An Heirloom

Clara's baby blessing gown was made from my mom's wedding gown.  My mom offered it up to my sisters and me.  I had this dress made from it.  What a treasure it is to me, and I hope that it will be a treasure to her.  The ruffle along the bottom is the actual ruffle.  Her pin tucked sleeves are taken from the actual sleeves, and the skirt from her skirt.

I love it!

A Special Day

This little row is my greatest joy!

I love these children more than my heart can express.  Who would have thought we would have four amazing boys and four sweet little girls?  I can't imagine life without them.

They are my greatest treasures.

Today was Clara's blessing day at church.  Her beautiful dress was made from my mother's wedding gown.  I hope she always treasures it.

Today Nathan received the Aaronic priesthood.  He will now act in the name of Jesus Christ, holding the priesthood of God.  He will begin his lifelong service in the priesthood.  I am so proud of the young man he is becoming.  I can't believe that he is already 12.  Nathan is my tender hearted boy.  He is full of courage and selflessness.  Nathan is brilliant in all that he tries.  I love this boy.  I love seeing the young man that he is becoming!

 Mom and Dad got to come and stay the week after Christmas with us, to celebrate all of these momentous events!

 A lot of our family was able to be here too.  There is nothing better than gathering with cousins, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandmas, and grandpas!

 Clara and Grandma Kelly

A Little Quilting

I'm trying to enjoy the holiday from school with a little quilting.  Since my mom and dad are here, I decided I must take the chance to get in a little sewing while someone could hold the baby.  I cut out the pieces for this "Swoon" quilt two years ago.  I just can't wait to have it done.  The blocks are huge--each block is really like 9 blocks.  I love Christmas break!

Christmas

CHRISTMAS 

with the Kelly Family

What is more fun than gathering with family on Christmas?

Merry Christmas!

Remembering the real story behind Christmas!

We love to read from Luke 2 in the Bible and reenact the first Christmas.  It was especially fun to have our own newborn this year to wrap in swaddling clothes!

Christmas Eve Traditions

It's Christmas Eve!

Mom is cooking in the kitchen, kids are playing games together.  We went out caroling and visiting to friends with loaves of bread and tree ornaments.  And then we came home to our Bethlehem Dinner.  Last year we started the tradition of having a Back to Bethlehem dinner on Christmas Eve.  We dress up for the time period and have a dinner around a low sitting table similar to what could have been eaten back in Bethlehem--dried fruits, nuts, pomegranate, flat bread, grapes, cheeses, and fish.  It's basically a no prep dinner for me, so that makes it easier to do!  We sit on the ground on pillows by candlelight and read the story of the first Christmas from the Bible.  It's becoming a fun tradition.  We talk about what it might have really been like that night.  Since Christmas Day seems to get swallowed up by presents and Santa's visit, I love to spend Christmas Eve talking about the birth of our Savior, visiting friends, and focusing on some of the sacredness of the holiday.  It makes for a nice balance.

 And after dinner!  We opened up Christmas jammies and a book from Grandma and Grandpa Lee!  Everyone loves new pajamas on Christmas Eve! (even our dolls)

Birthday Date with Mom and Dad

Our Nathan is 12!

For his birthday, he got to have a date with mom and dad.  We went to a movie----actually Ryan and Nathan went to the movie (Thor 2) while Clara and I went to Target and Costco for Christmas food.  Then we went out to dinner at AppleBee's, Nathan's choice.  As fun as it is to be in a big family, it is really fun to get some one on one time too.  We love having a night out with just Nathan! (we won't count Clara since she is in the under 2 months category)

Cable Bridge Run

We decided to get out and run as a family at the Cable Bridge Run.  It's starting to be one of our holiday traditions.  Matthew and Nathan ran the 5K with me.  Ryan ran the mile with Andrew, Mark, and Eliza.  We had a great time and a good run!

Riding the shuttle to the starting line

Cable Bridge is off in the distance, the coldest part was waiting for the race to start!

I had to catch a picture while running across the bridge!  We had a funny thing happen.  Matthew ran way ahead of me and Nathan.  Mark started off to follow him.  I yelled after him to make sure that he took the right turn after the bridge to the 1 mile finish line.  

Well, he didn't.  So in a crowd of thousands, our little Mark is zooming along, misses his finish line---and runs the whole 5K.  Fortunately he found Matthew and was with him at the finish line when I finally made it there!

It wore us all out!

But we still mustered up some energy to do our gingerbread houses!