My Other Blogs

You may have noticed I have started a few other blogs. I have had a long-standing goal to make journals for each of my children, but have been less than perfect at it. I have, up to this point, done some writing on the computer, but love that you can add pictures, etc to blog posts. I also love that it will never be LOST, even if my computer crashes, thanks to the miracle of cyber-space.

So, I am attempting to more diligently post memories of my children on these. I have kept them private so that I may more freely use their names, locations, etc. without the fear of "stranger danger" - but any of you who read my blog and are interested may certainly be added. Be forewarned that my journaling may be infrequent and, at times, (possibly) somewhat offensive (simply because of things children say - they are, after all, VERY honest and, in our family, anatomically correct since we don't believe in "silly words" for sacred parts) - but these are comments I cherish and want to document lest I forget them!

That being said, if you have any inclination, let me know. I just don't want anyone feeling "left out" - consider this your formal invitation. :)

You know you're "expecting" when.....

...you BAWL UNCONTROLLABLY anytime you hear a remotely sentimental song (or even advertisement or commercial) on the radio.

I rarely listen to the radio, but happened to turn it on just in time to catch a tune I hadn't heard before. Here are the lyrics: (wish I could add it to my playlist, but I can't seem to find the file.)

"I came to see her daddy for a sit down man to man
It wasn't any secret I'd be asking for her hand
I guess that's why he left me waiting in the living room by myself
with at least a dozen pictures of her sitting on a shelf

[CHORUS]
She was playing Cinderella
She was riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes I'm Prince Charming
But to him I'm just some fella riding in and stealing Cinderella.

I leaned in towards those pictures to get a better look at one
When I heard a voice behind me say "Now, ain't she something, son?"
I said "Yes, she quite a woman" and he just stared at me
Then I realized that in his eyes she would always be.

Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
In her eyes I'm Prince Charming
But to him I'm just some fella riding in and stealing Cinderella.

He slapped me on the shoulder
Then he called her in the room
When she threw her arms around him
That's when I could see it too.

She was Playing Cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed and looking for a pillow fight
Running through the sprinkler with a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad, looking up at him
If he gives me a hard time
I can't blame the fella
I'm the one who's stealing Cinderella."


Wow! I can't even type it without getting choked up. You can't fully understand this until you have a daughter of your own. I truly don't know what I will do when my sweet little angel ventures off into the 'real world'! (I'm talking about when she starts school in just a couple of years! I'm already a nervous wreck just thinking about it!)

**Along the same lines, another song I LOVE is "I Loved Her First" - it's on my playlist. Click it! You won't regret it!

"I'm Not Spoiled, My Husband Just Loves Me"...

...read the license plate holder of a Lexus I was driving behind a couple of days ago. I scoffed as I read it (I mean, really, does the fact that I drive a Mazda with a dent in the bumper mean MY husband loves me any LESS than hers? Give me a break.)

But, this past weekend, I have to admit, the quote entered into my mind on more than one occasion. My sweet husband always treats me with the utmost tenderness and respect regardless of the day, but he does make it a point to make special days spectacular. He always has and this is one thing I truly appreciate about him; it's fun to feel pampered once in awhile.

Mother's Day for me began on Saturday - I had assumed he would spend the entire day studying since he had a test Monday and he doesn't study on Sundays - so I had planned on cleaning, shopping, doing the laundry, etc. What happened instead was that he awoke early to start the laundry and cleaning and make me a gourmet breakfast (yum!). He then led me to believe he needed us to leave for a few hours to allow him some study time - so I took the kids to the park where we rented a paddleboat, fed the ducks, and played on the playground. We had a great time and were pleased to arrive home to a clean house with all the laundry and shopping done! After we all napped (I LOVE that both of my kids finally nap at the same time - even if it's only about 30 min overlap!) we went to the fair, rode on some rides and then had a DELICIOUS Chinese dinner. It was one of the most fun-filled days we have had for awhile. We had to literally DRAG (well, at least PULL) the kids to the car and then into the house; they didn't want the day to end!

Then yesterday, I had the privilege of an uninterrupted, as-long-as-I-wanted shower (a rare indulgence with 2 toddlers!), we enjoyed church together as a family followed by a quick lunch and then family naptime (I love the weekends!). I opened some gifts (Sneaky Chef cookbook I've been wanting, the Pampered Chef food chopper I've been drooling over, and some Standin' Tall CDs I've been begging for). Then we biked up the canyon and had a picnic and relaxing evening on the shore of the stream in the mountains. It was beautiful and SUCH a fun family time! The best Mother's Day I could have hoped for - RELAXING time with my family. I hope yours was equally enjoyable!

Decisions, Decisions

We have decided that, with #3 on the way and with the Daddy starting to get VERY, VERY BUSY with school (think 120 hour work weeks - yikes!) it is time for us to bid the Ronald McDonald House adieu. We have loved our time here and have many cherished memories and friendships which will last a lifetime, but it is time to move on.

We are faced with a dilemma, however, about where to go. Two different options await us, both of which seem like decent options: (The decision is always harder when it's between 2 'rights', no?)

1) Housesitting a big house on the hill near school for 10 months: we would just pay utilities (about $400/mo) and keep up the yard and house, but it would (hopefully) be less work than RMH and something I could handle on my own. Benefits: SPACE!!! (something we haven't had for a very long time...actually, ever!!!) The drawbacks: with how high up on the mountain it is, we will most likely need a car with 4WD, which we don't have, so we would need to upgrade (pricey!) just so Mr. could get to school - and I may be stuck home when it snows! Also, it is a VERY nice house, so I'd have just a wee bit of anxiety associated with keeping 3 children from destroying it. :) And, our move-in date would be when I am 9 months pregnant - no fun!!
2) University Student Housing - gotta love it! Cinderblock walls, threadbare carpet, no dishwasher (although we would probably get a portable!) - but it is 1120 sq feet which is SLIGHTLY larger than our current apt. And there are 5 parks within the complex, and TONS of kids so finding friends will not be a problem. The main drawback: $825/month=student loan money :(

So, you Student families out there, we'd love to hear your housing experiences, good or bad, or any input at all which may benefit our decision! :)

Is Your Tummy Heaven?

Lately our darling little Angel has become very cavalier, often rushed, and even noisy during prayers. This evening I decided to have a more 'in depth' talk with her about why we pray and why prayers are so important to me, and why I therefore hope she will treat them with more reverence. This evolved into her asking to hear the story of "Heaven" which she so often loves at bedtime - which is basically my version of "pre-earth life", etc. Basically, I told her that her Heavenly Father asked if she wanted to go down to earth, and that she decided she wanted to. So, on a very special day (left out here for security purposes because I'm a slightly paranoid mom) a few years ago, He sent her to earth to a mommy and daddy who would love and care for her. At this point in the story, she stopped me and asked "How did he send me down to earth?" Not wanting to get into all the logistics, I simply stated "He put you in my tummy, where you grew your body, and then when you came out of my tummy you were officially on earth." She pondered this a moment and then asked, "Mommy, is your tummy Heaven?" I laughed but quickly realized how reasonable her rationalization was, and how sincere she was in asking. I finally came up with a response, "My tummy is like the bridge between Heaven and Earth" which may sound hokey but which I actually believe. I mean, to actually think about a zygote/fetus being cramped inside a confined womb hour after hour, day after day, week after endless week without some sort of reprive? It just doesn't seem humane. So I believe that, somehow, a fetus floats between "here" and "there" - just my own little take on it anyway. But her simple question has truly changed my perspective on pregnancy (at least for the time being. :) ) I get so wrapped up in the discomfort of it all (the nausea, vomiting, weight gain, stretch marks, heartburn, swollen ankles, digestion woes, fatigue...) that I forget the fundamental fact that, at least in some way, 'my tummy is Heaven.'

Drum Roll, Please....

"I do not have a face to see,
Or put inside a frame.
I do not have soft cheeks to kiss,
I don't yet have a name.
You can't yet hold my tiny hands, 'nor whisper in my ear.
It's still too soon to sing a song, or cuddle me so near.
But all will change come autumn time,
That’s when they say I'm due.
I'll be your new (grandchild/niece/nephew/etc); I can't wait till I meet you.
All I ask between now and then is your patience while I grow.
I promise I'll be worth the wait, because of all the love we'll know.
So have a happy spring and summer
A wish to you from me.
I cannot wait to be a part
Of this loving family!"

~Author Unknown

I realized after the comments of my last post that I had inadvertently 'announced' this in my little scholarship essay....oops! So, there's the official announcement for you, folks. :)

Singin' in the Rain....

Well, we made it here to Oregon in one piece and in ONE DAY (we drove)! This is the first time we've driven straight through with the kids and we fully expected to have to stop but they did swimmingly! I probably won't have much time to post while here, since we have a packed schedule including a beach house, the Children's museum (Portland one is SOOOO much better than Utah's!!!), OMSI, Easter, and LOTS of family time. But I'll give an update when we return next week!

Stop and think....

An article by Shawni Eyre (daughter of Richard and Linda Eyre, mother of 5):

"The other day I finally got myself (and my two at-home-during-the-day kids) to the mall for some post-Christmas returns and exchanges. It wasn't fun. The girls were doing all kinds of acrobatics on the stroller and poor Claire had hurt her knee on the trampoline the day before and kept whining that she couldn't walk. So as I carried her through the mall in one arm while trying to contort my other arm enough to successfully maneuver my stroller laden with bags and a chunky baby, I noticed a mother with a new little baby...maybe a month old. He was fussy and she was trying to comfort him while maneuvering her stroller too. Oh I wanted to just ask her if I could hold him and snuggle him for a little bit. I wished I had my old Baby Bjorn to hand over to her. I could never go to the mall without it when I had babies that little. And then the thought of having my tiny snuggling babies right next to me while I did my daily tasks started eating at me. How they looked when they were sleeping, how they smelled, how they sighed in their sleep, and yes, even their sweet little newborn cries. Baby hunger crept in. "How could those days have passed so quickly??!" I asked myself in awe as I looked at my own crying "baby" and her whimpering sister side-kick.

And then a thought struck me. A few years from now I'll be roaming the mall and all my kids will be in school. I know, I know, it will be nice. It'll seem so free and strange in a good way. But, at that moment in the mall this week I realized that on that day in the future when I'm wandering the mall all fancy-free, there's no doubt I'll run into my double self from this week. She'll be wrestling with her toddlers with a frustrated look on her face, assuring them that they're almost done with the errands of the day. And oh will I ever wish I could go back, at least for a little while, and slow life down while I snuggle those kids up and kiss their chubby cheeks off. I'll try to envision them as their little selves climbing on me and whining and needy, and I'll probably tear up a little just like I am right now because I'll miss those little people. I know the bigger form of my little people will we wonderful. I can't wait to "meet" them and grow with them. But I just realized this week, once again, how much I need to cherish this time, right now, right here...snotty noses, whiny faces, dramatics and all that craziness in one great big package in a bow. Because when I blink they'll be all grown up."

My Life in a BOX

I saw this 'word cloud' idea on a friend's blog and decided to give it a go (you can try it here). So, there you have it. Kinda neat.

Creativity, SNEAKY creativity...

Our darling daughter was uninterested in the delicious chicken pot pie her daddy made for dinner this evening. We insisted that she eat at least a couple of bites before excusing her from the table, as she has a tendency to declare "starvation" when going to bed if she doesn't have dinner. She was taking her own sweet time so the rest of us had excused ourselves from the table and were working on the dishes, bedtime preparations, etc when she announced, "I'm Done!"
Her father looked over to see her sitting in front of an empty plate which, just a few short moments previous, had been untouched. He was pleasantly surprised and smug that we must be doing something right as parents when he suddenly saw her holding, somewhat coyly, something in her hand, seemingly trying to conceal it. He opened her hand to find the sock she had been wearing.... but instead of hanging flaccid and empty it was stuffed like a stocking on Christmas morning. We had a good laugh and proceeded to fill her plate with a fresh batch of pot pie (and, of course, emptied her stocking.) She eventually cleaned off her plate.

Now, I've heard of tucking food under one's plate, feeding it to the household pet, and even putting it up one's nose (ask my husband!!) to avoid having to eat it. But a sock? That's a new one. Does anyone have any similarly devious stories to share? :)

WELCOME SPRING!!!

Hooray! The weather here has finally made it higher than 30 degrees and I couldn't be happier. I don't know which feeling is stronger: my excitement to go running and take the kids to the park/zoo/long walks/etc and banish the "cabin fever" they've been having, or relief that I no longer have to wear out my back shoveling the parking lot and sidewalks in front and back of our building (ah, the joys of property management...). Needless to say, I couldn't be happier! I now realize why people institute "spring cleaning" - I just have so much energy and excitement about spring!!! woohoo!!

So, without further ado, I bid you, WINTER, adieu with these final snowy pictures...stay tuned for some pictures of SPRING to come soon!

This Week

Has it really been a whole week since I posted? Wow? Shameful. I guess such is evidence that things have been even busier than normal this past week. I started a new job 2 weeks ago and, while I am very much enjoying it, am still adjusting to the schedule. This means that, in addition to managing apartments, I am now working 3 part-time jobs for a combined total of 50 hours a week. Yikes! I feel like a college student again. :) For the most part, it is working out and I know things will be winding down within a few months, but it has been slightly crazy lately. Fortunately I have a very supportive husband - partially because he is just naturally wonderful and supportive in everything I do, and partially because he recognizes that my crazy hours are footing the bill for his ever-increasing medical tuition. :) The great thing, though, is that my newest job allows me to bring my little sweethearts with me and spend some quality time with them while I'm working. It is wonderful and I am loving it. A bit busy at times, but so worth it to be able to be with them and still provide for the family.

Another new 'development' is that I've been trying to be more structured in the time I spend with the kids. We had toyed with the idea of putting "Angel" in preschool but decided against it because I really just want more time with her. Instead, I got a big book of ideas for preschool topics, lessons, activities, etc. and have been trying to implement them. It has been AWESOME!! "Grins'" attention span is all of about 30 seconds but "Angel" is happy to sit and listen to me as long as I can talk/read/etc. She is absolutely loving it!!

This past week we discussed the Human Body, Winter and Snow. It was so much fun! We traced our bodies in chalk on the sidewalk, talked about differences in our bodies ("Mommy has a BIG bum, I have a SMALL bum" made me feel great, let me tell you!), and did activities with our bodies such as noises, movements and shapes. It is just amazing what kids will come up with sometimes! We also spent a day on snow and winter, since I am HOPING that winter is drawing to a close and we are entering SPRING! I've just been reading the Eyre's "Values Parenting" book and have decided to start incorporating Values in our 'lessons' as well. And because I am already writing down my menu plan for the week, I figure I'll just add my planned activities too and just turn this post into my own little weekly planner. So, if you're bored, check back later for exciting posts. Or, if you have any great ideas, feel free to share! :) Have a great week!

Menu Plan:

Sunday - Soup (Artichoke/Asiago soup and Butternut Squash soup), crusty bread, green salad
Monday - spring rolls, rice, steamed broccoli
Tuesday - soft tacos (black beans, refried beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado), pear/blue cheese salad
Wednesday - clam chowder, wheat rolls, corn
Thursday - margarita pizza (from Costco), green salad, fruit salad
Friday - left overs
Saturday - chicken pot pie, steamed baby carrots


Lesson Plan:

Value of the Month: Respect
Monday - Hands & Fingers (sign language, play-doh, fingerprints)
Tuesday - Letter U (Mom's group preschool)
Wednesday - Hands & Fingers (finger painting, handprints, guessing tactile objects while blindfolded)
Thursday - Legs & Feet (3-legged race, dancing, picking up objects with toes)
Friday - Legs & Feet (painting with our feet, jumping, skipping, animal footprint game)

My Wonderful Husband

Can I just take a moment to express my deep and sincere love and appreciation for this incredible man? It may sound odd, but whenever I think of how blessed I am to have Jon in my life, I think of the song from the Sound of Music, "I Must Have Done Something Good" - it may sound cliche, but I honestly feel that I just do not deserve such an incredible person to be my partner in life and my companion throughout eternity. I think back to our courtship when I had "cold feet" so to speak, and was hesistant to marry him because my heart and mind were full of fears and doubts. How funny it now seems that I was so nervous about marrying such a wonderful man! I think it's because I hadn't yet had a chance to experience just how wonderful he was (and is). Now, seven short years later, I have grown to love him more deeply than I ever dreamed was possible. I admire his integrity. I respect his very keen sense of honesty. I appreciate his strong sense of devotion to God, to me, and to our family. I am so grateful for his ability to remain firm and unwavering - he truly has been "my rock" in so many ways. I so appreciate his patience and compassion. I love what a loving, fun and involved 'papi' he is; I could not have dreamed of a better father for my children! I admire his intelligence, his talent for developing SO many skills, and how he is able to juggle SO many things at once! This man truly amazes me. I just feel so fortunate and so blessed to know that he is the one upon which I can always depend, the one who will remain by my side through 'thick and thin', the one with which I will laugh and cry, the one with loving arms to hold me and a shoulder on which to cry, the one I will be able to walk hand in hand with throughout my days, the father of my children and my partner in parenting, my best friend, my love - the one with whom I will spend eternity. I love you, Jon!!!!

Happy Birthday Makea Rose!

To my sweet and darling Makea,

A most heartfelt "Happy Birthday!" to you, my love! I can't believe that you are 3 years old. Can it really be 3 years since first we met, face to face? I simply cannot remember a time in my life when I did not know you and love you with all my heart and soul. It doesn't seem possible that 3 short years ago we had not yet met. Today you are three and your father and I are amazed at how you have transformed from a small baby into such a big girl! Your personality is in full force now. You are very confident and sure of yourself, but careful and cautious when in a large group or around strangers (something for which I am very grateful!). You are incredibly sensitive to how others are feeling and extremely compassionate when they are sad. You will try anything in an effort to cheer someone up or alleviate someone’s pain. You relate very well with others and make friends easily. You are highly curious about the world around you, and want to learn as much as you can, particularly about the human body, the geography, and how to speak Sign Language, German and Spanish. You are really enjoying preschool with your friends Nina, Emily, Kalli and Meg. You know all of your letters by sight and sound and have just surprised me by writing some: A, H, M and I, completely on your own! You are toilet-trained (hooray!) and sleeping through the night, for the most part (double hooray!!) I love everything about you, but probably my favorite characteristic of yours is how sweet and sensitive you are. If Kai, Papi or I ever get hurt, frustrated, or even look the least bit sad, you are the first one to jump up and give comfort, usually in the way of kisses and reassuring words.

I love you, my sweet girl!

Oh, what a Beautiful Morning, Oh, what a Beautiful Day!

Today marked our first day of MORNING church and what a MARVELOUS sabbath it was! In 2007, this is how my typical Sunday went:

6:00 am - kids wake up, Jon takes them on a morning walk for an hour or two (depending on the weather) while I catch a few extra zzzzzs.
8:30 am - eat breakfast as a family.
9:00 - shower, dress.
9:30 - lounge around, listening to MoTab and Music and the Spoken Word.
10:30 - Jon leaves for meetings (he is the 1st Counselor in our Ward's Bishopric), and thus begins my day as a "single parent".
11:00 - Try to coax the kids into eating something for lunch, though they are usually not yet hungry enough.
11:15 - begin dressing for church (and then try to keep myself and the children somewhat presentable ie - clothes are pressed (?) and food-free, Makea's hair is still done and not yet pulled out as somehow always seems to manage to happen as we are out the door)
12:10 - make sure the diaper bag is packed with plenty of things to eat and do (and a few thing for the kids too, haha).
12:15 - walk to church.
12:30 - arrive at church, secure the back row and set out the programs.
1:00 - sit in sacrament meeting ALONE with a 1 and 2 year old who have not eaten lunch and for whom it is undoubtedly naptime, and attempt to keep both kids in the pew, somewhat quiet and prevent tantrums/outbursts/fights, while Jon looks helplessly on from the stand. Oh, and amidst all that I am supposed to try to LISTEN to the talks. (and feel the Spirit? huh?)
4:00 - return home with 2 VERY tired children, try to get something on the table for dinner while trying NOT to let them nap as it would push back their bedtime.
5:00 - Dinner.
5:30 - baths.
6:00 - bedtime (one good thing about no naps is the EARLY bedtime!).
If we are lucky, Jon will get home in time to say goodnight, but usually he is stuck at the church until later.

So, 2008 is definitely looking up! This was our day today:
6:00 am - kids up, Jon and I try to coax them into snuggling with us since they were both up half the night screaming...but they insist on getting UP!
6:30 - breakfast.
7:00 - Jon leaves for meetings.
7:15 - I shower and dress 2 happy, energetic children.
We are out the door by 8:15 and at church in time to set out the programs and get a seat.
9-12 - Church with 2 HAPPY, RESTED children is SO much better than church during naptime! (Granted, sacrament meeting is now at the end of the block, much to my chagrin, so the kids are getting sleepy, but the right snacks can keep them going until noon!)
12:30 - Home, Lunch, Naps.
1:30 - Jon comes home and we try to sneak in a nap before the kids wake up.
2:00 - Kids wake up, and we have ALL KINDS OF FAMILY TIME - listen to music, snuggle, watch a church movie, build a snowman (not an every-Sunday occurrence, but this is the first time all season we had snowman-feasible snow, so we HAD to take advantage), hot cocoa, more snuggles, card games.

AH, I LOVE family time! Thank you, 9am church!!!!

LOVE MY KIDDOS!

Can I just express how MUCH I love my cute little babes?! They are just TOO sweet, TOO adorable, TOO lovable. I ask myself daily what I did to deserve such wonderful children. The past week has been a dream. Sometimes, being home with them full time can be draining, tedious and frustrating. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I have occasionally found myself reminiscing on the 'good ole days' when I could sleep for 8 hours uninterrupted, actually KEEP the house clean, and I didn't spend half of my day cleaning up bodily excrement (too much detail?) or breaking up fights. The past week or so, though, has seriously been amazing. My children have been SHARING and PLAYING TOGETHER and GETTING ALONG, with almost no intervention from me. They have been eating what I put in front of them (even the healthy things!) They have been HAPPY and SNUGGLY without being overly clingy. I have been enjoying my time with them IMMENSELY, even more than usual (which is hard to beat!) Why the sudden change? I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that they have their own rooms and are sleeping better. Maybe it's all the new Christmas toys. Maybe it's just the New Year bringing me a fresh, new perspective. But whatever the reason, I am just so grateful for such a wonderful family. My heart has never been so full. I love being a mom!

A Very Happy Un-Birthday to You!

In anticipation of her upcoming birthday (just a couple of weeks away!), Makea was contemplating gifts she would like - it was difficult for her to come up with many ideas since she was so abundantly showered with them at Christmas - but she managed to name one or two. As we sat and discussed it, she decided to think of gifts she'd like to give OTHERS for THEIR birthdays (ever the sweetheart that she is!). This is what she came up with:

Let me first preface this by saying that Jon and I have recently given up our bedroom in order to get a better night's sleep. Sound confusing? Let me elaborate. What it comes down to is this: we have a 2 bedroom apt and 2 children who were consistently waking one another up at night. We tried many different 'solutions', none of which seemed to work. One day we realized it has been about 3 years since we have actually had a good night's sleep, uninterupted, so a lightbulb came on and we decided to separate them at night. Initially, we put a toddler bed in our room for Makea - but that didn't seem to help her sleep better, and it meant there was no room left to walk, so that didn't last long. We finally resigned ourselves to getting rid of our bed and getting a futon in the living room for us. Now, each child has their own room = both are sleeping through the night (knock on wood!) = our backs are slightly sore but = happy, well-rested parents (so to speak). Are we crazy? Maybe. But sleep deprivation can certainly do that to you!

Anyhow, bearing that in mind, we will now return to Makea's Birthday Gift List:

For Kainoa's birthday, he needs his OWN play kitchen because he really likes playing with mine. For Papi we will get a new gate for the office (we put a child gate up so the kids can't get into the computer room and wreak havoc on the electronics - but Jon hates stepping over it so she wants to get him one that opens and shuts). I finally asked, "What does Mommy need for her birthday?" to which she replied "A bedroom!" Wow! Is this kid perceptive or what?

Kickin' it in Kamas

Thanks to our AWESOME bro and sis, Aaron and Niesha, we had the amazing opportunity to have an incredibly fun and relaxing weekend these past few days! Niesha's family has an incredible cabin up in the mountains and we got to spend time as a family with A & N, our sweet niece Aspyn and some friends. We snowmobiled (the highlight of the trip!), ate good food, played games, watched movies, played in the snow, and just lounged around, enjoying good conversation and one another's company. It was a MUCH-needed break from the "busy-ness" of the holidays before Jon returns to school in a few days. We LOVED it. Our sentiments were echoed by Makea when she asked "Can we please stay here and live here?!!" We had such a great time we decided we will definitely be getting ourselves a cabin - and snowmobiles - in the future! (Perhaps not the immediate future....)

BTW - This was a first time snowmobiling for all of us! The kids were a bit apprehensive at first (as, I must admit, was I) but we all warmed up quickly - in fact Makea actually drove one BY HERSELF, a phenomenal expression of courage on her part! Unfortunately our camera was not working while we were up there so I don't have any pics of us snowmobiling but here are some of our cuties in the snow!

Throw the Yule Log On, Uncle John!*

(*For those of you unfamiliar with this "classic" yet unconventional Christmas Carol, please click here for a sample. One of my favorites!)

Tonight began our family YULE LOG tradition. For lack of time (and because it may bore some of my readers) I won't get into the history behind the Yule Log tradition, but you can learn more about it here if you are so inclined. Suffice it to say, it is one of my favorite Christmas traditions, implemented during my childhood by my sweet mother, and one Jon and I have carried on in our own little family these past 6 years.

Here's a little rundown on how it goes in our house:

Evening 1 (tonight)-Jon's Special Night: We begin with Jon's favorite Christmas Song (for the record, he chose "Silent Night"). He then gets to light his candle on the yule log. Next we go around the room and each tell something we love about Jon. (Makea's was "because he lit the candle" - talk about short-term memory :) Kai's was "pa-pa!") Then Jon gives each of us a gift he has personally made or selected for us individually (ie - he gave Makea a book about a Daddy and daughter's conversation about how much they love one another). The evening finishes with Jon opening a gift - an ornament representing a highlight of the year (this year he got a runner, symbolizing his first marathon). We close by singing another Christmas hymn, family prayer, and blowing out the candle.

This is repeated each night thereafter - Sarah on Friday, Makea on Saturday and Kainoa on Sunday. Then, Christmas Eve, we light a candle for Jesus, paying tribute to Him for His birth, His life and His sacrifice for us. We then take a few moments to ponder on a gift we can offer to Him - some way in which we can better ourselves and, by doing so, please and honor Him. We then open one last present (Christmas pajamas), drink hot cocoa, eat our Yule Log Cake, and sing Christmas hymns by the light of the candles.

Other traditions we still hope to get to this year (better hurry - time is running out!): caroling party, Zoo lights, Lights on Temple Square, acting out the Nativity.

What are some of your favorite Holiday Traditions?

Don't Spoil the Surprise!

Realizing there are just 2 days before my courier transports all of our Stout family's Christmas presents to Oregon, I decided (with just a smidge of panic) that we ought to get wrapping! (Until now I have left things unwrapped, as I have two very avid unwrappers at my house and thought it best to save myself from frustration and my children from punishment, not to mention sparing the lives of several trees in the process...). I asked Makea if she would like to help me wrap while her brother napped. She was, of course, delighted to assist, but quickly realized there were no presents for HER in the mix. "Are there any presents for ME for Christmas?" she asked, with not a small amount of worry. "Of course," I replied, "but I will have to wrap those later, when you aren't with me, so I won't spoil the surprise!" A hint of understanding crossed her furrowed brow and I thought we had resolved the issue. I then tried to explain that GIVING is even better than RECEIVING, because of how much joy we experience with giving. Moments later, I left the room to get supplies, and returned seconds later to find her missing (if you can actually FIND someone MISSING...is that grammatically correct?) I called out to her and heard a tiny voice coming from behind the armoire..."I'm right here, Mom. Just hiding." was her reply. "From what?" I asked. "From the surprise." I was still confused until she explained, "I'm hiding so you can wrap my Christmas presents."

Apparently, the "giving is better than receiving" bit has yet to sink in!