Christmas Eve Dinner

Every Christmas Eve the family has dinner together.  I think this is my favourite night of the year!  This year Logan and I were the hosts.

Lara made 40 delicious cupcakes for us.

Serviette rings

Jethro carving his “Lamb on the spit”

The food was DELICIOUS and it was wonderful to have everyone there.

Orin and his cousin enjoying Christmas dinner together

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours.
May you feel our Saviour’s love at this wonderful time of this year.

Orin and his Dad.

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard.  Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass."  "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply.  "We're raising boys."  ~Harmon Killebrew



You will find that if you really try to be a father, your child will meet you halfway.  ~Robert Brault.


Orin adores his Daddy.

Chace and Ruby-Lynn's Wedding

Chace and Ruby were married today.  It is wonderful to have a new sister-in-law in the family. It is taking some getting used to, having the same name but it is funny also.  It was the first wedding that I have attended where the civil ceremony was not necessary because temple marriages have now been recognised here.

The children and I in the temple grounds after the ceremony.

A few of the cousins sitting by the nativity scene

Orin loved the donkey

All the male family members

The beautiful wedding cake.  The amateur photographer didn't do it justice!

Two little shorties burning up the dance floor.

Aidan's Goodbye

On Monday we went to visit Aidan's Squirrel teacher, Mrs. R.  It was a bittersweet goodbye for me.  Aidan is moving to a new school and all that that brings.  It was sad too, because he has been there for the past two years and it has been a building, good experience for him.  Thank you Mrs. R for your care and concern for Aidan.  We knew he was in good hands.

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Brothers

On Saturdays we try and do something to fix the house and I decided that it was time to turn the boys bedroom around.  We put Jesse on Aidan's bed.  After a while he started to moan.  Aidan jumped onto the bed and started to talk to him.

He calmed right down and listened to his big brother talking to him.

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.  ~Marc Brown

It snowed last year too:  I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea.  ~Dylan Thomas

It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on!  ~Author Unknown

My Birthday

My birthday was on the 28th.  I was SO spoiled.  Logan said that he didn't have a present for me because he wanted to take me shopping BUT when I woke up on my birthday there was note on the desk with a laptop underneath!  Kyle gave me a bar-one (a favourite from when I was pregnant with him).


In the afternoon I took the children to Lara's house.  We share the same birth date and it was really nice to sit and watch the children swimming and enjoying each other's company.

Especially for Carol

It was a little chilly on Saturday night and I took the opportunity to let Jesse wear the beautiful jersey Carol made for him.  Thanks again Carol!!

Aidan the director.

Aidan was so cute tonight.  We had an impromptu sing-along concert after scripture reading and Aidan was telling everyone who they should be.  I was Mary, Orin was the angel, Kyle was the donkey and then he said, "Dad you can be Joseph and build a carpet because Joseph was a carpenter."  It was so hard not to laugh too much!

Home Photo Shoot

New Blog

I have started a new blog. I am trying to post one photo a day. You can find the link in the top right hand corner under "365 photos"

Favorite photo from last week:

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Very dry, waiting for the first rains. All plants starting to bloom.

One of my simple pleasures:
Hanging up the washing with the smell of jasmine in the air


On my bedside table:
Box of tissues, scriptures and a children's story book

On my TV:
Bee movie

On the menu for tonight:
Toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches

On my To Do List:
Finish folding washing and sweep the floors. Rest

New Recipe I tried last week:
Microwave fudge. It was so good we had to try it three times more.


Looking forward to:
Logan coming home

Homemaking Tip for this week:
Always clean up children spills straight away otherwise they become dry and crusty and take double the time to clean up :-)

Jesse has his first cold

Last night Jesse woke up with an awful 'croupy' sounding cough. Even after having 4 children I can't stand the sound and it sends me into a panic. I couldn't even ask Logan to give Jesse a blessing because he was on patrol with the local Community Policing Forum from 2am -4am. So I took him to stand in the bathroom with the shower running. (Didn't really think about keeping the earth green when my child couldn't breathe).

This morning I took him to the doctor and all was fine. Let's see how tonight goes......

Bath Time

When Jesse was born he absolutely hated bathing. He would scream from the minute the first popper was unpopped until he was fully dressed again. Just 3 short months later and he is loving it!

Saturday morning with Dad

I went and got my hair cut on Saturday and Logan had to look after the children.

Spring arrives in Springs (ha ha I am so funny).

Kyle's Priesthood Ordination

Kyle became a Deacon on the 16th of August, 2009. It was a very proud moment for us.

Jesse's Blessing

As you can see, having all the folks over is hard work.

Awake:

Yawning:

Asleep:

Should have posted about this ages ago but time seems to run out very quickly with 4 children in the home!

Jesse received his name and blessing on Sunday 2nd August.

Today

I saw this on one of my favourite blogs "Chez Larson" and thought it would be fun to try.

Today...

Outside my window...A winter garden.

I am thinking...About the chocolate chip cookies in the oven. Mustn't forget them.
I am thankful for...A husband that helps me so much with the little ones.

From the kitchen...The cookies, but no supper yet. Better start that soon.

I am wearing...Denims, white long sleeved shirt and pink and white stripey sweatshirt and my Nikes.
I am creating...Finished some cushion covers yesterday. Guess that doesn't count.

I am going...To make supper and refold everything in the baby drawers.
I am reading...Captain Correlli's Mandolin

I am hoping...To get some sleep tonight :-)

I am hearing...The children are running around outside. They have just come to tell me that there are blossoms on the apricot tree.

Around the house...Started out tidy. Now it is a big mess.

One of my favourite things...The laptop my mom just gave me.
A few plans for the rest of the week...Baking, shopping for a baby shower, decluttering.
A picture to share...All I can say is that Blogger is driving me crazy. If anyone can tell me how to move a picture to where I want it, please TELL me!

Jesse - 5 weeks old

This little guy has really captured our hearts.

Even Orin has started giving him kisses and hugs. At first he wanted nothing to do with his new brother. He would tell me to put the baby on the floor. Needless to say, things are going much better on that front.

Scary things that shouldn't see the light of day

My old chemo wig being one of them :-)

Orin was petrified....

FHE Treat

Our treat for family home evening was a Lemon meringue pie. Aidan loves to help in the kitchen and this time he especially loved the "lick". (That's what we call the leftovers in the bowl)