Christmas 2010

Christmas came and went so fast around here. It takes so much work getting ready and it is over before I know it. We had good times with our families and feel so lucky to have family close to share the holidays with.

Christmas Eve and the boys getting their pj's.

Christmas breakfast at Grandma and Grandpa's. The food was so good.

The kiddos could not wait for their gifts.

My favorite picture. Annie had just had enough!! I love that girl.

It is always wonderful to have Maga and Papa at my parents house for Christmas breakfast.

This kid had enough.

Christmas night we headed to Bentley's for dinner and gifts. The grand kids put on the nativity. James was the angel and made his own star.

The Holidays were wonderful and packed full of fun. I can't believe how tired I am after all of it, and I need to get the second wind to clean up the aftermath.

James' Baptism

I honestly can't believe that I have an eight year old. I look back on the last eight years and I can't believe all that has happened. It was so fun getting James prepared for this day. He was so excited for this day.

I feel so blessed that Brad has the priesthood and was able to baptism and confirm him.

I don't think it gets much better.

This is one of my favorite pictures. Three generations and to have both grandpas there and being witnesses and apart of the confirmation. I wish I would have gotten a picture of all those men that came to support James and were in the circle. It was an amazing sight. It was a wonderful moment as they all circled around my little guy.

***On a side note....doesn't Josh just look like he is cooking up some trouble??***

A Visit with Santa

The love/hate relationship that kids have with Santa is amazing. I love the stages that my kids are at. James is starting to ask ALOT of questions about Santa and how "one person can really go to all those houses in one night". I can see the kids wheels turning as he asks many questions in an effort to figure it all out.

My Joshie can't get enough of Santa, and all things with Santa. How doesn't love someone dropping off presents that you ask for. A true believer.

Jackson could not be more up set with the idea of a big old man with a white beard. He looks at him from a distance, but placed on his lap....meltdown.

Bake Day 2010

It comes around just once a year and it is the true test of ones kitchen abilities. We start early and eager to get things under way. We actually scaled down a bit this year with only two different types of cookies to make instead of the usual 5 different types. the same amount of ambition is needed each and every year.

***First a HUGE shout out to Dodee and Lori for all the hard work and prep. Lori 12 times one recipe. I don't think I could even figure out how to do that. ****

We make the most amazing cookie, my favorite, a sandwich cookie made with sugar cookie dough and frosting in the middle. HEAVEN... Lots of rolling dough and cookie cutters. However, I found the most amazing kitchen gadget that you are able to roll the cookie cutters.

This is the ceremonial use of the tool. Those of us that are always at bake relish anything to make the process abit more slick.
Let me say mission accomplished!!! Happiness all around.

A sampling of some of the goods.

While the ladies were in the kitchen a few men were working to remold a bathroom and the toilet made it to the lawn and Brooke took a little break.

Never a dull moment with Brooke around. That girl can make you laugh!! I love her.

I tried not to disturb.

Another bake day in the books.

Cheers to the pounds of butter, the bags of sugar, and the cups of flour that it takes along with the MANY hands. It is a wonderful tradition.

Thank you Dodee and Lori.

Gingerbread House, Attempt

I try so hard to be a fun Mom. My latest attempt was a wash. I bought this gingerbread house thinking it would be fun to do with the boys, but the idea of Christmas music playing in the back ground with happy boys helping and me with my "June Cleaver" apron and and happy attitude to be in the kitchen was a sorry fantasy. It all looked so good in my head.

The icing bag broken open twice with icing all over the counter. Bags of candy ripped open falling on the floor, and my happy "June Cleaver" attitude quickly vanished. After the icing spilling we only had enough to cover about half the roof.
I always was so impressed when the boys would make their gingerbread houses at pre-school, and I would think to myself...."It can't be that hard. If a pre-school teacher is able to pull it off." Clearly, my appreciation for pre-school teachers once again gets a "those teachers are angels". I figure that I will leave it for teacher to do with my children from now on.

Odds and Ends

Still alive and kickn'. If for nothing else this post is for my own journaling.

The boys have lived in the snow as of late and I love that they love being out there.

I honestly can't get enough of this kid's smile. I love that the nose wrinkles.

Lots that has yet to be posted....

James' Baptism

Thanksgiving

Black Friday

White Christmas

I hope one of these days I will have a rousing up lifting post about the blessing of a paycheck, but don't hold your breath.

If anyone knows of a job opening let me know!!!

Go Utes!!

Loves these Boys in red!!

Examples

I am sure I take for granted all the amazing people that are a part of my life. I have truly been blessed with some of the most exceptionally good examples that have been constants throughout my life.

My sweet little James turned eight last month and he choose to be baptised. It was such a sure real event for me as a mother. As I watch my children experience things that I remember experiencing as a child, I realize how fast time goes.

After James was baptized a close relative (example #1) gave James 30 one dollar bills. When the money exchanged hands James was given a challenge associated with the dollar bills. Example #1 challenged James to use those dollars to help someone else. James could use it any way he saw fit. The idea behind this challenge was to help James to think of others. James will be help accountable for the money has example #1 will ask every so often what he has done. He just needed use it within the year.

I didn't know how James would react, but he took the dollar bills and placed them on the dresser.

Last week James came to me and stated that he had an idea of what he would like to do. He remembered that last year an individual (example #2) placed money in envelopes and as example #2 would be out and about through the holidays they would random hand out these envelope to total stranger.
Two nights ago James places one dollar in 20 different envelopes to hand-out to people that he sees that might need it. He placed the envelopes in my bag and told me that he will look for people when we go out.
As I lay in bed that night so grateful for the many examples that are in my life. I am grateful for the examples that are apart of my boys' life.
I thank you!!
I thank the good people in my life that are examples to me and my boys.
I thank you for doing good when you might not realize little ears and eyes are watching.

This Is Halloween

Halloween......I am pretty sure it was celebrated for 5 days. It seemed that the activities kept coming.

We first started off with a Halloween party up at Bentley's house with all the cousins. Nothing better than a toilet paper mummy wrap. This is always a favorite.

Next up...

A Halloween party at school along with a parade.

Nothing better then trick - or - treating at Desert First Credit Union and University of Utah Credit Union.

These little lovers

Trunk - or - Treat at the ward.

A week full of activities and fun... and bags of candy.

My Boys

Love these two!!

Happy Birthday James!!

I can't believe that my boy is 8!! He will be baptized on November 6th. He is growing up so fast. It is so wierd has a parent to have a child experience things that I remember from my childhood. It really is amazing how fast time flies.

Our monthy family dinner at Jensen's topped off with cake and ice cream for Brad and James.

The following day we headed to Boondocks with the Boys and our next door neighbor. It was perfect. No one was there.
Alittle Golf

Bumper Boats

Race Cars

The boys had so much fun.

Happy Birthday James!!

*

*

*

*

James' Prayer

Tonight it was James' turn for family prayers. His prayers are always so insightful into what is going on in his mind. Tonight was no different.....

James "please bless Mom to get alone with everyone."

The kid singled me right out. I clearly have some work to do.

I always thought I was the one that went with the flow.....

Leave it to my kids to humble me.

Devil Inside

"the devil inside, the devil inside

every single one of us the devil inside" INXS

Classic lyric from a great song from the eighties.....

However, Josh's "devil inside" is never really "inside"

Today we went to Target and has we walked down the isle Josh saw this display with all the Halloween piggy banks,

Josh "Oh Cool!"

and runs to pick up the one that caught his eye......

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*Should I really be that surprised??