Peace

My Christmas decorations are officially in their bins waiting to be taken downstairs!!!! YIPEE!!!! And, the living room has been re-arranged, how lovely to start the new year with everything back in it's place and clean!

We are also finally home. We've made 2 trips to Denver in the last week. The first was to go to the Mobley Family Christmas Dinner, which was nice until Phillip delivered the contents of his stomach onto me...then we had to leave; which was sad because we had a good time talking to Becky and Christy (among others). We also left KatieJo with my parents for a few days (they came to our house for Christmas). Then after Christmas my parents took Samuel home with them. WOW was our house quiet!!!

With the playroom downstairs and 1 child missing...there was PEACE in our house! We didn't hear any fighting, no yelling and the other two that were home played SO nice!

I think we'll have to do that more often!!!

Do you hear what I hear?

I sure hope you don't hear what I do. Right before Maija was born KatieJo, Phillip and I went to the music store with my mother-in-law. On the way out KatieJo saw a pink and teal recorder and said that she'd like one. Well, since she hadn't really told me what she wanted for Christmas I made the decision to buy her one. And since I got her one, I of course had to get an orange one for Samuel and a blue on for Phillip. What a WISE decision that was! They have REALLY enjoyed them, but I'm sure I'll be sick of them soon enough!! (If you can't see in the picture, that's a recorder Phillip is trying to get Stuart to play.)

They also each got a pair of Crocs, which they've been dying for. And, they got a play room in the basement; we covered the floor in those mats you can put down in garages etc. I think the play room is more for me and my sanity, however they think it's great and they don't have to keep it quite as clean as they do thier rooms. They spent a large part of the morning moving all of their toys down stairs.

It's tradition in my family to have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. So, I spent the vast majority of the day yesterday cooking; and Stuart put the Turkey in at 12:30 with the plan to eat at about 5:30. Mind you our stove/oven is HORRIBLE. It is the only appliance the previous owners left in the house, and it is very clear as to why they left it. The oven door doesn't shut quite all the way and we had to buy a thermometer to find out what they temperature is. So, 6:30 rolled around last night and the turkey still wasn't done. So we opened presents instead (another tradition in my family much to Stuart's chagrin). Thankfully the turkey was done by 7:30 and so we had a REALLY late dinner, and no pie because we were stuffed by that time. We did drink egg nog while reading the Christmas story from the scriptures. We'll have pie this afternoon. This morning we had an awesome brunch, we had ham, a special egg dish and cinnamon rolls...YUM!

We have been very blessed this Christmas season, and we are very grateful that we have the opportunity to spend it with our family!

We hope you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

1 Month old!

I can't believe Maija is already a month old! She had her check-up last Thursday (I'm a little late in getting her 1 month picture taken, but she's not quite 5 weeks old yet so I'm ok). She still doesn't weigh 8 pounds, but the doctor says as long as she's gaining weight she's ok.

Isn't she a beautiful baby? It's ok if you don't think so, but I'd appreciate you lying to me...LOL

We saw Santa!!

We FINALLY saw Santa tonight. We spent the evening at the High School Faculty Family Christmas party. And of course Santa showed up. Phillip kept saying "Oh yeah, oh yeah" then we got to his turn and as you can see above, Stuart put him on Santa's lap and he started screaming. So, we didn't get any individual pictures of him and Santa. Samuel and KatieJo have been dying to see Santa and each spent some quality time on Santa's lap.
Both kids wrote letters to Santa at school and so when I mentioned to them that they should write letters they were fairly appaled. I did call their teachers and ask for copies. However, I did ask what they asked for. KatieJo's was pretty much what she told me...her own suitcase, a watch and a hairbox she saw at WalMart. Samuel on the other hand shocked me...he wants a B-B- gun. I blame Stuart's brother James for his desire for one. I'm not a big fan of guns and so for me it's not such a good gift (and he's not going to get one anytime soon).
I guess we'll see whether Santa grants their wishes for their gifts!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Concert

The time has finally come. KatieJo and Samuel have been practicing for weeks (more KatieJo than Samuel). The Mountain View Elementary School's Christmas Concert was this evening, and if I do say so myself they did a great job.

It was a little wierd for us to sit back and watch as for the last 3 years he's been running the Christmas program and I've been playing the piano. The music teacher is very laid back, and so that was interesting as well.

I've also included this picture of Phillip because he attempted to put on his own carmax today (hence the glob of yellow stuff on his chin). We've been having dry lips here in good Ol' Wyoming, and he decided that he needed some too. Doesn't he look so cute (and very devilish)?

Wordful Wednesday

I'm not altogether sure it is truly a Christmas Carol as in my opinion a Christmas Carol is one that is sung by many every year (such as for caroling). However, I LOVE the song Breath of Heaven written by Chris Eaton and Amy Grant.

The song was written in 1992 and was part of Amy Grant's second Christmas album entitled Home for Christmas. Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) was the biggest hit on the album. The song is written from Mary's view of the nativity story. Amy Grant was pregnant at the time it was written and said that "she was inspired by her pregnancy to reflect on Mary's struggle."

The focus of most Christmas carols is Christ, which of course is appropriate. However, there were a lot of struggles going on at the time of Christ's birth. As a mother I find Mary's struggle hits close to home. I don't know if Mary really realized what was to become of the baby that she carried, but I think she knew how important he was just not quiet the reason why.

The lyrics written here are Amy Grant's version. According to one website I visited, Chris Eaton changed the lyrics to take out most references to Mary.

Breath of Heaven

I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I’ve done
Holy Father, You have come
And Chosen my now to carry your Son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now.

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven

Do You wonder when You watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am for the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be strong
Help me be strong, help me

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness, for You are holy

Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven

Guilty

I'm starting to feel a little bit guilty....I just realized that Christmas is in a few weeks and my children have yet to see Santa. Our ward's Christmas party is on the 20th which is where I assumed they'd get to see Santa, however due to the fact that Stuart has an out-of-town swim meet that day I was going to take the kids and drive to Denver (and leave one of them there as my parents are coming up for Christmas). The Mobley family (extended family) Christmas dinner is on Sunday the 21st and so we'll be in Denver anyway. Hopefully I'll be able to go to the Mall and have them see Santa.

Anyone want to dress up and come visit my kids so they can tell you want the want for Christmas?

Happy Holidays

The four most beautiful children ever....well ok, I'll concede that there are beautiful children throughout the world. However, mine are pretty darn beautiful (and yes that is a biased opinion). We decorated the house today, and as we were decorating I heard a crunching sound...which happened to be Phillip biting a light off of the string of lights and chewing them. We don't think he swallowed any...thank goodness but YUCK!

I included the below picture because I meant to put it up before Thanksgiving as that is when it was taken, but alas life happened and so it wasn't posted. The tuesday before Thanksgiving my brother-in-law's two girls (Annie and Ellen) came to visit Grandma and Grandpa and so we had Catherine (Rachel's daughter) come stay the night with us as well. So, being the "cool" Aunt and Uncle that we are we took everybody to Reed's Dairy. They have the best ice cream in Idaho Falls (not that we really know that, but we like it). KatieJo is on the far left, then Ellen Mobley, Catherine Crumpley, and Annie Mobley. (KatieJo, Annie and Catherine are all the same age). They enjoyed their ice cream treat, and Stuart and I enjoyed the comments people made such as "you have such a beautiful well behaved family." They were well behaved, and they had a great time together.

Decorating

The excitement in our home is growing! The anticipation of Christmas is almost too much to bear!
I've ordered several Christmas presents online and we had several boxes arrive today. KatieJo and Samuel are most anxious to find out what is in those boxes and weren't very thrilled to find out that I wasn't going to share that information with them.
Tomorrow we are going to have a nice breakfast consisting of chocolate chip pancakes, eggs and possibly bacon and then we are going to decorate the house for Christmas. KatieJo and Samuel are THRILLED! They've been waiting all week, and I've been fighting a cold so the decorating hasn't happened yet.
Our only plans for tomorrow are to decorate, and hopefully it won't take all day so that we can just relax as well. It's been a crazy last few weeks and we are looking forward to a quiet day at home.

HOME!

We're home! Finally! We thought we were waiting on an Interstate Compact Agreement (which I might add the people in charge of those in Boise, ID weren't sure we'd need in the first place because we are related to Maria which means we are related to Maija other than being her adoptive parents). So, Sunday Stuart and KatieJo headed home because we hadn't heard anything. About 10 on Monday morning I got a call from the lawyer saying we really didn't need it and that I could go home. I was ready to leave with Samuel, Phillip and Maija by 11, but what do you know...I couldn't find my keys. I hadn't gotten much sleep Sunday night so I was almost in tears when I realized that my keys were locked in the van.

My WONDERFUL brother-in-law William came out and tried to get them out but alas I ended up calling a lock-smith. It was the best $35 I've ever spent! We were on the road by 1:30 after stopping to get gas etc. and we got home at 8:00. We had dry roads the entire way, which I am grateful for! Maija only wanted to eat once, which is probably why she was up a little bit more on Monday night. But hey, I was in my own bed which made it a little easier!

I am so glad to be home. I enjoyed being at my in-law's house, but it's always nice to come home again!