Fun times at Christmas time!

The Monday before Christmas, we went to our local city place that Santa visits and the boys got to see him. Jeremy was sure to tell him that he wanted a Star Wars lightsaver and Alex was pretty shy. He had a picture of his reindeer so Jeremy knew for sure he was the real thing!Jeremy and I were also able to put together a gingerbread house. Jeremy said it was more of a disaster than the one they made at Grandma's house a week ago!And finally, the boys had a fun Christmas day. They were so grateful for all their presents.We also started to share with our family and friends that our family is expanding. We are excited to announce that a new little Gerritsen will join our family in August of next year!

Jeremy caroling

Every year, Jeremy's preschool class goes to a local assisted living to sing Christmas carols. This year, Grandma was able to come. Here are some pictures. Jeremy did a great job!

Blessings!!

This past week, Ben has been on business in England. This has left me at home with the boys. Ben's mom has been great to watch the boys when I had to be at work. On Monday of this week, I was struggling to get the boys in bed and it was pretty late for them to be up. We heard a knock on the door and as we opened it, there were two big garbage bags of toys and food for a complete Christmas dinner. It was such a surprise and very humbling. The tags said from Santa and so Jeremy knew he had made an early delivery! But I told him that we couldn't open anything until Christmas. If there is anyone out there who knows 'Santa' please thank them for us so much!!

Grandad's funeral

Granddad's viewing and funeral were so nice. It was great to see so many family members.










We also got to go to Granddad's house the day after the funeral and see it for one last time. We even attempted and kind of got a picture of all the grandkids! It was nice to have Ben's sisters both here at the same time.

Granddad Wirthlin

We just received the news that Ben's granddad passed away. What a marvelous man he was and we were so blessed to know him. I wanted to share one of my most favorite pictures of him and his wife that was taken when Ben and I were dating. He was always so kind to us and I know that our boys love him. Ben's mom has had the privilege of being able to help take care of him for the last couple of years since Ben's grandma has been gone and it's been a rare and wonderful journey for her.

Thanksgiving

This year, we had Thanksgiving with my family at the church that I grew up at. There are a lot of fond memories there of wedding receptions of family members, my dad's funeral (he actually broke ground for the church when he was a bishop), and many other things. It was a lot of fun! For the boys especially. They were the youngest ones there but loved to play with everyone. Most of my family was able to come and that was so nice. Jeremy went with his cousins to the movie and I got all the boys Christmas shopping done! I looked through the ads and didn't see one thing that I needed to get up for at 4AM!! That is crazy!
Our family is so grateful for so much this year. We are grateful for our home, each other and great family who help support us, the list could go on forever! Jeremy and I went to a play at the local high school the other day and he told me that he had a really good feeling inside because he thought he wasn't going to be able to see it and then he did. He is really starting to be in tune with his feelings. He said to Alex a few weeks back as they were arguing about if it was raining or snowing and Jeremy said "It's rain-snow Alex. I think it's made in German!" Alex is doing so well with his speech. He says funny stuff to us all the time. Ben is working so hard for our family and he is on the phone a lot. He has been traveling back and forth to Salt Lake on the train a lot and has lost a watch I bought him last Christmas and his favorite hat but he still presses forward and we love him! I know that I have a long way to go in so many aspects of my life and improving who I am and what I do but I am so grateful for forgiveness and the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!

Fishing at Causey Dam

A few weeks ago, we traveled up to Causey Dam for a little fall fishing with Ben's brother and his two boys. It was pretty cold and there were lots of rocks but the boys got a little taste of real fishing and not just fishing at the trout farm where you are guaranteed a fish most of the time. They didn't catch one but had fun.

Playing with playdough

A few weeks ago, Jeremy had his friend Braydon over and they played with playdough. They had a lot of fun and made some fun stuff.

Love these kids!

We have had fun with dress-ups this week. Jeremy doesn't just dress up on Halloween but pretty much every day. But he did love his costume for Halloween. Our neighbors' generously let us borrow their Peter from Narnia costume and Jeremy got plenty of use from it, wearing it to his preschool dress-up party, home and trick or treating.


Alex got into dressing up this week too. He just got his own bike helmet and modeled it for Mom. He is so cute on his little bike. He and Jeremy also love to watch the movie The Three Amigos, which is from about 15 years ago or so. They laugh so hard when they watch it. They both want to be them and I toyed around with the idea of having the boys and Ben be them for Halloween. So I went to the DI and all I could find was one sombrero. So I bought it and Alex has been wearing it around pretty much everywhere with his Three Amigo gun.
My sister had made Alex a cape for Halloween and it has bats on it. I decided that I would have him be a vampire. He even let me spray his hair black and put on some vampire teeth just for a picture. The boys had a fun night!

We are the luckiest people in the world! It snows every year!

That's what Jeremy said when it snowed a week or so ago. The boys were so excited! They went out and played with whatever snow there was!

Secret hiding place!

The boys have a favorite place to hide. It's our small cramped walk in closet. If we are missing something, we look in there first. Alex loves hiding in there. If he has a poopy diaper, that's where he runs and hides. And the most frequent thing he does, as the picture shows, is go in there to hide and then he falls asleep. I worry one day they may suffocate from all the clothes!

"I feel like I can run faster than anyone in the WORLD!!"

That was the quote Jeremy gave to us on the morning of his 5 year old birthday. He has waited so long for this and he was so excited that he had a hard time going to sleep. We had quite a busy day starting with his soccer game. Then it was home to have his friend party and then down to Salt Lake to go to the circus with his cousins. Then he and Alex went to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's for the night while Mom and Dad went out. We love Jeremy so much and he is such a smart, funny and awesome young man!