11:30 P.M.

It's 11:30 P.M. on the eve of Christmas Eve. I've been running in and out all day taking care of the finishing touches of Christmas and I vow to be DONE before the week of Christmas from here on out. No more little errands. The food bought. Everything ready to go. Presents wrapped early December. My mom does it. So can I!! I want to enjoy the season. Feel the spirit of the season. Spend A LOT more time chilling with my family.
Well this picture above.....that's my laundry. Yep!! During my coming and going and cleaning and all that jazz, I was doing laundry. The kids would take it out of the dryer and throw it here then they would put the clothes from the washer into the dryer. I would go in and throw in another load. 4 bazillion down......1 to go.
My job now.....clean off the dining table, finish ironing 10 of John's shirts (that will be out of the dryer in a minute. This was today's "day" of Christmas in the 12 days of Christmas I am doing for him) then sit down with a good movie (Pride and Prejudice? A feel good Hallmark? HGTV? I'll decide soon.) and fold these clothes.
Tomorrow morning the kids will have piles to come collect and make sure their rooms are CLEAN for Christmas!!
It's really not like me to be so go go go. I sound like a toned down Jolie. But #2 on down are in bed and the hubby and #1 are at a Halo party with family. (Now that's Christmasy!)
It's been a good day. A good season. I love my family. I love the holidays. I'm not excited to wrap presents. Not one is wrapped and I have 6 kids with at least 4 items each. Argh! (I actually love to wrap presents. It's just not as fun at the last minute when there are so many better things to be doing than being tucked away by myself wrapping.)

In the hustle and bustle of it all, I can not forget....


"The gift of Christmas isn't wrapped up in presents or parties. The gift of Christmas is Jesus Christ, the only Begotten of the Father, the Son of God. As you follow Him, you put people first. You may spend less time in lines and more time serving others. You may spend less money on - and more time with - the people you love. You may lose yourself and you may find everything else that matters."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope you and yours are remembering our Savior, Jesus Christ, and enjoying His spirit this holiday season.

Getting Along

While John and I were cleaning up the kitchen, we could hear our kids in the front room laughing and having a great time. Then they all started yelling to us that they needed Leah. So we took Leah in to top off the pyramid.

It's so nice when they get along.

Boutique at my house!!

"It's the Little Things" Boutique

Saturday, December 11

10:00 - 4:00

Pampered Chef, Christmas gifts, Neighbor gifts, Decorations, Jewelry, Clothing, Handmade and Personalized Benches, and much more.

No Shame

The kid is unstoppable. Man we love him.

"Your actions may be justified, but are they Christlike?"

(My sister in law, Laura, bore her testimony on Sunday at her babies blessing. She said this and it really hit me. It makes so much sense. Sometimes we feel like people do need to be put in their place, but is it what our Savior would do? She continued with how hard it would be to not know that there is purpose in life. That everything we did was for nothing. But the gospel and Jesus Christ gives us purpose to living and always trying to do our best. It was a wonderful testimony. Thank you Laura.)

All I Want For Christmas

This kid has been waiting for years to lose his teeth. Finally, 8 1/2 years old and they're finally starting to fall out.

Around 11:00 last night, he found me and said "I have something to show you" and he grinned.

Yeah Thomas!!!

Karey White: GIVEAWAY - Christmas Music and See's Chocolates

Become a follower of Karey's blog, share your favorite thing about Christmas in the comment section of her giveaway post, share this giveaway on Facebook or anything else you can. Then leave a comment at the end of her giveaway post for each thing you do.
It's for CHOCOLATE people!! (And for Karey;)
Click on this link...........

Karey White: GIVEAWAY - Christmas Music and See's Chocolates: "It's time for a giveaway and I think this is possibly the best one yet! What could be better than listening to Linda Eder singing 'Silent ..."

Making Amends

For a while now, I have been on a quest to return anything I have that does not belong to me and apologize and make amends to anyone I have lied to or hurt, etc. In this quest, I had an amazing experience that involves my grandpa K. And today I get to add to the list of making things better.

About 24 years ago, when I was in 3rd grade, my good friend Kathy had this toy (Little Miss Late) in her pencil box. I wanted it so bad but my parents wouldn't take me to Arby's to get a kids meal and get one.

One day Kathy's was gone and I suddenly had one. She asked if I took hers and I lied and said I didn't. I took it home and never enjoyed it.

Today, as I was going through "my childhood" box, I found it.

I have thought about this silly little toy and that experience in my life so many times throughout the years. I even looked on ebay at one point to see if I could find a new one.

I am so glad I found it today. I am so glad I can send it back to Kathy and apologize for stealing and lying.

More than anything, I am so glad that after 24 years, Kathy and I are still friends.

Great Post!!

I wish I were better at teaching my children to work.

I wish I were better at working myself.

http://bjdentonfamily.blogspot.com/2010/11/gratitude-for-work.html

I WILL be more grateful.

On the menu....

Turkey

Stuffing

Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Yams
Green Bean Casserole
Cranberry Sauce
Rolls
Brussel Sprouts (who will eat those?!! Jamison tradition)
Pretzel Jello Salad
Pumpkin Pie
Cool Whip

Peggy's Runny Fudge
Drinks

Cute red dress and shoes

Football

Grandma's dishes
Family

Anything missing?

"As we pass through the trials of life, let us keep an eternal perspective, let us not complain, let us become even more prayerful, let us serve others, let us forgive one another. As we do this 'all [things] will work together for good to [us] that love God'. (Romans 8:28)

-James B. Martino

NieNie

Lisa and I took Caroline and Emily to Provo to hear Stephanie Nielsen speak. Lisa and I have heard the whole story because we follow her blog but the girls haven't and they enjoyed being there and having a night out together and with their moms.

It was about loving who you are. Here is a great video to watch....My New Life

Grandma and her girls

Katie's name is Katie Elleah. Her middle name is after both her grandma's...Ella and Leah. My mom's first name is Leah but she goes by her middle name. Katie thinks Leah's name is Elleah and we humor her and call her that when Katie is around. So this is grandma and the two girls named after her.

Fire station

Pack meeting was held at the fire station. We learned fire safety, went on a tour of the station, and everyone got to put out a 'fire'. It was fun. I like doing things like this with the neighbors.

Beautiful!!

Emily and the Dragonfly

Emily picked up a dragonfly and it just sat on her finger for awhile. Until it was ready to fly away.

She rolls!

Leah and Thomas at the Salt Flats.
Grandpa and Leah in conversation at the Salt Flats.

Always happy. Always smiling.

Last couple of days she's been going from front to back but I laid her on the floor on a blanket and she is way off the blanket. 5 months old yesterday. Here we go.....

Wittle Weah

One of the boys kept taking pictures of Leah in the car. At night. In the dark.

This was the result.

Fall Break

I decided NOT to sit around and let fall break pass us by. So we went out and had some fun.

The kids and I started at the Zoo on Thursday. We took our time, saw lots of animals, played at the discovery center and had a great time. On our way downtown, a $3.49 cheeseburger at Sonic was 75 cents so we stopped, called John to meet us there and bought 7 burgers and lucky for us it was happy hour so we each got a small slushy for half price.

From there, we went to Temple Square and made it just in time to watch "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. We walked around the temple grounds after.

We had a great day together.

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER

Fall Break Continued

Friday, John went in to work super early so he could come home early and we went to Kennecott Coppermine. We watched the documetary and enjoyed the sights.

Saturday morning we woke up nice and early and drove almost 2 hours with several from the H family for family pictures. IT WAS GORGEOUS out there. Some of the men drove 100+ miles an hour on the flats and all of the kids got a turn to drive a vehicle.

On the way home we stopped at In N Out. It just opened down the road from us and the kids have been DYING to go so we stopped on the way home. It is now the favorite restaurant among all the boys. Emily still votes for Joy luck.

That night John and I went to the adult session of stake conference. Little John stayed home with the 3 little boys and Emily went to the Opera, La Boheme, with Grandma, Grandpa, and Caroline. Thanks to OC Tanner.

My Boys

My Girls

I have two of them now!

Thomas at the Pink Party

I took all of this in just a few seconds. He refused to stand still and smile. So Thomas.

John at the Pink Party

I had to take several pictures of John to get him to just smile. He just wanted to pull faces. See my arm on him in the last picture. He needed help just standing still and smiling. Cute kid.

Same thing happened in all the family pics and kids together pics. There were several takes because he kept talking and pulling faces and looking around.

2 year old vs. 12 year old. Not much difference. :)

More Pink Party Kids