Brielle's natural tendencies are to be loving and caring. I love how she takes Miles under her wing and watches over him. The two of them are best buddies and Miles loves and adores her (most days). I captured this picture while they were watching a movie one day.

 

With each kid comes different personalities.When Miles knows he is doing something that he shouldn't he hides. The other morning there was a little window where Matt went to work and I was getting out of bed. I knew Brielle was in the loft playing and I thought Miles was still in bed. I was a little excited thinking Miles had slept in and went to his bedroom to just check on him. Much to my surprise I didn't find him. I checked the entire upstairs and downstairs. Did a research of the entire house, this time checking closets, windows and door locks. Their was no sign that he had left the house but I seriously couldn't find him. He was responding to me calling out his name. I had a moment of panic thinking "where is he?" Then I remembered his favorite hiding spot when he is being naughty and eating candy.

Sure enough I look behind the couch downstairs and find him munching away of Hershey kisses. I was so grateful to have found him that I just laughed when I saw him sitting on the furnace with several kisses unwrapped sitting on the furnace.

Ward cmas party

This years ward Christmas party was a little different then what I was use to. Instead of starting around 6 we started around 6:40 and had our program first. We sang several songs as a congregation and then opened up a display where they had set a scene of scriptural time and the nativity. It was super cute to see the Jolley family as Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the wise men. Brother Jolly sang "Mary did you Know" and it set such a wonderful spirit.

 They announced that Santa was on his way and Brielle was ecstatic.

 However that quickly turned when she saw him and refused to take a picture with him. Miles was more than willing to take a picture with him until it was his turn to sit on his lap. We decided to take a family picture and call it a night.

As we were leaving the party Brielle informed us that she was so sad because it really wasn't Santa. She was so confused why the real Santa didn't come. I told her Santa couldn't be everywhere at the same time so he ask people to help him. She seemed satisfied with that answer but still wasn't happy it wasn't the real Santa.

Nutcracker

 The Nutcracker was something Matt has introduced to me while we were dating. From that point forward we have gone almost every year. This year we bought Brielle tickets to go with us. At first she was excited and then the week prior she kept saying she didn't want to go. I was seriously afraid that she she was going to be in a foul mood the night of because she didn't want to be there.

Knowing it was going to be a late night I begged her to take a nap so she could enjoy the ballet. Before going to bed I showed her a video about the Nutcracker and that made her excited. I was so grateful.

We went to my parents Ward Christmas party and had dinner. As their program began I left Miles with my dad and my mom, Brielle, Matt and I headed out for the ballet. As we walked in the door they had a large nutcracker out. Of course we had to pause for a picture.



















As we enter the theater Brielle was elated. I went down and showed her where she could see the orchestra. We watched and listen to them warm up.
 Brielle stayed awake throughout the whole ballet. She had wonderful concert manners unlike many people their. I was very proud of her. Because of the movie we watched she understood the story line and loved everything about it.

Rockin around the cmas tree

 

On the days I have to work Matt is SO good at getting the kids ready for bed. They are either asleep before I even come home or ready for cuddles. Tonight I walk in and I can hear and feel the excitement. Matt set up his Polar Express train around the tree and the kids were fascinated with it. I didn't get the best pictures but it's enough to help recall the memory.