Good-Bye 2016

As 2016 is ending I have a few thoughts I want to share about our year. It's been a wild ride this year, but honestly, I think 2016 will go down as one of my favorite years yet. I feel like in a lot of ways, we really hit a groove as a family this year. With the boys being older, one of our main goals was to travel with them and create a lot of wonderful memories this year. It definitely happened! We took family trips to Disneyland, Torrey, Yellowstone, camping in Big Cottonwood, and then San Diego. Our boys were great travelers and remember and talk about each trip with anticipation of when we can do it again. I really feel like it strengthened our bond and identity as a family, and helped us spend real, quality time with our kids. Not that we have to leave town to do that, but it helps to clear away the distractions of normal life and just enjoy being a family. Each of those trips will be a favorite memory this year.

And we had some big changes too- mostly Chase starting kindergarten. That's been a big change for our family, but really it's been awesome. Chase is thriving so well there and is so happy- and we are happy for him. Hudson really enjoys being an only child for a few hours a day too. And then, of course, having our third baby on the way. That was an amazing blessing that came to us this year, along with the blessing of this pregnancy being notably easier than the previous two. Life has gone on relatively normally in the Hugo household over the last 6 months, for which I think we are all very thankful. I have a feeling that this little guy will be the highlight of 2017 for us.

2016 wasn't without challenges- we are ending the year on a more frustrating note with Ben looking for new jobs. It's been a little frustrating and disheartening- but it's also helped us reflect on our blessings and realize the beauty in our life and the joy that surrounds us. You really appreciate the sweet more when you get a taste of the bitter- so we are just pushing on and figuring things out from here!

We really aren't "new years people". I feel like we go pretty gung-ho for all the holidays leading up to New Years, and we do have a whole slew of birthdays coming up in our family in the next few weeks. So for New Years, we don't do much. In fact, Ben and I haven't stayed up until midnight since the first year we were married! We'll put the boys to bed at their normal time, watch a movie together, and have our new years kiss at about 10:30 before we fall asleep. We're okay with that.

Good-bye 2016! You were good to us.


Sledding pictures from the day after Christmas!

Christmas

We packed December full of Christmas activities- the fun didn't stop all month long! Diane and Nathan came out for a visit mid-month. One night we took Diane down to temple square and all enjoyed the lights! Brandon, Angel and their kids recently moved to our area, so they joined us. The kids had a great time with their Grandma and cousins! 

A few days before Christmas we went to Christmas Village in Ogden. We love that place! The boys ran excitedly from window to window and loved all the lights. It was freezing, but still fun!

 Christmas Eve we had a full day of family fun. We started off with a delicious brunch at our house and went to see "Moana" as a family, to celebrate Nana's birthday. Moana was darling- we all loved listening to Chase giggled excitedly through the whole movie (while he sat on Papa's lap). Hudson cuddled up on Ben's lap and contently watched the whole thing too- which I think is a first for him at a theater. Later we met back up at Nana and Papa's for hilarious games (the snowman game made us all laugh so hard- so were the kids playing Christmas charades), a beautiful candlelight dinner, a nativity puppet show (in which Hudson demanded a RED dragon WAS present at the nativity- don't worry, he's a nice dragon) and exchanged gifts. We were all spoiled and had a really beautiful, wonderful night together. Christmas Eve at my parents house is one of my absolute favorites.

 The boys were super wound up when we got them home that night- luckily we give them melatonin, or "a chill pill" as Hudson calls it, and they went to bed without much fuss (it was pretty late at this point). First they set out cookies and milk for Santa, and Hudson insisted on some carrots for the reindeer as well (which surprised me, since we've never done it before). We read them a Christmas book, sang a few calming Christmas carols, and they were out!

 I gift wrapped the top of the stairs, since it's a straight shot view to the living room and Christmas tree. The boys actually slept in until 7:20 that morning and were giddy waiting at the top of the stairs. When we gave them the all-clear they ripped right through the paper and headed down to the tree. They were so excited that Santa had brought exactly what they asked for (Paw Patrol Playdoh for Huds and a Remote Control Car for Chase).

 Christmas Eve/Morning we got dumped on with inches of beautiful white snow! We kind of had to hurry to make breakfast (Ben made his delicious biscuits and gravy- our little tradition), Ben was shoveling our driveway (and a bunch of our neighbor's driveways as well, until I insisted he come in and enjoy Christmas breakfast with his family). We had Nana, Papa and Heidi down to eat with us and the boys excitedly showed off their new toys. Then we got dressed up and headed to church. We all went together since it was baby Anna's blessing! She looked beautiful, Will gave her a beautiful blessing, and the rest of the meeting was full of beautiful Christmas music and messages.

After church (and much needed naps for everyone) we had Brandon and Angel's family over for Christmas dinner! We made a turkey, and it turned out great! (Technically, my mom did it for us while she was here for breakfast, but we did manage to cook it the right amount) The kids had a great time playing with their cousins, and it was sweet to see that bond forming.

AND, as if the day hadn't been packed enough, after dinner we headed to Salt Lake (very slowly, the roads were still snowy) for after-dinner dinner/desserts at my Aunt Georgia's house. It was my only chance to see Kelly and Ella this season, and I was so glad that we did! We had a great time hanging out as cousins, my boys enjoyed all the attention, and we all had a great time.

Christmas was a wonderful success! This year I feel like I learned (or relearned) again the true meaning of Christmas- the gift of the Savior. Our life isn't perfect, but we have so much to be grateful for. And through it all, true peace can be found in Christ. 

Early Christmas Festivities

As soon as we got home from San Diego (like that very night) we started celebrating Christmas! I love to really start the month off strong and spread the holiday activities and spirit through the whole month. That Monday we did our annual "Kick off to Christmas" party. The boys were so excited! They loved decorating the tree, were super psyched about their new matching jammies, and then we snuggled on the couch and watched a Mickey Mouse Christmas movie and drank hot chocolate. I love this little tradition- it's such a fun way to start the holiday!

 December 1st we had our BYU friends Christmas party! We've been friends for 8 years now and we love these people! We hosted at our house this year. The adults had a wonderful time chatting around the table while the kids ran wild through the house. We now have 8 kids between our three families (with two more little boys coming in 3 months!) and it is crazy and what a mass of children it is! This Christmas party is one of my favorite events of the season and I'm so glad we made it happen. Also, this picture, with all 8 kids smiling and looking at the camera is nothing short of a Christmas miracle. (L to R: Ella, Hudson, Ryder, Brooklynn, Sophie, Kynlee, Chase and Drew)

 December 1st also started our daily acts of service countdown. I love the excitement the boys feel while pulling the little squares off the calendar I made and finding out what we'll do that day and who we will make happy. We made these cute swirling sugar cookies and took them to the fire station and police station one day. It was one of my favorite things we've done- both the fireman and policeman who took the cookies from us seemed so genuinely touched and surprised, and my boys were so sweet wishing them a Merry Christmas. We also had one day where the boys picked some toys to donate- and I was impressed with their willingness to give away a few of their toys. The picture of Hudson and the reindeer was just an activity we did one morning, because this boy has been asking me if we could make a reindeer from his handprints for over a month now!

 We took the boys to see Santa! I love doing this a Farmington Station, where we've gone the last 4 years. He's the sweetest Santa, takes his time to talk to the boys, and makes it such a fun little experience! Chase asked for a remote control monster truck and Hudson asked for Paw Patrol play-doh. Hudson also reminded Santa that he LOVES the balance bike Santa brought him last year.

 On December 3rd our service activity was to support a local charity- the Festival of Trees. My mom and I have volunteered there for years, but Ben and the boys had never seen it. It really is an incredible event and supports such a great cause- charity care at Primary Children's Hospital. The boys were a little underwhelmed- they heard "festival" and immediately thought of the fall festival at school- with train rides and a bouncy house and donuts. But they were good sports anyway! Ben took the boys home after an hour and my mom and I stayed for 5 more hours frantically working the ticket booth (it was busy!).

 I only had to take like 300 pictures to try to get a few cute ones of the boys, in their suits, in front of the Christmas tree. I really love these dapper little humans. This Sunday our service activity was getting to church early to hold the doors open for people as they came. Hudson was ALL OVER this!

We had another couple of baking service days- one to be delivered to a widow (our neighbor, Margo) and one for the mailman. We made some delicious mint brownie cookies with peppermint sprinkles. They took a big part of the afternoon, turned out to be a little more complicated than I originally expected, and my kitchen was pretty messy, BUT I did have a great time cooking with my sweet boys and love seeing them get excited about taking treats to others. 

Just nine days into December and it just feels like Christmas! I really, really love this time of year. The older my boys get the more fun and meaningful it all is. I think it's going to be a great month for our family!