A Good Day

So many great things happened today. I just had to take a second to list them.
#1 It started out hard, but I decided that I should just get up and make it a great day. That was the first great thing that happened. I am so grateful for my parents who taught me that "effort proceeds energy".
#2 I got a lot of cleaning done. I even got a lot of organizing done. There were some shelves and thing I wanted to move around the house and it some how got all done. I didn't even have to stop midway like I usually do for some reason or another.
#3 The kids played so well together today. They kept themselves busy helping me and using their imaginations.
#4 We got a new hockey bag so that Seth doesn't have to break his back carrying all of the boy's gear.
#5 Sam had a great day at hockey. The couch who is so patient and works well with him was there today. He had Sam working the WHOLE time. He was so great with him. He had him focusing on the fun of it and forgetting about skating. When we got him off the ice he was sweaty and happy. There had been no tears, no falling, and no laying around on the ice complaining.
#6 We got to be all together for a fun dinner at McDonald's with Grandpa M. We usually leave Chloe home with a sitter but decided to take her today and I'm glad we did. What a fun family night out.

Stylin'

This little girl of mine is in to everything and anything that is girly and that you can wear. From bows to clothes to tights to shoes to boots to coats to jewelry to others shoes....
Chloe found a pair of cute sunglasses at the store and of course would not take them off! She just thought she was SOOOOO cute. She is so funny.

That night, after having her in them all day I just had to stick her hair back into her first pony tail. It was so cute.

All Aboard!

We started by pushing items around the house.
Then Chloe's play stroller,
then the play shopping cart,
then somehow the actual stroller ended up in the house from the garage.
Oh well. The boys had fun taking turns pushing Chloe around in the stroller.
This is how you keep yourself entertained inside on cold winter mornings!:)

Model Train Show

We found out that they have a model train show at Thanksgiving Point every year so we thought we check it out. Sam and Grandpa lead the way! :)
We had a great time looking at all the different types and sizes and styles. Sam was like a kid in a candy store. He couldn't focus on just one thing. He would start running to a display he wanted to see then get distracted and turn towards another only to be distracted from that one to another.
After an hour of running around to all the displays and checking out all the trains that were for sale we called it a night.
Sam was so tired, yet determined to make us stay longer.... :)

Our Creative One

James has an amazing imagination. He reminds me of myself. When I was young I was always "being" and character, finding new ways to play with things, and I was a total pack rat. And yes. So is James. As much as he unintentionally frustrates me with his constant questioning and talking and his inability to move at a rate that can be visibly seen.....He makes me so happy. I am so thankful for his sweet spirit. He is so kind and soft and tender and he makes you feel so special and loved.
One of my favorite things about James (besides his inherited love of food!) :) is how he uses hi pull-up/underwear as storage space. Gross? Yes. But any less cute? No!:) (and yes, he is always a "low-rider" with his pants!) :)



Here he is hiding with Dad's fries. He went in the hall to the bathroom, but first opened the closet door so that it was like he was shut in between them! :)

Funny Little Girl

This month by no means has been my month, but I just wanted to log all the cuteness my little girl has been getting herself into. I am grateful for her and the smile she puts on my face everyday!

Eastlake Recipe Group

Our neighborhood has a great recipe group going and I decided it was high time I helped host one. With the Chinese New Year approaching, I thought, what a great and easy theme to throw together, especially since I knew I could get my neighbor, Aymee on board. She loves all things Asian and even has that influence in her home decor. So I called her up, volunteered her house and help! We partnered up with our friend Kristy and the rest feel into place.
I am not a chef by any means, so I claimed the two yummy things I had to contribute (Apricot Chicken and Chicken Won ton Salad) as well as being a pro at chocolate dipped fortune cookies!:) The rest of my contributions had to do with the decor of course. I am so pleased with how the labels all came out. It looked so good and professional.
Phewwww!!!! Another thing to finally check off my list!:)

Mall Attractions

We got a tip that there is a train ride at the mall. (Yes, we didn't know because we don't ever go to the mall) So Seth dropped the kids and I at the mall while he went to the dentist.
We played at the dinosaur play area until our turn and then had a great ride through the mall. The kids LOVED it. It was so fun. Then we went up and down in the elevator and escalators. The kids couldn't of had more fun.
These little thing are the things I love. No big deal, just go and do and create memories.

International Mail

I was so excited to see that I got a package from Spain! My dad sent me something. I opened it up to see this:

Oh how my parents know me well! What a fun surprise! It made my day.
I still don't fully know why mail makes us so happy, but it sure does! :)

Hooray for 2012

We sort of attempted to stay up for the new year this year, but alas, we did not. We almost made it since I got my new iPhone (which I am LOVING) and couldn't stop playing with it....but it just boils down to the fact that we are more of the get-a-good-night's-rest-and-start-the-year-fresh kind of people.
We didn't do our traditional out to breakfast, since it fell on a Sunday, but it was nice to wake up and have a peaceful morning and then go to church.

Our goals this year are simple. (yeah right!):) We are sticking with the usual things we did better last year, but still want to improve upon...
temple attendance, weekly family nights, daily scripture reading as a family, and dinners as a family at the table.

Seth and Karen:
Improve our health and life style through diet and staying on top of daily tasks. Our hope is that through this we will feel better, have more energy, and when wanting to do something, won't be bogged down with "have to do's" because they are already done.

Sam, James, and Chloe
Weekly outing- a fun adventure to look forward to.
Daily activity- such as painting, play-doh, puzzles, crafts, making a treat, playing games, coloring.
Chores- the boys help out a lot around the house, but I want them to understand responsibilities, priorities, hard work, and rewards.
Read books daily- they read (look at familiar books) by themselves at nap/quiet time, but I want to be better at reading with/to them.

A lot of my thoughts for this year were based of a talk I heard at church. There was a story of a farm who needed to hire a farm hand. 3 men applied for the job. One said, "I am great with animals," one said, "I can get anything to grow" and the last said, "I can sleep through a storm." The farm was intrigued by this last statement, not fully understanding it. He decided to hire the hand that claimed he could sleep through a storm.
Time went on and one night a huge storm passed over the farm. The farmer ran to the barn yelling and screaming at the farm hand to get up and prepare the barn for the storm. He was just lying there asleep and did not move. The farmer rushed to get the animals inside to see they were already there. Then he raced to put all the tools away to find them in their place as well. Finally he ran to brace all the windows and doors only to find that it was already done.
He finally understood. That man could sleep through a storm because he didn't worry about a thing. He knew that everything was in it place and taken well care of. He could rest peacefully.

Can I sleep through a storm?

We got Crabs (and a fish)

Grandma M got the kids a cute little aquarium to get some crabs in. They were so excited when it came time to got to the store with her and pick some out. The boys both picked a big one (boy) and we got a fish for Chloe.
They names the crabs, Sherman and Grandpa Crab, and the fish got named, Nemo.
They are loving their crabs and it has been great for the boys to take care of something.

Zoolights

I have been wanting to go see the Zoolights for a few years now. Since we thought they were included (and were told they were) in the season pass, we bought it when we went this summer. Well, they're not! I was so mad that I told them I wanted a refund because that was the only reason we got the season pass.
I think I wasn't as nice or calm as I could have been, but the guy quickly gave us free passes and we went in....
It was fun. The lights were fun, but it was spread out all over the Zoo (obviously), you couldn't see any animals, and it was really cold. I am always up for Christmas lights, but with little kids, this is one we will probably wait to do again until they are older. If only there was a way they could make it so we could drive through them....

Chloe, in Grandpa's Room, with the Wallet

While visiting Seth parents the other day we noticed that we hadn't seen or heard from Chloe for a while. So the search began for where she could be, what she could be doing, and why she was so into it.
And this is where our search ended....

...with Chloe in Grandpa M's bed, surrounded by his emptied wallet. Credit cards and cash were all around her. She was just giggling and so delighted with what she had found.
I had never been prouder! :)

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. We went up to Seth's sister's house again to spend a few days and be together on Christmas day.
It was fun to be with family, get away for a while, and have a fun time being lazy.
They have a great pool right down the street from them that we love going to. Chloe experienced the slide for the first time and we had to keep yanking her off the ladder before she tried to go by herself!
The kids loved being with their cousins. They think it's great that they have a drum set there and were constantly counting out, "a 1, a 1, a 1-2-3-4". It would follow with great beats and many smiles.
The days were filled with football, napping, eating, and anticipation. We had a great time sitting together singing Christmas Carols, reading stories, and playing their piano pieces for us all. Chloe even got in the spirit and played a few of her own compositions for us!

and waiting for Santa. The After all was said and done it was off to bed and kids could have sworn they saw something out their window as they were going to bed!

Christmas morning was great. The kids loved coming out to a room full of toys and presents. It was fun to see what they got most excited about.
For Sam in was his new Chuggington Trains set and trains,




for James it was his Silly Eyes and Light Stick,




and for Chloe it was her stroller.





Seth got his zipper fixed on his favorite jacket,

and I got surprised with an amazing gift, Season Tickets to the Hale Center Theater! I was so shocked I could hardly react. It's not something I ever pictured Seth doing, so I was a little quiet about it until later. I am so excited to be a Theater-Goer.
We had fun getting presents for the family this year. we let the kids choose for their cousins. Sam of course told them right away what he got them. We had a little talk about "secrets". :) We got Jake a Dr. Mr. Potato Head for his office along with a puzzle cube I made. Jaime got holiday banners, Sandy got some holiday art and Mom got sippies, and Dad got a bunch of "good for" coupons for all the things he usually does for us anyways. We had a good laugh about those (like- good for one computer fix, one free Chloe dance, one lunch with Karen, one day at the arcade with the boys...)! :)

I made my traditional Christmas Breakfast for everyone. Growing up my dad would make a delicious breakfast for us all (eggs, sausage, hash browns and cinnamon rolls), probably to counter act all the sugar we would always eat out of our stockings. I took it a step further this year and had to have a cute table for it. I roped Madi into helping me do it and she and I had a blast together!

We ended up coming home on Christmas day due to lack of sleep and a sore back (on my part). Seth and I were going to try to share a room with Chloe, while the boys shared a room with Tori. The boys did great, but Seth and I quickly realized that Chloe is still not at an age where she can sleep through noises and share a room. Poor So it was to the couch for Seth, and I, after a failed attempt the first night and trying to sleep in a twin bed with Chloe (and we were joined by James very early the next morning), slept on a mat wherever I could find room.


The boys and Chloe were so excited to be home. They went right to bed and woke up slowly the next morning. They were so glad to be able to have their toys all to their own!:)

It didn't end there for us, though. We called up my sister and had her family up for her birthday. We had a fun dinner together and then ditched the kids for a movie, Sherlock Holmes. We then sent Joy and Ben home and kept the kids for the night. It was fun.

It was a fun 3-year-running streak of Idaho Christmases, but we are excited to finally have a Christmas in our own home, for the first time, this coming year!
We are so blessed. I am so grateful for the fun Christmas Season we had to see beautiful lights, be with friends and family, give and get, and remember when and how our Savior came to Earth and what that means for each of us.