Christmas 2012

I had this crazy, awesome dream a few weeks ago that Gary had a lot of time off work and we spent a week as a family playing and doing projects . . . and somehow I have pictures and pretty vivid memories, so I'm thinking maybe it was real? I'm going to act like it was.

So, pause. This is my first time blogging about Christmas. First. We always get slammed into a crazy Gary-works-every-second winter right after Christmas, so I never get to it, but somehow, even though Gary is doing his working thing, I'm waiting for brownies to bake to bring to Josh's school and the other kids are playing, so the cosmos are aligned . . . ooooh . . . (Side note - I wrote this part in January.)

So, Christmas. First event, church. We weren't able to get the kids new clothes, but from what I was able to find around here, we didn't need to. They looked good. I certainly say so myself. Gary made his debut as choir director for the big program, and he got lots of compliments. I enjoyed listening. Most importantly, there was a lazer-focus on Christ that day. I can't remember the exact stories and scriptures, but I know I felt so profoundly grateful for the birth of the son of God.

I post all three pictures because getting a picture of them all looking is not possible. Now, I will always be able to make a mental composite. Lissy was sick, so she wasn't the cheeriest.

On Christmas Eve, my kids woke up EXCITED OUT OF THEIR MINDS. Caps necessary. We spent the day cleaning up, making last minute preparations, and taking Lissy to the doctor. Yep, poor girl, even sicker on Christmas Eve than she was the day before. I was worried she was developing worse breathing problems, but she was okay there. Had a pretty ugly ear infection (they said), so there was an awesome braving Walmart on Christmas Eve trip after that to get the medicine. Bad that it took forever, fun that I saw people I knew to say Merry Christmas to.

Finally it was time for our big Christmas Eve extravaganza. It's actually small, but big to us. We had tacos for dinner, which made the second Christmas Eve in a row where we had Mexican food. I think "The Noche before Navidad" may become a tradition for us. Then, I let kids put all of the wrapped presents under the tree. We can't do it before then, because Lissy likes to unwrap. It seems there's always one who will do that, so that's probably a tradition, too, for a while. The kids got more and more giddy, and it was infectious. I love seeing my excited little boys!

We had been reading a scripture a night regarding the Nativity, so on Christmas Eve, we just reviewed it and read a scripture about the Savior. Last year I started the tradition of letting the kids put a piece of straw in the manger for good and kind things they did. So, we did it again this year, but of course I didn't get it all put together until the last minute. It's okay, they were very motivated to remember all of their good deeds on Christmas Eve, and were very proud of their full mangers to lay Baby Jesus in. It was adorable to see how carefully they wrapped the little Jesus dolls.

They were so proud of the mangers they made for Baby Jesus.

Up close shot of the mangers.

My magical moment in the winter disappeared, and so now I'm capturing this moment in the spring . . it's months later, but I did more this year than ever before, so I'm calling progress! Okay, so after we did the Nativity and got our Baby Jesus(es) cozy, we opened our new Christmas Eve pajamas. Everyone was thrilled. Thrilled to the point of jumping and shouting and running everywhere. Andrew got Angry Birds pajamas, and he leaped up and down in excitement saying, "Angry Birds, I got Angry Birds!!" You would have to hear how he says it. Then the other kids would say things like, "Launch, Andrew, launch!" Funny. Noah loved his Lego Star Wars pajamas, and Josh loved his football pajamas. Poor kid put his pants on and they went to his arm pits. Huh? I looked at the tag, and someone had messed up. The shirt was his size, but the pants were for a 12 year old. I was amazed at how he took it in stride and just put on some other football pants he had. Oh, yes, and Lissy liked her heart pajamas (I actually got at her baby shower) and Gare Bear was happy in his long-sleeved Cougars tee.

Yes, Christmas pajamas!

Gary got me work out clothes. Chilly, but perfect. Photography by Josh.

Gary and I had sooo much fun playing Santa that night. Gary's Santa always wrapped gifts growing up, and mine never did. We have decided that it's fun to go for a mix. My kids wouldn't have much to open if Santa wrapped nothing, and it's fun to see you have presents on Christmas morning. However, some things aren't easy to wrap, and it's also fun to see awesome stuff all set up in a magical display. So, we wrap until we get tired, and set it all up in a fun way. I had a really hard time sleeping that night. I hadn't been that sleepless since I was a kid - I was just so giddy thinking of how much my kids would love it! I wish I remembered the details of the kids waking up (I'll do better next time), but I do know they were adorable and it was exciting.

Noah got his longed-for rubber snake. Dreams fulfilled.

Andrew would have been happy to stop at the aircraft carrier, and be done with Christmas. It was hard to get him to go on to other items. I'm so glad he can be happy with just a little. Oh, yes, and it's awkward to wrap used things, so Santa didn't, and it was perfect for Andrew.

Using a mix of adorableness and hilariousness, Lissy ran past all of the boy toys and went straight for her doll stroller. We did not tell her it was for her, but she loved it immediately. It was so cute Gary and I couldn't get over it all morning.

Yes, she IS the stuff.

The boys made a present for Gary, and were very excited to watch him open it.

Thanks, grandma!

Thanks grandma!

Thanks, grandma!

And thanks again grandma!

Andrew got his requested cat. He didn't know these existed, but he can't get a real cat, so he will settle for Furreal. All day he kept saying, "My cat said meow!" It was pretty great.

I made a little dolly bed for Lissy. She had some ideas about who it's for.

A little Halloween clearance to round out the haul . . . they are really into this stuff.

And the Fisher Price party keeps on giving . . . Lissy loves this puppy. Also, I have all of the songs stuck in my head now.

Ninjago playing - the kids sat and played this forever.

Play necklaces for a stocking stuffer - she was soooo excited to put them on, take them off, put them on other people, repeat . . . she's a girl. Look, she chose the matching one.

Playing pirate ship is awesome, but playing it with dad? The level above the next level of awesome.

The entire Christmas break was full of Beyblade battles. Gary and I even got into it, it can be kind of addicting.

It's our princess!

What is this picture, I don't know, but I gave Gary this shirt, and he looks good. Well, and surprised?

Thanks other grandma!

I know I have more pictures of the rest of Christmas break - of us putting together our Shelf Reliance stuff (woo-hoo for our pantry!) and of Gary building shelves in the laundry room (woo-hoo for our laundry room). It was seriously magical. We had so much fun playing with our new things, cooking food together, and doing organizing projects. The pantry and the laundry room were two huge things to tackle. We got a Roku, so lots of mindless time for all, but mostly the kids just played. Played and played, going from one thing to another for days. Oh, yes, and on Christmas Gary and I had a lovely ham dinner with our nice glasses and all. Just our little family, but it was wonderful. Near the end of the week we headed up to Preston for a fantastic New Year's party, which for sure deserves its own post. I felt so grateful to be blessed with such a wonderful week right before we got thrust into the yucks of winter. It always comes, but it's nice when it starts with great memories!

Twas the Morning Before Christmas

Merry Christmas tomorrow! My kids are bouncing off the walls. Josh totally expected everyone to show up today, but sad for him, you are not. I was going to update last night, but Gary and I went to bed EARLY. So crazy. We were beat from our day . . . got home late Saturday night from out last minute exchange stuff in West Valley trip, and had to clean the house for choir practice at 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Gary also promised everyone cinnamon rolls. Yummy choice. Then I shared an experience in Relief Society, ran home to be with Lissy while Gary rehearsed a number with the Primary kids, ran back to church to teach Gospel Doctrine, then Gary had his big choir-director debut, then tithing settlement . . . phew. Good stuff. So anyway, updating now.

Gary's debut as choir director was great from my view, and he got tons of compliments. One amusing thing was that Andrew was sleeping when the choir came, and sweet oboe notes are what he woke up to.

Me and gospel doctrine . . . I love preparing, but people get what they get on Sundays, I guess. I checked out lots of pictures from the library yesterday that I forgot to use. Haha. Also, yes, Lissy is still sick. She is sooo sad, and chokes on her mucus to the point of throwing up. She breathes fast and coughs nasty . . . but we're still at the home-treatment point, so that's that.

This week actually turned out to be a stay at home week because of Lissy being sick. I did volunteer at Josh's class Monday, and help at Josh's class party Tuesday, but after that, kept Lissy home. At Josh's class party I did games, and it was hilarious. One game was a relay race with reindeer antlers and a Rudolph nose, and the kids were very intensely into it . . . but kept handing off and handing off and never finishing. So nobody ever won, with any of the 5 groups. First graders amuse me. Also, I thought I could keep Lissy busy with a plastic spoon covered in chocolate there, but the chocolate was gone in 2 minutes and she ate a bite of spoon. Un-lady-like. Also, Andrew licked one and put it back.

I had some ideas for treats to make for Christmas, but my kids picked out cookie cutters for sugar cookies before I even said we would make anything. So we made them. And it was great fun! Listening to Christmas music and making cookies with my boys has been my happiest moments this week. Also, we made some cordial cherry cookies, and they were sooo good! Having kids cover cherries with chocolate cookie dough is a perfect project. I mentioned we made gum drops, too. Fun. Not the yummiest ever, but the kids had fun and it made a TON.

Tooele County has a coloring book full of pages for coloring contests at various businesses . . . like they used to have in Preston. Josh was determined he would win lots of money or an iPod or something, and I felt so bad because, well, he is a 6 year old boy competing against 10 year old girls. However, I took him around to deliver his entries anyway (Noah and Andrew did a few, too), and I no longer feel bad. It was Christmas trick-or-treating. The kids got a treat at most places for just entering, and started developing candy cane stripes on their bodies by the end, so it was "worth it" to them already.

Oh, yes, no update for a few weeks - Gary sang "My Soul Hungered" at the Relief Society Christmas dinner. He hates singing solos, but he got tons of compliments. That's my man. Then, Josh did not perform in his class program because he threw up that morning. He was so sad to miss, but when his friend brought him a cookie, he was over it. Boys are awesome.

Speaking of throwing up, all of my kids did last week. After Andrew threw up, we put him in the tub. I went to check on him, and he was in the tub, relaxing, playing, enjoying himself . . . and wearing Lissy's fleece pants. Fit well, as you would imagine.

Also, it's official - Josh is missing his two front teeth for Christmas. However, they are not all he wants. He is good-natured, but remarked how he wished people would stop mentioning the song to him after a few days. Why was his mother playing so many versions? Also, he finally used some of the money he saved . . . to buy Mario gummies. Wise purchase.

Also, if you come visit us for Christmas-time, you can come look at Christmas lights with us, which are kinda cool over the lake. But mostly we spend our time watching this house: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BOcDSNvvf0

Love you tons, have a fantastic Christmas! Seriously, I am so happy inside and excited. Focusing on Christ yesterday was such a soul-lifting experience, and I hope to do it more and more.

Our Ultimate Safety in This Life

There are some crappy things happening in the world. Every day, really, but some hit home more painfully. Today's events caused a round of sobbing and tears, hugging babies and saying prayers. (Future reference, though I hate typing it - there was a school shooting today where lots of little kids were killed.) There are a lot of thoughts one has when these things happen, but I really feel like I need to share this. A few years ago an LDS bishop was shot and killed. In the church, on a Sunday. In response to that, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said this (in part).

The ultimate safety in all that we do in life is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our doctrine is clear. Through his Atonement, Jesus Christ fulfilled His Father's purpose and made it possible for each of us to enjoy immortality and eternal life. The Savior's Atonement not only provides for the assurance of eternal life and reunion wit our loved ones, but all that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the primary security in this life.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the ultimate safety in all that we do . . .primary security . . . when I wonder and talk about what to do about the crazy world, I want my family to have the ultimate safety.

Baby Lissy's First Birthday

Not too long ago I said to Gary, "Wow, we have four kids now." Okay, it's been a year, but we've had three kids and a baby . . . Baby girl turned one just over a month ago, and now she's seeming more and more like a kid. Still a baby (hooray for the sweet snuggles!), but definitely in on the getting into things game. This morning while I was getting ready for church she colored all over the toilet with an orange crayon. When do these adorable shenanigans become terrible? I don't know, but for now it was just so funny she thought to do it and enjoyed herself.

On Lissy's birthday, I taught preschool and got the carpets cleaned downstairs. Yeah, good question, what was I thinking? No matter, it actually turned out great. I woke up super early and made her pumpkin-apple muffins, which she dived at the second she saw them. Then, we had preschool, so we were pretty much involved with that. Preschool turned out fun - the kids were so involved I took pictures during choosing time. After preschool and lunch, the carpet cleaning guy came, so us kids stayed in the kitchen and played blocks. Good thing, so I officially played with Lissy on her birthday! I'm serious, the three of us had a great time playing in the kitchen for an hour plus. Dinner and cake was after soccer practice and our kitchen contained a couch during the festivities, but Lissy gobbled up her lemon cake with gusto, so it was a success. Andrew was kinda ticked it wasn't his birthday, and kept saying, "But Lissy can't even blow a cake!" She was a great birthday girl, though, and grinned widely whenever someone called to talk to her on the phone.

Lissy loves playing chase around the house, which is especially fun when her diaper just got taken off. She also loves riding on her "bike," dancing (ack, it's so cute!), and hugging stuffed animals. She has a pink fleece dolly that she likes best. Her favorite place to sit in the living room in on the little ledge by the books or magazines. When it's by the magazines, she rips them up, but so far, when she's with the books she mostly looks at them. Of course she has to throw a bunch around for good measure. The girl has a mouth full of teeth. On the bottom she has full-out molars. It's so funny to see how each kid is so different - teeth just scratches the surface. She mostly follows me around saying, "mom, mom, mom" all day. I have to pick her up and give her kisses sometimes, and she giggles. She has also developed an amazing shriek for self-defense, which she needs around brothers, and also parents who take things she wants.

At Lissy's one year check-up the doctor said she's "as healthy as a rock" (new phrase for me, nice), She was 21 lbs 10 oz, and 29.5 inches tall. Both are in the 75th percentile, as was her head. So, proportional all around. A jump from the 50th percentile in everything when she was 9 months, and a far cry from the 5th percentile in weight she was at after she was hospitalized. Oh, baby Lissy, you are just the best. These pictures just make me want to go up to her crib to kiss her. I will in a second, because she won't wake up, she'll just grin in her sleep.

I let her lick the batter off of the spatula when I was making her cake. She was a fan.

The "unwrapping" of the big gift. (Yeah, it's from the House Party. And she loves it.)

Gary's mom sent a present that arrived right on her birthday, so she got to really open something. Some cute outfits and a stuffed unicorn she loves to bury her face in.

So excited for lemon buttermilk cake! (Okay, maybe just amused by the fire.)

We had raspberries with the cake. A bit disturbing, perhaps.

A huge hit! Happy birthday, Lissy!