Christmas

So sparkly! I love having a tree up all month. We put ours up Thanksgiving weekend and keep it up a few days past Christmas. I keep the lights on all day everyday! In fact if I saw the lights off I told the kids there would be no presents, so they raced each morning to be the one to turn on the lights. It was fun.

Here is the pre-morning mess "beauty" shot. All is calm....

We spent Christmas day at home this year. Mom, Dad, and Deb went to Michelle's in Idaho. Karen and Karolyn came over for presents and cinnamon rolls (yes I made them. For the first time EVER!). We had fun opening presents and playing with the kids. We didn't do a big dinner. We just snacked and enjoyed the day. What a great day it was.

Let the crazy mess begin!! This was the first year we did not have to wake up kids. They were up at 6:30! AWESOME!!!

Connor was THRILLED to get sillybands in his stocking.

Cody was so happy to get a new leapster game.


Elizabeth got the doll she has asked for all year!

MORE legos. Who would have guessed Tyler would get more legos!!

The little boys even got their own legos. Here is hoping there will be less lego wars. (Cross your figures too then maybe it will happen.)


We have WOODY!!!

and BUZZ!!!!!

Elizabeth also got the horse to go with her doll. I believe she wanted the horse more!


All the kids got a new game for their DS or leapster.

Karen AKA LEGO MASTER! helping Tyler put together his new set.

Me doing one of my top five favorite things...READING (Karen got a new book, but I read it first!)

So I can only stand the chaos so long. By Tuesday the living room was back to normal. Ok so way cleaner than normal. I was sitting there thinking , "Wow, it is so clean and peaceful." Then I looked at the kitchen and just started laughing. WHAT A DISASTER AREA! Nope the will be no pictures of that. LOL!!

Wow where did the time go?

Well well well. From the looks of this poor blog I have fallen off the face of the earth. Well that simply is not so. We have been busy, and my computer was way messed up. We are still busy but the computer got fixed. I will try to get in a few catch up sessions here pretty soon. For now just know we are alive and breathing.

Elizabeth is 7!!!!

Here is the flash back picture. This was Elizabeth's 4th birthday.

Look at how she has grown!

The classic Elizabeth face scrunch.

Now that she can read she read every card before opening the present.

But she got right on it when that card was done!Who knew seven candles could cause such a blaze!
This girl LOVES her cake.

Elizabeth had a special friend birthday this year. That means instead of a big party with several friends she get to choose one to do something special with (besides the family party). This year it was her BFF (best friend forever!) Sydney. I took the girls out for breakfast and then shopping for hair clips bands and lip gloss. We called each other darling and carried our purses. So fun. Then we stopped at See's candy shop were the girls picked out chocolate bunnies. It was a blast for all!

The Party!!

The cakes! Thanks to James these turns out cute. I have grand ideas and he helps me pull them off.

The loot. Here they are with their "glasses". The got books, a HUGE ball, "glasses", dress pants, socks, and very cute Polo's.

Here is Connor showing Grandma his new book.

Here they are blowing out their candles. It was too funny.

It was a great day for two great boys!

Little boys BIG day!!

The actual birthday.

Daddy brought home doughnuts.

Connor has a pink frosted one with chocolate stripes.

Cody had the same.

Then they played a weird tag game with Jack. He sleeps in the sun. They crawl up and touch him, laugh like freaks, retreat and do it all again, and again , and again.....you get the idea.

Later that day they play out back. (Note the awesome green grass!!!)

After that they got to open their birthday present from Mom and Dad.

LEAPSTERS!!!!

They spent the rest of the evening in techno heaven.

Today they are 3!

Do I HAVE to??

So I was talking to a friend yesterday and we were giving each other our list of things we have had to do this week. I found myself saying, " I had to take dinner to this family. I have to get this ready for the Blue & Gold. I have to...: You get the picture. LOL!

Here is the thing I didn't HAVE to I CHOSE to. I did catch myself. We had a little laugh but it really stuck with me. If I choose to say yes to a calling, or an assignment, or if I volunteer to do something well then I need to realize that. I choose to serve, SO I should do it with a happy heart not grumbling the whole time.

I choose to be a den leader, a provident living coordinator, a school volunteer, a mom, a wife, and a friend.


On a deeper note: As a spirit child of my Heavenly Father I chose to come to this earth gain a body and try my hardest to make it back to live in his presence. Of all my choices I am most happy about this one!