A Little Christmas Lesson

After hearing about Herod, Zach was really concerned for Jesus safety! We had to reassure him that everything turned out ok! hehe!
Lily just loved having her OWN box of crayons!



There is a memory from teaching 4th graders that I think about often, especially around this time of year. I was standing at the door waiting for students to line up for recess and I overheard two kids talking. Allyn was explaining that she was excited to be a shepherd this year in her church's Christmas pagent. Eddie had NO IDEA what she meant. She asked a few more questions like,

"...you know, a play about the story of Jesus."

(blank stare from Eddie)

"...you DO know who Jesus is right?"

(yes he did...he was "like God or something")

"kind of...you know the story about Mary and Joseph and Bethlehem?"

(nope)

Well, Allyn couldn't believe it! So she told Eddie to come and sit with her at recess and she would tell him, "THE WHOLE THING". I watched them closely that day. They sat in the corner where two brick walls of the school came together and Allyn diligently told Eddie everything she knew about the story of Christ's birth. It warmed my heart, but was also such a good reminder that truly, not everyone (especially children) know much more about Christmas than Santa, decorations and presents!

Grateful Hearts

We were so lucky to have a Thanksgiving visitor! Kevin flew out for the week! Just having him here was so nice. He was another wrestling buddy for Zach, and great entertainment for Lily! We didn't do anything too special, just lots of food, good conversation and catching up! He had only two requests: spinach salad and sweet potato casserole! I was happy to oblige! I love my family, and having them around is just not something I take for granted anymore! I know how Zach felt as he cried for 5 minutes after dropping Kevin off at the airport, family bonds are strong, and it's hard to watch them leave when you've had so much fun!

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We shared Thanksgiving dinner with the Hansen and Dixon families. What a GREAT meal! I was so impressed with all the food. The turkey wasn't so intimidating after all! I know that I will use some of the new recipes from Amy and Alissa at future Thanksgiving Dinners. This is what I love about food. Food carries memories. I make dishes that I learned from family, or old friends, and I think about them, about things they've taught me, and about life in general. We all carry little pieces of each other.

Tis the Season

I had so much fun making this Advent Calendar with Amy. This came from Martha and was improved upon (much, I think) by aliedwards.typepad (all instructions can be found on her blog). We spent almost all last week gathering supplies and creating, during nap times. In fact about halfway through the week I asked myself why I didn't do this kind of thing before...so I thought back to last November. Oh yeah, I had a two month old, 11 piano girls who were getting ready for the Christmas recital, and a sizable (read: ofttimes overwhelming) church calling! :) This got me thinking about the "seasons" of our lives. I feel grateful for the place I am at, as well as the places I have been. I plan to fill the calendar with goodies as well as "holiday experiences". How much fun will it be on December 9th to open a box and make a snowflake with my kiddos?

ADVENT CALENDAR part 2

ADVENT CALENDAR part 3

The Seven Year Plan

Kevin (blue tie) and roommates


My brother served a mission in Milan, Italy. When he got back this August, we all started in, asking him about girls, and baseball, college degree ideas and when he thought he would get married! (HA! no pressure) He told us about his "seven year plan" which to sum it all up, meant he WASN'T getting married for AT LEAST 7 years. Ok...fine. But then today I got these pics from a "date" he and his roomies had the other night. Basically they decked out their apartment (even an Italian flag made of balloons on the ceiling) and made an AMAZING dinner. They all dressed up and the girls did the same. He told me that he cooked a 5 course meal (dessert: homemade tiramisu). This from a guy whose favorite restaurant BEFORE the mission was The Golden Corral (no kidding). Seriously, I am DYING (who stole my brother, and who is this new guy that is into nice food, nice clothing and DATING?) And honestly, on the table I am seeing tomatoes topped with tasty hunks of mozzarella, prosciutto, Perrier water, nice oils and artfully stacked bread. WHAT? I LOVE IT! But I have to tell you Kevin, (roommates included)... you keep this up and you will NOT last 7 years at BYU....money on that!

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2 emails and 2 phone calls (from family) reminding me I haven't posted pics of the babes in "a while!" Here they are, discovering pine cones! I miss my family, I am glad they miss me too! (or at least my kiddos)

a weekend project...

before... and after

I have ALWAYS adored these chairs. We received them from some very generous family friends when we were newlyweds (what fortune!). I call them my library chairs because that is what they remind me of. Each one is slightly different. They are old, squeaky, SOLID, and wonderful! They also have never really 'matched', but other house projects were always in line ahead of these guys. Not so anymore! Lots of sanding involved, but it was well worth the effort! Although I miss working on our house, it has been fun to look around this apartment and see what we can fix up! The list grows daily!

"Flowers" from my LOVE

Zach found the dandelions along the sidewalk and gave them to me, "Look mom, these flowers are for you! Put them in your hair!" I did, and off he ran to find some more. But all he came back with was this orange construction flag. He INSISTED I take it. All tokens of his affection! I put his "flowers" by our kitchen sink and when I see them I just chuckle to think of the primary song about gathering blossoms for mother, and how we might have to change the words...just a bit.

Sea Monsters

We went to the OMSI for a sweet IMAX movie this weekend called Sea Monsters. The logic went something like this: "Zach loves dinosaurs (LOVES THEM) so he will probably REALLY like dinosaurs that lived in the water... huge ones...on the biggest movie screen he's ever seen! LETS GO!" Well, he was totally stoked until the lights dimmed and the first shots appeared on the screen (not even dinosaurs yet, just the opening yada yada about turning off cell phones)...and he SCREAMED!! ...and he told us he wanted to go home. Dave and I just looked at each other with this helpless, unspoken realization: "WHAT WERE WE THINKING!" (and, "crap, we paid 20 bucks!") Sure enough the rest of the movie was full of prehistoric-ginormous-ugly creatures with big teeth, but we pulled out the secret weapon: skittles. He was fine for the rest of the movie! I think he even enjoyed it! I would totally recommend IMAX for a fun family outing...but next time we are going to see Antarctica...the one about penguins and fuzzy polar bears!

Autumn

The weather has been gorgeous this week! Sunny and 60's. Lots of walks, picnics and parks. I am just the tag-a-long because Zach no longer wants to ride, but insists on pulling his sister everywhere. Also, only they share the thrill of dropping leaves into a stream, I seem to have lost that drive. Having a sibling is a wonderful thing!

On a side note, in a room full of my colleagues I was once asked by this sweet college student (innocent enough) what in the world I was going to do all day staying home and not teaching. Taken back by her question, I can remember quickly scanning my 23 year old brain for important sounding things I would accomplish once I was "home". Shame crept up my neck and face as I said something about how much time running errands and actually caring for the baby would take...but now, 2 kids later I am more certain, more centered and grateful for this opportunity. I guess I would just tell her, "Well... today, we spent 1 whole hour standing on a little bridge!"