Thursday, December 31, 2009

New Year"s Eve...

We are not big on celebrating... whatever people have decided you needed to celebrate on the last day of the year.  We let our kids stay up... if they want to... until midnight.  However, we are usually nice and cozy in our beds by that time.

Tonight will be no different.  Our 16 year old will be at the church with her fellow youths enjoying food and games at a lock in.  That is about the only "celebrating" you will see around here.

The rest of us will wake up tomorrow morning and say, "It's 2010... cool."  Then we will go on with our day... just like it is any other day... you know...

...because it is.

We like to think that we celebrate every. single. day. the Lord gives us.  (Some better than others.)  So, if you stay up tonight and do... whatever it is that you do... God Bless ya.  I will be under thousands of blankets, curled up next to my beloved, dreaming of sunshine, warmth and no snow.

Joyous Faces...

Riding the Daddy Horse is so much fun!



They giggled and laughed and had so much fun that it was written all over their joyous faces!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Every Day is a Snow Day...

They have been slowly building the snow ramp.

When these pictures were taken it wasn't very big...

but now, it is pretty large.












They can spend hours out there...

I can last about 10 minutes.

The great thing about homeschooling is that every day can be a snow day...

as long as we get in a few lessons first.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Little Helpers...


I love when the little kids ask to help make dinner.

Lily wanted to grate the cheese for Daddy when he made us some tacos.

She did a great job!

It is up to mom, though, to make sure that little hands get washed before helping...

Dad's don't think of that kind of stuff!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Simple Woman...

December 28, 2009...

Outside my window...  The smallest snowflakes... EVER... are falling.

I am thinking...  That I wish I wasn't getting ready to drive Cadi to the airport.

I am thankful for...  the family time we all shared this week.  I am so glad Cadi was able to be here and be a part of it.

From the learning rooms...  I am learning to let go of "perfect".

From the kitchen...  life is trying to return to normal.  Regular food... and an end to the chocolate!

I am wearing...  jeans and a maroon top.

I am creating...  a "not too tearful" goodbye for Cadi.

I am going...  to the airport in SLC.

I am reading...  nothing.

I am hoping...  for a great, relaxing week.

I am hearing...  the wii, and wrestling children.

A quote I am thinking of...  "Love Bears All Things..."

Around the house...  I am still trying to clean up the holiday mess.

One of my favorite things...  the sunshine...

This week...  I plan to clean my house and get it back to its normal state.  I plan to encourage my children to relax and enjoy their time off from their studies.

A Special Treat...

Okay...

We had some apples that needed to be eaten...

so, I mixed up a batch of straight from heaven apple fritters!





Dessert this night was AMAZING!

Oh, they are so good!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Thank the Good Lord...

I am so thankful that Christmas is over and tomorrow it is back to normal life around here.

I spent the day with a yucky feeling tummy...

Why?  You ask.

Well, because I have stuffed myself with all of the goodies that we have filled this house with... and now... blahhhhhhhhhh......................

Late this afternoon, I asked myself... WHY?????   Why did you you this to yourself?  Yes, it tasted good.  Yes, you enjoyed the holiday.  My, oh my... am I paying for it today, though. 

Tomorrow, we are right back to eating right and getting this body back into shape.

All I can say is thank the good Lord!

Snow Keeps Coming...

The front yard has become the yearly sledding track.

The kids... and Dad... have built a sledding ramp.



They are taking full advantage of it!


They will sled until dark... if I let them.

...sometimes...

the fun mom in me...

let's them!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

If I Hadn't Eaten So Much...

I would have edited more than just 3 pictures!


When you have eaten so much leftover Christmas food...
It is just too hard to move.

Editing requires moving my hands.

That is just too hard for me right now.

Christmas 2009 Photos...

On Wednesday night (the 23rd) we had our church Christmas service.

I loved this!

That meant our Christmas Eve was free to do our family stuff!  Very nice.

The Choir sang.  Sydnee, Aubrey and Brysen all sing in the kids choir.  There was a family emergency for the choir director so we were missing some kids and the director.  However, the kids were amazing and pulled it off really well!









I sang worship and played one song so Christianna could do... other stuff.





The second the service was over, we all ran to the bathrooms and changed into walking in the snow clothes.  We headed over to the Christmas Village and froze to death while checking out the displays.  The lights were beautiful... but, honestly people, it was soooooooooo cold!






The next day (Christmas Eve) we had a ton of stuff planned.  We eat our big meal on Christmas Eve.  This allows our Christmas day to be for present opening and relaxing.

The kids had a surprise craft planned. 

They made Dad and I shirts with all of the kids names and handprints on them...

Wow!

This was so special that "waterworks mom" cried... again!



There was time for a bit of reading...



Dinner was soooo yummy!  But, we all ate too much and felt horrible afterwards.



Just so Galen knows we aren't just making it up...

We then gathered around the computer and watched the Hawaii Bowl.

Cadi's boyfriend was in Hawaii with his team... playing in the Hawaii Bowl. 

No, they didn't win... but we had the best time looking for shots of Galen on tv!





During halftime, we put on our family recital.

The medium girls showed off their guitar skills!

I was very impressed.



Miranda recited a couple of poems.



The littles sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".



Daddy read, "Twas the Night Before Christmas".



We all sang, "The Twelve Days of Christmas".

...while doing the motions that we have made up...



I snapped this picture before heading to bed that night.



I think the picture of the stockings is hilarious...



Then Christmas Day arrived!!!



We started in our normal way...

by reading the Christmas story out of the book of Luke.

Then Daddy asked if Cadi would take on the job of handing out presents since he can't read the tags without his glasses...

She joyfully accepted!



We are one of those families that takes turns opening presents.  We start with the youngest (Ari) and then move up the line.  This way, everyone gets to see what the others received and it makes our present opening morning last for two or three hours.

So much fun!



Hugs get handed out when someone opens a gift from a sibling that they really liked.



Cadi would read the tag...

"This is from whoever to Ari..."

Ari would raise her hand and say, "Me, Me, me..."

How cute!



Grandma Carol made the girls dolls!

They are adorable!

The girls were so excited!

The dolls have rarely been out of their hands since then!

Later that day when we were talking to Grandma on the phone...

Grandma assured us that she would NEVER make these dolls again because of all the work they involved.

Now you have 5 older girls who are very jealous...

They will get over it!





Miranda opened some lotion and went to smell it...

and it came bubbling up and coated her nose!

Smell good, Miranda?



The cutest thing in the world was that Grandma Carol made Raider some new clothes!

Now, Raider will expect this every year...

He is a little selfish that way...





My husband surprised me by making me this beautiful woodwork piece.

I love it!

I can't wait to get some stain or paint on it and get it on the mantle.



There were smiles everywhere!

It was just the best day!

Brysen got a couple of dressup hats and decided to show us his "character" faces.



The army guy scares me a little...



Miranda mastered the guitar...

and so now she must master the ukelele.



Brysen is a dress up boy!

He loves wandering around in army, doctor, fireman, cowboy... princess...


outfits...

So, Grandma, you did very well!

I hope all of you had an amazing holiday!

Merry Christmas!

Not Christmas Day Photos...

No, these are not photos from our wonderful Christmas day celebration.

These are photos that we took to remind us that Cadi was here for Christmas and... that Miranda was 16 once...

I don't know about you, but I love photos... and you don't have to walk very far in my house before you know I love photos...

They are everywhere!



I think these will be joining the others on the wall.


Beautiful!

However, I do promise to get through the Christmas day photos in the next couple of days.

I will!

I will...
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Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future..."

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