Tagged

I've had a lot of friends tell me that they've given up on blogging, for whatever reason.  I am stubbornly holding on, though, because this blog is my favorite way to journal about what is going on with us.  So, whether anyone is reading or not and without further ado, I plunge forward with a few tidbits about myself.


4 shows I watch:

1. We actually don't have cable, but I do like an occasional old show on steaming Netflix.  If we did have cable, I'm sure it would be anything Food Network all the time. 
   1. Psych (the first 2 seasons were my favorite)
   2.Prison Break
3. 
   

4 things I’m passionate about:

1. 1. Fighting off the frumpiness that is me.
   2. Reading books.  I like to always have one or two on hand, in any given genre.  I am actually in a great book club that I've never actually attended, but I love to bug Clayton while he's studying with my musings on my books.
   3. Losing 15 pounds.  I think about this all the time, but I obviously need to become more passionate about it if it is going to happen.
   4. Food.  I love it.  I love cooking, trying new recipes, and having people ask me for mine.  I get really upset if my family doesn't appreciate the spectacular meal I've made, or the effort a meal took.  I know this is often irrational, but I guess that's all a part of being passionate about something.  This passion and number 3 are getting in the way of each other.

4 phrases I say a lot:

1. 1."Turn off the video games!"
   2.  "I was up all night with the kids."
   3. "Please put on your coat and boots."  (I say this about 100 times a day.  Apparently it takes 20 times in a row for it to register in my kids' brains.
   4. "Don't forget to flush and wash your hands!" (another one that doesn't seem to register in little brains until the 20th time)

4 things I have learned from the past:

1. 1.  My mom was always right.  I look dead without blush.  Why didn't I listen all those years? 
2. 2. Although it may seem like it at the time, high school is not everything.  I hope I can convince my kids of this someday.
   3. Things that are difficult are usually worth it. 
   4. Don't fall in love with certain products at Costco, because they will inevitably stop stocking them.
   
   

4 places I’d like to go:

1. 1. US Open (tennis) in New York
2. 2.Someplace warm and tropical with Clayton
3. 3. Back to England.  I didn't fully appreciate it in 5th grade.  I think I need a redo.
4. 4. New Zealand
   
   

4 things I did yesterday:

1. 1.Went to Luke's basketball game and took way too much video footage that I will have to find the time to edit.  
2. 2.  Played Just Dance with the kids.  So fun.
   3. Shoveled snow.  Again.  I actually enjoy shoveling snow:  fresh air, exercise.  But, our circle drive still isn't all the way clear, and the white stuff just keeps coming down.
   4. Ate take-out on the couch with Clayton and watched Prison Break episodes when the kids were finally in bed.  Guilty pleasure in more ways than one.

4 things I look forward to:

1. 1. An uninterrupted night's sleep.
   2.  Audrey's dance recital.  I have no doubt in my mind that it will be about the cutest thing I've ever seen.
   3. Attending my brothers' weddings.  No pressure, guys.
   4. Summer trips to the lake.  
   
   

4 things I love about winter:

1. 1. Winter holidays are the best.
   2. Bundling up.  I love layers, not to mention little kids that look like multi-colored marshmallows.
   3. Warm-up-your-insides foods.  You know-- chili, soup, lasagna, hot cider, ...
   4. Snow.  I really do like it.  It isn't a good winter without lots of playing in the snow.

4 things on my wish list:

1. 1. Laser hair removal. 
   2. Luke to speak in school.  (It will take an entire post to explain this one.)
   3.  A free shopping spree with someone telling me what looks good on me, a la What Not to Wear.

4. To be more of a peacemaker and more "without guile".

4 people I tag:

1. 1. Arika
   2. Hillary
   3. Hallie
   4. Amy
   
   

A List of 2010 Christmas Favorites

My favorite quote of the season (as told to me by my brother):  "It's way better to be Santa than to wait for him."
Luke's favorite Christmas poem:  Beneath the Tree by Charles and Debra Ghigha:  Blue jeans from my mother, Wool gloves from Uncle Brad, A sweater from my sister, A jacket from my dad. A brand-new winter wardrobe, To fold and put away. I'm glad that Santa always brings me Toys on Christmas Day.
Favorite presents (although it's very hard to say; we all loved everything):  Me - how can I pick? piano, music, leather gloves, Just Dance   Clay - tupperware to bring lunch to work (he really does love this), new clothes, jacket   Luke - Star Wars Legos, sled, camera   Audrey - slippers, princess music player, pop bead jewelry, Polly Pocket princess castle (this girl is so easy to please and loves everything)  Max - sleep machine, new clothes
My Favorite Presents I Gave:  new Books of Mormon for the kids with scripture bags I actually sewed myself(!)  I think I would like to make more presents next year, as it seemed to mean more.
Favorite Christmas Movie:  Star Wars Episode V; You may be wondering how this is a Christmas movie, but Luke claims it is because of the snow scene on the planet Hoth with the abominable snow creature.  The kids seemed to like this better than the original Grinch, Frosty, or Rudolph.  Go figure.

White Christmas & Sledding Down "Mount Clay"

A Merry Little Christmas Recap - Part 3

We didn't get a whole lot of pictures of Christmas Day, but it was, of course, very fun.  Our kids are at just about the perfect age for ultimate Christmas morning excitement. 

 Luke and Audrey each got a camera from Grandpa and Grandma Hall, which was a definite highlight for them.  In the background you might be able to see our new digital piano(!!), which was a definite highlight for me.  We had actually opened it a couple days before and set it up so that we could sing Christmas songs along with it on Christmas Eve.

We all got lots of nice things, and we appreciated the gifts we received from everyone.  Gifts aside, though, it was really nice to just spend the day together.  We had friends, the Duncan's, over for a nice dinner and games.  Merry Christmas!

A Merry Little Christmas Recap - Part 2

We stayed in Detroit this Christmas.  Clayton didn't have enough time off for us to go anywhere, but just enough time to have fun with us.  We missed seeing family, but it was kind of nice to do our own thing as well.  For Christmas Eve, we spent the day singing carols around our new piano, including "Hang Up The Baby Stocking" for Max, and playing together.  That night we went to our friends', the Beutler's for a little party.  It was very festive with decorations and lots of treats, and we acted out the story of the Nativity and played Christmas carols with bells.  Here are a few of my favorite characters from the reenactment:

Alan Hillstead was a fantastic Samuel the Lamanite - even standing on the back of the couch for a wall.

 Audrey was a lovely angel.  Unfortunately, my camera skills were pretty awful that night.  This is the best I got.

 Max was the cutest wise man.

We headed home afterward to open the most important gift: a picture of the Savior representing his life.  The kids each opened pajamas as well.  Can you tell that Luke liked his?

A Merry Little Christmas Recap - Part 1

There are so many things about this Christmas that I wanted to remember:  not to get stressed about to-do lists next year, start planning presents before the end of October (you would think that would be soon enough, but it wasn't), sewing takes a lot of time, etc.  But as I think back on our little Christmas 2010, the stress is already growing fuzzy in my head, and I remember the fun stuff, the traditions, and see the excited faces of our three little ones.  Christmas Day is fun, but the buildup beforehand is the best part, really.  

Here are a few pictures of us building gingerbread houses (out of graham crackers).  The kids were very intent on decorating, until they saw Clay stuffing his face with candy.  "Dad," Luke said, "You're not supposed to eat the candy until the end."  "Who made that rule?" Clay replied.  It was all sugar rush after that, with Dad leading the way.  Is that how it's supposed to go?

Hey!  Everyone's eating but me!

That's better.  (I took it away right after the picture.  He's not old enough for that yet!)

We had lots of friends drop-off delicious goodies at our house, but I was starting to feel a little bit over-sugared.  We opted to make Pumpkin Bread for friends and neighbors.  It still includes sugar, but has good stuff in it too.

I was in charge of crafts and activities for Luke's Kindergarten class Holiday Party.  We did Holiday Picture Bingo, a mitten craft, and built snowmen out of "snow dough" (sparkly playdoh).  It was fun to be involved and help out with the party, and I can't believe what a big guy our little Luke is becoming.  P.S. My arm was pretty tired of stirring after making 7 batches of snow dough!

A major accomplishment for me this year was finishing all of our stockings.  We've only had three for a couple of years, even though there were four of us.  This year we were a family of five, and I really wanted to get this done.  They may seem simple enough, but I am severely sewing-challenged.  I was very proud of myself!

Then there were the reindeer cupcakes we made with friends.  We also decorated sugar cookies with other friends.

And here are the kiddos decorating gingerbread cookies for Santa.

You would think all we ever do is bake!