THANK YOU { in no particular order }

Brandy

MOM

MY LOVE

Christmas was GOOD to me this year

Christmas ponderings......better late than never

This year I found it harder than ever to keep the RUSE alive

you know the one I'm talking about.....right ?

Santa

St. Nick

Pere Noel

Kolyada

Father Christmas

when " the inquisitor" { Jaxson }

asked the question

my response was simple

Santa represents the great feeling of Christmas & giving

when that failed to do the job

We looked up Saint Nicholas on the Internet

and came up with

a list of the many wonderful things that great saint

did-- because he loved the Lord

I spoke to my children about the lessons that Jesus taught people while on this earth

the lessons that we should learn and know

the lessons that St. Nicholas took to heart

Next I bore my testimony to my little ones and I felt the spirit witness of it's truth.

the moment was fleeting

it is a lot of work to keep the spirit strong in a home full of very young children

i just hope that they have stored the lesson they learned that day

somewhere

As for the ruse......I am not sure that they understood completely what I was saying.

But when they are ready to understand..they will

and

they will know that I know what the true meaning of Christmas is

I love Christmas..I love the Lord...and I am grateful to live in a nation that still celebrates the birth of our Savior.

RESOLUTE

To understand our most apparent New Year's resolution

we must travel back....a month

The kids were snoring in the back seat of the family SUV somewhere between Utah & Seattle

the Mr. & I chatting about how blessed we were

next I mentioned something that had been rolling through my mind for the last....um

YEAR

"Maybe I will make you a deal" says I

"What kinda' deal? " his reply

"if you give up SODA...I'll wake up with you every morning & while you shower I'll make breakfast"

{ the Mr. is a very early riser, which fits his profession..just not his night owl wife}

" You mean........ALL soda ?" he questions

" Well maybe to start with just the soda during the week & each day of the weekend you could have ONE " I respond

"OKAY ! I EXCEPT " with vigor in his voice but concern written across his brow

"ALRIGHTY.....it is a deal"

And Since DECEMBER 1st the

MR.

hasn't had soda any day of the week

even when

his co-workers taunt & tease

open soda cans in front of him

his friends

do likewise

and every time he has a moment of weakness he calls me

and I say sure

if you really want to trade our mornings together for CAFFEINE

I guess it's your decision

and he always chooses OUR MORNINGS

and that is because

for the last Month

I have been a pleasant morning person

don't believe me.....well some of you have seen me in the mornings and I am sure that it is hard to imagine me HAPPY in the Morning

Each morning I simply awake

put a smile...a apron.. & some beautiful music on

and

Voila

A self made morning person

do I still loathe the A. M.....yeah kinda

but I wouldn't trade what I am getting for even a few more seconds of shut eye

I love my husband, I love that he gave up soda to spend more time with me, I love that I gave up sleeping in to spend more time with my LOVE

Since this resolution began before the ball dropped...I am not worried that it will fade as the light from the New Year's Eve fireworks( as many of my past resolutions have). This is my New Years resolution to be a better version of myself...so simply early rising will not fill that bill....more resolutions...maybe...More Life Changes...CERTAINLY

Happy New Year EVE

To celebrate 2009 this blog will get a new look & title

c-ya in 2009

the Wii debacle

our Wiimote claimed it's first victim
with one over zealous
throw from the resident 6 year old
my candle never saw it coming

what do we do when we are snowed in.....

so now i get it

why the snow is a big deal here

THERE IS NO SNOW REMOVAL

and when i say none I mean NONE

when i did venture out to the store for some last minute things

the parking lots were covered with about a foot of ICE yup the snow had been left so long it was like driving on icebergs

in our parking lot they didn't remove the snow from the top of the covered parking so

they collapsed....on the cars

YUP...guess it was a good thing we don't have a covered space ( never thought I would say that)

now we have finally witnessed Seattle's snow removal plan

It has begun to rain--and the rain--is REMOVING the snow

so now we have PUDDLES everywhere

but at least everyone here knows how to drive in the rain

PROBLEM SOLVED

here is what went on in our home during the snow days

daddy snuggled, cuddled, teased, & giggled with the kids

Emme cooked up so treats



the boyz escaped the house to build a friend

and make some Angels


And i BAKED

chicken pot pies...among other things

recipe will be posted HERE

then she decided she didn't want any hair in the front & was less than remorseful about using the present wrapping scissors to take care of her perceived problem.

so

TODAY WE GO OUT

pacific science center --Ahoy !

Christmas in our Home

On a day like today....

I wish to keep my home decorated for Christmas year round. The Christmas tree is lit, the children are giggling while playing with their treasures, the beautiful smell of pine wafts from the oil burner, the kitchen is full of homemade delectable(s), & Christmas music still plays. Yet maybe it isn't that I want to keep my home decorated...maybe I want to freeze this moment. My children are all still young & free from most outside influences. Could they really stay this way forever....please

Yet as I write this...I realize. We are celebrating Jesus Christs' birth and his plan for us. Which is a plan of happiness....a plan that includes facing adversity....a plan that through trials we can become as we were intended from the beginning.

Although I would love to freeze this moment, I realize the importance of the NEXT moment.

So....I will drink it in...I will appreciate this time I have...I am the only one who can let the outside invade my home & I will not let it !