Joy

It was a weekend of joy.

First as Emma and i waited in line near the checkout at the local craft store i spotted some darling journals. They were just the kind i like with covered spiral binding. I am a total sucker for a cute journal. I wanted it. I told myself i deserved an indulgence, a worthy and useful indulgence. I decided i had to have it no matter the cost (we were standing in that section where they try to trick you into buying things last minute that you don't need). I was thrilled to turn it over and discover it was just $1.99. Awesome, indulgent and guilt-free. I am excited to fill it with memories.


We had friends over for dinner on Fri. and Sun. The kids played, the adults chatted and i laughed a lot. Thank goodness for friends. My best friend looked like this on Sunday - totally handsome! I'm glad he gets to be at dinner everynight. Love you, Nate!


The creme de la creme - the Temple. We got to go to the temple on Saturday. The first time since Talmage was born. It was wonderful to be inside with my sweetie. When we go inside and leave the things of the world behind pure, perfect love and joy flow. I basked in the sweetness trying to soak it all in. I am so grateful that we got to go. Wonderful.
There were other things. Things that made me smile, laugh and bubble inside and warmed me with joy. All because my Father in Heaven loves me and is smiling down.

T-Rex aka Talmage Max

Yesterday morning Mr T. was up and ready for the day before i was. We stayed in bed and had some fun. He was very smiley. He sat up against my bent legs while i lay down. He discovered a new game and this is how things went -

Open mouth *WiDe*

Lunge forward

Find Mom's hand

Bite *HarD*

Thrash and Rip

Lean Back

and Repeat

It's a good thing this guy doesn't have any teeth yet. It was so funny. If i was NieNie i would have had my camera near to capture it . . . but i'm not, so i didn't. You'll just have to trust me, It was CUTE!

A Word About My Brother

I know this is way past due but i couldn't leave our break without talking about the time we spent in Utah. The ten hour drive from California to Utah went really smoothly and we arrived just the day before Clark's farewell. He is going to the Canada, Calgary mission. Clark did such a good job. He gave a fabulous talk. I loved listening to it. I could hardly believe that the very handsome, smart, wise young man at the pulpit was my baby brother. I am excited for him to be a missionary. He has already mastered so many of the necessary qualities that i think the next two years will be wonderful for him. Our family sang a musical number. We did okay except that Holly, Clark's twin sister, started crying almost as soon as we started. It was a little funny trying to keep it together to finish the song. After church my mom put together a fabulous spread for family and friends. Upstairs was sandwiches, chips, veggies, cookies, etc. and downstairs was a fully loaded cereal bar (Clark inspired). It was a fun day to be with extended family. I am so proud of Clark. He is a really amazing person. The people of Canada are very lucky to have him in their midst (i hope they let him into their homes and keep him from freezing). I moved from home when he was just 8 and missed alot of his growing up but it is awesome to see what he has become. I know he will be an excellent representative of Jesus Christ and his Church. He loves his Savior and he lives like Jesus would. Love you, Clark, remember your SPARKLE.

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.