She's 7...

I can't believe my baby is 7!  I really am uncertain as to where the time went!  She is so grown up and much more mature than I was at that age.  Not sure mature is a good word for a 7 year old, but that's the only one that comes to mind! She is so aware of her self and especially other people.  She cries when they cry and laughs when they laugh.  She has a tender heart that gets broken too easy and that same heart will give until there seems to be nothing left and yet there is.  Mara has been a HUGE blessing in our lives!  Not only because she was our first baby, but her spirit is one that I wish I could bottle and distribute!  It would certainly sell and I would put all of you at the top of the pyramid when I create the elixir. hee hee

She has given me more than I could ever return to her.  She has reminded me of what is really important.  Including the courage to stand up for what I believe in, undying love for family and friends and pure excitement for all that makes us happy.  She has an incredible love for her Savior that is still fresh from heaven, and she is as stubborn as her father, yeah, father... She is special in so many ways, even when she is naughty. (Which happens a lot!  Love her for it.)  Anyway, as you can tell I could keep going, but I won't.  I just want to wish her a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Love you sweet thing!

 We always decorate their doors, so when they wake up they have something fun to walk through!

 She waited for us to come get her out of bed this morning... she was soooo excited!

Lame that I didn't rotate this... but I found this in her room today! 

Oh the chaos of Christmas...

 Christmas with the cousins, Elggren Family and much much more!!

 Will just relaxin...

 Sister in laws....

 Singing Jingle Bells...

 Will and Anna singing Silent Night, Stone joining in...

 Mara doing Jingle Bells on the piano...

 SANTA!!!!!

And of course we end with the Nativity play. Mara was thrilled to be Mary this year!

I loved EVERY minute of it!

We made it...

Yesterday was my darling little boy, William's 5th birthday!  Last year at his party, the outcome was a lot more grim, but this year was full of joy and happiness!  As some of you know, my cute hubby Brandon dropped in a grand mal seizure last year at William's birthday party.  I know it was silly to worry that he would have another seizure on the same day, at the same time, but the mind does funny things and I waited for 5:15pm to pass before I could truly have a good time!  See?!  I told ya, Silly! But no matter, we made it!  With the right dosage of medication and lots of prayer, we made it to the one year mark and William had the time of his life!  I don't want to remember Williams birthday in a negative manner!  I want to remember it for him!  I want to marvel at how fast he is growing and how happy he is when we he is surrounded by those who love him.

So, we had our dear family over to watch the Utah Utes get pummelled in the Maaco Bowl by Boise State, (sadness), but no matter, we had a very happy, healthy time!  I hope this luck will last another year or perhaps forever!  I want to thank everyone who has sent prayers our way!  They were heard!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!

Christmas clone.... no thanks!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode

Only one creature was stirring, she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

while visions of Nintendo DS & Barbie flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,

with a half-constructed bicycle propped on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,

which made her sigh, "Now what is the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,

She descended the stairs, & saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes & soot, which fell with a shrug,

"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho Ho Ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."

"your gift was especially difficult to make."

"Thanks, Santa, but all I that I want is time alone."

"Exactly!" he chuckled, "So, I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she muttered, "What good is that?"

"Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit chat."

Then out walked the clone - The mother's twin,

Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust, she'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, watch The Young & The Restless."

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream has come true!"

"I'll shop, I'll read, I'll sleep a night through!"

From the room above, the youngest did fret.

"Mommy?! Come quickly, I'm scared & I'm wet."

The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "She sure knows her part."

The clone changed the small one & hummed him a tune,

as she bundled the child in a blanket cocoon.

"You're the best mommy ever. I really love you."

The clone smiled & sighed, "And I love you, too."

The mom frowned & said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal."

That's my child's LOVE she is trying to steal."

Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,

Only one loving mother is needed here."

The mom kissed her child & tucked her in bed.

"Thank You, Santa, for clearing my head.

I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,

when they'll be too old for my cradle & song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."

With the clone by his side, Santa said "Goodnight.

Merry Christmas, dear Mom, You will be all right."

What do I want for Christmas?

Someone asked me the other day what I want for Christmas this year.  I laughed and said, 'Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men.'  Although at the moment I was totally joking, I guess in someways it's a great answer and what I and perhaps everyone else wants.  I have no idea what I want!  Truly, I haven't even thought about it. Which is kind of funny coming from a girl who used to have a wish list bigger than a pad of paper was thick.  This question made me think. You know, it's funny when you pass a certain age, how presents that you get don't seem to matter even a fraction of the presents that you give.  Well, that's not even true in some ways.  As I have tried to come up with a list in my head, the only things that I can come up with are not material things at all.  I no longer look forward to Santa coming to see me with the lastest and greatest thingamajigs.  I look forward to giving to my children, family, friends and strangers.  I want a home filled with happieness, health for my husband, myself and kids.  Peace of mind with our finances, faith and hope for a bright future.  Gratitude for what I already have and wonderful lasting relationships with dear family and friends.  As corny as it sounds, I really do want Peace On Earth and Good Will Towards Men.    The Christmas season is about giving AND receiving.  I am thankful for my Savior.  He has already given me the greatest gift possible and it's now up to me to give back to Him.  So, what do I want for Christmas?  I want the ability to make a difference in someone's life whether that be myself or someone else. I really do hope for a wonderul 2011 for everyone! Yep, that's it!  Oh, and maybe a dremmel trio! MERRY CHRISTMAS!  May you all get what you want this holiday!

Just plain naughty...

See these faces?!  They are the faces of just plain naughtiness! 

Does anyone else out there have extremely naughty children right now?! Oh my goodness, seriously.... SAVE ME!!! I don't know if it's Christmas time that has them going, but oh... are they going! Straight into time out!

I think I put William into time out 13 times today! 13 TIMES!!! AND, he still was naughty!

Anna hit everyone in the house including herself, which quite honestly she may have deserved!  Her teacher had to drag her out of the car today at school because, how dare that boy in the car next to us, smile at her! Mara is (yes, I said is, not has) complete and total attitude!  She's 7, NOT 17! Should I really be fighting with her over makeup and clothes right now?!  (Did you know that she told Santa that all she wants for Christmas is money and a phone!!  Really!???? Who is she going to call???  And MONEY?!  She still thinks that to get money all you have to do is go to the bank and they give it to you.... ahhh if only!

Not even our Elf on the Shelf, Zekie can be can help me now!  I have done all that I can think of!  I have sent Santa several texts, ok, not really, but just sayin!, I have threatened playing with friends, taking away bath time (they thought about this one... don't want to stink!), not going to see Santa at the mall, not being able to have birthday parties (I'm not really that mean, am I?), going to bed without dinner (hey it used to work on Leave it To Beaver!), putting Tabasco sauce in their mouths. (I actually carried this one out twice today, but it doesn't really work when your son LIKES the taste of hot sauce!)  I have even turned up the Christmas music up soooo loud, the screaming sounded like background music on a very bad rendition of O Holy Night.

I probably sound like a straight up hagatha right now, but like I said, I have tried EVERYTHING!  If you have any grand ideas, send them my way! 

All I can say now is this cranky, tired, irritable mother is really hoping the big guy in red shows up at our house in 9 days, because right now, anythings possible!

"I make you happy..."

Last night I was putting Anna down to bed in her "big girl" bed and she put her cute chubby hands on my face and said, "Mommy, I love you! I make you happy, huh?!"

Absolutely! She couldn't be more right!