Baby doll in the bath.

I got up at 5:30am to put this casserole in the oven and then get it to the school by 7.  It smelled so good and I was super sad I didn’t make us one.

I volunteered in the boys’ classrooms.  There wasn’t much to do because of the break coming up, but it’s always good to be there anyway.

I ended up with Grace again today because Bennett has strep throat.  She got to come with us to the dr. to get Ella’s ears checked.  They ended up being fine, so I guess that’s not the cause of Ella’s grumpiness.  I think it’s just her age.

I had to help at scouts tonight in Andrew’s den.  These two are the only boys right now in the wolf den.  They had a little Christmas party and decorated cookies and played games.

I brought the kids home (Darrin had to stay and attend the bishopric youth fireside) and everyone except Ella took a bath.  She took one earlier today when she got syrup in her hair.  Ella thought her baby needed a bath and threw it in Luke’s water.  lol.  Hopefully it dries out okay.  If not, it’s okay…this is the “boy baby” I bought Josh when Andrew was born.  Ella has been very attached to any baby doll lately.  She carries them around along with her binky and blankie.  It’s quite a lot for a new walker to carry around.  lol. 

Tonight I enjoyed a quite house, paid the bills, and caught up on episodes of The Biggest Loser.  Now I’m off to wrap presents. 

Goodnight!

Water bottles and peek-a-boo.

Sorry for all the random test posts we’ve been doing.  Darrin’s been trouble shooting for me.  Finally got Live Writer fixed :) Yay.

Ella thought she funny when I put her binky on her toe and then she put it in her mouth.  Just one of those funny games we play when we’re the only ones home. 

After going visiting teaching, I picked up these kiddos from the bus.  It was a normal Zach day, and Grace joined us cause the movers were packing up her house :(  They played for a long time then I let them watch Arthur Christmas and drink water out of water bottles.  Such an exciting way to drink water.  lol. 

After everyone left, I continued working on the laundry and corralling kids to get to get there stuff done.  We had to eat an early and hurried dinner to get out the door for indoor soccer.  Luke shed lots of tears because he didn’t want to go.  Last week he had a bad experience, so he was determined not to go back.  But he pulled up his boot straps and was brave and went.  And he had fun!  I think he was just super emotional last week and everything was blown out of proportion in his mind.

I brought Luke and Ella home and Darrin stayed with Josh and Andrew for their session.  Luke was in bed and asleep by 7:15pm which is early for him although it shouldn’t be.  Ella ate a quick snack and played peek-a-boo at the same time. 

After Darrin got home I went to the store to pick up a few things and then put together a breakfast casserole for the teacher appreciation breakfast the next morning. 

Whew!  Another busy day.  Someday I will sit around and eat chocolate and read books.  Someone tell me when that is?? 

Cutest cow ever.

I woke up this morning to a text from a friend telling us that a boy in Josh’s class and who has been on several of his soccer teams and who lives nearby was admitted to the ICU last night.  He has a terrible infection that has moved to his heart.  It’s super scary.  We’ve been thinking and praying for this friend all day.  Any prayers you want to add would be greatly appreciated.

Morning snuggles with daddy.  Daddy has been her favorite lately.

My kids came home from school with lots of excess energy.  Before I put them to work, I sent Josh outside to shoot baskets.  This neighbor lady, who lives close by and doesn’t speak English, came over with her granddaughter to watch Josh.  She just stood there for about 15-20 minutes.  Kinda strange and funny at the same time.

Dance party!

Today I spent most of the day recovering our house from the weekend to prepare for FHE tonight with our neighbors.  We got together to act out the nativity story. 

Ella was the cutest cow ever.

My boys were the wisemen, Christopher and Matthew were shepherds, Katie was a sheep, the other girls were angels, and Terry and Laurie were Mary and Joseph.  I played the piano and Jeff was the narrator.  Darrin was the spectator. 

 

We had a great time with yummy food afterwards.

XOXOXOXOXO

Christmas Lights and Pink

Loves her little Book of Mormon.  Carries it all around the house.

Ella and I took a bunch of stuff to the DI pod.  We cleaned house and are making room for big girl toys!

We did a little shopping on the way home and then picked up a dozen tamales from a family in our ward.  I’d never had a tamale before, and they were selling them to earn money, so we bought some!  They weren’t bad. Darrin said they were the best tamales he’d ever had. 

One the way home I found my wishlist on a billboard.  lol.

Darrin gave the boys haircuts and put up the Christmas lights. 

  

We made yummy popcorn and put together goodies bags for the missionaries serving in our ward. 

Josh had his piano recital.  He played great.  He’s been playing these songs for months, so he was very prepared.  “The Greatest Show on Earth” he played two times through.  Once a slower, normal speed and the second time was super speedy.  It was very cute.

And today, Ella and I wore pink to remember Emilie Parker who was killed in the shooting at Sandy Hook a year ago today.  When the Parkers lived in our ward, I was in cub scouts with Alissa.  Every week she brought her girls over to our house and our kids played while we held den meetings.  That’s where I remember having the most interaction with Emilie.  I remember thinking that she was a very smart and articulate little girl and well beyond her years. 

When I found out she had lost her life in such a tragic way, I was shaken to the core and heartbroken for her family.  I have been impressed and strengthen this past year by her families testimony and the way they have handled themselves in the public eye.  They have helped my testimony to grow. 

With all the evil around us how can I find peace?  That is what’s been on my mind the last several days.  I love what Elder Cook said about peace: 

“We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice.

We all long for peace. Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies.”

And around this time of year the song  “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” means more now than ever. 

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said;

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

Satan’s influence is so strong all around us.  But we know the outcome of this war. 

We know who will win. 

And I want to be on the winning side. 

Hudsey and the Creepy Elf.

Yesterday Hudson came over to play for a while.  Ella now can say his name, but it comes out more like Hudsey.  It’s super cute :) 

I loaded the babies up, so we could pick up the big boys from the bus.  Ella brought a baby doll and Hudson had trains.  It was very fitting. 

The crazies home from school: Luke, Ethan and Zach.

Ella kept having to stand on the steering wheel of this riding toy.  She’s getting to be a good little climber. 

 

Jingle hid in the bathroom and wrote a message on the mirror.  The kids were creeped out and refused to use that bathroom.  Maybe I should put a permanent elf in there so the bathroom will stay cleaner.  lol.

I spent Ella’s naptime cleaning bathrooms.  Yay. 

We’ve had to start putting the ladder from the bunk bed on top of the bed during the day because Ella likes to climb up there now.  And there’s no way I trust her to go up and down safely. 

Love looking around and seeing a little person walking!!  So cute!  Now that she’s walking, I feel like she’s not a baby anymore.  I think Heavenly Father knew I would need to enjoy my “baby” a little longer than normal, so gave her these delays for my benefit.  Having her walk at 10 months would have made me even more sad.  

Everyone took turns working on the Christmas Lego house. 

And I curled up to read this book recommended by an awesome friend.  It’s really pretty good and sadly, it’s probably the first book I will finish reading in a really long time. 

XOXOXOXOXO

A speech and shorts

Josh’s class has been preparing All about Me speeches that they one by one share with the class.  Yesterday was Josh’s turn.  He chose to go very first, so he wouldn’t have to stress about it.  He did a great job.  It was his best run through yet.  He had to bring 6 things that represent him and tell about them.  He brought a poster of our family saying: Do Your Best, the Book of Mormon, a book of family stories, a soccer trophy, a sketch book, and a picture of him as a baby.  Way to go Josh!

Luke left his backpack on the bus, so while I was on the phone with the transportation office to figure out how to get it back, Ella worked on a puzzle.  She was being super grumpy, and I needed something to distract her.  I wouldn’t be surprised if her ear infections are back.  She just finished antibiotics on Monday for a double ear infection that we discovered the Friday after Thanksgiving.  And now her yucky running nose is back, and she’s emotional and grumpy.

Speaking of emotional—Luke went to play with Christopher.  We took care of Christopher’s cat while they were gone for several weeks, so when we walked up to their door, Ella immediately started saying kitty, kitty, kitty.  Laurie found the kitty for her to see, but she still through a fit when we left.  And cried and cried about it.  I thought it was actually pretty funny.

Then the boys came over here to play.  The kids are all obsessed with our village houses and think they are meant to be houses for their Lego people. 

Andrew still insists on wearing shorts everyday.  It’s one of those things I haven’t been fighting because I keep hoping he’ll come to senses, but I’m beginning to think that won’t work.  The other day the recess teacher told him that if he didn’t start wearing pants then he was going to have to stay in for recess.  The next day he did not want to go to school and pretty much had a panic attack about wearing pants.  I told him he could make the choice whether he wore pants or not, but he needed to face the consequences if the teacher made him stay in.  So off to school in shorts he went.  When he got home, he said he didn’t have to stay in and that he just hid from the recess teacher the whole time.  If she got close to him, he’d run somewhere else.  Oh Andrew.  You’re so funny.

After school Josh made this to do list.  He really is my child. 

After the kids got all their stuff done, I let them watch The Grinch. 

Daddy brought home dinner, and I was off to RS Meeting. 

Then I snuck to the mall to do some Christmas shopping.  Late night was the perfect time to go to avoid the crowds. 

Scary Santa and a bobcat.

Wednesdays are always super busy around her and yesterday was no exception. 

I spent most of the morning in Josh’s class helping them make clay Christmas ornaments.  Luke went to play with Ethan and Katie came over to play with Ella.  I love how she recognizes her friends and calls them by name.  Kakie is what she calls Katie.  Hudson is much harder to say, but yesterday she tried.

We had to leave to go help my stranded visiting teachee when the car she was driving broke down.  Good deed for the day: check.

During piano lessons my kids obsessed over this app. (thanks to Danielle :)  Santa looks pretty creepy if you ask me.  My boys will soon look like this as all of them need hair cuts.  Maybe tonight?

After a quick dinner and way too much nagging on my part to get things done and get ready (how in the world do I stop nagging??  No one listens to me, and I think I’m invisible most of the time.), we made it to pack meeting.

Andrew was awarded his bobcat badge. 

He’s really starting to love scouts, which has me relieved.

We came home to baths, Christmas books, and bedtime. 

And after the house was quiet, I settled down with a blanket, gloves, and a cup of candy cane hot chocolate to watch Survivor.  I’ve been freezing, and it was just the ticket.  Can’t wait for the Survivor season finale this weekend!

XOXOXOXOX

Boy that post only took me 15 minutes as opposed to the 3 hour one from yesterday.  Maybe everyday is better.