Andrew's shame

During the fall on our semi-annual trip to Arches National Park, Andrew had a moment of three-year-old-ness. Matt told him to "come sit on this rock and hide your head in shame," very tongue in cheek.

Andrew slowly walked over and then dropped his head into his hands. It was so hilarious, we all cracked up. It must have made an impression.

Last night he was having trouble staying in bed. After a few interventions by Matt, he seemed to stay. But,when I went in to kiss him, his head was buried in his pillow, his bum high in the air. I kissed his bare neck, and he turned over. He looked at me sadly and said "I did hide my head in shade 'till you got here."

A kiss, and a hug, and a suppressed laugh later, all was well with Andrew.

Funny Christmas Cards

I thought these cards were pretty hilarious. There are more here.

MaLM - December Fun

Make a List Monday --December Fun

We've had a lot of fun this month (along with the stress). I wanted to list all the great news!

1. Matt's work party in Midway at the Zermat Resort. This is the same place it was last year when we had our magical date. I still think of that night as near perfect.
2. Our ward party (just for adults) where we had a blast visiting and even found a new second cousin in our ward!
3. The First Presidency Christmas Devotional
4. The Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, which was phenomenal as always.
5. Met our new niece/cousin this week, congratulations Rochelle and Mike!
6. Got our first lasting layer of snow, beautiful and cold!

Still to go:
Caroling parties, lots of Christmas movies (Mr. Kruger, I'm looking at you next), Dawn's school party, the school Christmas sing, and lots of present/card work.

Hope you are enjoying your December, too.

A Spot of Sun --Apple poetry

Dawn brought home a poem from school a little while back. It must have been in the early fall when it was written because she was required to put "apple" or "apple seed" in the poem. Enjoy.

It All Adds Up

An apple is like a heart,
a simple pink hear.
A heart is as love,
a simple sweet love.
And love is like a girl,
a simple sweet girl.
Who is out on a walk
and finds her heart a swirl
when she bumps into a man,
who alikens this girl.
It leads to a marriage,
a marriage quite fine,
with 28 presents and music divine.
This marriage, this marriage
do you know what it leads to?
It leads to the children
a boy and a girl too.
And it will go on,
oh yes it will
forever and ever and ever
with a big thrill.
Do you know what started it,
the leader of it all?
It started with an apple seed,
that was planted in the fall.

Christmas Colors

(Martha Stewart)

Perhaps it has to do with my list making love, but I love to plan for all sorts of future problems. Not silly things like retirement or the class party I'm hosting for Dawn next week, but what colors I should use on my future "pretty" Christmas tree.

We now have a "happy" tree, which is just that, very happy and very sentimental. But I'm planning for when I have TWO Christmas trees. I browse tree decorations, I look through magazines and blogs, I stay up late at night pondering it in my bed. How will I decorate it?
(Our tree)
I grew up with a Mom who loves red, so holiday decorating was uncomplicated, just red, red and maybe a little gold thrown in. I thought that was the only way. True Christmas colors. I told my mom I would always use real red and green. She just didn't buy it. And as moms often are, she was right. I want a tree that blends in with my decor which is decidedly un-red.
(Mom's tree)


So what colors do I want? Silver, not gold. Burgundy and silver? Light blues and greens with pearly accents? Silver and white and crystal? A berry-ish pink (counterfeit red) with light green? The possibilities are endless.
(Country Home)


And that is the problem.

What Christmas colors do you dream of?

Our miracle

Yesterday we took Rachel to the doctor where she had a urinary tract infection diagnosed and treated. She felt pretty good that day and the next. Tuesday afternoon after school she said she had a headache just starting. Then she crashed, slept for 1 1/2 hours. She woke up, still feeling yucky and watched a movie.

After the movie, she was crying, getting chills and calling for me. I touched her and she was burning up. I took her temperature and it was 105.8 in one ear and 106.5in the other. I am not kidding. It is still recorded on our digital thermometer. We DIDN'T freak out (but almost), gave her medicine, whisked her off to a cold bath and prayed. Matt gave her a priesthood blessing.

In a few hours she was down to 104, but still miserable. We gave her some different medicine. In a few hours she was down to 101, ate dinner and even jumped around a bit.

This morning she had no fever and felt great. We weren't planning on sending her to school, but she wanted to and seemed fine. So off she went.

And we prayed our thanks to our Father.

Our own miracle.

Dawn's first recital

Dawn had her first piano recital a few weeks ago. She wasn't nervous or stressed. She played "Old Woman" beautifully. We were so proud of her.



She gets bonus points for looking so cute, too.

Being thankful at dinnertime

During November, our family started a thankful moment at dinner time. Each night we would take turns telling what we were thankful for. Most of the kids latched on to a few things they always used, but we encouraged them to think of new things.

Andrew was thankful for our fish for the first two weeks and the Grinch the next two weeks.

Scott was thankful for our house and clothes and food.

Rachel was thankful for the first Heavenly Father who ever lived ("because that includes everything!").

Dawn varied greatly, including scriptures, prophets, food, clothing, school, electricity, etc.

The side benefit of this ritual was an increased calm and happiness during dinner. So every few days when dinner is especially loud and raucous or whiny and sad, we whip out the thanksgiving tradition. It always helps us focus on something beside our busy days, our personal wants, the yucky onions in the dinner, the ugly yellow cup, or the loud vying for attention.

I highly recommend it. Give it a try tonight.

MaLM - Shopping done

Make a List Monday -- Stores I had to visit on Saturday to completely finish my Christmas shopping!

1. the mall (Children's Place,Gymboree, Bath and Body Works)
2. Big Lots
3. Roberts Crafts
4. BYU Bookstore
5. Michael's Crafts
6. Burlington Coat Factory
7. Target
8. Walmart
9. Amazon
10. Other random online stores (which I LOVE)

After 6 hours of grossness, I finally am all done. We decided to put in one day of marathon blah (and a little merry shopping), so we could enjoy the rest of the month worry free.

I do have a few stores I need to return things to, but that's all. Hope you are nearing the end.

MaLM - Thanks

Make a List Monday -- Giving Thanks

1. I'm thankful I feel no, well, very little, pressure to blog
2. I'm thankful that my kids stayed healthy over the holiday (sorry pukey family, hope you're better)
3. I'm thankful for planes that bring family home for the holidays
4. I'm thankful that after trying gingerbread pumpkin pie, cream cheese pumpkin pie with chocolate pieces, gingersnap pumpkin pie with brown sugar meringue, there is a delicious regular old pumpkin pie to eat (thanks Amanda).
5. I'm thankful for games to play
6. I'm thankful for old forests with new trees to be the star of my Christmas decorating.
7. I'm thankful for a father who knew how to light up a tree, and taught us all
8. I'm thankful for diapers
9. I'm thankful for sleeping babies
10. I'm thankful for love and happiness and rest