Those are some darn cute kids, if I do say so myself. :)
31 December 2011
Family Pictures, September 2011
I never posted the pictures Emily Chadwick took for our family this year! Before I print the book, I need to throw them in.
Those are some darn cute kids, if I do say so myself. :)
Those are some darn cute kids, if I do say so myself. :)
Resolution Review, Year End Wrap-Up
Before I print this year's posts (all 241 of them, well, now 242) into a book, I wanted to revisit my resolution for 2011 and see what we did do make that a reality.
Here's what I wrote on January 1st of 2011:
"My first goal is to write 2011 instead of 2010. It's already proving to be a challenge.
Actually, this year I have only one goal. To Lay Off.
I am going to lay off when my kids disobey or defy. I'm going to lay off the yelling. I'm going to try to be the kind of parent Heavenly Father is. He gives me many opportunities to obey. He encourages me and teaches me the blessings of obedience. BUT, in the end, He lets me choose and He doesn't attack me with rage when I choose to disobey. He immediately blesses me when I do and He lays off when I don't. Because I know He loves me, I try harder and harder to obey every day. I'm going to work this year to be more loving and more the parent He is. I'm going to Lay Off."
I have to admit something: I totally forgot about this. I seriously thought I had made the goal that I was going to embrace "This is the Moment." Ha! That's honestly been the motto in the back of my mind all year. Just goes to show ya.
But I think the two go hand in hand. I feel like I have really enjoyed my children more this year. I have really tried to embrace them for who they are and give them freedom to pursue their own interests. I do feel like I've been a better parent this year. And yes, for the most part, I have been better at "laying off." I have hardly spanked a bit this year. That may appall you that I even spank at all. It sort of appalls me, believe me. I usually do it just when I'm really angry and full of rage (so it really has no positive teaching effect in the least). I haven't been full of that rage this year...at least not very often. I am sure I've had my days, but they've become much fewer and further between. I've still yelled...I need to work on that one -- it's a problem for me....but I can sincerely say that I have been SO much more loving this year. So. Much. More. Loving.
So, all in all, I'd say 2011 was a success! I like that I can look back and feel that I have improved as a parent. I still have huge work to be done, but I'm grateful for the progress that's been made.
----
Now, as for the year itself, can I just say how thankful I am for the experiences we had?!
We were able to travel, both just Stanton and I and as a family. We spent some really quality time together seeing new places and experiencing new things.
We got a dog! I say at least once a day that although I truly love little (giant) Charlie with all my heart, I really wish we didn't have a dog. It's true. But I love HIM and so I'm glad we have a dog.
Everyone is in school this year. Chloe, Lily, & Brigham are all in elementary school. Cannon is in preschool. It's definitely one of the watershed changes we've experienced this year. It's great.
Life stayed the same. How is it possible in the midst of growing and changing? But it did. We live in the same house, drive the same cars, have the same jobs, same callings, same ward, etc. I LOVE that there are constants in the midst of the ebb and flow of this stage of life.
I liked 2011 a lot. I'm looking forward to what 2012 will have in store!
Here's what I wrote on January 1st of 2011:
"My first goal is to write 2011 instead of 2010. It's already proving to be a challenge.
Actually, this year I have only one goal. To Lay Off.
I am going to lay off when my kids disobey or defy. I'm going to lay off the yelling. I'm going to try to be the kind of parent Heavenly Father is. He gives me many opportunities to obey. He encourages me and teaches me the blessings of obedience. BUT, in the end, He lets me choose and He doesn't attack me with rage when I choose to disobey. He immediately blesses me when I do and He lays off when I don't. Because I know He loves me, I try harder and harder to obey every day. I'm going to work this year to be more loving and more the parent He is. I'm going to Lay Off."
I have to admit something: I totally forgot about this. I seriously thought I had made the goal that I was going to embrace "This is the Moment." Ha! That's honestly been the motto in the back of my mind all year. Just goes to show ya.
But I think the two go hand in hand. I feel like I have really enjoyed my children more this year. I have really tried to embrace them for who they are and give them freedom to pursue their own interests. I do feel like I've been a better parent this year. And yes, for the most part, I have been better at "laying off." I have hardly spanked a bit this year. That may appall you that I even spank at all. It sort of appalls me, believe me. I usually do it just when I'm really angry and full of rage (so it really has no positive teaching effect in the least). I haven't been full of that rage this year...at least not very often. I am sure I've had my days, but they've become much fewer and further between. I've still yelled...I need to work on that one -- it's a problem for me....but I can sincerely say that I have been SO much more loving this year. So. Much. More. Loving.
So, all in all, I'd say 2011 was a success! I like that I can look back and feel that I have improved as a parent. I still have huge work to be done, but I'm grateful for the progress that's been made.
----
Now, as for the year itself, can I just say how thankful I am for the experiences we had?!
We were able to travel, both just Stanton and I and as a family. We spent some really quality time together seeing new places and experiencing new things.
We got a dog! I say at least once a day that although I truly love little (giant) Charlie with all my heart, I really wish we didn't have a dog. It's true. But I love HIM and so I'm glad we have a dog.
Everyone is in school this year. Chloe, Lily, & Brigham are all in elementary school. Cannon is in preschool. It's definitely one of the watershed changes we've experienced this year. It's great.
Life stayed the same. How is it possible in the midst of growing and changing? But it did. We live in the same house, drive the same cars, have the same jobs, same callings, same ward, etc. I LOVE that there are constants in the midst of the ebb and flow of this stage of life.
I liked 2011 a lot. I'm looking forward to what 2012 will have in store!
Conversations
November
Cannon: Last night when I grow up, I'm going on a mission to the circus.
Brigham seeing me eating leftover potatoes and asparagus for lunch: I LOVED those. That was your best disgusting meal EVER.
Me laughing: Do you know what disgusting means?
Brigham: Yes. It means bad. And I mean, I thought it was going to be disgusting, and then it was the best EVER and tasted great.
Lily running frantically into the bathroom where Stanton & I were getting ready: I already put new clothes and roller skates on my Christmas list, but I forgot something so important!!
Me: What's that?
Lily: Perfume!
We laughed because she sounded just like Fancy Nancy when she said it...
Lily looking at us indignantly because we were laughing: Because my room smells like POOP!!!
Stanton: Jul, where's Disneyland?
Lily who has a reputation for knowing EVERYTHING, even when she doesn't: Up in the clouds.
Chloe to Stanton, after learning that her story was advancing in the Reflections contest: This was the best day of my career!
Brigham trying to read the Book of Mormon: Did it take Mormon forever to write these words?
Me to Cannon, who was sucking on a sucker before bed: You can't eat a sucker before bed.
Cannon: Okay, I shall eat it the next morning.
Bro. T to Brigham when we were at a baptism: You know your dad is kind of crazy, right?
Brigham: You're crazy.
Cannon looking at the Polynesian boy sitting near us and whispering REALLY loudly: Mom, his face is yucky!
Yeah, we were NOT proud of that moment. Ugh.
Cannon who had already cut Charlie's hair earlier in the day and was throwing a fit about something else that evening: Yohwa meanest mom!
Me: Nuh-uh. Nobody loves you more than I do.
Cannon: No YOU don't.
Me: Tell me somebody who does more for you than I do.
Cannon indignantly: You.
Brigham: Mom, is Dad still a kid?
Me: No.
Brigham: Well, to God he is, huh?
Cannon is in that cutest stage where he wants to be just like Brigham...
Brigham interrupting his lunch: Just a minute Mom, I've got to go get my chapstick washed off.
Cannon standing up IMMEDIATELY after: Just a second Mom. I've got to get my chapstick washCLOTH.
Cannon walked across the road and all the way down the block to my friend's house (completely unbeknowst to me). He knocked on her door, she answered, he looked up and without another greeting or word said: My mom knows I'm here.
Oh, man, I am in TROUBLE!!! That boy can lie straight-faced at age 3!!!
Not really a conversation so much, but I have to record it. I've had the kid's Halloween candy in a closet waiting for gingerbread houses. Lily went to a birthday party and came home with a Tootsie Pop. I was craving it as she was eating it, so after the kids went to bed, I got into the closet and was rummaging through their Halloween candy looking for one. I turned around and guess who was standing there watching me?? Chloe! BUSTED!!! We had a good laugh.
Brigham looking at an Oriental Trading magazine and totally exasperated: Why is Christmas all about candy and presents....and Jesus?!
Well, Son.....
Brigham has some cute ways of saying a few words: Mazagine. And he always asks me if I can see what he's doing with my laser eyes.
Cannon says "accident" as: anskinent
Chloe: Mom, do you think eels are charming?
Chloe after watching Star Wars with the boys: Mom, most movies only have one sad part, but this movie has TONS of them.
I think that's a pretty astute observation of how movies generally tend to go...
Cannon with a bunch of boogers dripping from his nose after a sneeze: Boogey Alert!! Boogey Alert!!
Cannon: That's disGROSSting!!
December
Chloe: I AM MUSIC.
Lily after Chloe, me, and her were talking about what history means and that it's essentially something that happened in the past. They were asking if people who are dead are history. I conceded that yes, in a sense they are....: Yep, and Grandma Allen is almost history.
Sammie F at Temple Square, looking at the nativities: Are the people in the nativity real?
Lily: All the people who went to see Baby Jesus are extinct.
Brigham: I'm smarter than anyone else in the whole wide world except Jesus and Heavenly Father.
Chloe: Well, what's 10 times 10?
Brigham: Water killed the dinosaurs, right?
Me: Nobody really knows what happened to the dinosaurs.
Cannon: No, chickens came and choked them around the neck.
Cannon: When I was a grown up, I'm gonna be a turkey.
The kids and Stanton were discussing how thirsty they were and what they could drink because they were so thirsty....
Brigham: I could drink....Oh no, am I gonna have to tell you this?....I'm so thirsty I could drink BLOOD.
Stanton took the boys to visit the grandmas. Grandma Barbara told Cannon that she was going to pinch his ear. She pinched his ear.
Cannon: NO. My ear is NOT a toy.
Brigham: Bats come out at night, don't they, Dad?
Stanton: Yeah. Sometimes they do.
Brigham: Dad...do bats think cars are cows??
Brigham: Why don't the scriptures have "meanwhile?"
Brigham: Mom, it's weird that Jesus and Heavenly Father and the angels don't have extra clothes, isn't it?
Cannon giving me instructions on how to draw a frog. He told me where to put the eyes, but called them eyebrows instead of eyeballs...he chuckled at himself...: Frogs don't have eyebrows...only crocodiles.
Brigham: I know why they call it Textas. Because they text in Texas...
Brigham after I recorded the last convo: Knock knock.
Me: Who's there?
Brigham: C
Me: C Who?
Brigham: Who're you callin' cuckoo?! Pause... Are you going to record THAT on your phone so you can remember it forever and ever?
Me while snuggling with Cannon: Cannon, what are you going to be when you grow up?
Cannon: I'm gonna be a basketball player, remember?.......And an ANstronaut...
Brigham while we were driving in the van: Mom, you know how Dad always has to go to work? I want to have a job where I don't have to go to work all the time.
Me: Well, that's kind of what a job is.
Brigham: Well, couldn't somebody just pay us for me to stay home all the time?
Chloe driving past a house with flashing, multi-colored LED lights: That house does NOT look like a Christmas house...it looks like a Halloween house.
Bishop Stephenson at tithing settlement: I want you kids to know how very blessed you are to have the parents you have. They love you, teach you the Gospel, and teach and serve you.
Brigham: And sometimes be mean to us.
Bishop Stephenson: It's just part of the job description.
:)
Brigham when Cannon accidentally scrunched up the Mary sticker from the nativity sticker scenes they were doing: So, she was dead in the picture?
Me: Mary actually lived longer than Jesus.
Brigham: What the heck?!
I laughed.
Brigham: That's weird! Why did she live longer than him? Did he die when he was a baby?
Me: No, remember, he grew up and then was killed by wicked people?
Brigham: How old was he?
Me: He was about my age when he died.
Brigham: So you're the same age as Jesus was when he died?
Me: Well, I'm a little bit younger, but we're close to the same age.
Brigham: What? Jesus was 200?!
So much for an enlightening conversation.....ha!
I put out the new Christus statue that my parents gave us for Christmas. Jesus is dressed in an across the shoulder, draped-type shroud so the wounds in his side are visible. Brigham looked at it for a while and then came to me gravely: Mom, Jesus is really immodest in that statue, isn't he?
I have to admit that to a 5 year old's eyes, he is, indeed.
Cannon has been singing some very cute versions of Christmas carols non-stop all month. You Better Watch Out is a favorite. As well as: Deck the Halls with lots of holly. Falalalalalalalala. And Away n a Manger no crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus asleep on his head.
Chloe: why do we have to look down at h-e-double hockey sticks when we pray?
Cannon: Last night when I grow up, I'm going on a mission to the circus.
Brigham seeing me eating leftover potatoes and asparagus for lunch: I LOVED those. That was your best disgusting meal EVER.
Me laughing: Do you know what disgusting means?
Brigham: Yes. It means bad. And I mean, I thought it was going to be disgusting, and then it was the best EVER and tasted great.
Lily running frantically into the bathroom where Stanton & I were getting ready: I already put new clothes and roller skates on my Christmas list, but I forgot something so important!!
Me: What's that?
Lily: Perfume!
We laughed because she sounded just like Fancy Nancy when she said it...
Lily looking at us indignantly because we were laughing: Because my room smells like POOP!!!
Stanton: Jul, where's Disneyland?
Lily who has a reputation for knowing EVERYTHING, even when she doesn't: Up in the clouds.
Chloe to Stanton, after learning that her story was advancing in the Reflections contest: This was the best day of my career!
Brigham trying to read the Book of Mormon: Did it take Mormon forever to write these words?
Me to Cannon, who was sucking on a sucker before bed: You can't eat a sucker before bed.
Cannon: Okay, I shall eat it the next morning.
Bro. T to Brigham when we were at a baptism: You know your dad is kind of crazy, right?
Brigham: You're crazy.
Cannon looking at the Polynesian boy sitting near us and whispering REALLY loudly: Mom, his face is yucky!
Yeah, we were NOT proud of that moment. Ugh.
Cannon who had already cut Charlie's hair earlier in the day and was throwing a fit about something else that evening: Yohwa meanest mom!
Me: Nuh-uh. Nobody loves you more than I do.
Cannon: No YOU don't.
Me: Tell me somebody who does more for you than I do.
Cannon indignantly: You.
Brigham: Mom, is Dad still a kid?
Me: No.
Brigham: Well, to God he is, huh?
Cannon is in that cutest stage where he wants to be just like Brigham...
Brigham interrupting his lunch: Just a minute Mom, I've got to go get my chapstick washed off.
Cannon standing up IMMEDIATELY after: Just a second Mom. I've got to get my chapstick washCLOTH.
Cannon walked across the road and all the way down the block to my friend's house (completely unbeknowst to me). He knocked on her door, she answered, he looked up and without another greeting or word said: My mom knows I'm here.
Oh, man, I am in TROUBLE!!! That boy can lie straight-faced at age 3!!!
Not really a conversation so much, but I have to record it. I've had the kid's Halloween candy in a closet waiting for gingerbread houses. Lily went to a birthday party and came home with a Tootsie Pop. I was craving it as she was eating it, so after the kids went to bed, I got into the closet and was rummaging through their Halloween candy looking for one. I turned around and guess who was standing there watching me?? Chloe! BUSTED!!! We had a good laugh.
Brigham looking at an Oriental Trading magazine and totally exasperated: Why is Christmas all about candy and presents....and Jesus?!
Well, Son.....
Brigham has some cute ways of saying a few words: Mazagine. And he always asks me if I can see what he's doing with my laser eyes.
Cannon says "accident" as: anskinent
Chloe: Mom, do you think eels are charming?
Chloe after watching Star Wars with the boys: Mom, most movies only have one sad part, but this movie has TONS of them.
I think that's a pretty astute observation of how movies generally tend to go...
Cannon with a bunch of boogers dripping from his nose after a sneeze: Boogey Alert!! Boogey Alert!!
Cannon: That's disGROSSting!!
December
Chloe: I AM MUSIC.
Lily after Chloe, me, and her were talking about what history means and that it's essentially something that happened in the past. They were asking if people who are dead are history. I conceded that yes, in a sense they are....: Yep, and Grandma Allen is almost history.
Sammie F at Temple Square, looking at the nativities: Are the people in the nativity real?
Lily: All the people who went to see Baby Jesus are extinct.
Brigham: I'm smarter than anyone else in the whole wide world except Jesus and Heavenly Father.
Chloe: Well, what's 10 times 10?
Brigham: Water killed the dinosaurs, right?
Me: Nobody really knows what happened to the dinosaurs.
Cannon: No, chickens came and choked them around the neck.
Cannon: When I was a grown up, I'm gonna be a turkey.
The kids and Stanton were discussing how thirsty they were and what they could drink because they were so thirsty....
Brigham: I could drink....Oh no, am I gonna have to tell you this?....I'm so thirsty I could drink BLOOD.
Stanton took the boys to visit the grandmas. Grandma Barbara told Cannon that she was going to pinch his ear. She pinched his ear.
Cannon: NO. My ear is NOT a toy.
Brigham: Bats come out at night, don't they, Dad?
Stanton: Yeah. Sometimes they do.
Brigham: Dad...do bats think cars are cows??
Brigham: Why don't the scriptures have "meanwhile?"
Brigham: Mom, it's weird that Jesus and Heavenly Father and the angels don't have extra clothes, isn't it?
Cannon giving me instructions on how to draw a frog. He told me where to put the eyes, but called them eyebrows instead of eyeballs...he chuckled at himself...: Frogs don't have eyebrows...only crocodiles.
Brigham: I know why they call it Textas. Because they text in Texas...
Brigham after I recorded the last convo: Knock knock.
Me: Who's there?
Brigham: C
Me: C Who?
Brigham: Who're you callin' cuckoo?! Pause... Are you going to record THAT on your phone so you can remember it forever and ever?
Me while snuggling with Cannon: Cannon, what are you going to be when you grow up?
Cannon: I'm gonna be a basketball player, remember?.......And an ANstronaut...
Brigham while we were driving in the van: Mom, you know how Dad always has to go to work? I want to have a job where I don't have to go to work all the time.
Me: Well, that's kind of what a job is.
Brigham: Well, couldn't somebody just pay us for me to stay home all the time?
Chloe driving past a house with flashing, multi-colored LED lights: That house does NOT look like a Christmas house...it looks like a Halloween house.
Bishop Stephenson at tithing settlement: I want you kids to know how very blessed you are to have the parents you have. They love you, teach you the Gospel, and teach and serve you.
Brigham: And sometimes be mean to us.
Bishop Stephenson: It's just part of the job description.
:)
Brigham when Cannon accidentally scrunched up the Mary sticker from the nativity sticker scenes they were doing: So, she was dead in the picture?
Me: Mary actually lived longer than Jesus.
Brigham: What the heck?!
I laughed.
Brigham: That's weird! Why did she live longer than him? Did he die when he was a baby?
Me: No, remember, he grew up and then was killed by wicked people?
Brigham: How old was he?
Me: He was about my age when he died.
Brigham: So you're the same age as Jesus was when he died?
Me: Well, I'm a little bit younger, but we're close to the same age.
Brigham: What? Jesus was 200?!
So much for an enlightening conversation.....ha!
I put out the new Christus statue that my parents gave us for Christmas. Jesus is dressed in an across the shoulder, draped-type shroud so the wounds in his side are visible. Brigham looked at it for a while and then came to me gravely: Mom, Jesus is really immodest in that statue, isn't he?
I have to admit that to a 5 year old's eyes, he is, indeed.
Cannon has been singing some very cute versions of Christmas carols non-stop all month. You Better Watch Out is a favorite. As well as: Deck the Halls with lots of holly. Falalalalalalalala. And Away n a Manger no crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus asleep on his head.
Chloe: why do we have to look down at h-e-double hockey sticks when we pray?
Favorite Pictures 2011
My friend Amanda does a favorite pictures post every year. I really like the idea, so I thought I'd do my own version. Some are favorites for their photographic quality, others for the memories they bring back. Oh, and they are not in any sort of order. I just don't feel like fixing them!!
Charlie as a puppy. I can't believe how much he has grown this year. His eyes are still as magical as the day he came to us.
My darling girls on their first day of 1st and 2nd grade. I love that in this picture you can see the similarities in their looks, as well as the stark differences.
Lori, me, and Cindy in Park City. I love how our outfits coordinate (not at all planned). I love my sisters so much. I'm lucky to have them.
My four darlings on Easter Sunday. I loved their outfits that day. They have grown up so much since this picture. Crazy.
I love the lighting in this picture. And Cannon's cheeks.
Lily at Mary Poppins. I like the depth of field, the smile on her face, and the memory of this fun night with the girls.
Cannon at our Johnson family reunion. I love the colors and I love the grass ground into Cannon's buttons.
RV Park in Bear Lake, ID (taken through the screen door). Just one of those perfect moments in life. And I love that they're sitting from youngest to oldest.
Cannon at Craters of the Moon, ID.
I love the adorable way he is looking in the distance.
Brigham miniature golfing with the Days. I love his glasses, eyebrow scar, and freckles in this picture, as well as the focus.
Grandma J and Kyle Johnson. I just love this picture so much.
Farmer's Market, Sundance, UT. I can't believe I took this picture.
Fuzzy Caterpillar, Stewart Falls, UT.
I love the beautiful marks of a life beautifully lived on the face of my Grandma, Virginia Johnson.
A super fun Independence Day hike in the mountains of Logan, UT.
Autumn leaf, Stewart Falls, UT. I love the old and the new, the contrast, and the colors.
Chloe & Charlie. I love their eyes in this picture. This was one of my top faves from the year.
Brad & Lori Wilson family. My first attempt at a family portrait. I'm no expert, but I think this picture turned out really great.
Cindy & DJ. Love these two. And I think this picture turned out really nicely.
La Familia Juanito. At Pickleville Playhouse in Bear Lake, UT.
And I love the editing on this version. One of the few times sepia works. :)
Hoover Dam, NV. I love the scenery behind us...and I won't lie -we were both at our skinniest here. It's nice to have a reminder of that after the holidays when our pants are too tight. :)
This was a super fun trip with our dear friends, Brian and Linda Westfall. Great memory.
There you have it, sports fans. My favorites of 2011. I hope my photography will improve this year. I really need to learn and practice more.
Pictures from December
I didn't download pictures from my good camera very often this month -- I was trying to keep up with December Daily posts with my phone. I'm glad I did it, but the picture quality is so much better on my real camera.
Here are a few collages from this month of fun!
Pictures from the Greg & Wendy Rose party. It's so fun to be together with my immediates!
Pictures from the Gary & Dorothy family party. The kids loved their presents from their cousins. And isn't Jordyn adorable with those missing teeth?! And hi, Cindy the supermodel! If I didn't love you so much, I might be tempted to hate you. :)
My cutest ever Kindergarten boy, Brigham. I always think those tree hats look mighty Papal. :)
From the Dave & Judy Allen Christmas party. I couldn't help but notice the resemblance to the thumb-sucking Prince John from the Disney Robin Hood movie. :)
Notes about each picture on the collage. I hope they're readable in the book! Probably the thing most noteworthy was the picture on the bottom left. Sweet Brigham and Mary played Joseph and Mary. Brigham took his role very seriously. He held little Mary's hand over Baby Jesus' head the entire time we did the nativity. It was so tender and sweet.
Pictures from our Christmas Eve party. I loved the nativity! I spent the afternoon organizing the costumes so they were so easy and cute that night. And oh goodness, could those sweet kids be any cuter?! I know I've posted so many pictures of Cannon lately. He is just melting my heart lately. That top left picture of him was as Joseph. Ugh, he is just edible. Love that boy! Also, this was one of our best batches of clam chowder ever. What a great tradition for Christmas Eve!
I don't know why I take so few pictures every Christmas morning -- I mean, I guess it's because we're just enjoying every second of it in real life, but still, I wish I would at least remember to take a picture of each of them surrounded by their loot! There's always next year, right?!
Here are a few collages from this month of fun!
Almost all of the Christmas decorations in the house. I never took a picture of the nativity scene on the piano or the beautiful wreath that hangs at the entrance of the hallway (with a sign in the middle that says "Merry Days, Silent Nights." I also hung mistletoe this year for the first time. In fact, it's still up. Theres always a straggler or two, isn't there?! I ended up cutting up a couple of vinyl reindeer that went on the wall over the Singapore nativity (left side of collage, second picture down). It added some nice contrast. I love love love our home at Christmas time. I have a very simple style all the rest of the year - at Christmas everything is bigger, warmer, and cozier. I love it. And I love taking everything down just a day or so after Christmas. Oh...and I didn't take any pictures of the front of the house! Darn!! It was so pretty this year. Candy cane colored lights across the front, a wreath with a fun Merry Christmas sign in the middle, alpine trees and present boxes on the porch. It was my favorite outside scene we've had since living here.
Stanton had a fun afternoon watching home movies with the kids. He's pretty much finished transferring everything and getting it organized and backed up. The kids LOVED watching themselves.
This is the girls at their piano recital with their amazing teacher, Shirlene Shaw. She is beautiful, amazingly talented (I mean, seriously amazingly talented on the piano), and a gifted teacher. We are beyond lucky that we have her in our neighborhood.
Pictures from the Gary & Dorothy family party. The kids loved their presents from their cousins. And isn't Jordyn adorable with those missing teeth?! And hi, Cindy the supermodel! If I didn't love you so much, I might be tempted to hate you. :)
These are pics of the kids with some of their favorite gifts. Can you guess which one was NOT a favorite gift, thought? Yep, Brigham had a "Christmas Story" moment (a la them looking at their socks and chucking them behind the couch) when he opened a new church shirt. His face was priceless. I'm happy to report that a week later, the gifts they each received are still being loved and used. I love when we (and Santa) get it right!
26 December 2011
December Daily - Monday, December 26th
Such a great, relaxing day!! Stanton and I slept in way too long while the kids played and had a great morning. We cleaned the house up a bit (it was starting to get out of control....again) and then went to the fun park to go roller skating. It was so dang fun! The kids were pretty darn good, especially Lily, who had had a day on her skates already to practice. Chloe made a lot of progress by the end of the outing. I'd like to take them again so they don't lose the hang of it. The boys were not as quick to pick it up, but that makes sense. They still loved every second of it. We went to chick fil a for lunch and then returned Stanton's coat. We got hoe and I took a nap (!!!!! A Christmas miracle !!!!!) for a good long while. The kids played downstairs until they couldn't stand it any longer. They got me up and we did crafts from Chloe's books, played Hedbanz, and had dinner (Stanton worked on something with our intercoms and then ate and played Hedbanz with us). We worked on crafts, read from Lily's new book about getting along with siblings, and then got everyone showered. After scriptures, which we've been neglecting this month, everyone went to bed without an argument. It was nearly 9:00, so that could have something to do with it.... Late for our kiddos, but what a great day. I love these few days post-Christmas. They have such an afterglow. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime, December Daily, Sunday, December 25th
Christmas Day was wonderful. This was the first year the girls woke up early...and in a strange twist of fate, Cannon slept later than he has in a month. you can guess how excited the kids were about that! Brigham ended up going down without us knowing and waking Cannon up. Little stink! It was around 6:30, though, so I really can't complain!
I took this picture with my phone while everyone was waiting for Cannon to wake up. Charlie took over my spot! I haven't taken pictures off my camera yet, so this will be a pictureless post...ugh. The kids were THRILLED with their presents-- even the underwear and socks (they were in NEED of those things!). Santa brought Chloe a craft set - American Girl craft books, supplies, and a box to keep them organized. He also brought her some fun stocking stuffers- hair bands, a miniature AG doll, snowboots, etc. We got her some new dresses, a crayola craft set, a Guess Who game, books, a puzzle, etc. Lily gave her a charm bracelet, Brigham & Cannon got her a soccer ball and pylons. They have been her favorite gift, for sure! Santa brought Lily new roller skates. She hasn't taken them off since! He stuffed her stocking with similar goodies- clip on earrings, chocolate orange, etc. Chloe gave her a "big sis, lil' sis" necklace set. Brig and Cannon gave her a Barbie Rapunzel movie. We gave her new dresses, the same crayola craft kit, Hedbanz, a puzzle, and a ton of other stuff. Her favorite gift has absolutely been the roller skates! Brigham got a Leapster from Santa. He has loved it, but it's a good thing Santa has a contract with Amazon! - its already not working! Grrrrr. He also got a Star Wars Pez dispenser, a couple of new ties, goodies, etc. from Santa. From the girls, he received a dolphin pillow pet. He has wanted one for a year, so he was thrilled! We gave him a very cool Lightsaber, a game, a new church shirt, some books, and a puzzle. And lots more. My brain is tired! His favorite gift was the Leapster. Cannon also got a Leapster from Santa. He isn't as interested in it as Brigham, but I think if we sit down and help him figure it out, he'll find he enjoys it more. He also received ties and a Star Wars Pez dispenser, along with Cars 2, which made his morning. The girls gave him a piggy pillow pet. He loves his stuffed piggies, so this was a hit. We gave him a Cars Aquadoodle, a Lightsaber, the "If You Give a Mouse A..." books with CDs, a Curious George memory game, and a puzzle. He has loved the Lightsaber most of all! I got Stanton some new shorts, black cotton socks (probably his favorite gift and I mean that sincerely), the Lord of the Rings boxed edition with Blu-Rays and digital copies, and a new coat---which didn't fit, of course! The girls got him pens and a Diet Pepsi. The boys gave him aftershave. I gave myself a new calendar and the Harry Potter boxed DVD set. The kids picked out the cutest gifts which were completely age appropriate and so heart warming. Cannon gave me a bag of potpourri. Brigham gave me fake eyelashes :), Lily gave me some press on nail polish strips, and Chloe gave me filter bottle to use when exercising. And Stanton-- he gave me an iPad. Are you even kidding me? It's been really fun and more useful than I ever imagined. We all made a haul and really appreciated all of it. We lounged for a while on Christmas morning, but didn't get to for too long because we had the opportunity to present our choir's Christmas program at the Pioneer Valley Lodge-- a retirement center in our stake. I have to admit, it wasn't the most convenient way to spend our Christmas morning. Pulling the kids away from their treasures at 10:00 to be over there by 10:45 wasn't easy. Pulling ourselves away from the lazy afterglow of it all wasn't easy. But we did it and I'm grateful we did. It was a neat way to serve on this special day. We came home for about 45 minutes and then went to our regular church meeting. The program turned out really beautifully. We hadn't had any real run throughs (unless you count the VERY abbreviated one at Pioneer Valley that morning). I was nervous about the whole thing, but it really couldn't have gone better. The musical numbers were great, the congregation got to sing a few songs, the narrator was perfect, -- it all went well. The spirit was present and it was a really marvelous way to spend Christmas. We came home from church, changed our clothes, and headed over to Dave & Judy's for dinner. We had leftovers from the party on Friday, which were delish. We played and visited and the kids played with their cousins (Don & Ann were up). The kids also opened their gifts from Dave & Judy. Cannon got his remote control airplane, Brigham got the ninja costume he'd been wishing for for months, and the girls got Journey Girl dolls (Toys R Us's darling and much less expensive version of American Girls). They were all SO excited. Chloe and Lily, who really aren't that interested in toys, have really attached to these dolls. It's so sweet to see. They all loved having one last big present to open that evening-- it spread the magic out a little longer. We stayed way too late at Dave & Judy's and then went home and got the kids to bed. we watched more of Band of Brothers, but I could hardly keep my eyes open, so we hit the sack by 10:00. What a wonderful day. We are so blessed to live the life we live, to have the things we have, and the gospel knowledge we do. I often stand all amazed at the great love Jesus offers me. I'm frequently confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me. Christmas is a wonderful time to remember it and express gratitude for it. I love these magical years with such believing-hearted children. They make it so absolutely magical. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I took this picture with my phone while everyone was waiting for Cannon to wake up. Charlie took over my spot! I haven't taken pictures off my camera yet, so this will be a pictureless post...ugh. The kids were THRILLED with their presents-- even the underwear and socks (they were in NEED of those things!). Santa brought Chloe a craft set - American Girl craft books, supplies, and a box to keep them organized. He also brought her some fun stocking stuffers- hair bands, a miniature AG doll, snowboots, etc. We got her some new dresses, a crayola craft set, a Guess Who game, books, a puzzle, etc. Lily gave her a charm bracelet, Brigham & Cannon got her a soccer ball and pylons. They have been her favorite gift, for sure! Santa brought Lily new roller skates. She hasn't taken them off since! He stuffed her stocking with similar goodies- clip on earrings, chocolate orange, etc. Chloe gave her a "big sis, lil' sis" necklace set. Brig and Cannon gave her a Barbie Rapunzel movie. We gave her new dresses, the same crayola craft kit, Hedbanz, a puzzle, and a ton of other stuff. Her favorite gift has absolutely been the roller skates! Brigham got a Leapster from Santa. He has loved it, but it's a good thing Santa has a contract with Amazon! - its already not working! Grrrrr. He also got a Star Wars Pez dispenser, a couple of new ties, goodies, etc. from Santa. From the girls, he received a dolphin pillow pet. He has wanted one for a year, so he was thrilled! We gave him a very cool Lightsaber, a game, a new church shirt, some books, and a puzzle. And lots more. My brain is tired! His favorite gift was the Leapster. Cannon also got a Leapster from Santa. He isn't as interested in it as Brigham, but I think if we sit down and help him figure it out, he'll find he enjoys it more. He also received ties and a Star Wars Pez dispenser, along with Cars 2, which made his morning. The girls gave him a piggy pillow pet. He loves his stuffed piggies, so this was a hit. We gave him a Cars Aquadoodle, a Lightsaber, the "If You Give a Mouse A..." books with CDs, a Curious George memory game, and a puzzle. He has loved the Lightsaber most of all! I got Stanton some new shorts, black cotton socks (probably his favorite gift and I mean that sincerely), the Lord of the Rings boxed edition with Blu-Rays and digital copies, and a new coat---which didn't fit, of course! The girls got him pens and a Diet Pepsi. The boys gave him aftershave. I gave myself a new calendar and the Harry Potter boxed DVD set. The kids picked out the cutest gifts which were completely age appropriate and so heart warming. Cannon gave me a bag of potpourri. Brigham gave me fake eyelashes :), Lily gave me some press on nail polish strips, and Chloe gave me filter bottle to use when exercising. And Stanton-- he gave me an iPad. Are you even kidding me? It's been really fun and more useful than I ever imagined. We all made a haul and really appreciated all of it. We lounged for a while on Christmas morning, but didn't get to for too long because we had the opportunity to present our choir's Christmas program at the Pioneer Valley Lodge-- a retirement center in our stake. I have to admit, it wasn't the most convenient way to spend our Christmas morning. Pulling the kids away from their treasures at 10:00 to be over there by 10:45 wasn't easy. Pulling ourselves away from the lazy afterglow of it all wasn't easy. But we did it and I'm grateful we did. It was a neat way to serve on this special day. We came home for about 45 minutes and then went to our regular church meeting. The program turned out really beautifully. We hadn't had any real run throughs (unless you count the VERY abbreviated one at Pioneer Valley that morning). I was nervous about the whole thing, but it really couldn't have gone better. The musical numbers were great, the congregation got to sing a few songs, the narrator was perfect, -- it all went well. The spirit was present and it was a really marvelous way to spend Christmas. We came home from church, changed our clothes, and headed over to Dave & Judy's for dinner. We had leftovers from the party on Friday, which were delish. We played and visited and the kids played with their cousins (Don & Ann were up). The kids also opened their gifts from Dave & Judy. Cannon got his remote control airplane, Brigham got the ninja costume he'd been wishing for for months, and the girls got Journey Girl dolls (Toys R Us's darling and much less expensive version of American Girls). They were all SO excited. Chloe and Lily, who really aren't that interested in toys, have really attached to these dolls. It's so sweet to see. They all loved having one last big present to open that evening-- it spread the magic out a little longer. We stayed way too late at Dave & Judy's and then went home and got the kids to bed. we watched more of Band of Brothers, but I could hardly keep my eyes open, so we hit the sack by 10:00. What a wonderful day. We are so blessed to live the life we live, to have the things we have, and the gospel knowledge we do. I often stand all amazed at the great love Jesus offers me. I'm frequently confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me. Christmas is a wonderful time to remember it and express gratitude for it. I love these magical years with such believing-hearted children. They make it so absolutely magical. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
December Daily, Saturday, December 24th
Christmas Eve!!
We had a great, lazy day at the house. We ate breakfast, cleaned up the house, watched A Christmas Story, and made our Christmas Eve dinner. I was so glad my parents got there early. It's so nice to have their expertise on the clam chowder.
Emily and Nat and family and Dave & Judy came about 4:00 and we had our traditional dinner: clam chowder, breadsticks, and Em brought an Olive Garden salad- yum! Judy brought my favorite ice cream dessert and life was good!
We watched Em n Nate's Christmas videos from over the years, acted out the nativity (I LOVE the nativity), and visited. It was a perfect way to spend Christmas Eve.
The kids got to bed by 7:30 and we got to work putting out all of our presents for the kids. Santa came and left by 9:30--- I couldn't believe we missed him! We were even up! He is sure sneaky. Chloe came upstairs at 9:50 because she was having such a hard time sleeping. Thank goodnes Santa had left everything in his big Santa sacks-- she didn't notice he had already come. Phew!!!
Wwe watched Band of Brothers for an hour and then hit the hay. It was an awesome night!
The magic of Christmas always makes it hard for me to sleep. This night was no exception. What a fantastic day!
We had a great, lazy day at the house. We ate breakfast, cleaned up the house, watched A Christmas Story, and made our Christmas Eve dinner. I was so glad my parents got there early. It's so nice to have their expertise on the clam chowder.
Emily and Nat and family and Dave & Judy came about 4:00 and we had our traditional dinner: clam chowder, breadsticks, and Em brought an Olive Garden salad- yum! Judy brought my favorite ice cream dessert and life was good!
We watched Em n Nate's Christmas videos from over the years, acted out the nativity (I LOVE the nativity), and visited. It was a perfect way to spend Christmas Eve.
The kids got to bed by 7:30 and we got to work putting out all of our presents for the kids. Santa came and left by 9:30--- I couldn't believe we missed him! We were even up! He is sure sneaky. Chloe came upstairs at 9:50 because she was having such a hard time sleeping. Thank goodnes Santa had left everything in his big Santa sacks-- she didn't notice he had already come. Phew!!!
Wwe watched Band of Brothers for an hour and then hit the hay. It was an awesome night!
The magic of Christmas always makes it hard for me to sleep. This night was no exception. What a fantastic day!
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