"I did you happy!"

Rex came to me just before dinner, "I wash my hands. I did you happy!"  He was so cute I praised him and scooped him up for a hug and kiss.

 

Minutes later, with a sparkle in his eye, Hyrum came and with a twinkle in his I exclaimed, "I did you happy!"  Recognizing the plea for attention and love, I scooped him up for a hug and a kiss and told him, "Yes, Hyrum, you did me happy!"

 

(We put in our "final answer" for paint colors today.)

Why I choose to be a Say-at-home-Mom

From the mouth of my 12-year-old boy just minutes ago,

 

"Mom, I'm so glad you are always here to give me a hug."

 

Because whether or not I chose to stay home as a Mom, I'd still have to take a child to the ENT when he puts a bead in his ear. 

 

Choosing to stay home as a mother, is choosing to be home when the joyous moments occur.

Happy Moments

 I don't know how we got this picture from nursery, but it was on my phone.  The nursery leaders LOVE these little guys.  One of them is the high school basketball coach and so they spend a lot of time doing what they love most---dribble, dribble, shoot.  The song leader tells me about every week how cute they are singing the songs. 

 

One of the days this week was particularly draining.  I need what I saw when I went to make sure everyone was tucked in for the night: 

 

I was 90% sure Bryant was the culprit, but when I showed Talmage the picture, he said the last thing he remembers was putting it on his head and wondering if he would fall asleep that way.  Double laugh.

A couple times this week I have been so pleased with the kids playing nicely together.  The day Sariah was home with a cough, she did a great job helping the little guys with play dough.  This morning, I caught Rex and Lyle playing blocks together.  Observing my children's goodness to one another is one of my greatest joys and satisfactions as a mother.

 

BIG week at the house: electricity, water, insulation, and sheet rock!  YEAH!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This morning we said our last good-byes to Uncle Vard and Aunt Laryn.  For the last few days, everyone has been trickling out the door.  It was such a fun time having EVERYONE together.  As the family grows, I'm afraid the times we will ALL be together will become more and more rare.

Kase and Brielle flew in on the 21st and we were all able to go to the temple together.  Dad did Grandpa Webb's endowment work and James and I were the witness couple.  Laryn had babies Mia and Libby on the outside, so we still have one and a couple spouses to be complete.  Afterwards we celebrated Mom's birthday at Texas Roadhouse.

For FHE two days before Christmas, since the living room was under construction, we went down to Matsamura's place (we're still calling it that) for the annual nativity.  Blaire, Kioa, and Laryn helped the kids put on the best nativity skit we have had in a long time.  They had memorized parts and songs.  Afterwards, I shared The Living Christ, and then we came back for Rootbeer floats.

The day of Christmas Eve, James got all of our Reindeer Tracks delivered to our new neighbors.  The kids did most the work.  I think more and more of the Rolos were disappearing near the end.

 "One day 'til Christmas" Rex doesn't even realize

what he is counting down to, but he loves numbers.

                                                                                                                                     

        

I finished up James's pajamas on Christmas Eve and everyone had their new jammies for the big day.

Christmas Eve was the traditional and favorite Polar Express.  Not too hard to get kids to bed on Christmas Eve.  All four of the big kids were up by 2:30.  By about 7am, Bryant was finishing up the assembly of his Galactic Titan.  Probably most memorable about Christmas day was the evening sock wrestling.  Just about everyone participated, and EVERYONE got into the very loud cheering.

James spent at least part of every day working on the house.  Including Christmas and New Year's.  We missed him, but he made a lot of progress including passing our electrical inspection.  They will be finishing up the insulation and starting the drywall this week.

We spent the holidays staying up late and getting up late.  Even Rex and Lyle were sleeping until about 7:30.  It was great!  My favorite times are visiting with brothers, sisters, in-laws, and mom and dad. 

On our last day all together, mom arranged for us to go swimming.  James took a time out from his construction to come and be with the family.  He made it fun especially for Rex and Lyle.

Talmage learning to dive---he did get better.

 

Bryant

Sariah hanging with the girls and babies.

 

Hyrum hanging with the food.

 

This was a picture I didn't get in before.  The best Christmas program I have been to in a very, very long time.  Talmage is the kneeling wiseman, and Bryant is in the top row of the primary choir.  Sariah and Hyrum are in there somewhere  too.

Heat Wave

Yesterday it broke 40 degrees.  I bundled up the boys and sent them out the door soon to follow.  In the few minutes it took me to get outside they had taken off their coats, boots, and socks and were jumping on the trampoline in bare feet!  Oh, and Hyrum had his swim goggles on!  Ever since, these guys have been running around like this:

 

 Yes, Rex was "coloring" behind my back.

 

Goggles come in handy when trying to keep orange juice spray out of your eyes.

A good laugh.

 

Getting ready to publish blog for Christmas 2014 and didn't have any Christmas pictures.  Adding these in last minute:

 

Talmage's role as a Wiseman in the ward Christmas program.

(Bryant was dying in his choir boy costume.)

A prouder moment of Bryant's

 2013 Christmas Eve Jammies.

Visiting St. Nick

The Primary put on a Polar Express Breakfast and since I was within 18 hours of being under Versed, James took our gang to the festivities.

 

He didn't know how the little guys would take to sitting on Santa's lap, so while he was strolling around the breakfast, James took these first few snapshots.  Lyle's expression in classic.

The others knew exactly what to do... 

 

 Hyrum actually came home completely distraught.  In tears he crumbled to the floor and exclaimed, "It took me 5 minutes to try and tell Santa what I wanted and he still didn't understand!"

He wants Lash's Bite Cycle (a lego)---have no idea why Santa couldn't get that one.

 

 Turned out, Rex threw the fit and Lyle warmed right up to Santa.

 

Every time we talk about Santa now, Rex holds up all the fingers on both hands and exclaims,

"Santa give me lots and lots of candy!"

The Beginning and the End

This afternoon, we saw Bryant play his first game of the season, and Talmage play his last.  Both of their teams won, Talmage's had an exciting comeback.  Both Talmage and Bryant scored.  I sure enjoy watching them.

After Talmage's game, all my kids headed to the vending machine.  I ended up carrying out a 30 lb. kicking and screaming kid in each arm, one yelling, "I want money."  Oh, and Hyrum was crying behind us because for some reason the machine wouldn't dish out the starburst.

James just got home.  He showed me pictures of our shattered pipes---that have never even been used.