Oh my goodness! What a crazy season we just went through! It was our first Christmas together where David and I had to manage our time between all of the activities, and the needs of nine children. There was such a flurry of things going on all of the time. Our house was full all of the time. It was like a chaotic dance of joy and craziness. I am trying to learn how to embrace the crazy that has come with our new life together.
We were granted the strength we needed to make it through the month of December, but it was definitely exhausting, and emotionally challenging at times. Holidays can be really hard for blended families, for so many reasons. One of these days I will write more about some of the unusual and interesting challenges that come from trying to balance our blended lives. All I know is I could not do -- and would not do -- any of it without the help of God.
The hard is hard, but, at the end of the day, David and I love each other SO much, and that is what carries us through all of the hard and crazy stuff. We try to really nourish our love, because after experiencing death and divorce, we know just how valuable love is!
We have been granted an insane amount of love for each other, there are times it does not feel fair the joy and love that we get to experience. So, somewhere between the extreme hard, and the extreme joy, there is a middle ground solid enough to keep us moving forward together towards Heaven.
That is the ultimate goal!
This post is FULL of pictures. There are a lot! (You're welcome grandma.) ;)
Here is a glimpse into our chaotic-joy-dance of life...
Sammi and Daniel had a dance in The Cave of Wonders, since they missed out on the Winter Formal. I love that the room David and I created together is such an awesome place to gather and have different kinds of fun!
This is Daniel showing his, "crazy-excited about doing Les Mis," face. :)
David and I took a quick trip up to Idaho City, for a romantic getaway. It had been awhile since we had been away from the children. It is SO important for our relationship to make these kind of opportunities. We are still in our first year of marriage, and we have to work around the children when we want to be romantic in any way. It was SO wonderful to just go off and be alone together. I think it is a healthy thing to do for all marriage relationships! I highly, completely, and whole-heartedly recommend it!
We found the Inn at the Pines, and it was a very nice place to stay, only about 35 minutes from Boise.
The rooms were very nice, and comfortable.
It snowed while we were there.
We also rented out a private hot tub at the hot springs in Idaho City. I did not even know the hot springs was there! I have lived here for 12 years, and I had never been! It was perhaps one of the most romantic things I have ever done. It was a beautiful winter evening, we were able to bask in the warmth of the springs, and soak in the romantic atmosphere. We went the weekend before Christmas, which was David's birthday. I believe we have found a new tradition. That time away right before the frenzy of Christmas was SO magical, and just what was needed for both of us.
How did I not know about this place?
The lobby to the springs. So fun!
The next day we spent tromping around in the snow.
We found a place outside of Idaho City to go for a winter hike.
We put on some winter gear and ventured out into the Idaho wilderness. It was beautiful!
I love this man! He is so wonderful! Sometimes it feels like we were "cut from the same cloth." I know we were meant to find each other.
We probably should have had snowshoes, but we managed in our clunky boots.
Fun times!
I love just being with David, it makes me feel young.
This is random, but sometimes when it rains, our culdesac floods and makes a pretty lake.
These kids -- Hattie and Nico -- come to our home often. These four are quite the pairs together. Check out their crazy pants. It is fun that Sammi and Daniel like to do stuff together, with their friends. Sammi was young when she graduated, so she still fits in nicely with the high school kids.
Daniel found out he got the part of Jean Valjean in the high school musical production of Les Miserables. He was SO excited, he has wanted this role more than anything. It is going to be an amazing production! I can't wait!
Here we have my hero, David. He is always looking for small (and big) ways to improve our home. He is super handy with tools, and he is awesome about just getting things done.
I love the new light!
Christmas is so beautiful, I have already taken down the decorations, and the house feels so cold and empty now.
Here we have Henry pondering something important.
Tyson Harlin makes this yummy candy cane as tradition every year. It is SO good, and such a wonderful Christmas treat!
We went out shopping on Christmas Eve. Things were so nutty, that we had some last minute errands to run. It was actually fun to be out at night, enjoying the Christmas night and lights.
Here we are devouring the candy cane.
Christmas Eve pajamas... Henry's body flying through the air says it all.
Family fun.
Christmas Day is spent building and playing at the kitchen table.
Sammi loving on her stuffies.
Daniel got Sammi Cinderella slippers (she was Cinderella in the high school musical last year), and Sammi got Daniel candlesticks for Jean Valjean. These two are so fun together.
Here we have David building the new foosball table. He loves to put things together. I mean, he
really loves it!
Christmas squishies.
Christmas things...
If you build it...
They will come!
I am not sure which outfit is more distracting? David's or Nico's?
Too much fun!
Christmas faces.
Happy Sammi.
We had David's children over the day after Christmas to celebrate. Again, we are
so grateful to have the extra room in The Cave of Wonders, for all the people who come to our home. We were certainly impressed and inspired to work hard to make the special room happen. It was well worth the effort!
This room has been the best!
Daniel now carries his Les Mis script with him wherever he goes.
The kids built Legos together.
Henry wanted me to keep taking his picture with my new phone camera...
I was happy to oblige him, and test what it can do.
I love his face!
Henry is super expressive.
And he loves to have his picture taken.
He wanted to wear Daniel's glasses.
Comfy's are a big thing around our house.
My precious!
Henry has sparkling eyes.
David likes to "dad-wrestle" with Henry. Henry is learning how. He has not had a dad to wrestle with, just brothers, and they are not quite as careful about it.
I love this face. One of the first things I noticed about David was his very nice eyes. Also, when I met David he had short hair and was clean shaven, he started growing out his hair and beard while we were dating, and I doubt he will ever go back! He is so handsome, and he did not even know it! :)
Christmas Eve kiddos.
Daniel got a light box for his room.
How did I get so lucky?
This is how Sammi reads.
Les Mis is coming...
Nico and Daniel performed together at Regionals and they did awesome!
This is Mr. Kane, the choir teacher. He is the best! He does such beautiful things with the choir program, my children feel privileged and honored to be able to work with him. He has been a great mentor for both Sammi and Daniel. He is just a really fantastic guy!
Daniel got to travel to Seattle on a choir trip.
I believe this is a library. Wow.
If we had a place like this here, I would probably read more.
Mr. Kane looking intellectual.
I love that my children have been able to travel with the choir, what wonderful experiences they have had!
Daniel is not a fan of heights, but he did it anyway.
They have so much fun.
Daniel and Clayton.
This man has been a father-figure to Daniel, and I so appreciate it!
Eek!
Space Needle.
Enjoying the city.
Daniel has been studying a lot of different Valjean characters, so he can develop his own take on him.
Henry sang in the children's choir. I loved watching Daniel help him prepare.
I found Biscoff cookie-butter ice cream. Eek!
William had a junior high band concert. He did awesome! I love William, he is such a fun boy. He tries to keep up with his older siblings, and at this point, he is growing taller than them too!
Sammi sang at the ward Christmas party. She sang, "Where are you Christmas." It was a Grinch-themed party, which was super cute! Little children kept asking to take their picture with her.
So cute!
We went to visit David's parents. We helped decorate their super tall tree. It was cute to watch David helping his mom. I am not used to having so many in-laws. Charles was an only child, with a half sister. The Youngberg clan (David has 8 siblings) is a whole new world for me! I sure love them all, they are great people.
David and his parents.
Here he is skiing with 4 of his siblings. I married into a good-looking family. :)
Daniel got 4th place at a State Musical theater competition. He was SO sick, and he still performed his very challenging songs. (He sang two songs from Les Mis.) He was the only junior to medal. This boy loves to perform!
Here is some feedback from a judge.
#24601
I went on a date with William. He really likes to spend one-on-one time with people. I took him to get the famous "ice cream potato" at West Side drive in. It was really good!
This is what Daniel looked like on most days, wearing his Encore tux, while running out the door to perform. Caroling season is always crazy, but he survived, and loved it!
Encore.
Henry got to perform too, he loved it!
They went all over the place!
We had some people over to practice right before Les Mis tryouts.
Nico sang "Empty Chairs"
so beautifully, we all knew he would be Marius.
Sammi loves to play for her friends. She was also just hired to be the rehearsal pianist for the show. She is super excited about that!
Here we have Valjean and Javert the night before auditions.
These boys are awesome and intense together.
When Kastin started singing the Javert songs, I asked him if he had any anger in his life, and I asked him to sing from that place. A whole different beast came out of him, and it was beautiful! The show is going to be SO good!
Here we have Daniel and Hattie at Gardens a Glow.
It is a magical place.
These two sang in church together in Hattie's ward and it was wonderful.
Henry soaking in the snow.
More building.
More script studying...
More foosball.
David and Hattie played against Nico.
The kids wanted us to play Clue with them.
William built this Mandalorin ship by himself, without a manual, he just made it up.
New Years Eve party at Hattie's house.
Sammi and Nico New Years Eve
Hooray for 2020!
Some of the Les Mis boys... drinking Sparkling Cider.
Jean Valjean, Javert, Monsieur Thenardier, and Marius.
Valjean keeping Javert in check.
For the next 2 months, we are going to be Les Mis-ing it around here. I am thrilled! The music is my favorite of all time! The show will be in February, I will keep everyone posted!
With all of the crazy of the holidays, I am excited for the new year! I am ready to regroup, and move forward with life in a happy way.
2020 here we come! Giddy-up! :)
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