Because I Don't Want to Forget.

I always forget to scan our Christmas Cards.

This year I opted out of a Christmas letter. Too much work it seemed, and we barely got our family photos done in time. We kept waiting for Derek's schedule to work out and then the weather. Boy I am soooo happy with how they turned out. I have always wanted photos in the snow. It was perfect timing and we thought we'd just have to improvise not knowing  how the weather was going to be. I love seeing my little family grow and I'm glad we have photos to remember these amazing times. 

2012 to Rembember

January:

Derek started studying hard core for step 1. Eden was put in her big girl bed. 

February:

Derek turned 28. Found out we were having baby #3.

March:

Went to Disneyland for spring break. Eden turned 2.

April:

Celebrated 6 years of being married.

May:

Derek finished his 2nd year of medical school and was basically gone 24/7 studying for step 1. Found out we were having a girl.

June:

Sharice turned 27. Derek took and passed step 1. "He did great actually". Kids spent 2 weeks at Grandma and Grandpa Heaton's while Mom and Dad went to Europe and visited Derek's mission in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

July:

Derek began rotations for 3rd year of medical school in cardiology and internal medicine. Got a commuter car for Derek.

August:

Kael turned 4. Derek started his surgery rotation. Found out that I had placenta previa and would need a c-section.

September:

Kael started preschool. We were told the baby would need to come early, so Elara Jane Bradley was born on Sep. 25th.

October:

Derek started his psychiatry rotation. Celebrated Halloween.

November:

Derek did his OB/Gyn rotation. Visited Grandma and Grandpa Heaton.

December:

Derek has a 3 week break. Derek blessed Elara on Dec. 2nd. Celebrated Christmas and visit with friends and family.

This has been one crazy, busy, exciting year. I can only hope 2013 gives us as much joy as 2012.

One last thing I don't want to forget. A couple weeks ago we put presents from Grandparents under the tree. During nap time I was feeding the baby and Eden decided to come out and open all the presents under the tree. So, we decided to not put any presents under the tree until Christmas Eve as is our tradition. Well Christmas Eve night we put all the presents under the tree and put the kids to bed. While Derek was wrapping last minute presents and I was feeding the baby, once again Eden snuck out of bed and began opening presents! The little stinker obviously didn't learn her lesson. She then spent a half hour in time out because she refused to say sorry for opening other people's presents. She is so stubborn! She finally caved in and laughed as she said sorry. It was so frustrating, but it was a night to remember.

Elara LOVES her Dad!

Ward Christmas Party

Imagine opening the curtains and finding Eden Mooooooing at you. Yup. That's how it started. She wanted nothing to do with being a shephard. It was a COW all the way. If you look at her mouth you can tell she was mooing. And she did it through the whole entire play. Kind of embarrassing? Yes. BUT, mostly I laughed.

 Kael was the cutest wise man! He was "the red" wise man. He was so tired, and emotional by the end of the party. He just wanted to do the play over and over and over. He didn't want it to end. It was just too much fun dressing up as a wise man. He wanted to throw it into his dress up stuff.

If you can't tell, we had a lot of fun!

I'm so glad when Daddy is HOME!

Dad has taken us to the zoo, to the dinosaurs at City Creek, to see Santa Clause and we LOVE having Dad HOME!

 Eden is obsessed with clementines right now. She eats them like they are candy. 

Kael's Primary Program Part

Our primary program got pushed way back this year until the second week in December. Our primary got down to about 9 kids and 5 of them were sunbeams. So after combining the primary's they still had to create the program. Kael did an amazing job memorizing his part. He got nickles for every time he said his part. He did AMAZING during sacrament meeting. He stood up and sang when he was suppose to. (Well stood up, he only knew 2 of the songs), he held still for the most part, and did an amazing job saying his part. I'm so proud of who he is. He tried to be sooo good and he did. Not bad for my little 4 year old!

In case you can't understand his part:
"I don't know everything about the priesthood, but I do know I love my Dad, and I want the priesthood like he has!"

The Bishop asked him to say his part 3 times after the program, and a bunch of people told me how good he did. I'm so proud of how hard Kael works!

He now also has the first article of faith memorized.

Sure love this kid!

We LOVE December

There are so many fun things to do in the winter if you just put your mind to it. I feel like we have really been enjoying this season and I just love spending time with my favorite kiddos.

 Kael's Gingerbread Men.

 Eden's Gingerbread Men.

 Sleeping Elara. Usually her hands are behind  her head. Of course she moved them seconds before the picture. She has outgrown her newborn clothes. I weighed her on our scale at home and she was 13 lbs! She is growing up way too quickly.

 Miss Eden is growing up before my eyes. She is quite the 2 year old. We straightened her hair with a flat iron and she became a little girl not just a toddler. She is always wanting my make up and to do her nails. So for fun I gave her pink lips, blush and a dash of mascara and Bam, I'm never doing that again. She is too cute for her own good!

 Kael is loving school and is doing so great! We are so proud of him. He accomplishes so much each day and is becoming quite the little gentleman!

Family Snow Day 12/9/12

Oh Christmas Tree

We got the tree up Thanksgiving weekend. Kael thought that meant Santa Clause was coming the next day. We then made a chain to count down the days until Christmas or it was going to be a long month.

Kael has written a letter to Santa, decorated an ice cream cone Christmas tree, made paper chains, made cotton ball snow men, reindeer out of candy canes, and today we are going to decorate ginger bread men from costco. We love Christmas crafts, that's for sure!

Comfy Much?

That's how we roll.

A Name and a Blessing

December 2, 2012

Derek was able to bless Elara today. It was a beautiful blessing. It felt like Elara knew what was happening today. That it was a special day. She slept good last night and got up to eat at the right times for me. Then, she woke up content this morning and as the day progress she got more and more smiley. She was so happy! She smiled and cooed and was just beautiful today. Derek did an amazing job with the blessing. The spirit was so strong. Elara did great too! We feel so blessed! We had Derek's Mom and Step Dad, his sister's family, and my parents that were able to come and it made it super special. Thank you to those who could come and thank you to those who thought of us today. I have just felt an overwhelming sense of joy today. I love my little family so much!