Family Time!

Baby James- Once again the star of the show. But really...with cuteness like that oozing out of your chubby cheeks, what do you expect? I tried not to kiss him every time I saw him :)

We introduced him to "Ring Around the Rosies".

We hadn't been to the temple lights and neither had Amy's family so we all went together. Unfortunately, Miranda had gone 2 or 3 times already, but she was a good sport :)

I took some quick family pics:

Gram and all her grandkids!

I love walking past the Nativity.

On Christmas Eve went to a nearby Elderly Care Center and caroled to the patients and brought them cards and treats. This is all of my family's favorite Christmas tradition.

Afterward, we came back and did our own little Nativity and opened the Christmas Eve presents.

We had a sock monkey theme this year. (I need to stop using my phone to take pictures)

And then we thought it'd be fun to use some of the lanterns we got with a Groupon awhile back. So we went to our little park and let a few off. They were so cool! Just like on "Tangled" :)

It was so fun to watch them go higher and higher.

And last but not least, we got everything ready for Santa and his reindeer.

Holly thought she better give Santa a little warning about our milk :)

Having my mom and Miranda here on Christmas Eve was the best ever! I told them I felt like I should be paying them because they wrapped and helped so much. It was awesome.

 Next Stop- the BIG DAY!

Pre-Christmas Festivities

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! I'm so grateful for pictures that freeze the images of life that become just a blur in my mind. December is such a fun, but busy, busy month.

We had an unusually warm November but it is definitely now freezing. It seems like I forget how truly COLD it gets here each year. I love getting use out of my sweaters! Here is Scout's favorite place to be in the winter :)

The kids had Pajama Day- the best "half-day" of the year because it's the last day before Christmas break!

We had many a half eaten gingerbread man/gingerbread house make a visit.

We went to the annual family Christmas party on Dana's side. I'm so grateful to be part of such a wonderful, very large family.

The girls wore the skirts grandma made them to church. I think Emma felt a little old for it this year.

We went to see some lights at a neighborhood nearby that goes all out. And they have a neat Nativity that you can walk through in someone's backyard :)

I had a goal at the beginning of December to be better at focusing on what Christmas is all about. Dana found a little service we could do online. It was to make birthday cards for kids who are in foster care. It was something small and we didn't get as focused as I would have liked, but it was something, and it can be a jumping off place for next year.

Once Christmas break arrived, my family came out. 

My favorite part of Christmas.

And of course then, the fun, got even...more fun :)

The Second Two

Holly

Because Holly's been taking gymnastics twice a week, I get to have some one-on-one time with her in the car. Here are some things I've noticed:

• She's developing a fun sense of humor.
• She REALLY likes Christmas music. Especially the ones with "Holly" in them.
• She likes to theorize on why things are, the way they are, and get my opinion. And when she does this she looks out the window and I can see her reflection, reflecting (pondering) in the glass.
• She's good at remembering details and I get the inside scoop of life in 2nd grade. 

I love it. One-on-one time is precious in my book.  

She works hard at everything she does- something that is priceless to a parent. Whether it's cleaning the toilet, doing homework, or practicing piano I can count on her doing her best. 

I like this shot of her decorating the tree this year.

At a friend's Christmas talent show. She and her friend Ellie:)

Love our sweet little smoosh! (even though she's not very "smooshie" anymore).

Sadie

She's a sunshiney one:) She's half way through Kindergarten and having a good year. I did get a not super email from her teacher one day though. Here's what it said....

Hi,

    Sadie had kind of an "out of sorts" day today, and I wanted to let you know, because it isn't like her!  During calendar time she was picking sand and little stones out of the seams in her boots, then playing with them, which was distracting others.  I asked her to put it in the trash, and just put her hands in her lap.  She continued to do it, even after I reminded her again.  I told her she had to move her "stick down" and she just rolled her eyes at me.

     At the end of the day, we were trying to clean up to leave, and she just kept coloring.  Others at her table were trying to put pencil boxes away, and asking her to stop, but she just kept coloring.  When I asked her to stop, she said that it didn't matter if she kept coloring, it was no big deal and no one was going to die.  I explained that she needed to follow directions, and simply got the eye roll again.

    This is not typical of her, and I am not overly concerned, but wanted to let you know.

So that wasn't very fun to read even though I know Sadie and wasn't really worried. I had a talk with her and she immediately burst into tears saying her teacher doesn't like her. Her teacher is definitely not a warm, fuzzy type that you hope for your Kindergartner. I have to admit that the letter made me laugh a little but I didn't let on to Sadie about that. I talked to her about how important it is to be respectful and a good listener. 

I suppose she has not had anymore "out of sorts days" because I haven't gotten anymore emails. 
She's been learning those sight words and doing good with reading. This will be a good chance for her to learn that adults/people/teachers are all different. 

For the first couple months of school I was on the computer a lot in the morning and letting her watch TV. Suddenly I realized I was squandering the precious time I have with my baby before she's "all day" next year. So now we've been reading more, playing more, talking more. And after Friday's tragedy especially, I want to stay as committed as I can to enjoying the time I have with my little ones. Being a mother is truly a blessing and I hope to get through their little years without regrets...or as few as possible. 

Crazy Hair Day!

Sadie started gymnastics and is loving it so far. So thankful for our little one :) I love her and all 4 of them so much. My cup runneth over.

The First Two

December is full of fun activities, parties, concerts, performances, etc. There is so much happening this month every year. Here is a glimpse of life from each of the kids point of view.

Emma 

Ah the life of a Jr. Higher...don't you just miss those days? Ya- me neither :) 

She wakes up most of the time on her own with her "new" (my old) cell phone's alarm. I set my alarm as a back-up and listen for the shower or the pitter-patter of footsteps before I hit (tap) snooze on my iphone. I do get up and make her lunch. I know I need to have her start doing it, but I have to make everyone else's, so I add hers in too. She goes to school, does her homework, goes to Mutual, babysits for me and sometimes other people. She loves to text. She mainly texts me and a couple friends, but also keeps in touch with her aunts and uncle this way. I get a text pretty much everyday when she gets to lunch. She likes to use acronyms like "OTB" (on the bus). Yesterday I got one that said "Al". I stared at it a minute, then realized it was "at lunch" :) I think her "MOOTAB" phase is over now. It's a word she made up and she was texting it to everyone she had a phone number for to get their response, and then rolling with laughter. Yes, she is 12:) But I know what 12 can be, and she's a good 12. We've faithfully read the New Testament together at night all year and will be finishing it before 2013! She's a good helper and big sister. How I love my Emma.

Her favorite class is choir. They just had their second concert of the year- they do such a great job! 

Emma and Jane. (excuse the phone pictures)

And of course her favorite thing of all: horse lessons. She's puts in half the money for them and looks forward to them twice a month.

Eli

5th grade has been this boys year so far. He's learning to play the trumpet, made the school play "The Little Mermaid" as a "lagoon animal", been working hard in school, advancing in karate, and making new friends. He is sweet with a capital S. Except the times he's not. But we all have our times. A couple weeks ago in church he bore his testimony for the first time. He said a lot of the basics that kids say but then paused and said "And I love my mom so, so much." Pretty much made my week. I'm so grateful Heavenly Father sent Eli to us.

My "Instagram" at his first ever band concert.

We didn't get there an hour early which meant we had nose-bleeder seats in the back. But then I realized I happened to have a straight shot to him through all the many heads!

He's not afraid of being different. Ever. He loves having the craziest hair of all on "Crazy Hair Day".

He's had 3 "grape juice stands" with his friends Alex and Evan in the past 3 weeks. I think we're done for awhile now.

He loves his big sister. He's pretty much okay with whatever she wants to do to him.

I came to eat lunch with him the day he found out he made the play. And we matched with our plaid!

I think I'll start a new post for the girls since this is pretty lengthy. So as Emma would say....TBC....

Christmas Cards

About a month ago I decided we weren't going to do Christmas cards this year. Then I started to get friends and family's cute cards in the mail. Then I saw a Groupon for a good deal. Then I decided it would be okay to just take one of the kids again this year. There's always next year for a family picture right?

So Sunday before church we got the kids ready and drove down to a nearby spot that has beautiful lighting. I took some pictures. Mostly they turned out like this:

Or someone blinking. You know how it goes. I got a 'good enough' one that we'll be using for our card and hopefully one will come to you before Christmas :)

When I look at these pictures I can't help but notice...

...they're gettin' big.