Doris Does the Job

I felt like yesterdays post was a little bit of a downer(which I truly didn't mean it to be)but if there is anything that will pull me out of a slump-it's watching a Doris Day movie. She puts a smile on my face immediately. My two favorites are That Touch of Mink and The Thrill Of It All. I can put them on and she whisks me off to a better time(I've even got Isabel on board). The two movies are really light breezy comedies that don't expect to change your life but will definitely change your mood. Doris is so perky and happy-it's infectious(wouldn't that be a nice way to be remembered?). It also helps that she always has some dashing men as costars, a young James Garner and Cary Grant at any age are yummy to look at.

Also if I could go back to anytime it would be to the 1950's and early 60's. I love it all-the women who wear dresses even to clean house, and wear evening dresses to go to dinner with their husbands. They carry matching purses, and have a coat to match every dress, they wear gloves and have perfectly done hair do's, with the perfectly chosen lipstick to match. The cars, good manners, it's all divine. I think it was such a happy time, not perfect, but it looked really, really happy. So one afternoon and some popcorn is all I need and after watching Doris, she has the power to put a spring in my step, at least for awhile anyway............I'll save Audrey Hepburn for another day.

The state of my life........

I have been meaning to blog for a couple of weeks now-trying to write something positive when I feel like I'm in a slump is hard. But as I read other blogs I find I'm not alone in feeling like January brings a little bit of the blahs. Don't get me wrong, I totally love winter time. Christmas is gone and so is some magic, the decorations are down and my house suddenly looks a little tired and needs some awakening(I just don't know what), and for the most part nothing exciting is going on or nothing to look forward to. I feel like all I do is clean my house and go to work and come home to more. (Am I whining, I think so, not good, I'll stop now) Anyway so let's see what of anything is going on enough that I want to remember:



1. The boys are off track(they have year round school and have 5 weeks off) and usually I've complained about going crazy and can't wait for them to go back. This time I'm actually loving having them home. I don't mind the happy screaming the running around, the constant nerf gun wars, the hide and seek, the adventures they dream up, It actually makes me happy.




2.Isabel is back in school and I miss her (she's the only one gone all day). She's in the middle of finals(I never had finals in Jr. High-what's with that?), she's hard at work studying, with a little stress mixed in.



3. Phoebe is in her own world as always, happily going about-loving the snow, eating it, making snow angels and having snowball fights with me (she just giggles every time she throws one at me). All the other kids have been having a 24 hour stomach bug go round but Phoebe informed me she has a "magic" tummy (Whatever, I just go with it).




4. I just finished reading An American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, which is loosely inspired by Laura Bush. I need to do some investigating and find out how much is true. I actually really, really, liked it. I'm onto reading Sing Them Home by Stephanie Kallos-(I loved her last book-Broken For You).




5.I'm making and trying to keep my resolutions-(trying to be more grateful, seeing all that I am blessed with, reading my scriptures, saying my daily prayers) It all takes effort, which hopefully will make me a more focused and disciplined person-So far so good but it is only Janurary 14 after all. Exercise is always in my mind I'm just waiting for the weather to get a little warmer (did that sound like an excuse? I think so-I told you I'm not very disciplined).




I think a better way of thinking about January is found in the book Simple Abundance which says "January, the month of new beginnings and cherished memories, beckons. Come, let winter weave her wondrous spell: cold, crisp, woolen-muffler days, long dark evenings of savory suppers, lively conversations, or solitary joys. Outside the temperature drops as the snow falls softly. All of nature is at peace. We should be, too. Draw hearthside. This is the month to dream, to look forward to the year ahead and journey within." Doesn't that sound cozy-love it!

Snip, Snip

So as I was looking through our Christmas pictures I realized one thing. I had been an inattentive mother and let Phoebe's hair get out of hand and scraggly. So Trent's mission today while I was at work was to go get her hair cut. He was a little nervous, claiming to know nothing about girl's hair. All the instructions I gave him were to tell them "to somehow make it look better". He went off to Sweet and Sassy a "girly " kids salon where they did her up right. They came into work to show her off to me and she looked all sassy, twirling around. The wonders of what a haircut will do for a girl(as we all know). Trent said she came home and didn't want to lay down on it or let anyone touch it. Phoebe's hair has been somewhat of a battle-she has really fine hair with huge cowlick in the back which makes her hair pop up like someone from a Dr. Seuss story. It's definitely getting better though and with the new haircut-she looks like a brand new Phoebe!

Before

After

I hope these pictures show the new Phoebe - justice!

New Years Tradition

So this morning was almost as exciting as Christmas, with the kids waking up early and trying to hurry us out of bed- why you ask? Because it's New Years Day and with that comes New Years Books. My parents started this tradition long before I was born. Every New Years morning on your breakfast plate is a book, thoughtfully picked out by your parents, wrapped up like a present. Inside is a message from your parents wishing you a Happy New Year. As a kid the books sat under the tree with the Christmas presents and were the lone ones after Christmas day. I eagerly awaited and felt, stared, willing it to be New Years. I've talked to most of my siblings as we all feel the same way about the New Years Books. It's one tradition that we can't imagine living without. I still have all the books that were given to me for New Years and I happily let my kids enjoy them like I did. The thing about a book is that they never go out of style or grow old. I thank my parents for this wonderful tradition, and for instilling in me my love for books. As a parent, I find it equally exciting to go and look for books trying to match them up to what my kids will hopefully love. They are always so excited to open them up knowing that it will be a book, and not a toy. So on this years breakfast plates we found:

For Isabel-The Tree Shepherd's Daughter by Gillian Summers

For Oliver-Rune Warriors by James Jennewein and Tom S. Parker

For Miles: The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales

by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

For Phoebe:Peter Rabbit Lift-the-Flap Words, Colors and Numbers

based on the original by Beatrix Potter

For Trent:Ball Four by Jim Bouton

For Elizabeth: Broken Things to Mend by Jeffrey R. Holland

I hope this will bring many happy days wrapped up with a book. And with it a Very Happy New Year for everyone!

I Believe In ANGELS

If you've ever wondered if angels exist-let me be the one to tell you, they do.

Elder Jeffrey Holland said in this past conference on the subject of angels "I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with-here, now, every day. some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. some of them gave birth to us.......Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

Our family during this Christmas season have felt the presence of angels, we may not know exactly who they are-but they have brought more happiness to our family than imagined, and let us know that God never leaves us alone in the challenges of life. I don't know what I have done to deserve this love but I feel it to the core of my being. In the Doctrine and Covenants 84: 88 It says I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left,.....my Spirit shall be in your heart, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." All I can say is I'm being held up by lots of angels known and unknown and I'm so grateful for each and every one. Elder Holland reminds us "that the Father of us all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal."

I hope that I can try to be a little more angelic myself-and maybe one day be an angel to someone who needs one.............

Christmas-Is it over already?

Christmas Day

I promise I'm still here, I apologize for not updating more, every night I have good intentions to sit down and blog and every night I fall asleep. I can't believe Christmas is already over. It's come and gone in a blur for me this year. It seems like we were busier this year for some reason. We did have a great Christmas though and my kids described this year as the BEST CHRISTMAS EVER.

I didn't even get cards out this year so I thought, however impersonal I think it is -it's what I can do now-so here goes.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and that this finds you and your family happy and healthy. 2008 has had it's ups and downs for us this year, but as I sit here reflecting- I realize how truly blessed our family is. So here's a recap of what our family is up to.

Trent: By mid year we were happy to have Trent back with us(he'd been commuting to Reno since last September 2007) we were glad not to have had to move to Reno. But this past October the economy hit us and Trent was laid off from his job. He's a big help around the house but is antsy(to say the least) to get back to work. We hope this upcoming year will bring some luck and hopefully a job will be found. (I hope you'll keep reading, I promise it all won't be so down sounding) I will say on a positive note- Trent totally disciplined himself with a strict diet and exercise and lost himself 50 lbs!(he looks fantastic! I'm so proud, I just wish it could rub off on me.)

Elizabeth: I thought I was busy when I had toddlers and babies. I find myself this year feeling busier and busier trying to keep up with the kids and their schedules. I finally know what all my sisters have told me about becoming a driver. Let me just say that I love my calendar, it's the only way I can keep it all straight. I'm working part time in retail, trying to help out(I don't know how working moms do it all). Trent is great helping out at home and the kids have been super supportive(what can I say-they're the best). My two book clubs are a welcome relief, and with great and wonderful friends (you know who you are) and a fantastic family I keep my bucket filled.

Isabel: She's 13 now and in her last year of middle school(I'm still trying to come to terms with the thought of her in high school) She's busy with student council, National Junior Honor Society(she has to do 25 hours of volunteer work), and she's taken and loved dance class. She's a busy girl. She has started babysitting and loves the extra money(for the trips to the mall with her friends, a totally teenage girl thing to do) How do I know where Isabel is-I listen for the giggles!

Oliver: This year is the year where I discovered Oliver no longer looks like a little boy. He seems to get taller every time I look at him. One day I'll be looking up to him before I know it. He's 9 and in the 4th grade. He's enjoyed swimming lessons and is dying to play lacrosse in the spring (hopefully we can make that happen) He's always full of energy and wants to be busy all the time. He's discovered a love of reading and zips through books, he loves scouts, friends, nerf guns, and all things adventure.

Miles: My thinker-Behind those beautiful blue eyes of his-is a little boy who is always thinking, worrying, wondering something. He is 7 and in the 2nd grade where he is the class joker and the little girls swoon(I volunteer in his class every week and little girls come up to me and tell me that they love Miles) He still loves all things Marvel (superheroes) I thought he would grow out this phase, but not yet at least. He's enjoyed trying out karate and swimming lessons(he can't wait to stop swimming lessons to go back to karate). Miles has a mouth full of empty spaces(it seems like he loses them left and right). Even with all the gaps his smile still stops me in my tracks.

Phoebe: I don't even know where to begin. Let me just say she keeps me on my toes. She's full of questions and wants answers. She's all girl but can hold her own playing with the boys. She's 4 and thinks she's a big girl. She has an opinion about everything and a facial expression to go with every one of them( I wish I could capture them in pictures). She decided she wanted to wait on dance (maybe later, she said) and wanted to take swimming lessons like the boys(she's a daredevil) With all of her energy, she has a very sweet side-she loves hugs, and giving compliments, every time I come home, she meets me in the garage so excited to see me. I love, love, love it!

Happy Holidays wherever you are and now it's looking forward to 2009!

Christmas Eve pajamas

Annual Santa Visit

So it was the day for the annual trip to visit Santa. As you can see most of the kids were happy to sit with Santa and take a picture. Phoebe is scared to death of Santa and would not cooperate at all. She didn't want to even be near him, hence the lack of a smile on her face. I have yet to have one really perfect picture of all the kids with Santa. One of them has always been leary at one time or another. Isn't Santa supposed to be a friendly, lovable, guy that everyone adores? Not for my kids-he has to grow on them. Phoebe wouldn't look at or talk to, let alone sit on his lap. Maybe after the presents he brings her she'll love him a "little" bit more. I can always hope for a great picture next year.