Animal Safari

A good friend of mine suggested that we go to the animal safari that is just over an hour from our house. I guess there are only three like this in the US. It was hilarious. We had such a good time laughing our heads off. The girls were so scared that they sat on my lap for the first 15 min and screamed.

They say the Zebras bite. Yikes, that would hurt!

Adams 1 year Photo Shoot

OH MY I am LOVing DIa T PHotography. She did an AMAZing job on the PICtures she took of the KIDS. I must Say they are cute kids but these PICTUres are INCRedible! SEE for YOUrself....

Christmas when I was a kid

I remember when I was really little and Santa coming. It was magical. The presents and candy. I loved to sleep under the lights on the Christmas tree and dream of wonderful things. Life was so simple and good. I remember crayons and bikes. Those were Christmas' out of the books. Then I got a little older. My parents got divorced and Christmas for us changed dramatically.

I lost the magic or the magic was lost on me. Christmas wasn't like it used to be. My dad usually would buy us something and pack us in the car and drive us 6 hours to drop us off with our Mom. It always bothered me that my Daddy was alone for Christmas. I would try to get him stuff or hide notes of Merry Christmas around the trailer for him to find. I couldn't understand why he did all the hard work and my Mom got all the Holidays. It killed me.

My mom bought us stuff for a couple of years and then gave up all together. Mostly I remember Christmas as a brown lunch sack of Halloween candy and 25 dollars to spend after Christmas. One year I even asked my Mom if she would just get something for us to open and she said that we had our candy and any way stuff is way cheaper after Christmas.

The last Christmas I spent with my Mom was in 1999. She had had Breast Cancer for six years and decided she wanted to die while we were there so that no one had to buy more plane tickets to come to her funeral (she was super frugal). She was sick and I wanted some of that magic back from when I was younger and I tried so hard. But it didn't happen. She passed away while we were there on New Years Day 2000. She was 41.

Now I look back on my Halloween candy as a fond memory. It wasn't the ideal american Christmas, but it was mine.

And now at least now my Daddy isn't alone for Christmas. He comes here and watches my kids experience the magic I once had.

I have learned some things over the years. What I have learned is life isn't perfect, and sometimes our best memories come from our hardest trials. That people are more important than stuff. That Christmas changes for us as we grow and the magic of Santa Clause for me has changed to the Miracle of the birth of our Savior. And understanding that changes EVERYTHING. I hope that we can remember that above all the tinsel and gifts.

Merry Christmas and a bag of Halloween candy to all and to all a good night!

Photo club and a bunny in our garden

A friend of mine started a photo club. I have always enjoyed taking pictures, but never had a very nice camera. She talked me into doing it anyway. Our assignment was an action shot. This was my favorite out of over 130 pics.

In the meantime I let Adam wander around the back yard for the first time. He is still crawling and I hate for him to ruin his pants. But I was on a mission to accomplish my assignment, so I let him go. When I hear Kaely yelling "There is a bunny in our garden!" and to my suprise, I found the cutest bunny ever. He was so happy crawling back and forth, even though it doesn't look like it. I had a lot of fun and the kids were glad I was playing with them and not cleaning.

The Meaning of Christmas

I have tried to get my kids to understand the true meaning of Christmas. This year I decided to question them the see what they said and how I have done. "I asked what do you think about when you think Christmas?" This is what they said:

Skyler "To be honest I think 'cool I'm gonna get stuff '. Then like second or third I think about Jesus being born."

Kaely "Fun, like when we get the tree down and Jesus' birthday, presents and how happy we are."

Jane "Jesus' birthday." Kaely then asked "Do you think about presents?" Jane responded "Not much."

Elly "I never do..."

I guess I am left confused as to how well I have taught them. At least most of them mentioned the birth of our Savior.

I just want to testify that I know Jesus Christ was born to Mary. I know he lived and will live again. I know with everything I am that he loves me. I know because I have felt his redeeming love when I have repented. I am so blessed to know this and pray that you know it too. I hope that we don't lose the purpose of Christmas, but that we will be reminded to follow His example and love and serve our fellow man.

Merry Christmas All!

Teacher Gifts

It is that time again and I am room mom for Kaelys class. I did a search for ideas on teacher gifts. This was my favorite.

Teachers who teach young children often like to wear clothes with characters on it. Winnie the Pooh and Disney characters are favorites. One piece dresses adorned with such characters or Disney jewelry is great Christmas gifts for teachers in the early childhood grades.

Have you heard of any better than that.