My Joy is Full

(Note the two extra figures that were constantly being added to our nativity this year!)

A recap is in need. But I’m awfully tired. I feel that I lack the ability to put into words the joy of the season that has so quickly passed. Christmas morning with little children is always special. I look forward to it all year; it’s a high like no other. I sat nursing my baby and watching my other three children experience the glee of gift giving and gift receiving. Cries of “It’s what I’ve always wanted… thank you” and “I’ve wanted this my WHOLE life” brought grins to Mr. Man and my faces. I feel tender love for my children on Christmas morning, and always have this scripture come to my mind when I try to put my feelings into words: “But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” A mother’s heart is often truly full.

And oh, the toys. So many toys. So many hours of play – oh boy!

A favourite gift, the one which generated the most of the above cries, was a LARGE set of wooden blocks that Mr. Man and his Dad made for the kids. Towers and castles, spaceships and boats have been made… and the fun will never end. I'm excited for this special legacy of homemade building blocks.

We took down our dying tree (it was too prickly for ME to water after Uncle Kyle left), and slowly gathered all the holiday décor to make room for our new furniture purchases.
Then Grandma, Grandpa & Auntie came, and besides the code yellow, a lot of fun ensued. The pool at their hotel was the biggest hit – as were the trampolines, I mean beds – Wonderlab, going to the play “Oliver”, LOTS of game playing and yummy food!
We finally made decisions on our armoire and love seat. Our Target was sold out on the armoire we liked (and could afford) and so we made some calls and on Saturday made the trek to the store that did have it in stock. Mr. Man has bad luck, and this purchase only solidified that fact. After three hours in the car, we opened the box to begin the job of assembling the armoire. This is what we found:

A box full of junk wood that someone must have successfully returned.

Can you believe someone would do that? We had spent the whole afternoon driving to get the very last one, and now this! Ughhhh! Mr. Man was ready to call the police. Instead he called the store manager where we had made the purchase. She told him to bring it back – yeah right. He called our local Target (the one where we lost our son – I think we may be having bad Target luck) and the store manager there told him he could bring it in. Apparently it caused quite a hoot with the customer service staff and they took pictures to post as a reminder to “always check the returned boxed items”. It seems that our luck turned, and while Mr. Man was there, the armoire we were trying to buy had been unloaded from a truck. Almost six hours later it was set up and beautiful. We are loving having our TV out of sight and out of mind, and with our new love seat, having room for EVERYONE in our BIG family to sit.

(Miss J with two of her friends on our new loveseat - enjoying all the playdates the break from school allows!)

Mr. T has gone two months without his fevers and we were advised to decrease the amount of medication we give him and see if it would still be effective. Apparently not. Yesterday he started his fever and so we zapped it with his steroid. Now he is zapped and with dilated eyes and everything has been bouncing off the walls , attempting to go out and play in the snow in a swimsuit and basically cracking me up and driving me crazy simultaneously. Tomorrow my parents and two siblings are coming and we will be heading out to a cabin together to make some memories and try to keep Mr. T contained!

I brought in the New Year nursing the baby… which seems fitting to end this year with. Goals have been set and we are excited for all that 2008 may bring. Happy New Year!

Code Yellow

My heart is still in my throat as I recall this recent event in our life. Like all thrifty Moms, we made a trip to the mall to catch some of the sales on the 27th. Grandma and Grandpa and Auntie are visiting and wanted to let the kids choose their Christmas treasures (like they need anything else at this point!) and I picked up a few treasures myself. For one of the first mall shopping experiences of my life, the kids were outnumbered by adults and, this being the case, I wasn’t as mindful of my children as I should be. We hit Target first, of course, and as we were exiting Target and entering the mall, that’s when we realized we were missing one of our children. Little E wasn’t with us. I was certain he was just lagging behind and so I waited nonchalantly with everyone in the mall while Mr. Man headed back into Target to fetch the tardy traveler. A few moments later he returned and gave me a look, and in that instant I knew. Our son was missing. Immediately my mind went blank as I tried to recall what clothing we had placed over top of our short-laden boy just minutes before we left home. I was frantically trying to think of where I was certain he had last been with us. My head ached as I pondered over whether he would know to go to one of the red-vested workers and if so, would they understand what he was saying when he told them his name. My heart was heavy and tears sprang as I ran frantically through the store pushing my stroller and shoving my way telling everyone I could that I was looking for my red-haired boy wearing a blue shirt and army pants, hollering his name and heading for the “balls” at the entrance of the store that I know he loves to play on. I was certain he would be there. When he wasn’t I got really worried and with my voice cracking I approached a cashier for assistance. Mr. Man had beat me to it, and a code yellow had already been issued. It seemed that every single worker in that store, God bless them, had left their station to help look for my son. The minutes ticked by and yet time stood still as my precious boy was still missing. Finally I was waved down and told that he had been found… someone had spotted a little boy with a lightsaber (why had I NOT remembered THAT important tidbit) wandering around near the milk department. Apparently he had just walked off and wasn’t even worried in the least, he was exploring. Even in explaining to him what had happened, he was fearless and fine. Eventually he told us that he had lost us and so just kept walking and walking trying to find us. Needless to say, we have had some constant mini safety lessons since then. Mr. Man and I have both decided to keep a picture of our children with their sizes on us at all times, and to pay better attention to what they are wearing each day when we (or they) leave the house. More importantly, I am grateful for our daily family prayers and for the Lord’s watchful eye when I could no longer see my Little E.

Christmas Day Giggles - what a joyful day!

Busy Week & Best Wishes

This week amidst the teacher gifts, school Christmas programs, last minute goodies to be made and all that life in December with a family of six entails, we also celebrated Big J’s 7th birthday and our 8th wedding anniversary. Poor girl is very confused why we were married the day AFTER she was born… and we’re hoping she catches on to the year difference before any more rumors start!

Big J is so easy to please, and she is so dramatic in her gratitude… it’s quite overwhelming for both Mr. Man and I… but ultimately we are convinced that she did “have the absolute best birthday ever” – as she said over and over again. Highlights of her day included her “big” gift – a doll house that we are going to build and she will be able to design and decorate, a half-day at school (and bringing in a treat to share), Pizza Hut for lunch (gift certificate!), Build-a-bear workshop, Coldstone Creamery (birthday club gift certificate), picking out all of her meals and the multitude of telephone calls and well-wishers.

I am officially an “old” mom, now that I have a 7 year old. Geez. The annoying thing is that I remember being 7 easily, so now everything I do, all the parenting dilemmas that I face will be noticed and remembered by my oldest child. At least when she’s around I’ll have to pretend I know what I’m doing.

(love the chocolate frosting on her lips!)

For our anniversary we had a babysitter for the afternoon and left Baby J for the first time (not with family). We had lunch at a wonderful Thai restaurant that I always smell as we walk to the library and have wanted to taste for a couple of years now. I thought eating there would quench my desire each time I walk by, but now I think it will only encourage the craving. Delish. And so nice to be alone. This was our second lunch date together this month (and probably in several years) and I could easily get the hang of this. Then we roamed the Art Museum, picking out pieces we’d love to adorn our huge (imaginary) home with, and discussing periods and painters – I love when we have the time to do this – brings back our undergrad days when Mr. Man finally took a Humanities class and had his eyes opened to the beauties of the arts. After this we searched a few furniture stores as we are definitely in the market for at least one more piece so that more than half our family can sit on a surface other than the floor at the same time. No luck there, but we ruled out a few places without having to drag in a van-full of kids. So I suppose we were lucky. Later we did the annual dress-up in our wedding attire – Mr. Man in his tux and me in my wedding dress. Lets just say they were both a little snug this year – and our picture omits our bodies for a good reason! To be honest, I could hardly breathe and that membership at Curves that is on my Christmas list is calling my name! Still it’s a fun tradition and the kids (especially Big J) take great delight in seeing us all dressed up – and can feel a part of our special day.

So it may be busy, but we are enjoying most of the minutes. I still shake my head when I think back to the year we had all these events, my Opa’s rapid decline, and we moved on the 27th.
Another “secret” gift arrived yesterday that is a bit homemade and I can’t wait to share our two big surprises this year with you… three more days!

Last year we didn’t send out our annual Christmas letter until Valentines Day so that we could announce that we were expecting. I’m going to continue with that tradition (not announcing that we’re expecting, just the February timing for the letter) at least for this year. But I do want to post our family picture and wish you all a very merry Christmas from our family to yours.

May you feel the love of our Savior as we celebrate His birth.

Help!

Why do my boys think it's funny to put weapons in the baby's unearthly grasping hands?

Why is he so happy about it?

I don't think I stand a chance in this battle.

No sled... no worries

I looked out my window to see the kids' creative genius at work...

We have plans to load up the bikes and take 'em to a REAL hill!

X-Rated

For those of you aiding and abetting the stocking stuffing santa, a word of caution. ‘Tis the season of chapped lips and so it’s quite natural to want to pick up some chapstick for the cause – plus it’s cheap and sweet and this way your kids will stop eating, I mean, using yours. For those of you with little boys who adore pirates, the aforepictured chapstick may be calling your name from the shelf… do NOT, I repeat do NOT entertain any notions of purchasing said item. It stinks. Literally. St. Nicholas found and stuffed these little guys into the boys’ wooden shoes. The first day they were in use, I went around smelling my armpits all day – certain I must really smell horrible. I smelled my kids clothes, hair, bodies and the scent lingered on their faces… their lips to be exact (and Little E’s forehead where he insisted his “scrapes” were chapped and needed some chapstick too). Catching a whiff of this “tropical” scent is far from paradise… Mr. Man is known to gag if he gets too close to it. The best description of the smell is a teenage boy’s horrible body odor. Or maybe a pirate. Maybe that’s what they’re going for. Well, it’s up to you, but here’s my warning: if you think x marks the spot … you may end up walking the plank.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Three random pictures that make the season seem just right.

Mr. T posing as Father Christmas - in the tub!

This doesn't happen often enough.

Our gingerbread advent getting shorter... looking at this picture I realize that we're off by one day. That's what the flu will do to you. I have made these yearly since I was a little girl.

Out of the mouthes of babes...

Forget what the kids say... can you believe half the stuff that comes out of our mouths? I always try to point out to other Moms the funny things we are forced to utter. Today's utterance was something I never thought I would have to say. (It was said calmly and quietly too!)

"Please take the straw out of the baby's nose."

Of course, the culprit, my three year old asked just as serenely "why?"

Thankfully sometimes spoken words are unnecessary and eyeball rolling sufficient.

Monotony

When my brother was visiting with us (so sad that he is gone!) he said he thought my life is rather “monotonous” and on the verge of being boring and quite repetitive. Today has been not so normal - having a little guy with the flu - and I am craving monotony, or normalcy as I call it!

Here are ten things I do everyday – they are also ten things that make me chuckle and feel lucky to have the life I do.

1. Change diapers and sing the diapee song several times a day.
2. Nurse my baby and make goo goo eyes and smiles at him when he stops to look up at me.
3. Engage in either a sword fight or lightsaber battle with my boys.
4. Sweep the floor. This is when I holler to everyone to leave the floor premises and the nasty mean witch gets to be alone for a bit. Typically for a few minutes after every meal.
5. Read. Mostly to children.
6. Kiss my husband…
7. Make my daughter’s lunch (or supervise her making her lunch) and write her lunch love note.
8. Make dinner for my (mostly grateful) family.
9. Read scriptures and pray. I pray a lot.
10. Laundry. Laundry. Laundry.

Wish Come True

So I make one little wish for a house, and what do I get?

We've been going a little nuts with gingerbread houses over here. With fond memories of Lawrence playgroup, I offered to make graham cracker houses for our playgroup here. With some help from my brother and the playgroup co-ordinator, we made 20 houses!
(I had to quickly readjust my pattern when I discovered that the Kroger brand graham crackers are already cut into squares!)






Then Miss J (yes, she's asked not to be called "big", "it's just not polite") invited some friends over after school today to do some decorating! Six more houses.

Mr. T just kept eating and eating the candy, even after admitting that he had a stomacheache.














Daddy had to get in on the fun and we pulled out the gingerbread train kit Grandma donated to the candy infestation, and did that one too!




Highlights of the events include a very blistered thumb from a sugar burn, candy spilling all over the floor as the kids go scrambling to capture and, yes, eat their finds, and Little E being so serious about his decorating and then announcing, "This is my wish come true!"

All I want for Christmas...

Waiting patiently...


still waiting...

silly waiting...

... finally!

I've already got all I want for Christmas.

Five and five

My friend, Amy, tagged me. I hate these things, but I like Amy, so I did this for her.

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. In my last year of high school
2. Writing a really cute missionary – who would someday ask me to marry him
3. Applying to university
4. Coaching soccer for four year olds
5.Co-ordinating our high school’s first 3 day (sleepover) leadership conference: SUPERNOVA (they are going on having the 10th one this year!!!)

(boy was I young ten years ago!)

5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Baby’s 4 month doctor’s visit and SHOTS
2. Little E’s speech therapy
3. Music class
4. Lunch date with Mr. Man
5. Skating lessons for three eldest

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Chocolate lovers treat (also known as the PMS special) at Jiffy Treat
2. Black licorice
3. Grapefruit
4. Trail mix
5. Toast with homemade peach jam

5 things I would do If I were a Billionaire:
1. Buy a house, finally!
2. Build a library.
3. Have horses… and someone hired to take care of them.
4. Pay off student loans of everyone related to me.
5. Let my husband manage the rest – he’s good with money and tends to hide it in savings accounts I don’t know about and also give way too much to random charities who call on the phone.

5 bad habits:
1. Obsessive – with planning, packing, cleaning, too much stuff in my diaper bag (just in case), time management (always saying we’re late, because I want to be early)…
2. Hanging hangers the wrong way so that my husband can’t get them off easily.
3. Internally complaining. So if you think I complain a lot vocally, just imagine what’s going on in my head!
4. I find great joy in picking my baby’s boogers for him.
5. Eating too much chocolate.
(I asked my husband to help me with this. I tend to snap his head off when he attempts to point out my bad habits, so it was great trepidation that he finally helped me out and told me a bunch – most of which I refused to put down here because I don’t think they are “bad”… )

5 places that I have lived:
1. London, Ontario, Canada
2.Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
3. Laie, Oahu, Hawaii
4. Lenexa, Kansas
5. Lawrence, Kansas (notice they are ALL “L’s” until our present location!)

5 Jobs that I have Had:
1.Page at a library – I mostly shelved books, checked books in and did kids programs – like teaching origami!
2. Administrative Assistant at a College bookstore
3. Bilingual Marketing Researcher (I will now do ANY telephone survey that comes my way
4. Career Development Assistant at BYUH (I took Amy's job!)
5. MOMMY

5 thing that you may not know about me:
1. I yell at my kids.
2. I exaggerate constantly and justify it by using the term “like”.
3. I was born three weeks late. And have never been late since.
4. I had never seen Star Wars until I had sons – and an obsessive husband.
5. I’m left handed.

That is it for me! Now I tag have to tag 5 people and contact them on their blog - tomorrow!
So I tag Camie, Joy, Kristy, Jodie, Jenny

Christmas Traditions

We seem to have compiled quite the list of Christmas traditions in our little family. Each November I create a December calendar and designate a day for each special tradition so as not to miss a single one, not that the kids would let me! (I'm thinking it would be fun to make something like this - I've seen several on different sites, and I have TONS of cute Christmas paper - but maybe next year.) Tonight the tradition stems from my own childhood (or maybe teenagehood). I LOVE listening to the story of the "Forgotten Carols". Year after year, it gets me every time. Mr. Man gave me the tapes for our first Christmas together, and we have listened to it every year since. The last couple of years Big J has joined in, and we have added stringing popcorn to the event (so as to keep her a bit occupied, and because, well, it's fun!) Today the boys were insisting to be a part of it, but were scared since Big J had warned them about the inevitable finger poking that may ensue from the needle. At first they sat and watched, and then slowly joined in. Little E first - and boy is he a speedy threader, and finally my scaredy-cat Mr. T. Of course it was fun having Uncle Kyle with us - it seems every event is magnified because of his presence lately! We are only on the first tape, and the kids are begging to finish tomorrow (it's more about the popcorn strands for them, but I'm still impressed). We will finish tomorrow, but we also have to celebrate Dutch St. Nicholas and leave out our wooden shoes. So what are some of your traditions?

I have to post these - Baby J is obsessed with soft toys, he loves to rub them close to his face, and this Santa has become a new favourite! It cracks me up though how he looks like he's holding a baby doll already! He is too cute and lots of fun - we had some major giggles out of him over Santa today. A baby at Christmas is a joy.
I feel blessed to have him.

Evolving Braces: Charting Growth

Mr. T got his first brace May 2005. His physical therapist described him as very cute and sensitive when he chose hot pink and ponies for the straps. She confided in us that she tried to talk him out of it. We were pretty sure it was his way of having something that his sister would want without her ever being able to have it. The next time his feet grew he chose red (his all-time favourite colour) and race cars. Angie, his PT, told us she thought he was coming into his own. Next it was blue and dinosaurs – the “Land Before Time” stage. Today we were shoe shopping again to fit his newest brace. I hadn’t seen his selection, and was a bit surprised by how “grown-up” it appeared – green with a rock and roll band! I wish I had pictures of all his past braces, but at least I can start documenting them now… who knows how long he will need to wear a brace, but if it lasts into adulthood, this could be quite the evolution! (Note: you can see his hair cutting experiment in this picture!)






Baby J goes in for his 4 month checkup on Friday. I’m guessing he’s at 18 lbs, but we’ll see. He has gotten SOOOOOO big! Here are a few adorable pics my good friend and fabulous photographer took of him recently. His blue eyes are to die for! All my babies have these gorgeous blue eyes and then they slowly fade to my green. Not that green is bad… but look at THESE eyes! (You may also notice he has red hair like Little E!)