Holidays are great, especially the long ones

Christmas Eve the children all slept together so that no one would or could go down early.  They slept in the apartment.  It was awful tempting to look them out and then sleep in.  They were up by 6 but then so was I . . . just can't sleep with all that fun waiting.
Sim was so much fun this year and he has had so much fun.  I have often caught him coming out of my room with another wrapped gift.  He gave to everyone at least one present and many of us two.  We had made those cute snowflakes a few  posts ago.  Well Simeon couldn't stand letting them go and decided to call them hats.  He put everyone's name on them and wrapped them up for Christmas.  This picture is of those hats.  He also gave Natalie one of his old toothbrushes (including the dried up toothpast still on it), He gave Dane Dane's tie that had turned up missing a couple of weeks ago, He gave me my missing pvc pipe for a craft project and explained to me that it was a paper towel holder.  He had so much fun giving and has continued giving as we have celebrated birthdays this week.

Christmas morning we have the tradition of lining up on the stairs, oldest to youngest to come down and see what Santa has brought.  They just never grow too big to have to line up.

Snow fun involves "hooding".  Being pulled on the hood of a car behind a 4 wheeler.  I was wimpy and didn't go very far but at least we have a picture of me playing with my kids.



We also participated in a homeschool sponsered family dance.  It was a lot of fun.  Great music with a DJ, fun decor, and great fun dancing with my family.

I am amazed at how quickly this Christmas holiday is going.  I am grateful that we have another week with the kids home and no school.  I always think I will get more done but I have to stop and remember that I am getting things done just by being home with my family or going places with my family i.e. parties.  It has been great.  

This sone came without my realizing it.  But I have decided its okay.  I sure wish I could keep all my family here and never let them leave me.  They are great and I love them.

The Nativity at our house

We like to act out the nativity to the song in the primary book with a verse for each part of the story. The cast seems to change every year. Emily has reserved the part of star and angel for several years now. Peter has taken over as donkey while Dad directs the in's and out's and I get to run the camera. They do such a great job.

The Holy family,

wise men,

Star and angel,

and the donkey, humble beast of burden .
Dinner at our house included BBQ turkey, yummy potatoes and salad with home made pies for dessert.

Christmas Eve

Sleigh riding was perfect. Anyone that wants to join us, come on down

HS choir

Here is a sample from the Christmas concert that Pete was in. You might notice how he can't keep his eyes off the girls.

Prayer with Miss D

Phase one of prayers is kneeling down, inviting her to say her prayers. She would kneel down and let me help her, then climb into bed.

Phase two of prayers is kneeling down, inviting her to say her prayers. Her saying "Go out", "Please, go out" and then from the door way hearing her say her own prayers.

Phase three of prayers is kneeling down, inviting her to say her prayers. Her asking me to go out. My getting up, going out, doing something in the hall or bathroom and her yelling "I need help!" I am then welcomed back into the room, allowed to kneel and even help her with her prayers.

Now we finally can move to the next step which includes Miss D making her bed (because I pulled down the covers), getting the bedding folded just right, climbing in herself, pulling up the covers, herself, my seeking for permission to kiss her on the cheek (the forehead is not allowed), hoping I will get a hug, saying good night, turning out the light and then having her get upset and want her daddy, her dog or baby, another drink of water and the door left open. Eventually she will get me trained if she can be that patient. It is always so nice when the silence in her room lasts through the night. (I just wish we had washed her face again and brushed those teeth, again after her dinner, again)

Up on the roof,

There arose such a clatter, I sprang from my kitchen to see what was the matter.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear but a miniature Peter,

He was way up there . . .WHY is my SON on the ROOF?

YIKES!!!!!

Of course, it had to be his dad's idea. I think the bag of presents got stuck part way because they didn't show up yet. Maybe our skinny 'Santa" should squeeze down the chimney and bring us some stuff.

and another musical gift

Snowflakes

For fun Snowflake patterns click HERE. I hear tomorrow we might actually get the real thing. We made a ton and are sharing them at our homeschool family ball. We have also tried making snowflakes with coffee filters. They don't tear easily but they are thing and cut easily, are already round, and great for our creative moments.

Another musical gift

My Twins

Missy D has had so much fun with the doll from grandma. Notice the red jumper and pig tails with red ribbons. She even came to church with us, but took a nap in the car while we were in nursery.

Christmas Music Concert at our public school

The middle school's music department is really doing great. I was especially impressed with the bands. I am very grateful that these children are enjoying a great variety of music. They played Christmas songs, Santa songs, Hanaka songs, Sousa meets Santa, and even California dreaming. It's nice to live in a small town where we can still enjoy our freedoms and have the community respected by performing music that pleases everyone. I don't go for the sterile, lets not risk offending the aclu kind of concerts. We live in a free country where we can respect and enjoy the music and holidays that are so important to so many people. I love the Christmas season and I love saying "Merry Christmas!"

So I leave you with Christmas wishes, Christmas music, and Christmas Joy. Love to all!

Here is a sample for your listening enjoyment. Big D and Anna are in the orchestra and did a great job.

Joy to Everyone

http://www.joytoeveryone.com/ This is a fun link to a Christmas message to the world. . . for your enjoyment. Merry Christmas!

girls' choice starts early

The next girls' choice dance, Senior Ball, is in January. Last night while Pete was distracting his cousin so that a girl could ask him, I got a call asking if Peter had been asked yet. Thus, this morning he found this Christmas gift in his truck. (Maybe he should start locking the doors?)

Frankly, I have been hoping for a new toilet seat, so I am grateful. I hope the writing comes off but either way it will work. The letters of her name were in the roll of toilet paper. Quite creative. Something my sisters would enjoy.

The whole family is excited about the contents. Talk about potty mouth!

Honey said he should answer with some sort of an outhouse. Maybe someone out there has a better idea. If so, please share.

Big D wrestles, Pete sings

Dane won this one 11 to 3. This is the middle set (?, there are 3 timed sets and at the end if nobody has pinned then the one with the most points wins.) He had two matches this night and did well. He seems to be enjoying it and isn't afraid of the hard workouts.

And here is an update of my musical son. I know, most of you didn't realize he can sing. Well I still haven't heard him but he is doing more of it. This was the performance at a ward party. I heard they would be singing and dancing so I only recorded a tiny bit when they were just standing there. Turns out they never did dance and so this is all you get. He was on the back row second from right.

Camera is back

My camera came back and I couldn't help sharing a few pictures. On our way over the river and through the woods we stopped off at Cabela's. A favorite for my family of boys. They lovd the animals, the equipment, the knives, fishing poles . . .
Then the day after Thanksgiving we enjoyed making candy houses. It's an old tradition from Milt's side but has spread to my side also. Actually, they simplified it by making wooden basic houses that we can just decorate every year. It makes the whole thing a little more managable for tired moms.

As for the big day, I missed capturing that one. Maybe next year.

Santa has been told

We got to visit Santa at the ward party. Ike had his list ready, Sim listed one thing and is saving the rest for his preschool santa and Missy D refused to look at him and always kept her head as far from his whiskers as possible. No crying this year though, that is an improvement. I learned how to use my cell's camera and send it to myself. That was quite an accomplishment. My camera broke. Mom gave me her old one so she could get a new one. It works most of the time but got left at her house so it wasn't with me. If I get a chance, I may ask Santa for a new camera. I miss blogging with pictures.

Happy December

Thanksgiving week was wonderful. We enjoyed family, too much food, and lots of fun. Frisday brought some shopping and making of candy houses. We came home to the annual light parade where we get to stand out in the cold, all bundled up and enjoy a parade lit by Christmas lights. Then we hurry over to the high school for live entertainment, souip, scones, and Santa. We just went for the live entertainment where dsP performed with his choir and several nieces also performed. It is an atmosphere of fun and excitement as we welcome in the Christmas season. Saturday morning brings my boys standing in line to get a tag so we can cut our own Christmas trees. The men folk then head up the mountain to find that perfect tree ( and get another load of firewood) while the girls stayed home to get out the decorations. Luckily my two girls from college were home to help. I love having helpful adult children who are so fun to be with. So now we will move forward with the celebrations and a ward party this week. We just keep a big smile on our face all month long. Life is a gift and grace the greatest.

Great homecoming

We are so thrilled to have Grandma and Grandpa home from their mission. They reported on their mission in church today. Their testimonies were sweet and powerful. They have experienced the joy of serving the Lord through serving others and an added bonus is the increase of love they are feeling for one another. They have enjoyed being together 24/7 and are grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, missionary work, young elders, and each other.

A special surprise was our full time missionaries stopping by to eat with us. This young elder is from Canada and our grandpa taught his grandpa while serving as a young man in Canada. Now this missionary is assigned to our area. A sweet tender mercy to have them reunited in this way and both valiantly living the gospel and sharing it.

And here is Grandpa with his brother and sister. All three still living and were together for our celebration.

I will survive

For all my homeschool friends and those who are tempted!

owl pellets

Sorry, Sweety. I just can't let you do it.



Owls do not have teeth. They eat mice and other small animals but they can't chew them up. They, therefore, swallow them whole. Their body is able to digest that which is useful and then the owl coughs back up the rest of it, i.e. fur, bones. That is where the fun comes in. Our co-op got some owl pellets and we were able to explore them to find out what the owl ate. It was quite fascinating and dsS with dsD help found the most bones of anyone. I think it was pure determination. Of course, we had to save dsS's plate of bones.

wife and mother

I have been wondering if being wife and mother is and should be all women's highest goal. I know I am sometimes distracted from this goal but when I stop and consider that which is most important I want to be a good wife and mother. I am most thankful to be a wife and mother. When I 'grow up' all I ever wanted to be is wife and mother. I believe this is innate. I believe all women have this nurturing desire to love, create, teach, nurture. So why do so many women get side tracked, even deceived into thinking that a career or other endeavors may be more rewarding?
My thoughts about this on this morning are that we also have a desire to be cherished, to be appreciated. Well, when we work out of the home we receive regular recognition, appreciation, friendships even if it is just a paycheck and the work is not that enjoyable. There is a regular small reward. It is like talking a walk and passing off mile markers or going over small hills, we get those rewards or measurements that let us know we have accomplished something. When we spend our time at home caring for husband and children and home we don't get as many of the mile markers or rewards every two weeks. We seem to be in the trenches without seeing out as much. I believe it is more like a hike. A hike up a great mountain where we have to make a constant effort, where most of the hike is in fact uphill and often we are just focused on putting one foot in front of another. Maybe we only look at the ground and forget to look around and see the beauty of the journey. We do have those moments where the view opens up. Moments when we can look back and see that we really have come a long way. Moments when we get a breather and there is a slight downhill before we have to begin climbing again. Maybe we happen on a fresh mountain spring that brings a renewing strength to us. The point being that this journey may not be easy but no amount of walking in the flat lands will ever compare to the incredible high, the view, vista, or reaching those summits. And no amount of self discovery, self esteem, self indulgence will ever equal the joy that you will experience in knowing that you have not made this journey alone but have done it with your loved ones. We don't leave them behind, we hike together and as we work together to reach the lofty goals we come closer to one another, relying on one another, helping one another . . . serving one another.
So it is an adventure. It is taking a risk. It is putting all your eggs in one basket and trusting that the Lord is with you. It is knowing that following those God-given traits, desires, yearnings will in fact bring the greatest reward and it won't be all about me and what I have done. It will be all about celebrating together because we still have each other and we have sought to please the only One, even Christ, that can truly make all our dreams come true, all our adventures have happy endings. Life is a blessing.

Happy Birthday!

It happened. He turned 17. My first born son is growing up so tall and fine. I dare say he is growing in wisdom and in stature. He is growing in so many good ways and I am so grateful. He has a quiet, unassuming humor that catches you off guard. He is thoughtful and helpful, always willing. He is crazy with his truck. He is financial responsible and very independent. He is hard working. He opens the car door even for his mother, who could ask for more?

We celebrated with breakfast and presents. Dinner brought Em home and Grandma and Grandpa. He spent most of the day at the state football playoffs where our school played a great game and sadly lost in the last 2.5 seconds.
. . . and now for a sneak peak at the soon to be famous baker. This baker will be performing in the high school musical Beauty and the Beast. He even has speaking lines of his own. Tall, handsome, hardworking, polite, and talented!

Thanksgiving stack up

Once again this picture was accompanied by, "Mom, take a picture! Mom, put it on the blog!" So here you go. Enjoy.

It's been a big week already and I am playing catchup. Scroll down to see some of the fun we have had. Tomorrow is Peter's birthday "17". More fun!