Christmas Recap

Annual gingerbread houses at the Smart cabin.

Christmas eve pinata.

Christmas morning.

Christmas breakfast at our house.

Dear Family

Dear Family,

First of all, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all you have done for me and your unwaivering love and support. So many times people have said, "Aren't you glad you have such a great family." Yes! I am. I think almost everyday, what would I do if I didn't have these crazy, wonderful people in my life, especially right now.

What I really want to say, though, is I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being grumpy, ornery, and an all around sour puss at times. I promise I realize it and I promise I'm trying not to be. Thank you for bearing with me and just know I don't mean to be unkind. I love you all and I'm really trying to show it, though sometimes I don't. I'm a work in progress.

Love,

Me

appreciation

Ever feel unappreciated for the cooking, cleaning, dressing, feeding, bathing, etc. that you do for your kids? I have the perfect solution to help you feel appreciated and you can borrow him anytime: Logan.

I was just finishing sweeping and mopping our wood floors the other day which cover the majority of our upstairs, you know, the real kind of sweeping and mopping where you move furniture around. Hard work. Up comes Logan from downstairs where he had been playing. He stops. Eyes widen. He exclaims enthusiastically and amazed:

"Wow, mom, good job cleaning! Good job! Mom! Really good job cleaning."

Over and over he exclaims as he circles around the room staring at the shining floors.

I felt so appreciated...that is until I began to think, hmmmm, has it really been that long for these floors.

christmas eve eve

Hello Christmas eve eve, nice to meet you. We had a fantastic time with you today while we...

went on a walk with grandpa,

hung out with cousins,

kissed babies,

read books,

ate pizza,

and most of all, became more and more excited for CHRISTMAS!!!!

nugget

How about this for a lovely little scriptural nugget I came across last night:

2 Nephi 22:2 'Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation."

Fitting and timely...just what I needed.

again, you know

a million thanks for:

computer help

entertaining my kids

shoveling my snow

christmas treats

temple dates

shedding tears when I can't

hugs & hugs

girl's nights

diapers

messages

flowers

loving my kids

and more

and more

and more

Christmas Program

Ella had the privilege of having a small speaking part in the elementary school christmas program. She was nervous, wore her best dress, went to school in tears, but pulled through in a major way. I have to admit, I got a little bit teary while filming it. She's adorable. For your viewing pleasure...

Nativity

Annual rendition of Christmas Nativity with Mortons (sadly missing Smarts this year).

We take turns dressings up as the different characters and ended up going

through it 3 times so everyone had a chance at everything. Landon made a great

shepherd! And notice the fancy shmancy wise women (Katrina, Ella, and I)

in the top middle, oh yeah!

Logan Lib

Here are a few key points from a conversation I had with Logan this afternoon on my bed where he was in a rambling mood and controlling the flow of the conversation:

"I don't like to throw up in your bed." (Hallelujiah. If only not liking translated into not doing.)

"I don't want to eat your hair." (ehh?)

"Jesus is my buddy." (Good choice for a buddy.)

"Only you are my sweetheart." (Ahhhh.)

Nerd

Nerdy!

Nerdier!

Nerdiest!

Nothing like a Christmas Sweater Party to kick off the Christmas season. You might like to note in picture #2 that I am not actually sitting on anything. That is my attempt not to look like such a giantess next to super hostess Amanda. I tried and failed I'm afraid.

time management

I hate to admit this, but during the winter months sometimes my kids don't get bathed as often as they should. Maybe it's because there isn't as much dirt and grime begging to be cleaned like there is in the summer, but most likely it's probably just the fact that bathing 4 little kids is kind of a long, drawn out process that I just can't seem to find the time for. I think we've come up with something to speed things along though. The boys sure seemed to like it.

comfy cozy

Some super lovely ladies brought over these comfy jammies for the kids today. Though it was only 3:00 or so when they got them, they insisted upon wearing them the rest of the day. It was difficult for me to resist the urge to join them in their pj wearing in the middle of the afternoon. Notice Ella had to pose next to the snowman because she has snowmen on her pajamas, Lincoln insisted on holding the toy gun because he has fighter planes and tanks on his, Logan had just woken up from a nap so we were lucky to just get the smile out of him, and Landon, well, he's happy just sitting and watching.

you know who you are

Thank you for...

borrowed laptops

listening ears

leaf raking

hugs

smiles

food, both nourishing and yummy

cards

snow shoveling

babysitters

texts

phone calls

emails

gifts

offers of help

laughs

kind words

etc.

etc.

etc.

We feel so blessed and loved.

all 4

Yes, folks, all 4 kids sat on Santa's lap this morning at our ward party.  You might not think that is much of an accomplishment, but you sure would if you had seen them last year.

Ella asked for a Rapunzel Barbie,

Lincoln "reminded" Santa about the Legos he wanted,

Logan asked for "a present" (easy enough),

and Landon just looked really big.

How did we spend the rest of our Saturday?

Sliding down stairs in snow pants,

building a pirate snowman, 

putting up more Christmas lights (thanks Dad!), 

going to Tangled, 

playing hide-and-seek, 

and singing Christmas songs.

Side note:  When we got home from the Christmas Party this morning, Logan says, "Mom, I saw christmas tree."  Based on some background information that I had gained in previous conversations, I asked, "You saw Santa Claus?."  He pauses for a moment, then, "Yes, Santa Clause."  I don't think there is another 2-year-old out there who would actually mistakenly call Santa Claus christmas tree, but I take it in stride for this is the same kid who points out the window at the horses and says, "Look, mom, elephants!" 

who wouldn't

Who wouldn't...

be proud to be the mother of these beauties.

thank Heavenly Father every day for them.

laugh at the craziness and silliness that surrounds them.

love them to pieces.