Thoughts

*Is it a sign or a bad omen that our Christmas lights fell down into a pathetic sag on December 1st before we even had them turned on for one night? They usually do get pulled down by the icicles, but not until at least mid January (I will blame it on the dumb blizzard!). We looked like white trash for a couple of days until our wonderful neighbor helped us get back in the Christmas spirit by putting them back up. He used some sort of duct tape and wire to secure them so hopefully they will last. (Even though duct tape on the outside of our house is kind-of white trashish too!) I am very picky about my lights so I am thankful they are still up.

*Last week we took treats to someones house on Monday night. We had tons of yummy pumpkin chocolate chip muffins with cinnamon cream cheese frosting and so we made up a plate, put a secret note on it and ding dong ditched it. My kids loved it. It was so fun we decided we want to do it every month. Oh yeah, the Family Home Evening Phantom is back!

*My kids new favorite show is Funniest Home Videos. (Without cable, they have limited options) They think it is hilarious, and when I walk by and see some of the clips, I have to agree. And now every time Ethan does something even remotely funny or gets hurt in some way he says to me, "you should have gotten that on video and sent it to AFV! We could win lots of money!"

*Because it was fast Sunday my 2 oldest didn't have presidency meetings. Everyone had bathed the night before, I didn't have sharing time and so I was excited to sleep in. As I was snoozing away, Brandon quietly came into my room and whispered, "should I walk to fast offerings?" I had totally forgot that I have a new deacon who has new responsibilities on fast Sunday. But he didn't. Of course, he remembered. Of course, he didn't need to be reminded or woken up or urged to get dressed quickly. He was up and ready to go all on his own. And then he wanted to get to church an hour early to get a chance to pass the sacrament (with 20 deacons you have to fight for a spot!). I talked him into leaving about 20 minutes early--and he got a spot. Do I need to say how much I admire this kid?

*A Christmas miracle has occurred. Ashlyn is totally potty trained. All on her own. There had been no talk about it or attempts or anything, it had been put on the back burner until after Christmas. But after her bath on Saturday night apparently (I wasn't even upstairs) she hopped on the toilet and went #1 AND #2!! Who knows why, she just did. Ethan came running downstairs to tell me. I ran upstairs and sure enough there it was in all its glory. I would normally do a huge post with a picture and everything but she was buck naked sitting there on the toilet and so my kids would call that pornography....speaking of...

*I was in a hurry Saturday night and so bathed my 3 little ones together. Alyssa usually showers but begged to take a bath that night and I let her. At one point in the very crowded bathtub Ethan stood up to get something. Alyssa pointed and then screamed "That's pornography!" Now granted it was right in her face, but pornography? Um, I guess so...no...I don't know! I concluded Alyssa needs to stick to her solo showers where she is safe from the evils of her little brother...and pornography!

*I was released today from Primary. I have been in the presidency for over 3 years now. I have loved it. I love being where my kids are. Being released from a calling is always bittersweet. I will miss it a lot, especially as I have watched little Ashie come in with the nursery in preparation for next year. I wish I could watch her for a little while longer, but it is time to move on. I look forward to whatever is around the corner (I just hope it is after Christmas!) There is a quote I love that says something like, "just as soon as you are called, the clock begins ticking towards the moment of your release, it is up to you as to how you will serve and use that time." I feel good about my time in Primary, the spirit is strong in Primary. It is where my heart is. I will miss it.

* I am desperately trying to catch up on all our Thanksgiving week festivities(blogging them, that is) I am just doing them one at a time and then plugging them in where they go chronologically. One of these days I will figure this whole blogging thing out. One of these days!

That's all.

Festival of Trees

One day in the first week of December is always reserved for the Festival of Trees. We rarely miss it.

We walk through aisle after aisle of beautiful trees. The girls and I stop and admire and look at details. The boys walk down the middle of the aisle, twisting their heads from side to side so they can kill two rows with one stone, a convenient trick their father taught them. We read the stories, we cry (OK the girls and I do) and every year I say a silent prayer in my heart that I will never be at this fundraiser looking at a tree for one of my own. Here are just some of our favorites this year.

The little girls loved this fairy tree. There was a whole tiny fairy village under the tree with little fires and paths and flowers. It was really cute.

Ethan loved the blue cookie monster tree.

Everyone was fascinated with the tree titled "Barbies Winter Ball" All of the barbies were dressed up and being escorted to the ball by very handsome boy barbies. My girls found Jasmine, Mulan, Eric and I, of coarse, found Donny, who happened to be singing at this very grand occasion.

There were tons of BYU/Utah trees. I loved my kids showing their true colors in this one. There was also a book tree that Ashlyn was drawn to. A huge display where the blue trees were curved into waves and Santa was surfing under them and a big tree that looked just like a snowman. I am always amazed at people's creativity and at their stories and at their strength. I am always amazed at the Festival of Trees!

Really?

View # 1 of our playroom.

View # 2 of our playroom.

Really? How does it get like this every week? What in the world do they do in there? I know what they do. They get out every dress up ever made and spread them around. Then they dump out the stuffed animal bucket. Then they sprinkle the jewels and fake coins around for some sparkle. Then they throw Barbie out of her house and all her friends, furniture and accessories too. For good measure they toss the train and ALL the tracks around. They stir in a handful of books, add a pinch of plastic food and dishes and then they garnish with dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. That's what they do. Every week. And then they don't play in it because it is just too messy (and dangerous) to even step foot in the door. And then we begin the clean up process which takes way too much of my time. Trevor says we should get rid of it all. But I just can't bring myself to do that. After all, it's our playroom and I really believe that's what they think they are doing when they create this mess. So, until someone actually breaks a leg from walking across the floor or gets lost in there, (which I'm pretty sure will happen someday) it will just be messy....and a whole lot of fun!

The Dragon Party (part 1)

For Ethan's 6th birthday party, we were planning on recycling an old spiderman party I did years ago for Brandon. He was fine with that, but I really wasn't. About a week before his birthday I, for whatever reason, was thinking about the movie, "How to Train a Dragon." I really liked it and thought it might be fun to do a party based on that movie. I ran it by Ethan, he liked the idea and his "How to Train a Dragon" party was born.


Ethan thought it appropriate to wear his dragon shirt to his dragon party!

As the boys, or dragon trainers, were arriving they were each given 2 balloons a red and a black, which they were told were rare dragon eggs. They couldn't let their dragon eggs touch the ground. They could have done it for hours, but the training had to begin.

They were then informed that before they could train a dragon they had to be familiar with fire, since most dragons breath fire. So they had to practice jumping over it. They went around and around jumping over this fire (courtesy of our ward cub scout troop). I loved when they started doing little tricks like spinning and flicking their feet. They were really serious about it. On their last attempt they had to do it with their eyes closed.

They then had to go into the basement and learn how to dodge fireballs. They chose a shield and then Brandon, my fire ball maker, hurled multiple fire balls at them. After they succeeded at this task they were taught how to calm a dragon or how to put one to sleep. They had to sing happy birthday to you very quietly. It really is the only thing that works they were told. They practiced singing in several times. They were now ready to receive their dragons. The excitement was palpable.

They were shuffled into the mudroom where the dragon lady was waiting. One by one she picked the perfect dragon for each boy. Their eyes were wide each time she went into the bathroom to get a dragon because there was a lot of banging around as she wrestled the dragons out and handed them to their trainers.

Dragon party (part 2)

Here are the brave trainers with their new dragons. They then had to name their dragons.

Meet:

Three headed cool dragon, Blue, Fiery, Glow up, Goldy and Chuck.

(what do you expect, they're 6!)

The dragon than had to be trained how to walk. They were carefully placed on a streamer by their trainer and walked around the floor several times.


Then the dragons had to learn how to fly. They were carefully tossed into baskets.

My favorite part was feeding time. The trainers had to search in the living room for a plastic egg. Inside their egg was what their dragon would eat. Whatever was in their egg they had to feed to their dragon and then go and get the bowl with their dragon food from the dragon lady.

They then divided up the food with the other trainers. The dragons ate fish, peanuts, worms, bears, dirt balls and humans (gasp!). They all went away with a dragon food bag filled with the treats.

Then they had to walk around in a circle holding two of their dragon's eggs on two spoons. If the eggs fell they had to start again.

(It's almost over, really!)

Dragon party (the final part, I promise)

We had to pause and feed the hungry trainers. The dragons were invited to the table, but didn't need to be fed, since they had just eaten. The boys ate fire cupcakes and drank dragon's blood. I then told them all about dragon lairs and how dragons liked to steal and hide treasures in their lairs. Sadly, a dragon had stolen their treasure bags and they were given clues to find the lair to hopefully retrieve their treasures.

The last clue led them to the dreaded lair of the most fierce dragon ever known. And sure enough their goody bags were right there where he slept.

As they attempted to get their bags the dragon awoke and their were some viscous attacks, but I reminded the trainers that they had been taught and knew how to calm a dragon. (At this point my darling nephew was overheard in the corner giving himself a pep-talk "OK, this is going to be scary, but I can do it, I know what to do!") They all started to sing happy birthday really quietly and what do know, it worked. That fierce dragon crawled back into his lair and fell right asleep.

The trainers were victorious! And the party was a true test where only the bravest survived! We had a blast!

(What did I used to do before I had teenagers to help me with these parties?)

Thoughts

*Kara gave the prayer at a Regional Fireside with a General Authority, Neil A. Anderson. It was held in the Tabernacle where there was standing room only and broadcast into an overflowing Stake Center. I wasn't there, but heard she did a great job. She was nervous. The next day at school some random guy (who by the way, she says was cute) came up to her and asked for her phone number. Apparently, he made a bet with a friend that he would ask out the girl who said the prayer at the fireside. Funny what happens when you pray!

*Ashlyn informed me that after Christmas she would become a big girl. She said she will stop sucking her thumb and wear panties. We'll see about that. It would truly be a Christmas miracle if it actually happened. Please let there be a Christmas miracle.

*Ethan is totally reading. He brings home those little beginner books and reads and re-reads them over and over again. He is very proud and so am I. He was, however, very upset after reading one of the books where a pet dog is left on a bus. He said, "that was the saddest book I ever read in my whole life!" Luckily, for Ethan, and the pet dog, he was reunited with his owner at the end of the book. Thank goodness for happy endings.

*Last week at church our family pew was pretty empty. I looked around the chapel and found my 14 year old sitting by the door, ushering and handing out programs, my 12 year old passing the sacrament and my 16 year old up on the stand playing the organ. I feel so blessed to belong to a church where we are taught to serve so early in our youth. I felt even more blessed that my kids were worthy and willing to do so.

*I got my hair done this week. Nothing new, just a cut and some highlights. Well, I have never received so many compliments. Everyone kept telling me how great my hair looked- family, friends, strangers (no, not really strangers, but they might as well have been). I came to the conclusion that it wasn't so much my new "do" that was so great, but that my old one was really bad. I kept telling everyone thanks, but I would look just the same as I did last week when I did my hair myself. I just don't have time to blow dry and flat iron my hair for hours each day like my hairdresser does. I just don't. So, sorry to everyone who thought I looked absolutely beautiful, but the ugly old fashioned "do" is just going to have to do! Like it or not, Mark, the claw is coming back!

*I am grateful for the Winco candy bins, and here is why. This last week alone, this is what I had to send to school with my kids: 25 candies for a Christmas countdown calendar. Candy corn for a Thanksgiving project (preferably brown candy corn). Birthday treats for my 6 year old. Treats for 2 separate Thanksgiving feasts, one in the second grade and one in kindergarten. And trinkets or treats to be traded at the 4th grade Mountain Man Rendezvous! That is a lot of treats for 1 week. Luckily, I can go to the bins and get exactly the number and color that I need. Winco, I am thankful for you this week!

*So there was this huge blizzard warning this week. It was huge- the warning, that is. They were cancelling schools. They were cancelling surgeries. They were cancelling concerts. They were urging everyone to leave work early and get home. They told everyone to stay home unless absolutely necessary, and if you had to go out to bring blankets, food, and water in your car. I was expecting to be snowed in my house for days. I went to the grocery store that day along with the rest of the state. In my defense, it was my regular shopping day. I felt a little panicked as I was pushing my cart through the crowded store, but was a little more relaxed after I got my shopping done and all of my little chickies were home in my nest. And then we waited. And waited. And waited. There was some wind, a skiff of snow, and some pretty cold temps, but that was it. It was the dumbest blizzard I have ever been in. But one thing it did do was again make me think "how ready am I? How is my food storage? Do I have enough medication to take care of my family?" When things like this happen (like the swine flu scare, earthquakes around the world, and dumb blizzards) it always makes me grateful I have followed the counsel of our leaders and have tried to be prepared. It also makes me even more determined to get even more ready. One of these days I am going to depend on that preparation. I just know it!

*I have a few thoughts about sickness, because we have had a lot of it in our house this week. We have had strep throat, a nasty cold, pink eye, and the vomiting flu all going around in our family. It was lovely. The worst part is, I got sick. It's never easy when mom is down. As I was saying my prayers on the night I was sick, I started to pray that nobody else would get sick...and then I stopped. A thought came to me that I really couldn't pray that nobody would get sick, because we were going to get sick. It is a part of life. Has anyone really gone through their whole life without being sick? And then I realized that being sick served several purposes. Being sick makes us stronger, by helping our bodies to form antibodies and to help us fight off things later, and most importantly, being sick makes us appreciate being well. As I laid in bed all day feeling sick to my stomach, I had to turn my head when food commercials came on TV, I thought about Christmas and how awful it would be if you couldn't eat or be up and around and I was grateful. I felt grateful that this sickness wouldn't last forever. I felt grateful that my body can fight sickness. I felt grateful that in a few days I would be back to normal and would be able to watch food commercials and eat Christmas treats. I just felt grateful. Truly there must needs be opposition in all things. I have a stronger testimony of that now. It all sounds kind of silly right now, but at the time as I was laying in bed hour after hour it had a profound impact on me and I needed to jot it down somewhere. And so here is where it was jotted.

*We had 2 family baby blessings this week. They were wonderful. I am so thankful for all of these sweet little nieces and nephews that are coming to our family. I love them and my kids adore them. It was a great weekend filled with family, family, and more family. We wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

*Christmas is practically here. I still haven't started my Christmas cards. Help me!

Our little turkey is 6!

When you have a baby around Thanksgiving it makes you reflect a lot about how thankful you are for the miracle of life and that sweet person that has come to your family. For 6 years I have been so thankful that Ethan is mine, that he is healthy and happy, and that he is who he is and not the little girl I thought he was. This year his birthday fell on black Friday, just like it did that wonderful day 6 years ago when he came to our family.

I am thankful for those big brown eyes. They shine and sparkle and they help him get away with more than he should because they are just so darn cute! I am thankful for his cute voice when he says, "yes mother!" I am thankful he is so excited about learning and is doing so well in kindergarten. I am thankful he has energy and loves to run and play soccer and wrestle. I am thankful he doesn't get up in the middle of the night anymore.

I am thankful he loves to play games, and is such a good playmate for Ashlyn while everyone else is at school. I am thankful he does his chores each Saturday with only minimal assistance and reminding. I am thankful he goes to Primary and is able to report each Sunday what he has learned. I am thankful that he really does try to choose the right.

I am thankful we got to go to Pirate Island for his birthday lunch and that he didn't seem to mind that I spent the whole morning of his birthday shopping with the rest of the world. I am thankful that he loves me so much and tells me often. I am thankful for the quiet mornings we have together to read books. I am thankful. Just so thankful that Heavenly Father trusted me with this wonderful little boy and that I get to watch him grow for many more Thanksgivings to come.

Happy Birthday Eto.

I love you!

Thankful

For our family, Thanksgiving is about much more than the food.

It is mostly about family.

Being with them.

Playing with them.

Wrestling with them.

OK, I guess we also enjoy eating with them.

Just as long as we're with "them" it's a perfect holiday for us.

This year was no exception.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Travis, how did you get in almost every picture?)

Tradition Tuesday-Turkey Cookies

I have been making these turkey cookies since my freshman year at BYU. That is a long time. We made them one night for Homemaking (it was called that back then) and I liked them. They were cute and easy, just my style. I remember making them for my family when I came home for Thanksgiving that year. So I guess you can say that I started this tradition with just myself, myself and some chocolate covered cherries and it has definitely stood the test of time. I have made these cookies every year since, and my kids wouldn't consider it Thanksgiving without our cute little turkey friends.

First we gather all of our ingredients. Plain sugar cookies, fudge stripe cookies, chocolate covered cherries, candy corn, white frosting and green food coloring. I saw off a little of the fudge stripe cookies to make a flat bottom and then we get to work.

Even my littlest can assemble these treats. And they love doing it. You put some green frosting on the sugar cookie (the originals had green tinted coconut on the frosting, but my kids didn't like coconut so over the years we just eliminated it and used green tinted frosting.) You put on the striped feathers, stick in the cherry and using a dab of frosting put on the beak. Done!

We then put our finished product on some festive plates and choose the families we will deliver them to on the night beforeThanksgiving.

A close up of the gobblers!

After the deliveries we of coarse, have to eat the ones we saved for ourselves. That's definitely a part of this tradition, this tradition that has been around longer than any of my 7 cute little turkeys, a tradition that I think will be around for many more years to come.

A boy and his....

...turtle.

This is Brandon's pet turtle, Bilbo, otherwise known as Turd. He has been in our family for almost a year now. How he came to Brandon is a small miracle. He really wanted a turtle. I mean really, really wanted a turtle. When he found out that they were at least $100 he started saving his money, every last cent. This was slow going. He went to pet stores and found one turtle that was only $50 because it had issues. I had to put my foot down on that one. The last thing I needed was a turtle with issues (what in the world can a turtle have issues about? I didn't want to find out).

Brandon was getting desperate and and after writing a very long persuasive essay at school decided to put it on his Christmas list. I told the kids I was pretty sure that Santa did not deliver reptiles. They remained hopeful. About 1 week before Christmas, Brandon was telling someone at recess about the desires of his heart to get turtle. Someone happened to overhear the conversation and said, "Hey there is a kid in my class giving away his turtle." Brandon found this kid, got his number, and raced home from school to tell me. He placed a phone call and we were on our way to check it out. I told him it was doubtful this was real, that it was the kind of turtle he wanted, that the kids mom knew what was going on, and that it was free. Ten minutes later we were walking out of there with a turtle, an aquarium, and one very happy boy.

Bilbo had been neglected. He had been living in a place much too small for a turtle of his size. His water dish was bone dry. The previous owner didn't feed him much and got rid of him because he wanted him to have a better home. I felt sorry for Bilbo, and secretly pledged in my heart that he would be taken care of in our home. And he has been. It was a good thing he was free, because it cost me almost $100 to upgrade his living conditions to include a bathing station and heat lamp and get him a physical, which is a whole nother story in itself. He is happy now. He eats lettuce, bananas, pears, and apples and he bathes himself every day.

He is an easy pet and I like him.

I just do, my little Turd.

The end.

I LOVE...

LOVE
LOVE

the FALL!

(and my beautiful girls)

THAT'S ALL!