Holiday highlights

Yeah, I know its a month late, but my excuse is that we got Netflix.
No explanation needed really, if you have Netflix.
But, after no TV for 5+ years, access to shows and movies has taken over all freetime.
You don't need to mock me, I already feel like a loser, but an entertained loser.

Here we go with the Highlights. (consider this my big sacrifice for the month, I could be watching a streamed movie right now instead)
Christmas eve.
We made all the kids sleep in one room, hoping to keep them asleep and contained till morning.
Worked, mostly.
One of the fave's. BlueBird candy factory Jawbreakers. Local. Love it.

Not for chewing.

Z. is well ahead of the others in her quest for the center.

Is that piece of candy as big as your head?

Other favorite. 7 1/2 foot beanbag. Almost big enough. Jawbreakers, beanbag and Netflix. Great combo.

Gifts at home, gifts at grandparents. Spoiled. No wonder Z always asks "is this all?".

Thanks to cuz "Ashey"for the hours of entertainment. I phone apps that distort your face are the best!


T. very seriously poses to be made fat, and old. Just don't let him ask for an iphone next year for himself.

S. and T. kept us adults entertained for a while with their version of "Hide and Seek". 2 year olds idea of hiding is if I cant see you, you cant see me. Too funny!

Last but not least.
We got this awesome Playmobile version of the Nativity before Christmas.
This picture was the last one, taken by the kids, before the baby Jesus disappeared.
I was thinking that one of the handmade gifts Z. made under the tree just had to contain the baby.
I was thinking how cute and sweet that was to wrap him up and present him as a gift, so I didn't say anything about it.
Then Christmas came and went with no sign of the figure.
(By the way my craft gifts from Z. were awesome even if she did accidentally sew one of them to her bed!)
We did finally find him in January in one of the toy purses in the little kids room.
Fortunately.
The set just wouldn't be the same without Jesus!

Remember the Simpsons episode....

...with the tall guy in the little car?

How blessed we are to have such a good sport for a husband/father.

Opposition in all things

I have been forced to re think " creativity" as a good quality.
Typically after creating something new and fun I feel good.
Last few months I have noticed the good feeling and the law of "opposition" though too.
It is starting to feel like for every creation around here there is destruction, just as equal.
Its true I have never had a puppy before so I haven't seen the law play out in such detail.
I shouldn't be so surprised, I knew puppies chewed on stuff well before hand.
I just never have lived with a destroyer!
Plaintiff, I mean Harley Puppy.
New haircut for S. Created by mom because of necessity, she wont leave in a ponytail or clippie!

Snowmen and Gingerbread houses created (and eaten) by the family.

D. creating a beautiful painting of a TypeOne for his friends restaurant. The laundry room was a studio for some weeks or a month or two, but well worth the end result.

Then you leave for a while and the wall is destroyed(who eats wall, seriously, it cant be very tasty!)
and a chair or two will never be the same.

Look at that innocent face.
You get a puppy, you get to deal with "all things".
I have stopped counting the things she has destroyed, mangled, and digested.
I think each of us has something though that is hard to forget that she got to.
Like Z.s entire collection of sillybands,in 1 gulp!
Time will help us forget, and I have heard it will also stop her chewing.
Until that day comes, I wonder, if we stop creating stuff ,will she stop the destroying sooner?!

Picture a Christmas

Brave , darling , Z. volunteered to sing one of the childrens Christmas songs Solo for the Church/neighborhood Christmas party.
(That ability must have come from daddy, mommy would never ever do such a thing, the mic would slip right out of her sweaty hand and onto the floor.)
She practiced(mostly with her own rock n roll flair) in her room on her microphone several times a day.
When the time came for the real thing she forgot a line, although what a releif to mom when she didn't sound anything like Hanna- whoever, that she thinks sings so appropriately for a 7 year old.
Crushing for her though.
She knew she could do it perfect, so thanks to the very patient loving music leader and pianist she tried it again.
In front of everyone.
This is take 2.

Picture a Christmas

Children’s Songbook 50–51

1. Picture a stable in Judea.
Picture a sacred, silent night.
And can you hear
The angels near
And see the star so bright?

Picture the little baby Jesus.
Think of his life and words so dear.
Sing praise to him;
Remember him,
As you picture Christmas this year.

2. Picture the kind and gentle Joseph.
Picture the mother, Mary, fair.
And can you see
So rev’rently
The shepherds kneeling there?

Words and music: Patricia Kelsey Graham, b. 1940. © 1983 IRI

Luke 2:4–16

Matthew 2:1–2

Bienvenida Hermana Rooey!!

A year and a half sounded like forever 2 Junes ago.
I can't believe just how quickly time can fly though, I guess we must have been having fun.

Before Rooey left T. followed her around a little bit, mostly because she had a phone or laptop to play with, but still got nervous that she would steal him away forever if mom wasnt in immediate sight.

Upon her return he was the most excited one to give her hugs and ask her to play and watch his amazing body do amazing things.

Maybe he wasn't the most excited one, I think it may have been a 7 way tie between him, an aunt, his mom, a brother and a sister and 2 grandparents.

Z. watched her every move when her black tagged Aunt was back in the house. They are a lot alike and we jokingly have called her Roo several times.

She is a great example to us of Sacrifice(A year and a half where?) and of Faith in following Gods plan for each of us.

Because of her choice to listen to the Spirit in her life we were blessed to have many extra opportunities to talk to the kids about the Savior and the Gospel.

It's true. He lives and we can live with him again, as families. Nothing is better than that!

I'm 5 now, What day do I start school?

For some reason T. thinks that when you wake up on your birthday you should be greeted by your birthday cake.
Mom is slow and never is quite prepared.
Also, day old cake just isn't as good a fresh. You know?.
I like that he has great ideas, when I don't, on how a delicious cupcake should look.
Sprinkles, any color, seem to be his favorite.


He had such a great day opening cards filled with wishes, stickers and sometimes even money!

He decided to pitch in his own new cash pile with parents birthday budget and bought a magnificent Bat Cave and some heroes and villains to go with it.
He loves that there is room enough and "guys" enough, for everyone who wants to, to play.


Mom threw together a puppy party for his bestfriends and sisters.
They played puppy games and ate their cupcakes like doggies.
T. couldn't have been happier.
Friends and food, on the floor!

Thank you snow for waiting 'till November

When we moved "up North" for school I heard a lot of folks ask if I knew about the winter here.
Who could be afraid of winter?
After a handful of frozen, seriously, like negative degrees frozen, days I started to understand.
The good part:
Snow is absolutely beautiful.
White is probably my favorite.
Probably because I love the new spring grass color and I love the fall leaf color also, so much, its hard to decide on a favorite.
I love the variety of seasons and colors we are given up here.
The bad part:
The other seasons, the ones you don't have to plan extra bundling time for, last for such a short time.
Frozen. Cold. That starts in October and doesn't end until April normally.
Here is our first snow this season.
November.
Late November.
Hooray!!
As I write this the snow is taking its revenge.
We are having a blizzard that brought the kiddies home early from school, closed the University campus(it's on a hill, great for sledding, not for driving ) and in a short time has completely covered the piles of leaves that were scheduled to be sucked up and taken away today.
Oh well, out of sight, out of mind.
That is until spring rolls around and the leaves have turned into a black slimy grass killing mess.
I know that one from experience.