"Car"versation #2

Why do my kids fight every time they get in the car? I don't know, they just do. Today, from the back seat-
Abby-(crying)"Mom, Gracie hit me"
Gracie-"Abby started it."
Bryce-(in Abby's defence)"Ya, well Gracie middled it and ended it"

Happy home made Christmas Eve

I had lots of plans for home made Christmas stuff and didn't follow through on most of it. I did finish the peanut butter balls for the neighbors but not the cute little bags I was going to put them in. Maybe the gifts I started for the kids will be done by their birthdays and the home made tree decorations just got scrapped all together. The one thing that we did follow through on was the home made family gift exchange.

McKay made Bryce a book to write his stories in.

Bryce made Gracie puppets.

Gracie made Daddy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Daddy made Nate a Coupon Book with lots of fun things to do together.

Nate made Abby a Makeup box.

Abby made Mommy a basket with flowers and chocolate and snowflakes in it.

Mommy made McKay a sign for his room.

Going home made didn't make the gifts less expensive and it was a lot more work (mostly for mom), but we had a great time and started a new tradition. It was awesome to see the kids so exited about doing something for each other.

Oh hiss.miss.chee, Oh hiss. miss. chee

McKay was talking in his sleep last night and said "Hiss. miss. chee." Which is K.K. talk for Christmas Tree. Sweet dreams baby.

A Long List

Things I've done
Things I haven't done
Things I plan on doing

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band (Bass Clarinet in fifth grade)
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitchhiked (In Rexburg with Jenn, Scary guy picked us up... lucky to be alive)
Taken a sick day when you're not ill (Who hasn't)
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a marathon
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Taught yourself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo's David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi concentration camp
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy (Susie)
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish)
Had chicken pox
Saved someone's life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby (or 5)
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a lawsuit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee

Gracie goes to preschool at a Lutheran church. When we walked into the church today for school she noticed the Christmas tree and said, "Look mom, God put up his Christmas tree." Too Cute!

Someday he's going to hate me for this

We are in the pre-pottie training stages. He likes to sit on the pottie but it only works if I catch him about to do his business and then ask him if he wants to sit on the pottie, at which point he points to his bum and says "poooop, poooop, poooop". So I sit him on his pottie seat and we wait. While we wait we sing... songs like "You have to fight for your right to pooottie" and other little know ditties, most of which I make up on the spot. Today I sang a nice rap song that he seemed to like. It went something like, "Yo, yo poopn' in the pottie is fun". Good times!

Before and After

I gave in to peer pressure. I think McKay's hair looked good but really he's super cute no matter what his hair looks like. So at the requeat of his dad and grand parents and some friends we went ahead and got it cut.

Look at him now!
Still sooo handsome.

There's no place like home for the Holidays

Just a little bit of holiday cheer from our home to yours.

Little Wonders

Just a little something for Rey and Summer and Eve.

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your special day.

I can't tell how much it meant to me just to be there in

the temple with you as your family was sealed.

The whole experience made me think of this song.

I hope you like it

let it go,

let it roll right off you shoulder,

don't you know the hardest part is over

let it in,

let your clarity define you

in the end

we will only just remember how it feels

our lives are made

in these small hours

these little wonders,

these twists & turns of fate

time falls away,

but these small hours,

these small hours still remain

let it slide,

let your troubles fall behind you

let it shine

until you feel it all around you

and i don't mind

if it's me you need to turn to

we'll get by,

it's the heart that really matters in the end

our lives are made

in these small hours

these little wonders,

these twists & turns of fate

time falls away,

but these small hours,

these small hours

still remain

all of my regret

will wash away some how

but i can not forget

the way i feel right now

in these small hours

these little wonders

these twists & turns of fate

these twists & turns of fate

time falls away

but these small hours

these small hours,

still remain,

still remain

these little wonders

these twists & turns of fate

time falls away but these small hours

these little wonders still remain.

It was one of the most special moments

that I have ever gotten to witness.

Thank you.