If we had a Christmas letter, this is what it would say...

We rang in 2012 in Meridian, Idaho, and are ringing it out in Klamath Falls, Oregon. That is just one of the many changes that we've encountered this year. We found out at the first of the year that we were pregnant with our fifth child. We were beyond excited and ready to add our fifth and final baby to our clan.
In April Jefferson and I decided that our chiropractic business ventures needed a change of scenery. After much thought, prayer, a contemplative visit to the Twin Falls temple, research, faith, and tears, we decided to purchase a chiropractic practice in Klamath Falls, Oregon.
At the end of May, Carter graduated from kindergarten and received an academic award that includes his name hanging on a plaque in the school entry. Andi also graduated from Busy Bee preschool, and on the first of June we moved our family to Klamath Falls, Oregon.
We enjoyed the summer at my parents' home swimming, playing, and prepping for baby boy. Jefferson worked in the practice he was going to purchase while studying for, taking, and passing the Oregon boards.
 At the beginning of September we became the official owners of Cascade Chiropractic. That same week Carter began first grade and Andi began all day kindergarten at Roosevelt Elementary. On the second day of school I gave birth to Beckett Riggs Harmon. It was a busy week in our household!
Carter is enjoying first grade and is an incredible reader. He reads at an advanced second grade level and his teacher cannot say enough good things about him every time I see her. He is such a kind and caring boy and is everyone's friend at school. Carter enjoyed soccer in the fall and is so fast.
Andi LOVES kindergarten. I was so sad about her being gone all day, but she went in and never looked back. Andi is our social bug and has a lot of friends and is often the ring leader at recess. She is doing really well at figuring out the beginnings of math and reading. Her teacher also adores her. Andi gave soccer a try this fall and did well considering she was the only girl on a team of 12. We'll see if we made a believer out of her.
Taytum remains our bubble of joy. She is heads taller than everyone we know her age and so I often forget that she's only 3 1/2. She is an independent spirit and finds joy in everything around her. Tay is our best little helper with baby Beckett and has such a special love for him.
Bentley is our fiery tiny mite. She is so petite and little and cute and sassy and flirty. She finally started walking in November at over 21 months old! It has made my life so much easier. Though it took her a while to get the walking going, she is smart as a whip! She speaks really well and sometimes surprises me when she walks up and says a complete sentence.
Beckett is a divine baby. He is so happy and smiley and chubby and we love him. He has been a good sleeper from the get go and is very good at going with the flow. He doesn't have much of a choice being the fifth child. We feel absolutely blessed that he is a part of our family.
Jefferson's practice is going better than we could have hoped. Each day is an affirmation that we made the right decision in moving here. His patient base is growing each week and we have been blessed with an amazing office staff. A new Spanish branch in our church was formed at the beginning of December and Jefferson was asked (and accepted) a calling as second counselor in the branch presidency. We have been attending two sacrament meetings every Sunday for just over a month, one in English and one in Spanish, and though it makes for long Sundays, we love the people of the Cascade branch and are already seeing the blessings of serving.
I am currently serving as our primary chorister, a calling I have had twice before, and love it. Being a stay at home mom is the best gig in the world and it keeps me more than busy. I volunteer in both Carter and Andi's classes, am a part of the PTO, and try to keep my other three kids at home busy.
We are feeling settled into our new home here in Klamath. We have met some wonderful people and are enjoying this small community and the blessing that it offers.
After all the changes of this year we feel so incredibly blessed to have the guidance of our Heavenly Father in our life. We would certainly not be here if it weren't for Him. It has also been reassuring and comforting to know that our Savior has experienced all that we have and can understand perfectly every trial that we go through. We are grateful to be able to remember and celebrate His birth at this beautiful time of year. We hope you all are enjoying this holiday season and that you pause to remember our Savior, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas and may you have a wonderful new year!

Thanksgiving 2012

 I was a little nervous about Thanksgiving this year. It was going to be quiet with just Jefferson's brother Josh here and I was in charge of all the cooking. I wanted to make it a big, traditional, home style feast for my hubby and brother in law. It actually ended up being such a wonderful weekend. We are so grateful that Josh made the drive over from Idaho. My kids adore him and he is so great at playing with the kids all. day. long. They never let their poor uncle rest.

 I must admit that the food was delicious, not stressful, and everything was cooked at exactly the right time and all hot and ready at the same time. Move on over Martha Stewart! It was seriously yummy. 

 

 The day after Thanksgiving is our traditional tree hunting day. We loaded up Friday morning and headed up the mountain. This was the view once we got above the fog.

 

 

 

 

 

When we got home we put up the tree and decorations. The rest of the weekend was full of football, food, playing outside in the lovely weather, a nice long walk, and lots of plants vs zombies. It was a great Thanksgiving weekend.

I have a lot to be thankful for and occasionally have found myself being less than thankful and focusing on the things that aren't going exactly how I want them to. However, when I stop and count my blessings it always reminds me how much my Heavenly Father is aware of me and my needs and He always shows me how truly amazing my life is. I am thankful for my beautiful children who teach me how to love and learn and be humble. They bring so much life and joy to our home. I am continually growing and stretching and rediscovering as I try to be the mom they deserve. I am thankful for my husband who does so many little things for me that I don't always recognize. He works hard on a lot of thankless days and never complains. He is also an eternal optimist, which is refreshing to the eternal realist. I am thankful for our extended family who has supported us in so many ways through so many hard times. I am thankful for the gospel that continues to direct me on the path that I should be on. I am thankful for my Savior and Heavenly Father who forgive all my short comings time and time again and redirect me and love me unconditionally, even when I feel less than deserving. I am truly blessed.

 And just for your viewing pleasure...

November News

 In other November News....
My sister "had" a baby!! My sister Alli and her husband Nic were chosen by a young couple to adopt their baby. It has been such a beautiful blessing in our family. Baby Everett was born November 5th and we could not love him more!! He and Beckett are just a couple months apart and are sure to be buddies.

Carter had a soccer party and so we all enjoyed a night out to pizza.

Bentley enjoyed the cupcakes. :)

 Beckett continues to be a smiley, social little guy...

 

Enjoying a lazy evening at home:

 We caught Andi in Taytum's bed one night...

 I turned 30. That's all there is to say about that. Beckett was a terror the night before so I got zero sleep and was super tired all day. The kids got out of school an hour early, Jefferson worked an hour late, I made my own birthday dinner and bought my own birthday cake. The only redeeming activity of the day was lunch with a couple of friends, which was delightful. I also enjoyed flowers and a life saving Diet Coke first thing in the morning from my hubby. Done and done.

 We have had some super nice days of weather and love to walk to pick the kids up from school. This is Beckett all bundled up for one of our walks.

 The kids played dress up and it made me laugh... Andi was all dressed up in a princess costume with purses and necklaces and high heels and the works and Taytum was in a spiderman costume fighting with Carter. That describes my two girls' personalities to a T.

 Bentley has a new found love of babies. She drags one around almost all day every day.

I kind of love this phase of my life (most days) and wish time would slow down, maybe just a little bit.

First Fairy Visit

 Carter lost his first tooth on November 15th and his second one a couple days after that. He's had a top middle tooth that has been very slightly loose for months with very little wiggle progress. Well, out of the blue, about the day before he lost his tooth, Jefferson noticed Carter was talking a little funny and asked him why. Come to find out it was because his bottom left tooth was ridiculously loose! Finally, Thursday night it was so loose we told him to just pull it. And he did. He was super surprised and not quite sure how he felt about it. The tooth fairy left him a note and $5. He felt better after that. A couple days later his bottom right tooth was super loose, and Carter pulled that one too. It took a little more convincing, but he grabbed a tissue and pulled it himself! Tough guy. Now Taytum keeps trying to pull her teeth out too. :)

 

 

Idaho Reunion

 Jefferson's Grandma put together a family day in the Idaho Falls temple November 3rd. She made sure that all of her family members were there, which included flying us there for one and a half whole days. We were a little skeptical about flying with five children, six years old and younger, one being a newborn, but to say that my kids were AMAZING on the flight would be an understatement. We came armed with electronic devices, new coloring books, notepads, toys, treats, and everything else in between. We had a layover in San Fransisco on the way there. My kids thought seeing the ocean from above was pretty neat.

 We were up around 4:30am to catch our flight and landed in Idaho around one. Everyone was totally tuckered out, especially Taytum. Who falls asleep while eating a Happy Meal?!

 Jefferson's cousin and his family were nice enough to house us the two nights we were there. We enjoyed staying up chatting and getting to know their lovely family better. Saturday brought temple in the morning while all of the kids stayed behind with a babysitter. Josh was such a trooper and kept Beckett in the waiting room so I could come out and feed him between our family meeting in the chapel and the session.

That afternoon we had the Harding family Christmas party. That's right... Christmas in November, don't judge. It was a delicious potluck, followed by a live nativity by all the great grandkids, and a testimony meeting.
Taytum and her new little cousin/friend Bella:

 Cousins reunited! Andi and Jordyn!

 Carter had the privilege of being Joseph:

 My little angel:

 

 

 Kaleeya and Taytum were inseparable! Made me wish so badly that we lived close together again.

 My little jabba starred as Jesus, and was the perfect little Jesus child until he was gouged in the eye by another cousin. Those shepherds can be shifty....

 Bailey and Carter as Mary and Joseph:

 Bentley knows a pretty girl when she sees one!

 Grandma Berna gave each of the great grandchildren a card with $5 (that really adds up!) with an individual message to each of them. They are such sweet messages to each of them that I am sure will be treasured in years to come.

 After the luncheon and mingling everyone kind of congregated at different family's houses and hung out for the rest of the evening. Jefferson abandoned me with all of our kids for about five hours while he went and watched uninterrupted football. Aren't I such a good wife?!
Sunday brought the return home. My kids were equally as amazing. We had a long layover in Denver where our dear friends from chiropractic college came and met us in the airport for dinner. It was so much fun to catch up with my friend Hayley and see her cute boys.

 

It really was a special weekend that we are so glad we got to be a part of. Jefferson comes from some good genes and I am lucky to be a part of his family. Thank you to Grandma Berna and LJay and Teri for making it possible for us to go!