Oh,. . . why hello sunny weather!

I hope I am not casting a curse upon this beautiful weather, after all this is Utah and we might get a dump of snow next week. . but we were more than happy to get out in an inaugural water day for the kiddos and moms.

" I won't do it again. . . "

DAY 1: Scissors



DAY 2: Expo Marker  (or as she and her friend call them. . "pretend makeup")

Perhaps I need to increase my supervision of this sweet child.

Lessons learned from sick kids

The other day my friend Cami spouted some words of wisdom.  She didn't want her kids to think back about how their mom always stuck to healthy guidelines, instead she wanted to be remembered for being cool because every once in a while, they got a Zinger before lunch.
When Grant got a bit of the sickies, it made me think about this and reflect on my life and children. So here is what I have learned from my sick kids:



*I'm glad that I DO monitor their TV viewing on regular days, so when you are stuck on the couch, you can blow that whole ratio out of the water


*Although it's tough to see a very active toddler come to a halt, I selfishly enjoy the snuggling when he melts into me, even while making dinner.


*I am so grateful that I don't have to call in to work and negotiate some accommodations when my kids need me.  Thank you, Royal.

*I learned that my whole detailed To-Do list is completely forgotten, and the Things that Matter Most come through.


*I learned that my 4 year old can stop the fighting and kicking and show compassion for her little brother.



Sometimes I think I learn the most in the times I least expect it.

I don't have a face. . . . . . . (book account)

A confession. . . .

I don't tweet

I don't pinterest

And I don't know how to social network. (on the computer).

For those of you who have pretty much ever had a conversation with me, the topic of Facebook has come up and my personal feelings about the huge entity that it has become.  For those of you who have not, please indulge me.

My opinions have not generated from the documentary we watched about Facebook's ploy to gain marketing and personal information from its members, nor so much from this study that discusses the emotional effects that logging on causes, though they do justify my decision.

My conclusion has come merely from my own introspective nature of myself.  I have certain technological guidelines that I have created for my way of living.  Technology is a WONDERFUL thing- it is pretty much a necessity in my life, but I don't think that just because things are available/accessible, you have to use them.

For example, I also love texting.  It is a fabulous way to communicate select types of information.  But if your text is more than 2 screens long, you should have called.  Heck, send an email, but really, do I have to sort through 4 screens to understand the "message" you are trying to convey?

And don't even get me started on the lack of appropriate content in a text.  If you are breaking up with someone, call them or at least go to their face.  If you have a "sensitive" issue, don't try to cram it into a limited screen that also allows you to use emoticons.  Which leads me to Facebook.

Facebook has devalued the word "Friend".  To me, I know my friends' birthdays because I have celebrated with them, not because it tells me on their page.  A friend is someone who I would, as Jimmy Kimmel stated, feel comfortable loaning $20 to.  I feel, that if you did not have the ability to "find" me before Facebook was invented, we probably weren't that good of friends in the first place.  Plus, let's be honest, there are times in my life that I don't want to "relive" with old acquaintances.

Now don't get me wrong, Facebook has good traits too: I love the public forum, the ability for those to communicate across the oceans, and provide single people a way to make their life more interesting.  The main reason why I don't start an account is because I know that I would spend unlimited amounts of useless time on it.  I feel that I would probably find myself sitting down and reading the ramblings of the day to day life of those around me, and neglect my home, children and self.  That may sound like a lack of self control, but I know that once the cyberworld sucks you in, I delay things, and  I just can't be accountable for that.

So for now, (since I have sucked 5 minutes out of your day), my blogging will count as my social networking, and for those of you who want to get ahold of me, you know how to find me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

So I didn't get our annual Christmas blog posted for last year, but it was not because I didn't have time.  We finished Christmas shopping and wrapping a couple days early, but I just took a moment to enjoy my family and the days that followed.
It seemed to me, that out of the handful of Christmas cards we received from family and friends (thanks, guys) it was so inspiring to read that several families included in their list of achievements: the chance to relax in their PJ's more.  It's great to attend cool places, and do fun things, but I think the most meaningful accomplishment, is to make the moments matter.

So without further adieu, I did want to share what is has been like in our home the past year:

Royal
Still working with the kids at his youth school, started back with online school (and is rockin' it!), released as EQP and received his beloved calling in the "Man-Nursery", still my hunky hubby


Da'nelle
Loving staying at home with the kiddos, put in as Young Women president, lost all existing free time, did a 5K Foam Run (exhilarating!),  learning to live with a messy house (sorry, couldn't find a pic of me without kids)


Lucy
Loves to learn, loves books, loves her friends, and is taking on the older sister role.  Also learning who she is as a  little person, just started Primary and loves PB&J and making forts with her dad

Grant
Can you say boy? Throws everything, jumps off. . everything, kicks. . everything.  but he is still mommy's little boyfriend, so adorable and cute.  Mimics everything his sister says and does.







And come July, you will get to see this little person:

Hope all is well for your family-- let me know how it is going for you!

Love you and miss you!

O Christmas Tree, Our Christmas Tree

There is a song by Michael McLean about how this woman cries when she takes her Christmas tree down, for the memories and the season have come and gone.  The song is a bit too sappy for me to remember any more than the first line of the chorus, but perhaps it is because I can relate to it.  For I am very attached to our Christmas Tree.

Even if it is a sad little Charlie Brown Tree, Christmas does not seem to have the full effect without a tree. I can remember as a child hanging little wooden ornaments on our fake tree which seems huge at the time, and also sitting in the dark living room, illuminated only by the soft glow of the lights.  We had a little plug-in device that when pushed would pulse the lights to Christmas songs. Those simple memories are some of my most prized childhood experiences, just to name a few. 


Our tree has a bit o' history to it, however.I acquired this tree many years ago whilst single from my awesome aunt Patti.  It is a fiber-optic tree so when you plug it in, has a beautiful sparkly effect, encapsulating the shimmer and magic of the season. 

The ornaments are mostly original, but we have added our sentimental pieces through the years. 
The best items on our tree are the picture ornaments we take each year.  Royal started this tradition our first married Christmas and each year we take a picture of our family, and hang it on the tree.  It is one of my favorite traditions we have.

So, now that we have two kids, I am just thankful that our tree is still intact. I now get to sit in the embers of our tree with my children and make more memories of this special moment.  Sure, the top tilts forward in a 10 degree incline and the once symmetrically placed balls are placed in a disheveled matter within the unlaced ribbon strands, but to me, it's still OUR tree, and it truly makes our Christmas bright. 

The Leaves are falling Down

Just in time for Thanksgiving, wanted to share something awesome about the season-















crunchy leaves on the ground!

















Happy Holidays!