Our Christmas Letter

I'm not doing an official Christmas letter this year except for here on our blog. Time and energy have both escaped me, making it impossible to do any more than this.
I guess we'll start with Gideon. He will be 6 in April and is really enjoying Kindergarden and learning how to read this year. He has made a couple of friends at school and seems fairly well liked. He has a little crush on the cutest blond girl in his class and I have to agree that she is very cute. He's discovered that he loves Star Wars Lego game and He loves to play with his sisters. Eden is his favorite for quality make believe, but he enjoys wrestling with Larke. Gideon has a very sweet and sincere testimony in God and Jesus Christ. He always wants to go up and bear his testimony and he loves giving talks in Primary. He is a sensitive, helpful boy and we love him very much.
Eden will be 4 in March. She loves skirts and refuses to wear pants even when there is snow on the ground. Reasoning with a 3 year old is like pulling out teeth. She loves dressing up still and is often seen dancing around the house. One of the funny things that Eden does is complement people. She notices people's clothing and shoes especially and often expresses her like for them. Eden loves playing with Gideon and sometimes Larke, but she is also often content to play all by herself. She loves giving and getting hugs and can be very sweet. She does have her bad moments. She does not like being told what to do except by Gideon and she will often throw a fit when she doesn't get her way. This happens often with other adults like her dance and nursery leaders. I am hoping that this is something that she will grow out of seeing how she is very pleasant otherwise.
Larke is wonderful and terrible at the same time. She is 2 and into everything. She loves to raid our pantry and I often find cans of soup and craisin all over the house. She loves sitting on my lap and disrupting whatever I'm doing. She loves drawing on the floor and making a mess whenever possible. She also has the most contagious smile and laugh and I can't stay mad at her very long. I find I look forward to her sitting on my lap even though it makes typing very difficult. As I'm writing this she is sitting on my lap drawing all over herself with a pen saying "I did it Mom". Larke still loves her Ducky blanket although I don't let her leave the house with it anymore. She can't sleep without her ducky. She sings all sorts of little songs, Jingle Bells is my favorite right now. She is endearingly frustrating like most 2 year olds and I find myself hoping that she doesn't grow up too fast.
Matt is enjoying work. It keeps him busy and feeling fulfilled. He is a wonderful Dad and I love when he comes home and I hear the kids all run to the door and say "DAD" all of them clamoring for hugs and kisses. They all love different things about Dad. Gideon loves playing video games with Dad. Eden loves to snuggle with Dad and tell him how much she "loves his car, and likes his car, and loves him and likes him, and loves his sunglasses and likes his sunglasses," all in one breath. Larke loves to wrestle Daddy and give him hugs and be tickled by him. Matt is a great friend and husband to me and our life together is great. He especially loves me when I give him time to play Oblivion which is his new Xbox game that he loves.
So now it is my turn. My life is very much wrapped up in the other people that I have already written about. Alot of what I do day in and day out is dictated by them. I do however have a few things that I do for myself. I still play volleyball on Fridays when we have enough ladies to play. I take part in my Ward's book group and card making exchange. I got to be the Volleyball coach for our Young Women, which was very fun. I am the Enrichment Leader right now in our Ward and that keeps me nice and busy. I am also pregnant with our 4th child. The baby is due July 14th and we are all hoping for a boy. I'm sure however that we will enjoy whatever the Lord sees fit to send us. I love my life even though sometimes it seems overwhelming.
I am grateful this season for the many blessings in my life. I'm grateful for Matt, that he works so hard and that I can stay home with the kids. I am grateful for the Savior and his atonement and that He gives my life purpose. I pray that I am becoming the kind of wife and mother and person that would feel comfortable in his presence. Merry Christmas and our love to you all this joyous Christmas Season.

Thanksgiving

I am grateful for cousins for my kids to play with. Especially Elli, Spencer and Lauren.

I am grateful for parents and siblings on both sides of our joined family. For all of the love and support we get from you all through laughter and tears. We love all of you so much.For my most wonderful friend and the love of my life. For making me laugh, for loving me, for listening, for just being who you are. There are no words to express the love I have for you.
For my three children who bring the greatest joys in my life and the greatest trials. I love you dearly. I am proud of you and just know that you make me smile.

There is so much more that I am grateful for, to name a few:

The Savior of the World, Jesus Christ

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

A Living Prophet, President Monson

Our Home

That Matt has a Job, Please Let it stay that way

Good Friends that Help me through the everyday

Dress up clothes for keeping my children occupied for hours

And so much more. We are all so blessed and my thanks be to God and all of you for these blessings in my life.

Snowfall!!

Larke throwing snow at me while I take her picture.

Eden and Larke trying to make snowballs with our nifty snowball makers.Eden having fun eating the snow.
Matt having a snowball fight with the girls.Matt and Gideon making us girls hot Chocolate since they were done and Eden and Larke still wanted to play.

In past years the kids have convinced me at times that they wanted to play in the snow. After spending 20 minutes getting them ready to play in the snow and watching them play outside for 10 minutes tops, it has always been a disappointment. This time was different. We had so much fun. We got to use our snowball makers for the first time and found them to work actually very well. Eden loved eating the snow and Larke had me make her snowball after snowball so that she could attempt to hit somebody with it. Gideon and Matt were getting me pretty good. I unfortunately didn't get any pictures of Gideon in the snow because I spent most of my time running away from him and his snowballs. When Matt and Gideon went in to make hot chocolate I got to play with the girls for another 10 minutes. They were so funny. I'm really looking forward to the next snowfall.

Just the Kids

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Elf Dance

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I Love Christmas!

Tag for anyone that loves Christmas as much as I do.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping presents is the best. I love making them pretty with ribbon and bows.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial with built in lights. Love the smell of a real tree, but the shedding is a nightmare and we travel too much to water it well.
3. When do you put up the tree? Day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever I start missing the space in my living room, but atleast after the 1st of January
5. Do you like eggnog? Love it, every single fat-laden calorie of it
6. Favorite gift received as a child? So many: pound puppy, snail secret keeper, big teddy from Ev, Blanket from Juleen
7. Hardest person to buy for? Grown-ups
8. Easiest person to buy for? My Husband, just walk down the toy isle and possibilities are endless.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? a couple, I love nativities, One of my favorite Christmas decorations I have is of a Santa kneeling in front of baby Jesus, you wind it up and it plays OH Come All Ye Faithful. Love it alot. Thanks Julia for sharing this with me.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Not a card but mail our letter with a pic of the kids.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Howie the Manatee, Alan said he was purposely trying to give me something lame. It was fun , just really unexpected.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie(s)? Muppet Christmas Carol, It's A Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year round, I have some left-over gifts for Matt from last year that I never gave him.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Does Salvation Army count?
15 .Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Ham, Orange Jello, Grandma Freda's fruit salad, Cinnimon Rolls, Chocolate Oranges, Pistacios
16. Lights on the tree? Color, I have fond memories of listening to my parents read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with most of the lights off except the colored Christmas lights. Wonderful memories.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh, Come All Ye Faithful; Oh Holy Night sung by my Dad; Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel; It's all so wonderful, I love music.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, we love seeing family.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yup, you know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet, and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all ... Of course I have to sing to make sure I get them all.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We do a sibliling present exchange Christmas Eve, but the rest on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The travel, as much as I love seeing family the roads are unpredicable, kids always get sick, and it's hard to not be at home, but if we didn't go I'd miss that too.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Poisetta or something to do with the Nativity.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham-yummy, yummy, yum
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? More Cricut stuff, Thanks Matt for getting it for my B-day, it's awesome.
26. If you had to choose, presents or a stocking? Stockings, they've always been really special to me, thanks Mom for making them wonderful and something to look forward to.

Marriage

So I just read this article http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081110hate.html. It was written by a LDS cop who lives in California. He had some really good things to say about Proposition 8 and the outrage that has been shown toward the church for it not being passed. Frankly I thought that it was a little frightening but I am grateful that in a day and age where anything goes, that the principles that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints preaches still go strong among us believers. It says in scriptures that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

I believe that God instituted marriage, and that for God to approve of that marriage that it should only exist between a man and a woman. I think that there are many that believe that they can believe in God and go completely against the things that He reveals to us through scriptures and prophets to be right and wrong. We can't have it both ways. We can't be of the belief that we can do whatever we want and not have to pay any sort of consequences in the end. I know that this life can be hard. I know the desire to find enjoyment in it wherever possible. However I believe that God has greater desires for us. I believe that the joy we will find from keeping up this moral code far outways any fun we may have looking for another way.

As a married woman with children I want marriage to stay as God made it: between a man and a woman. I do understand that there are people that do not share my beliefs in God and/or that marriage should stay as it has always been. I understand the desire to feel loved and people feel that they are best loved by someone of the same gender. I don't agree with it but I understand that it happens. To them I plead, please don't take away my right to marriage. Please find a different way to get what you want without taking away what I want. Please acknowledge that you are asking all us that believe this way to change our beliefs for you. There has to be another way. Some other way of comprimise.

Alright Brittney, This One's For You

Tag Rules: Go to the 3rd folder of your pictures and select the 3rd picture in. BLOG! So, here we go!



This is it. This is Gideon five years ago at 8 or 9 months old, his first winter, and our first winter in Colorado. He looks so little and uncomfortable and completely unable to move. I wonder if he thought we were torturing him at the time.



Some of my favorite things about Gideon are:

1. The way he protects and takes care of his two little sisters.

2. How he loves to follow a story, whether in a movie or a book.

3. The way he likes to please his father with his knowledge of superheroes.

4. Seeing his desire to learn, it's very exciting and hopeful.

5. He can be very thoughtful and kind to others, he doesn't like to see others cry except for maybe his sisters.

6. He already thinks girls are cute and he often asks me who he is going to marry.

7. He is so proud of being my big helper and says that I wouldn't be able to survive without him, which is totally true.
8. I can never do my feelings as a mother justice. I have never felt such poignant feelings before. A whole range of feelings. From Love when I turn to see them smile and laugh, to downright dislike since kids seem to know exactly what buttons to push. From immense pride when they are kind to deep disappointment when they are mean. From pure frustration because I've repeated myself for the 20 time that morning to Joy in watching them grow and discover and have fun together. Then of course there are all the feelings have about myself. The tears I've shed for my disappointment in myself and my own inabilities to show the patience I have been attempting to develop for the last 5 and a half years. The pride that I feel for when I know that I am their mother and that they love me as much, though differently then I love them. The fear I have that they won't make good choices and that I won't teach them the way I should and that their failures will be all my fault. The hopes that I have for their happiness, past, present and future. I love that they so easily forgive when I lose my temper and the way they sweetly try to take care of me at times. There are just so many extremes of feelings. I am so grateful for them all. I guess I just want to be able to say at the end of the day that I'm getting a little better at this and that my kids went to bed knowing that I love them and that I helped bring us all a little closer to God. I don't quite know why I'm so thoughtful this morning, but I am. And I want my kids to know I love them always!

PS. Tag: Rachel P, Rachel S, Valerie, Sharon, M'Recia, Lisa, Abby and any one else.

A Peter Pan Halloween

Peter Pan, Wendy and Tinkerbell flying off to Neverland.

Pirates VS Kids

Pan beats Hook!

Peter Pan is the best flyer around.

We enjoyed our costumes this year. I hope that we can do a theme again some time! Happy Belated Halloween to everyone out there.

Captain Hook?

My handsome Captain Hook and all of his amazing hand options. We have the obvious favorite the Chainsaw Hand. He spent many hours tenderly crafting this hand himself.

The close second is the Hulk Hand, Hook was attracted to the power of the Hulk Hand and of course the lovely shade of green. The Light Saber Hand option was a must for my versatile pirate. He has a deep love for the 3 prequels. Now onto the more practicle Hand options we have the Flash Light Hand and the Pencil Hand. Even though it has been thought that Hook hated Peter Pan for cutting off his hand, in his prayers Hook secretly thanks God in Heaven for the opportunity to have so many different hand options. Also he does enjoy the Hook, but it was being polished the day we took these pictures.

Matt's Captain Hook Chainsaw Hand

So a couple months ago Matt and I made a deal. He agreed to be Captain Hook for our Peter Pan theme this year if he could have a chainsaw hand instead of a hook. I agreed obviously. We put it off for a long time so the day before Halloween we were up til 2 in the morning putting this together. Matt did 95% of the work and it did turn out pretty cool. He was so proud of it when all was said and done. I was cleaning stuff up when Matt called for me to come. I came to the garage door and he had me close my eyes then he opened the door to the garage slowly and the light from the kitchen fell just right on his chainsaw hand as he made some sort of Du, du, du sound. I think he can rank it in his top 10 proudest moments of his life. Coming soon a picture of the whole family in costume together.

Bob and Larry

Bob and Larry are together at last just as they always should be.

30 and Okay with It!

So I had a pretty hilarious experience at church last night. I was walking down the hallway and a lady was coming in with her teenage son. She was sporting pig-tails and sucking on a caramel apple lollipop. I stopped her and asked if she wasn't too old to her hair that way and suck on a lollipop at the same time. She laughed and said that I'd figured out that she was just not going to grow up. Funny. The whole experience made me laugh. So I guess I'm trying to say I may have turned 30, but does it really matter. I'm looking forward to alot of things, and I don't want to be young and repeat all the things I've already had to learn. I'm really hoping that I will just improve with age. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Bob the Pumpkin

For FHE last night we did pumpkins. A few years ago we found this pumpkin decorating kits at Target. We love them because they are easy and it is fun the dress up the pumpkins. Even though we have these I still always have to carve a pumpkin. In the last few years I've done a spider-man face, a bat sign, and I don't remember anymore. This year I decided to go a little more simple. Meet Bob the Pumpkin. I'm hoping to find a tall pumpkin so that I can do Larry also, but we'll have to see what I can find. I love Halloween, don't you?

My Big Hill

Gideon sporting a nice new bump on his head

A side veiw of the big hill.Eden wanting attention too. She was so funny, she insisted on having ice to make her bump all better too.
Larke says Me too, I have a bump too.

It all started with Gideon's baby bear. He was mad at me because I wouldn't adopt his baby bear and be his mom. I tried to tell him he should be baby bear's dad, but he wanted to be baby bear's brother. Anyway he was mad at me and was hiding under a blanket so that he could work out his anger. Larke and Eden started climbing on him having fun. He started walking around the room with the blanket on his head. He ran straight into the coffee table which made him fall over and smack his head really hard on said table. I thought the bump quite impressive. It's the biggest any of my kids have ever had. I little ice, tylenol and ice cream later produced a happier boy. At first he did not want any pictures. I think he was embarrassed, but we forced it so we could document the biggest hill thus far in our family.

Boo at the Zoo

Gideon happy and awake while the girls get some shut eye.
Matt sleeping while driving in the car. It was a tiring day.Eden sleeping after Boo at the Zoo.

All three kids together at the zoo.

All of us with fun Star Wars characters.
Larke was out about 2 minutes after putting her in the car.

Gideon pretending to be sleeping so that I would take a picture of him.

So we went trick or treating at the zoo on Saturday. The kids had so much fun. We had to park about a mile away from the zoo because it was so crowded, but the kids thought it was awesome that we got to take a trolley to the zoo so it ended up being fine. It was fun to see all the other costumes. One of my favorites was a girl in a purple sweat suit with blown up purple balloons all over to make her a bunch of grapes. Very cute. There were lots of Tinkerbells and a few Peter Pans, but nobody with all three. It was fun. Eden loved being Wendy.

Fun for the Hulk Family

The Hulk Daddy and all his little Hulk kids.

All my little Hulk kids

Larke Hulk
Eden Hulk
Gideon Hulk

So Matt surprised me last night. I came home from volleyball practice not to my cute little Jones Family. But to an all new big, green and excited Hulk Family. When I walked through the door from volleyball all three kids jumped out at me and said surprise. When Matt came to pick up the kids he showed me that he bought Larke some Hulk pajamas because she seems to like the Hulk alot. Apparently the other kids formed a mutiny as soon as they left the church that they liked Hulk just as much as Larke. They convinced Matt that they all needed Hulk pajamas, thus I now have a whole Hulk Family. Matt is so proud. I don't think it took that much convincing, how about you?

PS. Gideon was so excited that he wasn't happy til I took some pictures. All morning he was asking me when I was going to put it on our blog.