Chad has gone to take the boys swimming in an effort to pass off the last requirement in Nathan's Wolf achievements. He earned his Wolf months ago, but if he does everything in the achievements, he earns a special reward. I am home updating the blog and trying to straighten up before we make a mess again. (Meanwhile, my fingers have turned to ice because it's so cold!)
This is my last post of the year (post # 271 of the year, #927 total). Where did it all go? And how in the world did we survive it?
Truthfully, it has been a wonderful year and I can't think of anything too horrible that happened. I'm glad that I have this blog and my journals to keep a record of events, both big and tiny.
We have been blessed to interact with and be touched by so many great people this year. We've cried, laughed, raged, prayed and meditated throughout the year. And so much of it because of all of you! ;)
I hope that whatever 2011 brings our family, we will have our faith and our families (this includes friends) to enjoy it or survive it with.
We have our traditional New Year's Eve planned for tonight. We will watch a movie, play games, eat snacks and count down until midnight. I will probably offer to let the kids celebrate early so we can all get to bed and the kids will turn me down. We will be in bed by 12:15 anyway.
So good luck to all of you in the new year. We want you to know that we are here for each of you and would feel honored to be thought of in a time of need.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Temple Square
We made a trip to Utah to visit family during the week between Christmas and New Year's. It took us so long to leave town, that you'd think I had time to remember the camera. As it turned out, I didn't. So we used my cell phone to take some pictures on Temple Square Monday night.
At least it's something.
There are 8 of us in this picture...believe it or not. Daniel and Rebekah are almost impossible to see. The temple is pretty, though.
Here is a bad shot of the nativity. I noticed they changed the layout this year. Or maybe this is just the first time I've seen it since they changed it. I couldn't help but feel even colder when I saw the mannequins wearing shawls instead of parkas!
The lights were gorgeous and the weather was cold, but bearable. I really wish I'd remembered the camera!
At least it's something.
There are 8 of us in this picture...believe it or not. Daniel and Rebekah are almost impossible to see. The temple is pretty, though.
Here is a bad shot of the nativity. I noticed they changed the layout this year. Or maybe this is just the first time I've seen it since they changed it. I couldn't help but feel even colder when I saw the mannequins wearing shawls instead of parkas!
The lights were gorgeous and the weather was cold, but bearable. I really wish I'd remembered the camera!
Baby, It's TOO cold outside!
It's 1:30 in the afternoon and the temp outside is not quite 8 degrees. Brr!
Last night, we got back from 3 nights in Utah. Chad found that the circuit the light for the chickens was on had tripped. The eggs were frozen. :) We turned the heaters back up and the wimpy one in our room never turned off the whole night. I had an extra blanket on, but Sarah kept waking up, so I had to keep getting out of bed!
I still don't really know why she couldn't sleep, but I turned the heater up in her room in case her cold toes had anything to do with it. Eventually, I took her to the recliner with a blanket and held her. Even under the blanket, my shoulders and arms were cold. I was grateful for a house to keep my babies in on a night like last night!
I have been wanting to get the van washed to get the Utah salt off of my Idaho van. It was too cold for a car wash. The guy said that my doors would freeze shut and I wouldn't be able to get out again. Don't you think that should be left up to me to worry about? I hope a wheel doesn't fall off before I can get the salt washed away.
Last night, we got back from 3 nights in Utah. Chad found that the circuit the light for the chickens was on had tripped. The eggs were frozen. :) We turned the heaters back up and the wimpy one in our room never turned off the whole night. I had an extra blanket on, but Sarah kept waking up, so I had to keep getting out of bed!
I still don't really know why she couldn't sleep, but I turned the heater up in her room in case her cold toes had anything to do with it. Eventually, I took her to the recliner with a blanket and held her. Even under the blanket, my shoulders and arms were cold. I was grateful for a house to keep my babies in on a night like last night!
I have been wanting to get the van washed to get the Utah salt off of my Idaho van. It was too cold for a car wash. The guy said that my doors would freeze shut and I wouldn't be able to get out again. Don't you think that should be left up to me to worry about? I hope a wheel doesn't fall off before I can get the salt washed away.
Christmas 2010
Christmas finally came to our house and the kids were very relieved. We had our Christmas Eve dinner...compliments of Chad (who did all the cooking). But don't think I completely slacked. I set the table!
After dinner, Chad read the Christmas story from the bible while the kids acted it out.
Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus:
Shepherds abiding their flocks:
And lo, and angel:
We had a wild beast in our Christmas story. Sarah has taken to biting. Not good.
Eventually, the shepherds made it to the manger and admired the baby. The 'wild beast' actually ripped the baby Jesus from the manger. I guess she wanted to play with the doll.
Then we cleaned up, had prayer and sent them off to bed. They were threatened with their lives if they came out of bed. We'd already told them that IF (when...we're not so clueless) they got up, they were not allowed to do anything but look. And they couldn't wake us up before 6 AM.
It took us about 2 hours to get to bed. We spent an hour setting up a train system. Then we had to stuff stockings and put Santa's gifts out. We were in bed by midnight, after everything was prepared and we got ourselves ready for bed.
I don't really know when the kids got up to peek, but Daniel said it was right after Chad checked in on them before we went to sleep. I did hear them in the living room right before 6 AM. They watched the clock and as soon as it turned to the magical number, they raced to our room to wake us up.
I had to wake up Sarah. She didn't handle the transition well.
The train was a big hit. I'd found someone selling it and talked them down, included a little barter and cash and now have hours of entertainment that fills more than 3 storage bins. (All I was really looking for was a small train set for Joseph, but she made me a WAY better deal on the whole set than she was offering for just a little train.)
While the kids played, I made cinnamon rolls. (Here is what I look like when I'm rudely awoken before dawn!)
After breakfast, the trains were cleaned up and we dumped out our stockings. Sarah loved the phone she found in hers.
Then it was time for presents. Grandma made the boys bathrobes. Daniel really liked his.
The girls got dresses from Grandma. Sarah's came with a little pair of panties. She immediately put them on!
It didn't take this little elf very long to get the hang of opening presents. Eventually, she just opened whatever package she got a hold of. This one happens to really belong to her.
And after a while, the morning got to be too much for Sarah. We found her under the couch. Every girl needs her time out!
The girls got a little sewing machine from Santa. Actually, Santa had been given this thing a few years back and pulled it out for the girls this year. It has been decided that Santa was a little cheap because the machine really doesn't work.
It was a good day and the kids were grateful for what they received. They each gave a coupon for service to every member of the family (excluding Sarah) and some of those have already been redeemed!
I work on Christmas throughout the year and everything under the tree is paid for. If it's something we'd likely get the kids anyway, and it can wait until Christmas (i.e., new clothes) we wrap it up and put it under the tree. If it can be added to something they already have, it will likely be a Christmas present. The kids wrap up some of their things for each other and put them under the tree. Santa doesn't wrap his gifts. Stockings have snacks and toothbrushes and band-aids, etc. (This year, there was no candy...for obvious reasons.) I make a few things. And there are a few new toys.
Even after I've said "No" to the kids all season, there are still a lot of things under the tree. So I wonder, should I make less of a big deal during Christmas and just give these things to them during the year? I don't want my kids thinking they're going to get stuff all the time. Do I consolidate more and have them open fewer packages, but with more inside? I feel like Christmas morning is a little too greedy. But I don't feel like we've spent too much money, just given too much.
I read somewhere that one family has a standard for Christmas. Each child gets 4 gifts: want it, need it, wear it, read it. The kids know what to expect and there are no fights (or so they say!). I think that's a great idea. I don't know if I can stream line everything quite so neatly, but it's a good start.
And while I was contemplating the guilt that I always seem to feel when I'm buying Christmas presents for my kids, I came to a liberating decision. Some people may not agree with me. I'm OK with that. What I decided is this:
There are two kinds of Christmas, and they are both good.
The first Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. To me, there is very little about modern Christmas that really supports this kind of Christmas. Hymns, scripture and testimony are all that are needed to celebrate and teach this Christmas. And really, it should be done all year.
The second Christmas is the merry kind. The glitter, the excitement, the gift giving, the carols, the treats, the stockings and Santa. This is a wonderful time of year to celebrate our loved ones, show them what they mean to us and indulge just a little. Peanut Brittle has nothing to do with Christ, but it's a very important part of merry Christmas!
And so, I will enjoy the merry kind of Christmas along with the birth of Christ. And I won't feel guilty when I'm rushing around delivering gifts that I'm not thinking of the birth of the Savior. But I will use the extra reminder to be grateful for the humble birth that leads to the life of Christ and what it should mean in my life...all year long.
After dinner, Chad read the Christmas story from the bible while the kids acted it out.
Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus:
Shepherds abiding their flocks:
And lo, and angel:
We had a wild beast in our Christmas story. Sarah has taken to biting. Not good.
Eventually, the shepherds made it to the manger and admired the baby. The 'wild beast' actually ripped the baby Jesus from the manger. I guess she wanted to play with the doll.
Then we cleaned up, had prayer and sent them off to bed. They were threatened with their lives if they came out of bed. We'd already told them that IF (when...we're not so clueless) they got up, they were not allowed to do anything but look. And they couldn't wake us up before 6 AM.
It took us about 2 hours to get to bed. We spent an hour setting up a train system. Then we had to stuff stockings and put Santa's gifts out. We were in bed by midnight, after everything was prepared and we got ourselves ready for bed.
I don't really know when the kids got up to peek, but Daniel said it was right after Chad checked in on them before we went to sleep. I did hear them in the living room right before 6 AM. They watched the clock and as soon as it turned to the magical number, they raced to our room to wake us up.
I had to wake up Sarah. She didn't handle the transition well.
The train was a big hit. I'd found someone selling it and talked them down, included a little barter and cash and now have hours of entertainment that fills more than 3 storage bins. (All I was really looking for was a small train set for Joseph, but she made me a WAY better deal on the whole set than she was offering for just a little train.)
While the kids played, I made cinnamon rolls. (Here is what I look like when I'm rudely awoken before dawn!)
After breakfast, the trains were cleaned up and we dumped out our stockings. Sarah loved the phone she found in hers.
Then it was time for presents. Grandma made the boys bathrobes. Daniel really liked his.
The girls got dresses from Grandma. Sarah's came with a little pair of panties. She immediately put them on!
It didn't take this little elf very long to get the hang of opening presents. Eventually, she just opened whatever package she got a hold of. This one happens to really belong to her.
And after a while, the morning got to be too much for Sarah. We found her under the couch. Every girl needs her time out!
The girls got a little sewing machine from Santa. Actually, Santa had been given this thing a few years back and pulled it out for the girls this year. It has been decided that Santa was a little cheap because the machine really doesn't work.
It was a good day and the kids were grateful for what they received. They each gave a coupon for service to every member of the family (excluding Sarah) and some of those have already been redeemed!
I work on Christmas throughout the year and everything under the tree is paid for. If it's something we'd likely get the kids anyway, and it can wait until Christmas (i.e., new clothes) we wrap it up and put it under the tree. If it can be added to something they already have, it will likely be a Christmas present. The kids wrap up some of their things for each other and put them under the tree. Santa doesn't wrap his gifts. Stockings have snacks and toothbrushes and band-aids, etc. (This year, there was no candy...for obvious reasons.) I make a few things. And there are a few new toys.
Even after I've said "No" to the kids all season, there are still a lot of things under the tree. So I wonder, should I make less of a big deal during Christmas and just give these things to them during the year? I don't want my kids thinking they're going to get stuff all the time. Do I consolidate more and have them open fewer packages, but with more inside? I feel like Christmas morning is a little too greedy. But I don't feel like we've spent too much money, just given too much.
I read somewhere that one family has a standard for Christmas. Each child gets 4 gifts: want it, need it, wear it, read it. The kids know what to expect and there are no fights (or so they say!). I think that's a great idea. I don't know if I can stream line everything quite so neatly, but it's a good start.
And while I was contemplating the guilt that I always seem to feel when I'm buying Christmas presents for my kids, I came to a liberating decision. Some people may not agree with me. I'm OK with that. What I decided is this:
There are two kinds of Christmas, and they are both good.
The first Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. To me, there is very little about modern Christmas that really supports this kind of Christmas. Hymns, scripture and testimony are all that are needed to celebrate and teach this Christmas. And really, it should be done all year.
The second Christmas is the merry kind. The glitter, the excitement, the gift giving, the carols, the treats, the stockings and Santa. This is a wonderful time of year to celebrate our loved ones, show them what they mean to us and indulge just a little. Peanut Brittle has nothing to do with Christ, but it's a very important part of merry Christmas!
And so, I will enjoy the merry kind of Christmas along with the birth of Christ. And I won't feel guilty when I'm rushing around delivering gifts that I'm not thinking of the birth of the Savior. But I will use the extra reminder to be grateful for the humble birth that leads to the life of Christ and what it should mean in my life...all year long.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Notes to myselves
Dear Arlyn in the past,
I am writing to give you a little "heads up." You said once that you wanted a lot of kids. Is six enough? You will have six beautiful children (one at a time, thankfully) and they will be the source of joy, but also frustration.
You will have 3 boys and 3 girls. And then there will come a time when you will be grateful for the balance. The girls will drive you crazy with their drama, but the boys will tear your house apart! Either way, you'll tear your hair out. Take lots of vitamins.
Oh...and don't get the nativities out until 2015 or later (unless you like to buy lots of new sets).
Good luck!
Love, Arlyn
_______________________
Dear Arlyn in the future,
Things are going well enough here, as you already know. I was just wondering about some things.
Do you ever end up running away permanently? Do the kids ever break any bones? Did everyone grow up to be respectful, honest and kind? Do they marry and reward you with grandchildren? Did you ever get to put up any of your Christmas nativities?
I could use a tiny bit of encouragement...I'm sure you know exactly what I mean!
Love, Arlyn
I am writing to give you a little "heads up." You said once that you wanted a lot of kids. Is six enough? You will have six beautiful children (one at a time, thankfully) and they will be the source of joy, but also frustration.
You will have 3 boys and 3 girls. And then there will come a time when you will be grateful for the balance. The girls will drive you crazy with their drama, but the boys will tear your house apart! Either way, you'll tear your hair out. Take lots of vitamins.
Oh...and don't get the nativities out until 2015 or later (unless you like to buy lots of new sets).
Good luck!
Love, Arlyn
_______________________
Dear Arlyn in the future,
Things are going well enough here, as you already know. I was just wondering about some things.
Do you ever end up running away permanently? Do the kids ever break any bones? Did everyone grow up to be respectful, honest and kind? Do they marry and reward you with grandchildren? Did you ever get to put up any of your Christmas nativities?
I could use a tiny bit of encouragement...I'm sure you know exactly what I mean!
Love, Arlyn
Anticipation (think Carly Simon)
IT IS CHRISTMAS EVE!
We have been looking forward to this day for a long time!
I am ready...Santa is ready. Chad is working on Christmas Eve dinner. (Anyone want to join us?) The day is sunny, but there is still mostly a white view.
Time to go play a game with the kids and enjoy the family time.
CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS
I finally got those pj's done. I finished the last nightgown just at bedtime. They looked so cute. I can't get over how cute Sarah is toddling around in her gown.
First shot...Sarah is willing to sit for just 5 seconds...no more.
Sarah is not liking this picture-taking thing. She's tired and ready for bed!
Seriously, Sarah is DONE!
We have been looking forward to this day for a long time!
I am ready...Santa is ready. Chad is working on Christmas Eve dinner. (Anyone want to join us?) The day is sunny, but there is still mostly a white view.
Time to go play a game with the kids and enjoy the family time.
CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS
I finally got those pj's done. I finished the last nightgown just at bedtime. They looked so cute. I can't get over how cute Sarah is toddling around in her gown.
First shot...Sarah is willing to sit for just 5 seconds...no more.
Sarah is not liking this picture-taking thing. She's tired and ready for bed!
Seriously, Sarah is DONE!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Ahh...The PRESSURE!!
Rebekah says to me this morning (before I've even wiped the crusties from my eyes), "There are only 3 days left until Christmas. You'd better hurry and sew our pajamas!"
Thanks for that.
Thanks for that.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Little Girls
Leah has a BFF. We hear her name often. Aryiah, Aryiah, Aryiah.
Leah made a coloring book of horse scenes with our DI treasure...Pony Plates. (They're like Fashion Plates, but with horses, rodeos, etc.) She wanted to give it to Aryiah. So she wrapped it up in Christmas paper and we included it in our deliveries tonight.
That cute little blond girl opened the door and about knocked Leah over with a hug. Leah managed to get the gift into Aryiah's hands and then Aryiah grabbed her again.
IT WAS THE BEST THING I'D SEEN ALL DAY!
That was pure love, my friends. And it touched my heart. I think we all need a best friend. Who wants me to knock them over with a hug? (You don't have to bring me a present.)
Leah made a coloring book of horse scenes with our DI treasure...Pony Plates. (They're like Fashion Plates, but with horses, rodeos, etc.) She wanted to give it to Aryiah. So she wrapped it up in Christmas paper and we included it in our deliveries tonight.
That cute little blond girl opened the door and about knocked Leah over with a hug. Leah managed to get the gift into Aryiah's hands and then Aryiah grabbed her again.
IT WAS THE BEST THING I'D SEEN ALL DAY!
That was pure love, my friends. And it touched my heart. I think we all need a best friend. Who wants me to knock them over with a hug? (You don't have to bring me a present.)
Christmas Goodies
I finally got around to making the goodies this year. It took all day. No kidding. And then I still felt like it was a small offering. So I added a coupon for eggs to the bags.
Still, I prepared 24 bags of chocolate/peanut and caramel popcorn mix. I made a list of priority (closest friends, visiting and home teachers, etc.). As I drove around delivering everything, I kept thinking of more people I wished I could bring something to this year. Realistically, I can't reach everyone, but I wanted to show so many people how special they are to our family.
And that made me feel good. I'm glad we live close to so many great people. They are our substitute family and we have relied on many of them more than once. I felt so blessed while I was out giving away popcorn!
And that is the Christmas spirit I needed to remind me that the important thing I was doing was sharing love, not delivering the obligatory Christmas goodies. It really IS better to give than to receive (though a knock on the door does make our hearts skip a beat and our eyes light up)!
Maybe tomorrow I can sew up those Christmas pj's.
Still, I prepared 24 bags of chocolate/peanut and caramel popcorn mix. I made a list of priority (closest friends, visiting and home teachers, etc.). As I drove around delivering everything, I kept thinking of more people I wished I could bring something to this year. Realistically, I can't reach everyone, but I wanted to show so many people how special they are to our family.
And that made me feel good. I'm glad we live close to so many great people. They are our substitute family and we have relied on many of them more than once. I felt so blessed while I was out giving away popcorn!
And that is the Christmas spirit I needed to remind me that the important thing I was doing was sharing love, not delivering the obligatory Christmas goodies. It really IS better to give than to receive (though a knock on the door does make our hearts skip a beat and our eyes light up)!
Maybe tomorrow I can sew up those Christmas pj's.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Excuse me?
Chad and I went stocking stuffer shopping tonight. (ooh...alliteration!) We bought the traditional toothbrushes, toothpaste, band-aids, etc. As the guy checking us out noticed the 5 boxes of toothpaste, he asked, "Shopping for stockings?" When we told him yes, he asked if it was for our grandchildren.
Excuse me?
I know I'm tired, I skipped the whole make-up farce today, and life with Daniel's jaw has got me down a bit lately, but do I really look old enough to be buying toothpaste for my grandchildren? Look here, it's fluoride toothpaste, that would make the youngest grandkid at least 3 years old and the oldest at least 9 (though he's 10).
I guess I wasn't aging well tonight. But this guy might not know what a grandparent is supposed to look like. He said his kids ranged in age from 22 to only a few months. He's already a grandparent and hardly had any grey hair. He really didn't look old enough for that honor to me!
BTW: I uploaded a lot of pictures to come back and blog about later. They will appear below this post since I uploaded earlier this morning. If you don't have a blog reader, you may want to scroll until it looks like I've got 4-5 more posts up. Just in case you wanted to read about Joseph's b-day, Thanksgiving, seeing Santa, and a few random things. :)
Excuse me?
I know I'm tired, I skipped the whole make-up farce today, and life with Daniel's jaw has got me down a bit lately, but do I really look old enough to be buying toothpaste for my grandchildren? Look here, it's fluoride toothpaste, that would make the youngest grandkid at least 3 years old and the oldest at least 9 (though he's 10).
I guess I wasn't aging well tonight. But this guy might not know what a grandparent is supposed to look like. He said his kids ranged in age from 22 to only a few months. He's already a grandparent and hardly had any grey hair. He really didn't look old enough for that honor to me!
BTW: I uploaded a lot of pictures to come back and blog about later. They will appear below this post since I uploaded earlier this morning. If you don't have a blog reader, you may want to scroll until it looks like I've got 4-5 more posts up. Just in case you wanted to read about Joseph's b-day, Thanksgiving, seeing Santa, and a few random things. :)
Santa's lap
Santa came to the Ward Christmas Party this year. He came half an hour before the party started and stayed for an hour. It was so nice to have Santa's visit at the beginning!
We had to stand in line, even though we showed up before the party started.
Daniel didn't have any problem sitting on Santa's lap. I'm 99% sure he understands the truth about the spirit of Santa, but it didn't stop him from telling him he wanted a cell phone! Thankfully, Santa let him know that was a pretty tall order. I think he'll still have a pretty nice Christmas, minus the cell phone.
Nathan is still enjoying the spirit of Santa, but it's getting a little shaky. He told Santa he didn't know what he wanted. Typical of Nathan. At least he's moved on from asking for coal...like he did last year!
Leah is swept up the spirit of Santa. (And so she should be! She's only 6 11/12ths.) Leah asked for a horse, though not necessarily a real one. Big surprise. The girl is obsessed. She still wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up.
Rebekah was very sweet with Santa. She asked for a candy cane...which she got immediately. Santa likes those easy requests!
Joseph liked his visit with Santa. I don't know what (if anything) he asked for. He was happy enough with the candy cane at the end. What a cute kid!
Sarah does not believe in Santa. And the spirit she feels is not jolly. But it made for a great picture! All she wants from you Santa is to be returned to her daddy!
We had to stand in line, even though we showed up before the party started.
Daniel didn't have any problem sitting on Santa's lap. I'm 99% sure he understands the truth about the spirit of Santa, but it didn't stop him from telling him he wanted a cell phone! Thankfully, Santa let him know that was a pretty tall order. I think he'll still have a pretty nice Christmas, minus the cell phone.
Nathan is still enjoying the spirit of Santa, but it's getting a little shaky. He told Santa he didn't know what he wanted. Typical of Nathan. At least he's moved on from asking for coal...like he did last year!
Leah is swept up the spirit of Santa. (And so she should be! She's only 6 11/12ths.) Leah asked for a horse, though not necessarily a real one. Big surprise. The girl is obsessed. She still wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up.
Rebekah was very sweet with Santa. She asked for a candy cane...which she got immediately. Santa likes those easy requests!
Joseph liked his visit with Santa. I don't know what (if anything) he asked for. He was happy enough with the candy cane at the end. What a cute kid!
Sarah does not believe in Santa. And the spirit she feels is not jolly. But it made for a great picture! All she wants from you Santa is to be returned to her daddy!
I just love those 6 beautiful kids!
O' Christmas Trees
Yes, that is trees...plural.
We got a beautiful tree at The Home Depot the day after Thanksgiving. Several times in years past, we've gotten a permit for $5 and driven to the forest to cut our own. After a few times of that, I decided it was not an activity for little ones. The last time we cut down our own tree, Rebekah was 2, and Joseph was 3 weeks old. I stayed home with them and Chad took the oldest 3.
Since then, we've enjoyed trees from stores. They are fuller, but don't last as long. As we experienced this year.
Here was our "Black Friday" tree. We decorated it on Saturday.
By Friday the next week, it had lost more needles than any other tree I'd had...after New Year's and all. It was turning brown and pine needles were curling in Wicked Witch of the East fashion. 
I called The Home Depot and they said they would replace the tree or refund our money...our choice. I love a good return policy!
We got a beautiful tree at The Home Depot the day after Thanksgiving. Several times in years past, we've gotten a permit for $5 and driven to the forest to cut our own. After a few times of that, I decided it was not an activity for little ones. The last time we cut down our own tree, Rebekah was 2, and Joseph was 3 weeks old. I stayed home with them and Chad took the oldest 3.
Since then, we've enjoyed trees from stores. They are fuller, but don't last as long. As we experienced this year.
Here was our "Black Friday" tree. We decorated it on Saturday.
By Friday the next week, it had lost more needles than any other tree I'd had...after New Year's and all. It was turning brown and pine needles were curling in Wicked Witch of the East fashion. I called The Home Depot and they said they would replace the tree or refund our money...our choice. I love a good return policy!So we UNdecorated the tree, put it back up on top of the van and drove back to the store. We decided to try again. (We got a nice tree from THD last year.) We got adventurous and chose a tree that had not been unwrapped yet.
We put it up in the living room and watched it slowly relax during the evening. It reminded me of those tall, decorative bushes people plant on the sides of their houses!
We decorated it the next night.
Even Sarah got to help.
In fact, everyone did!
Daniel looks like he's singing a carol. He's not.
When we first talked about replacing the tree, Chad asked, "Do you think it will be as fun to decorate it the 2nd time?" What do you think, Chad? Was it?
Sarah was good at putting the ornaments on. But she's been even better at taking them off!
Beautiful! I see our ornaments are clustered. In the tradition of The Forgotten Carols, "Not so close! It's a big tree!"
This is the tree we still have up. It would have taken A LOT for us to take this one down.
Daniel looks like he's singing a carol. He's not.
When we first talked about replacing the tree, Chad asked, "Do you think it will be as fun to decorate it the 2nd time?" What do you think, Chad? Was it?
Sarah was good at putting the ornaments on. But she's been even better at taking them off!
Beautiful! I see our ornaments are clustered. In the tradition of The Forgotten Carols, "Not so close! It's a big tree!"
This is the tree we still have up. It would have taken A LOT for us to take this one down.
We'll drive to the forest and cut our own in two or three years.
My Little Pony
Sarah got her first pony tail!
I know, you can't really see much of it here.
But what do you think of that cuteness?
Get a good look, because she pulled it out at church and had the strangest hairdo afterward.
I tried the pony tail thing again a few weeks later and she pulled it out before we left for church. I tried to wet it down before we got in the van, but the hairspray was against me and when it dried, it was fine, blonde hair sticking straight up, all over her head!
I know, you can't really see much of it here.
But what do you think of that cuteness?
Get a good look, because she pulled it out at church and had the strangest hairdo afterward.
I tried the pony tail thing again a few weeks later and she pulled it out before we left for church. I tried to wet it down before we got in the van, but the hairspray was against me and when it dried, it was fine, blonde hair sticking straight up, all over her head!
The kids were laughing at her (and calling her a Who from Whoville) as well as the families surrounding us in the chapel. I took her to the bathroom and washed her hair...with hand soap. It was much more respectable after that.
One day, she'll care about her appearance. Judging on the way things are going with her siblings, it's not going to be for a very long, long time!
Thanksgiving
For Thanksgiving this year, we stayed home. I am torn about this holiday. I really like visiting with family, but I dread large family gatherings with kids running amok. I have a hard enough time when just my 6 go at it. When other kids join in the mix, and I can't really say anything about it, I just get tense.
Luckily, we had planned to stay home and didn't have to travel on bad roads or deal with the blizzard that came this year.
We raised a turkey and Chad butchered it on Tuesday (when the temps were hovering around 15 degrees) instead of Wednesday (when the temps would be all the way up to 7 degrees). It was twice as warm then!
We invited a ward member over who didn't have a place to go. She added some cheer to our evening!
We also started a new tradition this year. I got the idea online somewhere and put my scrapbooking program to work. This is the cover.
We bought a watercolor sketchbook and I mod podged this to the cover. We put in a copy of our group photo and everyone wrote what they were thankful for, including our guest. I look forward to looking back through this as the kids get older and start bringing "friends" to dinner. :)
Later that night, we went to the home of another ward family and enjoyed some pie while playing a game. One of my favorite things about being in this ward is that everyone is so sincere. And it was completely comfortable to be in the home of someone old enough to be our parents because they treated us like equals!
I hope everyone had a memorable (and pleasant) Thanksgiving celebration!
Luckily, we had planned to stay home and didn't have to travel on bad roads or deal with the blizzard that came this year.
We raised a turkey and Chad butchered it on Tuesday (when the temps were hovering around 15 degrees) instead of Wednesday (when the temps would be all the way up to 7 degrees). It was twice as warm then!
We invited a ward member over who didn't have a place to go. She added some cheer to our evening!
We also started a new tradition this year. I got the idea online somewhere and put my scrapbooking program to work. This is the cover.
We bought a watercolor sketchbook and I mod podged this to the cover. We put in a copy of our group photo and everyone wrote what they were thankful for, including our guest. I look forward to looking back through this as the kids get older and start bringing "friends" to dinner. :)
Later that night, we went to the home of another ward family and enjoyed some pie while playing a game. One of my favorite things about being in this ward is that everyone is so sincere. And it was completely comfortable to be in the home of someone old enough to be our parents because they treated us like equals!
I hope everyone had a memorable (and pleasant) Thanksgiving celebration!
Melting Pot of pictures
I am so thankful for digital cameras! I can take unlimited pictures, and share them and it doesn't cost me anything! Plus I can throw out the bad ones...also for free. :)
And since it's free, I take more shots and end up with some cute, candid ones.
Sarah and Joseph shared the chair one morning while I worked my way toward a shower. I'm so glad they get along (for the most part)!
My kids have an addiction to bandages. They always get at least one box of band-aids in their stocking at Christmas. We'll probably have to put them in the Easter baskets, too. Joseph came out from the bathroom with a bandage. It may have been overkill.
Joseph and Sarah were enjoying Joseph's name blanket. I guess Sarah wanted the camera. Can you see that little white and pink blanket in the lower, right corner of the picture? I crocheted that when I was pregnant with Daniel, before I knew that he was a boy. I was teaching myself how to crochet and made a little afghan. Since Daniel turned out to be a boy, the blanket went into the "stash" and was used in the bassinet for padding with every baby. Sarah some how latched onto this thing and grabs it first, every time. I find it interesting that I made it for my first baby, but it ended up being loved so much by my last one. :)
Dinner time with a toddler. Any questions?
We had a whopper of a storm just before Thanksgiving. Look at that snow! What I was really taking a picture of was the "running of the cows." I thought I'd missed it, and was glad to see them going by. I love living in the country!
Sarah loves boxes. Here she is sitting in the box we keep the library books in. Sometimes she climbs in there with the books and browses. :)
A close-up of the cuteness!
Thanks for checking out my cute kids! It's a fun morning when it's just the three of us.
And since it's free, I take more shots and end up with some cute, candid ones.
Sarah and Joseph shared the chair one morning while I worked my way toward a shower. I'm so glad they get along (for the most part)!
My kids have an addiction to bandages. They always get at least one box of band-aids in their stocking at Christmas. We'll probably have to put them in the Easter baskets, too. Joseph came out from the bathroom with a bandage. It may have been overkill.
Joseph and Sarah were enjoying Joseph's name blanket. I guess Sarah wanted the camera. Can you see that little white and pink blanket in the lower, right corner of the picture? I crocheted that when I was pregnant with Daniel, before I knew that he was a boy. I was teaching myself how to crochet and made a little afghan. Since Daniel turned out to be a boy, the blanket went into the "stash" and was used in the bassinet for padding with every baby. Sarah some how latched onto this thing and grabs it first, every time. I find it interesting that I made it for my first baby, but it ended up being loved so much by my last one. :)
Dinner time with a toddler. Any questions?
We had a whopper of a storm just before Thanksgiving. Look at that snow! What I was really taking a picture of was the "running of the cows." I thought I'd missed it, and was glad to see them going by. I love living in the country!
Sarah loves boxes. Here she is sitting in the box we keep the library books in. Sometimes she climbs in there with the books and browses. :)
A close-up of the cuteness!
Thanks for checking out my cute kids! It's a fun morning when it's just the three of us.
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