nativity this year. He loved the "blue light" that shone down on baby Jesus. It always brings a tear to my eye hearing the story of His birth. Maybe it's the L&D nurse in me but I just love imagining how absolutely excited Mary was to hold her brand new baby boy and know of his mission to come.

 John is so talented with the camera. I love how you can see the beginning place of the Savior and His beautiful temple in the background.

 A quick warm up and than out into the cold for some more.

 My happy baby enjoying the lights.

Bundled up Riggs and Co.

Christmas Music!

Thanksgiving...

We are hard pressed to find a decent family picture with our whole family acting normal and smiling in it. We were hopeful to get a cute Thanksgiving family picture but to no avail the boys were too silly to look at the camera at the same time and smile.  

 Cousin: Lily(5, almost 6) Jackson (3), and Bradley (1)

It was a fun and memorable time eating delicious food with the Riggs side of the family. After a huge dinner we looked through black Friday ads, attempted to get a family picture, played and made these little balloon turkeys. I was surprised at how well they followed directions. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Leaves are falling all around...

Our leaves fell a little at a time this year. So we got out to rake at least 3 times this fall. We have so many trees so we were glad that they all fell off the trees before heavy snowfall.

Our boys loved to "help." It takes me back to when I was little and asked to "help" rake the leaves at our house.

 

 Such kissable cheeks!

A fall day isn't complete without rough housing in the leaves with Daddy. What a fun day!

A fire engine and a policeman...

Jackson wanted to be a fire engine this year. So I decided to make him one to wear while dressed as a fireman, he felt okay with the compromise and was very happy to parade his costume around this year.

Bradley, however, was not excited to wear anything for Halloween this year and would just as soon go as a cute little baby instead. But being the mean mom that I am, I made him into a very cute policeman instead. He was a very good sport and actually worn his outfit better than Jackson.

Taking the costumes for a test drive.