Merry Christmas 2009

We wish you a Merry Christmas! And a happy new year!

Away in a manger...
He's making a list. Checking it twice. Going to find out who's naughty or nice...

All I want for Christmas
barbies...

ipod dock....

Unicycle....
umm a bike...a hammer...a let me think.

to be back with my mom!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Dear Lori,

Thank you for the book about our kids. What a wonderful surprise to get in our mailbox. It is such a treasure to see what our kids were doing last summer "while Gracie grew." You are one amazing sister in law. THANK YOU!

Ben and Andrea

Dear mom,

I love the cupcake book! I can't wait to get baking!

Love,

Andrea

Dear Ben,

ooo la la. The earrings are beautiful, and shoes are the way to my heart.

I love you

Oh Joy!

Disclaimer for reader:
Pretend these pictures are at the end of the post. Somehow I uploaded (downloaded) my entire post to the family web site instead of mine. So I had to put the pictures on again. Oh joy! Last Friday Dropping everyone off at school, stopping at Maverick for a diet coke, putting cute Gracie down for a nap and just sitting in silence.

Yesterday, figuring out that Gracie doesn't need expensive toys. A bag of fruit snacks will do . Waking up this morning to this. If you can believe it I was sleeping in between the two of them :)

Waking up this morning to this. If you can believe it I was sleeping in between the two of them :)

This afternoon having my very own rudolph come knocking at my door.

This is for the two Becky's in my life. Both of whom I have had about the same conversation in the last two days. After telling the tales of our children and their mischieveous, somewhat funny behavior. After talking about how we can't believe we have 4 and 5 children. How we cry nearly everyday and wonder how we are going to do it. How we want to teach our children the principles of the gospel and how to squeeze everything in between homework and stuff. The question is posed. How do I find joy in what I am doing everyday?

I can tell you how I find joy. It is getting up every morning, getting dressed, going to school, seeing the teachers and my kids at school. Coming home to a lazy afternoon to my little kids and starting the day over again. I have said before, I am not a great stay at home mom. I think I am a good stay at home mom, but it isn't my favorite thing. After Gracie was born and I made the decision to stay at home this year I knew I had chosen the right thing. I also knew it wouldn't be easy on me, thankyou post partum depression. Last August When school started I decided I wanted to really find joy everyday staying home. Now in December I realize I don't have to feel "joyful" all day long, I just have to choose to look at the things that come up differently. Becky B. reminded me of this. She said to me today. "I will always remember when Lindsey broke her leg when she was little and you called me and said. well she broke her leg, but at least I get to sit for awhile in the quiet waiting room." And when Tyson was a baby and pooped in the bathub everyday for a month she said to me "well. At least I have the cleanest bathtub in the neighborhood!" So here's to feeling joyful.

Maybe not every single second of the day but through bits and pieces.

Kirby,Kirby, Kirby

I let the Kirby salesman into my house tonight. He came by offering to clean one room of carpet in my house and I took him up on it. When I went to Logan to see little Sydney in October a huge mysterious stain appeared on the girls bedroom carpet. Nobody knows what happened including Ben, Grrrr. Everytime I walk by the room I see it. So tonight I jumped on the chance to remove it. I also didn't realize he was a vacuum salesman until he brought the Kirby box into my house. For all its worth it is one awesome vacuum. I couldn't believe the stuff it pulled from my carpet ewwwww gross! My 45 minutes of time was totally worth that stain getting removed. Thank you Kirby guy. My only suggestion is to not smoke right before you go try to sell a allergen reducing vacuum. I had to open the window to get rid of the smell.

On another note. Ben and I are the parents of three children instead of five for the next two days.
Can I tell you how great it is?
It is awesome! This is the life.
How do you feel Becky to be the parent of six kids? You are a saint! Thanks for the great snow pictures!

A conversation between mom, Tyler, and Eliza
mom: Stand together by the tree so I can take your picture.
Tyler: Okay
Eliza: Tyler, you smile for the picture and I will cry.
Tyler: Okay

Its all part of the plan...right

Does the plan include riding in the car with 5 unhappy/angry/crazy/crying children? I think this must be what hell is like.

I was unhappy/angry/crazy/and crying until I decided to shoot this little video...life is always better through my camera because you can edit out all the yuck and laugh at the little picture on the screen!

I guess this is part of the plan.

top ten Thanksgiving 2009 highlights

Top ten Thanksgiving 2009 highlights

10. Making yams for the first time, and making everyone at Thanksgiving dinner tell me how great they thought they were!
9. Having only minor Squabbles between the 20 children bursting from the seams at my parents house!
8. Black Friday shopping and buying baby wash and new bottle nipples because I couldn't find anything I really wanted, and then waiting in line for an hour to buy them.
7. Eating breakfast at McDonalds after black Friday. I think our family enjoys McDonalds breakfast more than any other family I know!
6. Hanging out with my sisters.
5. Kissing Signey, Siggy, Syd NEY, as much as I wanted.
4. Kissing baby Randy's chubbiness as much as I wanted to.
3. Rapelling, actually doing it myself!
2. Rapelling, cheering for everyone else to conquer their fears!

and the number 1 Thanksgiving 2009 highlight

being with my family (doesn't that just make you want to say awwwww!)