Christmas Break

WARNING: THIS IS LONG!!! Feel free to not read if you don't want to. This post is more of a journal entry for me to remember this past week.


Sunday was our Sacrament Christmas program. Z had a little part on the program. He was very nervous but he did a very good job. The choir music was so beautiful. I loved it. Someday, I will sing in the choir, but not at this time in my life. H started running a light fever on Sunday night but nothing that concerned me.

On Monday, we cancelled going out to my mom's Christmas party due to illness at their house and ours. H's fever was a little worse but nothing that wasn't manageable with Tylenol and Motrin. Instead, we put together some plates of goodies and took them around to some friends and relatives. We didn't want to be out too late though, so we started early and headed home at dinner time. Once home, we put together some favorite appetizer type finger foods and had a light dinner. Then we headed into the living room to read stories and sing songs. The kids were so excited for Santa and the later into the evening it got, the more excited they became. We let them open their Christmas pajamas and then we finally had to send them to bed for fear that they would never be able to settle down to sleep.

About 11pm they were all asleep so K pulled out all the unwrapped Christmas presents and we got to work. I wrapped, he labeled and put under the tree. Z kept getting up around midnight because his stomach hurt but he didn't come downstairs. We just kept running him medicine upstairs but he wouldn't come down because he didn't want to spoil his Christmas morning surprise. We got to bed by 1am. At 2am I was awakened, and spent the rest of the night throwing up. H's fever was getting harder to manage, Z was still pacing the floor upstairs with a stomach ache and K was coughing pretty hard.

By morning, we were so wiped out that it took everything we had to drag ourselves out of bed by 9am. Our poor children. We missed seeing their first glimpses of the tree. I'm very sad about that but at the time, that was the last thing on my mind. We finally got up and K made Egg Mc Muffins and Blueberry Muffins and Orange Juice for the kids. It was very good. Then we opened presents. H was very fussy because he was running a pretty high fever but everyone else seemed to act well at that point. The kids were all happy with their loot and they headed upstairs to play while K, H, and I went back to bed. We skipped out on a nice meal that day due to exhaustion and lack of appetite.

I called my mom to let her know how we were doing, and to wish them a Merry Christmas. I found out that our dog Shiloh, had just died. She has been a part of the family for a very long time, ever since I was living at home. The dog was 5 or 6 when I got married, and has been with the family for the last 14 years. Mom also told me that my sister-in-law had spent Christmas Eve in the hospital.

Tylenol was no longer working on H's fever so I called the doctor. They couldn't get him in until Thursday morning. His fever was getting up to 103-103.5, and it would take hours, Motrin, and bathing to get it to break his fever to break, only to have it come back within a couple of hours just to start the process over again, meanwhile K's cough was getting worse.

The tree and other Christmas decorations seemed to be in the way and kept adding to my stress level, so sadly, the kids helped me put Christmas away until next year. It was sad to say good bye to all their little treasures, and box them up safely until next year. We left the furniture the way it was because where the tree was is a really great place for playing games and driving toys around.




We took H into the doctor the next morning. He had a bad ear infection. The doc put him on Amoxicillan. By that afternoon, H's fever was gone and he was acting much better.

K got called out Thursday night on an emergency work deal. He called home around 9 pm to check in on us and tell us he was going to be out late. H had just woken up from a late nap and he was screaming intensely. It was so weird. We had no idea what was wrong with him. Finally, he just cried himself back to sleep. At 7 am on Friday morning, I called K to find out where he was. He was just leaving the hospital to come home. I guess they had gotten into a meth lab and so they had to go to the hospital to detox. He spent 3 hours chasing one of the crooks in snow, to finally find him hiding in a haystack nice and warm. K was laughing trying to figure out how this guy thought the fresh snow wouldn't give him up. It was 18 degrees that night while he was chasing the moron around. He came home, coughing really hard, changed his clothes in the garage, threw them away, showered and then headed back to work by 8 to brief with the other guys and head back to finish up the case.

That morning H was once again screaming hysterically like he was in severe pain, and A had been up all night puking. K came home around 1pm to take me to my doctors appointment. Just before we left, I noticed that H was developing a rash all over his body. I decided to call H's doctor to see about changing his medicine. Since it was Friday afternoon of the New Years Eve weekend, they had gone home early. Eventually, he called me back and agreed to call in a new prescription for H. That evening we started H on a different prescription. He seemed to be acting better. He slept very well last night. A was up all night throwing up and K's cough was much worse due to his lack of sleep and being outside all night the night before.

This morning, K and Z headed over to a grocery store owned by someone in our ward who was having a service project. They had invited the ward members to come do inventory for them, and they in turn would pay the ward to help with the scout budget. H woke up and he had a very bad diaper. I was only half awake (mostly asleep) so I called J to come help me. J started screaming and turned on the light. I opened my eyes to see that H was covered in blood. His whole diaper was completely red and so were his clothes. It wasn't just a little bit of blood. There was no green in the diaper, only red. I calmly...freaked out! I called the hospital to have the doctor paged, sent H up to have a bath, and called K to come home. Once K got home, we loaded up the diaper and H and headed to the hospital. They were very calm about the whole situation. Apparently, one bloody diaper is not a big deal. They don't get worried until a child has had several bloody diapers. They told us to stop the meds, they gave him two shots in his legs of a different medicine to finish getting rid of the ear infection and sent us home with 4 stool collecting bottles for the lab, some spoons and a little bucket for the toilet to catch his poop in so that we can fill the little lab bottles. We were thinking, "he's 10 months old people! He doesn't poop in the toilet. How are we suppose to fill these stupid little bottles?"

So, to update all these stories: K has lost his voice and is feels miserable, I have to go in on the 7th for further tests, A is still throwing up, and we are watching H closely for any sign of pooping so that we can put him on the toilet and catch it in that bowl thing. Everyone else seems to be doing fine at this point but I'm sure that whatever A has will have to go through at least half of the other kids. So for now we will just stay home and wait. The kids have watched LOTS of movies and played LOTS of games and had LOTS of fights. 5 days later and the kids are still wearing the same pajamas they wore to bed on Christmas Eve. If they don't care, neither do I. It has been a very miserable week and yet I have loved having us all home together with no where to go. It's fun to watch them all play together and enjoy one another.

The kids are out of school until the 7th so maybe we will all get better and be able to play outside in the snow next week. Or maybe we'll just stay in where it is warm. It looks like 2007 is going out in a blurr of chaos and 2008 is not looking much calmer. Life seems like it just flies by so quickly.

What happened to the entire year of 2007? I think I missed it. I love this time of year though because I love to think about the previous year and try to decide what went good and what I can try to change and improve for next year. It's like I get the chance to have a fresh start and try to do better in 2008. So, tonight while I rub A's back and hold her hair out of her face while she throws up, I'm looking forward to some quiet time to reflect and renew my spirit and set some goals to be a better wife, a better mother, a better member of my church, my community, and a better me!

Christmas Hoopla!

Cindy tagged me! I have to tell you 12 things about me that have to do with Christmas. I am scared of being tagged because then I always tell you things that make me sound a little looney.


1. I HATE that candied fruit bread stuff (I don't even remember what it's called). YUCKY!!!!!

2. I love to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving...BLACK FRIDAY! I can't sleep at all that night. All night, I have visions of bright lights, red price tags, long lines and lots of chaos. I love it!!! I also love shopping everyday after that until Christmas. By the time it's December 26th, I'm ready to STOP spending money and take it all back though. I just like the idea of buying everything, but I don't want to keep all of it.

3. Christmas Eve is my favorite holiday (on December 24th...but then on December 25th I love Christmas....and then on December 31st I love New Years Eve....etc. etc. etc....! I guess I just love all the holidays!) I love eating lots of goodies and being with family and singing Christmas carols and eating lots of goodies and re-enacting the birth of our Savior and being with my family and eating lots of goodies....

4. I love the Sunday Christmas Sacrement meeting program. It's my favorite Sunday of the year.

5. I do not like nuts in my Christmas candy. And I do not want peanuts in my goody bags from the ward christmas party OR in my stocking!!! I like peanuts....sort of....but not for Christmas! I only like pistacios and cashews and not together and not in anything. Just plain...as a snack. All other nuts are....not for me!

6. I wish that Christmas could be white with snow but not cold! I really like the bubble machine in the mall. It's fun to walk under it and get snowed on but then it just disappears. It's so....magical!!

7. I love to go to Temple Square and Salt Lake City at Christmas time!!!!! Actually, now that I think about, I don't remember ever going there at Christmas time....but it's a great memory that I know I would really like to have....(Okay, so K reminded me tha I have been there at Christmas time. No wonders I have such great memories. I just don't remember going there. OOPS!)

8. I love the UPS or FED EX man to come to my door at Christmas. I especially love it when I know that I didn't pay for what's in the mysterious package! Okay... I wrote a little song for you. You might recognize the tune... It's the song Mr. Santa, but I changed a few words. Sing Along!!

"Mister UPS Man,
I like you better than Saint Nick
Be awful careful and please don’t get sick
Put on your coat when breezes are blowin’
And when you cross the street look where you’re goin’!
UPS Man, I love you so!
I hope you never get lost in the snow
Take your time when you unpack
Mister UPS Man PLEASE hurry back!

Mister UPS Man,
bring me some toys
Bring Merry Christmas to my girls and boys
And every night I’ll go to sleep singing
And dream about the presents you’ll be bringing.
UPS Man, Promise me please
Give all my packages a hug and a squeeze
I’ll be good as good can be,
Mister UPS Man don’t forget me.

9. I really like to go caroling. I love to sing Christmas songs when I'm all bundled up warm and I like watching people not really know what to do while we serenade them. I really don't like to be the one being sung to though. It let's the cold into my house and what do you do while they sing and sing and sing. Do you rudely yell and call all the family to come listen? Do you interrupt them and then call everyone? Do you just stand there all alone and smile at them?

10. I always get so excited to send out Christmas cards and pictures. I usually get started on them way before Thanksgiving but....I never get them sent out! Yes, I have this years cards, letter and picture all ready to be mailed and I have last years, and the year before that....cards and pictures that I have never sent out. And do you know why? I HATE to spend the money on postage. AHHH! There! I said it! I do not like to spend my money on postage at Christmas time, or any time now that I think about it. On the other hand, I LOVE to get Christmas cards! I'm always disappointed when there isn't a picture and a travel-log letter included. Unfortunately, because I am so bad at sending them, I don't get very many anymore. SAD! I'm hoping to get mine sent before 2008! (to summarize: I refuse to spend my money on stamps but I don't have a problem wasting my money on cards, christmas paper and pictures that never get sent. HUM...I may need to rethink my thinking!)

Which leads to #11...

11. I do not like to mail Christmas packages. I do not like driving to the post office (it's not like I don't mind driving past it twice a day to get kids to and from school or any other errands that I have to run every day though!) I do not like waiting in the lines. I never know what to do with my kids. Do I leave them in the car? Do I take them all in with me to wait in the long line while I try to keep track of my packages, letters, coats, purse, diaper bag, kids, sanity....So, I take all the gifts to my mom's and then wait for everyone to come home and visit her. It's always a little embarrassing to be at mom's for the Fourth of July and have her bring out the gift exchange presents from my kids and pass them out. I guess on the bright side, it's like... Christmas in July!!!

12. I do not teach my kids to believe in Santa. I don't really know why. I don't want them to get excited to have their picture taken with him or sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. (Creapy old man!) Why does he get the credit? I have to pay the bill! I don't want them to hope for things that are beyond reason. It makes them act too selfishly. Knowing that I am paying for Christmas, here's what my kids put on their Christmas lists this year:

Z: electric guitar and all the amps, cords, bags, etc to go with it
J: a dog, either a beagle or a siberian husky, rescued from the animal shelter
S: lots of clothes...and 3 or 5 pieces of really good expensive chocolate
A: A horse! (She suggested we could store him at Nancy's)
K: An ABC Computer
H: It's a good thing he can't talk. I'm out of money!

I do teach them to BELIEVE in the spirit of Santa though. It's fun to do secret things for other people, in the spirit of serving our Savior, and then give Santa the credit.


And that's 12 things! Wow! And I once again sound like I'm cuckoo!

Okay. So now I tag........EVERYONE!!!! If you have not done this hoopla thingy yet, I'd love to read your Christmas quirks! So, please share...!

H is walking from J to me. Z is sitting on the floor next to us singing. Enjoy!

The Lesson
By Carol Lyn Pearson

Yes, my fretting,
frowning child.
I could cross
The room to you
More easily
But I’ve already
Learned to walk
So I make you
Come to me.

Let go now—
There!
You see?

O remember
This simple lesson, child,
And when
In later years
You cry out
With tight fists
And tears—
“O help me, God,
Please”—
Just listen
And you will hear
A silent voice:

“I would, child,
I would,
But it’s you, not I
Who needs to try
Godhood.”


H gave us all an early Christmas present. He is so excited that he figured out how to walk like everyone else. He still prefers to crawl because he is faster but we catch him practicing walking all the time. It's fun to see him grow up but it's sad to know that he is my last baby. I want to freeze all these "firsts" so that I can remember them forever.

Learning to Walk
by Sharon Froese

Learning to walk
is not easy at all
I must get back up
every time that I fall
I get up when I'm down
That's how I'll learn to walk
Now if only I knew how to talk...

HAPPY HANUKAH

A's Christmas Concert

Friday was the elementary schools Christmas program. A was so excited to perform. I remember as a child, the Christmas program was so fun to sing in. I remember my parents taking me to my classroom and then we would come into the gym as a class and find our seats on the bleachers. The gym was full of parents and grandparents. Then we would sing lots of cute songs and have a little program. When it was over, we would go back to our classrooms and wait for our parents. I don't remember as a child that it was that stressful of an evening. It was just fun to sing those really cute, silly Christmas songs.

So, here's how it went. Our ward Christmas party was also scheduled for the same night at the same time so S was extremely mad that she had to miss out on the yummy Christmas dinner. I had to listen to her whine and complain all evening while I tried to get everyone ready. Z just wanted to sleep and K was working late so I was unsure of what time he would be home or if he would make it at all. At the last minute, A said that we had to go to the high school because that's where the program was going to be at. I quickly found the announcement. Yep! It's at the high school which is clear across town. K came home, S quickly faked a change of attitude to avoid a run-in with her father and Z woke up in time to realize that it was important to show his little sister some support.

We pulled into the high school auditorium parking lot which only has enough parking for about 10 cars and there is a line of people clear out to the road. It was like we were going to some sold out concert. K dropped us off and went to find parking. It was 18 degrees outside, Ka forgot her coat in the car, and we had to wait outside in the cold for 20 minutes. They said to have the kids there at 6:30 but they kept the doors locked until 6:45. I'm standing in freezing cold temperatures with 6 children in a crowd of 1000+ other freezing, upset families and my coat is wrapped around Ka. I completely forgot about how cold H must have been. Finally they opened the doors and it was a stampede to see how fast we can all get through the two doors (out of 8) that they opened. Once inside, parents were trying to find where their kids were suppose to be, everyone was fighting over seats, I was trying not to loose any of my kids, and K was lost somewhere parking the car. He called me on my cell to find out where we were. It went like this:

K:Where are you?

L:In the auditorium

K:Duh! Where?

L:In the middle.

K: Where in the middle?

L:I don't know. In the middle. On the end. Kind of towards the back.

K:Great! Now I know right where you are.

It was chaos!!! Then each grade came up on stage and sang one...ONE! song about something holiday-ish. And then they all sang a final song together at the end. It was the weirdest concert ever. Of course, A's grade sang last so we had to endure all 6 other songs. That doesn't sound like many but they were painful to listen to, and there was an awful narration that the older kids read through that had basically nothing to do with Christmas or any of the songs. It took more time to get the kids on and off the stage than it did to sing their one whole song. One grade did a rap! It was a little weird. The song leader lady was psychotic. She was dancing all over the place and completely putting on a show all by herself. I couldn't help but laugh out loud at her. She was really enjoying herself. Apparently, since she couldn't see any of us, she forgot that we could all see her backside. Funny stuff!

Thankfully, when it was all over, because the Kindergartner's were last to sing, they kept them on the stage until the parents came up and got them so we just sat and waited for everyone else to frantically try and get their kid so they could be the first ones out the door. Poor A was the last one on the stage with her teacher. I decided we were not going to be in a hurry! We were the last to leave the auditorium and then K met us out front with the car so we completely avoided all the crazy traffic.

A was cute and it was worth it to watch her have a good time singing. This next Friday is the other kids concert and I have higher expectations from their charter school. We'll see how it goes. I guess A's was like a dress rehearsal for me. I should do better at getting it right this next time. We'll see...

STORYTIME: Twas the night before Christmas...

On Tuesday morning, the girls had a dentist appointment at 8a.m. Of course, that was the morning that we woke up to black ice on the roads so I was very nervous about driving all the kids across town. K was very kind and backed the car out of the garage and put it in 4 wheel drive for me. As I came out the door, I was carrying H, coats for everyone, my diaper bag and my purse and I was leaving a little later than I had planned on leaving so that was adding to my stress. Right where my car used to me under the drivers door was a dead mouse. I almost stepped on it. I started screaming and frantically told K to take care of it. Later that morning, A ran out to the garage to get her coat out of the car. She came back in and calmly announced. Did you know there's another mouse in the garage? I just saw it run under the car. So now I am being held hostage in my house by a little 4 inch creature.

Last night, K was insistant that I needed to find him a piece of equipment that he needed for work today. I told him it was in the garage and that he would have to use something else for work because I couldn't get it for him. That was not the answer that he wanted, so I faced my fears, very bravely!!!

I put on Z's coat, because he is very brave and has had to go out to the garage for the last couple of days everytime I need something and he has never seen the mouse so it must be scared of him. I had A stand at the door and make cat noises because mice are scared of cats for obvious reasons. I had to go to the back of the garage to look. I was very careful to look everwhere and touch things cautiously. I also tried to make lots of noise. (Seriously, I wasn't sure we still had a mouse in the garage because A had reacted so calmly when she said that she had seen it earlier so mostly I was just playing with my kids.)

Suddenly, there he was! Looking me right in the eyes. He was on the same shelf I was looking in. (I made a little visual aid for you so you could get the full effect of my trauma) I started screaming and jumped on the back of the car. (It was 10:30 at night so I'm sure my neighbors love me!) I yelled for A to close the door so he wouldn't run in the house. So she did. Crap! Now I'm stuck in the garage, standing on the back of the car, all alone, screaming, with the mouse between me and the door. I can hear the kids in the house screaming also. K, being so thoughtful, decides to save energy and turned the light off in the garage. (He's very thoughtful like that!) Now I'm really screaming. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I was really scared. I told him to PLEEEEEEASE come and rescue me. I was in serious distress. He did, sort of. He opened the garage door for me and then unlocked the front door so that I could come in the house that way. (Again, he's very thoughtful like that!)

But wait, that's the shelf with all the bread on it. HE'S EATING MY BREAD!!!!! So, K went out to investigate. Sure enough. He's been eating well the last few days! I discovered, though, that mice, when given a choice, are very picky eaters! I had a loaf of healthly whole wheat bread, a loaf of expensive white bread (not the wonderbread kind though, the healthly white bread.), a package of cheap hot dog buns, a package of Sourdough Hoagie buns and a bag of very soft yummy bagels. Guess which ones were eaten on and which one's remained totally untouched. He/She ate the EXPENSIVE white bread and the YUMMY bagels! The HEALTHLY whole wheat bread, the CHEAP hot dog buns and the SOURDOUGH buns were completely untouched and they were all on the shelf together, side by side! Can you believe it? I am so mad!!!!

This morning S asked me, "Are you as scared of spiders as you are of mice?" Good question. No! I'm not. But don't ask me why. I don't like spiders and I scream when I see them also, but I seriously was hoarse last night and this morning from screaming so hard and I really thought that I might have a heart attack when K turned the light off in the garage and I was stuck out there alone with that mouse!

So, now I am stuck in my house again. I can't go anywhere because my car is in the garage and so is the mouse and K is not here to back it out for me. I need some traps, but I can't go get any because I need my car, which is in the garage, with the mouse. I think A may have a sick day from Kindergarten today because I can't get her to the bus stop because my car is in the garage with the mouse.

Do you have any mouse traps that I could borrow? I'm being held hostage.

I guess since I'm having a stay-at-home day, I'll go work on getting that marker off my bench. It's all good around here!


P.S. I just called my neighbor and she is coming to get A to take her to the bus. Am I over-reacting? Maybe just a little bit....

Tonight A drew a picture and then K colored it all black. She has been doing that lately. Everything has to be colored completely black. Maybe she has some issues. Anyways, she was coloring it while we were reading our Christmas book tonight and she was being so quiet and well behaved. After a few minutes she brought me the picture and climbed up on my lap and fell asleep. It was so sweet.

Later, as I was cleaning up and putting everyone to bed, I noticed something on the piano bench. Who and when did this happen? ERRRR!!! Okay, history behind my piano bench. K and I bought this old piano from a family for $250 who didn't want it anymore. I love it. It's an old upright and I'm keeping it forever. But, it didn't come with a bench. After much complaining, my parents bought me a bench for Christmas two years ago. It was so pretty with a soft padded seat. I have kids and it wasn't very strong and somehow a leg got broken off. So, I was once again without a bench. Well, my parents are very good to me and my dad came to my rescue again. Only this time he didn't mess around. He took a pattern off the broken bench and then bought the wood and made me this new one last year for Christmas. It matches the piano perfectly and it is so beautiful. A perfect set and I love it even more because my dad made it for me. Okay, so as I'm looking at this spot on my bench and trying not to completely freak out, I notice that the picture looks familiar....

She had been sitting on the floor using the bench as a table to color on during the story and she had used this new permanent marker that she had found in the Christmas ornament box that came with one of the new ornaments. It bled through and now I can't get it off!!!! I tried hairspray and water. I'm afraid to be too hard on it. I don't want to ruin it. Maybe no one will notice it's there....Do you think it kind of blends in?....Dad, do you have my name for Christmas this year because...ineedanotherbench?

Isn't she so sweet when she's asleep? This is when my house is the safest, though!

Seeing Christmas for the very first time....

H's 1st Christmas!

Decorating the Tree

Each year the kids get a new ornament from K and I that represents them that year in some way. I love this tradition because then my tree is full of memories of my kids. We love to get out each ornament and talk about it and what it meant about that child the year it was received. The plan is to give the ornaments to the kids when they leave home so that they have their own beginning set of ornaments. Sounds like a nice thing to do for them, EXCEPT that I LOVE the ornaments. How will I ever let them go?

S

Z

H

J

A

K

(Sorry about the fuzzy pictures! I need to read the book and find out what I'm doing wrong. If I used the flash, the tree lights were dim, if I didn't use the flash, the kids were fuzzy. I guess it's obvious which I felt like was the most important. Hey, it took me 5 hours to string those blasted....very beautiful lights.)

Boys School Pictures

J

Z

Finding Christmas....

I was so excited to open a big yellow envelope that came in the mail the other day. It's Christmas time and who doesn't love to get packages in the mail. The package was from a friend who lives here in town. I had very mixed feelings about what I found inside: an instructional dance DVD and a water bottle and a Christmas card! About a year ago, I had loaned her a DVD for her home school and one of my kids had forgotten a water bottle at her house. Throughout this past year I have seen her occasionally at the store and we've sent email fwd:'s back and forth but nothing really personal. As I looked at the contents she had sent, I could hardly believe they were worth the $2.49 that she had paid to ship them. I know that her life is VERY busy and it's hard to make an extra trip across town and I am thankful that she thought about mailing them or it may have been another year before one of us got around to making the effort to get together. Don't get me wrong here. I really appreciate her thoughtfulness and her effort to return the items.



I have really been thinking alot since though about what relationships and people and our time are really worth. I thought about how much I really do miss visiting with my friend but as our lives have gone different directions this last year, so has our friendship. I have read many stories about days long ago where family's would spend the holiday evenings traveling by horse and sleigh or wagon to go visiting neighbors, friends, and families to bring them gifts and share homemade treats and just spend time with one another. Our lives seem to go by us in fast motion and we either go with it or we get left behind. But why? We have cars that are warm and fast, we have appliances that are very convenient, we have grocery stores on every corner so supplies are readily available, we have unlimited recipes and gift ideas at the touch of our fingers through the Internet, we have telephones, cell phones, pagers, Internet, etc. so we can reach anyone, anytime, anyplace. It's so easy to stay in contact with people now. So why do I feel so alone and like such a failure?



I have really struggled with my own Christmas Spirit for the last several years. I want to enjoy Christmas like I did when I was a child. I loved spending hours staring at the lights on the tree and I really loved it when my mom would let us sleep under the tree (but not on Christmas Eve!) The homemade ornaments were so beautiful and so loved. The excitement of finding and wrapping that one perfect gift for our family gift exchange. Answering the doorbell and seeing a neighbor bringing homemade goodies. YUM!!! Delivering our own homemade treats to neighbors and singing song after song out in the cold because we loved to sing together. (Our poor neighbors!) I loved Christmas Eve and reenacting the Christmas Story and singing Christmas Carols for hours with Grandma's and Grandpa's and all our family. My favorite was getting up on Christmas morning and seeing how beautiful the tree looked, knowing that Santa had been up all night making everything perfect so that my first glimpse of Christmas would be timeless. The anticipation of opening gifts, one at a time so that we could all enjoy each others gifts and then spending the rest of Christmas break playing in the snow!!



Now my Christmas Season is spent stressing over making sure that every child isn't disappointed with their gifts, but that I don't spend too much on one child and not enough on the other, and that the gifts are pretty even in number so that no one feels cheated out of a present while trying to stay within a reasonable budget. It seems to take days to get all the decorating done and then I worry constantly about something getting broken or someone getting hurt. By the time I make goodies for all the neighbors and then get them delivered, I am exhausted and what I pictured being this wonderful family tradition has turned into an unpleasant family outing that everyone avoids. I do not like to wrap presents anymore. I worry about all the extra little costs that end up being spent like tape and wrapping paper and bows. I can never make the presents under the tree look beautiful for Christmas morning, and by Christmas morning, I'm so exhausted that I just want to sleep the rest of the day. Then all the weeks of careful preparation takes 20 minutes to undo and then it seems I'm left with cleaning up, throwing away and cooking for the rest of the day. By the time it's all over, I almost hate Christmas and I'm happily looking forward to Valentine's Day.



I want to slow my life down and take the time to enjoy this holiday season. I want to make people feel that they are important to me. I want my children to love Christmas like I did when I was a child. I don't know how to do all the traditional things that I really love doing but take out MY stress so that we can all enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Is that possible? I know that Christ is the true spirit of Christmas but how do I find that balance as a mother? What do you do to keep the holidays in perspective?

Everything I needed to know in life, I learned from SANTA!

Encourage people to believe in you.

Always remember who's naughty and who's nice.

Don't pout.

It's as much fun to give as it is to receive.

Some days it's ok to feel a little chubby.

Make your presents known.

Always ask for a little bit more than what you really want.

Bright red can make anyone look good.

Wear a wide belt and no one will notice how many pounds you've gained.

If you only show up once a year, everyone will think you're very important.

Whenever you're at a loss for words, say:

"HO, HO, HO!"

True Colors Come Out...POSTING BY K

Little K is finally deprogrammed from her Aunt J's evil and wicked ways. She now remembers the correct team to cheer for and love. Weber State...whoever they are, and the Utes bleed red anyway! Little K was in the middle of her snack today eating a bagel with cream cheese. During her snack, we discovered that she has responded to proper training, and rediscovered that there is no place like the Lords school.

I guess the only thing I have left to say is WHO'S GOING TO THE BOWL? As Little K would say...GO BIU

Thanks!

When K's sister J and her family were here over Thanksgiving, J taught little K a little something to bug K. Little K really likes her Aunt J and she really likes to tease her daddy so she had a good time with this. It was really funny! Now K is working at reteaching her to "LOVE" BYU! Thanks J!!! It was a fun weekend! We love you guys!

Sorry the one is sideways. It's still silly. The other one is black right now but it works when you push play, I think. Let me know if it doesn't. GO COUGARS!!!

They're Back!

My little brother B and his wife C and their 2 little children K and M moved home. TODAY! Literally! They moved home to live with my parents for a while. They have been in Wisconsin for the last couple years and we are so happy to have them back. B is working for a dairy doing something really TOP SECRET. Shhh!!! Actually, I just can't remember what exactly it is that he was hired to do but I know that it's NOT milking the cows. I'm sure it's something really important though. They will live at my parents house until they get a place of their own. This is really great for my parents because now they will not be so lonely anymore. Out of all us kids, I have lived the closest to my parents for the last few years and I am still an hour away so we don't see them as often as we would like. It's going to be fun to have some more family around. And this puts C really close to her parents also so it's a WIN for everyone! We are so glad to have them back! Welcome Home!!!!!

Hugs!

I'll be going along, in a great routine, getting most of my motherly jobs accomplished and then...

BAM!!!

Something will hit me that knocks me totally off course.



Well, that happened this last week and since I can't share details because this is a "public" blog, I will just share with you something that I have learned that changed my life.

I was told this week, by my daughters councilor, that I need to love my children more. Not just love them, but hug them and kiss them and hold them and tell them that I really love them. I didn't realize that I was bad at this until it was pointed out to me. (She recommended the book Hug Therapy by Kathleen Keating. I haven't read it yet but I'm going to. Here's a quote from her. "In a world that has grown more complicated, more fierce in the demands made upon our hearts and pocket books, there is one easy, free gift left. The power of touch... The gift of touch is the most powerful healing you can offer another, and it is the most powerful healing you can give yourself. Give generously and watch yourself grow rich in what matters the most. Hug often, hug well...I embrace your spirit...." Kathleen Keating Schloessinger)

So, I have been trying really hard to do better and in just one week, I have seen major changes in my children's attitudes and in mine. I would have never guessed that something as simple as a genuine bear hug could change my world so much. Try it! Let me know what you think.


Hugs

It's wondrous what a hug can do,
A hug can cheer you when you're blue
A hug can say, "I love you so"...
Or,..."I'm sad to see you go."
A hug is,"welcome back again!"
And, "great to see you!" or,
Where've you been ?...
A hug can soothe a small child's pain
And bring a rainbow after rain

The hug! There's just no doubt about it,
We scarcely could survive without it.
A hug delights and warms and charms,
It must be why God gave us arms!

Hugs are great for fathers and mothers
Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers
And chances are some favorite aunts
Love them more than potted plants

Kittens crave them. Puppies love them.
Heads of state are not above them.
A hug can break the language barrier
And make the dullest day seem merrier

No need to fret about the store of 'em,
The more you give........
The more there are of 'em
So stretch those arms without delay
And give someone a hug today !



She also shared with me the quote by Maya Angelou. "I did what I knew how to do, and when I knew better, I did better."

We talked about how I have made alot of mistakes as a parent but that I feel like I am better today then I was yesterday or last year or 13 years ago when I started out on this crazy ride.

I have thought alot about that quote and I have a goal that now that I know better, I will do better!

SO... HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR KIDS TODAY?

Christmas Countdown!

We have a tradition in our family that I love. Each year I wrap 24 of my most favorite Christmas books and put them under the tree. Then each night the kids pick one and we read it before prayers and kisses. The part we love the most is that Ken is the official reader. There is nothing better than listening to Dad read a story before going off to bed.

So I love to hear about new traditions that families enjoy! I'm assuming that you do also:) So, here's the books we've read so far. I'll add to the list each night. (See the list on the left side of my blog!)

December 1:


December 2:

What does your family do to countdown to Christmas?

Happy Birthday K!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday K! Happy Birthday to you! (Aren't you glad you didn't have to really listen to me sing that song!)

Saturday was K's birthday! It's also the first of the month so we have a tradition that that's the day the Christmas tree goes up. This year we let the kids have their own tree upstairs and the adult tree will be downstairs. This is our first year with two trees and so the adult tree is still undecorated because we don't really know how to decorate it. The kids love their tree and they play under it and with it and around it all day long. It has their own homemade decorations on it from past years and so they truly are in love with this tree. It's very fun to watch.

K was gone most of the day helping with a work fund raiser and then a friend called him to go look at guns. I was going to give him my gun for his birthday but he took care of himself and bought a really scary gun that takes Russian bullets. So now we can go huntin' together! I did get him a present though. He wanted Season 1 of "The Unit" and he got a CD full of ballads from the 80's. Yes! Now we have some more really great music to listen to!

That night, K put up lights on the house with the boys. They froze but had a really great time together. It's fun to watch the boys get old enough that K can really enjoy being with them. Then, yesterday we went out to my parents house after church and had a nice dinner and blueberry pie and chocolate cake. Thanks Mom and Dad!

So, since it was K birthday and I can't post any pictures or any personal information about him, you'll have to settle for some sappy love thoughts.

K has a big heart! He appears to be a little rough but that is only surface deep. He is the kindest, most thoughtful person I know. I often tell him he should be the R.S. President. He loves people!

K is very forgiving! He will forgive people over and over and over. I think that I am corrupting him though because he is becoming more cautious.

K is very common sense smart! He thinks through things and remains very calm and rational. I trust everything and go into everything very naive or in a total panic and completely over-react. He tells me "not to show people my full hand". He is very aware of his surroundings at all times and is a very good judge of character. I totally trust that when I am with him that he will protect me and I really like that.

K is a very good Dad! He loves his kids. He will do anything for them. When they are hurt or sick, he is so much more compassionate that I am. When he talks to them he doesn't baby them but he gives them the confidence and information and love they need to protect themselves and make right choices. I love that about him.

K is my very best friend. I have been so blessed. I often wonder what I would do without him. He's a good listener. I have talked to him every night for the past 13 years and he still listens to me until he falls asleep. He makes me laugh. His looks of shock or disgust or that I'm pathetic make me laugh because I know that he is paying attention to me. I love our weekly grocery shopping date! And when we really need some time away from the kids, I love that he will go walking with me and listen to me talk and talk and talk. (I think I talk too much!) We are so opposite that it makes us the same. I love that I get to spend the rest of my life and eternity with him.

Happy Birthday K! I love you!