New Year's in California

We left 2 days after Christmas early in the morning to travel to Ryan's parents house just outside Fresno California. We drove through the day there- which was too hard with the kids, and so coming back drove through New Year's eve night. Harder on Ryan, but he's got truck driver blood in his family and I helped a whopping 3 hours.

We played with cousins, Aunt Angela made awesome meals, Jackson and I got a 12 hourish stomach bug that was going around there (not fun), went to the movies, to the park, out for ice cream, Ryan and I got out on a date night with Ang and Nate (Grandma and Grandpa watched all the kids!) Had a bonfire, and overall just loved sitting and visiting with all the family that lives there.

And then, as for these 2 little guys. My Jackson, and Angela's Tate, just weeks apart, and so the same in so many ways. One's a bit fatter, mine, and one talk's like the encyclopedia, her's, but it was fun to see them together.

Christmas Eve & Day 2009

Ryan worked a half day on Christmas Eve and then met us up at my mom's. She made clam chowder and orange rolls, a chocolate cake, and had sugar cookies for the kids to frost for Santa. My grandparents came and my Uncle Marvin and 3 of his children (Chris is the oldest who drove out from Kentucky (still miss you!) with his wife and 2 little children. He is in the Army and redeploys again to Afganistan in the next month.) It was nice to visit with family, some of whom I had not seen in 10 years.

We made it home to finish our traditions; have Family Home Evening, act as Shepard's and hunt for the baby Jesus, and feed the reindeer outside. Ryan had a patient that was admitted and so ran into the hospital before midnight for a short bit, but was home to help play Santa still.

Opening sibling gifts Christmas Eve. When we drew names earlier in the month, with each name that was drawn,they would cheer for each other. "Yah!!! I got Landon!" or "Yah, Emma I have you!"


Santa's deliveries:

Tanner: Star Wars Legos and ships and Wii games

Emma: Doll bed and high chair and doll and purse that I made her

Landon: Battle Force 5 cars, cars, cars and Star Wars ship

Jackson: Shake n' go race track and cars and airplane

Santa set our breakfast table too!
My mom and brothers came for Christmas day dinner. Pork Loin, Rolls, fresh green beans, and roasted red potato's. We had sparkling apple juice and marie calendar pies. We played all day. And even got Grandma to sing on the Wii Rock Band game we got.

Christmas Festivities

All things leading up to Christmas.

During Christmas Break:

-we went to the Science Center

-had a playdate with a family of 4 boys

-made Graham Cracker Houses

-played in the snow

- Saw Santa twice (once at Ryan's childrens Holiday Work Party, and once at the Ward Christmas Party)

And lastly, hosted the adult dinner party. We had 16 couples. There was the right amount of food, the dessert table was the best (I bought everything) and I didn't get any great pictures. We had a couple sing a beautiful song, and as soon as the last guest left, Ryan & I high fived and I collapsed. The mess was cleaned up the next day.

I've also been working on this:

I'm just past 12 weeks. The kids wanted a "puppy". We told them we are getting something new. In June. But it's not a puppy. Emma's first question--"Is it a GIRL?" Tanner mentioned we better watch Jackson around the baby (he's been kind of crazy with the stick pony lately, we're all ducking for cover). And I say, five feels...... full. Like perfect. And Ryan says (or hopes), it's our finale. We will see. I am so blessed.

Checking them off

These thing I've been working on...

2 weeks ago my stake put on it's an annual Creche (nativity) Exhibit. They asked me to take on a room. I was given the "America's" to design- I had Native American, South American, and Eskimo sets. I gathered the fabrics and items I needed and then recruited 5 or so women to help. Thank heavens for them! The workers at the exhibit spend 2 full days staging (once the building is prepped, and that takes 2 days prior) and then the exhibit is just for 24 hours. A lot of work for such a short time. Ryan was out of town in Texas for training, and so I arrived late (no children allowed for set-up). The fun part? It all comes down on Saturday night at 9 pm- and workers transport loads of stuff to storage sheds, nativities have to be picked up, and the building re-assembled for church. They stay until 2 am during take-down. This was such a huge labor of love and highlights our love for the birth of the Savior for the community.

flyer from MHcreche.org

This past weekend was my ward Christmas party. The youth in our ward put on a Christmas Caroling program and we served cookies and hot cocoa with a bar for any kind of topping you would ever want on top. Santa visited at the end of the night. And, it has been snowing- which I think is perfect for Christmas, but was afraid people would not brave the roads. But they did, and we had a full house.

And this coming weekend, we are hosting and adult dinner party. We are planning on about 15 couples. I really have no idea how this will go. We still feel like the new kids on the block- I'm going to have prep Ryan, "Now, this is so and so and his name is----- and they hunt most the fall." Actually that might confuse us- everyone hunts here. I better figure out a better way to decipher couples. I can't help but feel pangs of homesickness for friends we know. How I would love to spend a night with them.

ps- I specified "light" dinner because I was afraid all these hunters would show up and think, where's the steak? I'm planning on ham with sides and a dessert bar.

Thanks be said

Just some thoughts on Thanksgiving this year.

~It was nice to not have to "travel" to see family. Or to worry about having to make arrangements and swing the time off. Family came to my moms in Boise. I did drive the hour or so in everyday, but it was so worth the time I spent with my sisters and Julie and Grandma and Grandpa and, for Landon, Grandpa's new kitty.

~I still miss you Kentucky.

~I feel so....... tender..... lately. Is that the best word? I was on our base in the morning of the day of the Fort Hood shooting. It was such a sunny day and as I drove out of base, over the 4 foot deep cement walls that pop up in protection, I thought what a calm place base was. Really. I think we have regretted a bit that we chose to live off base. I came home and happened to see on the news that a soldier shooter had unloaded in Texas at army base Hood.

~I had been worrying myself a bit to sleeplessness some nights. I think it is important to say that we have had no regrets about our decision to go military. There are some definite "misleadings" that you are told about your commitment, but Ryan and I knew he could be deployed. We still signed. I have felt so very honored to be married to someone that is working for the military. He feels a strong sense of pride in his work. We love our country. I am more than awed as I see these young kids in uniform on base. I wonder, how did their parents teach them to be so selfless, and courageous, and duty-driven? They salute Ryan (and he feels akward about this), and I think, these are the kids going and fighting the battle. We should salute them. What got mixed up here? I love those soldiers fighting for our freedom.

~ As I mentioned, I was worrying over Ryan's possible impending deployment. I was praying for perspective and strength. And I had the strongest thought come to my mind. I was walking into the commissary (the base grocery store) and noticed two young airman. They were so young. If I was their mother's, wouldn't I want a good, prayerful, doctor taking care of them if they were sick or wounded so far from home? I would. My perspective changed a bit. Instead of worrying about me and how life will work without him, I've been trying to think about those he can help.

~I love this time of year. We kicked off December FHE with a lesson/reminder on why we have Christmas. Is it about Santa or the Savior? We wanted them to think about what they can do for each other and for those in need. Tanner started crying. He said he didn't have enough money to buy himself a present and one for everyone else that "needed" one. We sure know how to raise em right. Every time you give someone a present you give one to yourself. Isn't that how it works? According to Tanner.

~My little kids. I feel so busy. Doing the same thing over and over, day after day. Meals, laundry, cleaning up messes. But I find daily, they make me smile and study them. I am always asked by Emma, what are we doing today? I gave her my list today and heard her repeat back in her play. First I have to pay bills, then we have to go to the dollar store..... my exact list I told her. But, next time, she asks me about our day, I'm going to tell her: First, I'm going to squeeze you like silly and kiss you and love on your little brothers. I want her to know that that is what makes my day. Each of my kids. That came because I love their dad so much.

Stocking love from Etsy

I got my order in the mail. As always, Etsy came through with just what I wanted. I'm going to stencil on some names at the top.

From who, I say, who?

I got this book set in the mail 10 days or so ago. There was no note from the sender. Was it you? My kids think it came from the North Pole. My cousin, Kate, sent me a handmade "Organized Christmas" book last month. As I have been working off my holiday checklist from this book, I should be completely Christmas errand free the first week of December! Click HERE to see the program. Many, many thanks to my cousin Kate for introducing me to the program and her book. Oh, and to the giver of the Elf book. I can see you are checking off your "Organized Christmas" as well.

The babysitter destroyed my house.

Or maybe, she let the kids. Either way, it was destroyed. In a matter of 4 hours. We got home at 9:30 pm and Ryan decided that he now knows what are children would do if they were left unsupervised- but we, once again, did leave them with a 16 year old girl. Emma doesn't lie yet. And Emma told me the orange peels all over the house, both levels, were from the babysitter. And the kitchen was dripping in puddles of water, the table and counters were covered in food and pizza and cheesecake. There was cheese on the couches and and the kids had climbed on the furniture in the office to get to the top of the bookshelves. Everything was out. The house was littered in craft papers and scissor scraps. I paid her (well for around here too), and as Ryan said, that was her severance pay. Never again. We talked to our kids about how we treat our home and do we do this......... to our house? As Ryan and I spent almost 2 hours cleaning it up. We argued a bit. He's always telling me to get a sitter, I always complain I can't find the right one. Was our night out worth the disaster we had to clean up? Even when I am sick on the couch the house does not reach this level of destruction. Not ever.

So, we decided, the babysitter must have had a good time. Or our children were wild. A-N-I-M-A-L-S. As in, they belong outside. I hope the babysitter just had a good time.

My etsy love

I need new stockings- Love these screenprinted stockings. from The Bobbins Nest.

And a bit of this idea too. From My Adobe Cottage.
Love this look from South House Boutique.
And then these little banners. from Perch Papiers.
And this shops beautiful door greeters. From Two Inspire You.
And my sister told me to look up baby rattles. Little Sapling Toys.
And I can't get enough of Funkyshiqe.

I bought my Emma these headbands and bows. The headbands are sized right. She loves them. I love them. From Billiebrand.

I put this birdcage on her wall above her bed. The cage in white and bird in pink- her walls are lavender. It looks darling. From Leen the graphics queen.

How about this for Ryan? In place of his dogtags maybe? Alibalijewelery.

I ordered 2 of these steel magnet boards. I hope they fill up with Christmas cards (do you know I just threw out in the move here 3 years worth of Christmas cards?). From Steel Dreams Designs.

Pirates with their Monkey

yes, that's Ryan, aka "Jack Sparrow"

I made it through our Ward Trunk or Treat. I dragged a couple new-found friends into the decorating mix with me and then my mom and brothers came out to help throughout the night. I promise to NEVER do a trunk or treat on Halloween day ever again. (Maybe that will get me released?) I think we had 400ish people. It was standing room only. I look back at this month and did not make a special dinner for my family or even carve pumpkins. So lame. Once the weekend cleared I looked around my house and thought some wild people must live here! I've been cleaning and putting halloween stuff away and went to add some more to my attic storage and realized, the key is gone. Like I think the baby threw it away. I have a locksmith coming out to break me in. Such a big bummer- I can't wait 6 weeks to find it. All my christmas is up there. Speaking of Christmas, I think I need a bigger break between the Trunk or Treat and our ward Christmas party. Can I change the calendar?