Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone had as great of Christmas as we did!


On Christmas Eve, we played secret Santa where our boys (in dark of night and heavily disguised) anonymously delivered a gifts to a needy family.

Christmas morning was all about the fun presents!


Everyone got a fun gift from Santa, plus a fun gift from the family, and also some clothes and books.

Levi wasn't quite ready to wake up as early as his brothers, so he opened his first few gifts while lying on the couch in his dad's arms.

We got pounded with snow - which made for an awesome white Christmas!

Luckily, Santa had the foresight to leave some sleds around the tree, too, which we readily used on a slope near home.






We have had a great week and hope you did too!

ps - our Christmas letters are stuffed and ready to go. Hey, it's before New Years! Last year we didn't even get this far!

This is what I get for taking my eyes of them!

Ok, so I take a break for a few minutes to watch some cheesey girly show that isn't animated, so my boys take off for the upstairs bonus/play room. When the show ended, I went upstairs to check on the guys, and lo and behold, they had decided to make their own snack... chocolate pudding... Levi was on the floor, sound asleep, and covered in it! At first, I was just really relieved that it wasn't blood. Then the reality of the mess set in, and we got to work cleaning up the couch, chair, and Levi.

For the strength of youth...

When we lived in CA, there were just some amazing youth in our ward. Now they're growing up (which is amazing, since I don't seem to get any older...) and going to college and getting married. Amazing! Anyway, here are two young women from Sacramento who are singing in BYU's women's a cappela group Noteworthy. They are awesome, and I just thought y'all might enjoy listening to them sing. Courtney Jensen is singing the lead and her sister Katie is in the group. It made me smile, hope you enjoy!

Here's the Good Morning America Link:

If you missed the Larsons on GMA this morning, here's their story. I visited with Heather for a few minutes today. I think she looked great, considering that GMA arrived at their home this morning at 2:30 am. Some reassuring news: After seeing the story, a woman who has fostered Talon's siblings previously called Heather to let her know that she knew where Talon was, and that he was with a good family. At least that's something...

maybe there's hope...

As I sit here letting tears run down my face, I get a call from my husband telling me to check our email, and this is what I found...
The Larson's were contacted by Good Morning America today with interest in telling their story and will be at the Larson's home tomorrow morning (Tuesday) at 2:30 a.m. to film. The Larsons wanted to thank everyone for their continued support as well as let you know that this film session will air tomorrow on GMA. Heather did not know exactly what time it will be on, but the story will air tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 16th on GMA.
I just can't help but think that a little national attention might help this case. Maybe there's reason to hope. So if you're interested, tune in...

he's gone...

I wish we could have done something to make a difference, but last night the tribal council came and took Talon away. It makes no sense - there is nothing right about this (he is more hispanic, caucasion and Irish, for crying out loud, than native american!). He goes into foster care on the reservation now. So many tears have been shed. Heather and Clint are devastated. Probably about 200 of us stood on their front lawn and cried as Heather carried Talon out to be taken away from them forever. We tried to sing, to do something that might show our love and support, but the sounds of sobbing were just as loud as the music. I am still a weepy mess today, I can't imagine how Heather's heart is breaking. It is awful. Please remember the Larson family in your prayers, and when you hold your children, be grateful that they are yours...
Goodbye, beautiful brown eyes. We will miss you.

for KSL's story, go here.

Heartbreaker in our neighborhood...

We have a beautiful baby in our neighborhood (ok, they're all beautiful!), who is being taken away from his family on Sunday. Our neighbors, the Larson family, have been working on adopting a sweet young boy. He was born here in Utah, matched through an adoption agency, and the mother signed all necessary papers for the adoption to go through. But the native american tribe from the birth mother's state (minnesota) have discovered that this baby has a small bit of indian blood in him (he's 3/16ths indian, which is less than the 1/4 required by the tribal constitution for them to have any say where he goes, but because enrollment is "low," they still feel they have the right to him), and they are coming to take him away at 6 pm Sunday evening. No judge will rule against the tribe, because the tribe is a "soveriegn nation" so no one will claim jurisdiction, and our judicial system is letting this happen. We are heartbroken, for this beautiful child will be stuck in the foster system on the reservation. We are trying to get the word out as much as possible, grasping at straws, and hoping to show support for this loving family. If you can come and support this family on Sunday night, please come and join us at their home. The Larson's address is 3376 W Bear River Rd. Thank you so much for any support you can give and please continue to pray for a miracle to allow Talon to stay with his 'Real' mom and dad, Heather and Clint. If you'd like to have a little better perspective on what their family has gone through, please take a look at their blog www.talonsadoption.blogspot.com.

Christmas at temple square!

Of course, if you live in Utah, every now and then you have to visit temple square in Salt Lake City at Christmas time. What a beautiful display of lights! The night that we were there, there were choirs singing in every building, so we stopped in the assembly hall to listen to a children's choir from Riverton sing. We took lots of pictures, saw the nativity display, and showed the boys the Christus stature in the north visitor's center. It was a fun night, and I think the boys even had a great time! It's beginning to feel a little like Christmas...
Love that temple!
The boys in front of the temple.
Zach by the water

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope everyone had just as much food, just as much fun, and just as much whipped topping as your mom would allow on this blessed Thanksgiving day!