A Picture-less Update

I totally got motivated to blog today and got all of my pictures downloaded to my computer and then as I am putting them on here to make a post, blogger lets me know that I have exceeded my 1 GB of storage space. Boo! Anyway I will not be upgrading at this moment so what you get is a picture less update.  We have been doing good.  The fall has been a fun time for our family.  We played in the leaves a lot.  My kids had a blast with the raking and the jumping.  We played outside at our house and at Mimi and Papa's house as much as possible.  For Halloween Lincoln dressed up as Darth Vader and Mercedes was a little bumble bee.  They still have fun putting on the costumes.  My mom gave us a bunch of her old kid costumes and the kids now have a dress up box.  It has been fun.  For Thanksgiving, both of my sisters from Utah were able to drive here with their families.  So we had the whole Barrett clan together for a week.  That was fun and crazy.  We stayed up late, talked a lot, played lots of games (the boys played a lot of MW3), and ate way too much food.  We also did our Christmas gift exchange while they were here and we got some fun stuff from the Barrett kids.  Lincoln and Mercedes each got a Leapster (now they need games though) and Todd and I got a date night.  It is nice to get out without the kids.  This past Saturday we decorated our tree for Christmas and now we are all ready for Christmas.  Todd and I have been blessed beyond measure this Holiday season and I can't help but think of the Savior and how much He truly does love us.  In some ways these last few months have been incredibly trying for our family, but I daresay Todd and I have learned a lot.  We know that because of these trials we are being blessed to learn things we may not have learned in any other way.  We have a big, wonderful, amazing extended family that brings joy to our lives.  We wish we could see all of you more often.  We also have amazing children who help us see the bright spots each day.  We also have friends who we miss dearly, but have given us so many happy memories.  God bless each of you this Christmas and may you find time to help bless those around you.