Ho Ho Ho, Merry...

You all know the ending to this title - Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!! Well, Rachel has taken a new spin on this saying. She has been watching a Barbie movie lately - Barbie as Mariposa (or something like that). So, to Rachel, it's now...

Ho Ho Ho, Mari-posa!

Nativity Fun

Emily and Josh decided to put on their very own Nativity last night. It was so cute! I think they just copied some of what they saw at our Ward Christmas Party, but they did a great job! Emily really had to convince Rachel to participate (as a shepherd), and they brought all the stuffed animals to help too! They came up with the costumes on all on their own (mostly from the dress-up box). Here are some pictures:

Emily is Mary

Josh is Joseph (don't you love the bandana beard?)

Rachel is a very reluctant shepherd (I think she looks like an angel)

Josh is such a loving daddy!

Emily is a calm and loving mother (although there was a bit of a struggle over who got to hold the baby!)

(Caleb watched from the sidelines!)

Merry Christmas!!

Please Forgive Me...

I really need to change the background, seeing as how winter has hit full-force this week, but I just can't seem to find the time...

Maybe by the time winter is over, I'll get it changed!

You Know It's Bad When...

In Primary, leading the music on Sunday:
Girl (Emily's age): "Wow, you're really pale!"

Me: "Oh, that's usually the way I am."

Boy (Emily's age): "You're not that pale!"

Me: "Oh, well thank you!"

Same Boy: "Wow, now you're red!!"

I am officially self-conscious!!

I'm Thankful For...

This year, we tried something new to get the kids thinking about their blessings. We put a jar of candy on the counter, with a notebook by it. Anyone could have as much candy as they wanted, but for each piece of candy they took, they had to write down one thing they were thankful for. Let's just say Emily and Josh ate a lot of candy!!

Here are some of the things they wrote.
Emily: pinket (her pink blanket), yard, freedom, Jesus, earth, cheese, curlers, napkins, family
Josh: Jesus, blankets, naps (not sure if he's thankful to take them, or if he's thankful his younger siblings do!), Wii, earth, white blankey (the one Grandma L. made for him when he was born), spiders, Pepperidge Farm, MOM, weapons(???)

Emily and Josh wrote things for Caleb and Rachel, like milk, blankets, family, etc.

Who would have ever thought to be thankful for napkins, or spiders for that matter?!?!

I am so thankful for each of my kids. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about how lucky I am to be their mom. They are amazing!! They have such wonderfully strong spirits and I am humbled that I get to be a part of their lives!

And I love all of you, and am so thankful for each of you! I shudder to think where I'd be without you!