Today Emily turns 5. I asked her if she felt any bigger today - more grown up. She replied "Mommy, in my heart I do." I guess that's what counts.
I love you little girl!
A few days before Christmas, my sister/really great assistant and I got to travel to Newport beach for Megan and Josiah's wedding on the "Wild Goose", John Wayne's yacht. If everyone there had half as much fun as we did, then a great time was had by all! Thanks guys!
My Grandma's health had been failing, but in the middle of December, it took a turn for the worse. My dad flew out to visit, and then flew my sister and me out too. It was so good to see everyone. In spite of the circumstances, we had a really good visit and a sweet time with my grandma. She passed away on December 30, 2008. We will miss her so much, but I'm so thankful for the time we were able to spend with her. I can't wait to see her in heaven!
Things got pretty crazy right before Christmas, so the blog was one of the first items on the list to be abandoned. For everyone who gave up reading, I don't blame you! To make up for it, I'll be posting every other day until I catch up - which may take quite awhile - but it's fun to finally be posting again.
Here's some family pics from the beginning of December.
I've had so much keeping me busy that I haven't had a chance to blog about it all. So in the spirit of the Christmas shopping season, I'd like to start it off by procrastinating. Sometime soon I'll get around to posting pictures of everything.
For now though,I'd like some input from you. Short story to put it all in perspective: I had an awesome thanksgiving with my in-laws on thursday. Friday, the kids were doing the dishes ( read: emptying the contents of an entire bottle of dishsoap into the sink and playing in the bubbles) and I needed to run to the store for more soap. Really bad timing on my part. Never try to run errands on the biggest shopping day of the year. Anyways, after wading through the mass of crazed, pushy shoppers, I spent 15 minutes in line behind a couple attempting to buy a 46" tv. Only, apparently they were slightly off on their budgeting techniques because I lost count of the credit card swipes that were declined. After some frustration verbalized to the card-swiping machine, and some obnoxiuos short-tempered phone conversations, they assured the cashier that they had no idea why it wasn't working and agreed to wait with the tv while a family member would bring some cash to the store so they could buy their beloved television. All the while, instrumentals of "Away in a Manger" and "The First Noel" play in the background as some sort of ironic rationalization for the surrounding chaos.
I left the store somewhat disgusted at the commercialism and the use of my Savior's sacred birth to justify greediness and a complete disregard for others. And the things I witnessed were minor compared to some of the stories on the news!
So, onto my point: I want something different. This year, I'd like to really celebrate Christmas with my family. As in - rejoicing and enjoying time spent together because of the birth of Christ. I want my kids to be thoroughly excited for something other than the presents they'll recieve.
What to do to celebrate? I'm not quite sure yet; this is where I need your help. I've found that wives/moms will usually participate in whatever as long as everyone's entertained. I'm more looking for something family-oriented that will keep the dads/husbands having fun as well as the kids involved (out of trouble). A hike or a bike ride, target practice with the BB gun in the field (a good possibility for my family), or some non-age-specific craft/project? Again - I need help here. What do you do with your family for Christmas?
Ok, so it was a while ago and I forgot, but I can still play, right? Here's 7 random things you may or may not know:
1. I always wanted to be a surgeon. Or a nurse, or something else in the medical field. I found out exactly how much school I would have to endure to get there and I promptly abandoned my medical ambitions. But then God gave me kids. I am now a 24 hour nurse-on-call, only I don't have to have any formal training and I can pass off the big stuff to the pediatrician/ER. Best of both worlds! I think.
2. I love to cook/bake, but I can't leave any recipe as it is. I think it's some kind of disorder and I'm sure it has some kind of scientific name by now. It's not that I don't like other people's recipes, I just have to change/add/omit something to make it my own. Or to make it healthier; which brings me to my next random fact...
3. I'm a closet health-food nut. I consistently have a supply of quinoa, flax, millett, cracked wheat, and at least 4 kinds of whole grain flours in my refrigerator. I add them to everything I make trying to make things healthier. And I grate/puree vegetables into anything I think I can get away with without hearing too many complaints - desserts included.
4. I'm a comedian in disguise. A really, really good disguise.
5. I once had 8 body peircings. A long time ago in a land far, far away...
6. I wish I knew how to dance salsa.
7. Sometimes I still listen to Amy Grant. And I like it. Don't tell anyone.
Yesterday we gave our boy his first real haircut. Of course he's had a few trims before -when his hair gets so long and eyesight-obsructive that I find myself brushing my own hair behind my ears when I talk to him. Yesterday though was the real thing. I almost cried when it was done; he looks so much older and grown up. I found myself doing double-takes for the next three hours when I would see him run through the house. I'm used to it now, but I can't wait for his curls to grow back.
