Trouble

This "little mommy" runs around the house feeding and loving all her babies. She makes sure they go pee-pee in the potty, have enough goldfish crackers, are snug in their blankets and takes them for walks in her stroller.

Don't let her fool you!

Yesterday she climbed out of her crib after I put her down for a nap.

She walked out of her room, looked at me, started laughing and walked down the stairs and never looked back.

Oh great! What are we in for now!

Magnet Boards

Ever since I visited my sister-in-law Heidi's house several years ago, I've wanted large magnet board's for my girl's room like some of her kids have. After my big FHE board Enrichment project I became very versed in sheet metal and found I could make one fairly easily and inexpensively. I made the frames out of MDF with the help of a friend (and her husband)...thanks again Sharee and Arthur!

I gave them to the girl's for Christmas. They got flat glass beads and scrapbook paper to make magnets and were busily creating shortly after all their presents were opened.


I painted the edges and mod-podged fabric on the flat surface of the frame. I intended on using scrapbook paper, but couldn't find anything I loved. Then I framed it all with ribbon and added a bow. I really love how they turned out. I used contrasting colors of pink and ribbon to make them a little different.

The greatest part? Look at them in action...a place for all those things that are near and dear to the girls now have a place to go other than my counters or floors!

The True Christmas Spirit.

We invited a couple of families, who like us, do not have family in town, to help us celebrate Christmas Eve with our traditional “shepherd’s dinner.” I also decided this year to buy dollar store gifts for all the children to play the game where you choose a gift and unwrap it and then the next person can take that gift from you or choose another one. I’ve been picking up things here and there for the last couple of weeks, but needed to run to the dollar store tonight to get a few more items.

I found some great things and headed to check out. I chatted with the salesperson and the man next to me as I swiped my debit card to pay for my items. The credit card machine was taking a bit longer than usual, and I started to feel my stomach drop as I remembered that my debit card actually expired in September. For some reason, the bank sent Scott a new debit card and not me. I rarely use my debit card and only found out a couple of weeks ago that it was expired. (Scott emailed and called the bank asking them to send me a new card. I still haven’t received one yet.) And although it is expired, it has still been working randomly at different stores. I realized it was not going to work tonight at the dollar store as it declined my card.

The dollar store does not accept American Express, which was the only other card I had and I didn’t even have cash. I embarrassingly told my plight to the lady, explaining that I could run to get some cash and be back quickly. At that moment, the man next to me pulled out ten dollars and paid for my items. I was speechless for a moment, and then I quickly told him I would be okay, that I could get the money and come back to the store. He assured me that “$10 was no big deal.” I told him it was a big deal to me. At that moment the checkout lady realized that we didn’t know each other, and she too was speechless. I profusely thanked the man for his kindness and he shook my hand and wished me a merry Christmas. I told him I’d find a way to repay his kindness to another.

I left the dollar store with tears in my eyes for the kindness and example of a stranger. I wasn’t destitute, and I certainly didn’t need any of those items. I could have put all the items back or ran to the bank to get money. But those things didn’t matter to him; he was willing to help me in the moment with no thought of return. He showed the true spirit of Christmas.

I admit that I was, and am still a bit embarrassed, but mostly my heart was touched. I hope I would have done the same thing. I will now. I put some cash in my wallet when I got home (some for emergencies) and other to keep until I find someone I can help in the moment as well.

My mom told me that last night at a family Christmas celebration she asked the children what gift they could give Jesus this year. My niece Livy responded, “always remember Him.” We remember the Savior when we do as He would. I am grateful to have been a part of such pure humanity. Despite all the negative news stories we are bombarded with, this world is a good place, full of good people who want to do what is right.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Santa came to our ward party this year. Jared was thrilled beyond belief. He knew Santa was expected to visit so was asking every five minutes when Santa was coming.

After Jared sat on Santa's lap he came running over to me laughing. He said, "Mom, Santa was teasing me. I told him I wanted a remote control race car and he gave me a bag with an orange in it!" Jared thought that was hilarious.

I promise Santa had a face...these pictures were taken by someone from the ward who realized after awhile that she should be taking the pictures on the other side so you could see Santa too. I'm just grateful she had her camera to catch these cute kids.

Tent Rocks

When my parents were here for Thanksgiving we also went to Tent Rocks which was about an hour away. We loved it! We hiked through slot canyons all the way to the top. The kids were amazing troopers.

The kids all said this tree was one of their favorite things. Look at those massive exposed roots!

Santa Fe

For Thanksgiving this year my parents and Caleb and Abby came to visit. It is always so much fun to have them here. I especially love to play Taboo with my dad...it is hilarious. We visited Santa Fe. There are lots of art galleries that I would never attempt bringing my four kids in as I'm sure I'd be paying for an extremely expensive piece of broken or damaged art in the end. But we did find some fun art outside that the kids loved.

Ellie was mesmerized by these bronze statues of little kids. She wanted them to play with her.

This is the San Miguel Chapel, the oldest church in the United States. The kids are holding smashed souvenir pennies with pictures of the church on them. They thought grandpa was so cool to get those for them.

The best part of the old church for the kids was banging the big bell.

Halloween in December

I never posted these cute Halloween pictures.

Upon much insistence from the kids, we decorated our pumpkins with candy again this year.

It may look like Ellie is delighted in this picture....she is not. She screamed every time she saw our pumpkins because she wanted the candy. Little by little, pieces of the faces mysteriously disappeared. Strangely, Ellie was always close to the crime scene.

Don't mess with this Mr. Incredible!