Out With the Old

Today we are seeing the final day of 2008. I am leaving it with some gratitude, some sadness and some hope for what is to come. This year has been an incredible time of change for our family, as was the 2 years before that. We have loved to have come into contact with some fabulous people from Nevada and now from Washington. We are not sad to see the struggles that we have faced financially and health wise pass with the year, but these have made us more understanding and I hope better people.

I never did accomplish the family Christmas Picture, nor was I diligent about my exercise after our move. I haven't found a job, but I have found peace. I have discovered that you can be sore after playing video games and I have discovered that I have missed dancing and having joy in my life.

So, 2009, here are my resolutions....to appreciate every singe day, even if it is laundry or cleaning the bathroom day, to DANCE more, to laugh more and oh yeah, to exercise more!

Have a happy and Safe NEW YEAR!

Catching Up

As so often happens in December, it feels like we are running so fast, that we hardly have time to document our days. Yesterday, I was talking to a friend, and she asked, "what is new?" Of course, my stock answer was, "nothing". Then I proceeded to tell her in bits and pieces about life in the Chanfandamly. That is when it hit me, so much is happening, I better document it so I can remember it!

Handsome and Son got to go to a Seahawks game, The Son was excited as his team, the Patriots won!

Thanks Jamie!

We had the Angel Breakfast for YW early on a Saturday morning. See how excited they were to be up?

The Fearless Leaders, we were equally excited to be up!

For my birthday, we made gingerbread houses in two teams

We thought they were finished.....we didn't know that Handsome would still be adding things the next day!

Notice the firecrackers surrounding their house, and the missile launcher in Gingerbread's hands!
The finished products!

I also want to give a shout out to our neighborhood Home Depot, who when asked, donated a Christmas Tree, the ornaments and a hug, for a family in our area, FOR FREE!

And last but not least, I have spent the last 2 days, watching, laughing and singing to my new Mama Mia DVD.

Well, back to the couch! Have a great rest of the week!

Birthday Wishes

A long time ago....

In a galaxy far away....

Or, about 25 years ago, (that is all I am copping to), I was born. It is funny how our expectations of our birthdays change with age. Don't get me wrong, I love birthdays, as long as they are not mine! What has happened this year on my birthday, is I have re-evalutated what I want. Don't get me wrong, I still want the body I had at 26, (Oh, I mean 24), and the hearing, and not having the gray hair that I faithfully cover every 6 weeks. But as far as things, I can't think of one thing that I am lacking. How fabulous is that?!! My needs are taken care of.

We are not having a big party, but instead, we are going to put together gingerbread houses as a family. What more is there? I ask you, to get to spend time with my kids before they all decide to grow up and leave home. So that is my birthday wish this year, to spend time with my family, without the customary screaming and fighting, and to enjoy this birthday, without a lot of fanfare.

It's December

Yeah, it is my favorite month of the year! Could it be because it is my birthday month? I think it probably started off as that, but the older I get, the more inclined I am to forget that day. Could it be the snow? Nope, definitely not! I am so grateful I live in a place that barely sees snow, or freezing cold days! Could it be because I am seeing so much red? (My favorite power color), or is it because it is time to finally try and get another amazing holiday picture of my kids? That is it! The power struggle with taking over 200 photos to try and find that one! To have the kids not making horrible faces at each other, or Quinn getting yelled at because he is goofing around, when we finally get a shot with everyone else looking good. Now that I am committed to the task, I must go forward with faith, that this will be the year when I finally get the shot in as small amount of time as possible. Wish me luck!

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2006

Christmas 2005

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for the calm that come after everyone has left for school and work. I am thankful for the quiet, and not having kids screaming at me that they have NOTHING to wear or that SHE in my closet, stealing clothes again! I am thankful for no noise.....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Today is the day we have been told we should be most Thankful, but I am hoping everyone finds time to have gratitude every day!

So, with that in mind, my Thankful Thursday begins like this....

I am thankful that I don't have to cook, that I married a man that does.

I am thankful that my kids are old enough now to sleep in on the holidays.

I am thankful that we can be together as a family and thank our Heavenly Father for all that we do have.

I am thankful that we have a roof over our head, food for our stomachs, and good friends around us that remind us not to take ourselves too seriously.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone, and be grateful you are not a turkey!

YOU HAVE GOT TO LOVE THIS LITTLE BOY

Quinn makes me smile. He is forever and a day coming up with plans on how to earn money. There is always the video game that he must buy, the itunes card that he must find a way to earn, just because there is one song, Mom!

He feels like he has gotten a rotten deal. As the only boy with 4 sisters, he is surrounded by women. He hears about makeup, clothes and puberty, and just wishes that there was just a little more testosterone in the house. He doesn't feel like he is going to make it until his sisters marry and he has brothers in law.

Quinn had to spend Thursday and Friday nights, and most of the day Saturday, at various stake centers watching his sisters play volleyball. It is very exciting, unless there are no boys around to play with while the games are going on, in this case, it is the STUPIDEST THING EVER!
During a break on Saturday, I took Quinn with me to go pick up another sister from a sleepover. I figured it was good bonding time, you know, Mother and son.
As I am driving down the road, Quinn very seriously looks over at me and says, "You know Mom, my 11th birthday is coming up".
"Yes, Son", I replied.
"Well, I don't want you to be surprised when there is a knock on the door, and my invitation comes to attend Hogwarts. Oh, and by the way, I am taking the cat as my pet, he and I have already discussed it."
"Really?", I say, "and how do you know you will get this invitation?"
"Well, it is in the cards, haven't you noticed the magical, unexplained things that have been happening?"
"Well, maybe it is your sisters that are causing this magic", I replied.
"No Mom, you are all muggles, and it is time for me to leave and fulfill my destiny!"
Now who said life was dull?
You gotta' love this boy!