Trimming the Tree...

We had a great time decorating our Christmas Tree on Sunday night.  For the first time since we started letting our children help, I didn't feel at all stressed about it.  I guess that's one of the advantages to having them grow up..and right now, with my oldest son about ready to turn 12 and go to Young Men's, and my youngest child about to become a Sunbeam, I need to remember the positive things that come with them growing up. 

We turned on one of our favorite Christmas Cd's, David Lanz's "Christmas Eve".  It's an instrumental selection of spiritual Christmas favorites interspersed with some of his original Christmas material.  It has been our traditional "Trimming the Tree" CD since Kyle was a baby. 

The kids were really excited to get started...

From November 2010

All the kids seemed to understand how important it was to be careful...even Talia.  It was easy for me to let them place their own ornaments (I figured I could adjust things around later if necessary). 

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(Kyle was excited that he could reach as high as me...)

Indy, as always, was fascinated and had to be in the middle of things...

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From November 2010

Even with being careful, the inevitable accident happened...caused by a collision between Alec and Cole. 

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I did all of the up high stuff...I didn't want the kids climbing on the chair and losing their balance

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Although Talia did sneak once...

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Cole mostly did the ornament "prep"

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But did make his contribution to the tree...

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Cosette always joins us to watch as well...

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(I wish Elements had a way to fix "pet eye")
It's uncanny how the cats always know exactly what is going on. 

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I have most my other decorations up as well.  I'm getting more and more excited for Christmas, and I'm already enjoying the season!

Thanksgiving and Black Friday Madness 2010

Thanksgiving was a wonderful, relaxing day.  We went over to my brother's house this year.  Our dinner was delicious as usual.  Brenda took on the primary dinner responsibilities of the turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, and vegetable, and made a perfect meal!  It was sooooo yummy!  I made rolls and jello, and whipped a quart of cream for the jello and the pies.  My mom made her mini pie shells, with chocolate and lemon filling.  Yum! 

After dinner, we all sat around talking for awhile, reminiscing and laughing, and missing my sister and her family, who didn't join us this year. 

From November 2010

Cole left about 4:30 to head to Michael's for a gift we wanted that was a killer deal...and then home to get a nap in before heading out for "Midnight Madness"

The kids played...

From November 2010

This was the only pic I got of my boys, they refused to hold still (I'm glad they love playing with their cousins though)

My princess was a bit more cooperative...

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From November 2010

My niece Gracie wanted to be in the pictures too...

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Beautiful Girls...

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Watching football..

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My nephew Parker thinks he's hilarious!

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Mom, Brenda, Kyle and I had a blast playing Nertz...
After awhile, my brother and dad joined us "girls" and Kyle (it's so nice that he's old enough now to play games with the adults!) for some Scattergories...which was fun despite the fact that I am way out of practice...

I left my brother's with the kids around 7:30.  When we got home, Cole was still asleep, so I tried to keep the kids as quiet as possible so he could finish his nap.  I knew that we had a long night ahead of us. 
Cole woke about 8:30, we discussed our shopping strategy, put the kids to bed, and I tried to take a nap...
Cole went to Walmart to wait for the deal we wanted that was starting at midnight.  I dozed a little, but finally gave up around 12:15.  I got ready and waited for Cole to get home so we could go to Target. 

We got to Target around 1:40.  We both dressed in layers, the warmest stuff we own, and I had handwarmers and toe warmers, but it was 11 degrees...It was cold.  Bitterly cold.  We did meet some really nice people in line, and had a good time chatting and strategizing (some of them were first timers!) Once again, I have to compliment Target on the way that they organize their Black Friday event....best place to shop.  By the time 3:30 came around, I was so, so cold...it was all I could do to see the end in sight.  4 am came, and we headed in...we got exactly what we wanted, and got checked out in time to head to Kmart. 
Kmart had something I wanted for Kyle's birthday.  We got to Kmart right as the doors were opening, found what we were looking for, then had to wait to get checked out.  We got home around 6:30, and I crashed into bed, and Cole crashed on the couch.  I was still cold to the core...so I heated a rice bag to take to bed with me...after awhile, I finally got fully warm again. 

After recovering (somewhat), I put away our Thanksgiving decorations and cleaned the house in anticipation of putting up our Christmas decorations.  Cole got the tree out, and we plan to decorate it either tonight or tomorrow.  Tomorrow is 2nd Thanksgiving at my Mom's, so that will be another fun day, and maybe my boys will let me get some pictures of them. 

What I've been up to...and Happy Thanksgiving!

So, I realize I've been slacking in the blogging world.  It's been "downtime" here at my house...the calm before the holiday storm arrives.  It's been slow at work, so I've had time to accomplish a few crafts...

These bracelets for my cousin Andrea's little Payton

From crafts

These bracelets for my sweet niece Dani...

From crafts

Plus a bunch of bracelets for a baby shower gift...

I also stretched my jewelry making creativity to make this...

From crafts

I found the pendant at a craft fair a couple of weeks ago, and fell in love on site...I had a vision of what the completed necklace would look like, and I came pretty close to my vision.  My husband also really liked it, so that's a bonus!

Then, I've been working in stages on these pretty bows...

From crafts

Ever since Morgan taught us how to make these, I've been wanting to make more.  I made them a little smaller this time, because I discovered that the larger ones look GREAT on headbands, but I have trouble getting them to sit right in Talia's long, thick hair.  The slightly smaller size is more versatile for us.  I actually made 3 sets of these (18 in all)...a set for my princess, a set for the previously mentioned baby shower, and a set for my daughter's good friend Kimmy...

I really had a good time making them, despite the fact that I'm not the most talented crafter. 

On this Thanksgiving morning, I find myself feeling very blessed and thankful.  I am thankful for the most wonderful husband, who is my very best friend, partner, and soul mate.  I am thankful for the 3 beautiful, sometimes frustrating, and healthy children that the Lord has entrusted me to raise.  I am thankful for parents who have always loved and supported me, even when they were unsure of the choices I was making.  I am thankful for all my Grandparents, both living and not, who have taught me so many things through out the course of my life.  I am thankful for my second mom and dad, (Cole's parents), who are the best "in laws" I could ever hope for.  I'm so blessed to have amazing brothers and sisters both by birth and by marriage, who love and support us.  Not to mention all my nieces and nephews, who are the cutest around!  I am thankful for good friends who I can trust...who I can count on through thick and thin, who I can depend on to have my back.  I am so very thankful for our warm house, the ability to put plentiful food on the table, and for being able to afford some wants as well as all our needs.  I am thankful for the Gospel, and the light and clarity it brings. 

Oh, and this morning, I'm especially thankful for a dentist who's willing to take a few minutes out of his holiday to meet me in his office to fix my broken crown...so that I can enjoy my holiday dinner.  I'm off to meet him now. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Couldn't resist...

I'm so excited about my new decoration, I couldn't resist posting a couple of pics...

From November 2010

And closer up...

From November 2010

I got it at Pier 1 for a steal, and I love how it works to hang up favorite snapshots.  My sister in law has something similar, and I've always thought it was way cool, so when I saw this one, I fell in love...

Why I love 3 year olds...

Last night, Talia was extremely....energetic.  She kept dragging me off to show me things...the (rather large) pile of stuffed animals and dolls on her bed, the baby stuffed animals she was caring for, the contraband marbles she was playing with...

I was really tired.  Our neighbors are putting new siding on their house, but the resulting sounds of construction made it so that I didn't get any sleep yesterday after working the night before.  I was just trying to crash on the couch, but then, again, I heard her sweet, excited little voice...

"Mommy...MOMMY, come see, come see!!!!"  (while standing at our sliding glass door). 

"What do you see?" (me, dragging myself  off the couch because I couldn't resist the joy in her voice). 

"The clouds are stripes of orange and purple and pink and blue!"  "Come look Mommy!" 

(I come look, and witnessed one of the daily miracles of living in this beautiful place where we live...)

From November 2010

"It's so, so pretty mommy!"  (my daughter, with simple joy in her voice). 

She was so excited, and even more so when I got out my camera.  I would have missed it, if it hadn't been for my princess. 

I have always been fascinated by the beauty that surrounds us.  I still get caught up in the bright blue skies with splotches of cottony white clouds in the summer, the stark yet perfect stillness and pure white after a winter snowstorm, the soft, sweet spring green that floods the mountains, the beauty of the autumn leaves falling....I love nature scenes, and I love that we live in a place where there's such a variety of beauty to behold seasonally. 

I really love that somehow I've been able to pass that love of nature's beauty along to my daughter...that my joy in nature's beauty is also her joy. 

It's also fun that her language skills are progressing so that she can express it!

It's a good thing...

That I'm surrounded by talented, crafty friends.  My daughter never lacks for something cute and unique to wear! 

My good friend Rachael launched her new website this week.  Simple and Sweet Creations showcases super cute skirts, made with love by Rachael.  As the recipient of several of these skirts in the past, I can tell you that they are great quality, and super, super cute.  Talia loves to wear all of hers...

Go check out the website, enter the giveaway, and make sure you tell Rachael that I sent you by!

Family

Last week was my Mom's birthday.  We celebrated by getting together as a family this week to bowl and have dinner...

We headed down to Fat Cats.  We first ate dinner at the Pizza Factory, and Mom opened her presents. 

From November 2010

Logan...

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My cute kids

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Then we headed over to bowl...

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Alec was so funny..

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..but did get the best score of all the kids! 

Hunter and Chris

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Heidi

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Gracie and  Brenda

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We had a lot of fun celebrating!  It's always nice to hang out with my family. 

My uplifting week

I couldn't post this until today, when everything was finalized.  This story is very spiritual, and depending on your belief system you may or may not believe me, but I had to document it for my family.  This blog is my family's record. 

Last Friday night, I got the most WONDERFUL news.  First a little background.  Remember this post?  Tony and Katy, Xander's parents, have had the most wonderful miracle.  They have been Foster parents for several years.  Right before Xander's death, they were planning to put themselves back on the list to be foster parents again, but wanted to get through a few things that Xander needed first.  Then he died, and despite their grief, Katy KNEW that they needed to get back on the list.  Her faith is amazing. They did a short term placement, and then were entrusted with a baby girl who's mom was dealing with addiction issues.   The mom ended up feeling unable to the task of caring for her infant, and in a moment of divine inspiration, (she had been praying while trying to get herself cleaned up) realized that her baby was supposed to be Tony and Katy's daughter.  She relinquished her parental rights. 

Friday night, Tony and Katy attended our preview party.  Katy was telling me all about it, I was so excited for them.  Katy mentioned that the baby had been a NICU baby, that she had picked her up from our NICU.  A feeling went through me, and I remembered something from earlier this year. 

In March, I went on a c-section of a preemie that was a little scary.  Because of the mother's history and how the baby looked on the monitors, I thought we were going to get a baby that was barely alive, and I was worried and nervous.  The baby did very well, however, considering her situation.  She stayed in our unit for several weeks, and Child Protective Services became involved.  We knew the baby was going to go to foster care, and I had this overwhelming feeling that this little girl was supposed to go to Tony and Katy.  I mentioned it to one of the nurses I work with, but the next time I worked, the baby girl had already been placed with a family (It's not like I have anything to do with the placement process, I just had that feeling).  Then, a couple of weeks later, I found out that Tony and Katy had had a baby placed with them, and I let it go. 

On Friday, Katy was telling me her story, and I asked her for background on the mom.  When she was telling me the story, I wanted to cry for the joy of it...this baby was meant to go to them, to be their daughter.  I remembered exactly that I had known she was meant for them.  It was one of those moments that I knew the Lord's hand was in every nuance of that child's life...sometimes, we see things in the NICU that make us want to doubt in the Lord's plan and purpose.  This was a reminder to me that the Lord does have a plan and a purpose, and I need to trust in that. 

Tony and Katy adopted their daughter officially on Thursday.  She was sealed to them for time and eternity yesterday, and we were privileged to attend a party celebrating last night.  Little Madison is now 7 months old, and despite being very small, she is meeting all her adjusted milestones and not showing any ill effects from her mother's addiction demons.  My heart is so full of joy for Cole's "fourth brother" and the expansion of their family. 

My testimony is also strengthened. 

Halloween 2010

Well, the day finally arrived.  Actually, it was the day before the "real", holiday, but to my mind, trick-or-treating on Saturday night was much better than going on Sunday night.  More time, less pressure...


...and more rain? 

The rain started around 5pm.  I was hoping it would stay a light drizzle, but it steadily increased...but we were undaunted.  We got the kids all dressed up...
The "Sword Princess" and the Pirate...

From October 2010

A Scarecrow...

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From October 2010

Shortly after 6, Alec, Talia, and I braved the rain to trick or treat.  Cole and Kyle took their places in the yard...

My little trick-or-treaters...

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Shortly after we started, a beautiful rainbow appeared, giving me hope that the rain might stop...

From October 2010

(I was disappointed when I uploaded this pic, I forgot that I had boosted my ISO to 800 for the kid's pictures with no flash, so this image turned out grainy...bummer!)

After we were done in our neighborhood, we met up with my family and headed over to my grandma's for donuts.  I got home, helped Alec and Talia out of their costumes, and let them watch a movie while I took some pics in the yard...

From October 2010

From October 2010

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Me and my scarecrows!

From October 2010

From October 2010

Then we shut everything down....and after getting the kids to bed, and getting cleaned up, Cole and I crashed into bed around midnight...

I wasn't quite sure what to expect on the 31st..but we only got a couple of trick or treaters. 

It was a good year, and now I don't have to have any Halloween discussion for the next 56 days!  It's MY break!