Christmas 2015

We got a white Christmas this year. I don't remember the last time it snowed on Christmas day. Stephen was able to get a few days off of work so we could have some much needed family time since he's been pulling his 12 hour days the past few weeks. Zander just loves his dad and was so excited to have him around. Christmas Eve we got to spend a few hours with Grandma and Grandpa Pettingill in the afternoon. We tried to go for a ride in a new car, but it had sold, so we went out to lunch to Rodizio Grill instead. We came home and spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa Washburn and Great Grandma Betty. After they left we read the Christmas story from the scriptures, but forgot to open our exchange gift from Scott like I had planned. Stephen and I were ready to get the kids in bed and relax together on the couch.

Christmas morning Zander climbed in our bed at 5:00 am so Stephen sent him back to bed so we could sleep a little longer. We finally got up at a little before 8:00 so I could feed Lucas before opening gifts. Zander wasn't awake yet! Stephen went downstairs to wake him up so he could see what Santa brought him. Out of everything in his stocking he was most excited about his treats.

What a fun Christmas we had this year. We played in the snow the day after Christmas. It was just loose powder, so we weren't able to build or do anything with it, but we sure had fun eating icicles.

The Dream

I have been going back and forth trying to decide if I wanted to share this on here, and decided I ought to for my own records.

Back in October I had a vivid dream. My Grandma Pettingill and Great Grandpa Stockdale came to visit me. I'm not going to go into any detail; I wrote it all down in my journal so I wouldn't forget, but the feelings I had I will never forget. I was SO happy to see grandma and grandpa. Grandpa didn't say anything to me, but grandma did briefly. The only word to accurately describe what I felt was joy. Pure joy. They came to my house with a bunch of other people I didn't know--my house was full of them, and I knew they were angels because I asked Stephen if he could see them. I got to hug my grandma before she and grandpa left. I cried. I sobbed because I didn't want her to go--I didn't want to wake up.

When I awoke and had time to process what had just happened, I was excited and curious why they had come, and why they had looked the way they did. (They looked normal), but a thought came to my mind--it was so I would be able to recognize who they were. I think they were just visiting to say hello.

I was more curious why grandpa was there. This is the second time a great grandparent has visited me in my adult life. I feel like since I didn't get to know them very well, because they passed away when I was around eight or nine, that they don't remember me very well. I know that's not true. They know me very well, and it has become very apparent that they are watching over me a lot more than I ever thought.

I know the veil is thin, and family members who have passed on are all around us, and even  people we don't know. We are being watched over every day. I am so grateful I had the chance to know my great grandparents before they left this earth, and I think about Grandma Pettingill all the time. The plan of happiness is a perfect plan, and I am grateful and feel incredibly blessed to have experiences like this. I love my family and my Heavenly Father. I am grateful for the knowledge I have of the plan of salvation.

Christmas Pickle

I forgot to write about this. A few weeks ago after we set up our Christmas tree, Zander helped me decorate it with ornaments. Stephen and I both have ornaments from our childhoods that we use, and one of those was a glass pickle. Zander loves pickles so he was excited to place it on the tree. He kept asking if he could have a bite, but we told him it was just to look at and the real pickles were in the refrigerator.

About a week later I was home with the boys waiting for Stephen to get home from work. I had to change Lucas's diaper so I took him to the bedroom. Meanwhile, I kept hearing Zander asking for pickles. I heard Him getting into something that I thought was the fridge, so I didn't think anything of it. I walked out of the bedroom and met Zander in the hallway and noticed he was eating something. He kept repeating "pickle, pickle!" I asked him where the pickles were because it knew he couldn't put the jar back in the fridge by himself.

He pointed to the Christmas tree. I walked over there and behind the tree was a broken pickle ornament. The boy had taken a bite out of the ornament and broke it! I was kind of in disbelief. I checked his hands and mouth for any cuts from the glass, but found nothing.

I guess I know what to get him for Christmas next year!

Washburn Family Christmas Party 2015

Zander's First Snowman!

We had a pretty good snow storm come through Utah last week. We got somewhere around two feet of snow, so I took Zander outside to play.

 He was more interested in eating the snowman than building it.

 In the sun he melted small, small, small

Random Photos

Winter Walk

Zander had been begging to go outside for a few days, but it had been super cold and all I wanted to do was stay inside with slippers. I finally gave in and took the boys for a walk around the neighborhood. I bundled them up as best I could...

 It wasn't until 3/4 of the way home that I noticed Zander didn't have his pants on!

Brothers

So sweet....

 ...until this

Catch-Up

I've been without a computer for a while! So here's what's happened in the last month:

Zander turned two! My handsome Zander got his hair cut and looks more like a little boy. He is funny, smart, and likes to climb, crawl, or jump on anyone who is sitting on the floor. He loves to wrestle, play with cars, swords, and guns. He can be really sweet, but is a little trouble maker. He loves his brother, and story time with daddy. He is starting to tell us what he likes and doesn't like. He doesn't like to wear pants or be told what to do, and he doesn't like to eat vegetables. Zander likes Star Wars, Elmo, and pickles.

Thanksgiving In Idaho! We haven't been to a Pettingill Thanksgiving in several years, so we got to go to Twin this year. Joseph and Trish hosted and made the turkey. The food was good and the company great. It was nice for Zander to have his cousins to play with.