Catching up...again!

I have neglected my blog. I know. I feel really bad. Well, maybe not that bad. I was just enjoying the Holiday break with family and good food! So, here are a few things that have happened in the last little bit.

The weekend before Christmas, Michael's family came to stay with us for the weekend. We had such a great time with them. I love when they come. My mother-in-law is like my "out", I like to say. I love when she is here and spending time with her. We watched some movies, went shopping and ate some yummy food. We had Michael's uncle come over with his kids on Sunday for some good food. I made this fabulous recipe that is just like the Cafe Rio sweet pork salad. It is so delicious! Everyone loved it! My Dad stopped by with some more Christmas gifts. We all chatted and then read the story of Christ's birth.

On Christmas Eve, I decided to get the house nice and clean for Santa to come. It is so much nicer to wake up to a clean house, open presents and then take a nap. I opened the front door to run the garbage outside and when I returned, there was a bird in our house. It must have been hiding from the rain outside and flew in while I was emptying the trash. It took us a good 15 minutes to get the bird out of the house. What an adventure!

Santa did decide to stop by our house with a few things. The kids enjoyed opening presents and playing with each other. I enjoyed taking a nap!

In other news, my garden has been doing well. At least until the freeze a couple of nights ago. My tomato plants froze and look horrible! I think a little part of the plant survived. Maybe we can keep it going? My broccoli is still great! I have already harvested a couple of heads and I am so excited they did so well!

This is such a good time of year to go outside, since the summer is way too hot. However, when it rains here, our backyard stays wet for a long time. It does not see very much sun. And it is still just dirt. Not a great combination. But, I figured the kids should be able to go outside and play to their hearts content while I watered the plants. Hannah did not hesitate one bit. She got sooooo muddy.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, just as we did!

What I learned today

My children teach me so many things each day. Today, as I was cooking lunch, I could smell something burning. I knew it was not the rice in the pot, or the chicken in the microwave. I thought maybe it was some residue from ribbon on the burner. (When I sew with ribbon, I burn the edges so they don't unravel.) It was not that. The smell kept getting stronger and stronger. I knew I needed to figure out what it was before the house burned down. I went up the stairs...and the burning smell became stronger. I followed my nose in to Caden's room. The lamp was on and something was in it....with a little smoke coming out. This is what I saw.

So, today, I learned that legos and lightbulbs don't compliment each other very well. He had put one of his bionicle legos in the lamp so that Weston would not touch it. So much for that. It does not look like that guy will be played with much more.

Maybe Santa will bring some more legos this Christmas?

Giving and Giving!

Michael noticed a few days ago that I have not posted in a bit. He then asked me if I was going to post on my Birthday. Of course I said, "NO! How lame is that? I just want to wish myself a Happy Birthday today!" However, it is my Birthday today and I am posting. Not to wish myself a good one....now that I am 30 (very old!), but because I have been so overwhelmed with goodness in my life!
I am so blessed to be born to goodly parents who truly love the Lord and love me unconditionally. They so selflessly give of themselves to any of their children when in need. They are enormous examples of faith and how living the gospel brings us happiness! I am so blessed to be given the chance to be born at this time when the gospel has been restored and in this country where I can worship how, where and what I may. I am surrounded by good people who love me. My wonderful husband and children who are so patient of my LACK of patience. I have been given kind and loving siblings and friends. I think I forget how much goodness there really is in this deteriorating world. I have been humbled with the giving and giving of so many as of late. Thank you Mom and Dad, Rich and Ellen, Michael, Becky, Andrea and to all my wonderful friends. You all give me something, whether you know it or not. It is the season of giving and I can only hope that I can give back a smidgen of what I have received from all of you. Thank you all and I love you with all my heart!

P.S. I have decided that I have a complex about posting pictures. I have a hard time posting without a picture or video. So, you get a random picture that we discovered over Thanksgiving of Michael and I going disco bowling....back in the day. This picture was taken about 11 years ago and obviously has nothing to do with the post. But, what can I say? I NEED to post a picture.

Post for Antha

Yesterday, Michael mentioned that he needed a creative outlet. We talked for a while about things he could do using his creative energy considering the limited amount of time available in his busy life. I really like this story he had started as a screenplay some time ago. I think I have convinced him that he should write a book about this story. He is such a talented writer and I think it would be a great book. I am not sure if all of this talking sparked some childhood memories or what, but just a few minutes later he was outside digging in the dirt. He was building a fort with the kids! I actually got involved by gathering some tree limbs to build the forest. I had to take some pictures. After taking some pictures, Michael told me that this post would be for his cousin Antha. He and Anthony used to build forts like this all the time. So, this is for you Antha. Michael is passing on the tradition to his boys!

Hannah came in the house with some dirt on her mouth. I figure she ingested a good amount of protein!

P.S. Michael started writing last night....and can I just tell you he is amazing! I am really excited to keep him writing!