Counting down to Christmas

We can not get enough of this boys cuteness! 

He had a fun time playing in the empty box that Nana sent, but not as much fun as we had watching him.

Dad took the kids out shooting. All four gave it two thumbs up!

Today's scheduled outing was a trip to the North Pole at 7 peaks. It looks fun but was actually pretty freezing, with very long lines, and lots of crying babies and complaining kids...and not all of them belonged to us.

Marshall and I were boat partners. I was worried he'd try to jump in the water but I think he was pretty much in shock the whole time because he never moved a muscle. It was icy out there! 

On the way home we drove by the beautiful new Provo City Center Temple. It was breathtaking in the snow and moonlight.

Sierra and Hannah went out on a sister date and the rest of us went home with hot pizza we stopped at Pizza Hut for. 

Marshall approved!

Fry bread

The boys got up early and went to buy each other Christmas presents. Christmas comes early around here.

The girls made cookies, and made cookies and made cookies!

We had reserved a wagon for our whole family to take a sleigh ride through the Christmas lights at Thanksgiving Point. We were so excited! But an hour before we were meeting to go we got a call that it was rained off. This was soooo disappointing. Instead we made fry bread and made fry bread and made fry bread. The boys ran around and threw snow balls at each other. We played mother elephant and visited and it was a crazy fun night. (But I was still bummed)

After cleaning up we headed home and read scriptures and played with the nativity. 

Wonderful Sunday

Unfortunately Greg is sick today. Dani and Penny were both sick a couple days ago and now it's his turn, this does not bode well for a healthy Christmas vacation. Sadly there were many wonderful things scheduled for today that he had to miss out on.

First of all all the children looked so festive on this Christmas Sunday. We went to church and they had a wonderful sacrament meeting, they had lots and lots of music and a few speakers in between hymns. Tatum and Penny are in the primary choir and Dani is in the ward choir, so we got to hear them all sing.

During primary Tatum gave a talk, she spoke about the atonement and she did a wonderful job. I was so happy to be there to hear her talk, and also to wave at the girls on the stand when it was their turn to  sing!

Next was relief society and Dani was the teacher. She gave a really great lesson. I love to see her as a grown woman, to see how good she is, so kind to her children, what a good friend she is, as well as a devoted wife, loyal disciple and fun to be with. Seeing her be such a good woman, such a good person is just indescribable.

When we got home from church we packed up and went to pick up Sierra and then we all headed over to grandmas house. 

Hannah received her patriarchal blessing tonight. It was very special. Papa, who is a patriarch, is able to give blessings to all of his posterity and it has been a very special and sacred experience to bring the girls to him to receive those words of counsel and that special blessing from the Lord. She was very touched and I am so grateful for her and the wonderful blessing she is to me. Love that girl!

After the blessing we had dinner together, sat around and talked, played catchphrase, and made cookies.

Dani and Sierra, Penny and Marshall headed home and the rest of us spent the night. 

At bedtime Papa played the harmonica. Some children cried, everyone eventually got settled down and now it's late late late. Another good day done.

Traveling

We're off. 2 hours later than we expected and stuffed to the gills!

Christmas concert

Hannah got an early present, we went and got our toes done.

Tonight was the band concert. They did a really good job and it was a lot of fun to go hear them!

Tonight we are off to see Star Wars! 

And I didn't cheat all day:)

cold mornings

It is cold in the morning.  Nighttime in the desert is always cool, and in the winter it is cold cold.  When we leave for seminary it's been about 28-29 degrees.  It warms up a lot during the day and when it's not windy it's pleasant. Since we park in the garage now (best idea EVER) it's only 45 degrees in the car, which is nicer.  And no frost on the window.

We love our little wood burning stove.  It's cheery fire warms the main part of the house and makes it hard to get out the door in the morning for school. This cute girl didn't want to go yesterday. Today she didn't mind going but was slow as molasses getting out the door and made her brother late.  Normally we have a staggered departure schedule but yesterday Ethan's geometry teacher told the class they were done for the week and she wouldn't be marking absences if the kids didn't want to come.  Of course Ethan didn't, he may have regretted that choice when he was late to 1st period because of pokey pete though.

not too excited to go to school this morning

Hannah has finals the rest of the week so she's been getting out at 12:15.  Yesterday Sawyer came over.  Today she gets to clean her room (yay!) and tomorrow starts Christmas vacation and everyone has a half day!

On the way to tap yesterday Grace and I stopped at Gma Joyce's house to give her a box of chocolates and a card.  She gave us a loaf of home made bread.  It was warm and wrapped in foil and smelled so good.  Lu asked if she was allowed to unwrap it so I let her.  She was dually impressed with Gma Joyce's wrapping skills :) 

But then I had the bread sitting on the seat next to me.... and I was remembering all the wonderful things she's cooked in the past, and the fun holiday specialties she makes.  

And I ate some. One bite really.  Then I put it away in the back of the car and got out my project and spent the rest of the time doing that...and wondering if I just blew my whole diet. (doh) and I thought about that and thought about it until...

looks like a prison fight about to break out, but really these two tappers are friends

We were home and had dinner, and Ethan and Rob left for soccer practice (the first one of the all star season), and Hannah was off to the Mutual White Elephant party, and Grace was in bed with a book and then I decided yes, I would rather eat than be thin.  I don't care that I felt good all week, and had more energy and thought my face was a little bit thinner (if you looked at it just right in the bathroom mirror)

so on the way to pick up Hannah from mutual I drove through mcdonalds and got a meal and then sat in my car,  on a dark road, and ate it.  Okay I only ate half before I came to my senses and threw it away.  (but still) And I came home with a headache. 

So dumb. 

This morning I am back on the band wagon.  Also today it's been one week of my "new lifestyle" so I stepped on the scale and I've lost 8lbs, despite my total thief in the night hamburger incident & bite of Christmas bread. Phew!

Now the question is what to do about next week?  Specifically Christmas day.  Will it be a holiday with no treats for me?  Will I put it aside for one day and then pick it back up?   I'd rather think about something else than food all the time. But I don't. 

In other news we have tickets to see Star Wars tonight!  Opening night is tomorrow but it's playing all day today, don't know how that works but whatevs. And I've got a list of things to do before we leave for our holiday on Saturday! Lots of fun stuff coming up!!

Counting down

4 days until this little angel jumps in our arms and says "Mimi and Grandpa are here!", or something like that. Can't wait.  Looks like we need to pack our snow gear.

Also counting down the pounds and inches. Well, at least I've been on my diet for 5 days and haven't cheated. Not even once.  Let's applaud the baby steps.  It has been going well.  I have not been feeling starved and I think I lost a little weight in my left wrist :) Yesterday was the only hard day.  I wanted chocolate cake..and steak...and a bunch of yummy cheesy, sour creamy,  potatoes.  I tried to figure out why it was different.  

a) I subbed, first grade, the week before Christmas break.  It was chaos and my voice and patience were both worn thin by the end of the day.

b) one of my kids was involved in a bullying incident...and my kid was the bully.  It was minor but the other mom called me to talk about it and that's always fun.  At the end of the day it turns out that it was mostly unintentional and apologies were given and accepted but some hot buttery popcorn chased by some peanut m&m's would have helped a lot. 

c) someone I used to be close to was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer stinks and I am sad for him.

d) it was really cold out side (calls for hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies obviously)

e) it was family home evening/circus freaks come out tonight/weekly scheduled fighting & chaos that starts and ends with a prayer night.  What is it about family night that makes kids lose their minds?  

Again FHE treat, important part of the ritual. 

It was the kind of day where sneaking off for a burger and shake with my hubby would have made a lot of things better.  Instead I folded clothes and he ironed and we talked about other families problems, and ours.

and to end "counting up" my blessings.

• I love parking in the garage.  This morning it was 28 degrees out and many cars on the road were frosty, not mine. It was warm.
• I love our fireplace lite up with light and warmth.
• I love talking to my family on the phone.
• I am grateful to live "close" to them.
• I am grateful that today I don't have to sub, and that really I never do.  The $ is for bonus stuff, which I always want but we could live without.
• I love the view out our toilet room at night.  We get a nice slice of sky with stars and the edge of a pine tree, I don't know why I enjoy that but I do.
• I'm excited for my new calling, and Rob's, and Hannah's.  We love to serve and I am SO GRATEFUL that we have opportunities. 
• Good health
• A visit planned with my side
• and one with his side, both soon, and both our family.
• Some awesome trips planned in the next while : Ireland, beach camping, sequoias, Alaska, Grand Canyon....and who knows where else.
• A new episode of NCIS tonight (I know it shallow but I am always excited about that)
• the joy of having a loving and kind husband.
• 6 children, 2 SIL's and 3 grandbabies that I adore.
• Z
• the smell of clean laundry, I really love that. 
• my sisters 
• the ability to pray daily.
• .....