Serendipity

So, yesterday I was reading my scriptures and when I went to look up a cross reference, I accidentally turned to the wrong chapter...and came across exactly what I needed to hear.

I love Paul. He was brave. He was pragmatic. He was blunt. His words made me laugh because it's what I would want to tell a friend who was in my position, but might be too polite to actually say. And then I teared up because I'm so grateful that with everything that goes on in this busy world, God still takes the time and knows me well enough to encourage me through a rough spot and to remind me that it's what He thinks that really matters. Thanks. I needed that.

Cool

Tonight as I was putting some ketchup on Alaina's plate for her, she asked why I was doing that. I told her because I knew she wanted some and because I am the coolest mom ever.

"You're not cool," she said.

"I think I do lots of cool things," I replied.

"Like when you teach me ballet? That's cool."

"Yes, like that."

"But mom, you're not cool. I'm cool."

"Well, you are cool because you get it from me and your cool dad!"

"No," she said thoughtfully. "You're not cool because I took all your cool."

Hmmm. Maybe so... but I think the end product was worth it.

Had ourselves a merry little Christmas...

"'Twas the night before Christmas..."

There was anticiaption....

...and a little excitement!

My favorite quotes from the kids this Christmas:

"Christmas is the BEST holiday of the year! And this is the best Christmas EVER!!" -Ben (8)

"I just knew Santa was bringing me a play kitchen but I didn't

tell myself because I wanted it to be a surprise!" -Alaina (3)

"Uhyuhyuhagldadada!" -Caleb (364 days)




 

And my personal favorite: "You'd better stop it or Santa will put you on the naughty list." -Alaina to Ben

"Santa is not even watching right now. He's still delivering presents. He won't be watching us again until January." -Ben to Alaina

Hope your days were merry, and bright!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Zzzzs

Introducing the latest and most cutting edge in bedtime parenting techniques -It's called:
Putting the baby to sleep...

...by example.

Investigation

"Who me? What is what?..."

"What, this? In my mouth?...."

"It's a really, really, really BIG jingle bell, of course! It's Christmastime. What else would it be?! (Grownups ask the silliest questions...)

Ben's Baptism

This was some amazing weekend. Thanks B & V for making the looooooong, not-so-scenic trip. We sure loved sharing Ben's special day with you. Thanks for all the fun, cousin time - let's do it again soon!

9 kids + 2 days + 1 small house = not much sleep and a whole lotta fun!!

Hanna Barbera, the Bard and the Babe

Remember this episode of Tom and Jerry? The sitter is talking on the phone and the baby makes a b-line for the great outdoors and crawls all over creation with Tom risking life and limb to save him? I say "him" because I happen to know that baby was a boy...and his name was Caleb!

Every time a door opens - front, back, garage, whatever - that kid's face lights up and he tears over to try to make it out before anyone can snag him. I have a very clear mental picture from that cartoon of the baby's little backside waggling back and forth as he crawled down the sidewalk and I have seen it repeated several times now in real life, but at about twice the speed.

"O wonder!

How many goodly creatures
 are there here!

How beautious mankind is!

O brave new world,

        That has such people in't!"

(Yeah, he's partial to Shakespeare, this one..."Na na na na na, you can't catch me...")

Even just coralled in the back yard the other day, he managed to crawl through the knees of his first pair of pants - definitely an important milestone in any boy's life.

There's a whole lotta world out there to see, buddy, but for now, please just wait a minute. I'll get my shoes and then we'll go take a look at it all together.