New Years Eve

I was suffering from some serious fatigue, so we were boring!!

We stayed home and watched a movie together!!

 We hit Wallys HARD and snoodled in with jerky and peanut butter m&ms.

 I wish Brent would prepare me for pictures before he takes them so I don't have a mouth full of dehydrated cow!!

Kato always joins.

I'm not sure he realizes he is a PET.

When did I become a dog person?!

He also has no sense of personal space!!

The girls and I love him!!

It was a fun day, even if it was pretty low key.

Hopefully I'm up and at it again soon, 

I have New Year goals to get to!!

Christmas Goodies

I like to document the gifts I get for different occasions.

Not in a bragging or vain sort of way.

I like to be able to look back and have a record of when I got something and for what occasion.

So!!

These are some of my favorite goodies from this Christmas!!

 A likeness of the Archangel Michael banishing Lucifer out of Heaven.

I love his huge, glorious wings, and it makes me think of when we all fought in the war in Heaven.

 An hour glass.

It marks a literal hour.

I love watching the sand slip from one end to the other.

Brent got me my coveted picture!!

I saw this way back over our anniversary trip and tried to save, but things came up.

He was sweet and made sure he got for me.

It wasn't even on my list!!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas 2015

 First look at the tree.

 Hovering with excitement!!

 First present.

 They're so excited!!

 Even the big kids!!

 It was a great year.

The year as a whole has been vastly better than last year.

And for that. I am truly and deeply grateful.

I am excited to see what 2016 has to bring.

I'm hoping it is even better,

filled with health, success, and peace.

These are my 2 favorite presents.

I have an E and an S that I wear on a chain.

I wear them as a talisman when I need luck or comfort.

They stand for my little girls, the most important thing in my life.

This year Brent added his own charm.

My dear sister gave me this necklace.

First off, I have no antique bronze to wear with my outfits that call for it.

So when I wear shades that coordinate with the darker metal, I just wear earrings.

So that is great!!

BUT....

She found a company that takes the hand writing of your loved one and preserves it behind acrylic.

That 'Love' is my Granny's love.

Literally.

It was written by her hand as she signed her name to something she gave me. 

I burst into embarrassing tears when she gave it to me and then went home and cried some more.

In a satisfying, sentimental, touching way.

I truly felt my grandparents this morning already, and I felt like Granny was sitting in the living room with a smug smile on her face.

Because yes, she would be delighted to know she's our favorite and that we miss her every day.

This year I was so happy to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with my family.

My parents, my siblings, their families, my husband, and my babies.

Because my "in laws" and not in laws. they're my family.

I love the people my siblings chose as spouses, and they might not have been born into my family, but I truly know they belong in it.

I love my sweet little nieces and nephews.

I am so blessed to have joy and peace in my heart this day.

Christmas Eve

The Christmas season is the only thing that gets me threw the rest of the year!!

I love the excitement and the magic.

I love the happiness and pure joy of my children.

 Impromptu family photo.

Including the girls in their"ugly sweaters".

They're t-shirts that got puff painted to pieces!!

And Kato is in his awesome sweater!!

 We are not photogenic people!!

 Cousin twister!!

We had to wear these kids out somehow!!

 We do the nativity every year.

Ella got to be Mary.

And Jack was Joseph.

 Scarlet was a Shepard and Elise was a wise GIRL.

 Jara was the angle.

 We used a dolly as the baby Jesus.

Kato was supposed to be a sheep, but he wouldn't play!!

He hates his sweater.

By the end of the day, he is rubbing on all surfaces and itching like crazy.

He wore especially long today.

This is his desperation to have someone itch him!!

Ooooooo!!! We are so excited for Santa to come!!

Leaves

The week leading up to Christmas is a challenge for little girls who are SO EXCITED!!

Two days before Christmas, after Christmas movies ALL day,

and treat making,

and stories,

I had to get my crazy little girls out into the fresh air!!

One of the few things I accept about the desert,

the winters are beautiful.

So out to the fresh, crisp air they went!!

I promptly handed them a rake and told them to rake leaves!!

We only have one rake so Ella had to scamper over to Grandpa and get another one from him!!

They played outside for 2 hours, 

and the only thing that brought them in was the dark!!

It was a very fun evening!!

Nativity

Our ward primary does a cute Nativity every year on the Sunday before Christmas.

They work really hard and do a wonderful job!!

My little beauties were the stars over Bethlehem.

 When little stars get antsy, big stars braid their hair.

Our Christmas dresses!!

I love these two so very much.

I am so thankful to be their mother and have them in my life.

Alderete Family Pictures

My sister finished the official pictures!!

They look much better!!

That's why she's in charge!!

So here they are.

Finally pictures of all the people I love the most.

Enjoy!!

 It should be noted that it was freezing cold and windy on this day.

Haven't had wind in weeks!!

Pictures?

Bam. Wind.

But we worked with it!!

Even if the children look blue and Scarlet is crying for most of them.

And last but not least!!

My brown eyed baby!!

Alderete Family Picture Preview!!!

My family has NEVER,

I repeat,

NEVER

taken family pictures before.

This was my bday present to my mother.

My sister was our talented photographer,

but I was the 2nd back up camera.

I wanted to play with some shots myself.

 

 Grandparents with the grandchildren.

 

 Handsome boys.

 

 Beautiful Ladies.

 

 Grandpa's girls.

 

 Grandma and the boys.

 

 For the first time since THEIR WEDDING.

Pictures of my parents.

 

The original Alderete Family.

 

I'm excited to see the other ones with the whole family.

I see these pictures and my heart swells and my eyes well up, because I love these people.

I love my parents.

I am so proud of them.

They are hard working, loving people who never give up.

I love my siblings.

I am so proud of them.

They are successful and beautiful with wonderful families.

I am so blessed to have come into this family.

I am grateful they chose me.