A New Year

It is 2011.  When did that happen?  Our January started with a bang (well poppers and silly string:)  The boys had their annual New Year's Football Game.  Lots of mud.  Lots.



Did I mention lots of mud?



But the most exciting news is that Jenny is a student at BYU Idaho!  She moved in January 3rd and survived her first week as an official college student.  We are so proud of her and the example she is setting for the rest of her siblings.  Bridgete is feeling outnumbered and misses her so, but she talks to her on the phone and writes to her.  It is sweet.  Bittersweet..

This picture won't flip for the life of me.  It is cute and I love it, so I am still gonna use it.

So, I have been working on the house like a crazy woman.  All the Christmas stuff is put away.  We have moved the computer into Jenny's room that we are making more into a guest bedroom.  We moved the piano to the new free wall and now have access to our full wall bookcase (and the five year dust that has been behind the piano). In moving the computer unit, we had to clear out Jenny's room.  Heaven help us!  That girl has more clothes than the rest of the family combined.  How is that even possible?  Well, all I know is that it is indeed, possible:)  Since we had to clear out her room we had to move her dressers.  The big one went to the boys, and then we had to go through all of their clothes.  We also had to make room in the garage for her bins, bed and small dresser.  Do you notice the horrible trickle effect of all of this?  Have I completely confused you?  I think so:)

I enjoy redecorating/rearranging projects and feeling super productive.  Maybe not doing that to four rooms all at once...a little overwhelming especially with Sophie.  But it is all good.  Jenny's room is almost done and then I will go from there. It will be wonderful once it is done.  It better be.  

Well, back to work.   

a kiss while cutting down our Christmas tree

It's the most wonderful time of the year. 

 Really it is.  I love Christmas.

  I love baking and sharing

 and having carolers come to our door

and looking at lights

and taking the kids out to shop for eachother at Walgreens or the Dollar store

and the smell of our Christmas tree

and planning big special meals

and stocking stuffers

and Christmas music

and looking at my nativites

and thinking about our Savior.

I am sad when people say it doesn't feel like Christmas.  I have heard this from quite a few people this year.  I say...make it feel like Christmas.  Share some cookies with your neighbors and friends, give some extra service to those in need, sing Christmas carols with your family... at least that is what works for me:) 

Tis the season

This is our last minute...hurry the rain stopped!....you better smile or else!...seriously can't believe someone had a huge wad of gum in his mouth and his shirt all the way buttoned!...run to Ross to find something to cover my butt!....throw on a turquoise bracelet and now we all match!...our photographer cancelled!...ask Jenny's bff Ashlee to take our picture with a 30 second tutorial!..just leave the headband on for a little longer cutie!...oh crud it's almost dark!...family picture.

I'm sure none of you can relate.  hahaha.

Baked Oatmeal, anyone?

Baked Oatmeal
When I lived in the dorms at UC Irvine, there was one breakfast dish that was heavenly.  It was Baked Oatmeal with Warm Milk.  I actually tried finding the recipe from UCI but the recipe was too hard to down size from their gigantic recipe.  So I gave up for 10 years.  I found a baked oatmeal on all recipes recently and then made my own version.  Here it is: 

6 cups rolled oats                           1 cup milk

1 1/2 cup brown sugar                   3 eggs

3 teaspoons cinnamon                   2/3 cup melted butter

3 teaspoons baking powder           3 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons salt 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Mix together the dry ingredients then add the wet ingredients.

Spread into a 9x13 dish

Bake for 40 minutes.  Serve with warm milk.

December

Sophie and a gnome
Christmas is around the corner.
And Sophie hasn't attempted to destroy any decorations-of course we haven't got our tree yet:)
In one month Jenny will be at BYU Idaho.  It is finally here.  I can't wait for her.

I am singing a solo in church on the 19th.  "The First Noel".  Arranged by Mack Wliburg. 
There is a recording of it with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir featuring Fredrica Von Stade. 
 It is awesome!  If you haven't heard, you have to.  
So ever since I heard it, I have wanted to sing it. 
So this is the year.  Yay!  It is fun. 

And that is all I got.  Back to work:)

Thanksgiving

My Favorite....Thanksgiving.

  I love this holiday. 

 I love what it represents. 

I love the name of it. 

I love that it gives us all a chance to realize how blessed we are.

  I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who loves me.

I am thankful for my husband who loves me dearly.

I am thankful for my darling children. 

I am thankful for the title of "Mom".

I am thankful for my cozy home.

I am thankful for yummy food.

I am thankful for warm showers.

I am thankful for chubby babies.

I am thankful for the beauty of the earth.

And the list goes on and on and on.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

Enjoy the blessings that surround you.



Thankful for the 18 kids you see right here...so happy my kids have lots of cousins whom they adore. 
 Miss you Austin!



captured

You know how your kids will make certain faces when they are happy, sad, frustrated, mad, etc.

 Well, my friends, I could not be happier to capture Bridgete's "pouty" face. 

  All the kids agreed with me when they saw this picture.

Classic Bridgete.

I love it.