Louie our Elf...

Our Elf Louie came back to visit again.  He always shows up with a letter and his book to remind the kids of the rules.  This year the letter said:

Dear Nash and Asa,

I AM BACK!  I am glad I got your mom's letter telling me where to find you this year.  What a fun new house.

Nash, I heard you like to solve mysteries.  I asked your mom if we could play a clue game until you leave for Utah.  She said yes.  She gave me all your Christmas books.  I took them to Santa.  I will be watching you everyday.  If you are a big helper and are nice to your family and friends I will be hiding somewhere in your house with a book just for you.  If you are naughty I will not go see Santa and will not bring you a book back.

Santa really wants to send you a book everyday.  This year he wants you to learn more about Jesus.  Because did you know that Christmas is all about Jesus.  He is a pretty important person.  So with your book each day Santa is going to send you a little something about Jesus Christ too.

To find your book and me, check this Christmas tree to find your new clue everyday.  It will tell you where I am hiding.

Today, you get to read the book about me!  I can't wait to play with you! But remember no kids can touch me or I lose my magic.

Louie the Elf

Sadly I didn't take many pictures of Louie hiding in our house.  But here are some of the clues and nice things he observed about the kids during his stay with us...

• I see you when you are sleeping.  I know when you are awake...@ 7am! (hiding in Nash's bedroom)
• Nash you tried hard to be good yesterday.  Thank you for listening to your parents.  Don't forget to say "yes ma'am" your mom likes that. (LOL)
• I need some exercise so I am jogging.  Catch me if you can! (hiding on the treadmill)
• Nash your mom said you were so good today.  Thank you for helping with Asa at Walmart. You are the best BIG BRO!
• If you want your teeth to shine, pick this up and spend some time. (hiding in the bathroom)
• You were an awesome Samuel the Lamanite.  Thanks for telling me the story about Asa and making me giggle.

Each day a different picture of Jesus was brought by Louie.  I tried to bring the stories to life so we often acted them out.  Nash loved it and he really learned the stories of Christ. 

Nash often would talk to Louie and tell him about what funny things Asa was doing.  It cracked me up and one day I said "Nash did you hear that? Louie giggled."  So Nash was on a mission to make Louie giggle again.

• Round and round all through the town.  Beep, beep, move on back Louie at the wheel. (hiding in Asa's toy school bus)
• Nash what a fun day learning about the polar express.  I liked hearing your bell jingle jangle.  (Nash's school had a fun day all about the polar express)
• Asa I love to hear your laugh especially when you play peek-a-boo.
• If you want to learn to grow, turn the page, get in the know.  (hiding on the bookshelf)
• Nash shared so nicely with Asa.
• Asa you are walking so well!
• REMINDER: "You have speech today!" Check the schedule.  (hiding by the calendar)
• Nash I am proud of how well you know the stories of Christ.
• THIS WAS MORE TO FOR ME SINCE I FORGOT NASH'S SPEECH 3 WEEKS IN A ROW!  HOW EMBARRASSING IS THAT!
• "Rock a bye baby" I am where you thought I was yesterday.  (hiding by Asa's crib)
• Nash remember your deal with your mom. Try to listen and not fight back.
• MERRY CHRISTMAS! I can't wait to see your new picture ornament!  (Sitting by all the picture ornaments on the shelf.)
• Nash I loved hearing you sing "Silent Night" good choice over Rudolf.  Even though he is my favorite reindeer. :)

Of course everyday wasn't the greatest day and they did receive a letter of why Louie didn't show up one day:

Dear Nash and Asa,

I was really sad I didn't get to come visit you yesterday.  Santa was sad to hear my report of you being naughty.  He was also very sad that you did not like the stories of Jesus he has been sending you.

Santa wanted to remind you that with out Jesus Christ we would not be able to say sorry and hve others forgive us.  He has given us a way that we can be forgiven and someday live with our Heavenly Father again.

Santa hopes you will start to understand this as I continue to bring more stories of Jesus Christ.  Today is a special story, so my clue to you is:

I am sitting by the REAL meaning of Christmas. (hiding in the manger)

Let's have a great day today!

Love,

Louie your Elf

Then we were to leave to Utah:

Dear Nash and Asa,

Your mom told me that you leave tomorrow for Utah.  YAY!  You are giving your Granny and Grandad the best surprise! They are going to love having you there.  I need to go talk to Santa to see if it is okay if I meet you in Utah.  I am sure he will be okay with it.  So I will see you in Utah on Monday!

For now here is a fun book you can read tonight and take on the airplane with you!

Safe Travels!

Louie the Elf

Louie did meet us in Utah and Nash was so excited to share the experience with Granny and Grandad. On Christmas Eve, Louie the Elf gave his permission to play with him.  That was a hightlight.  Nash carried him all over telling him all about everything he had been doing in Blanding.

 And then he was introduced to Asa...

 It kind of reminded me of Toy Story 3 when the toys go to the daycare center and the children torture the toys.  Ya Louie had his hat ripped off.  He had peanut butter smeared on his face.  He was licked, kicked and tortured by crazy little Asa!

It is always fun when Louie comes to visit.  I look forward to him coming back next year.  It is such a fun tradition!

Christmas Sunday 2013...

I thought my boys looked so cute on Christmas Sunday.  Yes, I am one of those moms that dresses my kids the same. I am also the mom that forces my kids to smile for a picture.  Can you tell by the scary eyed Nash that he was thrilled to a billion pictures.

 I always dread going to church in Blanding. My parents sit on the 5th row from the front on the main floor. In order to get out you have to go up 6 or 7 stairs in the front of the room.  I have always been afraid of tripping on my way out.  Asa is a crazy man in church and I knew I was going to have to take him out.  Luckily he was great until the end and my mom took him out.  YAY!  Oh the insecurities of our lives.

 After church Kedrick's family came over for dinner. And Sadie of course educated Asa on hair care.  Maybe some day he will have some to take care of. :)

 She also taught him how to play the piano...

 How to throw a good punch...

 Pinch your opponents nose...

 and then become friends...

So fun being with cousins!

Blessing Dress...

  My mom offered to make the baby blessing for baby girl Willardson.  She brought out all her lace and wanted me to choose one I liked.  They were pretty but they were not what I had in mind.  So I started going through my cedar chest to see what I had in there.  My great grandma Agnes Hurst gave me her wedding negligee when I was 14 years old.  Which was completely awkward at the time.  However after pulling it out and looking at it I was completely thrilled I had it.  The lace was exactly what I wanted to use for the dress.  Then I found some old scottish linen that she gave me as well...Jackpot!

My mom gave me a cylinder pillow so I could make a mock of what I wanted.  Ya this picture is not the greatest.  I was actually getting after Nash for something....oops!

This is what I came up with...

This is what my mom made....

 It is beautiful and I love it.  Although, I am going to change the bow on the front. I am so excited to see it in person.  I love that it has family history in it and baby girl will have a part of one of my heros.  Grandma Agnes Hurst was one of my favorite people and I considered her one of my best friends growing up.  I spent many hours with her and enjoyed being with and learning from her.  She lived to be 102 when she died.  She told me she would live until I got off my mission....that she did about 2 months after.  I love her so much!

Lounging...

When I go home to Blanding, I really do not plan anything.  I just like being in my house with my family. We watched a lot of movies with cousins and grandad.

 Nash and Asa wanted to sleep with Grandad.  My dad always let Nash fall asleep in his bed then I would carry him to his bed.  In the morning Nash would be so mad that he was not waking up in Grandad's bed.  So I would just send him down to the grandparents at the wee hours of the morning to deal with the anger.  Ya I love going home!

 Lindy was looking a bit old but she still loved me...

 Nash even warmed up to Lindy and enjoyed sitting by her...

 Asa just wanted to be every where "ad-dad" was.

Cheeks...

After experiencing the snow first hand, Asa was happy to be indoors watching his brother play from the window.

 Or sitting on Granny's lap...

 Or stuffing his cheeks with whatever he could get his hands on...

 They child is so weird how he does not swallow his food but stores it in his cheeks for hours.  Then during the day you find little piles of food around the house.

 But that smile makes everything better...

 And Granny loved tickling him to make him giggle...

Utah Snow Days...

My dad is truly the animal whisperer.  I am never surprised to find that he has taken another animal to care for.  This time around it was a flock of birds.  The back deck is always covered in bird food because he thinks he needs to feed them during the winter.  I think he is preventing their migration!  Nash and Asa loved helping Grandad feed the birds because they wanted to get out in that snow!

 So I bundled them all up...

 Asa was still deciding if he liked walking or not.  For the most part he was still on that weird igor crawl.  Especially in the snow.  Maybe he had too many layers on but he didn't want to move.

 Nash was loving it.  We spent a lot of time throwing snowballs at the swing set and trees.

 Asa spent a lot of time doing this...

Nash and I ended up ditching Asa for a nap and we went for a walk below my house in the old sewer pond ruins.  Nash loved that place.  Maybe just as much as I did as a kid.  It isn't as cool anymore like it was when I was kid.  A lot of trees and brush had died so the hiding places were not as great.  But it was so nice walking through where I used to play as a child.

Koen and Sadie came over quite a bit while we were there.  Koen and Nash found some secret hideouts and then a bunch of old stuff to make a sled.

 Well Koen worked hard on making the sled.

 Nash on the other hand spent that time packing snow to a tree.

After the sled was finished. Koen and Nash came in and asked my mom if they could hook it to the 4 wheeler to pull it around the neighborhood.  I just listened to see what she would say.  First off there isn't enough snow outside to do that and second who was going to be driving.  My mother didn't listen very carefully and gave her approval.  I gladly stepped in right then and put a kabosh on that idea.  Then my mom clued in on what they were doing.  They were happy with pulling each other around by their hands and feet.