Happy New Years Eve...

What will this day bring?

Hmmm...

No nap for the little ones...

(because I want them to sleep really good tonight)

The bigger kids will all be up until midnight... to ring in the new year.

That is such a big deal when you are a kid... at least it used to be for me.

I will stay up as late as my poor body (and still injured, but slooowwwlllyyy healing back) will let me.

We will snack on... anything that isn't good for us. ( I know...)

We will watch television way too much tonight. I will read until my eyes pop out of my head.

Mark will be snoring by eight... even though he will try to stay up with the kids.

The poor dog will hide in the bath tub when the fireworks go off around here. (yes, a lot of people set off fireworks around here)

I will reflect on this past year. The first year with out my mom. The year where my little man became a little boy who is potty trained. The ups and downs... the highs and lows. A daughter who graduated from highschool and is now attending college. My second daughter passing her two year mark after a severe car crash... she is finally healed. A third daughter who taught herself to play the guitar and blesses us with that gift often. A daughter who learned to ski and another who learned to somersault...

Overall, we have so much to be thankful for.

I look forward to the blessings awaiting us in 2009.

The Simple Woman's Daybook...

December 30, 2008

Outside My Window...

There is a foot of snow tainted pink by the sunset.

I am thinking...

I am a very lucky person to have this wonderful family.

I am thankful for...

All of God's provisions.

From the learning rooms...

I am looking forward to Sydnee's eyes lighting up as she learns about the blessing that this country was founded with.

From the kitchen...

I smell pasta and garlic...mmmmmmm.

I am wearing...

a jean skirt and striped top...and a icy hot patch for my back.

I am creating...

a family that is overflowing with love for each other.

I am going...

to put my pajamas on soon because I have no where to go since it is cold and icy outside.

I am reading...

The book of Titus.

I am hoping...

for an early spring.

I am hearing...

cooking, playing and discipline.

Around the house...

we are making plans to finish some in progress projects.

One of my favorite things...

is the smile on a little boys face.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

- recooperate from back injury

- stay warm

-enjoy the kids excitement about the snow

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

If you would like to participate in the simple woman's daybook, go here...

http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com/

Say a little prayer for me...

The day after Christmas I started having some pretty intense back pain.

I thought it would go away in a day or so if I just rested it.

NO!

It is awful. I can barely get around and that is not good... really not good!

I can't stand going to a doctor, but I may have to if this doesn't end soon!

Okay... enough ranting... I just feel so helpless and like such a burden to my husband and kids.

Say a little prayer if you get a chance...

Thanks.

Oh the Joy...

Someone told me that I don't put enough pictures of myself on here, so this is to satisfy that person!I thought this was hilarious...

We were driving around town for 2 or 3 days after Christmas and couldn't figure out why we hadn't seen any snow plows. The roads were horrible and people were sliding all over the place.
Well, we finally found out that the state/city is struggling with their budget and decided that the good folks in Utah should know how to drive in the snow... I mean, after all, we do live in Utah! So, our roads are a mess! People are sliding and spinning.
Thank the good Lord that over the next couple of weeks I will be at home more than out.

My brother did remind me that we haven't really hit the worst weather around here. That generally comes in January and early February.

Oh the joy!!

This is what it is like to live in a winter wonderland...

By the way, my brother said it was 83 degrees in Florida the day after Christmas!

Christmas 2008...

The snow started coming...

and it came and came...

These pictures really don't do it justice, since I stopped taking photos before we received half of the snowfall!

My hard working man came home from work (Christmas Eve) and started shoveling.

The snowblower broke after last years record breaking snowfall and we opted to go old school with a shovel this year. If it keeps falling like this we may regret that decision.


Meanwhile, inside the house cookies are baking...

Mmmmmm....

Can you smell them?

Normally, we eat our big dinner on Christmas Eve night.

This year, Cadi had to work so we moved it to Christmas Eve day (lunch really).

We don't mind. We just want to be together!

Aubrey sprinkled reindeer food around the yard to attract the little boogers.

Dad and I made the finishing touches on the presents...

The big chair is covered because Cadi was supposed to work till 2 a.m. and we didn't want her to see what Santa had delivered for her.

The kids stay downstairs watching movies until I can be convinced it is time to open presents. With the little ones still sleeping, we held them off until about 6:30.

I made some orange muffins and we ate a little breakfast, read the Christmas story from the Bible and...

...started to dig in to the mountain of presents that a family of ten creates.

Daddy hands out the presents.

We open them one at a time starting with the youngest to the oldest.

This way, everyone gets to see what the others received and it isn't a free -for -all.

This is about halfway through...

...and it is finally daylight... no sun... the snow is falling fast!

We have shoved the dog out of the room about ten times and he manages to sneak back in every time! He is showing us that he is so over this present opening stuff!

We had a great day!

Everyone was happy and relaxed!

...just the way I like it...

Still here...

Yes...

I am still here!

Christmas was wonderful! Truly!

I am so glad to have the house back to normal, though.

Yes...

I am one of those people who says...

Okay, get the tree out of the house the minute all of the presents are unwrapped.

We put it up the day after Thanksgiving so it was time... the fire hazard.

That tree was so dry I think dry wind might have set the thing on fire.

We have had tons of snow... there is probably close to two feet sitting out there right now.

Now compared with last year, that is a drop in the bucket. It actually snowed on Christmas day! It does not do that often... so it was nice. People keep getting stuck in the road in front of our house since all roads in this town are a two or three inch sheet of ice.

Cadi is in Nevada visiting friends. We took her to the airport yesterday. The roads were awful. We have never seen the freeway that bad. The latest storm had dropped such a huge amount of snow in such a short time that the plows couldn't keep up with it. They were working hard though.

I will try to post some pictures later today or tomorrow.

I hope you all had as wonderful of a holiday as we did!

Merry Christmas...

Since I probably won't be on here for a couple of days...

Merry Christmas to all of you!!!!!!!!!! (that is an exclamation point from each of us)

Is it strange...

...that I love to wash the dishes, but absolutely loathe unloading the dishwasher?

Lessons...

Time is quickly slipping through our fingers.

This child, born so small and fragile, is getting ready to step out on her own in a few months.

I keep asking myself if she is ready. Have I taught her all that she needs to know?

Will she succeed?

I won't lie, out of all of our children, she has been the hardest. As I write that, I can picture you all thinking she must be a bad kid, but she isn't. She is a great kid. She just dances to her own music. She has always followed her own path. That isn't always easy for a parent... me especially.

Where this daughter is concerned, I guess I will need to learn a few things as well.

I can't always rescue her.

That's a big one. She will have to learn to sink or swim. She will have to learn to do it on her own. Do what you ask...

Live...

Getting To Know You...

5 Things I Want My Kids to Know...


1. The disagreements you have with others (friends, siblings, parents...) are a good reason to practice saying "I'm sorry". No issue is ever too big for these words.

2. Invest in people... that market never fails!

3. Look before you leap! Sometimes the fluffy top layer of snow is covering something the dog wants to hide! (Right Aubrey?)

4. There is plenty of time to listen to the quiet when you are dead... now is the time for laughter, fun and family chaos... you know what I mean!

5. Love... Faith... Hope... The greatest of these is LOVE!

They're loving the snow... for now...

I think this boy was born for the outdoors!

Maybe all boys are. I wouldn't know. He is my only boy... and very like his dad!

The snow keeps coming.

At this time of the year, the kids love it.

Snowball fights

snow angels

sledding

snowboarding

skiing

Eating snow (gross)

To a kid it is so much fun...

until mid February comes around.

Then the snow gets boring.

The cold seems colder.

Then they start to agree with me!

Spring can't come fast enough!!

A Real Hero...

Have you ever met a young man who so impressed you, that you could say that you loved him like your own son?

Have you ever been able to say that you trust him completely (as completely as the mother of the daughter can) with your daughters heart?


How often these days do you meet a young man who is kind and considerate and behaves like a gentleman?

How often do you meet a young man who makes your daughter (who you think hung the moon) at better person?




How often do you meet a young man who, on concert night, will fan your extremely sick daughter... who will care for her when she is sick with the flu...who is more concerned with her wellbeing than his own...who will anticipate your child's needs as if they are of the upmost importance to him... as if it is a life or death situation and he is the rescuer...


How often can you say (even if you have known this young man since he was 3 years old) that you would trust your daughter in his care...that he would never let her fall...knowing he would do the right thing for her... always?

If you ever find what we have found...
hold on to him!

These kind of young men are to be treasured and honored.

They are heroes in todays society of disrespect and shallowness.

Happy Birthday, Galen!

...and thanks for making us love you!

Fifteen Already?...

Turning 15?

Already?

Isn't this the little girl that I gave birth to on the living room floor?

Yep, but that is a story for another time...

I love this picture.

Why, you ask?

Can you see the two little ones all filled up and ready to blow out her candles?

Too Funny...

All gifts are great...

But...

What is better for a 15 year old than CASH!



Thank you Bampa and Grandma!

You Rock!



Now this beloved child is old enough to get her drivers permit!

I don't like that at all!

I want her to stay small and be my buddy.

Deep Sigh...

With each birthday, she gets closer to leaving our home.

I guess I will have to suffer through it and wait until she brings her little ones to me to hug and kiss and snuggle with.

Oh... doesn't it sound joyful!

Turning 2...

This little girl is upset that we haven't opened the presents yet!

Oh, that's better...

What!?

Bampa and Grandma are the best!!

Time for Cake!

Hooray!

This birthday stuff is the best...

I like being 2!

Can I have another one?...............

Plan of Attack...

As I sit here typing, my husband is bombarding the children with one snowball after another.

The innocent little creatures are running for cover...

...but do not be dismayed, they will retaliate!

I can see them gathering their forces and making their plan of attack.

OH!!

I think Daddy is going down!

cold...

We left the house in a major snowstorm today.

Grocery shopping must happen once a week in this house!

No exceptions.

I mean, the kids need to eat, right?... right?

Anyway, we made it to the mad house stores and finished shopping just in time for the real cold to set in.

I am told that it is going to be a bit chilly in the morning...

...like 2 degrees...

Now, I grew up in rural Alaska where the temps during winter got as low as 60-80 below zero.

But, being that I feel as if I have done my time in the cold and snow, 2 degrees is really COLD!

BRRRRrrrrrr...

I feel it coming.

Mark... where are you... my feet are cold...

Major Pageant Meltdown...

Last night, the house errupted in pageant arguing.

I finally had to step in and call off the "rehearsal" last night.

Will the show still go on?

...it remains to be seen!

pondering...

Do you think your back could permanently stay in that painful bent over shape that we manage to put ourselves in when we wrap a trillion presents?

OUCH!!!!

Last night we took Miranda out to dinner for her birthday.

She is such a sweet kid. They just don't come any better than her.

I will have to share some birthday pictures later. I realized I haven't shared any of the birthday photos. What is going on??? Oh, yeah...

I am wrapping, wrapping, wrapping! Those are apparently the only brain cells I have left these days.

I wonder if my wrapping brain cells are all wrapped up in a pretty bow...

Hmmm...

A thought to ponder...

Another Snow Day...

concerts and sisterly recycling...

How excited can one 9 year old get?!

Christmas Concert time...

This amazing young lady was so excited to show us how hard she had been working.

We are so proud!!

...and then...

sisters need to do their part, right?!

We need to make the world a more green place...

The oldest thought she would start by recycling one of her younger sisters.

I think she was getting tired of hearing about the Christmas Concert!

At his best...

What does a boy love more than playing in the snow?

His hands don 't seem to get cold...

His feet don't get cold...

He wears himself out!

Then...

he gets up and does it all over again!



The abominable snow boy...



...at his best!