2010 Highlights

2010 has been a very difficult year in alot of ways. But I have learned that gratitude changes our whole focus and can turn our trials into triumphs. I choose to focus on the blessings...and they are many (in no particular order):

hawaii!!!

josh home

fh city council

selecthealth

jake- mini-bowl

maddy- nutcracker

hawaii

time-out for women (1st time) - SUCH an inspiration!

started Jazz

started snowboarding

student ward

hawaii

more homework, carpools, football, dance, piano, soccer, etc.

josh- started college

chad (my brother)- divorce :( (so sad but a huge part of our life right now)

10 lbs on

4-wheeling

heritage plaza

4.0 honor roll

cabin

ward split to webster meadows

jeremy (my brother) graduated from college!

improved on goals-fhe and fasting (tough one!)

5 lbs off

jake finished the book of mormon

snowhorse

chevelle done!

kjh

happiness project

trip to arches (jeff, jake, and maddy)

josh move in with great-grandma m

wsu

new callings-primary to rs and sunday school

5 lbs back on

Whew! No wonder I'm tired. But I am also SO blessed!

Welcome 2011!

A look-back on being "Proactive"

As you know, my "word" of focus for 2010 was PROACTIVE. As I look back on 2010 and evaluate how I did on accomplishing this goal, I am proud of my efforts. Despite some difficult circumstances and the year turning out differently than I had planned (as usual), I feel that I am learning to put the most important things first. Sometimes that means being surrounded by a messy house and chaos so that I can make a homemade dinner after work. Sometimes it means working late nights so that I can help my kids with something now. This is very hard for me in that I have to feel organized to be at peace. We live in a fast-paced, drive-in, get it now, do more-type world. There are always things to add to the to-do list and always someone to try and keep up with. But once again, I have been reminded what things are most important in my life - and that is my family. Are we perfect? Do we have family prayer and scripture study everyday? Family Home Evening every week? I wish!! But just the fact that I am trying, that I haven't given up, that I still want to - gives me hope. Although there is so much more I want to be, so much more I want to give my children and husband, and so much more I want to give the Lord, I am proud of myself for the efforts I have made. I haven't given up. I still believe in the importance of being proactive. I have tried being more organized so that I can be more proactive and plan opportunities for my family before time slips through my fingers. I continue to try. I still have a long ways to go but I am happy just that I am on the path. I feel I am more conscientious in my mothering, more deliberate, and because of that, more fulfilled. That is what I was striving for.

Tangled

Why is it that many important life's lessons, I learn from Disney? I'm not sure what that says about me but it seems I take away something meaningful every time I see one of their movies. I have always loved Disney movies! I love their simplicity and pureness and sharing that wonder with my children. And of course, most importantly, I love a happy ending! I've always been sappy that way. But this time, I really think Disney out-did even themselves.

Maddy and I went to see this movie about 3 weeks ago. We loved it so much, we went again yesterday while the boys went to a different movie we didn't care to see. As I watched it for the second time, new things came to me that I felt applied to my current state of life. First of all, I was so angry with Rapunzel's mother for not letting her ever leave the safety of their tower. It was so obvious to me how selfish her mother was being by not allowing her to experience the world, keeping her only to herself. But as I thought of that, I realized I have probably been alot like that in the past. I instantly remembered how scary it is to be the Mother and have to let one of your children "go" in a sense. It's especially frightening if we know they are fragile or vulnerable. Just as the movie portrays, the world can be a very scary place! Now hopefully I am not to the wicked stage that Rapunzel's mother is at in the movie, but I thought to myself that this is something that I need to continue to work out at, to be better at. It's been a long journey for me learning about parenting and free agency. I am learning how important it is to Heavenly Father's plan but it also takes a giant leap of faith for me because I want to protect my children from all those things that can hurt them. I need to continue to practice trust in a loving Heavenly Father who knows so much more than me and to place faith in my children that I love so much.

The other lesson I learned from the movie is to follow the light. For some reason, when seeing it this second time, it just hit home to me how her dream is signified by light. She shows courage and faith by following her dream, following the light. That was just such a powerful reminder to me to do the same. In the upcoming year, I hope to remember to always follow the light. If I do, I know my dream will end even more beautifully than Rapunzel's did. And as President Uchtdorf promised us in a talk earlier this year, we will all have our "happily ever after."

Christmas Memories

We had a wonderful holiday season and I enjoyed every minute of it! As always, we squeezed out every little minute we could, which means staying up until the wee hours of the morning and sleeping in whenever possible. Unfortunately, this can be difficult on me because I don't want to miss out on any action. I stay up late and then don't want to wake up in the morning (which is not all that unusual, I guess.) It's totally worth it, though, to have this special time with my family.

I feel such peace during this wonderful time of year. Life slows down (at least after all the shopping is done), people try to be kinder, we try to spend more time with those that matter most, and we put our troubles to the side, even if only for a time. It's amazing the happiness that comes when we focus on what matters most. This time of year, the whole world seems "right." I am so thankful for the season and the peace and hope it brings to my life.

Following are a few of our highlights caught on camera:

And others that may or may not have been:

food, family, and friends

snowboarding

Nutcracker

candlelight dinner

Daddy/daughter date - to dance performance and ice cream (Mom tagged along, too)

no snow = brown Christmas

new tradition - sharing the "light"

Tyrell's missionary farewell

no school/lessons/days off work

Maddy's own Christmas tree

late nights

Christmas Eve

Nativity pageant

new movies - Avatar, Inception, Prince of Persia, & Toy Story 3 (What would the holidays be without new videos to watch, right?)

chocolate!

good books

scented candles

no Christmas cards :(

weight sets

Just Dance 2 (Now THIS is what I've got to get pictures of! Watching people dance to the Wii game is hilarious! We had a blast and it was something everyone could do)

late mornings

And last and most importantly, celebrating the birth of our Savior and His gospel in our lives!

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas to all... and to all a good night!
What is wrong with this picture?? I forgot to take pictures of my kids in their Christmas jammies this year! That makes me so sad :( How did that happen?? I think Santa needs some sleep.

Christmas Eve and a Nativity Pageant

It has become a tradition that every year, we head to Tremonton on Christmas Eve to spend it with Jeff's extended family. Since we have been married, it has been tradition to have tacos for dinner on Christmas Eve. In more recent years, we have started re-enacting the nativity scene and singing "The Nativity Song" from Primary. It's fun to see the the kids graduate from Baby Jesus to Mary or shepherds or wisemen. This year, we had no baby to play Baby Jesus so Morgan (@ 21 yrs. old) played Jesus this year. Especially fun to see, are the costumes that Grandma has rounded up throughout the year. New this year is Jake's lovely gown (check that out!) and Gwen and Thea's angel dresses, which actually used to be worn by Teri and Tina.

I think this picture captures the whole gang?? As you can see, my boys think it is funny to pull a serious face in EVERY picture. Although I'm sure the parts they are playing are obvious (ha ha):

Josh (with the mop on his head) was Samuel the Lamanite

Jake was a wiseman

Maddy was Mary

After the mayhem of all of that, we exchange gifts. Grandpa even wears a Santa hat as he and grandma pass out their gifts to the grandchildren. We can't leave without opening our new "jammies." That has been a tradition from my family since I was little. (Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of my kids in their PJ's this year! I usually do that every Christmas morning in front of the tree. I'm so mad at myself!!) I love Christmas Eve and especially the ride home where I can picture in my mind that night in Bethlehem so long ago. I am so grateful for that and often wonder what it would have been like to be a witness to that miracle.

But I must say that my very favorite part of Christmas Eve is in the wee hours of the morning after everyone is asleep and it is just me and light Christmas music playing by the glow of the Christmas tree. Even though I am completely exhausted by this time in the season, I love this! This is such a peaceful time of reflection for me as I think of my children, our family, the year we have had, and the wonderful blessings we have in our life. For those few moments, everything seems alright in the world, knowing that my children our all snuggled in their beds (well, Josh's bed) safely. It's a time that I realize how truly blessed I am! No matter what my trials are at that point.

It makes me want to do more, be more, love more...

I think that is what the Christmas spirit is truly about.

The "Light" of Christmas...A New Christmas Tradition

As my children get older, I want so badly to give them the gift of the true spirit of Christmas. I want them to think of Christ -of his birth and more importantly, of the life he led and the example he gave us. I know that if they can capture that feeling, Christmas will be so much more meaningful and will leave lasting, heart-felt memories.

I am also learning the importance of traditions. Not only are they fun, but I think they empasize the importance of certain things and bind families together in a way that nothing else can.

It was with these goals in mind that I set off to try to make Christmas a little different this year- more about "Christ" and less about "mas" (which means more.) I'm not sure how successful I was but I do feel good about one thing we did - a special candlelight dinner. My Mom always used to make candlelight dinners for really special occasions so I had thought of doing a special Christmas dinner for several years. Well this year, I finally did it! I was also given a neat idea at our RS Enrichment Christmas dinner that I incorporated into our dinner. I sent out an invitiation to everyone inviting them to a special, candlelight dinner the Sunday before Christmas. We had ham and potatoes, which we all love. After dinner, I gave everyone a candle. We all sat in a circle with another candle sitting in the center. Each family member took a turn lighting their candle and as they did, everyone else said something nice about that person. What a powerful experience! I hope my children felt the same Spirit in that room that I did. I know things like this can be awkward at times but I was really proud of everyone for coming up with creative things to say and really putting thought and feeling into it. It's amazing how hearing just a few good things about yourself can really lift you! And I know each of us needed that (probably more than we even knew.) I believe it helped in healing hearts and binding love. I hope it's something my children remember and cherish for years to come. It is definitely a tradition I want to carry forward.

Ballet West Presents The Nutcracker

Ballet West Presents...The Nutcracker After being in the Clytie Adams Nutcracker for 3 years, we decided it was time to take these cute girls to Ballet West's version at Capitol Theater.

I must admit that after seeing the Nutcracker about 6 times already this year, I was not super excited to go. But I ended up having a great time. I just love being with Maddy and am once again, so grateful to have a daughter to share these things with. (Let me tell you, it is no picnic trying to talk the boys into going to things like this...not even when their sister is in it!) But on top of spending time with my Maddy, I love being able to watch her interact with her friends. There is nothing I love more than hearing the giggles of little girls. It is so fun watching them get along and just loving being together. They have so much fun together! Good friends can truly "lift" us. I know these are memories she will always treasure.Bottom picture L to R: Maddy, Libby, & Brea

Side note: It was actually Claire's (a fellow dancer) mom that organized this little outing but were unable to attend at the last minute, due to a unplanned family vacation. But we were thrilled to have Libby, as she goes to a different school now so the girls hadn't seen her in several months.