December Was A Month Full Of Blessings And Tender Mercies.

December was a crazy month. So much happened. Let's rewind back to before Thanksgiving though, My two little ladies and I had a lunch date with our good friends Madi and her two little boys. We naturally went to Ikea. Apparently we love that place. Who doesn't? There's shopping and food!

One Saturday Dallan and I decided to check out the remodeled Church History Museum with my parents. It looks pretty awesome and they made it much more kid friendly. Melanie loved learning new things!

In this picture she learned how to write with a feather and ink.

Snuggling Daddy while looking at the pretty art work.

Melanie was VERY well behaved at the museum. She did great!

They have a section in the museum that is all for kids. She got to play with building blocks. Melanie LOVES to use her hands and imagination to build things. 

On Thanksgiving day, we had a yummy turkey dinner over at my parents' house. I made sure we dressed nice because I wanted to take some family pictures. 

Love him. 

I adore these two little girls. Love them so much!

After Thanksgiving is when it really started to snow and stick to the ground. Dallan and Melanie did some shoveling together.

Since it's FREEZING outside, when we give Abby a bath we have to blow-dry her right after so she doesn't freeze to death when she goes potty outside. Hahaha! 

The beginning of December was special because our little Anna got her baby blessing. Here was a sneak peek picture of her in her blessing dress. It was the same outfit that Melanie wore when she was blessed also. 

Every year, we get a new ornament to put on the tree. Melanie OF COURSE chose a purple Princess Sophia ornament and Anna got a baby's first Christmas one. 

Showing off their new tree ornaments. 

This year for some reason I was SUPER excited and anxious to put up our Christmas decorations. So the day after Thanksgiving we got everything out and decorated!

Melanie was a good helper and really excited to be getting ready for Christmas. 

She put the star on the tree this year with Daddy's help :)

This year we started doing the "Elf on a Shelf" tradition for Melanie. It was fun for her to see where her elf was going to be hiding each morning. She decided to name her elf Toy Story, and it really made things extra magical this year for all of us. 

Anna with Great-Grandma Ebert. 

Anna with Great-Grandma and Grandpa Hope.

Dallan got a popcorn maker from work and Melanie sure got a kick out of it. She really loved watching the kernels POP! She would die laughing every time! Hahaha!

There's never a dull moment when we go out to breakfast with Dallan's family. We have too much fun! This time Melanie gathered EVERYONE'S straws and put them together so she could drink her hot chocolate. 

It was quite entertaining.

Abby loves her babies. 

Bath time for these two cuties!

In the beginning of December we went to The Festival of Trees with our buddies, the Hugies. This time, rather than it just being me, Madi, and the kids... we brought our husbands along. It had literally been at least a year and a half since they'd seen each other. 

Madi and I thought they would be more excited than they were. Hahaha! I guess guys just don't care or need to see their friends as much as girls do. Haha!

On December 6th, 2015 we blessed our baby girl Anna. She was blessed by her grandpa (Dallan's dad). 

He did a great job!

Melanie and Anna with their Nana and Tata.

With Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Lauren. 

Great-Grandma Ebert.

Our close family friend Pat. :)

My side and Dallan's side of the family together. :)

December 10th, 2015 had to have been the scariest day of my life. 

 I went visiting teaching with the girls and I told Melanie if she was good, we'd go get a treat afterwards. Well we went to Wendy's in Jordan Landing to get a frosty and right after we were coming home. I was going west on New Bingham Hwy. At the 4800 W. intersection, I saw the light turn yellow and then red. I tried to slow down and stop at the light like normal, but my brakes would not go down. My car just kept going. Went straight through the light. I saw a larger car coming from the south and just knew I was going to get hit. So rather than turn to the right and have all the impact in the back where my girls were, I slightly turned left into the oncoming car so I would get most of it. I don't remember much more after that except for seeing a familiar face. He was the father of an old good friend of mine. He was there the whole time holding my hand and reassuring me that my girls and I were going to be ok. It was really comforting and a blessing to have him there. We were rushed to the hospital. Dallan told me the medics looked over the girls to see if they were ok. They found glass all over Anna's car seat and there was glass found in Melanie's boots, but they both came out the the accident without a single scratch on them. There is no doubt in my mind that someone was there watching over my girls and protecting both of them. I cannot say how thankful and blessed I am that both of my kids are ok.
I have a broken rib, bruised collarbone, and stitches to the head. Other than that I'm ok, just really sore.
I can't thank our parents/siblings enough for being with me in the hospital and helping out with caring for our girls. I'm getting better. Slowly, but surely I'll get back to normal. My Heavenly Father was really watching over me that day. I cannot thank Him enough for the miracles and tender mercies that He showed.
The pictures are from after they cleaned me up from the accident in the ER, then the other is from when they let me shower and get ready to go home.

Dallan took this picture when he went to clean my car out and get our things. 

These two little girls are EVERYTHING to me. I thank Heavenly Father everyday that I'm alright and that my kids came out of that accident without a single scratch on them. 

Ever since the accident, I can't help but squeeze them a little tighter when I hug them, kiss them more, be more patient with them, and tell them I love them ALL THE TIME. 

 My old co-workers at the bank were so sweet and had this sent to my parents' house when we were staying with them. I worked with some awesome people and I'm blessed to have them in my life. 

Needless to say, Melanie enjoyed it. Hahaha!

Mmmmm....... :)

Later in the month we went to make gingerbread houses!

Daddy helping Melanie.

The finished products!

Starting from the left... Melanie's, Dallan's, and mine.

She sure was proud of hers! :) She did a great job!

Our friends from my parents' ward got Anna this cute little "First Christmas" outfit. 

This last Christmas season, so much happened. It made me appreciate the things we take for granted more. I'm thankful for good family and friends that helped us out during our hard times. For our families that watched our kids while I was in the hospital. I'm grateful that my little girls are unharmed and perfect. I'm grateful that I didn't get more hurt from the accident. I'm grateful for a loving husband that was there for me in the hospital and didn't complain once about sleeping in a rock hard chair. I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that watched over me and my family. I really saw His hand touch and bless our family. 

There is no doubt in my mind that He lives.