Christmas fun

These are some pics from our fun tonight. Merry Christmas everyone!
Sam, Mary, and Tommy are so close, they are always hugging like this. (By the way, Mary has a fat lip because she was playing with the boys today and jumped off the couch, only to hit her lip on the edge of a plastic table) Poor baby!
We frosted some sugar cookies, the kids had a blast.

I hope you are all having some fun of your own! Love you now!!!!!

A much needed break from the world...

I went to the temple with some of my friends this morning. It was so nice to get away from everything that has been stressing me out in life lately. I took a while to sit and be still after the session was over. I learned a lot from the endowment ceremony this time around. It's amazing that you can go to the temple hundreds of times and still be able to learn something new each time. My most common reflection on today's trip was: The Lord is so kind and merciful to His children. The whole plan of our Heavenly Father is for the purpose of bringing His children back to live with Him. He is so patient with those who stumble along (like ME!), and I am so glad to know that I can have my whole life to try the best I can, and learn so many (sometimes painful) lessons along the way. I know God lives, and that He loves us.

Hey guys...

Here's a sample of Mary's handwriting. Not bad for a kindergartener!

This weeks been so busy with the kids being home Monday and Tuesday because of bad weather. The temperature outside was about 18 degrees on Monday, and 23 on Tuesday, with some snow fall. We had a lot of fun as a family with the kids home. I thought it would be kinda hard, but it was just so nice to have the kids home and spend some quality time with them. Plus, they got their rooms clean!
On Tuesday night we had a pretty bad scare with little Tommy. I was cooking dinner and Jared was watching a movie in our room while the kids played video games downstairs. I called everyone up for dinner and Tommy didn't come. Mary went to get him, and came back with tears in her eyes and said she couldn't find him anywhere. I searched high and low. Jared and I both were looking under beds, closets, the van and we couldn't see him anywhere. I burst out bawling and got pretty frantic (it was very ugly!) and Jared was out in the front yard looking (it was only about 15 degrees outside) I was on the phone with 911 freaking out when Jr. called from downstairs and said he found him hiding behind the couch. So it took me a few minutes to calm down. I was just sure he had wandered outside because he had wanted to go outside really bad earlier in the day. That was quite a horrible emotionally taxing experience, and I'm glad he is safe and that it is OVER! I don't know why he hid like that.
The kids were back to school yesterday, and I was glad to get some work done in the house. When I went to pick them up, there was a skinny stray cat at the school trying to get to all the school kids. It was so sad. It was very friendly, and it was so SKINNY! I brought it home because I just couldn't bear for it to be out in the cold like that. Jared suggested we keep it because it was so friendly to the kids, but as soon as it got up on top of my diningroom table where we EAT I was sure I couldn't deal with that right now. I am going to take it to the humane society today. I have one cat, and he knows not to come upstairs, he's a downstairs cat, and he is a hunter outside for the bulk of the time and comes in whenever he chooses. He doesn't spend any time with the kids, but he would never hurt them either, he's just nervous. That's all the pets I can deal with right now.
Anyway, today I am getting the house ready for the babysitter who is coming tonight. Jared and I are going to see the Glenn Beck show tonight at our local theatre. It's called "The Christmas Sweater" and I've heard so many good things about it. It's our Christmas present to eachother this year.
So, that's about all that is happening in my life. Gotta roll!

Here's a picture of my hunky husband!!! haha

Try this out at http://www.photofunia.com/view/l7WPwyq19TeuDvVH-ft_bw/

A great quote for Christmas

"This Christmas, mend a quarrel.
Seek out a forgotten friend.
Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.
Write a letter.
Give a soft answer.
Encourage youth.
Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.
Keep a promise.
Forgo a grudge.
Forgive an enemy.
Apologize.
Try to understand.
Examine your demands on others.
Think first of someone else.
Be kind.
Be gentle.
Laugh a little more.
Express your gratitude.
Welcome a stranger.
Gladden the heart of a child.
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
Speak your love and then speak it again."
--Howard W. Hunter, "The Gifts of Christmas," Ensign, Dec 2002, 16

This Weeks happenings!

Here is the musical instrument that Jr. made for his class. You can strum the rubber bands or you can blow through the straws to make a sound which is amplified in the plastic cups. His teacher said it was LOUD!

This is Mary's gingerbread house

Jr.'s openhouse

Jr.'s Christmas performance

Mary's Christmas performance

Isaac, leaving the auditorium
Mary's performance, what a cutie.

Isaac's Christmas performance, in the middle with the orange shirt.
Merry Christmas Rusty!

You Betcha!!!

All my Christmas shopping is done!!! Now I just have to sew some quilts and pajamas and wrap everything and I'll be done. Oh, and the lot falls upon my Dear Husband to assemble the stuff that doesn't come pre-assembled, (good luck with that!)
If you are not done shopping, DO IT! It really takes a load off your mind. Now I can relax and I don't have to beat the rush of people at the stores. Boy, there were tons of people shopping everywhere today. I guess the bad economic times we are living in don't hit everybody. This year we got each child one really nice present, and the rest is just cheap stuff like art supplies and stuff like that. It works! Love you now!

We are back to good health!

It's been a long couple of weeks, but we are all back to feeling great! I am also getting caught up in the house, the kids are back to school, and it's back to business as usual.

I found out today that the dermatologist wants to take off Rusty's tumor in January sometime. I have mixed feelings about this. I hate to even think of my poor little baby going under anesthesia and everything, that really depressed me today. But I don't want to wait until he is older, because then he will

a. need us to explain what will happen and that he will be ok etc.

b. remember it all his life.

I think it's better to do it before he is old enough to be traumatized by it. Anyway, I am not looking forward to that. I will need all your prayers when it's time.

That's all that is happening for now. Love to all!

More and more sickness...

Jr. and Isaac got the barfing sickness--last night Isaac had a relapse. I am not letting it get me down. We are just busy getting everyone well. It broke my heart when I couldnt go to Mary's handwriting celebration today, but Granny Goode came to the rescue and she and Mary had a great time together. Thanks Mom!

We're just hanging out at home today...

Mary has been up all night with the flu, it's a bad bug that's been going through our whole family. We are going to be staying home today and cleaning the carpet, doing the laundry-- I need to wash the sheets on her bed and mine if you know what I mean. Poor little thing. She was sick all night long. That is just part of life on this planet. I wish there was no such thing as viruses or bad bacteria or fungus, or mosquitos, or worms, or bad hair days, or bad haircuts. Just to name a few. haha Don't mind me, I am just feeling nutty from being up all night. This too shall pass. I think after I get my chores done I'm gonna curl up in bed with a new book I got from the library.
Man, I need a nap. Where are you guys when I need you? There isn't anybody within 450 miles of me that would actually have the loving kindness to come over and let me take a nap (I know what you're thinking Weezie, and it's 459 miles, I googled it). And while they're at it, they could do the dishes, change diapers and remodel the rest of my house. LOL Ok, I need to stop this blog post before anymore crazyness comes out of me. I promise, I'm just being goofy. I am really happy and fine today, just a little tired and nutty. Over and out. LYNB!!