Recap of 2009

In 2009:
*We gained a teenager, and one in his terrible two's.
*We made new friends, and re-connected with old friends.
*Took a trip to Oklahoma, and 0 trips to the ER. (Quite a feat with 3 boys, right?)
*We went to a thousand and one games. (Baseball, basketball, soccer)
*Mastered the art of talking in sentences.
*Cleaned up crayon/markers/pencil of the walls 258 times.
*Finished the Book of Mormon together as a family.
*Visited Idaho, Nevada, and San Fransisco, too.
*Received new callings.
*We have lived in this house longer than any place we have lived our entire marriage.
*We love each other more now, than we did in 2008.

What more can we ask for? It has been a great year. We have been so blessed with a wonderful family, health, a roof over our heads, freedom, and the gospel in our lives. May 2010 be even more blessed than 2009!

Happy # 13 Morgan!

My beautiful daughter is a teenager! I cannot believe it is possible that she is that old! I tear up thinking that she only has 5 years left, before she will go out on her own to college. I hope that her teen years will bring her as much happiness as she has brought to me.


My beautiful daughter is a teenager! I cannot believe it is possible
To Morgan: you are a wonderful daughter! I am so proud of you! You have become such an awesome young lady, a fun person to be around, a big help to me, and a great example to your brothers. I love your laugh, your wit, smile, your thoughtfulness. I adore your sense of humor, your wisdom, and knowledge. You are kind to others, and a great friend. I know that you are going to be successful in anything you try. I love you more than you'll ever know. I am grateful that you were sent to me, to raise, and to learn from. I love you Morgan! Happy 13!

Morgan had her birthday party today. She wanted to ice skate with friends ON her birthday. We had pizza, bread sticks, drinks, cake & ice cream at our house before her party. Then we ventured to the ice skating rink, where she had a great time with friends. They came back to our house, played Rock Band, and games. She then visited with family, who came to see her, and stayed up until after 2:00 am partying with her cousin Ashley. I think it was a great day for her, and a nice welcome to her teen years!

Surprise!

Morgan's cousin, Ashley's birthday is today. They were born just a day apart from each other, in the same hospital. They *love* each other so much! Ashley had said she wanted to spend the whole day with Morgan on her birthday. That worked out really well for us, because I needed Morgan out of the house. Morgan had asked for a "room makeover". She moved to the basement last year, and we never really got around to doing what we wanted with her room. She thought her bedding was babyish- and her walls were boring. She told me she *needed* color. Hot pink and black and she wanted a chandelier type of a light.

We looked at hundreds of bedding sets, and she finally saw one she liked. I never committed to any of this. She kept telling me she knew I would never be able to surprise her so don't even try. I think she was secretly scared I would paint her room in pastels or something that she'd hate. I took it as a challenge to do this as a surprise, AND to have her love it. Matt and I worked all day, and it came together even better than I had expected. I was hiding in her room, when she got home, so I could record her reaction.

She was so surprised, and she loved it. She kept saying, "This is so me! This is EXACTLY what I wanted." I love how it turned out too, and now have the bug to paint something else. (Shh.... Don't tell Matt!) He is such a good sport and helps with anything I need. He does it because he is a nice guy though, not because he loves to decorate. Sorry hon!



(The black rectangles are chalkboard paint, and can be written on just like a regular chalkboard.)

Chair that Morgan already had in her, recovered:

Finished chair:

39 and holding...

We celebrating Matt's 39th birthday...for the first time yesterday. I am sure this will not be the last time we celebrate #39 for him. :) He is the best husband and father anyone could ask for. I have a million reasons why he is the best. Any questions? Refer to the birthday post from last year, and add on top of that a bunch of other wonderful qualities.(Can't figure out how to link my old post!) We had his family over for dinner last night, and had a great time visiting with far away family, and missed those who couldn't be here. Love you Matt! Happy 39!

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas! On Christmas Eve we always read the scriptures about Christ's birth. Afterwards, we sing songs and drink hot chocolate, and open up a present. The present is always PJ's of course. They make sure Santa is well fed, as well as the reindeer. This is the easiest night of the year to get kids in bed. They are begging to go to bed so Santa can come. This year was no different. After kids were in bed, we finished up our Christmas stuff, and checked on each of the kids. The children were tucked all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads.




In the morning we found out Santa had come, and Elfie had flown home for the year to live with Santa.

And we had some excitement upon waking and finding these:






The kids had a wonderful Christmas, and loved spending time with cousins, and playing with their new toys. We are grateful for our knowledge of our Savior. We are grateful for family and friends, who show us so much love. And we are thankful we get to spend time together as a family, celebrating the birth of Jesus.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We were able to see the lights at temple square.



We dressed in our Christmas finery.







And we had some Christmas fun.


What better way to get ready for Christmas than to see the lights and spend time together as a family?

Shortest day of the year?

I don't think so! At least not at our household. Or maybe Camden didn't get the message. His day (and therefore MY day began at 3 a.m.) He woke up screaming "MOMMY MOMMY HELP ME!" He was crying hysterically, so I got him out of his crib and he told me there was a frog in his crib, and that he needed his bouncy ball. I assured him there was no frog. I proved it, by showing him, there was not a frog. That didn't matter to him. There is still a frog in his crib tent apparently. I told him he could get his bouncy ball later, when it was light outside. He kept saying, "I slept. It's light outside!" He stayed up until 6:30 or so and finally fell back asleep. The day didn't get much better after that. It's been a long one, and I'm already ready to go back to bed. 3 more days until Christmas!

Laser Tag

Well- we finally made it to our game of laser tag! The kids had a great time playing with our friends,the Godfrey's. I didn't get a single picture, but fun was had! Afterwards, we went to dinner with them as well. It was a great way to spend our family home evening with each other.

Elf on a Shelf

Santa sent this book all the way from the North Pole. Our little elf, named "Elfie" reports back to Santa on the happenings of the day, and we often find him in unusal places the next morning. The kids love looking for Elfie. Even Camden has been getting into it. As soon as Morgan got home from school he shouts, "Let's find Elfie! He in the tree! He hiding there!" We will see over time if Elfie really helps them behave- if so- I may have to come up with a new Elfie that stays all year long. :)

Book of Mormon

This year we decided to read the Book of Mormon together as a family. In the past, we had read the Book of Mormon, and Bible stories, countless times for scripture study, because they were easier for the kids tounderstand. However they are getting older and we had not read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover together. We told the kids that we would put leftover change in a jar everyday, and when we finished the Book of Mormon, we would spend the money on a really fun activity. Well, we finished it! It was a great thing- and now we're starting right over. We ended up with $139 in the change jar! The kids were dying to go to a Laser Tag place and a nice dinner, so we took them to Salt Lake. Only thing is- when we called on the way down to get reservations for Laser Tag, it is the only day this year they are closed. We changed our plans, with a promise to take them to Laser Tag soon. We ate in Salt Lake, went to Temple Square to see the lights, and then Matt took the kids to a Jazz game, while I took Camden home to bed. They rode the Frontrunner home- and had a great time. They are already making plans for when we can spend the rest of the money on Laser tag.

It must be Christmas time

Here's a little of what we have been up to:
baking

and
baking

and baking.

Six Degrees

Yikes- Look at the temp right now!

Somebody remind me why I live in a freezing cold desert. My hands are seriously cracked and bleeding right now, because of how dry it is and the always running. Also- trying to avoid all the sickness around, by washing constantly is not helping the skin. The kids love the snow though- so at least someone is getting some joy out of this weather. But if you need me....I'll be in Hawaii, if only in my dreams.

Santa visit

Every year I take the kids to see Santa, and have a 5x7 picture of it, from Morgan's first Christmas, until now. I have them framed and display them on my mantel every Christmas. Morgan asked how long she has to keep being in Santa photo's and I told her until she moves out. She is less and less excited by this every year- but I can't part with this tradition! I love looking back at old photos and seeing the changes from year to year. However- I do feel bad, because I know she feels awkward and the boys soon will, too. I wish I could freeze these kids right now. I was telling Matt that I feel like we are in the 'honeymoon' phase with our kids right now. The older 3 are old enough to be somewhat self sufficient, yet still need me, and aren't at the point where they talk back all the time and are ornery teenagers. We still have a minuscule amount of control, which I am sure won't always be the case! Now, Camden on the other hand... sometimes I want to freeze his cuteness and bottle it up.(Other times- not so much.) But for now, the Santa pictures are still a tradition- and I hope they will be for the next 16 years. (Ya right! Camden will be 18 and I can't see him in a Santa picture by himself at that point. Dang these kids growing up!)

Snow

It's gonna be a white Christmas again. Camden is like me. He does not like the cold or snow. He started singing a song today. "I don't like the snow. I don't like the snow. I don't like wind. I need my jacket. I not be good at the letters." I thought his song was pretty funny, until I took him to the post office. His song was completely honest. He cried about the snow blowing in his face, and he NOT be good at the letters. (Post office)It was a throw yourself face down on the floor, kicking and screaming type of not be good moment. Oh well- there is always tomorrow!

And it Came to Pass...

Camden is so funny. He *loves* to read books. The other day I caught him 'reading' the scriptures. He was flipping through them saying, "And it came to pass...mumble mumble.... And it came to pass." I guess they really are listening, when you think they aren't! I didn't believe this- but during scriptures he basically runs around like a wild and crazy man. Good to know it's not all in vain. :)

The same day we were also driving in the car and he started saying "You're perfect Momma. I love you so much!" I was feeling so good that he would say that until he started saying, "Dora you perfect. Elmo you perfect. Shoes you perfect too." Oh well- that second of being perfect in the eyes of my two year old may have been short lived, but it was sweet.

Crafting

I've still not got a lot of shopping done, but I have been doing some crafty things.

Like this:

and this Christmas Advent Countdown:

And helping the kids de-junk their rooms. It feels so nice to have it clean, even if it is only for a day! It sure feels good to clean things out, now I just need to get that Christmas shopping done.

It's birthday time again

I have the best family ever. Seriously my husband rocks. My kids are awesome and I am so grateful for them. My birthday was this weekend- and they sure know how to treat me like a princess! I wasn't allowed to lift a finger- as they waited on me, cleaned, massaged my feet and made me dinner. They are so thoughtful and I am the luckiest girl ever.

Decorating

The house is decorated and now it's time to start getting ready for Christmas. Matt spent Saturday helping my Mom move, so I decided to get Christmas decorations set up while he was gone. Christmas decorating is one of those things that Matt HATES to do, but helps me without complaining, and hates it the entire time. The kids love to help- and they sure did their share! Camden was not the biggest helper, but he made up for it by being so cute and excited about everything we pulled out. "Oh- wow! Awesome! It's perfect!" Now- if I can venture out and get Christmas shopping- we will have an awesome Christmas season.