Christmas 2008

Christmas Eve morning started with some of Mommy's good friends from high school coming over to visit (go Beavs!), Spencer Vierra, and Jeff Call with his wife Natalie. Scott, Barry and Lindsay were all missed (as well as every one else who wasn't in Utah for the holidays).
Mommy's family always draws names to give one person an extra gift to open on Christmas Eve. Daddy had me and he got me this duck and I loved it!
Then we headed over to Grandma Kay's for yummy homemade pizza, family skits, stockings and presents! For our family skit, Mommy and Daddy told the story of Baby Jesus being born with some puppets.
I helped by making sure everybody clapped for them . . .
Then I was a very tired girl who was ready to go dream about sugar plums until Santa came . . .
Christmas morning started off by founding out I would be getting a little brother. Mommy got to hang up the blue ornament on our tree (does anybody need a pink ornamnet?)
I got these great "ruff-ruffs" in my stocking. Santa sure knew what I would like!
I love riding on my elephant (thanks cousin Claire for giving it to me when you were all done playing with it).
This is me with all my goods. It was such a fun morning!
Then we headed over to my Grandma Sampson's for Christmas breakfast of bonabuche of course. Below is their reaction when they opened their blue ornament to find out about my baby brother. They were pretty excited!
The day ended at my Grandma Kay's again for yummy dinner and playing with my Aunt Jayna and Uncle Ryan. We came home early so we could get ready to go to New York City the next day to see my sisters (that was lots of fun and I will tell you all about it very soon). What a wonderful day.

It's a . . .

Could hardly wait. I kept waking up in the night to see if Marc was awake. At 6am we rushed to the front room, watched the DVD and found out we would be having a son!

IT'S A BOY!!!

Merry Christmas!

Homemade Gifts 2008

My best friend Rebecca's family would always exchange homemade gifts for one another on Christmas. I LOVED this tradition and often the first I thing I would ask her on Christmas would be, "What did you get for your homemade gift?"

Marc and I have adopted this tradition and we have given one another a homemade gift each year. This year I decided to really surprise Marc and get him something he's always wanted. You see he loves a-line haircuts. He swears he once dated a girl solely for her a-line haircut.

Well Babe, Merry Christmas!!!

BEFORE

AFTER

What Mommy and Daddy Do When I am Sleeping . . .

Future's So Bright . . .

Marc went to get his eyes checked and therefore inherited a really cool pair of sunglasses which he promptly put on Lucy. She actually really liked them . . .
In fact, she kept wearing them and didn't take them off. We kept looking back at her with them on and we would laugh so hard. She is our entertainment package!

Boy or Girl?

Marc and I went to the mall and did a gender ultrasound on Thursday. The lady said the baby was not shy at all in revealing what it was. Here is the best part-WE DON'T KNOW YET!

We asked her not to tell us and she sealed it in an envelope and we are going to open it Christmas Morning!!! We are so excited. I find myself not able to sleep at night because I am so excited to find out. This morning I was literally counting the days until Christmas! It is so fun. I feel like a kid again. So please cast your vote for what it is-you have until Christmas.

Classic!

I knew Lucy wasn't going to like sitting on Santa's lap, but I did the obligatory parent torture anyway. I had the camera ready and I told Marc, "Just put her down and walk away". He did, she screamed, I took the picture and Daddy quickly rescued her. She looked back at Santa like, what in the world was that. It was pretty funny. I think she'll forgive us someday.

And A Child Shall Lead Them

I knew I would want my children to have one of these little nativities before I was even married. I liked the idea that it could be a nativity scene they could interact with and not one that I was always saying, "don't touch" to. It makes me so happy that this is one of Lucy's favorite toys right now.
A very sweet story about this nativity is that when I first set it up, I of course displayed it how most nativities are displayed with everything facing outward for everyone to see. My friend's 3 year-old daughter was over one day and as they were getting ready to leave her Mom asked her to clean up the toys she was playing with. After they left, I noticed the perfect way she had assembled the nativity scene. Instead of everything facing out, she had positioned everyone (even the little sheep) facing baby Jesus. I thought what a beautiful way to represent what Christmas really should be, everyone looking towards their Savior.

May Your Days Be Merry and Bright!

Staycation 2008

Mom and Dad decided a great way to spend the season would be by taking some time to be together doing the things we love and doing some things we have been wanting to do close to home. They told me it is called a "staycation".

It started out by me getting to play with my Grandma Kay while my Mommy and Daddy went to the temple. I think I got the better end of that deal ;). Then we went to see The Bodies Exhibit. It was very interesting. I liked to make all kinds of noises when everyone else was being so quiet.
Then I was done being in the quiet place, but my Daddy wanted to get a picture of him by the sign that said he had been a special guest lecture at the exhibit. Someday I will appreciate how smart he is!
Then I got happy again because we ate some yummy good food at the Soup Kitchen and then we went to see all the pretty lights at Temple Square. (above is my sad face-below is my happy face)
Mommy and Daddy were happy there too.
I really got happy when I figured out how to drink my milk with my mittens on.

We all really liked seeing this beautiful statue of Jesus. I kept looking up at it instead of at the camera, but the sweet sister missionary was very patient and took lots of shots. Mommy thought it was so cute that I wanted at look at Jesus.
Here I am looking up at Him again. I really liked being there.
Our next stop was the lovely neighborhood house that always goes all out for Christmas. Mommy counted 26 blow-ups on their lawn!!! (Robyn this picture is for you)
The next day we went to try out the new Cannon Center-it is way different than when Mommy and Daddy went to school and I loved the noodles.
We ended the day at Daddy's BYU Ward's Christmas party. I loved hearing everyone sing and I clapped along to all the songs (even the ones no one else clapped to). They also did an auction to buy kids Christmas presents and Daddy's item of 4-wheeling, shooting and dinner at our house was a BIG hit!
What better gift could we have had this time of year than to have had this time to be with one another. I love my family!

And Sometimes I Will Just Be A Mom . . .

I am a professor of Special education. I KNOW what to do to get a child to behave and follow the rules. As a teacher I taught students with very severe disabilities and we had a very well run classroom with students who, for the most part, acted appropriately. With this in mind, let me tell you a little story . . .
One of my most stellar students upon graduation placed her child in my classroom (this was when I taught part time for BYU and still full time in the districts). This BYU student had gone on to be an amazing teacher and I was so proud of her.

One night she was coming to pick her son up from school which meant he wouldn't be riding the bus that day. While waiting for his Mom he had made a bad choice so he was receiving the consequence for it. When his Mom walked in, I explained to her what had happened and the consequence he was receiving for it. I KNEW she would understand what an amazing teacher I was and that this was surely the best thing for her son. She looked down at her teary-eyed son and said, "And right now do you just need your Mom". She then bent down and gave him a great big hug.

I have never been so impressed in all my life.

So although I know just about every stratgey under the sun when it comes to behaviors (which are still amazing stratgies don't get me wrong), somedays my Lucy just needs her Mom. I may just hold her after she throws a little tantrum because I know she didn't get a very long nap ealrier that day or I may just hand her that cracker if it means she will stop screaming while we are out shopping. And you know what, it's ok. Because I am not Lucy's paid teacher who sees her only for a set time each week. I am not her behavior coach trying to shape her into doing something. I am her Mother and sometimes what we really need most is a Mom.

Day In The City

Mommy's good friend from high school, Lindsay, got sealed on Saturday so she went to see the big event while Daddy and I played in the city. My Grandma and my Grandpa were there too. I like my Grandma, but I am not too sure about my Grandpa.

It was a beautiful day!

My New Favorite Pass Time . . .

I used to sit contently with one or two toys my Mom would hand to me, but now I could never stop with just one. I make it my personal mission every day to play with every single toy, book and any other additional objects I can get my hands on. It keeps Mom on her toes.

Call It What You Will . . .

Yes, this is Lucy playing with the dog bowls. And yes, it did allow me all the time I needed to get my bathrooms cleaned. So worth it!

Happily Ever After . . .

I read this story and I was so touched. I was reminded of the beautiful words Marc’s Grandpa shared with us right before we were sealed. He shared that we have not come to the point of kneeling over an altar (think of the symbolism of sacrifice there) because we have found our happily ever after, but rather because we have found the one we can sacrifice with. He shared that being willing to sacrifice for someone else is really what love is. Finding the one we will willingly push through the hard times as we know they will do the same for us.

What an incredible blessing it is for me that I never found my happily ever after, but rather the one who does, has and will continue to sacrifice for and with me. It is a far better love than I ever knew existed.

I hope you enjoy the article:
http://mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/orson_scott_card/?id=3224

And The Winner Is . . .

The winner of the 300th post give-away is . . .

JESSICA!!!

I will bring you some jam and bread soon ;)

Craft Day

Heidi and I had a regular Santa's Workshop going on the day after Thanksgiving. Below are some samples of our handiwork . . .
These bags are so fun and EASY to make! Bring over a yard and a half of fabric and we can make one in about an hour!
We also each made an advent calendar. Below is the one I made and Heidi made this great magnetic one. It was a very fun day.

It's BEGINNING To Look A Lot Like Christmas . . .

We got a lovely tree from a local family run business. We think it is adorable!
Daddy hung up the lights! He is so brave. We love the multi-colored lights at our house.
Mommy made this advent calendar. The pattern called for everything to be straight, but we think this has great personality.
Notice the teeney-tiny baby stocking for my little brother or sister that is coming next year.
We made a special place for us to remember the true meaning of this very important time of year . . .