2013 word...

  This year as we wrap up 2013 I have been thinking of my year.....

I decided to do something different and instead of listing my favorite things
 or my favorite memories I would think of a word that defines the year for me.

BUSY

  It seriously will go down as one of the busiest years I have had in a long time.   I don't remember feeling this busy since Afton and Lilly were babies and I was taking care of two newborn twins and two other young kids.   Most of this years BUSY was due to the fact of saying yes to a thing called PTA President.

 -  I had absolutely no idea how busy I would be when I said yes to that position.  There are so many big and little things involved with this. There were times (especially in the spring and around when school was getting ready to start) that my to do list seemed a million miles long.   Around the beginning of the school year I was seriously putting in 20 to 30 hours  a week for PTA needs.  It was insane!  Luckily most of the big things are done and I can go into 2014 knowing it is downhill from here :)

-It is also and always tricky keeping up with a family of six.  There is hardly any down time. Especially as they are growing and have more and more things going on.  There is always something that needs to be done or places that people need to be. Also, with Jim in the bishopric he is gone a lot right now.  We appreciate his sacrifice and know there will be a time when he is home more but it is just not right now.  That puts a little more stuff on both of our plates but we press on.

Even though this year was BUSY, it was a very good year. 

We were extremely blessed and for that I am thankful. 

In the year 2014....

•  My son will turn 12 and become a Deacon. He will get to experience many adventures in Young Men's. That is weird and exciting.
•  My babies will start 1st grade next fall and will be gone all day.  This definitely impacts me as a stay at home mom.  Opportunities of how to spend my time while they are in school are  swirling in my head. Do I continue to stay home? Do I work? Do I volunteer somewhere I feel strongly? It is extremely weird to think about.
• Lizzie will enter her last year of elementary school. Now that is just crazy.
• I have plans of running seriously again and have entered a race with friends that I said I would never do (Ragnar). It is me saying yes to getting out of a comfort zone.
• I hope to organize my house better.  I just haven't had a lot of extra time for cleaning/ dejunking this year and my house is showing that.
• We have a big family vacation planned for April that I am very excited about.
• Jim has plans to pull whatever he can on our Yukon for other family adventures :)
•  Plus whatever else 2014 has in store for our family. 

Here is to 2014 and Happy New Year!

 

-

Christmas Break

So the kids have two weeks off of school for Christmas Break.  I love having them home but it is a little more tricky to keep them occupied when it is a little too cold to go outside a lot.  So here is how we have been filling some of our time.

1. After Christmas clearance shopping:
Look what I found half price at Target. :) 
I seriously giggled outloud at the store. Lucky I am sure is just as excited.

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2. More bonding time with Chuckles. 
 Good thing Lilly got a wig with her Merida costume for Christmas that Lizzie can borrow.

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 3.  Sometimes all the Christmas excitement can just make you tired. 
 Twins lean the same way when they are sleeping :)

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4. Many Rainbow Loom bracelets have been made.
  Lizzie just puts a YouTube tutorial on my Kindle and follows step by step. 
We are still learning.  The smile is misleading.  Some parts can be a little tricky.
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5. Lizzie got a couple gift cards to Build a Bear for Christmas. 
 She was so excited to go use it. Here she is with her Bling Kitty!

  *Going to the mall with four kids a couple days after Christmas is....well and adventure. We never go to the mall let alone after Christmas!!! I decided to make it as fun as adventure as I could and tried my best to keep a positive attitude.    It was very crowded and we had to wait an hour in line at Build a Bear.  All four kids were so patient and did awesome waiting.  Then we went to the Lego store (Ethan's FAVORITE place).  He got to fill a box he got for Christmas with Legos.  Then we all went to eat at the Food Court.  I don't think my kids have ever eaten in the mall food Court.  They found it very exciting.
It actually was a fun day with the kids and a lot more tolerable than I thought.
 I am glad we got to hang out together.

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6.Jim and I had our first date on December 27th, 1997. 

 Our first date included trying to go bowling, roller skating at Classic and ended with a stop at Sconecutters for cheese fries and water.

 

For the past few years we have gone back to Sconecutters on Dec. 27th with our kids

 for  some fries, shakes and Sconenuts.

Look what happened 16 years later. 
They are sitting at the exact same table Jim and I sat at on our first date.

I am sure we look EXACTLY the same as 16 years ago :)

Where it all started.

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7. Since Jim got a Carl Bloch painting for Christmas, we decided to go down to the exhibit at BYU. We had the extra pleasure of having Nathan and Liz come with us.   The paintings were amazing.  We had gone a couple years ago but I think they had more paintings this time. Or maybe I just got more out of it this year.  I am in awe of the talents of the artists represented.  We were going to go to the Bean museum also but it is closed until spring.  Bummer.   On the way home we got a box of doughnuts at Krispy Kremes to eat after lunch. Then we all went out to eat at (Red) Brick Oven Pizza.  It was a good day with family.  So glad Nate and Liz could come along.



Now we get ready to welcome in 2014!

Christmas 2013

I love how magical Christmas still is for our kids. 

 I love how excited they get about all the little and big things leading up to the season.

 I love watching them think of their Christmas list and writing it for Santa

  I love how Christmas time is family time.

  I love having my kids home.

 I love that it gives us a chance to reflect on the Savior.  

 

 I love so many things about this time of year that having it in my absolutely least favorite season makes winter a little more bearable.

 

 Here are some highlights from Christmas this year......



Here are our 4 cute kids right before we went downstairs.

  They are waiting for the song "Here Comes Santa Claus"  by Gene Autry to come on. 
 That is their signal that Santa has come.  Jim goes down first to check.

Downstairs they have a stocking filled and 3 presents from Santa. 
Santa wraps each kids presents in their own wrapping paper.

Mom and Dad also have 3 presents for them
* pajamas (that they open the night before),
*a Caldecott book
*and one special present.

 

 Ethan-

Once he opened his Lego book he was pretty

 much gone for the rest of present opening :)

 

He also got

*Digital Camera- to make more Lego movies

*Lego Set- Jek 14 Stealth Star Fighter

*Lego Wii game- Lord of the Rings

Mom and Dad  gave him the Lego Book that you see above

 

Do you see a theme of Legos here? :)

Lizzie



Since Lizzie is terrified/ fascinated with bears right now.
  Smokey the Bear sent her an extra present :)

 

Lizzie with her Rainbow Loom from Mom and Dad.

 I think almost every girl between the ages of 7 and 12 wanted this item this year.

 

From Santa she also got:

*Lego Friends Heartlake City Pool

*Lalaloopsy 8 pack of mini dolls

*Melt a Mold- she REALLY wanted this!

 

Afton

For some reason Afton wanted a computer for Christmas. 

 She put it on her list to Santa and never gave up on that wish item. I kept telling her that I wasn't sure if a 5 year old would get their very own computer and to think of other things she wanted just in case.  Santa magic made it happen though.

 

Afton realizing she just opened her very own computer!!! 

 Or at least a computer fit for a 5 year old.  She got a LeapPad 2.

Santa also brought her:
Legos Cinderella's Carriage
Our Generation girl named Holly

Mom and Dad got her a pretend cupcake play set

 

 

Checking out her Cinderella Legos

 

Lilly

 

Getting a present almost as big as you :)

 

So excited for Peanut Butter in her stocking. 
 She must be related to her dad :)



Lilly with her Our Generation doll from Santa

She also got
Lego Rapunzels Tower
Talking Sofia the First Doll

From Mom and Dad- a tea set

Jim with a Carl Bloch painting he has been wanting.

 As for me....

 

Lucky did got me some Nibs. It's a thing between me and him :)

 I also got lots of white towels, a Kindle Fire,
 new bedspread, a much needed strainer and some new ear phones.

Oh yeah, I also got this....



Be jealous!  Be very jealous! 
 I mean what else do you need for Christmas except for
 a creepy clown that your daughter has named Chuckles :)
(Many thanks to Ruth)

Merry Christmas!



Christmas Eve Pajamas

On Christmas Eve our kids get to

 open up their Christmas pajamas. 

 

First the girls....

I love this picture because......
A- We have 3 amazing daughters
(that I am sure will test every amount of our patience when they are teenagers)
and
B- I find it amazing what a height difference there is between Afton and Lilly

Now everyone....

LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!!!!

Nativity

The Harrison cousins did a great job with the Nativity this year.

  Baby Morgan made his debut and did great. 

 We also had some pretty awesome scenery and

an audio soundtrack telling the story. 

 Amazing job everyone!

 

 

This one shows our 3 daughters representing the angels.



Group Shot
"Come Let Us Adore Him".

The crew- all 13 of the cousins/ grandkids

Waiting....

How can it already be December 19th?  This month has gone by extremely fast. 

 

Tomorrow is the kid's last day until January 6th.  I LOVE having them home and not having to keep track of  homework, setting alarm clocks, getting kids to piano practice, dance practice, ice skating lessons, carpool, etc. We just get to hang out and relax and have fun. Yeah for Christmas Break!

 

 Here is a little glimpse of what we have been doing this month to fill our time.

Snow

Lizzie loved the fact that she found
 2 icicles stuck together to be her antlers.

Making a snowman with friends is always more fun.

Afton not quite sure if she is loving the cold :)

 

 Baking

Lots and lots of baking has gone on in our house
. I have some little hands that are always eager to help.

 Being Lazy

Lucky really enjoys his spot under the Christmas tree

Celebrating Dec. 12th

How could we left 12/12 pass without a dozen doughnuts?
  The kids and I (and a neighbor girl) managed to eat a whole dozen in less than 5 minutes.

 

 Little bursts of happiness-

 I thought I would take the girls to a free concert at South Towne Mall when Cherie Call and Voice Male were singing.  They were not as interested in the concert as mom was.  We ended up kinda wandering around the mall instead.  On the way back to the car I told them they could ride the merry go round.  Serious jumps and squeals of happiness!!!

Happy Girl!

 

Cute Afton!

 Actual Voice Male concert

 

On Dec. 17th Jim and I took Ethan and Lizzie to go
see Voice Male at Thanksgiving Point. 
 It was a great concert.  It was fun to share with
Ethan and Lizzie something from our college days. 

 

Grocery Shopping with my little Christmas elves.

I usually go while these two are in kindergarten.
 On this day my morning got busy and I couldn't go until later.
  I forgot how much funner it is to go with company. 
AND how much more money I spend with these two with me :)

Adventure to Soda Springs, ID

Jim and Ethan spent a Saturday driving up to Soda Springs to get some physical therapy items.  A guy up there was selling his clinic and everything in it for a steal of a price.

Ethan in front of the Soda Spring

 

Gorgeous icicles from the mist of the spring.

 

Good dad/ son bonding time :)

Now we gear up for Holiday celebrations......

The kids are so excited that our Christmas countdown is only 6 days away!!!!

 

Christmas magic....

Our kids are at such fun ages that it is still

MAGICAL

 to get the Christmas stuff out and decorate the tree.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucky has already stationed himself under the tree. 
 In fact, he was under the tree before we  had all
ornaments, lights or even all branches on :)



We now have a child who can very easily reach the top of our tree. 
 We may need to buy a taller tree to help my denial of how fast he is growing.

Mom doing a few touch ups once the kids went
 downstairs to watch a Christmas movie.


Let the Christmas season begin...