A Nose Full of Christmas

One of my very favorite things as a kid at Christmas time was my mom's simmering Christmas in a pot on the stove.

I've come up with my own this year and oh man, love it!!!

Here's how I made it:

1 whole sliced naval orange

1 cup of fresh cranberries

4 fresh cinnamon sticks (snapped in half)

2 teaspoons ground cloves

2 teaspoons nutmeg

1 strand of fresh pine needles (I tore off a live wreath we had because we have artificial trees)

Add about 1 1/2 cups of water, apple juice or apple cider.

Let simmer. 

You control how strong or mild you want the smell by how high or low your heat!

Enjoy!!

Forever Farias.

Christmas Happenings

Christmas time is here!!!!

The day after Thanksgiving we put up Christmas! I couldn't wait. This year we have started some super fun traditions now that Shayna is older and it being Indy's 1st Christmas!!! So much excitement from this mama! 

Our elf on the shelf, we named Dotty, has made her presence. 

Willie and I have had so much fun with her! Shayna anticipates every morning to go find Dotty or see what she has done while she slept. She knows not to touch her or her "MAGIC" will go away and Santa will be really mad at you.

This is one of my favorites so far that Dotty has done!

We started a Book Advent this year.
We won "Best Trunk" this Halloween at our Ward's Truck or Treat in October (we did an Addams Family Fear Factor thing). The prize was a $60 gift card to Seagull Books. We used that to get all the Christmas books we could. So this activity came out free and has been so 

much fun.

Every night before bed we open a new book and that is our bedtime book for the night. We love our new collection and I have no idea what book is what (except the last one, the scriptures to read story of Christs birth). So it is such a fun surprise every night!

We were able to get a very good variety of nativity books and fun Christmas books. By far has been a new tradition we will continue for years as our children get older.

Of course a ton of baking is going on!!!! 

Shayna lovessss making cookies! We have a ball!

So much more fun to come in the Farias Home. 

Is really is the most wonderful time of year!

Forever Farias.

Tis' the Season for Family Pics

This year I dropped the ball on our Christmas Card pictures so we finally did a little mini session with the help of my awesome sister! It is always such a hassle and cold :) but I am so grateful we did it! Hubs is such a trooper when it comes to me and pics! 

So in love with my gorgeous little family. These 3 babes are my everything! Heart full mama!

Forever Farias. 

Life Lately

I have been awful!!!!! I have a GIANT list of things to blog and haven't blogged since July!!!!

My main excuse is juggling school, coaching and two mamas girls.

Eventful would be an understatement describing our last few months.

Took a solo family trip just the 4 of us camping up in Pine Valley, Utah back in August! This trip was just the best ever! A summer tradition now!

Then the next week took a San Diego Trip back in August with the in-laws and it was such a blast. Went to Sea World and the Beach! We love SD!

I am finally done with volleyball season and have a little break before I help out with boy's season. 

 It was my first season at our alum LVHS with the staff that coached me and I loved every minute! 11 seniors made for a group of fun girls.

We celebrated Daddy's 27th Birthday!!!  

Had the most amazing Halloween!

Our Family costumes were a 10 (the Addams Family) and the girls rocked the Little Mermaid on actual Halloween!

 I have no idea how we will top next year! 

Experienced a WONDERFUL thanksgiving! All of my dads brothers and sister were about to come and it was just the best time. I love them all so much! 

 It is a miracle my brothers took a family picture!

Grandma & Grandpa with all the grandkids!

Indy is now almost 8 months.

She is so healthy!!! Wearing 12-18 month clothes. The BEST baby ever seriously so HAPPY all the time and such a pure joy!

Her birth story and her lately are posts soon to come.

Shayna turned 3 on Sunday GAHHH!!! 

We had such an amazing day and celebration. (I am way into making birthdays special :) 

A post just about her and her special day is soon to come as well. 

I am in major need of a blogging routine! How do moms with multiples do it! This month I am hoping to blog more then I have in the last year! So grateful for the our live, love and opportunities we've been blessed with. I am one thankful mama! 

Forever Farias.

Freedom Day

At the end of the day Willie and I both were like man this is probably our least favorite holiday. Not that we aren't patriotic (democrats are patriot too haha) but solely because fireworks are the freakiest things! An accident just waiting to happen. We ended the night on our knees praying for our cousin Eric who had a firework blow up in his face while leaning down to light another. Every year his family puts on a HUGE show in their neighborhood, we absolutely loved it and left right before the accident occured. We still do not know the extent of the damage but they we are all hopeful.

That aside we really did have such a great day. Shayna is getting older and beginning to understand things more so every activity throughout the day she loved! Started the day off at the park and splash pad with cousins, had a big family bbq (enjoyed some yummy veggie ribs ;), had a dance party with cousins, then sparklers and the finale was the big show with all the family. 

She wasn't a fan of the big fireworks at first! Would not look up and held dad so tight but the more they went off the more she enjoyed them! Was so fun!!!

The girls and I rocked a pair of our mama and mini headbands by lemons and lace ! So adorable! Was my favorite thing about the whole day haha! Love my dolls!

They both ended the night cuddled up with Grandma! The next day was ROUGH for everyone though! Willie had a HUGE exam so pulled an all nighter studying after we all went to bed and Shayna went to bed so late and woke up major early so was a total wreck all the next day! Her and daddy both were so tired they fell asleep for the night at 6pm and didn't move until 6am this morning! Talk about a 4th of July hang over :) 

Was such a fun day minus how saddened we were about what happened to Eric. So grateful his life was spared and he was able to return home with his family today. 

I am so blessed to have my family, my wonderful loving husband and these two girls that everyday just melt my heart. They grow and change so much we cannot stand it! I want nothing more then to stop time and enjoy these precious years! 

Hope all had a safe and happy holiday.

Forever Farias.

1 Down, Forever to go!

Our Wedding Video!

June 16, 2012- the day our love became eternal.

 A year ago on this day we entered the Las Vegas Temple and said "I do" to TIME and ALL ETERNITY. Making a covenant with Heavenly Father bonding our marriage and family forever. Our sweet Shayna was able to join in that covenant and was sealed to us three months later making her ours forever. Nothing else matters in this life except that, that all of our children would be with us in that bond!

We spent years of talking (when we dated in high school) about what our lives would be like when we got married and what it would be like when we had kids.... that has all come to pass! But even better then we both imagined!!! We have added our beautiful Indy to our family and she has blessed our lives more then ever thought possible. 

I feel so blessed! So grateful! So thankful!

Tonight we will share our wedding cake, and watch our wedding video together. I cry everytime! You are my light, my soul mate, my everything.

I will love you to the end and since there is no end, we are infinite Hernan Guillermo Farias!

Happy 1 year Anniversary my gorgeous, caring, smart, hard working, loving, passionate, athletic, sensitive, fun, selfless man!

Forever Farias.