Let there be light!

Steve has been on a light kick lately.  He first put a new light pole in our front yard.  The other one had lost some of the glass around the light bulb.  So Steve got a new one, which is black, then painted the light pole to match.  It definitely gives off a lot more light now.

 Old light pole (white), in September 2016.  Nyles mowing the lawn.

New light pole (black), January 2018.  Carter running around the lawn, no snow.

Since Steve put can lights in our family room, we've been wanting to put more can lights in the house.  We ordered 6 inch can lights this time, instead of 4 inch, since we were putting them in 2 rooms with vaulted ceilings.  Steve put the 6 inch can lights up in our bedroom first.  We are going to put a ceiling fan in the middle as well, to especially help circulate air in the Summer.  We are just trying to decide on the one we like.  It's amazing to have light, especially during the winter months.

Bedroom lights!

Steve then put can lights in our formal living room.  We wanted more light in there as well, since we only had lamp light, like all the other rooms in our house.

Figuring out where to put the lights.  Now all done.  It's so nice to finally have light!

Nyles helping Steve paint the wall after he patched it.

We are loving all the light in our house!  I'm so thankful for Steve and his "skills" to be able to fix up our house and make it more of a home for us.  We are working on our half bathroom now as well.  I'll update when we're done.

December Gratitude List

Can you believe 2017 is over!  One of our New Year's Resolution for 2017 was to write down something we were grateful for every day.  We made it for a week, then a month, and finally we were able to do it every day of the entire year!  I am a honestly a little amazed we were able to do it every single day and stick with it the WHOLE year, but we actually did!  I had a jar sitting on the counter to put our responses in every day.  I also found it was easier when I had small pieces of paper with each day of the month written on it already, so that way we could see if we forgot/missed a day and catch up if needed.

I'm glad we stuck with it day after day this year.  It was an eye opener and has helped our family. I am very thankful for the opportunity we had to look towards the positive side of things for an entire year.  I truly feel it has made a difference in our lives.  It's very easy to spot and focus on the negative things in life.  It can really consume you if you let it.  There is always something to be grateful for, every day, even if you have to stop and think for a while.  The Lord truly wants us to be happy, and counting your blessings is definitely one of the ways to allow yourself to see the good in your life and be happy.

Here are some other good quotes, and what we were thankful for during December.

	Steve	Penny	Nyles
12/1/2017	The Library.	Christmas lights around.	Elf on the Shelf came to our house!
12/2/2017	Grateful for Penny's sacrifice so I could go hunting.	The Gift of the Holy Ghost.	Got to see cousins at Cameron's baptism, played w/ Conor.
12/3/2017	My wife, family get together.	Steve let me sleep in.	Recognized when I felt the Spirit during testimony night/Family Jerusalem dinner.
12/4/2017	For the snow, while it lasted.	Snow finally!	Got to play at Tyler's house.
12/5/2017	Sudafed.	Steve made dinner and did dishes.	Practiced letters and numbers w/ mom.
12/6/2017	Got to go to the aquarium w/ Carrie and Lynsie.	Heaters to keep us warm.	Found all 10 Elf of the Shelfs at the Aquarium and got treats.
12/7/2017	Penny coming home, taking over for me with the boys.	Got my official passing score for the CFP test and I am now licensed!	Had my reading group today.
12/8/2017	Go to Costco as a family, we had a fun family evening.	Friday!	Played w/ Ryder.
12/9/2017	Priesthood blessing.	The Internet.	Went to Lynsie's birthday party and saw Santa at Ward Christmas Party.
12/10/2017	Great medical facilities around. My Grandma is alive.	Family.	Played w/ Ezra.
12/11/2017	Carter's feeling better today.	New tires, and on sale too.	I got the secret sack from Kindergarten today.
12/12/2017	Nyles had 2 baby teeth pulled.	Nyles excitement for life and Carter's curiosity for life.	First 2 baby teeth came out.
12/13/2017	Rob watching the boys for us.	Date night @ the temple w/ Steve. I love the peace we feel there.	Tooth fairy came!
12/14/2017	My handgun.	Train takes me to work so I don't have to drive.	Baby Carter.
12/15/2017	Family together.	Family outing at Temple Square.	I'm grateful I could go see the lights.
12/16/2017	Went duck hunting this morning w/ Kalia.	Snow finally! Family outing at the Aquarium.	I could play w/ Sophie and the elf came.
12/17/2017	Warm coats.	The Temple.	Grandma's bottled pears.
12/18/2017	Good neighbors.	Eternal families.	Went and saw Christmas lights at the park.
12/19/2017	Clean air.	The power of music.	Last day of school this year.
12/20/2017	It snowed today.	The train to get me home safely when it's bad weather.	Made cookies w/ Mom.
12/21/2017	Sunshine.	Last day of work for the year!	Played w/ Sophie.
12/22/2017	Penny was off work today, so we were together as a family.	Steve let me sleep in.	Played w/ Conor at the Aquarium.
12/23/2017	New light on light pole outside.	Groceries delivered to our door 4 free!	My brother Carter.
12/24/2017	Snow on Christmas Eve.	Scriptures to teach of us Christ.	Played w/ Ezra.
12/25/2017	Family and Friends, my cute family.	The birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.	Santa came.
12/26/2017	My Dr could get me in today.	No work all week, get to spend it w/ my boys.	Went to the aquarium.
12/27/2017	Duck hunting w/ Zach.	No cavities and I actually enjoyed myself at the dentist.	Fed the ducks and went to the library w/ Mom and Carter.
12/28/2017	Family together for the day.	Did some decluttering together as a family.	Feeling better today after having stomach bug.
12/29/2017	Fun evening w/ family.	Fun family get together w/ sisters.	Played w/ cousins.
12/30/2017	Family helping each other.	Sunny day in December.	Played w/ neighbors @ our house.
12/31/2017	The sacrament.	My testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.	Played w/ Calvin.

Christmas Week

For Christmas Eve we went over to Pauline and Chris' house for dinner.  Chris' family always makes Stroganoff for dinner on Christmas Eve, so he made it for us all.  We then acted out the Nativity Scene by reading scriptures and singing songs.  Lastly we had dessert.  It was a lot of fun, thanks!

Ezra, Charlotte, Carter and Nyles acting out the Nativity Scene.

The kids were mostly cooperative :)

We had some "new props" in our story too :)

Carter wanted to watch more than participate.

 

Carter and Nyles were super excited to open presents Christmas morning.

Almost time!

Opening presents now.

Getting more.  Carter got a book.

More books and a DoodlePro.  Carter loves books and to draw. 

 

New snow boots!  Nyles said they have "gription" you know like grip and traction.  Haha he cracks us up.  If only we had snow....  Carter w/ a musical book.

Another book and playing w/ the Lincoln Logs.

Lincoln logs!

Steve took his boats down to LuDean's to store them for the winter.  We went and visited her on Christmas Day.  They let her come home for a few hours.

Then that evening we went over to Dave/Joann's place for dinner.  

The kids then opened presents from Grandma and Grandpa McGrath.  

Stacie and London helping Carter open his presents.

Carter loves stuffed animals and hugs, so he hugged the stuffed snowman Frosty.

We all pitched in and got Dave a GoalZero battery.  He wanted it to have in case the power ever goes out and he needs to run his CPAP machine.  

London helping Dave unwrap.  Carter playing w/ Frosty and the other snowmen.

The next day we went to the Aquarium again to find the elves.  It's fun since we live 8 minutes away so we can go for a short time.  The kids enjoy going to see all the fish/animals.  

Nyles on the rope bridge.

Carter's classic face.

Steve mimicking Carter, and Carter didn't like it.

Another day playing at the library while Steve was out duck hunting.

Nyles doing a puppet show for us.

More fun at the library.

Then we walked over to feed the ducks at the pond by the Draper Park.  The water was a little frozen.

Nyles and Carter feeding the ducks.

Carter pitched in this time as well throwing bread to the ducks.

Then next day Carter wanted to play outside.  It wasn't too cold so we went out for a little while.  He sat down on the small pile of snow we had and pushed his trucks through it.  He loves being outside.

Steve in front of a Harry Potter shop at the mall.

On Friday, the 19th we had Rose, her girls, Rose's boyfriend Aaron and his 2 girls, and Pauline and her family over for dinner.  After dinner we had a white elephant exchange.  It's a tradition on the Hegerhorst side we would do every year since we were little.  We want to keep the tradition alive.

Halle, Ava, Charlotte, and Summer hearing the instructions.

Chris explaining the rules.

Nyles and Steve excited to get started.

Carter can't wait to start.  He got a fluffy bunny, now he's happy!

Ezra giving Carter a ride in the John Deere tractor.

We then played Catch Phrase and Taboo.

Group picture: Chris, Summer, Penny, Ali, Steve, Carter, Sophia, Rose, Halle, Aaron, Avery and in the front Charlotte, Ava, Ezra and Pauline.

Notice Carter giving Nyles a head hug, silly kid.

He cracks me up!

The next day Carter wanted to go outside first thing, so we got on our boots and jacket and headed out.  He wanted to walk around outside for a while in the backyard stomping on the little snow that was left.  

Nyles also joined us this time.  He caught the stomach flu from Ezra after being w/ him on Christmas Eve.  He threw up from midnight to 4am Tuesday night.  It was a long night to say the least.  He didn't have much energy the next couple days either so he mainly sat on the couch.  Pauline said she caught it too.  Yuck no fun.

The little snow we had was melting, more like a ice pile, but they boys still played in it.

We've got a few more fish and plants for the fish tank.  The green ones towards the middle are real plants.  They're supposed to help w/ the Ph levels, the oxygen levels and wastes from the fish.

 Nyles took some pics of his fish.  He got some Tetra Fish, who are faster than the Beta Fish we already had, so he can't eat them :)  We also have a 2 catfish to help eat the algae and leftover food.

My official CFP card came in the mail, yeehaw!

Carter w/ safety glasses on before church and a hair cut from dad.  Cutie ;)

We went and celebrated the New Year this afternoon/evening before the kids needed to go to bed w/ the Thomas'.  2017 has been an adventure, and we're excited for what 2018 has in store for us.  Happy New Year!!!