365 Reasons

I am still serving as a counselor in the YW presidency. At our last activity we gave each of the girls a poster board and asked them to write at the top; "365 Reasons to Be Happy". We then told them to think of the things that made them happy in life and to write them on their board. We encouraged them to think of one new thing each day that they could add to their list. By the end of the year, their board should be filled with happiness.

I decided I would take on the challenge and start filling a poster board with happy things. I've put it on the back of my bedroom door and have added a new "reason to be happy" each night. It has been a lot of fun thinking each day, what has made me happy. Some of the things I write down are quite simple, but it is amazing to realize the things that make my list don't come with a price tag. I've also noticed my kids and husband coming in at night to see what I've added to my happiness board.

Here is my list from the last 18 days--In no particular order. I hope I can make it to day 365!

Aaron
Hot Chocolate
Seth
Sleep
Visiting Teaching
Andrea
Naps
Kiana
Hugs
Sunshine
My Mom
Blogs
Pillows
Basketball Games
Slippers
Friends
Family
Flowers

Christmas Day

I think I should finish off the year with our pictures from Christmas day. It was very quiet and relaxing with just the five of us Christmas morning. We all slept in until eight and then Andrea read us the first Christmas story from Matthew while Seth and Kiana displayed the nativity for us to see.

After emptying our stocking, presents were passed around the room. A lot of fun things were given and received. A new purple bathrobe, electric toothbrush, book lights, gift cards, a new red Christmas dress, movies, a wedding Barbie, a new bike basket and plenty more!

We enjoyed spending the entire day together. Some of us stayed in our pajamas all day! How grateful we are for the many things we have, but especially for each other.

Christmas Eve

Our tradition every year for Christmas Eve is to go to Grandma Leila's and Grandpa Rick's house.

This year we enjoyed a delicious dinner with all the trimmings. We then headed over to the church for a Christmas pinata. (The cultural hall gave the cousins plenty of room to run around and pick up the fallen candy.) This year my sister Kathryn & her family were with us for the festivities. After the pinata was destroyed and all the candy was collected, we headed back to Grandma & Grandpa's for some Christmas carols. The grandkids then opened their present from their grandparents. The grownups then enjoyed a fun gift exchange. Oh, and you can't forget the wonderful desserts to finish off the evening. This year we were having so much fun, dessert was forgotten about--I guess we were enjoying the evening too much. We then headed home to put out the Christmas cookies and milk for Santa Claus.

Hurry to bed or Santa won't come!!! :)

Out with the Old . . In with the New!

I received a new camera for my birthday/Christmas--I must have been on Santa's good list this year! I love my new camera and will not be sad to say goodbye to my old one. Going from a 3 megapixel to a 10 is heaven!!!


(Can you see how my new camera took a great picture of my old camera and that my old camera couldn't focus that well on my new camera--ohh . . . the small pleasures of life!)

You should see the other guy!

No, Seth has not taken up the sport of boxing.

Every boy needs a black eye at least once in his life right?



A size 10 foot did not react very well with Seth's face. I guess that's what you get when you play around with your big sister. It was not intentional and she did apologize, but Seth wishes he had a better story to tell than one in which his sister beat him up. (He was actually using a pillow to guard his face and then he moved it too soon--allowing Andrea's foot to make contact with his eye.)



The swelling went down after a couple of days. (Thank goodness we already took our family Christmas pictures!) We're hoping in a couple of years that he won't end up black and blue when goofing around with his sister.

New Fence

After the terrible wind storm that we had last January, we finally decided it was time to fix our badly broken fence. Nice look'in eh?

Celebrating the Holidays!

There are a lot of things to do and celebrate during the month of December. This picture collage shows the many things we have been doing. (You can click on the picture to see it bigger)



We drove to Paradise and enjoyed the SNOWY winterland.
We decorated a gingerbread house @ Grandma Leila's.
Seth & Kiana participated in our ward Christmas party--cute angels :)
The kids loved baking and decorating Christmas cakes/cupcakes.
Don't forget the annual family picture by the Christmas tree

There are still 9 days until Christmas--I wonder what we'll do next?

Christmas Card

What a great Christmas card! I have to brag because my sister-in-law (the one I don't care about and can't sit next to--ha ha) made our Christmas cards this year. If you're interested in having her make you some let me know--I'll hook you up! :)

Our Christmas Tree

O.K., I have to admit that I am a bit of a control freak and my husband does label me as a micro manager quite often. I can also be a scrooge with money. I am telling you this so you'll be able to understand the following story better. :)

A couple of years ago our neighbor offered us his artificial Christmas tree. We accepted and have used it for several years. I do miss the smell of pine from a live tree, but I don't miss vacuuming the dry needles that fall on the carpet or paying 50bucks to buy a tree each holiday season. We have in the past driven up to the mountains to cut down our own tree. The time and money in gas just doesn't seem worth it(this is where me being a scrooge with money plays into the story),besides I'm not too much into the look of a "Charlie Brown tree" that the mountains provide. Anyways . . . my eldest daughter continues to belittle our fake Christmas tree. She claims we need a REAL TREE. Since I am not giving in--I like my fake tree--I thought I should at least let go of some of my control and micro managing issues and allow the kids to decorate the tree anyway they want. (Yes, I am usually in control of how the tree is decorated too.)

I let the kids look at Christmas ads and told them they could spend 10 dollars to buy any extra things to help decorate the tree. When Aaron heard the plan he added another 5 dollars to the adventure--He always is the kids favorite! So, for family night we went out and the kids bought new decorations for the tree and came home and decorated our tree. I have to admit. The tree looks GREAT! I guess by letting go I was able to see things a different way and actually like it. I think I also guilted myself into letting go by realizing that someday my kids will not be here to decorate the tree--I need to enjoy my children while they are still young. I'm amazed it has taken me this long to figure out such a simple thing.

I love you Andrea, Seth, & Kiana. You did a great job decorating our tree. It looks BEAUTIFUL!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. Lots of food, family and good times. Here are a few pictures to document our fun holiday weekend.

Yummy Drumstick!!!

Halloween & Pumpkin Carving

It's not Halloween without a pumpkin carving night. Everyone was into designing their own pumpkin face and carving it out. However, Seth had quite an issue with pulling out the inside of the pumpkin. And you can't forget about roasting pumpkin seeds--Yummy!



Can you guess what the kids were dressed up as this year?
(See answers at bottom)





The adults even got into the Halloween spirit. Our dinner group decided to dress up this year. Can you guess who we are?
(See answers @ bottom of this blog.)



Halloween is not complete without the annual Trunk-or-Treat.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWERS:

(Kids--A Dancer, Spy and Witch.)

(Dinner Group--From left to right: Greg & Melissa as Wesley & Buttercup/Warren & Melanie as A TREE & A Tree Nymph/Tyler & Bryn as Burt & Mary Poppins/ and Gina & Aaron as Red Riding Hood and her hero The Woodsman.)

Soccer Time!

Our soccer season is finally over. Andrea, Seth, & Kiana enjoyed soccer this fall despite the weekly practices, cold morning games, game losses, playing in the mud, wind, rain, & sun, and having their last game canceled due to rain. I'm sure we will be signing them up again for soccer next fall.

Andrea has played for 7 years now and loves to play a defender position especially goalie. At the age of 13, girls take soccer very seriously.

Seth has played soccer for 6 years and although he is a great goalie his favorite position is still to play forward and make the goals. We've rewarded him with a Slurpee for every goal he makes. 7-11 is getting quite a bit of business from us.

This is Kiana's 2nd year playing. Although she hasn't said that she loves soccer, she does play her best. She is a little hesitant about invading the pack when they have the ball, but she does has a great kick and doesn't mind being the goalie. We think she likes the attention!



Well, until next year---GO TEAM!

Thanksgiving Hangman

This should keep you busy during the Thanksgiving Holidays!



Hey family--remember this fun picture? I put it up on my fridge every Thanksgiving season so we can have a good laugh.

Taking a Stand!

As many of you know the fight for Proposition 8 in California has been a great battle for many months. Because of the important issues surrounding the cause, Aaron and I have involved ourselves in the fight.

I am not a very forward person, so when the issue of helping first came about I was very cautious. I donated money, put a bumper sticker on my car, and placed a sign in my yard. All of this seemed to be a great contribution, but I wondered if it was enough. The closer we got to the date of voting I found myself wanting to be more involved and to take a more active approach, not only for myself but for the future of my children.

I decided to walk the precincts with Aaron and explain to others the facts surrounding Proposition 8. Overall the response was good or they were just very polite. I was also able to attend a Proposition 8 rally--the first in my political career. :) It was actually very exhilarating to stand with a group of people from many different faiths and fight for the same cause. Aaron and I also chose to keep our kids out of school for a day to protest the CTA's contribution to the No on Prop. 8 campaign. It allowed us to share our feelings with each of their teachers and it also gave us a great "teaching day" with our children. I then volunteered to hold Yes on Prop. 8 signs by the mall on a Saturday afternoon. Our group received lots of thumbs up & down, and of course a few other hand gestures. I would just smile and wave knowing that I was standing up for my religious freedoms. This past Saturday, we were able to go and hang signs on the door knobs of homes reminding people to vote yes on Prop. 8. The weather was horrible and we were drenched by the time we were done, but we had a blast!

I am not recounting my duties to take pride in my involvement, I am only writing because I feel so strongly about the actions that so many people have taken to try and ensure a better future for families in California. I feel strongly that regardless of what the voting results may be, I know that I stood on the right side. The song from the Hymn book has often gone through my mind . . . "Who's on the Lord's Side?" I am so grateful to have had this experience in my life and to feel like I have done all that I could to take a stand for righteousness.

I'm not old. . . . YET!!!

Our family was riding together in the car the other day and I was explaining how I old I felt when I attended my college classes with all the young students at the university. Andrea proceeded to tell me that I wasn't old yet and that I wouldn't be old until I turned 40. WOW--Thanks Andrea! I have three more years until I'm officially old!