Christmas Tree

This year's Christmas tree:

This year our holidays have been different. Having a new baby kind of threw off our normal holiday groove a little bit, and then add that to the fact that we are preparing to move. Elijah was born just days before Halloween. Thanksgiving was different because we didn't have anyone over this year (and our baby was only a month old), and we have movers are coming just days after Christmas. Because we are moving and all of our stuff is going into storage for 4 ish months we decided that for Christmas the kids are getting clothes to wear in the snow and one present that they can take with them. I haven't written much about this coming separation, probably because part of me is still hoping it won't happen. Jacob is going down to Texas for training and the kids and I are going to stay with Jacob's parents in Northern Utah til April. It's always so hard to be apart. No matter how many times you do it (and we've done it plenty) it doesn't get easier. Our last one was the hardest one I've ever dealt with, and so I'm worried about this coming one. Jacob's parents are so kind to open up their home to my wild family, I just hope they still like us by the end of it! My kids are super excited to go live with Grandma and Grandpa and to play with cousins and play in snow, and I'm glad they are excited. I am also grateful that the kids will get to build their relationships with our family. We have lived so far from family since before they were born so I'm excited for this fun and rare (for us) opportunity. Jacob had one of his major tests last week and has his other two major ones this week. These are the tests he has been preparing for for the last year and a half and I'm sure he would appreciate any extra prayers. He has been working so hard! This post hasn't gone quite the way I planned it. 

Anyway that is a picture of the Christmas tree the kids and I colored and put up this year, and they are super cute and happy with it. Rachel's been working on making decorations for it, and it will make taking down Christmas this year SUPER easy while we are preparing to move.