It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year: December Highlights

I'm a freak and won't let my kids watch Christmas movies until after Thanksgiving and it stops after New Year's (same way with Christmas music), so when Collin found out it was Christmas time he jumped for joy because he finally would be able to watch Frosty the Snowman.
The primary had a 'Breakfast with Santa' deal and Collin was brave enough to go and sit on Santa's lap so he could ask for what he wanted for Christmas, and what was it that he wanted, you ask? To borrow Adam's (his cousin) Dinosaur movie that has a carnitore in it.
Our ward Christmas party was 'A Night in Bethlehem' and we all had to dress in 'Bible-time' clothes and 'park our donkeys' outside the west gate and be prepared to sit on the floor to eat our bread and cheese because there most likely wouldn't be room in the inn, etc. It was an elaborate and special program--we were so glad we attended.

Jesse's work had a little dinner party at Quarter's BBQ place and it was a super good time. We have come to really love the guys Jesse works with (and their families, too). Seriously good people. Collin must be going through a growth spurt because he out-ate some of the adults, good thing it was an all-you-can-eat deal.

We had a Christmas Eve shin-dig at our house with all kinds of finger foods, sodas, candies, and baby car seats. Yeah, all of the sisters on my side of the family (minus one) had babies this year so it was Baby's 1st Christmas x four. Made it kind of tough to do games and the Nativity story in between all the diapers and feedings, but we made it through and had a delightful time.

Above: Lisa with Max, Sunni with Carson, Samia with London, Anika with Noah

Below: Lucas and Collin as shepherds

And then there was Christmas...I felt so full of joy I could have popped. Sweet Collin got a bike and was more than thrilled, he rode it around the house the entire day. At one point he stopped in the kitchen to tell me, "Heavenly Father blessed me to have a bike." We enjoyed a simple day together and felt overwhelmingly blessed. The next day we packed up and headed down to Cruces for our 'second Christmas' with Jesse's side of the family. More on that later...

It's about time

Howdy folks! Been a while since I've blogged, aye? We had a rough little patch there a while back and things haven't seemed to slow down. I kept thinking they would and that's when I would update the blog, but it looks like my life has a new speed and I'd better get used to it and learn to function or else. (yeah, good luck to me) It started back in September--I had a 7 week old baby and was trucking along pretty good and then got called as Young Woman president which absolutely floored me. I could compose a nice long blog about how much I have learned, how I love my dear counselors and the sweet girls in our program, how terrified I am to be working with teenagers, etc. But the crazy-life list isn't done--we're still in September when I get the awful news that my Dad has passed away. I can't even type that without getting sick to my stomach. It was...I don't know how to describe how it was (or is), my cursor has been blinking at me forever, I can't seem to find words. It sort of shook my world, it was most unexpected. I don't guess I'm ready to blog much about it, I haven't even been able to finish my journal entry yet. Those feelings are still very tender and I need to be able to function today so I'm not sure I'll take them out right now. I have discovered that deep grief is a little crippling for me and it's sort of scary, I never know when it's going to hit. On a more positive side, I have to say that I have never received so much love and compassion from my friends and family. I think the key word there is 'received' because the love has always been there, it's just that in a situation like this I am so much more aware of it and more welcoming of it. So, to all my sweet family and friends: thank you for always loving me and supporting me, in the past and especially at this time. Now to continue on (yes, there is more) in early November we got some more sad news that Jesse's grandpa (his dad's dad) had died. We felt relief for PaPa that he was finally free of pain and at peace, but also felt such sorrow for his sweet wife and those left behind. We went down to Carlsbad for the service and enjoyed visiting with that side of the family. Goo-oood people and as it turns out, the bunch of us sound really good when we sing together. I was grateful to be a part of the family singing in PaPa's service--it was really beautiful.

So, that's the past few months in a nut-shell. We're working on a Christmas/New Year letter that might actually get done and out to you all before Valentine's Day :) I'll put a few pics up to give some more little updates on our life of late. And before I go, I just have to say that although we've had some tough times lately, we are feeling more blessed than ever. I am so so so so grateful for my Heavenly Father and His Son who I know love me and it is through Their love and power that I am able to get through tough times. And not just 'get through'--I can get through peacefully, even joyfully and that's just what we're doing. So there.

Collin and I had eye exams--he was quite a trooper. I might be getting some glasses pretty soon here. We'll see. Ha! Get it? We'll SEE.

Little Noah-boy has begun rice cereal, he is 5 1/2 months already. Why is it going so fast!?

Thanksgiving kids table, boys: 9 girls: 1

Had Thanksgiving at Su's this year. My mom and her hubby came down because Samia, Su, and Lisa were all having babies in Nov/Dec (all 3 babies have arrived and are healthy, by the way)

My Morning Laugh

I told Collin he needed to put his shoes on in order to play outside and was pleased to hear him helping Lucas get his shoes on as well. Usually Collin throws his shoes on and runs outside leaving Lucas holding his shoes crying and begging me to put them on for him, so I thought this was pretty cute. Even cuter was what I saw and heard.

Lucas: "uh oh"

Collin: "it's OK"

Lucas: "kaaaay"..."uh oh"

Collin: "it's OK"

Lucas: "kaaaay"..."uh oh"

And so on...

Then I saw Lucas sort of penguin walking and looking at his feet. Good old Collin had put Lucas' shoes on the wrong feet. Don't know why it tickled me so much, I guess kids do that kind of stuff all the time but their interaction just had me laughing.

Collin Starts School and Lucas Starts Getting Into Mischief

Just A Few Pictures

Howdy everyone. I'm just putting some pics up--I've been meaning to catch up on the news but you know how that goes. One of these days. For now here's a few shots of our growing little guy. More to come on preschool, family visits, and blessing day.


I set Noah down to change his diaper--I turned around for a few seconds to do something and this is what I find. I hove how sleepy newborns are.


Noah at 3 weeks


Sleeping Noah. Can't get this pic to turn, sorry, you'll have to turn your heads.


6 week old Noah on his blessing day. I'll post more blessing pics soon.

Trying Something New

For a while now I've been doing my scrap booking on the computer. It's a million times faster and I really like it--what's even better is I just figured out how to post my pages as images on my blog. I'm going to give it a whirl and see how it goes. The page I'm including in this post is of my birthday (yesterday). Apparently, face book has some sort of feature that reminds people of your birthday (either that, or a ton of people just have excellent memories and are extremely thoughtful) and I got a bunch of sweet birthday wishes. So, thanks to everyone who called/wrote/sent cards, I had a delicious day and feel loved by and grateful for all my dear family and friends.

Something Happens

I can't quite describe what it is, but it has happened all three times with the birth of our boys. I'm sure most of you moms out there know the feeling of not being sure you have enough room in your heart to love another kid and then BAM! The sweet thing is born and put in your arms and sure enough, your heart expands (or something like that) and you couldn't love a creature any more if you tried. Well, I guess it's along those same heart-expanding lines what happens with the way I feel for my Jesse. There's something about that magical time we get to share together in anticipation of the little one, welcoming the little one, and then the sweet first night, first days, and weeks with the new little one--all these experiences that I get to share with Jesse make me love him more than I though possible. Maybe it's seeing him be a father again, maybe it's all the loving service he provides me, maybe it's sharing the experience of bringing a heavenly being into this world, all I know is--something happens and I love that boy like crazy! So here's a post and some pics of my sweet Jesse. Excuse me for a moment while I brag on my man. :)

Sitting in the delivery room as we were waiting for Noah to come

There have been A LOT of wrestling matches of late

My 'Farm Boy' and little Noah. The first few days while I was recovering Jesse wouldn't let me lift a finger, he told to order him around like my own Farm Boy (from Princess Bride, you know, 'Farm boy, fetch me that pail.')

He's making a funny face because he's doing the animal noises while reading to the boys. Collin and Lucas just loved having their Papi home for two whole weeks. He gave them baths, read to them, wrestled with them, cooked for them, and even took a swimming suit bath with them in our big tub.