Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Our Nativity
We drove up to Sean's parents in Casa Grande for Christmas (I liked the 5 hour drive we used to have much better than the 10 we now have....but the kiddos were pretty good). We rolled in at about 2 AM on the 23rd and stayed until Sunday morning (the 27th). Caelan and Ben and Megan have been playing with our little plastic Nativity set all month. On a couple of occasions they wanted to be the characters ("I'll be Mary," and "I want to be the Shepherd," etc). I mentioned something about acting out the Nativity story, and they just thought that was the greatest idea. Ben talked about it several times from that moment until Christmas Eve. So, we decided it would be fun to have all the little kids play the different parts in the Nativity. We were with all of Sean's family as well as his Grandma Dick and Uncle Garry and Aunt Jera. Jenny and I and Sean's mom pulled together some costumes and the kids acted out our very BRIEF version of the Nativity....and loved it. Caelan played Mary, Ben and Logan played the Wisemen, Megan and Hailey were Angels, Corbin was a Shepherd, Brooklyn was the Star, and Nathy was supposed to be Joseph (but he pretty much wouldn't cooperate at all). It turned out really cute - I think we might start making this a regular Christmas Eve tradition.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Everybody Smile
Each year we try to take a simple family snapshot to put on our family newsletter. Nothing fancy or professional (in fact we just use the timer on our camera at home usually), and yet every year we take probably 30-50 shots trying to get one....JUST ONE picture with all of us looking forward and looking somewhat happy. We never get a "perfect one," but we sure get some comical ones in the process. Here are some of the gems from this years attempt.
Nathy - we're not that scary....
Meg - the camera is over here....
Oh Ben - he was the highlight of the "funny pictures" this year. Man, he had a bunch of them...
We're getting cheesier...
And...we're done..
Here are some other pretty cute ones.
Nathy - we're not that scary....
Meg - the camera is over here....
Oh Ben - he was the highlight of the "funny pictures" this year. Man, he had a bunch of them...
We're getting cheesier...
And...we're done..
Here are some other pretty cute ones.
Dick Holiday Newsletter
I've emailed this to those who I could find addresses for, but here is our family newsletter for 2009. (If you click on the image it will enlarge to something large enough to actually read....HE HE HE).
Merry Christmas!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Gratitude
I'm Thankful For:
1) The BEST husband ever who is not only a great husband and father, but also my very best friend!!
2) 4 FANSTASTIC kids (Caelan (a genuinely "good" girl and a real blessing as the oldest), Ben (the fun-loving, self-entertained, tender boy), Megan (the animated, energetic, full of personality girl), and Nathan (our smiley, noisy, chubby, irresistible little dude)) - I LOVE THEM TO PIECES!
3) My dad and Andrea and the rest of the fam in Murrieta who so graciously let an extra 6 people crash with them for the past 5 months - we cannot express the gratitude.
4) A huge and wonderful family: The Sorensens, the Taylors, the Dicks, The Grants, the Andersons (I couldn't ask for better)
5) Two (now working) cars that fit all members of our family
6) A home that we have been able to keep and rent out (even though we had to move away) - what a blessing.
7) My ability to see, hear, feel, smell and taste
8) My home in the United States of America - even with its current struggles it is still the land of the free and the home of the brave (and I feel very lucky that I was born here)
9) My talents, and even though I may not be an "expert" at anything, I feel like I can do quite a few different things pretty well
10) Beautiful scenery in this world: mountains, oceans, forests, even desert landscapes
11) The gospel of Jesus Christ, a living prophet, the scriptures, the temples and the covenants we make there, the programs of the church that help to teach us and our children, ward families and so much more.
12) The knowledge of the Plan of Salvation: that I will be able to see dear loved ones that have past on again someday, and that I will be able to be with my family for eternity
13) Delicious food (especially fresh fruit and ice cream)
14) Education: both the education my kids are able to receive (that so many other countries don't have) and also for the education Sean and I have received that enable us to supplement and challenge our kids even more
15) Good health
16) A happy childhood
17) Family vacations
18) Little things like air conditioners, heaters, toilet paper, feminine products, soap, vacuum cleaners, blenders, microwaves, binkies, strollers etc, etc that make life just a little easier
19) Technology and the ability to stay connected with so many friends and family members that I otherwise wouldn't keep as in touch with
20) The seasons: I love them all in their time throughout the year
21) Good music and books and movies
22) Our big, huge bed (even though it is a pain to move) - it makes for a great nights sleep
23) Holidays and decorating for them
24) My ability to walk and run and hike and climb
25) Dear friends
26) Sean's new job and that he is enjoying it
27) A loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers
28) Libraries (a free place to get books - who thought of that?? GENIUS)
29) Hair (I like my own hair and I also quite enjoy my girls' hair and doing it every day)
30) The Savior, Jesus Christ, who makes all these other great blessings possible!
1) The BEST husband ever who is not only a great husband and father, but also my very best friend!!
2) 4 FANSTASTIC kids (Caelan (a genuinely "good" girl and a real blessing as the oldest), Ben (the fun-loving, self-entertained, tender boy), Megan (the animated, energetic, full of personality girl), and Nathan (our smiley, noisy, chubby, irresistible little dude)) - I LOVE THEM TO PIECES!
3) My dad and Andrea and the rest of the fam in Murrieta who so graciously let an extra 6 people crash with them for the past 5 months - we cannot express the gratitude.
4) A huge and wonderful family: The Sorensens, the Taylors, the Dicks, The Grants, the Andersons (I couldn't ask for better)
5) Two (now working) cars that fit all members of our family
6) A home that we have been able to keep and rent out (even though we had to move away) - what a blessing.
7) My ability to see, hear, feel, smell and taste
8) My home in the United States of America - even with its current struggles it is still the land of the free and the home of the brave (and I feel very lucky that I was born here)
9) My talents, and even though I may not be an "expert" at anything, I feel like I can do quite a few different things pretty well
10) Beautiful scenery in this world: mountains, oceans, forests, even desert landscapes
11) The gospel of Jesus Christ, a living prophet, the scriptures, the temples and the covenants we make there, the programs of the church that help to teach us and our children, ward families and so much more.
12) The knowledge of the Plan of Salvation: that I will be able to see dear loved ones that have past on again someday, and that I will be able to be with my family for eternity
13) Delicious food (especially fresh fruit and ice cream)
14) Education: both the education my kids are able to receive (that so many other countries don't have) and also for the education Sean and I have received that enable us to supplement and challenge our kids even more
15) Good health
16) A happy childhood
17) Family vacations
18) Little things like air conditioners, heaters, toilet paper, feminine products, soap, vacuum cleaners, blenders, microwaves, binkies, strollers etc, etc that make life just a little easier
19) Technology and the ability to stay connected with so many friends and family members that I otherwise wouldn't keep as in touch with
20) The seasons: I love them all in their time throughout the year
21) Good music and books and movies
22) Our big, huge bed (even though it is a pain to move) - it makes for a great nights sleep
23) Holidays and decorating for them
24) My ability to walk and run and hike and climb
25) Dear friends
26) Sean's new job and that he is enjoying it
27) A loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers
28) Libraries (a free place to get books - who thought of that?? GENIUS)
29) Hair (I like my own hair and I also quite enjoy my girls' hair and doing it every day)
30) The Savior, Jesus Christ, who makes all these other great blessings possible!
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