Marleys

Last night we stopped at the Harley Davidson dealership with Ryan's sister and her family to eat at Marleys for dinner. I just had to say what a great experience it was. They serve these yummy mini hamburgers with shoestring fries, perfect for the kids. Two or three were great for the adults. They make everything fresh and it tasted great. We ended up ordering more because the kids liked it so much and the portions were a little smaller than we expected, but the food was cheap so no biggy.

I think I'm also feeling a little positive because the guy told us our kids were some of the most well behaved kids he had ever had in his restraunt and gave us free samples of frozen yogurt (which was so yummy). I have to admit I was also surprised at how good the kids were (all nine of them) but the atmosphere was cool and there was lots to look at, very kid friendly. Anyway, I was surprised there weren't more people there so I'm giving them two thumbs up and recommending you give them a try.

Technical Difficulties

Oh the misery! Our computer crashed last Saturday, as in dead as a doornail. I thought for sure Ryan would have solved the problem by the end of the day but here we are almost five days later and I'm resorting to using his laptop because I was having major blogger withdrawls. I never realized how much I relied on my computer. I always thought of it as Ryans computer but I have finally admitted to myself that it was mine because I used it, daily, hourly. Everything was on there, email (can't live without it), my grocery list (believe it or not), addresses, phone numbers, recipes, photos, and everything I need to plan the Retreat.

So, supposedly our computer (or rather the mother board) is being fixed and in the meantime they backed up my info onto an external hardrive which is now attatched to Ryan's laptop so I can reconnect to my life. But I still don't have itunes and email has been tricky. I feel like I've been thrown into the dark ages. I really wanted to post after-Christmas photos but I guess it's going to have to wait a little longer. So sad.

Christmas Morning

Austin always wakes up early and Christmas morning was no exception. The surprising thing was, instead of trying to get him to go back to sleep for another hour, Ryan flew upstairs and woke up all the kids. I think he was more excited than I was, which is a Christmas morning first.

So, before the sun was up, we were up opening presents.

Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words.

Santa always brings movies for the kids stockings. We had a lot of fun putting toys together and watching movies until it was time to go to Rich and Joy's for Christmas dinner. I especially loved hearing Ryan sing along with all the songs to the movie Enchanted. We've been listening to the soundtrack for months but this was the first time he had seen the movie.

Houdini

I realize Dallin named his hamster Brownie, but between you and me we'll call him Houdini. From the moment the sales lady put him in the little cardboard box he's been trying to escape. I was about halfway home on the freeway (in a snowstorm mind you) when I picked up the box to check on him and realized he had almost chewed his way out. The image of dead hamster somewhere in my van haunted me the whole drive home. I kept one hand on the wheel and one hand on his box to keep him from escaping.

When we got home I turned the box over and cut the tape only to realize that was all that was left to keep him in. He had chewed completely through the cardboard. Then to my horror I realized he wasn't moving in the box anymore. I dug through the bedding and cardboard and found fur. Then I uncovered his face. He was staring at me. I've since learned that when escape fails, he plays dead.

I put his cage together and made his home nice and comfy. He seemed happy and so was Dallin when he came home from school and discovered the birthday surprise. That night before bed Dallin spent some time watching Brownie run in his wheel. All seemed well.

Until the next morning when I happened to glance in his cage as I went to make the kids breakfast. No hamster. Dallin was coming up the stairs and, trying to manage the panick in my voice, I asked him to help me find the hamster. We began to search every room when out of the corner of my eye I see something black and white run into my room. We managed to trap him in my closet. He screamed when I picked him up and Dallin says, "See mom, I told you they squeek." He also mentioned that he read on Brownies toy ball that hamsters can run up to five miles in one night. Great.

I thought Dallin had left the cage open the night before and was extra careful for the next few nights to make sure everything was shut tight. But friday morning Ryan came into the kitchen and... no hamster. I heard him running around the living room with Austin trying to catch the thing. I finally cornered it and got it back in the cage. I enjoy a lot of things about this hamster, he's cute, fuzzy, and uncanny in the way he holes himself up during the day with a stash of food to snack on in his sleep, but the escaping was getting a little old.

Saturday morning around 2 am I heard a strange clicking sound. I flew out of bed, (no it wasn't Santa coming early) and ran into the kitchen and flipped on the light. I looked at the cage and saw a head and two little pink paws poking out of the tower on his cage. I swear his eyes popped when he saw me and he flew back into his nest. I slammed the lid down and grabbed the masking tape. Foiled!

So, since that last escape attempt we've had no other incidents but we've been considerate enough to put Brownie in his ball and let him run around the house in a controlled environment.

Happy Birthday Dallin!

Dallin's birthday party was a little squished between Cameron's play practice and Dallin's scouts but I think we still managed to make it fun. The big surprise was the hamster Dallin got. Our first pet. He named it Brownie. I'll tell you more about Brownie later.

Dallin has grown up to be loving, smart, helpful, considerate, and practically perfect in every way. I feel honored to be his mother and am thankful for the things he shares with me. Since he is the oldest it seems like we're trailblazing with every new experience. I couldn't have asked for a better trailblazer. He sets such a good example for the others and for myself. I find myself looking up to him and admiring his patience and compassion for everyone around him.

Happy 10th Birthday Dallin! I'm sure in a few short years I'll be looking up to you in more ways than one.

Christmas Memories

Sometimes I find myself at this time of year getting lost in the anxiety of all that needs to be done and acting more like an Ebenezer scrooge. But this year as I set out my traditional Holiday decorations I found myself reminiscing about the Christmas' of my childhood. Instantly sights and sounds and smells came back as if it were yesterday.


One of my favorite things was the way the morning sun made all the decorations and ornaments sparkle making the house feel wonderous and magical.


I also remember the subtle reminders of Holiday cheer. Tokens of the Spirit of Christmas on every mantle and in every corner.


I can still feel the excitement in my stomach when I remember taking turns hanging ornaments on our freshly cut tree. And I loved the smell of pine that greeted me every day as I came home from school.


The house always seemed warmer and brighter and happier, filled with freshly baked treats and holiday music.


It was hard to count down the days. One in every six was my turn to hang a decoration for the advent calendar and it seemed the days just didn't go fast enough.

I realize now that all these memories were gifts given to me through the quiet efforts of my mother who arranged and baked and wrapped and bought all without my hardly noticing. I can't imagine how much work it was for her with six children to think of and buy for (especially without Amazon and free delivery).

There were school parties and ballet recitals and piano recitals. There was driving around to see lights and ward Christmas parties and Woolf family parties and so many things that made December wonderful as a child. And I don't remember ever hearing my mom complain. In fact I don't remember much of her face at all. I think my memories are too full of the things that she did for me that I forgot to notice her.

But at this time in my life I feel grateful to her for making Christmas special and wonderful and magical, just for me. I've been watching my own children over the past few weeks as Christmas draws closer and have found a new sense of joy in hearing them sing carols as we drive in the car and laugh as Austin exclaims, "Christmas Lights!" at every house he sees. I've heard the quiet whispers as they try to guess what Santa might bring and I've noticed their own excitement at counting down the days by hanging an ornament from the Advent calendar.

There are so many traditions at Christmas time but for me, this year I've added one more. The opportunity to bring Joy to my children. How easy it is to forget the sacrifice of our Savior that we might all feel Joy. In comparison it is a little effort to bring a smile to my child's face. But Christ made the greatest effort that we might smile every day of every year. For Him I am forever grateful and for my mother I am also grateful.

Who's Doing The Shopping?

I was at the store with Austin this morning trying to find ingredients for Christmas treats. Jacque called with a question and after talking to her for a minute I realized Austin had thrown a container of Bread Crumbs in the cart. I asked him to put them back because we don't eat those. He says, "but I want it."

Huh, I thought, that's a weird thing to want. I kept prodding trying to get him to put them back but he only got angrier. So I took the container and put it back on the shelf. "Mommy can't eat this," I said. "I don't cook with this. We can't buy it."

Next thing I know Austin has grabbed another container and throws it into the cart. "I like it!" he huffs. Okay then, I thought, time to give up on that argument.

So, in the next isle I see Austin looking carefully at a box of My Little Pony fruit snacks and hear him mumbling something about "Eden will like it". And then he throws it into the cart. I had a list in my hand but Austin obviously felt like he had some shopping of his own to do.

Clips From Conference

Our friend Brian Hansbrow put this together. I really enjoyed being reminded of some of the great talks from this last Conference. I know our leaders are in tune with the world we live in and with the will of the Lord for us today.

Mama's Little Helpers

Ryan's been gone all week for a training in Arizona and I'm feeling a little exhausted. It seems there are always extra things to do in December in addition to all the normal daily responsibilities. To say the least, it's a rotten time for Ryan to be out of town. So, on that note, I have to say that I owe my kids a big huge "Thank you" for stepping up and helping out.

In particular I was touched by Cameron last night. I was trying to give Eden and Austin a quick bath after dinner so I could hurry and clean up the kitchen and get to the church by 7:00 for the youth activity. Since Eden is terrified of being left anywhere alone I was hanging out in the bathroom trying to speed things along when Cameron came upstairs and said, "how about I watch Eden and Austin in the bath so you can clean up the kitchen and then when they're done I'll take my shower." I felt an instant sigh of relief and asked Cameron if she felt like she could wash their hair too. She was more than willing.

By the time I got the kitchen cleaned up the kids were done with their bath and I was able to get Austin dressed before I had to leave. Dallin was great to keep an eye on things until Grandma got here. She said when she came in that the house was peaceful and all the kids were downstairs playing nicely with each other.

I'm so grateful for my children and their willingness to help when needed. I appreciate their compassion and love for me and for each other. They have their moments, of course, but its days like these that show me they're growing up to be considerate and responsible and that they truly care for one another.