no better way to spend a birthday ... (round 3 or maybe 4 ... who's counting?!)

when you get older it's your own prerogative how you want to spend your birthday ... as well as how many times you can celebrate/how long you can stretch out the celebration.

this year i chose to celebrate with my family on the actual day ... we had alfy's pizza and went to the skatedeck! earlier that day Andy and i went to lunch and later that night i went to a late night movie with some girlfriends!!

then a few nights later i went out to dinner with my 2 best girlfriends (and when i say 'dinner' ... we ate a little and talked a LOT ... we solve the world's problems on a regular basis! (dinner was at 8 we talked until midnight))

to top off my week + birthday celebration, the Party got together tonight for the premier of Iron Man 2 and dinner at Maggiano's. we made a reservation and it is a good thing we did ... when we arrived 20 minutes early the place was PACKED!! our table was ready right on time and we went in and sat down. excellent service, delicious food (i tried everyone's dish ... all were spectacular!! - i even tried calamari - not terrible but not yummy ... in a word: 'myeah ...' ) and GREAT conversation.

the conversation is always easy with us ... we seem to move effortlessly, flawlessly (naturally even?!) from poop and boogies with our collective 9 kids to work and computers to leisure time and vacation plans to how to talk to our kids about sex and everything in between! we share laughs and fears and trade hilarous stories about kids and everything ... there isn't anything off limits with this crowd. we talk feelings and memories and hopes as well as bathroom humor, TMI, and 'really did you just say that out LOUD?!'

these people are truly my BFFs ... they know far too much!

as we were leaving the restaurant, i said, "i love to sit and eat and then talk for hours with you guys! it's my favorite ... what a great birthday! thanks!" and i meant it ... every word.

memorial day campout 2008

we were at maggiano's for 2 1/2 hours!!

i love us!

Cinco de Mayo! ... it's already been a week since i turned 34?

We started this morning by reading the first 5 verses in 1st Nephi ... it is our first day since we committed to be a part of this:

As part of our September 2009 Everett Stake Conference, President Duce extended the following invitation to the stake membership with regards to studying The Book of Mormon as a family:

1. Get a paperback copy of The Book of Mormon for each member of the family and write your name in it
2. Meet as a family and decide what time of day you will read from The Book of Mormon as a family
3. Get four different colored marking pencils for each family member
4. As you read, highlight in different colors:
a. Each reference to Jesus Christ (any of His names or pronouns referring to Him)
b. His words (spoken by Him or by prophets when they say “thus saith the Lord” or similar)
c. His attributes
d. The doctrines and principles contained in The Book of Mormon
During the General Session of Stake Conference this morning (April 18th), President Duce again extended this invitation in support of the stake focus - Increasing Faith in Jesus Christ through Daily Scripture Study and Praying with Real Intent. We join with President Duce in inviting each of you to accept this challenge of reading and marking The Book of Mormon with your families as outlined above. We know that doing so will be a blessing to your families and will bring you closer to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

We raised our hands in Sacrament Meeting just last Sunday and committed to do it!

Then I dropped kids off at school and headed to my hard core step class ... (and yes ... my teacher kicked my bum today ... if you were wondering!)

I hurried home to shower and get ready for Visiting Teaching and then hurried to get Ammon from school!

We dropped off our friend that we carpool with and headed to lunch!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Hooray for Taco del Mar!

YUM!!

34 is a little young to be having actual heart attacks ...
But this kind i could have everyday!!
My friends are so nice!!

The booger one was one of the funniest! I also liked the one that said "get out your lawn chair and pretend you're in Hawaii! Thanks friends! You're the best!

what?? fashion don't?!

I texted my 2 best friends about these shoes ... "what do you think?!"

one sent back: "So cute!"

but the other had a little more to say ... "Um ... maybe with the right outfit ... "

So i donned my new sherbet colored shirt and sent

"How bout this?"

"Um ... no ... you don't match your shoes to your shirt ... unless they are black."

"and are they shiny?"

hm ... i said ...

"i think the term you were searching for is patent leather"

"no ... shiny is the term ... bleh"

texting still. "what? you don't like them? what can i say ... i'm just your country bumpkin friend!"

"country pumpkin ... "

HA! You just made a funny!!

Maybe if i accessorize with a little bit of Sammoon!?

ooo and i'm LOVING this orange purse!!

by the way: the darling orange shoes cost me all of $3 - not bad!!

mom, did your teacher kick your bum today?

Easton's question every time i pick him up from the Y's adventure zone ... i'm sweaty and red in the face from getting my bum kicked in my exercising classes!  Today, though, i enjoyed a bit of Yoga and my face was not red and i was not sweaty when i went to get him ... still the usual question.  Nope, not today, i just stretched and laid on the mat. 

"who is your teacher?"

Miss Vicki

"she's nice, she doesn't kick your bum!"

(added pic 5/5 ... today she kicked my bum!)

new hair ... styled by yours truly

so ... what do you think??

new hair ... styled by the girl

big love to nicki - she got a babysitter and spent the evening helping to beautify me!
stay tuned for hair styled by me - should be interesting!

shhhh - don't tell my mom ...

yesterday was a fantabulous day! i got to spend the day with my handsome husband. he had appointments in bellingham and blaine and then we had lunch at red robin - one of our favorite restaurants. our original plan was to be home about the time the girls got out of school. when we left home we were behind schedule ... we were 30 minutes late to the first appt. and 15 minutes late to the second ... but right on time to the third ... we left blaine at 1:30ish and arrived at bellingham red robin about 2:15 (we had to search for an internet connection and send off a file before lunch). we sat down at 2:30 starving - i hadn't thought about needing snacks on this road trip! we ate and talked and at 3:00 realized that we were not going to make it to get the girls. i called my mom (she was with the boys) and asked her to go get them, she said it was no problem and to take our time. as we headed home, andy suggested that we stop at the outlet mall and see if we could find me a birthday present - great idea! i suggested that we pull over at the nearest rest stop ... to ... go potty ... and ... um ... kiss ... a lot. after some kissing, the car was getting warm so i turned the key so i could roll down the window a little. after much making out in our steamy car {it's not illegal when you're married, i did some extensive internet research just now!}, i looked at the clock ... SHOOT! that old adage "time flies when you're having fun" - true business! it was already 4:30!! i turned the key in the ignition ... nothin' not even a try - the battery was TOTALLY dead! the nice guy we asked to give us a jump said he didn't have cables but offered his jump start box and our battery was so dead it took our jumper cables linked to his car battery AND the jump starter to get our car running! there is something wrong with andy's alternator it's a good thing we had jumper cables or we might still be there ... making out! ;)


when we were back on the freeway, i called my mom again to explain and ask for more time ... the conversation went something like this:

me: mom, we had some car trouble.

mom: where are you?

me: back on the freeway now ... but when we stopped at a rest stop to go potty, we couldn't get the car started for a little bit.

mom: but you're on the road now.

me: yes, and i was wondering ... would it be ok for us to stop at the outlets for a little bit?

mom: how long will it take you?

me: not long, i just want to look for a shirt at a couple stores.

mom: ok ... let me know when you're headed here.

me: thanks mom! see you soon.

ok ... so i didn't lie ... we did go potty ... it was more like a 'lie by omission'. don't hate me because i'm embarrassed to tell my own mother that i was making out with my husband!?

after a short stop at the outlets ... we arrived home just as mom was fixing dinner for the kids.

it was a GREAT 32nd birthday!

due also in part to my little big sister and my jennycook and my alicia and all the great people that called and wished me well.

ps. i already called my mom and confessed my sin - i know you wanted to call and snitch on me! neener neener.

pondering and journaling

in today's sacrament meeting one of the talks was prepared JUST for me ... she centered her talk around this talk by Pres. Eyring. you should read it - go ahead - i'll wait ...

in an effort to be closer to my Heavenly Father and recognize that he really does touch my life everyday, i am going to take Pres. Eyring's suggestion and make it a part of my daily life.

as i was pondering about this, i was surfing my favorite blogs and happened upon this one. Chelle's darling little Katherine touched my heart and i realized/remembered that Heavenly Father uses others to touch our lives ... because he can't be here to do it and we need the opportunity! and then i started thinking that it's my job to listen and act when i hear his whispered suggestions and promptings so that i can be an insturment in the hands of the Lord.

how has the Lord's hand touched your life today?

for the record ...

my play list is AWESOME ... i didn't find some of the ones i was looking for but there are 73 songs from here and there and they all take me back! i should take some time and write down why i love them all ... but for now i'll just post the list!

Cliffs Of Dover -- Eric Johnson
We Are In Love -- Harry Connick Jr.
Young Love -- The Judds Ice Ice Baby -- Vanilla Ice
Forever Young -- Alphaville
Faithfully -- Journey
Thriller -- Michael Jackson
Oh Yeah -- Yello
Yeah -- Usher
You're Still The One -- Shania Twain
Daddys Hands -- Holly Dunn
Grandpa -- Judds
Mama He's Crazy -- The Judds
Love Can Build a Bridge -- Naomi Judd/The Judds
Love Is Alive -- The Judds
Turn It Loose -- The Judds
Girls Night Out -- The Judds
Lost In Love -- Air Supply
The Gambler -- Kenny Rogers
The Greatest -- Kenny Rogers
Buy Me A Rose -- Kenny Rogers
When I Fall in Love -- Celine Dion and Clive Griffon
Walk On -- Reba McEntire
Check Yes Or No -- George Strait
I Cross My Heart -- George Strait
Blue Clear Sky.mp3 -- George Strait
If I Had Only Known -- Reba McEntire
Make Someone Happy -- Jimmy Durante
Anyone At All - Carol King, George Fenton
I've Had The Time Of My Life -- Dirty Dancing Soundrack
Somebody -- Depeche Mode
Only Hope -- Mandy Moore
More Than A Feeling -- Boston
Only One Friend Left -- Dan Seals
Sold (The Grundy County Auction Inc -- John Michael Montgomery
Angels Among Us -- Alabama
The Dance -- Garth Brooks
Even Cowboys Like A Little Rock And Roll -- Chris Ledoux
Mysterious Ways -- U2
Numb -- U2
Babyface -- U2
I Still Havent Found What Im Looking For -- U2
Billy Joel - And So it Goes -- Billy Joel
Lullbye (Goodnight, My Angel) -- Billy Joel
Just the Way You Are -- Billy Joel
We Didn't Start the Fire -- Billy Joel
Butterfly Kisses -- Bob Carlisle
Wonderful Tonight -- Eric Clapton
Satellite -- Dave Matthews Band
Recently -- Dave Matthews Band
Wind Beneath My Wings -- Bette Middler
After All -- Cher & Peter Cetera
Forever Young -- Rod Stewart
Kiss Me -- Sixpence None the Richer
You're So Vain -- Carly Simon
Somebody Like You -- Keith Urban
Feels Like Home -- Chantal Kreviazuk
L.O.V.E. -- Frank Sinatra
Love Is A Battlefield -- Pat Benatar
Crazy For You -- Madonna
Head Over Heels -- The Go-Go's
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me) -- Whitney Houston
Tainted Love -- Soft Cell
Everybody Have Fun Tonight -- Wang Chung
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing -- Stevie Wonder
Footloose -- Kenny Loggins
Holding Out for a Hero -- Bonnie Tyler
Some Kind Of Wonderful -- The Drifters
Do You Love Me? -- The Contours
Love Man -- Otis Redding
Danger Zone -- Kenny Loggins
Return To Pooh Corner -- Kenny Loggins
Rainbow Connection - Kermit -- Disney

april is slipping away

wow ... it's already the 9th and i haven't posted a thing! i have some ideas swirling around my little brain ... i'm chewing on them like the Cool Watermelon stick of Extra gum i'm chomping. (it's my secret - instead of putting candy in my mouth ... i pacify myself with yummy, savory, flavorful gum! only 5 calories per stick!)

i'll post soon - i promise!

yummy dinner again!

Prep Time:25 min
Total Time:32 min (exactly ... wink)
Makes:4 servings, two topped potatoes each (i could only eat 1 and a half ... )
8 small new potatoes (3/4 lb.), about 1-1/2 inches in diameter
1/2 cup water
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Center Cut Bacon (i used alberstons bacon that i had in the freezer!)
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing (or albertsons brand zesty italian - and we used more like 4 tbsp.)
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (i have tillamook medium cheddar)
PLACE potatoes and water in 2-qt. microwaveable dish. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 10 min. or until potatoes are tender. Let stand 5 min. Meanwhile, cook bacon in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 8 to 10 min. or until crisp, turning frequently. Drain on paper towels.
DRAIN potatoes; place on work surface. Press each potato with bottom of small bowl or saucer to flatten to 1/2-inch thickness. (we scored the sides so they would smash nicely)
HEAT dressing in skillet on medium heat. Add potatoes (face down ... so that the good side gets browned first so it looks nice); cook 4 min. or until bottoms are golden brown. Meanwhile, crumble bacon. Turn potatoes over; sprinkle evenly with cheese and bacon. Cover skillet with lid. Cook an additional 2 min. or until cheese is melted.

we topped them with a small dollop of sour cream - SO yummy!

Prep Time:5 min
Total Time:25 min (no joke!)
Makes:4 servings, one sandwich each (i doubled it and we had only a small bit left over - we had 4 adults and 6 kids - mind you my 4 ate less than half the amount that one of the other 2 kids ate.)
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs (we used breasts - we prefer white meat and that's what i had!)
1 onion, sliced (i didn't have one ... it still tasted good!)
1/2 cup KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce (i had hunts brand ... )
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 French bread baguette, 16 to 20-inches long (about 10 oz.) (i had stadium rolls - those costco hotdog buns - we toasted them in the oven and for the kids we just toasted bread!)
4 KRAFT Singles (or what ever kind of singles you have ... processed cheese YUM)
COOK chicken and onions (or not) in skillet on medium-high heat 8 min., stirring occasionally.
ADD barbecue sauce, water and sugar; stir. Reduce heat to medium; cover. Cook an additional 7 min. or until chicken is cooked through (165ºF).
REMOVE chicken from skillet. Shred chicken with fork or chop into small pieces. Return to skillet; stir until evenly coated with sauce. Cut baguette crosswise into four pieces (or just toast the bread you're going to use!). Cut each piece lengthwise in half. Fill with chicken mixture and singles.

my kids ate their obligatory/mandatory bites ... didn't like it - big surprise! but the kids that were visiting ate it and loved it! i think i need to trade in my kids ... they're broken!

i made this meal for my mission buddy and his wife and family that are visiting for 2 days - i was SO happy to have an actual meal that people (besides myself) ate and enjoyed!

advice? ... ummm ...

andy and i went to meet jack and visit with the nedry's tonight. we talked about his slightly traumatic entrance and his miraculous beginnings. he is a trooper and is giving his mommy and daddy a much needed breather by sleeping 5-6 hours in the night. he is sturdy, alert and does NOT like getting his diaper changed! i just love new babies! they still smell like heaven! emily and brian are doing great, they are fantastic people and are shaping up to be even better parents!
brian blind-sided us with a question that i'm still mulling over and wish i had answered anything better than the quick cliche-ish one i gave ...
"what is andy and emily shaw's best parenting advice? as parents of 4 you must have some advice you can share ... "
andy blurted, "do your share ..." speaking mostly to brian. [do you think i have damaged him?]
i looked at andy and said, "advice? ... ummm ... " then said something so trite and corny like 'cherish each stage because they come and go so fast.'
in all honesty it's true ... those cliche-ish sing-songy dorky lines that you read in cards and hear in country songs hit the nail on the head - but they are NOT what you want to hear when you ask for advice.
i think i was mostly surprised by the question, when we were driving away i said, "are we really that old?? that people are asking for our advice!?!?"
andy, in all his wisdom and charm, said "we have 4 kids ... but we're young! we have the experience to reference but we're not old!" [good answer, honey!]

so i want to redeem myself - i do have advice to share ... but i wanted to sit down while i'm thinking about it and share what i've learned that may or may not help new mommies (there seem to be quite a few that i know).

1) you're the mom and you know best. pediatricians, lacticians, new grandmas and friends with children know quite a bit and can share helpful hints, medical knowledge and what works for them ... but in the end 'the mom' is the boss of that darling little baby and what you say goes.
2) sometimes all you can do is cry too. when you've fed, bathed, changed, held, loved, walked, bounced, patted, rubbed and are at your wits end ... if you can't stop the crying it's ok to join in. sometimes it helps to have a good cry.
3) you don't have to do anything else but take care of the baby and yourself ... for at least the first month. when you have that part down, you feel like you can face the world. don't push it - take it as slow as you need. toilets can be cleaned by dads, dishes can be washed by dads, windows don't really need to be spotless, and laundry by definition is never done [because what are you wearing?? potential laundry]. these are also things that can be put on a list and when you have people over and they say "how can we help you??" you can say "i just happen to have a running list ... " put people to work, that's why we offer!!
4) take a break when you need it! there are several people that would be more than happy to come over and hold that sweet baby for you while you go the the store, get a jamba juice or take a walk. it's ok to call your visiting teacher, friend, mom, mother-in-law, ME to come over for an hour so that you can have a breather!
5) the scriptures say 'and it came to pass' not 'and it came to stay' ... this stage is going to pass - they won't always poop up their backs and out their leg holes irreparably staining everything. someday they'll be driving you crazy with all the talking and running and 'mom, mom, mom, mom'-ing. and like the new country song says, "you're gonna miss this, you're gonna want this back ... "
6) dads are handy for just about everything - they don't know what they are supposed to be doing ... tell them.

there's more - possibly much more where these 6 came from ... but i will spare you all. know this: i have learned these truths from the best granny on the planet [my mom] - she never actually said any of this in so many words but helped me to learn them when i was a new mommy! good luck - enjoy ... and seriously - call me when if i can help!

and one more thing ... remember that you don't have to do it all! cut yourself some slack!! it took me a LONG time to figure that out ... kids only remember the good times, things you do together and family fun. you're doing GREAT!

another yummy chicken dish

courtesy of Jennalee ... Sweet and Sour Chicken (yum!)

yummy and easy! just a few ingredients and doesn't take a lot of time!

served over rice and with a few veggies and fruit ... MMMMM! (don't be fooled by their smiles - none of them loved it! bah!)

recipe:

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. crushed pineapple with juice

1/2 c. white vinegar

2 tbsp. flour

2 tbsp. soy sauce

1/2 tbsp. worschershire sauce

1/2 c. ketchup

set out 6-8 chicken breasts to thaw for 1 hr. sprinkled with garlic salt (both sides)

in sauce pan - dissolve flour in vinegar until lumps are gone.

add the rest of the ingredients and cook to a boil.

cut chicken into big chunks and place in 9x13 pan.

pour sauce over chicken and cover with foil.

bake at 350 for 20 minutes then remove foil and bake for 20 more minutes.

serve over rice!

voila! Yum!

she's still small

last weekend, tiff came up for a little r&r - friday night was spent at babies R us registering and then saturday we woke early to meet nicki for breakfast. while we scurried about from cafe to country villiage to pedicure to mall (more specifically 'motherhood' where she bought a maternity outfit ... size small - polar opposite of my pregnant size!) to restaurant, we had a fantastically relaxing time - a much needed break from the norm - as well as made plans to throw this girl a par-tay. you can't tell, but tiff is about 6 months pregnant! this girl deserves a party! she's finally getting a blue one and we need to celebrate it!! jenny's coming and we're gonna make a weekend of it!

it was so good to see tiff - it's been TOO long!

love you girl - and see you soon!!

learning about myself

after 31 (almost 32) years with a person, you think you'd know them pretty well ...

i recently realized - i am an instant-gratification-kinda-person. and it's not a good thing ... [i need to be is more like this.]

i was telling andy about it last night ...

it's the reason that i don't play the piano - i took lessons for six months, i wanted to just be able to sit down and play. i didn't want to practice!

it's also the reason i hate the laundry - it never stays DONE. there's always more to be washed, dried, folded, put away, washed, dried, ...

and why i don't keep my house organized - it takes too much time!

and why i love brushing my teeth - instant fix for bad breath.

and why my craft projects are so simple.

and why losing weight is so hard for me ... i want to exercise one time and see results.

and why i love the internet, email, instant messaging, cell phone ... i'd die without them. i have NO idea how i survived without a cell phone!

and why i don't have a garden - takes too long and too much work.

and why i take so long undecorating Christmas - putting it away is the opposite of 'gratification'.

and why there are only a few things i can cook - i never took the time to learn. (well that, and my people don't eat anything)

and why it took me YEARS to finish a Christmas quilt for my sister.

and why i don't/don't know how to make bread.

and why potty training is the bane of my existense.

and why i don't crochet [even though i know how ...] or knit [i tried to learn once - and still want to!].

and why i have only read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover 2 or 3 times.

and why i don't read books - that's a lie ... i read all the Harry Potter books. i don't get 'into' books like i used to - it takes too much time.

and why my driving record isn't stellar - i'm a little bit of a 'speeder' ... i got to get there NOW.

and why i go to the chiropractor - he cracks me and i feel better!

and why there are pretzels in a canister on my counter - instant easy snack!

and why i have a digital camera - i have to see how it looks right after i take it!

i could go on ... but i think you get the picture. i can think of only a handful of things that i've done that took me time and patience. 4 of which are my children - does pregnancy count? i want to be more patient and have some stick-to-it-iveness, i get frustrated quickly. i think i need to learn how to learn.

andy hugged me, "there's a lot of things you have done that took time ... "
"like what?"
"our kids ... "
"what else?"
"your scrapbooks ..."
"the scrapbooks that i am SO far behind on that i don't think i'll ever catch up?!"
"your blog ..."
"my blog doesn't take me time ... all i do is sit down and type what i think..." [that's something that took me time and practice ... i type pretty well.]
"um ... there has to be more ..."
"nice ... thanks for trying ..."

so, to those of you that know me: can you help me feel better about this bad habit i have developed?? can you add to andy's meager list?

and to all of you: how does one learn how to learn how to do things?!?

{and one more: it's also the reason that i love comments ... i feel instantly validated! - hint hint}

top 10 reasons to shop at Costco

(i copied this picture from the internet - i didn't take it with my new camera!)

10. the employees are helpful friendly people.

9. the GREAT prices and coupons.

8. they brought back Tree Top Applesauce in the big tubs ... just because i put in a request a few times!

7. milk is 1/2 the price it is at the grocery store.

6. cheapest (and yummy) family dinner/date ever!

5. smorgasbord of samples offered from 11 - 2 for saturday's lunch!

4. 2 movie tickets for $14.99

3. their gas prices are always 1 cent less than safeway

2. christmas starts Oct. 1st!!

and the #1 reason - quite possibly the ONLY reason i buy anything at Costco ...
their return policy - because when you work so hard to earn money to buy yourself a new camera, the camera that you have saved for and picked out and had your eye on for so long and then you go and buy it and take a few pictures with it, threaten your children with dismemberment if they even think about touching it, keep it in the special cover it came with and guard it with your life, take a few more pictures with it and while shooting your darling baby boy DROP IT causing irreparable damage to the zoom and shutter ... (after only owning it for 6 days!!) they will find it in their BIG ol' hearts to take pity on you for your honesty, and refund your hard earned cash so that you can buy another one. {that you will take even better care of and NEVER use without first putting the wrist strap around your arm!}

Thank you

You're the BEST!!

our minds are made up

after a week of mulling over the new year, we had a Family Home Evening focused on our resolutions.

our family motto this year is: Lose Weight in 2008

obviously for the adults in the house - we are feeling a little on the pudgy side as of late and plan to shed a few pounds this year but for the kids - since they're all a bunch of skinny minnies we talked about the other definitions of 'weight': stuff; junk; too much; extra; things we don't need; things we haven't used in a long time; clothes that don't fit; hurt feelings; grudges; things that weigh us down.

we have a new rule in our house: No More Yelling! we are trying to use sign language more and have the Spirit in our home more by keeping our voices down.

our Family Goals are as follows:

1)clean out the JUNK

2)keep our stuff put away: everything has a place and everything in it's place - except when we're playing with it.

3)have our house be a place where Jesus would be happy!

we talked about what that means: "a place where Jesus would be happy" ... we think it means that it's not messy, we are talking nicely to each other, and all of us feel happy.

we also set personal goals:

Abi

*no more talking back

*prepare to be baptized by reading the Book of Mormon and learning the Articles of Faith.

Elyssa

*no more whining and talking like a baby

*listen and obey - the first time

*keep room clean

Ammon

*use the potty - no accidents!

*learn colors, letters and numbers

Easton

*learn more sign language to communicate more - instead of screaming

*start using WORDS - everyone [and by 'everyone' i mean the 3 older siblings] will stop talking for him, we are going to start teaching him what that thing is that he's pointing at.

Andy
*daily scripture reading
*daily cardio
*[he doesn't want me to tell you this one but i'm sharing it anyway] bear tesimony in fast and testimony meeting 3 times this year!
Emily

*in order to lose 30lbs: i will stop eating at 8pm, eat more healthy snacks, and have only 5 pieces of candy a day. (think i can do it?)

*cardio 3-5 times a week

*read the Book of Mormon completely through before Abi's baptism

*daily personal prayer - morning and night

*[inspired by my good friend Colleen] up and dressed before the kids - at least 3 times a week to start ... hopefully i'll love it so much that it will become the norm!

there you have it folks, it's there for the world to see and be accountable to! i need to make a poster to help us remember and actually work on these resolutions. i hope that we will make this a tradition each january! last january i decided on 2 words for the year ... i should have made a few signs for myself!! if i was going to pick a word for 2008 - it would have to be LESS - less weight; less clutter; less stress; less junk; a lot less! besides it's true that 'less is more!'

stay tuned for the results at the end of 2008 (hopefully they'll be fun and entertaining like HeidiJo's!! this year's were amusing as well) - i've already figured out my personal motto for 2009 - "Lookin' FINE in 2009" (i know, you can't wait to hear more about that one, huh!)

i believe - now and always.

the bell still rings for me. something you may not know about me: i have always believed in santa - and it makes me angry/annoyed/sick to my stomach when people make the assumption that one can 'outgrow' that belief. after the 17th time (this year) watching Polar Express (most recently at 1:30 am this morning) i have recommitted to believing 'just one more year'. my sister, jennalee, reminded me of another story that i love but haven't thought about in a few years.

the story in it's entirety can be found in this book:

but here's an excert:

"Several years ago just before Christmas, my niece, Shelly, took hold of her mother's hand and asked seriously, 'Is it okay if I believe just one more year?'

Since that memorable happening several years ago, our family has established a family tradition. Each year on Christmas Eve, we gather together around the tree. With the lights low and the fire burning in the fireplace, we ask the question once again, the most important question of the year, 'Is it okay if we believe one more year?'--not only believe in the traditions of childhood with Santa Claus, but more importantly in the message of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whose birthday we are celebrating. Do we believe in his mission, his atonement, his resurrection? Do we believe in his invitation to come and follow him?Of course we are not really committing ourselves for only a year. We are pledged to follow the Savior forever. But we live life a day, a week, a month, a year at a time, and Christmas is a season to focus on the year ahead and reconfirm our discipleship.

Following the discussion and the commitment, someone reads aloud The polar Express by Chris Von Allsburg, a story that tells how those who have faith can always hear the clear sound of a silver bell.

Following the story, we each receive a small new bell on a red satin ribbon to wear around our necks during the holidays. We listen for its clear sound as a testimony and commitment that we truly believe and will strive to live as we believe one more year. While the fire burns low, we then read from the Bible the glorious account of the Christmas story recorded by Luke telling of the birth of the Savior as announced by an angel, 'For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord' (Luke 2:11), and we believe." Ardeth G. Kapp

Thank you, Jennalee, for reminding me and for helping/joining me in believing year after year!

this is just one of mine ...

i have a long list of favorite Christmas Stories ... they range from 'Twas the night before Christmas and 'Santa Claus the world's number one toy expert' to Christmas Day in the morning and Luke 2. Somewhere in the middle i always read this one about Wallace Purling.



For years now whenever Christams pageants are talked about in a certain little town in the Midwest, someone is sure to mention the name of Wallace Purling. Wally's performance in one annual production of the Nativity Play has slipped into the realm of legend. But the old timers who were in the audience that night never tire of recalling exactly what happened.

Wally was nine that year and in the second grade, though he should have been in the fourth. Most people in the town knew that he had difficulty in keeping up. He was big and clumsy, slow in movement and mind. Still, Wally was liked by the other children in his class, all of whom were smaller than he, though the boys had trouble hiding their irritation when Wally would ask to play ball with them or any game, for that matter, in which winning was important.

Most often they'd find a way to keep him out, but Wally would hang around anyway - not sulking, just hoping. He was always a helpful boy, a willing and smiling one, and the natural protector, paradoxically, of the underdog. Sometimes if the older boys chased the younger ones away, it would always be Wally who'd say, "Can't they stay? They're no bother."

Wally fancied the idea of being a shepherd with a flute in the Christmas pageant that year, but the play's director, Miss Lambard, assigned him to a more important role. After all, she reasoned, the Innkeeper did not have too many lines, and Wally's size would make his refusal of lodging to Joseph more forceful.

And so it happened that the usual large, partisan audience gathered for the town's yearly extravaganza of crooks and creches, of beards, crowns, halos and a whole stageful of squeaky voices. No one on stage or off was more caught up in the magic of the night than Wallace Purling. They said later that he stood in the wings and watched the performace with such fascination that from time to time Miss Lambard had to make sure he did not wander onstage before his cue.

Then came the time when Joseph appeared, slowly, tenderly guiding Mary to the door of the inn. Joseph knocked hard on the wooden door set into the painted backdrop. Wally the Innkeeper was there, waiting.

"What do you want?" Wally said, swinging the door open with a brusque gesture.

"We seek lodging."

"Seek it elsewhere." Wally looked straight ahead, but spoke vigorously. "The inn is filled."

"Sir we have asked everywhere in vain. We have traveled far and we are very weary."

"There is no room in this inn for you." Wally looked properly stern.

"Please good innkeeper, this is my wife Mary. She is heavy with child and needs a place to rest. Surely you must have some small corner for her. She is so tired."

Now for the first time, the Innkeeper relaxed his stiff stance and looked down at Mary. With that, there was a long pause, long enough to make the audience a bit tense with embarrassment.

"No! Be gone!" the prompter whipsered from the wings.

"No!" Wally repeated automatically. "Be gone!"

Joseph sadly placed his arm around Mary, and Mary laid her head upon her husband's shoulder and the two of them started to move away. The Innkeeper did not return inside the inn, however. Wally stood there in the doorway watching the forlorn couple. His mouth was open, his brow creased with concern, and his eyes filling unmistakably with tears.

And suddenly this Christmas pageant became different from all others.

"Don't go Joseph," Wally called out. "Bring Mary back." And Wallace Purling's face grew into a bright smile. "You can have my room."

Some people in town thought that the pageant had been ruined. Yet there were other- many, many others- who considered it the most Christmas of all Christmas pageants that they had ever seen.

What are your favorite Christmas Stories??

not again!!

a while back ... the beginning of 2007, andy and i were broken into during a CHURCH meeting! as if that wasn't bad enough the theives wrote a check out of my check book at Fred Meyers and got cash back (only $5 - basically smash 'n grab theives aren't very bright and/or devious) and to make matters worse when the bank stopped payment on the check we got a NSF report and they tried to hit us up for the $25. Idiots!
then last night thieves were running amok in our neighborhood ... just outside my garage door! (see ... if i could park inside my garage ... but that's neither here nor there) i went out to drive abi to school and opened the door to put easton in and noticed the glove box was open. then i got that sinking feeling i get when i realize i have done something dumb. sure enough ... i had left my purse in the van!! it had been dumped and my wallet had been ransacked. what was missing you ask?? my license, a $5 bill, my temple recommend, 2 shades of brown eye shadow, brown mascara and my mint chapstick! they didn't take my debit card ... or the coins ... or my safeway, albertsons, or costco cards. BAH!! i hate that violated feeling - i was noticably shaken, i called 911 - at the adamant request of my 3 oldest kids.
then i called andy. he was unsympathetic and asked me why i left my purse in the car ... thanks for your comfort dear.
my mom called in the midst of talking to the sheriff's office and when i called her back, she too was as comforting as my dear husband. she said, "i just want to know one thing - don't you ever learn?"
"thanks mom. that makes me feel tons better."
"i'm sorry that happened to you, honey."
sometimes i just need someone to say "that's terrible - those dang theives!!" and not remind me of my stupidity!
i'm grateful for my personal safety and the safety of my family - but look out theives ... it's Christmas time and Santa is watching! i'll venture to say that your names are on the Naughty List!!