We are having a bit of a thaw today. It rained all night and the temperatures are actually getting to the 40's today so a lot of the snow is melting. We took advantage of the thaw to take down Christmas lights and clean up the yard a little bit. The highlight of it all; however, has been playing basketball with the new hoop that Grandma and Grandpa Powell gave the kids for Christmas. Dad put it together last night and the kids have been having fun playing today. We are enjoying the break in the cold. It is supposed to get to 50 degrees tomorow and then Sunday will be back in the 20's with snow starting again early next week. It has been a wonderful day to be outside. The kids started outside today with gloves and hats but they didn't last long. After about 10 minutes outside they were saying how hot it was and shed all coats, hats, and gloves. It is amazing how 40 degrees feels warm to us now!
We took the kid to the John Johnson homethis morning. It is located about 30 minutes away in Hiram, Ohio. This is the home that the Prophet Joseph and his family stayed for some time after having to leave Kirtland. John Johnson and his wife gave up their bedroom for Joseph's office and the Church Headquarters. It was in this room where 16 revelations (sections) of the Doctrine and Covenants were received including Sections 1, 76, and 131. In receiving section 76 God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. It was also in this home where the angry mob broke in and took Joseph from his bed, dragged him outside, and tarred and feathered him. They also did this to Sidney Rigdon as well. Sidney; however, sustained further damage because as the mob dragged him out by his feet and his head bounced many times on the frozen ground. He was never the same after the tar and feathering because of the brain damage he received.
The Spirit in this home was so strong as we read Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24. I know the Prophet saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know Christ lives. I know our church is led by a living prophet today. What a blessed people we are. We are so grateful we could go to this sacred home to learn and strengthen our testimony of the Lord's work on this earth.
We went to a park about 10 minutes from our home to go sledding. There were 2 different hills: the big hill was about 200 yards long and the smaller hill was about 75 yards long. They even have a fire going in one area with benches surrounding it so you can warm up if you need to. And, the best part of it all is that it is completely free to everyone! It was awesome and we all had a great time. When we first got there we discovered a family from our ward was there and it just happened to be Sammy's friend, Brooks. Those two boys flew down the big hill so many times but we were never able to get Sammy on video. Gideon was asleep in his carseat the whole time so I even got to go down a few times. We will definitely do this again!
Gideon is 2 months old today. He continues to bring such a calming influence to the home. He is beginning to smile; however, we have yet to capture these precious moments on camera yet. When we hold him close to us and talk to him it is as if he is trying to hard to tell us something and just can't get any sounds to come out. It won't be long before we will be hearing his coos and other small noises. Some of the things I love about Gideon at this stage in his life include:
*He grasps my shirt when I hold him against my chest and will fall asleep this way. He has quite the grip and sometimes I have to open his hand so I can lay him down.
*Sometimes when he is sleeping he will make sucking motions with his lips. It is just so cute.
*He will turn towards me if he hears my voice. Often if he is a little fussy all I need to do is call to him from wherever I am and he will calm right down as long as I am talking to him.
*He snuggles right up to me and makes cute little sighing noises when he is sleeping.
*He is so calm and patient. There are countless times when I know he is hungry but he will just soothe himself and fall asleep for up to an hour while I finish helping the other kids and can sit down and feed him.
*He likes his pacifier and has recently begun sucking on his fist and gnawing on my thumb whenever he gets the chance.
*He gets very excited when someone is taking him out of his carseat.
*He helps me still feel like I am accomplishing something when I take the time to lay down on the couch for a few minutes each day to cuddle and occasionally nap with this sweet boy.
Christmas morning started early, as usual for our family. I think we were down the stairs just before 6 am. The kids were so happy to look through their stockings. My favorite moment was when Sammy came to me so full of excitement that he could hardly contain it and said, "Look Mom...I got lipstick!" He was so happy but I had to quickly teach him that it was really chapstick! They were so happy with all they received and all they gave to each other. We were so happy and grateful that Grandma and Aunt Alanna got up to skype with us during our morning of opening gifts. That was quite the sacrafice as it was 3 am for them. It made our day and helped us feel as if we could share the holiday with them. Thomas later commented to me that it was so special that they got up so early to be with us and he told me that was the best gift of the day.
We've had a great day playing together and just spending time with each other. The kids have been so kind to each other and have been sharing and playing so well. We've had nerf darts flying through the house, new games being learned and played, mini skateboards up and down the hallway, car races down the spiral track, drawing lessons, building blocks, bouncing basketballs, laughter, shrieks of excitement, and lots of sledding down the hill in our neighbor's backyard. I couldn't have asked for a better day...except if we could have been with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all day too! It's been fun to talk with them all through the day though. We are truly blessed!
We enjoyed a relaxing Christmas Eve together. We played some games, watched "Miracle on 34th Street" and just spent time together. We had "Shepherds Dinner" in the evening. We dressed like shepherds and ate a dinner of rolls, sliced cheese, and ham while eating on the floor of the basement. While eating we talked about the shepherds and how they came with haste to see the Christ child when they were told by the angel of His birth. We then talked about how we can be like the shepherds by choosing to follow our Savior's invitation of "Come Follow Me." Thomas then reminded us that Jesus is our Shepherd and how we need to know him in order to follow Him. We watched a video from Mormon Messages that gave the account in Luke 2 of the Savior's miraculous birth. The kids were very reverent and interested as we talked and enjoyed our dinner in the basement. It is amazing how simplicity can invite the Spirit.
Then the kids made Santa's plate of treats being sure to leave a note to Santa asking him to take some treats back to Mrs. Clause for all she does to help get Christmas ready for everyone. Then the kids opened their traditional gift of pajamas. The 4 older kids all slept together in Thomas' room and were all asleep by 7:30. I love the magic of Christmas Eve. We love that all our children believe which adds to the magic of Christmas.
This is the vineyard we were so blessed to serve in while we lived in Lemoore. We miss the time we had serving with our family and with members of our ward. I am so grateful for the opportunities we did have to serve our fellowmen and, in turn, serve the Lord.
Last night we picked up Elder and Sister Brower and headed to Historic Kirtland. They decorate the grounds with lights and they had over 700 nativities on display. It was absolutely beautiful and so wonderful to take the time to reflect on the miraculous birth of our Savior and his equally miraculous life. Upstairs in the Visitor's Center there were costumes for the children to dress up and act out the nativity.
Joshie found the baby Santa hat tonight and decided to be silly and put it on his head. We all know how big his head is so you can imagine how it looked. He loved it and insisted on wearing it to the kids' concert tonight too. Sometimes I am really afraid of how much silliness he is learning from his older brother!
Our library hosted a game of Lifesize Candyland on Saturday morning. It was so much fun. I took the girls and Joel took the boys. They went around the room that was decorated so cute. There were pieces of colored paper all over the room in a path. When they passed a pink piece they got to choose a cookie or candy from the spot. At the end they went to another room and enjoyed ice cream sundaes. They had fun before it was our turn too. Sammy and Joshie enjoyed the train table, Spring was reading (of course), Daddy was reading Mary stories inside the play house, and Thomas was playing on the computer. We LOVE our library!
...we welcomed this sweet little baby into our life and we were forever changed. We never thought we could love anyone more.
And yet somehow he grew into this wonderful boy and somehow our love for this sweet, tenderhearted child has continued to grow too.
We had a wonderful day celebrating Thomas. He was so excited to tell people that now he is "in the double digits!" He enjoyed taking homemade treats to school to share with his class. He loved his chosen dinner of mini-hamburgers on homemade mini-rolls and his dessert of brownies with chocolate chip cookie dough ice-cream. He received a remote control helicopter. He and Dad have had a great time learning to fly it together. He received wonderful phone calls from Grandma, Aunt Alanna, and Aunt Kim. He was so happy to hear from everyone and also had a moment of homesickness after the phone calls. He told me with tears freely falling, "Mom, I miss living closer to family. Sometimes it is really hard to think that we can't see them as often as we used to." (And living closer to family in his mind was still 12-16 hours away). My heart went out to him and tears came to me too as I tried to console him and tell him how much I missed our family too. It gave me the opportunity to remind him how important it is for us to live our lives worthy so we can be together eternally. He is such a sweet boy. I love him so much.
So, in honor of Thomas' 10th birthday:
TOP 10 Things I Love About Thomas:
1. He freely gives me hugs and kisses and doesn't care who is around to see him.
2. His love of the hymns and his canny ability to know when our home needs the calming reverence of the hymns. He will sit down at the piano and begin playing reverent hymns when chaos is abounding.
3. He is so responsible and dependable. He knows when he has obligations for church, school, scouts, etc and just takes care of being prepared and reminding me.
4. The way he says to me, "Mom." when I am trying to give him a hard time or trick him and he figured me out.
5. He is a hard worker and looks for ways to help around the house and serve others as well. He recently has really taken a liking to spending time with Dad doing whatever Dad needs to get done. He is at a wonderful age that he loves spending time helping Dad and he is very helpful as well.
6. He comes home and tells me things he hears at school that have bothered him because he thinks they are inappropriate. He tells me how "I just didn't feel good when I heard them talking like that." He is quick to recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost and when he needs to leave a situation. I pray he will continue to be comfortable coming home and telling me the things he has heard at school that bother him so we can help him combat all the evil he will surely encounter.
7. The conversation I overheard between him and Spring last week as they were shoveling the driveway. They were talking about a song kids had made up about killing Barney and how they didn't think it was a nice song. Thomas said, "Yea, I'm almost 10 years old and I still like watching Barney. We don't need to watch those shows other kids watch because they just don't teach us good things." It was a priceless conversation and I had to suppress the laughter. I'm grateful for his innocence and desire to keep high standards.
8. His sweetness with his younger siblings. He loves to hold Gideon and easily calms him down when he is fussy by cuddling him. He didn't even mind when Gideon wet through all over his suit pants in Sacrament Meeting a couple weeks ago.
9. His relationship and friendship with Spring. They have their moments like all siblings; however, they really enjoy being together and spend so much time together.
10. His obedient nature. He truly wants to choose the right for the right reason. He sincerely feels sorrow when he has made a mistake and quickly apologizes and tries to fix it to the best of his ability.
We are so blessed to have this wonderful boy in our family. He is a tremendous example to his siblings and his parents. We are so grateful for the joy he brings to our family and look forward to witnessing the great things that he will accomplish and the young man he will become in the next decade.
This morning shortly after the kids were off to school I had just started to feed Gideon. We were sitting on the couch when I heard Joshie downstairs crying and saying ,"Ow." At first I didn't think much of it but he didn't stop. I called down to Sammy and asked him to help Joshie. Well, Sammy didn't even respond. So I asked Mary to run down and see if Joshie needed some help. She ran right down and then called up to me, "Mom, Joshie's just stuck." So I head downstairs thinking his foot is stuck under a tricycle or something minor like that. Was I ever surprised to find him like this:
I gave Gideon to Mary while I tried my hardest to get his poor HUGE head out from the chair supports. His head wouldn't budge. I even tried to butter him up hoping that would help us slip his head out but to no avail. At this point he is really crying and so is Gideon because I had stopped feeding Gideon to rescue Joshie. I told Mary and Sammy to take care of Gideon and to NOT try to move the chair that Joshie's head was stuck in. I searched the garage for a saw but could only find the electric saw and I was not going to use that so close to his head. I called Joel to ask where the hand saw was. It is in the shed in the backyard that we can't even get to with all the snow and the lock on it is frozen shut anyway. So, I went back downstairs to reassure Joshie that I would be right back and then ran outside to see if any of the neighbors had a saw I could borrow. I was trying to hurry which isn't very smart when it is icy and snowy all over the street and sidewalks. Sammy would have been proud and I'm glad nobody was watching me...I'll just leave it at that! Unfortunately, none of my neighbors were home. As I was going back home I felt so helpless. I did not want the fire department to have to come and rescue Joshie. I decided to try to use the mallet to try and break away the supports of the chair. This not only scared Josh and also hurt as the chair moved while I was banging on it...but we all know how sturdy Grandpa builds things. Nothing would budge. All at once I thought of calling Stefanie to see if she had a saw she could bring over. I was so relieved when she answered the phone and said she had a handsaw and would be right over with it. When she got here she held a blanket over his eyes so he wouldn't get sawdust in them and held his arms out of the way while I sawed the support bar off the chair and rescued our poor Joshie. I am so grateful she was willing to come and help me free him. I wonder how long it will be before he tries that again!
We were notified last night that there would be another snow day today. Joel and I headed out again this morning to shovel to find another foot of snow since less than 12 hours earlier when we last cleared the driveway. There was so much this morning that it was actually faster to just shovel than to use the snowblower. When we were about halfway through our driveway we looked at each other and Joel asked me, "Are we still having fun?" It's amazing how different we look at the situation from just a week ago. It seemed to take an extra long time shoveling this morning. Maybe because we are tired (physically tired as well as tired of shoveling). We also were tyring to figure out where to put the snow we were shoveling off the driveways. We can't find the sidewalk anymore so we didn't even bother with shoveling that today. Just enough of our driveway and Sue Ann's to get the cars out. There is also a lot of snow hanging off the roof that we need to knock down too. I knocked a huge section off Sue Ann's roof today just as a HUGE gust of wind came by and blew it all on top of me. I thought the below zero temp was cold but it was nothing compared to that temperature with snow down my coat and shirt! We actually have had very little new snow for most of the day today (I don't need to shovel for Joel to get back into the garage!) but it is supposed to start up again by 5:00 tonight. It is just beautiful outside though!
That is the question that was going through my head tonight as I was shoveling the driveway again today so Joel could pull in after work tonight. We have over 3 feet of snow now and this storm is supposed to continue through Wednesday and then Thursday we get a reprieve before it starts again on Friday. We got just enough cleared for Joel to get into the driveway when he got home and then we were working on the rest when the missionaries showed up for dinner. The 4 Elders were so kind to help us finish our driveway and Sue Ann's. It went a lot faster with all of their help. Joel even had to resuce Spring tonight when she got stuck in the snow in the side yard. It was past her waist and she couldn't move. I wish he had the camera to capture it but we didn't! The kids are hoping for another snow day tomorrow and I would be surprised if that wish doesn't come true.
When Spring wasn't outside playing in the snow or building Legos with Thomas she was reading. She is learning at a very young age to multi-task and help me out!
We have our first snow day today! The kids have all declared it an official pajama day as well. Joel and I got up around 5:15 this morning to about 9 inches of new snow and headed outside to clear the driveway for him to get to work. We would make one swipe of the driveway and when we looked back the ground was covered again. We finished our driveway and Sue Ann's. Within an hour of clearing it there were already at least 2 inches on the ground again. Joel worked from home for the first few hours and then decided to clear off the "bus" and try to get in to work. The residential roads had not been plowed yet and he knew he wouldn't be able to get anywhere in the car. It took him over 45 minutes to get into work where it usually takes him about 15-20 minutes because all the roads were so bad. The wind is blowing too so at times we can't see our neighbor's house behind us. The kids are all having fun playing it (they are already hoping for another snow day tomorrow) and then they have to come inside because it is so cold with the windchill. Most of the snow had been washed away yesterday morning and early afternoon due to the freezing rain we had before the snow came. I can't even imagine what the accumulation would have been like if all the snow from last week's storm was still on the ground. It is beautiful outside and I am so grateful for a roof over our head to keep us dry and warm.
One of our favorite Christmas traditions is making gingergread houses just like I always did growing up. This year we invited the MacPhersons to join in our tradition. It was a fun morning. It is enjoyable to watch the progression of the house each year. Joshie was in heaven. He didn't put a single piece of candy on the house but he sure put a lot of candy in his tummy! He had candy in both hands most of the morning.
Thomas and Spring had their Piano Recital this evening at the University of Akron Recital Hall. When we walked into the Recital Hall Spring almost went pale when she saw how large the hall was. We reminded her she would do wonderfully but she was nervous. She had her piece memorized but when it was her turn she decided to take her music with her (just in case she told us later). I was really nervous for her and just wanted her to do as well as I know she had been doing at home while practicing. She was AMAZING! We were so happy. As she played tears came to my eyes because I was so proud of her. She seemed so grown up and so composed on the stage. It was so enjoyable to listen to her play. After she sat down she looked over at us and we smiled and gave her a thumb's up. She just beemed. How I love this daughter of ours!
When it came time for Thomas' turn he walked up so quickly with a big smile on his face. The kid has nerves of steel when it comes to playing the piano. We were shocked to see his teacher, Mrs. Bakkum, sit down at the piano next to him. We had no idea they were going to be playing a duet. He was amazing and it was so awesome to hear them together as we have only heard him play the piece alone before. When the recital was over we asked him why he never told us that he was going to be playing a duet. He assured us he had told us. I guess I need to listen more carefully! How grateful we are for these wonderful children and their willingness to practice without being asked and their love of the piano.
Gideon has been missing in action from our last few posts since he is lucky enough to stay bundled up in the nice warm house while the kiddos are out covering themselves with the snow! He did come with us to the "Winter Wonderland" put on by the city tonight but I bundled him up inside my coat and zipped it up so he really didn't get to experience it fully. We are so fortunate to have such a patient little man that adds such a calming influence in our home.
Just before midnight last night Joel and I shoveled off the porch and driveway so it wouldn't be too much this morning to do. Between then and 5:30 this morning we got about 4 more inches of snow. Then between 6:00 this morning when we finished and about 8:00 when the kids headed outside to play there were 2 more inches on the driveway. Thomas and Spring shoveled all that off (because they enjoy shoveling the snow) and then shortly after there was even more snow on the ground. It has been fun to see the kids thouroughly enjoying every moment of the snow. Thomas, Spring, and Sammy were out this morning before school working on their fort. Then the kids had to run to meet the bus because I let them play too long and they were still at home when we saw the bus start down the street. It was only 5 minutes late this morning and I was counting on it being as late as yesterday. Sammy stayed outside and then Mary decided to go out. As soon as I had her out the door Joshie wanted to go to so I got him all bundled. It was a crazy morning of bundling kids; trying to keep Scout in the house because I lose him in the snow but he just wants to be in the snow; trying to keep an eye on the little ones outside while feeding and changing a baby that had already been very patient this morning; and then helping each one get out of their clothes at different times when they decided to come inside all while trying to get Scout to come back in the house. The last time I got him inside I gave him a treat and then put the NEW bag of treats on the counter to go out to the garage so I could help Mary. When I came inside I found the NEW bag of treats of the floor EMPTY! Joshie was petting Scout and I asked him where the treats were to which he smiled and told me he had given them to Scout. Although it makes for crazy days of dressing and undressing kids, wiping up melted snow, picking up clothes all day...it is so much fun. The lake effect snow warning is until late tonight and then just normal snow is expected tomorrow...whatever that means. I guess we will find out. It sure is beautiful outside though.
Well, this afternoon when the kids got home from school and all 4 older ones were playing outside in the snow (Thomas and Spring didn't even come inside until they had been home for almost 2 hours) I finally convinced Joshie to go outside. I bundled him up in his snow gear and we headed outside. He would only walk on the walkway and driveway which Thomas and Spring had just shoveled when they got home from school. I hope they continue to race home to shovel the driveway so Joel could get into the garage when he got home. Anyway, back to Joshie. I convinced him to walk in the deeper snow as long as he was holding my hand. He tromped around in the snow holding my hand and then I let go and ran in the house real quick to check on Gideon. When I came back outside less than 3o seconds later he was standing in the middle of the yard crying because he couldn't find anyone's footprints to step in so he could get back to the driveway. So I went and rescued him (his brothers and sisters were busy making snow forts) and he was not going to go back in the snow. I held him for a few minutes but he started to cry because his hands hurt from the cold. So I took him inside and bundled him up so he could watch a Christmas cartoon. He looked so sad sitting on the couch...nose running even though I kept wiping it and cold, red hands. He kept telling me, "No Snow. Snow Cold!" I don't know if we will get him out in it again tomorrow or not...I think he has too much of his Aunt Alanna in him!
We woke up to about 7 inches of new snow this morning. Our wonderful neighbor, SueAnn, had offered to let him use her snowblower so Joel told her he would clear her driveway everyday too. Spring and Joel hung some Christmas lights for her last night so she sent the snowblower home with Joel so he could just leave it in the garage. It was such a blessing to have this morning. He started clearing driveways at about 5:15 this morning. I finished feeding Gideon and then went out around 5:30 to help shovel the patio, walkways, and around the "bus". Around 5:45 Thomas came out all bundled in his snow clothes and said very enthusiastically, "I'm ready to help you guys!" So he grabbed a shovel and headed to SueAnn's house to shovel her walkway and porch. We were done by about 6:15. While Joel showered I made french toast (everyone was awake now except Joshie) and we all had breakfast together before Joel headed off to work.
The older kids hurried to get all their responsibilities finished and then they wanted to go play in the snow. Thomas, Spring, Sammy, Mary, and I headed outside to play in the snow. Even with all the prodding from everyone Joshie was not going to even think about going out to play in the snow. They played outside from about 7:30 this morning until almost 9:00 when the bus finally came (it was 1/2 hour late). Then Sammy and Mary stayed outside playing. I loved watching and listening to our kids as they just loved every moment playing in the snow. They were so excited to play with each other and fall in the snow, crawl around, throw snowballs at each other. Mary would be walking to keep up with the others and I could hear her say, "Wait up guys...I keep sinking!" It was really cute. Sammy just had this sparkle of pure joy in his eyes. He discovered he could run in the ruts made by car tires and then slide on his feet. He told me, "Mom you gotta try this. It's the most fun in the whole world!" When I told him I didn't want to try it he said again, "Come on Mom. It's just great! Just try it and you won't want to stop doing it!" I did try it and it was quite fun. I'm just glad I didn't fall!
The snow is continuing to fall quite hard and is not expected to slow down until late Tuesday night. We are in a "lake effect snow warning" (I think that is what it is called) until late Tuesday night. Later this afternoon we are supposed to have blowing snow (not sure what that will be like really). I plan to stay home with the kids today and enjoy it. I'm sure we will be outside playing a lot today!
Joshie has really taken to wearing hats lately. He will find a hat and put it on backward and walk around the house saying, "I Daddy." He will keep saying this until someone asks him, "Are you Daddy?" to which he loudly replies, "Ya!" I guess that is because Joel wears hats quite a bit but he doesn't usually wear them backwards. Joshie even goes to bed with his hat on. It is really quite cute.
We realized another new thing this morning. It is not quite so easy to get to church in the morning when there is snow on the ground. We got some snow during the night and the "bus" that we need to take to church so we can all fit in it can't fit in the garage. We are spoiled to usually get into vehicles while they are in the garage. Spring actually asked if we could just take 2 cars so we didn't have to go outside in the cold to go to church. Joel was so kind to us all and shoveled a path from the front door to the van so we wouldn't have to walk through the snow to get in the van. He also had to wipe snow and then scrape ice off the windshield. I was grateful he did this for us and so was Joshie because he is still afraid of the snow. He likes to look at it but he refuses to step in it. He will just stand there saying, "snow. Snow." until someone carries him to dry ground. He is going to have to get used to it soon. When we got to church Joel helped me get the kiddos inside and then headed back out for some more snow shoveling and throwing out salt at the church. It is cold and expected to get colder all week. It has been snowing all day today so I am sure there will be more for the kids to enjoy in the morning.
We were able to attend our ward Christmas Dinner last night. The kids were able to visit with Santa before the dinner. Thomas wasn't so sure he wanted to see Santa but when we asked him to hold Gideon for the picture then he was OK with it. Mary was really hesitant to even go in the room with Santa. Check out last year's picture with Santa!Mary received encouragment from us as well as Ryan MacPherson and Sister MacPherson and was brave enough to even stand by Santa. Afterwards she ran over to Sister MacPherson and told her, "I was so so brave!"
Before the dinner Luke 2 was read. Mary was sitting on Sister MacPherson's lap and listening very carefully. She then whispered to Sister MacPherson, "When I'm a big Mary, then I will get to take care of Baby Jesus." I'm so grateful for this holiday season when there are so many wonderful reminders of the life of our Savior.
We all love our time with Gideon. Joshie has been fascinated with the train we set up around the tree. I find him playing with the train countless tmes throughout the day. So it really shouldn't come as any surprise when we saw him showing the train off to his little brother this afternoon. He has taken to being a big brother quite naturally. We all love to hold and cuddle Gideon. I must admit that my favorite time with Gideon is in the evenings after all the other kids are in bed. I enjoy cuddling with him and talking with him as he falls asleep in my arms. This is about the only time I can focus on him and nothing else. I love our newest little man!
We woke up this morning to snow beginning to fall. The kids were beyond excited and wanted to run out in it first thing this morning. Only after finally allowing them to run out did they realize how cold it really was and wanted to come right back in. The ground was frozen because it rained all day yesterday and then temperatures dropped drastically overnight. I am a little anxious because it seems we have hit winter here. High temperatures dropped 20 degrees from yesterday to today and for the next 10 days we have snow forecasted each day with temperatures not forecasted out of the 20's. Those cold temperatures paired with 20 MPH winds, and the wetness makes for cold weather for us Californians! I know we will adjust and things will be fine but it is a new experience for us and the unknown can be intimidating. Thomas and Spring were excited to walk to the bus stop today in the snow. I hope they didn't slip on the icy sidewalks. I am excited to hear about their day when they get home. I had to get a picture of them on the first day they went to school in the snow.
Mary was laying on the couch after she woke up from her nap today when she said to me, "Mom, I like to look at this picture when I miss Jesus." She was looking at the picture hanging on the wall. She then told me that she misses when she lived with Jesus and wishes she could live with him again. We talked about it and I reminded her that we will be able to live with Jesus again if we live righteously while we are here on earth, to which she responded, "I know Mom. But that just seems so far away." A few moments later she asked, "After my next birthday can I go live with Jesus?" I told her it wouldn't be that soon because she was going to grow up and be a mom and a grandma before it happened. Then she said, "Oh, ok. It's just so much better where Jesus lives." I loved this conversation with my little one. It reminds me of how close she is to the Spirit and that she is learning. I am grateful she wants to live with our Savior again.
Gideon is already one month old. I always am in awe that the first month of a baby's life goes so much faster than the last month of being pregnant with the little one. He is growing strong and getting bigger. He had his check-up today and I was actually amazed at how much bigger he is now than just a month ago. He is now 21.5 inches long (50th percentile) and he weighs 9 pounds 5 ouces (25th percentile). We love this sweet boy and we are loving the smiles he is beginning to give us as we hold him and talk with him. He tries so hard to smile and has been successful a couple times for both Joel and I.
We decorated for Christmas yesterday. It was fun that Thomas and Spring were telling us that we needed to decorate because it was our tradition. Joel wanted to hang lights outside this year which made the kids so happy. We bundled up (as much as we could since not all of us have coats yet) and headed out in the 20 degree weather. It was windy and COLD. I didn't last too long before I headed back inside. The little ones came in soon after as well. I was so glad that Thomas and Spring enjoyed helping Joel because then I could enjoy being inside a warm house. I did my part by making hot chocolate for when they came inside.
Then we came inside and set up the tree and other decorations. We finally had space this year to set up the train around the tree. This was the train that my Grandma Spring used to set up around her tree. She gave it to our kids quite a few years ago. I think the train has been the highlight for the kids. They have been having a great time playing with it ever since.
It is different to be living somewhere that actually gets cold at Christmastime. We know it will only get colder so we need to appreciate the "warm" days we are having now! The kids are anxiously awaiting the snow to come. This will be a different, but fun, Christmas for our family. We will be able to enjoy many of our traditions while having the opportunity to make new traditions.
We started our morning with the traditional "Pie for Breakfast." We invited some friends from church over to share in this tradition. We had the MacPhersons (and their family that was visiting), Pflugs, Browers, Burgesses, and the 4 Elders for pie. In all we had 24 children and not nearly that many adults! It was fun though and we enjoyed the time visiting as most stayed for a couple hours. It was nice to have some friends to share this tradition with us.
After everyone left we worked on getting dinner ready. Joel decided to do the turkey in the rotisserie this year and it turned out delicious. We enjoyed the time preparing the meal together. During dinner Joel read all the things that we had put in our thankful box for the month. It was fun to read what everyone was thankful for and it helped us all to remember the little things in life that we have reason to be grateful for. It was a wonderful day together.
I just thought I would post some pictures of our little ones to highlight some of their craziness that happens each day in our home. They have so much energy and keep me going and I love the smiles we see from such simple pleasures. Yesterday the little ones were enjoying a few moments of "decent" weather so they headed outside to play. They put on their snow boots so they could stomp in the puddles. I think it is ironic that they have snowboots (that we were able to find at a second hand store) but they don't have coats on (even though it was only about 35 degrees outside) because they don't own coats. Sammy and Mary loved playing with the "Big Sticks" they found. There were lots of branches that had fallen from trees during the storm the night before.
Then, this evening Dad was spinning Joshie like a helicopter. Joshie was laughing and kept coming back saying, "Again. Again." I finally pulled the camera out towards the end so Joshie and Dad's arms were getting tired. After I turned off the camera, however, Joshie came back asking, "Again? Again?"
We had family pictures taken a little over a week ago now that little Gideon has joined our family. I am sure people in the studio got a good laugh as they watched the spectacle of getting 6 kids under the age of 10 to look in the same direction, let alone have a decent smile or expression on their face. I love having updated family pictures around our home. It helps remind me of the divine call we have as parents to raise our children in love and righteousness. Their smiles grace our walls and remind us of the promise of eternal families if we live worthily of that blessing.
"You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out. It will not be the money you have made. It will not be the cars you have owned. It will not be the large house in which you live. The searing question that will cross your mind again and again will be, How well have my children done?"
~President Gordon B. Hinckley
Eternal Sweethearts
"Having [children] together-building a family together-seemed a natural progression to the union we began on our wedding day. [These little people are] , among many other things, a representation of our love and commitment to one another." -Trish Perry
