HAPPY NEW YEAR PARTY

we had such a fun new year's eve party! kurt made smoked salmon and rice, janie brought over some jello, and her kids! we all went outside to slide down the hill, and it ended up in a big (crusty) snowball fight! it was lots of fun having zerrick and audrey over. in fact, jexten is so taken with zerrick that he calls zerrick his brother! we were having so much fun sledding and were surprised when it got dark so fast! then we all raced down to the basement to watch the transformers movie, which quickly turned into watching the kids run around with blakets tied around their necks being super heros! adessa's super hero alter ego is: SUPER RAINBOW RIBBON zerrick's super hero alter ego is: SUPER ZERRICK and jexten's super hero alter ego is: CAPTAIN HUGGY FACE! it was a real sight to behold. they raced around the basement living room and up onto the stairs for at least an hour fighting immaginary evil. all the while audrey ran laughing to herself and hid in the dora tent, poking her crimpy haired head out every once in a while to yell AHHCHOO!

IT NEVER GETS OLD

Ahhh Playdough! So, here's the story with Playdough. I love Playdough! I have many fond memories of watching my mom make the home made stuff, which I of course have added to my own bucket of mandatory recipes. I would sit on my knees on the bar stool and wiggle excitedly as I watched mom add all the ingrediants and stir it in the big silver pot. Then, we got to pick out which color it would be this time. I will never forget how warm and squishy it was as I mooshed and squooshed it between my hands. The thought of making whatever I wanted out of dough! My very own creation! I would think and think and smash it and roll it, cut it, and push it back together and just let the warmness of it squish between my fingers. OH THE JOY OF PLAYDOUGH! Now that I have my own kids, I make a point of making sure that they never run out of Playdough. I let them use my cookie cutters, my rolling pin, my butter knives, even my canning rings in their efforts to create ANYTHING THEY WANT! And that makes Kurt very mad. (snicker, giggle) No I don't make him mad on purpose, it just happens to be a hot button issue of his to have squishy stuff around that tends to dry and stick and flake sometimes. Actually, anything that could potentially cause a mess becomes a hot button issue in our house (especially on extra honery days *snicker, giggle*) I agree, though. things should be kept orderly and under control -----most of the time. There is nothing wrong with having a plan and sticking to it, activities generally are better executed when there is order and structure. Children need order and structure, in fact they crave it, and will act out if there is a lack of it. Those of you who are child psychology majors don't need this lecture. Soooooo,,,, to make a long story short. Playdough can be played with as long as I have enough time to get it all cleaned up and put away BEFORE kurt comes home from work. Out of sight out of mind. For Chirstmas this year, one of Jexten's most beloved gifts was a gigantic wonderous Playdough set(wich of course caught Adessa's eye as well)! It was quckly hidden until further notice. And today was further notice :) KIDS LOVE PLAYDOUGH(*i think it should be madatory that all parents let their kids play with playdough at least once a month, it should be a rule*) PLAYDOUGH FOREVER!

Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed Christmas Morning

jexten and adessa got matching walkie talkies in their stockings!

oops! this isn't the video on Christmas morning!

The True Meaning of Christmas

This year is a mile stone year for our family. It is the first year that our kids aren't "babies" and can really start to grasp what Christmas is all about. It may be difficult to teach young children about the joys of giving instead of receiving, especially in a time where receiving everything on the "list" stands supreme.
As a parent, everyday i wonder if I have helped my children along their path to Eternity, have I done enough? Have I nurtured their divine nature,or have I just merely been the adult standing in the way of mischief, and certain injury? Did I recognize those precious teaching moments, or get annoyed and angry at the mistake? Do I take the time to show my family that I love them, and teach them how to love each other, or am I so concerned about my daily chores and the way others measure my accomplishments that I miss the point? Am I doing all I have agreed to do, or am I merely existing, putting in my time here?
I wonder, if I had been in that city of Bethlehem on that most sacred of nights, would I have stopped rushing and scurrying around long enough to recognize the bright new star marking the birth of our King? Would I have been worthy to have been invited to the lowly stable, to look upon the face of that precious baby Jesus?
Every time I stop hurrying and scurrying around long enough to build a tower, or take a sip of imaginary party drinks from little plastic cups all decorated with pink flowers, I feel as if I have seen the star over Bethlehem. Every time I take the time, to walk a little slower so that warm little hands can hold onto mine, or bend down close enough to look into sparkling "chocolate" eyes I feel as if I am a little closer to Heaven from where they came, not so long ago.
I gather reassurance that maybe I'm not doing so bad as a mother in sweet small moments. This year, the Brigham City Family Fun Center hosted a children's clothing and toy exchange. Adessa got so excited about this event, her warm heart and giving nature truly had a chance to shine through. At first, I thought that what she was so excited about was the fact that all the toys at this event would be free for the taking and she could pick whatever she wanted. I found that this was to become a lesson for me, as much as it was for her. As we carefully sorted her closet, I was overcome with emotion as she chose to give away some of her very favorite dresses. The warm, red and blue, yellow flowered, flannel jumper that she had wanted to wear that coming Sunday was among the other clothes and jackets that she had outgrown. With that dress she had carefully paired a pair of matching red "leggins" and coordinating "Mary Jane" dress shoes. I tearfully watched as she then went to her toy box, lovingly picked out the very doll she had been playing with earlier that morning, dressed her in a pretty pink and yellow flowered dress, and then attached a binkie to the doll's dress. I have to admit that I was filled with pride at the sight of her being so selfless, and I had to ask myself,"did I teach her that, or is she teaching me?" The toys and clothes to give away were bagged up and loaded in the trunk of the car. Only the doll and the dress rode in Adessa's little lap. All the way to the event Adessa smiled and giggled every now and then. "What is so exciting?" I asked. "Oh, I just can't wait to give my gift to Jesus, because you know, that when you give to others, you have given to Him." My mouth nearly dropped off my face and there was nothing more to be said.
Christmas doesn't come from a store. Christmas means a whole lot more. I hope everyone has a Christmas full of love and happiness. A Christmas filled with joy and laughter. A Christmas of more giving, more caring, and more sharing. Let us take the time to stop, and notice the light of the Star this year. Let us try to live a little nearer to the way our Savior taught. Get a little closer to the manger where he lay, and who knows, maybe we will even hear the songs of Hosanna sung by the Angels. Merry Christmas everybody!

FAMILY NIGHT SLEDDING HILL

Warm Hands, Warmer Hearts

The Little's feet push into little boots. The Little's hands fit into little mittens. "oh," say the Littles,"that makes my hands feel very warm!"

Little arms slide into little coats, little soft heads cupped in fuzzy, furry, little hats.

"Out we go!" declare the Little's voices chiming together like angel's little silver bells. As we step timidly out into the new White, it puffs and fluffs around the Little's boots.

Looking up into the mild white-gray, flakes like miniature feathers quietly float, dance, twirl, slide. Down each one comes with the grace of a delicate ballerina, a tiny soft white fairy.

Little eyes closely inspecting each one with the quietness of a whisper. Soft, chill, rest, thrill! "Mama, it landed on my nose!" declared the littlest Little, as if he had discovered a rare treasure! "Yes it did, you are lucky indeed!" replies Big.

Bigger Little turns to littlest Little, softly presses her nose to his, and a giggle rises out of the quiet like a golden ray of sun, dances on the chilly air, and warm fills the hearts of the Littles and the Big.

Warm Hands, Warmer Hearts are standing in the fresh new White.