New Years

I really wanted to go to Times Square in NYC to watch the big apple drop this year, but I didn't have a willing companion to go with me. After seeing the weather report I was glad that he didn't want to go. Being outside for a long period of time in 1 degree weather doesn't sound too appealing. Instead we made our own apple drop (literally). We counted down, and when we got to one, I dropped an apple. We do what we can to live our dreams!

We counted down with England (7:00p.m.) at a friends party for the kids. It was fun to be able to spend that time with friends, and to let our kids enjoy themselves. Plus we had them to bed by 9:00 p.m. having celebrated New Year's Eve!!

Date....mid week

Alan took me out on a fabulous night on the town....on a Tuesday none the less! It was a lot of fun!! We had a friend who was home from college for Christmas break watch our kids (it was our ward youth activity night) while we went to Sakura's restaurant for dinner and than to a Maryland Basketball game! Maryland won 76-50, because we were there I am sure! It was nice just to have the time to be with Alan and to chat about the year that has passed and the upcoming year. It was also very nice that I didn't have to plan it and that it was of his doing!!

Way to go lover boy!

Merry Christmas

What a wonderful day we had!! We gathered bright and early to Dad and Mom's bed to read the account of the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ (of course after discovering that Santa did in fact come....we were contemplating not having him come, becuase we have had such a hard time being good this December). Then it was off to open presents.....Santa could not be more real in the lives of our children and he did it just right once again! We had so many wonderful gifts given to us and had fun unwrapping and seeing all of our surprises!! We even had a couple of intermissions. Eden wanted to go back to bed, plus we need to eat breakfast (cherry turnovers and cinnamon muffins). We also just couldn't wait to get some of the fun gifts out of the packages fast enough!!


The kids were a dream....It was a fabulous relaxing day full of joy and love!

Bethlehem and other Christmas Eve Observations

We just got back from visiting the Washington DC Temple visitor center. While there we got to see the beautiful lights, watch a live nativity, and hear a 40 minute concert by the sister missionaries assigned to the visitor center.

Rebecca left the concert with Eden, who was so excited, she just couldn't sit still.

During the performance I heard:

Peter: This is so beautiful.

Hannah: This is awesome!

Joseph: Dad...did you see the star?
Alan: Yes, I saw the star in the East.
Joseph (hushed and in awe): Are we in Bethlehem?
Alan: No Joseph, we're at the temple visitor center in Washington DC.

His innocence and longing to be near Jesus made my eyes well up with tears. Oh that I could be as childlike, faith-filled, and innocent.

Earlier, however, he pointed out that it was okay if he was bad and that it was fine if Santa didn't come, because we already have a lot of presents under the tree.

Joseph has this knack for burning both ends of the candle...

What's His phone number??

My mom's brithday was today (Happy Birthday, MOM!!) We had gathered the kids together to sing Happy Birthday to her over the phone. I started dialing and Joseph yells out, "You know Jesus's number??" Nope, we are calling Grandma Wendy. It's her birthday. "Well it's almost Jesus's Birthday!!"

Class "Holiday" Parties

Eden and I spent the day at school today to attend and help with any school parties. Lots of people, lots of chaos, lots of sugar.

I am Hannah's class party mom!! We had a Christmas tree piñata, ice cream sundaes, games and really loud music (I forgot the Christmas music). I am trying to get kicked off of the party planning committee buy having a Christmas tree piñata and playing Christmas music. It's one of my irritations with the school system. Why can every other religious holiday be celebrated and talked about except those that revolve around Christ? Although I think it is pretty wishful thinking on my part, no one else wants to do this job!

Peter had a quiet party of doing crafts and eating food. We brought "the best" (thank you Alan and Peter) chocolate chip cookies that I have ever made.

Joseph also had a quieter party with food, crafts, and games. We brought in an easy craft of candy cane reindeer, and really yummy grapes!

It's so funny to me how excited the kids get just to bring something in for their parties. They tell their little friends, "Oh, I brought the grapes, there really good huh?!"

Of course I forgot the camera so no cute pictures were taken of the kids with their friends and classmates. Maybe next time I will remember. One can always hope!

Say What??

Joseph: What does the baby do while it is cook'n in your tummy?
Mom: (with a chuckle) it kicks, swims and...
Joseph: What!! it already knows how to swim?
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Hannah this morning was looking in the fridge, and said "Eggnog, just the thought of it makes me sick!" and promptly shut the fridge. There is currently no eggnog in my fridge.

Frustration!

I am just a little frustrated at "the blog" for the moment. The fonts and colors page hasn't been working and so now all the colors are not to my liking and I had to go in the hard way and see what I can do. No more matching colors in my world until they get it fixed. Curses!!