Christmas Break - part one

We’re back. We had a long, busy, WONDERFUL Christmas vacation. Most years I start feeling overwhelmed and like I just need to be home. This year that feeling never hit, because I was HOME. I was with family and that was just what I needed. I was really bad at taking pictures. (A lot of the time I just used whatever camera I could grab first so I need my sisters to send me any pictures from their cameras. Please!)
We started our vacation in Mission Viejo, California. We stayed at Nate’s Grandma’s house and celebrated Christmas with all the King family. We played at the park and saw the ocean (cold but beautiful) and just spent a lot of time with family. It was a lot of fun.
Christmas eve we had a nice dinner with the family and performed the nativity. It was really nice. Morgan was reluctant to get in costume but finally did wear a shepherd head cloth because Dylan was. Emma was an angel and felt it was her duty to be very solemn (she resisted smiling at all costs). Talmage
got to be baby Jesus and slept peacefully through the whole thing. It was a nice reminder of what we were celebrating. At the end of the evening I had the pleasure of snuggling all my kids in new Christmas jammies and reading stories.
On Christmas morning I woke up early, earlier than anyone else, and spent some wonderful quiet time pondering and journaling and rejoicing. What a lovely gift for me. The kids woke up next and we had a very happy time all piled on the bed singing primary Christmas songs. With such a nice start, things had to go well and they did. The kids were excited about all their gifts. Nate and I gave each other pictures of the gifts we had left at home. My favorite things I gave were these twirly skirts I made for Emma and Ashlyn, Morgan’s walking dinosaur, and Nate’s canoe carrier. Thank you to everyone who gave us such fun gifts. In the evening we went to a family reunion at Aunt Sheri’s house. It was fun to meet extended family. We had a great day.
We had a great time in California. We loved being with all the family. Emma became good friends with her Great-Grandma Ihli. Talmage loved meeting everyone and all the kids had fun playing with their cousins. Thank you to Grandma for hosting us to Sheri and Dennis who hosted the other half of the family. We love being with family in that beautiful place.

one hundred + one

today i did 101 push-ups. Not all at once but in five sets in a fifteen minute window. It is part of a challenge from my sister. I am proud of myself. (Nate can do 60 push-ups without stopping and in his last session did 161 total. He's awesome!)

Christmas Tag

I am combining a few Christmas tags here. It seemed appropriate to do today since schools were closed for a fun snow day. We got about an inch. We are pretty excited about the snow coverage.

This is our house all lit up for Christmas complete with our tree peeking out the front window to wish all a Merry CHristmas. Every time i pull up i am reminded that i love our house.
This is the first year we have had a full size tree. The number of ornaments seems a little inadequate now on a big tree. I love seeing the lights come on every evening.
Christmas Getting to Know you survey
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper. In a real hurray we may use “Forsgren wrap” (gift stuffed in a Walmart bag) but we generally try to avoid that.
2. Real tree or Artificial? I prefer real but we just bought an artificial tree
3. When do you put up the tree? Shortly after Thanksgiving. This year we did it the day after.
4. When do you take the tree down? In years past its been February but now that we have a big tree we’ll hopefully do it a little sooner.
5. Do you like eggnog? No.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember getting my bike. One of my favorite Christmases was the year I got Zaks building blocks, a camera, an “adopt-a-doll” (mine was Korean), and some heart family cousins. I think what made the best gifts was how much fun I had playing with them along with my sisters. So I guess really the best gift I ever got was siblings to play with.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My three brothers-in-law.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My kids, they are thrilled with whatever they get.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. My best friend, Jill, gave us a beautiful one she hand-painted for our wedding. I love getting it out each year. We also have a little tiny one that the kids can play with that i also love.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mostly mail.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don’t know that i ever got a worst gift. Our family has a silly tradition of saying “I hope it’s socks! I hope it’s socks!” as we open every gift so nothing is a disappointment. When i was about 9 years old I got underwear and i displayed it along with the rest of my gifts and was mortified when family friends came to visit and my mom made me show the boy what i had gotten.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Santa Claus is Coming to Town
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Novemberish
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don’t think so.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mashed Potatoes, jello, Turkey dipped in the juice, and frozen peaches.
16. Lights on the tree? White for sure
17. Favorite Christmas song? Joy to the World, The Nativity Song, It’s beginning to look alot like Christmas.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? As a kid we never traveled, but we have traveled every year since we were married – you gotta be with family.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes i can.
20. Star or and Angel for the tree? Star. We currently have both on our tree.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Two on Christmas Eve (pajamas and our sibling exchange gift) the rest on Christmas morning
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? These ornaments are all made of seashells. I bought them in Hawaii on a fabulous trip with our family. This is the first year in a long time that i have hung them but i love the memories they hold. (I even keep them in their original box and tissue because it smells hawaiian.)
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Safe travels with no one getting sick and clothes.

Blessing Day

It occurred to me today that i never posted any pictures of Talmage's blessing day.
He looked so cute and was very nice during the blessing. This is the same little outfit that Morgan wore for his blessing.
What a cute, very sad little face.
That's better. My mom speed crocheted the beautiful blanket he is laying on and had it delivered to us Sunday morning.
Our cute friend, Taylor, was confirmed the same day so we got a picture of the two boys together. (Come to think of it i don't think i got any pictures of us with Talmage. SAD!) We were glad that Tutu and Grampa Steve could be here with us for the blessing. They left as soon as sacrament meeting was over. It was a nice, and busy day.

Talmage unplugged

Talmage has developed this funny (read strange, frustrating, messy, etc.) little habit of going five days without a messy diaper and then finally getting it all out in a few major blow-outs. Nurses and doctors are baffled. "Breast-feed babies don't get constipated", they all say. Well we are living with proof to the contrary. As you can imagine he is not the happiest little guy while he is all plugged up. We much prefer the unplugged, post blow-out version. Because of his unhappy tummy he has been our hardest baby so far (Sorry buddy, but it's true). He has a hard time sleeping and eating and digesting. Poor little guy. Lucky for him he has ample smiles and cooing for us that keep us in love with him despite all the sleepless nights and extra laundry and clean-up.

Also for all of you who have ever fallen asleep while saying prayers:
We start 'em early at our house. This is how i found Emma at the end of quiet time yesterday.

Still Thankful

Even though Thanksgiving Day is over, i couldn't pass up a chance to express my gratitude.

I am thankful for family. For my two brothers and three sisters (The Sisters Brimhall!!) who are more and more becoming my best friends. For wise, wonderful parents who did such a good job of teaching me the important things in life and who are still supporting and loving me so much. For equally great in-laws who love me as i am. For grandparents and aunts and uncles. For the big and little people who keep being added to our family. For my little family. For three cute kids who were willing to come to our family. For my fabulous husband who shows me daily that he loves me.

I am thankful for friends here, there, and everywhere. For the friends i have known for a long time, and for new friends that i have just met. For friends who put up with me in High School. For friends who lived with me at BYU. For friends who i learned how to be wives and mothers with. For the friends who are taking care of me here and for the friends that i miss back in Utah. And for some really special ones who fill all of those categories.

I am thankful for things. Things i often take for granted.
For food, all kinds of food. For clothing. For a house that i love. For a house that has room to hold guests when they come. For convenient appliances. For our cars. For furniture and beds to sleep in. For books and blocks and toys. For quilts and pictures and knickknacks that remind me of happy times.

I am thankful for Intangibles.
For talents and abilities. For prayers heard and answered. For education. For learning. For love received and love given. For laughter. For a good job, we feel extremely blessed to have one in this economy. For music. For health. For guidance from the Holy Ghost. For opportunites. For memories. For my testimony. For the gospel which guarantees happiness when we live it fully. For covenants. For commandments and standards. For joy and sadness. For Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ.

I am Thankful.

Hey, Mom - Look What i Can Do!!

Just wanted to show my family our Thanksgiving dinner table. (The rest of you are welcome to look too.) I did it, Mom. I guess i'm growing up (still not too old to crave a little attention from you though). In my family i am definitely the least talented in the kitchen. I was nervous to cook my first Thanksgiving dinner, but i am happy to say that it turned out great. I wish i had thought to take a picture of the turkey when it first came out of the oven, it was golden brown beautiful. I was happy with how the food turned out. And even more thrilled with the company.