How could Santa not visit these cuties?

Today is better as predicted.

Even though last night, I was lying on my son's bed, and my daughter came up and started spanking my bum and then said, "It's all jiggly like dough"...nice...I feel a major new year's resolution coming on.

December 22...3 days to Christmas

Ok, so yesterday Shyler had to get some vaccines done...she was scared, but her cousin, Gracie Lou Who (That's what I like to call her, she hates it) came along to help her be brave...Shyler sat still and closed her eyes while I secured her arms and two nurses jabbed her with the vaccines...I was awaiting an outburst as she's done before, but she just says, with lots of attitude, "That doesn't even hurt!"... funny...

On the way home I had to go to Walmart. Apparently Gracie Lou Who didn't want to go to Walmart and was refusing to get out of the car. Well I told her she must, or else the police would take me to jail...That got her moving. And I said, "also a bad guy could come steal the car with you in it!"...as we continue to walk, I hear Shyler explaining to Gracie Lou Who that if the bad guy decides to be really bad, he might even put her in a cage... ok...where do they think of this?

There was one more thing, but I can't think of it now... hmmm

Moving on...
I hosted Bunko at my place last night. It was really fun, as always. Good friends, good fun. :) I'm happy.

Oh! I remember the other thing.... Shyler was telling Gracie Lou Who how Scott (cole's cousin) was trying to make her get under the mistletoe at our family Christmas party to kiss her. Well this interested Miss Gracie Lou Who very much because she excitedly asked, "Can I go under the mistletoe!?" Girls...

New Direction

Today is the start of a new journey for this blog. Blogging should be like journaling and as my sweet, talented blogging cousin (see her blog here) reminded me this weekend, it doesn't need to be huge events. The day to day things are what I will cherish, and so therefore, the things I need to record.
And so it begins...

Sang with the ward choir yesterday for the Christmas program. It was amazing. Well, it sounded as such to me at least. :-) I LOVE singing. Nothing brings the spirit closer to me, than when I'm singing. We sang some beautiful songs and in one of them, we sang out "GLORIA, GLORIA"...I got goosebumps just thinking of all our Savior has done for us, and the debt that I owe to him.

Then to make my Sunday even better, I got to teach my children a new song in Primary. "The Savior's Gift to Me" by Annie Bailey. (If you'd like the sheet music, I have her email where you can request it). It's a beautiful and simple song, and the kids did amazing!! Especially the senior primary...I even got misty-eyed. It was great!

All the Christmas shopping is done, well for the kids at least...still need to finish up for my in-laws...Christmas is just 4 days away! So crazy! I love Christmas time! I plan to start some fun traditions this year for our little family...baking cookies on Christmas eve for Santa Claus...and I think I'll wake up early and make cinnamon rolls. I think tomorrow night we'll be going with my family to see Christmas lights. Any other traditions I might want to start?

What do you think?

Family Pics

Some Photo catch-up

Headed out to my work's Christmas Party

Don't laugh. You know you're jealous of my awesome tree! hahaha

Shyler said, "Mom that was the real Santa cause he had a REAL beard!"

Aargh... My cute little pirate.

Blessings in disguise? No, probably not...

People always think old homes are so charming and how they'd love to have one to fix up.... Well, to those, I say, "You can have mine!!" Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful for the things we have, the roof over our heads, and the area in which we live...but sometimes even blessings can make your nightmares become reality. Let me paint the picture... two days ago this is what I saw as I drove to work..

-6 degrees!!

Seriously!!? So ya...it's been cold around here...I think yesterday was maybe 0 degrees? 10 maybe...so anyway, it's freakin' cold.

Ok, back to my story...so we live in an "older" home, built in the 60's with not many upgrades. Our laundry room is out through the garage, and although it gets a little heat from a small vent, it's still pretty cold, which normally is ok...but last night I walked out with a basketfull of clothes to find the back door from the laundry room to the backyard, WIDE OPEN!! It was freezing in there! Literally!! I dreaded telling Cole, but it had to be done...After running two space heaters and a big propane heater...the water began to thaw, and began pouring out of the pipes...ya for us...indoor sprinklers!

So needless to say, we spent half the night tearing the cinder block wall apart to get better access and the better part of the morning running around looking for parts. Ugh. Luckily my man is Mr. Handy and thinks he can take care of it all...If not, we know some great plumbers....

Our next prayer is that there wasn't enough water left in the washers hoses to freeze and bust them....I guess we'll see...
Aren't you jealous? haha