New Years Eve

As a splash ending for 2010, we decided to take the kids ice skating the very first time...

Sam...surprised us all with his skill! Who knew he could skate like a pro - super fast, stopping on a dime, skating backwards, etc!? He says it came from roller blades. Yeah, I had those too, but you sure can't tell when you see me on ice skates.
I...resolved to put some fat on my ankles. They are so bony that one time around and I was ready to be done.
Seara...was nervous, but kept wanting to try more and go again. In her words, "I just need practice."
Elijah...began crying 10 feet in and never quit. He made it around just once, and then waited in a hockey box while the rest of skated around.
Enoch...could walk around with ice skates the minute he got them on. He was brave on the ice, a champ even when he took tumbles.

So This is Christmas

The biggest nativity we've ever done!

Followed by visiting with our Russian missionary on Christmas Eve night...

And a wonderful Christmas day, with the unveiling of my huge December projects.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Adam

We were teenagers when Lissa and I started calling December 23rd "Christmas Adam."  You know, Adam and Eve?  So Christmas Adam comes before Christmas Eve.  We are so weird.

Well, until we had Cara for Christmas this year, I had never put two and two together ... Christmas Adam is Joseph Smith's birthday.  And her family actually celebrates Joseph's birth on that day.  So cool.  After a small devotional about Joseph, we all headed down town and watched the Joseph Smith movie in the J.S. Memorial Building.

The kids have seen the movie twice now, and they've loved it both times.  Crazy, since it's a grown up movie!  But they really feel the Spirit, so that's probably why.  They are so adorable when they feel the Spirit.  After the movie, we took a jaunt on Temple Square.  It was a perfect night.  I think we might just copy Cara from here on out!

Christmas Break

You will not believe this, but we got a whopping 16 days off for Christmas break this year. Woohoo! It reminds me of being in a kid in international schools and getting a whole month off. Those were the days. :) Our long break was highlighted by a visit from Cara's family.

 

We also went on Elf Scavenger Hunts and built snowmen...

And lucky me, I got away for breakfast one morning with all the sisters who were in the MTC and served in Porto at the same time as me.  Love these ladies!

2010 Christmas Movie

Into the Woods Outtakes

2009 Christmas Movie

The Very First Noel

Last Christmas, Sam came home from the the library with a couple Christmas DVDs for the kids.  Among them was a movie called The Very First Noel.  Samuel, the kids, and I were instantly enchanted!  The animation was superb, the dialogue hilarious, the music catchy, and the Christmas story perfect.  We fell in love!  I ended up getting copies for myself, my mother, and all my nieces and nephews.  It is now our very favorite Christmas movie.  Of all time.

You guys, you have to see this.  Your kids have to see this.  Buy it on line, find it at the library, something.  It is too fun to miss!  It's normally about $10, although it's getting more expensive on Amazon now that it's Christmas time.  Try Google Shopping.  I also bought the soundtrack they used (Cazimero Christmas Favorites, 1999 - the best songs are 1, 4, 7, 11, 16 if you want to look them up on iTunes).  LOVE IT!

Here's a clip from the movie just to give you a taste:

ps. In case you were curious, this isn't a plug because I get something out of it. I don't. I honestly just love this show.

Qualms about Exercise Pants

I have serious qualms about running pants. It is impossible to find them for tall people!  I searched at Costco, Gap, Old Navy, Target, and Walmart.  NOTHING.  Apparently running pants come in two basic sizes: normal and petite. (So all you people who complain about finding clothes for short people: it's worse to be tall.  I can't buy long pants and just fold em or cut off the bottom like you can.)  Finally I started searching online. Under Armor, Road Runner Sports, Nike, and Champion. I only found two pairs of tall running pants. They were 80 bucks and booty tight.  What is up with booty tight exercise clothes?  I need to exercise because I can't wear booty tight stuff.  No one wants to see all your fat while you try to burn it off.  But I digress.  I finally found a forum of women complaining about this very subject.  And guess what??  Target online sells Champion pants in tall ... for 20 bucks!  Woohoo!  I bought two pairs. Both are super long and only one is booty tight. I wear those ones for yoga.  It helps Sam when he tries to figure draw me (as I do yoga):

I'm not very flexible.  Just throwing that out there.  So that you know that I know, ya know?

Putting Him Up For Adoption

Once upon a time, I left the children playing happily in the basement while I ran upstairs for 15 minutes to scan some family history stuff.  When I returned to the basement, this is what I found:

 

"Oh, no!" I thought. "Enoch's gotten in to in the game closet!"  But the mess didn't look too bad, and I wasn't really worried .... until I rounded the corner and saw this:

Nearly every game we own opened, with the pieces dumped.

Over 1700 puzzle pieces, dumped and mixed.

Approximately 10,000 legos.  (You think I'm exaggerating.  I'm not.)

Amazing how a 15 minute mess can take 15+ man hours to clean up.  If Enoch ever touches that closet again, I'm putting him up for adoption.

Round Two+Random+Birthday

Round Two: BIG Improvement

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me: Enoch, how old are you?
Nic: Nine!
me: Enoch, how old are you?
Nic: Six!
me: Enoch, how old are you?
Nic: Eight!

me: What's your mom's name?
Nic: Janae.
me: What's your dad's name?
Nic: Grown up.

Enoch doesn't says S when it is followed by a consonant. Favorites include: 'leep, 'lippers, 'cool (school), 'now (snow). He also calls me Mommy Tommy. Haven't the foggiest where that came from.
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I have a theory that Utah always has at least one snow that sticks before Halloween. Luckily the weather has cooperated with my theory ever since I came up with it about six years ago.

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The other day I stayed up late writing a family history book. Our computer is in our bedroom, so Sam turned out the lights and went to bed, while I worked in the glow of the screen. Sam slept silently, and the only sound was the light clicking of my fingers on the key board. Suddenly, Sam sat up. "Which one is it?" he asked anxiously, "This one or the other one?" Then he began searching frantically in the bed. "What are you looking for?" I asked. "The other one!" he replied. Then he laid down and went back to sleep. I hope this man never out grows his sleep talking. I love it!
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Believe it or not, Elijah turned 4 on the ides of November. He is super smart, and I don't have the guts to tell him that because he has a November birthday, he doesn't start Kindergarten for two more years. Poor kid!

Elijah loves all things Lightening McQueen and Buzz Lightyear. He also likes "Good Fighters" -- ie. Moroni, Judah Maccabee, and Brigham Young ("they called him a LION!") Elijah tries to be a Good Fighter too. He fights his temper. :)

On a side note, isn't his cheesy smile hilarious? His eyes almost completely disappear-so cute! When he was a baby someone asked if he was Asian. I had no clue how to respond to that (does Sam look Asian? cuz I know I sure don't!) I still get a kick out of that one. :)