The Last Waffle

When do you know if you've left the last waffle in too long? (No, this is not a chocolate waffle.) And the best part is this is what was in the waffle iron when I opened it this morning. The last time we had waffles was Christmas morning. Hmm....

Babysitting Dilemma

So...what do you pay a babysitter? I can never get a babysitter to actually answer that question. We have finally found an AWESOME baby sitter - she is our neighbor, she actually plays with the kids, and we LOVE her! It is so nice to know your kids are being taken care of when you can't be with them, or just need some one-on-one time with your hubby. So, what is the going rate?

And of course, who can resist these darling faces (ok, you can't see Jack's - but pretty cute!) I almost think they should pay me to let them be with my angels! (This is us caroling on Christmas Eve - thanks Sayda for the picture - of course you have to be a true blogger at heart to take pictures of your carolers!)

What's to Complain About?

As I sit and feel sorry for myself because I have not been involved with all the joviality of the extended family parties because of snow covered roads, I listen to my children play contentedly with each other at the kitchen table. The toys are still new, the holiday spirit still lives and they chatter to one another, "Pass the zizzors please." "Wow, good job." "Is that for me?" What I don't hear is, "Why aren't we in Utah?" "Aren't we going to a party?" "I'm bored." My children have had a wonderful Christmas and feel loved and secure with our little family. They don't feel anything is missing, this is their life, the five of us. Even though I do miss all the fun and socializing, I am sitting here fully content for the first time in two days (it could be that Jack wanted me to open some play dough and I got three kisses in return!) Even though my kids love their cousins, they love being home, they are home-bodies and I hope they always will be. (Though in an effort to feel busy I have cleaned and boxed up all the Christmas - all that is left are the lights on the front tree. Couches are even back to their rightful places - and my husband helped the entire time!)

Christmas Hugs

Here is just a collage of hugs from this morning. Lots of sweet, tender moments along with the excitement. Boy In love this time of year!

Ok - I know this looks like a wrestling move, but he is just about to kiss her on the head.

After getting her grown up camera.


Pretty tender.

Christmas Morning

Jack's favorite toy of the morning - a Mack truck from the mailman (It was from his cousin Josh but they mailed it so...) He loved everything but this is the one he keeps coming back to this one.

Jacee's reaction to her own real digital camera. (Immediately followed by some disappointment the picture quality was not as good as mommy's camera - but then ok again when we discussed that it was better than the "toy" cameras.)

Maddie loved everything. She gave a little squeal with each new gift that was opened - where did she learn that?

Maddie was a quick study - she caught right on that there were presents for everyone, so she kept track and knew when it was her turn to open a new one.

The tradition of lining up on the stairs - and yes - I am the oldest so I am on the top step. (Something daddy and Grama Binki don't let me forget!)

Everyone in bed before going down stairs. John really was more awake and excited than he looked in these pictures. At a little after 7am, he rolled over and said, "Should we go wake up the kids?"

Christmas Eve Night

Opening an early present from Grama Binki.

Putting out cookies and milk and carrots for Santa and his reindeer. (At one point there were 15 carrots on the plate, we convinced her there were only 9 reindeer.)

In their new jammies before bed. They were pretty tired after snowmobiling and then caroling to 18 families (ok, so not all were home but we still left them some fudge.)

Love you all!

Christmas Eve

Here is a close up of two things: John made Grama's turkey gravy - that's right - he got the recipe and from the way it tasted, I'd say she gave him the real thing! And also, notice the stuffing on his plate - and he did eat it.

Here is our table for Christmas Eve dinner - thanks Grama Mission for all the fun things you have to use for special occasions: gold silverware, gold napkin ring holders, candles, beautiful dishes, goblets, Christmas plates. It sure was fun.

New coats! They got to open them early since John took them snowmobiling at Grampa Brents.

Jacee mashing bananas for banana bread.

The passing of the torch. John teaching his daughter to make fudge. He better give her the real recipe!

We hope you all had as much fun as we did on Christmas Eve!

Tippy Tap

Here is Jacee at the Festival of Trees. I think you can tell what John and I think by his earlier post. We couldn't be more pleased as parents. And I'm sure if she's ever in the back row I will try to be a gracious parent and not storm into the directors office demanding the front row for my daughter. Boy - we sure think she's cute!

Sledding Day

John bought the kids sleds on Jacee's Birthday. And then he spent the better part of the afternoon pulling them around. Boy what we wouldn't give for a four wheeler!

Here is just a little clip of a day in the snow. This was Maddie's first time and she did a big face plant that she did not enjoy. We love you Grama and Grampa!

Daddy's Favorite Dancer!

This is Jacee's performance at the Festival of Trees in Burley. She's in the front on the right side (just watch for the shimmy shoulders, you'll find her). Julie and I agree that she knows the dance the best, performs with the biggest smile, and keeps the best rhythm. Of course we're not biased in any way, our judgement is based solely on our professionalism as dancers and not just because we think our daughter is so amazingly beautiful and talented!

Wrong Color

We use to have multi-colored lights when I was a little girl. And then my parents went to blue light with a flocked Christmas tree in the window with blue lights also. I have always loved it. But in an effort to continue our own traditions with our children - we opted to do our red/white lights on the house with a green lit tree. You can't really see the tree in the window very well because of the garland - I think we will hang it a different way next year. Anyway...we have gotten a lot of comments about not having the blue up. Sorry neighbors and sorry mom and dad. I tell people it will be back for Christmas 2010. Merry Christmas - and we miss you mom and dad!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my first born's Birthday. Has it really been six years since I was sleeping peacefully in that hospital bed? My husband scurrying around bringing the nurses fudge and donutes? I have to say it was such a wonderful day. It was a Sunday and we went to the hospital about midnight - I slept and slept and slept and slept. It was Heaven. It was such an easy delivery also. She was so beautiful. They brought her to me in a huge Christmas stocking. She is such a blessing in our lives. She has proved to have the same personality as she did in the womb - moving and dancing and full of life. She is rarely still. She loves life and often says, "I want this to be my best day ever!" And typically at night she tells me, "Mom, this was a great day." I sure do love my little girl and can't believe she is growing up. I do have to say, her focus on her birthday is her Grama and Grampa Mission. Mom - only one more birthday and then Grama and Grampa will be home. Even in her prayers this morning she said, "Bless Grama and Grampa that they will be home when I turn seven and be here when I get baptized when I'm eight."



Jacee's 1st Birthday.
Jacee's 5th Birthday at Build a Bear.

Jacee's 3rd birthday - look at those chubby cheeks!

Jacee's 4th birthday - Glamour Birthday!


Today - our six year old! (She lost a tooth two nights ago - tooth #5.)

Happy Birthday! We love you!

Answer to Prayer

I recently read a talk where it read "It may not be the number of prayers we say, but the number of prayers we answer that will get us into heaven."

Thank you for answering our prayers S. Claus. You will probably never know what it meant to us.

Typing Fun

30 words

Speedtest

Just so you know - this is John's score - mine is much, much faster!

Christmas' Past

This is in Saratoga Springs last Christmas. We had no idea what the next year would bring. It was such a fun Christmas full of family and friends. We sure miss everyone in Utah.

Maddie and Grampa Santa. Brent dressed as Santa last year and it kinda freaked Maddie out. She was 7 months old.

My man and his lights. I think he regrets ever starting such perfect lights. Now I expect it, and I think he hates it.

This is one of my favorites. We didn't have snow for Christmas that year but Steve Nat got an Air Hockey table, so they let the kids sit and dig at the Styrofoam packing and it was as good as snow!

Jacee's Second Christmas (2003). We were living in Nampa at the time.

Good Friends

Bria, Jackson, and Jacee. Jackson loved Bria when he was a baby, he would always light up when she walked into the room. We spent a lot of time together when they were this age and it makes me sad we don't see them all the time.

Here are some of our very bestest friends. Sadly, this picture was taken three years ago - I don't think we have a picture of all of us since then. We really, really, really miss them and wish they would move to Burley! We love you Muffies! From the Peacadens.

Kid's Triathlon

We have a kids triathlon every Memorial Day. I think we've had three so far. It has been so fun. Last year it was raining so we didn't swim but the kids still ran and rode bikes. My kids look forward to this every year and love it!
This is the reason I decided to do this post. I love this one. Jackson's cousins are helping him finish the race. He just loves to play with them. They really take good care of him. He sure misses his cousins. And I'm really missing them right now too!

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Ever have one of those days? Let's just say this is it for me and it was that way before noon. Here's to hoping it gets better. At least I have a wonderful family and a great husband. That's really what it's all about right?

Quite a Vocabulary

I must admit that I think my daughter gets her varied vocabulary from her mother. Now, I am not bragging, it is just the truth. It has been vary chilly today, so I finally broke down and lit a real fire - I usually use dura-flame logs but real wood heats the house so much better. As I was lighting it, she wanted to know if we could make "firecrackers" (s'mores). Of course! What fun! The fire was crackling, I had all of the supplies except the graham crackers. As I was running up the stairs from the basement I heard Jacee say, "Mom, can we start torturing?" (roasting) What can I say, she comes by it honestly! After all - not everyone gets a "prescription" for the newspaper!