Sunday, December 30, 2007

When does school start again?

There are many things I love about the Christmas holidays:
I love not having to get two teenagers out the door by 7:30AM.

I love not having to get home from the gym in time to plead, argue and cajole a very grumpy six year old out the door while his OCD brother freaks out about being late to school.

I love that I can pretend laundry does not exist and not worry what will happen if my ten year old wears the same clothes for two weeks or my three year old wears... umm!

I love not having a set meal schedule, we eat what we want, when we want (all the candy is gone but the tooth brushes are still in the stocking).

I love not worrying that one of my school age kids will let it slip that I told them a chocolate orange was fruit and cookies were the same as cereal. This is a little meal that Adam Prepared.


I love having time for fun activities with friends and families. My BFFL, Suzie, met us at the Bowling alley with two of her boys and our only little girl, Lily.



There are a few Holiday inevitable's I could do with out:

"I'm bored" uttered by one or more of my children every five minuets because it's to snowy to go out and play.

Dishes, dishes, dishes.

Sleep over schedules, Isaac and Joseph were packed for a sleepover at their cousins by the fifteenth.




Messes.


Projects that have to be done by the New Year such as Primary manuals and eco systems(thus the new addition to our family).





Rough housing that turns into fights. It's cute when it's the two littlest, not so much when it's the two oldest.



Make up work for school.

Garbage, I have two very large garbage cans that are overflowing.

Stomach flu, could it be possible that chocolate oranges and cookies are not fruit and cereal?

Ah well! as I said they are inevitable.

Hope you're all enjoying your Winter Holiday as much as we are.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Our Merry Christmas

Here are some pictures and a few of the highlights of our merry Christmas. It began with my 11 siblings gathering at my brothers house on Friday the 21st for our Christmas party and gift exchange. It was fun to see everyone, only my sister Carolyn and her family were missing, her husband Darren is in Iraq and she didn't want to drive over from Colorado. We missed them and Mike, my nephew on a mission in Guatemala, and his brother Trevor who choose friends over his aunts, uncles and cousins, what's up with that?

Then Joseph's birthday party Saturday morning and Sunday choir and sharing time. Sunday night Richards family came for a birthday party for Joseph and Dorothy, Richards sister Cori Ann' s darling baby girl. We had presents and Chicken Cordon Bleu and loved watching Dorothy eat her 1 year old cake. Dave and Linda and Janell came by on their way home from St. George, fun to see them twice in one month.

Monday I had a million things to do, I guess I should have spent less time Blogging...no I always have a million things to do on Christmas eve. As I was making Cheesey Potatoes for dinner at my Mom's Adam kept running out to the front porch and yelling for Santa to hurry up and come, then he would run to the couch and look out the window and yell, "I think I see him! go check." Then he would run to the front door and look around and run in to tell me Santa was never coming.

Christmas Eve at Moms' was fun, dinner and carols and giant Hershey Bars from Grandma for all the kids(cause they weren't wired enough). Then home with our friends the Baileys for a gift exchange. We got lots of neat gifts and gave our friend Cherrann a little red chair that made her cry, as she was calming her emotions Joshua leaned over to me and said, "Mom, if I get the Wii I will cry like that," he's not only very persistent he's also rather witty. Our boys gave Richard and I the gifts they had bought us, Jeremiah and Benjamin gave Richard a collection of old country music songs, we spent a couple hours listening to music and holding the two little ones trying to get them to sleep. Joseph closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep in about five minutes after being told Santa would leave if anyone was awake when he came. Adam finally fell to sleep after, 5 empty threats, 4 sippy cups of milk, 3 little spankings, 2 scowls from daddy and 1 determined Mommy.




Christmas Morning dawned early and snowy, nice to have a white Christmas. We wouldn't let the kids get up until 7:00 AM after all the excitement the night before Adam was really grumpy about waking up. We had a family prayer then went in to see what Santa had left.










We started cooking bacon, sausage, patties and links, and German Pancakes for 45 assorted friends and family. Richard had to brave the cold to get the meat cooked and Susan made German Pancakes as fast as she could and we still had people waiting in line. We love this six year tradition if you didn't come this year you should definitely plan for next.


This is what everyone did Christmas afternoon, Mom is taking pictures of course, and I think Jacob disappeared downstairs for a nap.
Daddy and Adam were so tired they were both out in under 5 minutes. Joshua and his brothers love the Wii and Benjamin who is into art and had never seen a Spiro graph thought the little travel size one in his stocking was the coolest invention ever.

We ended the day with dinner and more gifts at Grandma and Grandpa Smiths' then went back home to play with our Wii, Mom even played.



Wii wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Joseph is 5

Joseph turned 5 on December 22, Wow, it seems like only yesterday that we went to the hospital on the 22 of December at 7:00PM planning for my typical 18+ hour deliveries to give our Joseph Smith a December 23 birthday to share with the Prophet. Of course, the best laid plans of mice and pregnant women... he came 20 minutes before midnight.Now he's 5, his, I swear, silver Christmas hair is blond and his sober little personality charms and comforts us.

He climbed up on the bar stool a year or so ago with a dish towel cape around his shoulders and said, "Mom, I'm Super man."
I smiled at him, he's so serious about everything, and said, "I know."
"Mom, I can fly" he says as he stands up and jumps off the bar stool. He lands and climbs back up on the bar stool, "Mom, I'm Super man, he says.
"I know" I reply.
"I can't fly, but I'm still Super man."

Joseph you'll always be my high flying Super man. Here are some pictures of Joseph's Super hero birthday party. All of his super hero pals are cousins and brothers.






Thursday, December 20, 2007

Christmas Happenings













I promised Richard I wouldn't blog until I had folded all the clothes and wrapped all the presents. What fun is Christmas day without a present or twenty to wrap and is laundry ever really done? I don't think so.
Here are a few pictures of all the fun in our Christmas schedule.

Ward Christmas party: Richard and Joshua and my nephew Sam were a shepard father and sons in our ward nativity event.

Jacob had a choir concert on the 19th Dad and Josh attended while Mom got her hair done. Jacob looks so handsome in his tuxedo. Mom listened to the last three numbers over the cell phone. Halleluia chorus and Oh Come all ye Faithful and Angels We Have Heard On High. All three choirs and the band and orchestra all together, incredible.

During the day on the 19th Isaac, Benjamin and Jeremiah all had a performance of the two Christmas songs they have been learning at school. It was fun to watch them all sing and try to do all the actions.

Joshua had a band concert on the 12th Mom forgot the camera.

Adam clowning around as usual.

Last night as I was wrapping presents for all the kids friends and relatives Joseph kept interrupting wanting to know where all his stuff was, I showed him his presents and let him put presents under the tree for others. He walked back into the room after putting a few more presents under the tree and said, "Mom, I've been thinking, where are your presents I don't see any presents for you." Tender heart palpitations, it's so nice when they realize there is joy in giving as well as receiving.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Dumb Old Santa

I was driving Isaac to school today when he asks me, "Mom, you know how I asked Santa To get me the Poke Mon Fire Red game for Christmas?"
"yes" I reply.
"Well, what if he gets me The wrong one?"
" Isaac, it's a game boy game, how hard can it be?"
"Well I have a game Boy Advanced what if Santa gets it for Game Boy DS, Santa is pretty dumb you know!"
I guess I should have scolded him for calling Santa dumb, but, this dumb old Santa went home and checked which version of the game she had bought.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Adam Davinci




Adam has found his artistic side...it started with a marathon washer, dryer and wall writing session that started in the basement and ended in the kitchen. Adam got scolded, instructed to only write on paper and helped wash walls; this is all it took with my other children, not Adam.

He next found paper and drew on nearly every page in my primary binder and made a lovely picture on a sheet of choir music I had brought home to work on(When I sing I seek to blend in to the group as much as possible, won't I be lovely with my three year old decorated music). I guess I should have been more specific, I told him he had to ask Mom for the paper, I thought maybe he got it, he said, "Otay Mom." He didn't get it, we came home the other night to the Grandpa room (our name for our family room) walls covered with green marker pictures; this time Daddy got involved and yelled at Adam. Adam was so devastated that Daddy would yell at him that he ran to his room and cried for 20 minutes.

Next we found poor Buzz Light Year colored green I didn't bother with a lecture this time, I just tossed Buzz in the toy box, I figured it would give the other toys something to laugh about. Then Sunday morning I came home from an early meeting to discover Buzz, who had just recovered his voice from his last bath, washed clean; but, Adam's entire bed was decorated with lovely green scribbles, and his sheets, and his brothers bed, and the bedspreads. Again, as I washed the marker off his bed, I lectured him about paper and asking for Mom's help; I noticed he was very careful not to color on the walls... maybe we're getting through? I didn't have time to change the sheets before church and choir and a visit to Kaysville for a fun Christmas gathering with Richards, Uncle Dave and Aunt Linda, we got home late and put our sleepy boy in his bed. This morning when I got home from the gym I walked in the bedroom and found Adam, cuddled up with his Daddy, covered with marker, again! For a moment I panicked thinking perhaps he had got up in the night to add to his art work collection, no, just a transfer from his unchanged sheets.

Maybe this is how Leonardo got started?

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Christmas Is Coming

I made Richard his fudge this morning. It's in a big Tupperware in the fridge, I start my Christmas baking with fudge because my husband loves it and because, unlike me, he can open the fridge eat a piece or two of his treats and make them last for two or three weeks. Thankfully, I am not tempted by fudge especially now that Adam walks around calling it pudge, I think I have all the pudge I can handle.

Closer to Christmas I will make Peanut Brittle and Toffee and Sugar Cookies and Molasses cookies, and Divinity and Carmel Popcorn... oh dear! I seem to be getting carried away with the visions of sugarplums dancing in my head.

I thought it would be fun to share my children's Christmas lists.

Jacob, 16 years.
A Drivers license (not until he gets the application filled out for his Eagle)
A Car (I just found out that our insurance goes up to, gasp, $500.00+ a month with the two we have, add, hyperventilate, gas to that!)
A Leather Jacket (hmm, possibly since walking is still going
to be his main form of transportation.)

Joshua, 15 years.
The Wii (This is the latest , greatest, electronic game system)
The Wii ( we told him he got one the day he was born. He told us, "Yes, but you won't let me play with it.")
The Wii. ( arghhmph! groan of exasperation.)
A baby Sister (OK, where do we get a Wii)

Jeremiah, 12 years.
"Jeremiah what do you want for Christmas this year?"
"I don't know"
" What?" (He always knows!)
" So, for sure we can't get a Wii?" (I told you he knows!)
" arghhmph!"
"OK I just want gloves and a Chocolate Orange (Then he ask
me if he could donate the thirty dollars or so in change, he has been
saving, to buy shoes for needy kids, proud tear.)

Benjamin, 10 years.
A game Boy DS Light.
Pokemon Diamond.
"um, Mom remember last year when I didn't get the only thing I wanted..."
"Last year when you cried from 5:00 am until 11:00 am Christmas morning? I remember!"

Isaac, 6 years.
A dresser (What? he is growing up and his clothes are getting bigger
and he needs more room!and then Joseph could have his dresser
that he has now and Adam could have the one he is sharing with
Joseph and... Isaac has a lengthy for explanation for everything.)
A Dinosaur (My, what a grown up toy)
A Pokemon Fire Red game
A Scooter
A Piggy Bank ( good thing, because mine will be empty.)
Mack-A-Mole Tower (no Joseph wants that, no they both want it, no,
he want Flipping Frogs Game,)
Molding Sand (maybe he'll settle for a moldy sandwich.)

Joseph 5 years on Dec. 22nd.
A dinosaur
Flipping Frogs Game
Thomas rail road stuff.
Spider man web blasters
Spider man
Super man
A Scooter
A piggy bank
A new bike
Play dough
A Horse
Pokemon beanies
Boots, and hat and gloves
(This list just keeps growing every day, No funny comments
because Joseph doesn't do funny!)

Adam 3 years old.
"Adam, what do you want for Christmas?"
"Dora and Boots, you idiot." (Idiot is used interchangeably as a term of affection or anger.)
"What else?"
"And Fwiper and iego. (Swiper and Diego, for those not familiar
with Nick Jr. cartoons or three year old speak.)
"Do you want anything else?"
"Fider man"
" What kind of Spider man?"
"Soup-Er-Man kind" (As he jumps from the chair to the ottoman to the couch to the love seat.)

So there you have it not a single Doll or Christmas dress or Barbie or Polly Pocket or Littlest Pet shop. Any one want to swap kids for the holidays?

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Fudge

Last night Joseph was sitting at the bar, OK on the bar, eating celery and carrots dipped in ranch dressing, watching me make minestrone soup for dinner. He watched seriously (Joseph does nearly everything seriously) while I prepared all the veggies and opened cans and added spices. Finally, he asked me "Mom, what are you making?"
I answered, "Soup for dinner."
He replied, seriously, "I'm not eating any."
Isaac walks in and asks, "Mom, what are you making?"
Joseph answers, very seriously, "Isaac, It's soup and don't touch any of it its got tons of vegetables in it."
Do you think I should tell Joseph that his favorite foods, celery and salad are vegetables? Me neither I think that will be my little secret for a few more years.

The soup was 'to die for', you can find it if you go to www.recipezaar.com/77585

So for those of you who 'don't touch anything with tons of vegetables in it', here is a veggie free recipe for fudge.

Fantasy Fudge
3 c. sugar
3/4 c. margarine
2/3 c. evaporated milk
1 12 oz. package of s/sweet chocolate chips (nestle' is the best)
1 7 oz jar of marshmallow cream
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)
1 t. vanilla

In a heavy sauce pan combine sugar, margarine and milk. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes over medium heat, stir, stir, stir. Remove from heat, add chocolate chips, stir until melted, add marshmallow cream, stir until well blended. Add nuts and vanilla stir until well blended. pour into a greased 13" x 9" pan. Cool at room temp. cut into squares. store covered.

Yummy, this is Richards favorite Christmas treat, I make a double batch, of course, and store it in the fridge in a large Tupperware.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Hiccups

Adam has had hiccups several times in the last few days and because he threw up with his last illness he thinks each time he hiccups that he's going to throw up.

So I'm loading Joseph and Adam in the car Thursday and Adam says,
"Mom I'm sick, I'm throwing up."
Joseph, who is trapped in his seat belt right next to Adam asks, Mom what's wrong with him?"
I reply, calmly, " It's just the hiccups."
Adam thinks really hard for a minute then says indignantly, "You shut the hiccup Mom."

Ahh life with Adam.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Rice Pudding

This Recipe is for my Brother-in-law Eric who, like me, looovesss the comfort foods.

Rice Pudding

2 c. cooked rice
2 c. milk
1 can (5 3/4 oz) evaporated milk
1 T. cornstarch
1 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
1/2 C. plus 2T. sugar
2 eggs slightly beaten
1/8 t. nutmeg
1/8 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. raisins

In a heavy, 2-3 quart, saucepan scald the milks together. Measure raisins into a strainer and set over boiling water until plump. Combine corn starch, salt and sugar, blend well. Stir into hot milk mixture, cook, stirring constantly, over med. heat until thick and smooth. Add rice; reheat, stirring constantly, to a full boil, remove from heat. Pour a little of the hot mixture in eggs while stirring rapidly. Add egg mixture to hot milk and rice mixture stirring rapidly, return to heat 1 - 2 minutes until thickened. Stir in raisins, vanilla and spices. Makes eight 1/2 C. servings.

I always double this recipe, and I don't add the raisins because my family doesn't like them. I double the cinnamon...or double double if I'm doubling the recipe.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Stuff To Do

I should be doing laundry, I'm blogging. Earlier I should have been doing laundry, I heated a knife and a spoon and cut through green styrofoam to sculpt a 3D plant cell for my ninth grader. He did not ask me to do this for him, in fact he thought of printing a 3D picture off the internet and giving it to his teacher with 3D glasses, I decided to help him out because super sizing micro-biology seems so much more enjoyable than laundry.

I also need to wrap Christmas gifts; construct a list of what gifts I have and what I still need; finish decorating for Christmas so I can take the decoration boxes back to the storage unit and pick up the Primary manuals I need to put together for next year. I need to consider what picture I should use for Christmas cards and get them printed and mailed. As always, the house is an impressive mess; I still need to call my friend Lane and see if he will help me nail up the patch we created for the hole in the family room roof; oh! that reminds me of the cabinet that I need to buy and get installed in the basement bathroom, and the storage closet that needs de-junked so I can move my food storage in to it so that I'll have more room to keep things organized in my laundry room... and I'm back to laundry again.

Why do I always end up at laundry?

Monday, December 3, 2007

Snow


This weekend we got snow. We were to busy to enjoy it and get any fun pictures so I thought I'd post a picture I have been considering sending out as our Christmas card. It's of our dog Muffin on a snowy day this past January. Muffin returned to doggy heaven this year, due to old age and illness. We miss how she became a large snow ball each snow storm, kept our feet warm on cold snowy nights, cleaned up under the bar and table, and had to pee every two hours no matter how cold or late it was (um... I guess we don't miss that part much).

Our Family

Our Family