peace on earth?

We have this unusual Christmas tradition at our house.

I'm not sure when or how it started... but it did & I don't think we can end it now.

Every year the boys in the family get some kind of crazy weapon-like toy. Each of them. Then- the war begins... it's every man for himself. If you are a woman, you just stay out of the way & hope not to get in the cross fire.In this picture... trent is hiding & brett is pointing his new nerf gun towards me. Ya, those are my feet. He's not really pointing at me- it's just that jack is peeking out behind the couch, next to my head. He knows that dad won't shoot- not as long as he is this close to mom. coward- not for long though.

This year it was nerf guns with light beams things, you know for aiming. I can't remember what they are called? Tony got one too, but didn't stick around long enough for the real fight, ah hem, I mean... fun. I think this all started long ago when the boys were little. Brett doesn't have brothers & when I got the boys nerf swords & all I just got him one too.
A couple of years ago it was mayhem when we passed out marshmallow guns. (I found stale marshmallows around the house for years. SEriously) The marshmallow guns were all fun & games until the boys discovered that FRoZen marshmellows hurt when you shoot them.
That wasn't cool.

Trent loved every minute of this.

He may not be as quick reloading, but

he absolutely REFUSed to "surrender" & jack showed no mercy.

(don't you just love how hailey just sits there on the computer like nothing is going on?)
WEll, some mercy.

You can tell by the look in his eyes- this is all in fun-

Until you run out of ammo & can't find any...

then you better run!

pure bliss

My view this morning from the couch...

with my new laptop.

Which is way better than the other presents I asked for-

and also got.

This year I am feeling truly

spoiled.

Thanks sweety for making me feel special everyday, but especially today.

I love you ~ pj

Christmas morning 2008

Christmas Eve at Temple Square

Tonight, Christmas Eve- we went to visit Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

It wasn't even crowded- at all. The visitors centers were closed- there were no missionaries around- but it wasn't empty. It was really nice & not too cold- a balmy 37 degrees! Not bad for night time these days- (it's the warm before the storm.) Tomorrow, Christmas day- we are supposed to get more snow.

( I don't know why TRent does this look every time I take his picture... lately?)

It was really fun to be here tonight.

The Christmas spirit was in the air.The Nativity displays were beautiful- my pictures didn't turn out too good though.

I would say, "Look at the Nativities!" and Trent would say, "I don't want to do the activities!"

Oh boy- NO the NATivities!... Oh ya- oops.

Jack even took a self portrait with me :)

Notice the beanies- Jack & Chloe are wearing beanies from Chile. Part of the presents the missionary sent yesterday. They say CHILOE on them- that's the island he is on right now.

Someone wanted to go home & not be here at all.

He wanted to be home opening our traditional ONE present from G & Grandpa, then eat our traditional dinner of hoagies & floats.

On the way back to the car- Brett asked him if they should do rock, paper, scissors to determine if we should keep the traditions-

the traditions won.

Trent has spent the last couple of hours following Santa-

we keep telling him he will be here soon!!

I hope we are all in bed asleep

I'M BACK

Yesterday while all the blogger kids & moms were here making gingerbread houses- we had an unexpected visitor.

This is a missionary who just got home from Chile 3 days previous.

His name is Brady & he lives about 1/2 hour away from us.

Brian sent him with a bag of presents.

What a delight!

This return missionary & our missionary were in the same city & even though they were not companions, they saw each other everyday. How thrilling- he saw Brian three days before this picture- wild. He said the very last thing Brian said to him was- go visit my family! It was so fun to visit with him & we love the presents. He got lots of hugs & saw a few tears, not too many... it was so sweet of him. We could tell he was still in a some culture shock & he had a hard time with some English words- but he says our missionary is doing great. He has a great attitude & makes things fun. He said he's healthy- & he wouldn't lie, right!?

What a fantastic Christmas present-

thank you so much for coming & thank you for sending him Brian.

Can you tell- ?

My computer is fixed!! woo hooo ~

thanks to WEnde's husband Rich!!

He is the computer whisperer & also the local hero.

So much to blog about-

Megan & Tony spent the night last night-

we watched hours of home video & laughed our heads off

making gingerbread houses- & so much more

It's been a fun, busy couple of days & today is

Christmas Eve!!

It looks like Trent may make it.?

He has been begging for days now- for just one present to open!

he goes from begging nicely- to begging angry- to it's not fair- to he's going to throw something- to he doesn't even want this dumb present- to oh please, begging nicely again-

every couple of hours

and you were wondering if we are having fun?

emotional

It was a beautiful Christmas program at church today.

I usually sing in the choir every Christmas. But for the last two years I have sat out. I just know I can't. I'm much too emotional. Christmas brings out so many feelings in me that I find it almost painful & wishing it would be over. Knowing what Mary & Joseph did to bring the Christ child into the world is so humbling & powerful to me, it almost puts me over the edge. As soon as I sat down in the pew I looked up to see another family in the congregation whose grown children & grandchildren were visiting. Upon that sight I started to cry. The meeting hadn't even really started. I couldn't help but think of all the lonely people in the world. I was overwhelmed at the thought of loneliness this Christmas. I certainly don't feel lonely- but I have a very, very,very tiny glimpse of how painful it would be, especially at Christmas time. I didn't stop crying until half way through the service. I fought the urge to go home. My thoughts went back to 5-6 years ago. Brett & I were to dinner with all our shopping/Christmas lists in hand- ready to organize. I found myself anticipating this very day. The day when we would be losing our children to adulthood one by one. It's a glorious thing to be a mother, but if you're good at it- you work yourself right out of a job. I knew even back then- I wouldn't handle it well. Brett reminded me we had 6 rambuncious children at home... I was being ridiculous & should mourn their leaving when they actually left. (If you are thinking I am crazy right now- call me when your kids start leaving- then tell me if you still think I'm crazy?)

I decided I needed to pull myself together. For heaven's sake- I am so blessed. I am surrounded by blessings. Health, strength, four beautiful children at home- two resposible children grown that I am so proud of ... seriously. So I pulled an idea out of my blogger's head from Jill & started to take notes. Thank you Jill. This was remarkable. I heard the message, and now I even remember it.

*It is by giving not getting that we feel the true spirit of Christmas

*A testimony of Christ or of the gospel never stands still. It is either growing or diminishing.

*Christmas is a time of good will to all men~ friends, strangers, even enemies.

*It is a selfish act to not partake of Christ's healing atonement.

*All year, any time, Christ is available & accessible.

I am grateful for this Christmas season.

I am grateful I am home with family.

I am so grateful for my knowledge of Christ, for His birth, for His sacrifice, for His example.

big snow

Today I went to work for the first time since I broke my ankle.

Luncheon for 104.

Not bad, not bad at all. It felt great to be back.

At least 24 people didn't show up because of all the snow.

Yep- we are getting dumped on today - tomorrow.There was at least 5 inches of snow to trudge through when I was done.

My Mary Jane's were filled.

When I got in the car, so much snow dropped in the door that the floor board & automatic window buttons were full of snow. I had to dig some snow out to roll down a couple of windows, getting the snow off.

My wipers were working great except for the strip right in front of my eyes. Why is that always the strip on the wipers to go out first?
I stopped to get milk & eggs- just in case.
It's supposed to snow all night & most of tomorrow.

I turned to go up my street & there was Chloe walking over to Caroline's.

Here's my street-
it's going to be a white Christmas!

I actually like driving in snow

-call me crazy-

(as long as I have good tires)

I don't like driving in ice!

Here's me in the garage.

I made it.

Brett had told me to call when I made it down the hill,

but there was no cell phone service the whole way home.

The true measure of how much snow is always the

back yard picnic table.

Looks like a good 10-12" to me.

Now that I'm all warm & cozy I'm too wimpy to go out & measure.

Is there snow at your house?

do you drive in it?

gingerbread kind of day- updated!

Today was a really busy day for me.

Besides making 65 gingerbread men & two batches of Royal icing-

with four preschoolers in the morning...

I did three loads of laundry, dishes, finished a huge Christmas project I've been working on for months, made dinner & went to the grocery store.

I also helped with Trent's school Christmas party.

It was a gingerbread theme.

How do I do it all?

I'll tell you how...

I don't shower or get dressed like a decent person.

I don't show up dressed in a Christmas sweater or even clean clothes to my son's class party.

Ya- I just throw on a sweatshirt, put my hair in a pony then look & smell like a bum.
The secret to my success~

I'm a slob.

You do realize that I am being sarcastic-that I feel like I failed & that I'm not a success at all. I got there & realized I forgot the most basic of things- TO GET DRESSED-for heaven's sake! All the other moms & PEOPle in the school looked all cute... I'm embarrassed- that was my point.

I'm thankful I didn't realize how bad I was until afterward.

Today Trent had a helper with his gingerbread house.

I was helping with the other mom's-

we helped the kids

1. pass out candy & frosting to decorate (graham cracker) gingerbread houses

2.read the gingerbread baby story

3. pass around milk & cookies

His speech teacher came in with a graduate student who sat down next to him & helped him get it together. I forget... that projects like this are hard for him. He gets overwhelmed. There is no right way to make a gingerbread house. I was stunned, again. I went over & asked, what the heck, not like that... but she assured me they were working on a speech concept (following directions) & helping with the gingerbread house at the same time.

It was actually great she was there.

He had fun, didn't get stressed or need excessive help or attention from me.

It was good- just you know...

Here's Jake with his house- darling!

All the kids had a blast.

Afterward Trent took his Christmas presents around to all his teachers, the librarian, secretaries, office aides, etc. It's good for him to practice salutations. Plus- all of these people play an important role in his success. You'd better believe I want them to like him & me. I truly appreciate them- every single one- for all the things they do & it is very important to me that they know that.

(just some of the left over candy!)

so it's been a great busy day & here I am blogging instead of cleaning up!
-gotta run-
how was your day?
did you make a gingerbread house this year?