Photo Contest

WOW, how cool is this photo by Aunt Beth? She is entered in a pets on furniture photo contest that ends tonight. Go to THIS site to vote for Kenzie.

The Frenchman

Story time with The Frenchman, also known as Grandpa Jim. MissC has a few books from the French book order that I can't read to her, so we wait for Grandpa. Apparently the little ones enjoy hearing Grandpa read in French just as well as MissC does. This picture is priceless to me.

Saturday Chores Reinstated

Part of my new routines is Saturday morning chores. We used to do chores where everyone had a list and ready set go, we split up and got the house cleaned. But with little ones it was kind of tough to really get all that done without running around helping everyone/doing it. This time we focus on one "zone" a week. We work together. TY puts some crazy tunes on and it's actually kind of fun. Seeing my whole family happily helping each other and working together to get a space shining makes me so happy. I couldn't help but run for the camera even though I endured some remarks about not helping, just taking pictures. I know like everything else it won't last forever, but for now it is so great!

Preparations

Maybe the destruction in Haiti can provide us a reminder to what we need to be doing to get prepared for an emergency here. I pulled out our 72 hour kits Thursday and Friday to get them updated and expired food replaced. It's not helping any one in Haiti, but it's doing something. So my dad emailed me about this heart wrenching situation and suggested we put all the orphans on a plane and take them to the US. Just leave all the paperwork under the rubble. They would all be adopted out. Why can't we do this? I know it wouldn't ever happen, but why not? What would Haiti's corrupt and now disabled government do about it?

A First

Can you believe it? I attended my very first Yoga class today. I know it's hard to believe I have never done this before, but to be truthful I think I've only been to a couple classes of any kind of work out in my life. It's a little intimidating for me. Put me in a school type class and I am happy as a clam, but finding out what my body can do in front of a lot of other people already in shape is the scariest thing ever. Yoga was super fabulous. The instructor was easy going and not at all intimidating. While I am the least stretchy person ever, it felt great and since I am the least stretchy person I think it's exactly what I need. Plus, the feeling it left me with... relaxed, whole, and wanting to be kind to myself. It was worth getting up at 5:00 am. I think I'll do it again. Of course it wasn't on the beach and I didn't look like that, but what do you expect?

He's Got Style

LittleC is a stylin' little guy. He likes to dress up. Loves hats, jackets, purses, whatever.

Young Women Birthday Gifts 2010

Cute. Cheap. Really Cheap. The Young Women's theme for 2010 is "Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9. I really really like this scripture. It gives strength and peace. The bracelets say BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE. I think they're cute.

Go Cowboys!

When I married my husband I also married Cowboys football. Like it or not. It is a family tradition. When the Cowboys win, it is a happy house. It is a happy house. Go Cowboys!

2010

This is me, only 2010 of course. I am all over the place. While I don't make "resolutions" which are all too easily broken, I do take a couple of weeks at the beginning of each year to reevaluate my priorities and goals, how each of my kids are doing and what they need me to help them work on, what I need to focus on in all aspects of my life. I know. It's a lot. I really enjoy it though, I'll admit. Even my kids seem to be thriving with new routines and jobs. I love the new year. The newness of things right now can get me through the harsh winter ugly for at least a couple more weeks... probably. But I am committed to working towards these goals through the year. Just in case you are wondering, I have not yet committed to a healthier lifestyle. Still thinking about that one.

A Puppy for Christmas

Just kidding! They wish. These are my brother's hunting puppies.

Matching Christmas Jammies

What's better than Grandma's house on Christmas Eve? How cute are these jammies? Our kids and my brother's kids were born in sets almost. His are one year older than mine to the month. Except for LittleC, but my younger brother has a boy one year older than him. I think that is the luckiest thing. It makes family parties really fun (well, especially when these cousins are out from Chicago).

Merry Christmas '09

A few photos of the kids from last Sunday in our Christmas dresses and suits. It amazes me at how grown up my own kids are. I am very blessed. Merry Christmas to you, much love.

Hung By The Chimney With Care

I have never had our stockings hung on the mantle. In our last home, there was no mantle. This house had a fireplace, we installed a small mantle, but there doesn't seem to be enough room for six stockings, plus their holders. We've always hung them from our screen, which was cute. This year with new stockings (so we all match) I had a new idea. We hung a tree branch, added a berry garland, and tied each stocking up with ribbon. I like it.

Sugar and Spice

Traditions

I was a little hesitant to do gingerbread houses with my kids, because of the certain frustration that comes with creative projects and pre schoolers. However, I realize that I can't put off traditions I would like to have a part of our family any longer or Gman will miss out on said traditions. I was pleasantly surprised at how fun and easy this was. I put the houses together with hot glue before hand, so that they had a nice sturdy house to decorate. That made it better. After what was for some reason a stressful week, I just wanted to have Christmas fun with my kids and make memories.

My Folks

So my parents are taking my three older children to a play tomorrow. Miracle on 34th street. We are going to do some shopping while they are busy. How great is that? I have great parents.

The Boutique

So it's been a while. A long while. I haven't been to Spain on hiatus the last month, I've just been busy. My mom and sis-in-law and I have been working to get ready for a boutique @ Westminster. This is our first attempt at something like this. While not exactly lucrative, I am really proud of how well it all turned out. It was fun to see what we were able to do. And who knows what else might come of it?

Promised Fashion Remix Photos

Happy Fall

Family Flag

The kids worked hard on our family flag. (We read about the Title of Liberty for FHE) They drew pictures of the important things to our family. I got a kick out of their drawings and also the things they came up with to include. The little aliens are Grandma and Grandpa. Gman put scribbles- to- print (progress). There is a picture of him making a basket, a teammate says in a conversation bubble, "nice" and he says "thanks". TY added the LOTOJA symbol. I also like the gravel top roof on our house.

New Venture

My mom and I, and some of my sis-in-laws too are working on a creative project together. How fun is that? We always said we'd do this or that, so this small thing has kind of been a long time in the making, and a lot of fun to actually do. Hope it turns out to be a good thing. Well, actually it has been a good thing. No matter what. Who knows what other projects lie ahead of us.

Watch Out!

Belated Birthday

LittleC had his first birthday. I of course forgot my camera. My mom took the pictures. So these are pretty late, but it's his first birthday. Can't not put them in.