What a weekend

There is so much to catch up on. I will make this one short and sweet with some pictures to show for it. We had a fun weekend with my in-laws that came into town. Lances' younger brother Eldon, his wife Shelli and their sweet little girl Chiara came for a visit. Eldon and Shelli are graduating from BYU and they are getting ready to go to Medical school. So they were coming up for a last visit before they leave. My boys were so excited. They love babies! They love Chiara! It was a very short weekend but we had lots of fun. We ate lots of food, played Blockus, watched Blue Collar Comedy clips and laughed really hard. We tried and tried to find a certain clip that Larry the Cable guy did about his sister and her moles but we couldn't find it. We will find it and send it to you Shelli. I am on the quest to find it.
We got lots of snow. It snowed all friday and Saturday leaving us with a few inches of snow. It is beautiful. I love snow! Most people I talk to hate it. I can honestly say I don't mind scraping the windshields, shoveling the driveway/walks. I enjoy it and it is so pretty. It is what makes it feel like Christmas.


The boys had a great time being pulled behind the truck on sleds. The neighbors came over and played with them too. My neice Chiara bundled up and went for a few rides. She was just so sweet. What a pleasant little girl. Thanks for sharing her with us Eldon and Shelli. They all came in for lunch and hot chocolate and then it was nap time. Shelli and I went shopping and took Keaton along with us since he has outgrown the nap stage. We went to Walmart. We wanted a slushy from the Blimpee store in there. I was fixing the lid on Keaton's when it exploded and got all over him and then myself. I stepped back only to run into the pop machine and pushing my elbow into the pepsi button and getting it all over my coat and soaking my shirt. What a way to begin a fun day shopping. We still had fun though.
We had to find Lance a shepard outfit for our Christmas party that night. So we found the uglyist fabric there was and bought it. Turned out to be a a great fit. Our ward christmas party was the best one I have ever attended. We have a ward that goes all out on decorating and putting on such a great event. The whole church was decorated like Jeruselam. From the lighting, the decorations to all the little shops that families could shop at, I felt like I was in Jeruselam.



We were each handed a bad of coins for our families. There were little stores in the market to buy fruit, breads, deserts and toys for the little kids. Then everyone congregated in the middle and up on the stage was a stable, where the Christ child was. Lances' cousin Chad and his wife Ginger just had their 3 little boy Dallas and they played the roles of Mary and Joseph and sweet little Dallas was the Christ child. It was a very tender program. My boys loved it. I loved it!
Now it is Sunday night. The boys are in bed and I am ready for bed. Ready to begin another busy week. We are counting down the 12 days of Christmas.
Thanks Eldon and Shelli for coming. We miss you guys already.

The "B" family

I LOVE this family! I had one of the greatest times shooting than I have ever had. This sweet family is in our ward. We are related through my husbands' side of the family. I have the great privelage of visiting teaching this amazing mother/wife/friend, and this amazing guy, has worked miracles with my son in the nursery. In August of this year they welcomed their miracle baby Kean to the world. After a long pregnancy of bedrest in the hospital he made his grand apperance. He was diagnosed with Down's Snydrome and he is just the sweetest, most tender baby. I fell in love with him the moment I got to hold him.

Their sweet girls are just so beautiful. I had so much fun with them. They always greet me at the door and this time I was surprised with my very own christmas ornament that they made for me.

Here is a sneak peak of what we did. Thank you "B" family for such a fun evening.




I love this picture. This miracle baby boy is living proof that there is a God. I thought this phrase summed it all up. There is so much love in this family, that they will overcome anything.

Addicted

My boys have discovered that both dads' and grandpas' Iphones have games on them. This is what you will see when they get a hold of them. They can seriously sit like this for an hour if you let them. Isn't this crazy? They must get that from their dad.

Today was a good day

Sundays are usually one of the most hectic days in the Snyder household. Sacrament starts at 8:30 a.m and we have a 20 minute drive to our chapel so technically we have to be ready by 8 in order to make it on time. All my boys were wearing the same tie, thanks to John and Carrie who sent us those lovely ties for their wedding. Everyone commented on them at church. My boys wanted to look like their dad today and they did.
The lesson in Relief Society was on Elder Packers talk Prayer and Promptings. I had been asked about 3 weeks ago if I would share a few thoughts about my relationship with teh Savior, how I have felt prompted through prayer and the blessings that have come through following the spirit. It was a very tender lesson. I have been in a reflective mood for the past week trying to sort out feelings and experiences. I have had some tender moments and I know that God lives and that He loves me.
The boys took great naps. I love those days when all three of my boys sleep at the same time. Owen missed out on his morning nap so he took a great afternoon one. I layed down on my bed with my other two and we read books until we all fell asleep. They can be so sweet. Especially when they are sleeping.

We were invited to dinner at a friends home from our previous ward. The Chesley's invited us over for some Prime Rib, baked potatoes and other great food. Not only was the food great, we loved the entertainment, the kids got along just fabulous and it all turned out very nicely. Only sad thing is, we missed the Presidency's Christmas devotional. My mom recorded it so we can watch it later.

We had our first snow fall today. It started out really small and then the flakes great very large and before you knew it, there was half an inch on the ground. The boys are so excited. Hopefully we will get some more tomorrow. The forecast predicts more. The boys are eager to go sledding, so am I.
It was a good day overall. I can't complain. I am usually ready for the day to end but today was nice. Thank you Keaton, Andrew and Owen for behaving so well, and thank you Lance for helping me out. You were fun to be around tonight. I love you all!

Its begining to look a lot like Christmas

We are starting to get into the holiday spirit. Last night we took the boys to pick out a Christmas tree. They were so excited this year. So we loaded everyone up in our truck and went into Star for the little local tree lot. We found a great tree for a great price. It was fast, and it was easy. We took it home, decorated it and then we sat and turned all the lights off just to watch it glow. I love the smell of real trees. I am not a fan of the fake trees. There is no fun in them. I don't mind cleaning up the needles, putting water in it and then after it is all said and done, throw it away.

We had a great time decorating it. Andrew, my child, who has treats on his mind 24/7 was looking at the old candy canes I think we have had for about 2-3 years and all he could do was think about eating them. After a few minutes of putting up the lights and sorting out the ornaments, I couldn't find Andrew. I had my suspisions, and where did I find him? In the laundry room eating that stinkin old candy cane. He loved it and I was happy he did. He will find an opportunity to have sneek candy any time. My favorite is whenever we go to my parents house or whenever they come to our house, the first thing Andrew will say is " You have any treats?"
I can't believe we are just 3 weeks away.
Santa called our home on Wednseday. My dad had done it ever since Keaton was tiny. This year, they could tell it was him. I felt so bad. I didn't think they would recognize his voice.




I told the boys to come quick because it looked like the North Pole was calling. Keaton got so excited, he ran into the room and answered the phone and when "Santa" answered and said "HO HO HO, Merry Christmas," Keaton stook back and said "Thats Grandpa!" I hope this doesn't destroy his image of Santa. He is still excited that he called. He keeps talking about it.

Merry Christmas everyone!

10 under 4

Yesterday was our first day of having preschool at our home. I always dread these times when my house is completely overrun by 4 year olds. There are 8 kids in Keaton's preschool this year. They are all darling kids but having them all together at one time in one home with one adult to supervise, well let's just say it was chaotic. Plus I had Owen and Andrew also so that made it even harder.
I have always heard the comments the other ladies give about how well Keaton does. Are we talking about the same kid? I would always ask. Well we were.
But I was warned by all the moms that your children will do far worse when preschool is held in their own home. They were right. I put Owen down for his morning nap before everyone showed up at 9 am. It was working out nicely until we started our circle time and one of the little boys said he wasn't feeling very well and that he needed to use the restroom. So I showed him and quickly returned to the kids in circle time. While we were singing the alaphbet I could hear this little boy crying from the bathroom, so I ran over and knocked on the door to see if he was feeling ok. He told me that he had diarreha and that he needed to throw up. Just great, we have a sick boy. So after he was done and after I was done cleaning up he came out to join the rest of the kids and laid down on my couch. I spent the next 20 minutes trying to call his mom who was no where to be found. The kids went running through the house and upstairs, when they suddenly woke up Owen after 30 minutes of sleep. So I have 7 kids who won't listen, running around, one sick boy, and one very cranky baby. I love mornings like this!
The mom finally shows up to take her son home. Now I can relax that we are over that issue and focus on teaching the kids. Keaton and Andrew at this point are upstairs fighting and fussing over the other kids using their toys.
So no one was allowed to play upstairs. They trampled in all the rooms, messed up all the beds, and pulled out some clothes from the dressers up stairs.
Finally three hours later they are all gone, my kids are asleep and I crashed on the couch for one hour of much needed rest.
I only have a week and a half more of this and then I am done. I am not the teaching type at all. I am not sure how teachers do this at school. I am already tired.

Progressive Dinner flop

Usually you can tell what the enrichment activity for Relief Society is going to be every December, a Progressive Dinner. Well last night was ours. They rented a school bus to haul us all around. We were suppose to start out at one house for the appetizer and then to another and so forth until we ended back at the church for desert and a program. Well, we had a great turnout of about 60 woman. We loaded up onto the school bus. It has been a really long time since I was on one and I felt so big. I remember those buses being huge, this time I felt so crammed. But it was fun.
We headed out to the first house just down the road. When we arrived it was all dark, both outside and in. The presidency started to panic. So someone called this sister, I won't mention names, and she wasn't home and was no where to be found. So forget the salad, on to the next home for another appetizer, when we arrived it was all nice and decorated very beautiful and we thought that this certain sister would be ready for us for sure. So we walked in and this certain sister was laying on her couch watching T.V.. She came out and wanted to know what we were all doing at her home. She had completely forgotten and thought the activity was the following week. So, by this time the presidency is flipping out. We can do without salads and appetizers. On to the dinner. So we all loaded back onto the bus again and we finally arrived, very early, to the home that had dinner. When we arrived there were some cars leaving pretty fast as if they were in a hurry. So the activity chairman looks worried and hops off the bus to see what is going on. At this point, everyone is laughing and wondering what is going on. So this sister had a family emergency and she explained that her husband had taken the dinner down to the church so we could eat there. She felt so bad.
We felt so bad for the activities committee that had put so much preperation into this and have it not turn out. So we all headed back to the church after a 30 mintue fiasco and a fun bus ride. Once we got inside it was beautifully decorated. We all sat down, had dinner and desert and finished the night off with a great music. Overall it was nice to be out with the sisters. We have a great ward. It has been almost one year since our ward was formed and we are loving it!