Merry Christmas 2015

If we sent Christmas cards this year they would have looked like this:

The picture actually turned out better than expected after we set the timer and got just five quick shots on a super cold and windy day.

 And of course Rowen had to have a classic "Santa hat" picture. I'm loving the bloopers as well...

"I hope I'm not on the naughty list"

"Too much eggnog"

Christmas party for Clear Choice Chiropractic on the Sternwheeler downtown Portland

 Early Christmas eve day, we caught up with one of my best friends Jessica and her daughter Isabella who is also friends with Reina. Our tradition seems to be swimming at the hotel pool she stays at.

 Christmas eve was spent with Grandma and Grandpa Guinn and all the siblings that live in town. We had FANTASTIC hors-d'oeuvres (yep, had to look up the spelling for the umpteenth time!) that Grandma Guinn made. She's a great party-thrower.

Did I ever mention Grandma Guinn can sew? "Sew" she made Katie and myself a pair of gardening coveralls with built-in knee pads and pockets. Hot pants huh?

Aunt Katie and Uncle Steve adoring Rowen

The kiddos wore Christmas jammies and put out exactly nine carrots (the biggest one for Rudolph since he has to work extra hard according to Reina) and cookies for Santa. Reina said I should be nicer to Santa because I said that maybe we should give him something healthy to eat instead of cookies to fill his fat tummy. Rowen got his own candy-striped stocking this year.

 In the morning we had our traditional thin Finnish pancakes and bacon. Everyone has their favorite topping: Baelor prefers white sugar sprinkled on top, Reina likes jam, Paul likes syrup and I like butter or whip cream.

 Santa gifts this year were a color-yourself messenger bag with the exact raccoon keychain she wanted and bonus fox keychain. Baelor got a pretty slick remote control viper in, of course, green. And Rowen got a classic Fisher Price record player- a fond memory of mine.

 Each of the kiddos with their piles. Rowen doesn't look too pleased with his two presents!

 I like to spice up gifts for my hunk a bit, so I gave him two options: he could only choose one of the options BEFORE unwrapping. Luckily, he got the better of the two options- a "wench" hehe for the 4-wheeler.

One of my gifts was a selfie stick! First selfie stick photo...and possible the last?

 After testing out all the presents, making Finnish lucia cookies and finally getting dressed, we went to my sister Sanni's house for dinner with Mummi and Papa Will and Grandpa Scarborough. I was very pleased to have steak instead of ham or turkey as I enjoy a good hunk of red meat over others (although I think fish is my absolute favorite).

 After Christmas, my brother and his family joined us for the rest of winter break. They brought all the crazy fun toys like a raceway that uses your phone to control it and the infamous "hoverboards". We all had a good time testing these "Back to the Future" machines out. I think everyone became a pro at them except me! I just couldn't seem to go fast on them!

Our family time during the break also included game nights, date night at Mio Sushi, burning off energy at the church gym, a trip to OMSI and sledding. Rowen and I skipped this trip- it would have been too cold for him as it was very cold!

New Year's Eve ended up being VERY low key as our planned game night with family ended early with Baelor having multiple bloody noses that ended up on my sister's carpet and a poopy underwear incident. We celebrated by peeking in on each of our kids with kisses all around.

Our family did not really do too much as far as events and vacations. Looking back, 2015 was quite low-key as we continued to plug along with family, work, church callings and time together. It always seemed like we were tackling one project after the next and found it very rewarding when we would all be home together which wasn't as often as we hoped. I remember last Christmas being very tender with the desire to be a mom again. Getting pregnant is quite challenging for me and I could not have asked for anything more than having another baby. Rowen has been my greatest blessing this year. Baelor being healthy again is my greatest blessing this year. I tear up every time I think back of him in the hospital and how helpless I felt. Answers to prayers and the power of the priesthood is my greatest blessing this year. A smart and powerful daughter to build a lasting relationship with is my greatest blessing this year. My very best friend and sweetheart to share all my life with forever is the greatest blessing this year. I am only in the beginnings of understanding how much love our Heavenly Father has for each of us. With each of my children I feel that love grow. I am blessed to know of this eternal truth. I am very blessed to have a testimony of the Savior and of the plan of salvation. My testimony is firm and I am only going to strengthen it and understand more of God's plan for me.