Christmas Day 2011

The quiet peace before everyone is up and the craziness begins! The children are at awesome ages this year so it was so fun to watch them. Taylor did discover a few things this year and so in a quiet moment he took the time to personally thank Mom and Dad for ALL he got, even his Santa gifts.

The kids woke up around 6am, I tossed and turned from 430 on waiting for them. Emma was the first one up and was soo excited. We did stockings first and after we had gone through everything; Liv was very distraught. She said, "Santa was supposed to bring me a Dora Doll!" and then ran to her room. All our Santa gifts were wrapped so she didn't know she did have a dora doll, we let her open it next and she was very excited.

Madelyn was thrilled to see Santa was able to make her a Baby Alive Doll, Emma was surprised with her own Fashion Design Kit, and Taylor was surprised with new bedding and then later paint from Dad and Mom to redo his room. In addition, Taylor got the Nerf shield and Knife he asked for and Emma got the bedding she asked for. We will be painting soon, that will help keep the winter blues away for me. I recieved many wonderful gifts from Santa and Joseph and the kids. The highlights for me were the wonderful handmade gifts from my kids and then a beautiful new Wool Coat. Joseph got some new shoes, clothes, the hunger games books, and a framed picture of Christ with his Line of Authority on it. I am not sure what he highlight was but I know he loves to see us all happy. He goes to great lengths to make that happen and was very sweet and didn't complain once about all the charges on the bank statement from my shopping!!

a

We were all excited to add an hour of church to our Christmas celebration to help us remember our Savior!! The spirit was so strong in our meeting through the musical numbers. I know that Jesus Christ was born and is the Savior of the World and I am so grateful for the sacrifice he made so we can all repent and have peace and joy!! I know my Savior Lives!!

The elders spent the day with us and we had a lot of fun with them. We played games

The kids all got new dressy coats but Liv was pictured out so we didn't really get a great picture with them. We had a couple families over for a Christmas dinner and party. Then after everyone left we enjoyed opening our gifts from Grandpa and Grandma Katschke.(pics to come in next post) It was a wonderful Christmas day!!

Christmas Eve 2011

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve this year. We woke up that morning and had crepes and berries and whipped cream. Joseph started smoking his delicious ribs for us and then we headed to the YMCA to play and get some exercise. After a basketball game, game of white lightning, and game of hide and go seek in the play place (with mom and dad); we headed back home.

We ate snacks and played games together through the afternoon. Then we prepared for our evening. We got dinner ready and a beautiful candle light table set. The kids were busy finding costumes for our upcoming Nativity play.

Before we ate we got to skype with Grandpa and Grandma Pendleton and open their gifts. Modern technology is such a blessing! They gave Joseph and I some really great jackets that have the WyoVision logo on them. The kids got new vests with the logo, and an individual gift each, and we all got beanies which are so cool! Thanks Dad and Mom!! Then we had our dinner. The ribs were fall off the bone! I am totally bragging but my husband is an amazing cook now!! He can smoke meat better than anyone I know!!

Livvy had to eat dinner with the new doll Grandma had made for her.

We performed our Nativity Play and opened our new PJs to wear to bed.

Finished the day off with Razzleberry Pie for dessert and decorating cookies for Santa! Really great day!

Feeling a little Blue

We were able to get a beautiful family picture taken this year and amazingly all 9 little children were looking. As I look at the picture I am a little sad today. I have an ongoing conflict within me. I truly love where I live and my family is so blessed. However, I miss being with my loved ones and being close enough to support them in their trials. That is where the sadness is coming from right now. They are having numerous trials right now and I am just too far away to be any help. That reality leaves me feeling helpless and sad. But I love them all so much. They are weathering their challenges with faith and optimism and all our prayers go out to them!

Ps. on a positive note, my brother is driving 8 hours out of his way, as they journey to their new home in Oklahoma, to come and visit us. We are SOOO Excited to see them tomorrow!!

Making Christmas Candy

I love making Christmas candy with my family and I am lucky that my husband also enjoys it! It is something we do together every year and it is a lot of fun.
This year we made:
Turtles* Glass Candy* Fudge
Chocolate Covered Pretzels* Coconut Balls
Caramels* Chocolate Covered Nuts* English Toffee

Finished Product!! Anyone want to come and visit?!

December Activities

Busy month of concerts and performances.
Emma: Violin and Choir
Taylor: Pack Meeting-Earning his Bear and final BBall games
Madi: Singing Concert
and of course Livvy: enduring supporting them all!
It was a very busy and fun first 2 weeks of December at our house!

One of my Hardest Mom Days!!

Friday night I was in Emma's room when I heard screaming coming from the Family Room. I ran out to find Joseph holding Liv and her screaming in pain. She had slipped on some newspapers by our wood stove and caught herself with her arm. Joseph was right there and grabbed her in a second, but a second is all it takes. The evening continued with calls to the doctor, her arm in ice water and three hours of sobbing in pain!! It completely broke my heart and was one of the hardest 3 hours of my life to date. She was in so much pain!!! After 3 hours we called the doctor and asked if we could give her liquid Loritab and after it kicked in she slept through the night. We now are going to the doctor every couple days to have the dead skin trimmed and she is sporting a new bumble bee wrap. She has been so brave through it all. We really are very lucky because if Joseph hadn't been there and caught her so quickly it could have been a lot worse!

"Livvy, I am soo sorry sweetie! We love you and are so glad it didn't turn out worse!"

Thoughts of Our Two Year Old

Dont let those beautiful eyes and pretty smile fool you... this young lady is a bit of a stinker these days. I really don't know whether to be pleased because she is so smart or cry because of what must inevitably be in our future if we are starting out so defiant and stubborn. These are a few of Olivia's comments lately....

Olivia was smashing chips all over the kitchen floor with her feet, I asked her, "Olivia, why are you smashing chips all over my floor?" Livvy said, "To frustrate you." She said it so matter of factly I didn't think I had heard her right. I said, "did you say to frustrate me?" She responded, "yes, am I frustrating you Mom?" I told her she was and I didn't like her to do that so she went and got her broom and cleaned up her own mess.

In the store the other day she was throwing a fit while I was talking to another lady, afterwards, I told her she was in trouble for throwing a fit and didn't get her treat anymore, her reply, "I don't care Mom!"

Yesterday she lay in her bed for an hour but never went to sleep during nap time. I had to let her get up after an hour so we could go get Madi from school. When I went in there she said, "Mom, I want a Different Mommy!" She really didn't say it mean, just matter of factly. I saw a lady while we were driving to the school and said, "ok I will take you to that lady's house and she can be your mom." She said, "ok." While waiting for Madi she just kept repeating over and over, "I want a different mommy."

so, wouldn't you agree I am in trouble?? Way to smart for her own good!