Happy Christmas Harry!

Merry Christmas from the Eliason Family!

 I thought about sending out Christmas Cards and then I was like "mmm...betta not". So instead enjoy this lovely Christmasy blogpost about our family and all we have been up to! I will do it in chronological order! 

Jordan...

 My sweet amazing husband has been deployed since June of this year. It has definitely been a learning experience for all of us. Jordan worked at sears up until his deployment. Shortly after he deployed he was promoted woohoo! He really enjoys being in the guard, and has resigned for another 6 years. We were lucky enough to go visit him in Texas along with his parents and we had a spectacular time. I truly have been blessed with amazing in-laws. I can't wait to have my husband home, and I am counting down the days to the so far non-existent coming home date. Here are some photos from our trip! 

Alex...

It is safe to say I am still weird as ever! I am still quirky and enjoy my embarrassing sense of humor. I however have made some life changing decisions this past year. One I finally decided on a major and I am super excited about it. I am majoring in Psychology and I can't wait to be out there helping people. I am back at school, and have survived the first term of the year. I couldn't have done it without the help of my supportive family, and Christ. I am trying my best to handle this deployment. It has been really difficult for me to be without Jordan. I have faced mountains, and more mountains. I know though I have only gotten to the other side because the savior was there leading me. I made the decision that it was time to quit taking my anxiety/depression medication because I felt confident enough I could handle my life without medical intervention. I have come to learn that what I feel while taking the medication is a lot different then how I feel not taking the medication. It has been intense and overwhelming but in the end I know I will feel so much better. It was really exciting to go to Texas and visit Jordan, it was my first time to Texas...everything really is bigger in Texas. Slowly but surely this deployment is going by. I am sorry so much of my writing is based on the deployment and emotions of it but seriously it is a huge part of our lives right now. Next year I am sure we will have more exciting news.

Braden...

 Braden turned 2 this year! He is officially potty trained during the days (still working on the nights). He is a ball full of energy sometimes positive, and sometimes not so positive. We are working on pushing and hitting but out of the biting phase (thank goodness). He really enjoyed his first airplane ride to see his Dad. He loves talking and introducing himself to people today at church he said this "Hello my name is Braden, I live with my mom at my house."
He can be crazy, and make me want to pull my hair out but he is sweet and caring as well. The other day I broke down in front of him and he just hugged me and said "I love you mommy." I know the deployment is hard on him, and randomly he will say "I miss daddy." but for the most part he gets through each day better than I do. If you ask him where his daddy is he will tell you "My daddy is in Afghanistan."
His vocabulary is large, and sometimes I am blown away by the conversations we have. I forget that he is a 2 year old. He makes me laugh, and brings light to my darker days.


He is really into the Ninja Turtles right now and if you ask him what his favorite color is he will reply "Mikey" his favorite song is also "Mikey". He loves One Direction especially Harry Styles(Thanks to my little sister Jordan Danae). His actually favorite songs include: What does the Fox Say(he knows all the words), I'm sexy and I know it(I know I am a terrible person but he loves it), and any One Direction song. He actually has memorized a lot of lyrics and when I am randomly belting out songs he chimes in(which isn't always a good thing) The other day I was singing "I got to stay high all the time..." and he finished with "To keep you off my mind ooooooooaaaoooooo"
He keeps me on my toes, and is a great reminder for me to be a better person. He still loves to swim, and has even jumped in the pool a few times. He used to like the slide at Splash until Jordan went too fast with him. He is a very emotional little guy. He also has a really good memory and talks about things I have forgotten. I love him so much.
Braden Quote(talking to my cell phone): Google send me to One Direction.

Blake...

What a year for Blake! He turned 1 in October! He has 8 teeth, he is walking, and starting to sign. His vocabulary is limited as this point he says "Dada" when looking at pictures of Jordan, and he cries for his "Mama" other than that it is pretty much hilarious nonsense. He can sign milk and only cares to sign milk. He is not sleeping through the night and never has! Along with eating pretty much everything he can get his hands on he is still nursing. He has crazy "Gary Bucey" hair Jordan will not allow me to cut until he gets home.
Blake has separation anxiety and will follow me around the house crying because he is afraid I will leave. Seriously I can't even go to the bathroom. He is a big cuddle bug and I love it. He also is shy around new people, but once he gets to know you, he doesn't want you to leave. He doesn't really understand what no means and we are working on him being soft with his cousins and the cats.
He really does love to eat, and enjoys all kinds of food and we he is done he will throw the left over food onto the ground. He is my little guy and weighs the same as Braden did at 9 months.

He is also my little dare devil, it is like he has no sense of fear. He climbs everything he can and then laughs at me when I come chasing after him. I swear the both of these boys will make me grey before I am 30. He has such a fun personality, and is a complete goofball to be around. He is bow-legged and it causes him to trip on his own feet a lot he is funny because once he falls he just sort of lays sprawled out on the ground for a little bit like he planned it. He will run and tackle you if you are on the ground, and he is always walking around with is arms spread wide open offering free hugs.

Until Next Time...

I am sure I left lots out, if you have any questions on how we are doing, or the boys are doing please message me or comment below and I will try my best to remember to respond back to you. Looking back at our year I know that it wouldn't have been so successful without the constant companionship of the Savior. I was thinking today in church where yes I cried again about how the Savior blesses my life. I often think of the Footprints in the Sand story and how the man looks back and only sees one set of footprints and the lord replies "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." I know during my time of trial that the Lord has carried me, has held me and allowed me to cry and weep. He has wept with me, and been a comfort. I know many of you are praying for my family, and I. Please know the prayers are felt, and they are so desperately needed. Also know when you ask me how I am doing and I reply "I am okay." I am not okay, I am far from okay. I try to be okay, and through the Atonement of Christ I make it. I may not be okay, but I make it. I wouldn't make it if I did not have the Savior, or people loving and supporting me. I love you all and hope you have a great Christmas!