Best stocking stuffer EVER.

 I couldn't help myself.  Even though Hudson was born in Nov. he still is tiny and feels like the best Christmas gift ever.  I wanted to figure out a way to take a picture that would remind me how small he is.  I meant to take this picture a couple of weeks ago when he would have easily slipped right into the stocking.  By the time I got around to taking it Hunter and I were laughing because once we hit his belly region it got a little snug.  He still fit in it though and even though he was less than enthused it made me smile to realize that he was still tiny enough.

 He was not a fan of the stocking but after we took it off he headed right to sleep.  I love this picture of him with the little Christmas moose...those little lips are begging to get a smooch.

 I thought this little ornaments saying was perfect.  He is such a joy in our world and each baby that is born is a gift of innocence to this crazy world.  He has brought so much joy to our home and peace to my heart.

 Caught this sweet smile. Wonder what he is dreaming about.

 This picture may be my favorite.  No little props or fancy backgrounds.  Just a close up shot of his tiny perfection. The tiny eyebrows, perfect lips, soft downy hair, dimpled fingers, slightly turned up nose and fluffy cheeks.  The miracle of his creation.

Homemade lunchables and Christmas light scavenger hunt

 I love kids.  I love the fact that you can take something really simple and yet to them it is something really fun and exciting.  Example: this little family tradition.  Every year we pick a night and load up the kids with jammies, jackets and blankets into the van.  We don't tell them what night and then one random night that we have picked at dinnertime we tell them to go get their jammies and get into the car.  They instantly know what this means and rush to get ready and pile into the car.  Once they are loaded they each get their "homemade lunchable" as Hunter and Ave have nicknamed them.  Usually a brown sack but this year what I had on hand since I am still muddling through the sleep deprivation stage with the littlest Burch.  Inside a hotdog wrapped in foil to keep it warm, their own bag of chips, beverage, fruit, and treat almost like a kids meal.  They love it.  After food has been distributed we start our drive searching out new neighborhoods and lingering at houses decked from ground to rooftop or with inflatables covering every inch of yard space.  With christmas music playing softly we eat and enjoy the warmth and talk about the lights.  It is fun.  This year thanks to Pinterest :) we added a new twist....a christmas light scavenger hunt.  After eating each person was given one with a pencil to mark off each item when they saw it and see who could find them all first.

 The list included things like a decorated mailbox, Snoopy, a nativity scene lit up by a flood light, etc. etc.  This was a blast.  Definitely something that will be kept around and now molded into our current tradition.  I already have some ideas how to make my own list of items to find next year.  A quick pic of the excited kids awaiting the trip ahead....

 Just a couple of pics from my phone of some of the more decorated houses from our drive.....

 Why can't everyday be like Christmas???

Thirty minute afternoon snuggle

Everyday I stop what I am doing to take the time. Life is busier than ever and I want to make sure he is getting as much quiet time with me as all the other kids did when they were babies.  So in the afternoon when the older two are busy at school and Em is taking her hour long nap I take the first half hour and pull this little guy on the bed with me.  We talk together, he coo's and smiles at me and I turn into a puddle.  Then his little eyes get heavy and we rock or bounce or just cuddle up and take a little snooze.  Now don't worry he gets constant attention all day long and practically lives in my arms.  But this half hour it is just him and I, no other siblings or noisy house, not even daddy.  Just Mom and Hudson enjoying their moments together.

Until the four of them are together again.

Hunter.  I love this picture.  Tears.  About this pic, but about him.  After taking some pics of the boys I pulled them up on the computer to see how they turned out.  When the picture above came on the screen I stopped short.  Instant tears.  Two things hit me so hard first how handsome and big my son is getting and second the look on his face about the fact that he now has a long awaited little brother.  I know I am his mom but he is so handsome.  His blue eyes, those flippin cute freckles and his content grin.  He looks so old to me in this picture.  I can't believe what a young man he is becoming.  I look forward to seeing him grow and what he will look like.  Hunter makes being a parent so easy and rewarding.  He is so responsible and helpful.  He is always so attentive to me and aware of my emotions and sensitive just like Deke, he will be an amazing husband someday.  When he is in the wrong he is quick to apologize and shows remorse when he has made a mistake.  He is so brilliant.  Not just in the way that he is super smart, has a vocabulary that feels limitless, the ability to hold a conversation with people well beyond his age but his confidence.  Hunter has this way of bringing people together and starting the fun.  He is great at organizing activities and for as long as I can remember people are just drawn to him.  I can't even count how many times over his nine years I have had primary teachers, neighbors, moms of his friends, and so many others tell me what a nice young man he is, what a sweet kid he is or how smart and funny he is.  He has always had a way with people.  We all have gifts in life and I think this is one of Hunter's gifts.  He is always so tender with me and has been a tremendous help to me through this pregnancy with Hudson.  Helping lift something or bend to get something, helping one of his sisters with something.   

He has wanted a brother so badly.  He has grieved over the boys a lot.  Not so much remembering them because he was so tiny but grieving the loss of what he would have had having the two of them around to play.  Since we lost them he has talked about all the things they would have done together.  How they would have had bunk beds and all three of them would have NERF wars and build LEGO creations.  It about killed me.  I would tuck him into bed some nights and he would open up and talk about wishing he had them.  I would comfort him and then go into Deke and fall apart.  Crying for us but crying for him, wishing I could've kept them here for him.  Feeling the pain of the separation.  Telling Deke I wish that I could give him those experiences and desiring that yearning of his to be fulfilled.  When we found out we were pregnant I wondered if we got another girl how would he feel.  He joked with us saying he couldn't have another sister because he would be so girl trapped we all laughed about it but Deke and I could sense his desire.

One night he said to me: "Mom I just really hope the baby is a boy and that I am getting a brother.  Some  nights I hear Emma and Avery telling stories and laughing in their room together and I feel so lonely."  I could feel my heart breaking.  Please I silently pleaded, please.  A few weeks later we found out a brother was on his way.  Over the next few months we had several discussions just Deke, Hunter and I about the brother that was to come.  Hunter would tell us all the things he would teach him and share his excitement with us.  The night Hudson was born the first time Hunter saw him he said with tears, "I have waited nine years for this brother!"  We smiled because of course it was a little exaggerated but yet the emotion was so real for him.  He had wanted this so bad.  As he held Hudson in his arms for the first time and looked at him with an expression of love so tender I reminded him that Heavenly Father always listens and shared my testimony with him that I know that He knows the deepest desires of our hearts.  I told him that I knew that Heavenly Father had heard his prayers and knew how much he wanted a brother and that he had given him Hudson.  He won't get the bunk beds, and his moments of NERF guns and LEGOS will be different than they would have been but its okay.  Hunter and Hudson will get something together just as wonderful and together they will make their memories and feel the bond of a brotherhood.  All I can think is that Ethan and Dylan while they probably wish at times to be here with them joining in the fun, must be watching and be so happy and grateful that they have each other, until the four of them as brothers can all be together again.  A moment that I surely will spend my entire life dreaming and looking forward to......

Decking out the playhouse

     We had thought about it last year but then couldn't pull it all together to put lights on 851 E. Knowles.  The kids agreed this year it had to be done.  We needed to give the playhouse some holiday cheer.

So dad found some extra white lights and we pulled out a Christmas wreath and under the direction of dad the kids went to town.

Dad made the plan, supervised the placement and then plugged them in when it was all done.  Avery was the official untangler and strand holder, Hunter was given the job of placing the lights where Deke had placed the screws.  Emma stood on a chair and pretty much designated herself the boss of telling everyone else what they should be doing. :) :)

Deke finally employed her help wrapping some of the lights around the porch posts.  I love this picture of the two of them discussing a plan.  So sweet.

For some reason it pulled on my heartstrings a little to watch Hunter take the lights and place them carefully across the span of the porch.  He is getting so big and it is neat to see all the things he can do now.

Working together, smiling and Em giggling as they all agreed that it looked "AWESOME!!!"  Add the wreath on the door and then put a little ornamented Christmas tree inside and tada!!! The playhouse was completely festive.

The kids have been out there everyday after chores and homework until I bring them in playing "family at Christmastime"  The other night when I went out there to check on them I stayed awhile to play.  I was made Christmas dinner and invited to stay at the large hotel next door :) :)  I am so happy for the memories they are making inside and how much fun they have in it.  Thankful for Deke for doing all the hard work to make something so special for them.  Next on their list I was notified is starting to have slumber parties out there again.  With sleeping bags and the little space heater it actually stays warm and is a blast.  Add it to the list :)

Temple lights

I have always thought that the Mesa temple has the most beautiful display of Christmas lights.  I love going every year as a family.  This year was really fun because the kids were so excited about it.  Emma was really into it and Hudson slept through the first half but then the second half we walked around his eyes were bugging out and he was sucking his binky really fast it was so cute.

I think all the kids favorite thing to see was the star and the manger scene.  It have never been to the temple lights on a night when there was hardly anyone there.  It was actually really nice because we could linger awhile at each thing and really look at it and talk about what was going on with the kids.  We have really tried to focus a lot this year on talking a lot about the birth of Christ and making sure our children understand the real importance of this day.

Inside the visitors center we got to watch a video of Luke 2 and even though it was short the message is always so special.  Then went in to check out the different nativity sets from around the world which is cool.

I loved this nativity set from Japan....

This one carved or etched into a crystal from Austria...

One from Alaska.....

I enjoyed having a warm little bundle to carry around in my arms.    I love that I am really feeling the Christmas spirit within myself and inside the house.

"Emma-isms"

This girl is chatty.  Still our most shy child before she warms up yet once she is comfortable quite the little ham with something to say nonstop.  Suuuuuupppppper girly and sweet.  She cracks us up because she has an accent when she talks that kind of sounds like she is from the East Coast.  She never says "I" it is always "me".  This makes me laugh so hard for example she will say, "Mom, me is hungry" or "Me want to come." When she is playing hide and go seek she will pop and out say "Here me is!!!!"  So funny.  Always says me. She can count to fifteen except for one number.  According to her it goes nine,ten, eleventeen :)  When she is taking her turn counting for hide and go seek it usually goes something like this.... one, two, three, ten, twenty, eleventeen, six...hilarious.  She goes around telling me all the time that I am her best friend then I will hear her climb up next to Deke on the couch and hug him and say "Dad you are my best friend."  When it comes to Avery she shortens it.  Ave-uh-wee you are my BFF she will tell her.  Umm I'm sorry where did she even hear that? :) :)  I think Ave taught her but Ave denies it up and down.  I will hear them playing and Emma will remind her again that she is her BFF.  She still loves to "nuggle" and will often bring a blanket and climb up next to someone and invite them to snuggle with her.  Another common phrase I get from this girl is "you not worry about it."  This is usually what she tells us if someone is sad or can tell that I am frustrated.  If I can't figure something out she will say "its okay mom, you not worry about it."  This is also what she tells her siblings if they are upset about something.  When we are playing house together she calls me "sissie" when she is the mom and I am her daughter.  I love this because I always say to one of the girls "Come get your shoes on sis" or use that term with them often.  My mom would say "sis" alot with us growing up and my sisters and I use it too so it makes me smile.  If she is unhappy about something or if she gets in trouble she will say, "I'm so sad about it"  very dramatically to the point where it makes us all laugh which only gets her frustrated.  She loves to dress up and lately is always telling us she is getting ready for her wedding.  She spends most of her playtime cooking food for me and taking care of her baby dolls.  I wish I could think of all of her cute little phrases but these are just a few of the things I want to remember about her right now.