Christmas Joy (and messes)

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! What a blessing it is we can celebrate our Savior's birth in such abundance. We are very blessed.

And I love everything about Christmas, except this:




Why does it always look like a tornado went through the house?

Christmas Nativity

Things here at our house usually start to get a little crazy right before Christmas. Kids start to get a little anxious for the upcoming Holiday and I start to wonder if they will ever stop counting the days on the calendar 60 times an hour, or shaking presents in hope of actually figuring out what's inside. So in honor of the true meaning of Christmas, I thought i'd share some of our creativity and the fact that they (our children) really do care that we are celebrating the birth of Our Savior, Jesus Christ.



Sara's version of the Nativity, it doesn't get any better than this.



Willies version of the Nativity, ok his is better!



Sacoya's version of the Nativity, miss high tech of the family.



Canyon's version of the Nativity, we're still working on him!



Aspen's version of the Nativity, yes, she gets her creative genius from me. (Willie has nothing to do with it, i swear!)

Good friends

Last week I hosted a lunch and gift exchange. It was such good therapy for me as I am really missing all my friends and old ward members. It seems like when someone moves, memories of them slowly fade away and you almost never stay in touch. And I suppose that's the way it's suppose to be, you form new friendships and bonds. But if you know me, I'm a people person and a little resistant to change. I like to keep the things that are important to me. If you didn't make it, I missed you and if you didn't get an invite, I still miss you. We had a great time, and of course I forgot to take pictures until the last second, so some of you had already left. Thank you for coming and filling up my friendship bucket. I truly treasure all of you.

Welcome to Winter

Before we went to bed last night, I talked Willie into turning off the heater on the driveway. It's kinda noisy and channel 4 news said the snow was pretty much done for the night. Well as you can see, they were wrong! We have about 8 new inches and it's still coming down. I couldn't tell were the front walkway was. And guess who gets to shovel the driveway, yep little ol me. Does anyone have a snow plow I can borrow?



It's hard to tell but I would say it's about a foot tall on the mail box. Aspen was afraid we wouldn't have any snow for Christmas, but it looks like it's here to stay.

Oh Deer!

We have lots of deer running through the yard here, it's fun to see them so close. This guy was in the field across the street. The other day there was one walking down our road while we were driving away, and he leaped the fence, I didn't think he was going to make it, but of course he did, and very gracefully too!

Festival of trees

Willies brothers Tom, Treavor and Richard put together this tree for the annual "Festival of Trees" in Salt Lake City that benefits Primary Children's hospital. Needless to say it raised an amazing amount of money and was the hit of the festival. Willie also donated 2 of his photographs with it. This picture hardly does it justice, but you can see the video here:

Vinyl lettering

I'm loving vinyl lettering, and recently I ordered a few things. These are images I added to my office/craft room. They turned out really great. I also made some really cute neighbor/teacher gifts for Christmas, which if I finish soon, I will post. I just love the holidays, being able to make (and buy) handmade gifts for the people I love.

My free babysitter

THIS +



THIS =



One happy momma. Yes it's true, I admit it, I use Mickey Mouse for a babysitter and i've never had a better one! Except maybe Grandpa & Grandma of course.

New Table

Willie bought me this cute entry way table so I would have a place for our nativity and some of my other Christmas decor. I love it. It fits perfect not too big but lots of room for stuff. So if you want to bring me something, I'll add it to my shelf!!!

---Happy Thanksgiving---

Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for. May we show are gratitude to those we love and to our loving Heavenly Father who has given us all things. May you all have a wonderful day.

Uncle Doug, who's been away to long, Happy Thanksgiving, we miss you!

I'm back!

Yes, it's been a long time, and I need to stop sulking and start getting on with things cause the best part of the year is upon us. I love Thanksgiving, I have a lot to be thankful for. I love Christmas. Can't wait to get out all my decorations, put up the tree etc... So here are a few updates. I'll have more to come soon!



During the last storm, we had a leak in our roof and thus water leaking through the wall in our family room. The paint was stretched just like a water balloon waiting to pop! Luckily it was just a small oversight on the roof. We got it all fixed just in time for the next storm!



We finished the walk out for Willie's studio entrance in the basement. Just waiting for the rock work. We also have the back yard ready for sprinklers and sod, but I'm not sure if it will happen before winter. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I hate mud.



Here's my little Sacoya putting on a happy face. She had two molars pulled yesterday and one of them had a root that was wrapped around another tooth. It took the doctor 30 min to get it out. He said it was the worst tooth he had seen in 5 years. Needless to say she was in a lot of pain. Of course skipping school and laying in moms bed all day be waited on makes up for it!



Here is Canyon in his school book recital and sing. He had to dress up as his favorite book character. Since he couldn't be Junie B Jones, we picked Harry Potter.

Let it snow!

This is what we woke up to out our front door this morning, although i'm sure we aren't the only ones.  There is about 5 or 6 inches.

So in honor of the first snow in our new house, i thought i would post a tradition willie has with the kids. We have no grass yet, so we weren't able to do it this morning, but we recently  did just before we moved. It goes something like this:

Dad: Hey guys look how much it snowed. 

Kids: Ya dad, cool. 

Dad: So who wants to run to the tramp and back? (mind you he is talking about being bare foot)

Kids: Not me, not me

Dad: Don't be wimps.

Kids: ok i'll do it. I want to, i'll go.

Crazy i know, but they do it every time. And the tramp at our old house was way back there. Our yard here is about half the distance so i'm sure Willie will come up with some other route that maybe involves the cows across the street or something! I'm sure this is a tradition they will always remember. I did it once and that was enough for me.

Wah- I want to go home!

Where are my ruby slippers. I want to go home. It's been a rough. The excitement of a new house has warn off. Kids are really missing their friends, and frankly I am too! I hate the fact that I don't know who's knocking at my door, or calling on my phone. I hate sitting in church saying who the heck are all these people. (no offense if your in my new ward). I hate when my 12 year old wraps her arms around my and sobs because she doesn't have anyone to sit by at lunch, or when my 9 year old cries and says i want to go home, only she means our old home, or my 8 year old who says there's no one "his style" to play with. I realize it takes time to adjust and 3 weeks is just not enough time, but when i see my kids hurting it rips my heart out. I've heard all the stories and i know it will get better for everyone, but not today, today i just want to lay in bed and cry. Thankfully i have the DR. mr. PEPPER,  He always makes me feel better.

Happy Halloween and Birthday

Happy Halloween! Here is our little Ridge running wild in his costume. Gotta love Mickey mouse.

In hopes of a good picture i let him at the candy jar in my office, and although i didn't get a great photo, he did get some yummy candy. (I'm starting him early)
Hey mom, let's do this everyday!
And Happy Birthday to my Brother Kelly,you may have been born on Halloween but you might have just turned out to be the most normal of us all. Love ya.

Canyon's Baptism

Our sweet little Canyon was baptized this month by his dad, it was an awesome day. The spirit was really strong and Canyon was very tender in his feelings. It was such a testimony builder for me, and a reminder of how much this gospel means in my life and how much our Heavenly Father loves us.

Canyon also attended his first pack meeting. It was in our new ward and just happened to be the rain gutter ragada. We only had 2 days to make his boat and it turned out pretty cool. He had the second fastest in the wolf den. For some reason his boat got "the funniest" award, maybe it was the pirate sticker. Great job Canyon.

Getting settled

Well, it's official, we are now residents of a new county. We are still unpacking boxes but it is starting to feel like home. I get really weirded out when i go to my old house and see it empty. It's hard to imagine any one else living there. Crazy. I have had several request to see more pictures of our new house and my response to that was then come visit me. No one has yet, except family and my neighbors the Linebaughs. (Thanks guys for all your help moving by the way) So I give in and post a few pictures. If you want to see the rest, please come visit!

This is our view from the back yard.
The kitchen is much prettier without any stuff in it.
Our family room. Yes we have furniture, but these are pictures taken before we moved in. There are still too many unpacked boxes to take pictures now! Sorry.  So call me and come visit.

Quick updates!

So today is our big moving day, i've been packing none stop and all the big stuff is going today. we have taken several smaller loads over the last few days and living out of boxes and oops i shouldn't have packed that! will soon be over. Can't tell you how many boxes i've had to tear open looking for stuff i needed. So here are a few things going on at our house:

Sweet little Aspen got a haircut and a slight color change. This picture doesn't show it well but it's now very close to her actual hair color. She wanted something different for her new school.

I turned 35 yes, i said 35 last week, i can't believe i'm on the up side of getting to 40 now. Crazy.

What's behind your stove? Well this is what's behind mine, and i pride myself for cleaning behind it at least 2x a year. Maybe i haven't been so good lately. I had to clean behind it before anyone came over and helped me clean behind it, if you know what i mean. I'm mental i know.

Canyon got baptized on Saturday, it was such a great day, i'll have pictures of that as soon as we get settled in the new house. So i'm off to pack!

Utter Frustration!

So it was one (i mean two) of those days where no matter what you do, things don't seem to work out. Not bad days but just, well frustrating. So yesterday i needed to get two things done, car emission/inspection and fruit fresh to finish canning while i watched conference today. I figured i could do them at the same time and save some time. I ran to the Walmart near me and stopped at their car place, thinking i could shop while i was waiting, but they don't do inspections so i drove to the jiffy lube which was still within walking distance of Walmart, and yep, you guessed it, they couldn't do it. They had recently lost their license. So i ran into Walmart anyway and ended up spending half hour looking for fruit fresh, which they did not have! Ok, so off to the next Lube place, nope they lost there license too, they sent me to this scaaarry place that said they could do it, but not for an hour. SO finally the next Jiffy Lube could do it, but it would take 1/2 hour and i had ice cream in the back. The guy was really nice and said i could put it in the freezer in their work room!  Yea finally.So back home later that night i sent Willie to Smiths to get, yes fruit fresh, he came home with pectin and said this is all they had! So this morning i ran to Allen's market just positive i'd come home with some and they were out, so then i ran to Macey's and yep they were out to. Talk about frustrated. I came home and called the local fruit stand and she said, we haven't been able to stock it this fall. Must be a shortage. So rather than give in to frustration and climb into bed, i decided i would just start packing up my craft room while i watched conference. It proved to be very productive except i decided i do have too much stuff.  

Fast forward to dinner and Willie was going to Priesthood, so i told the kids i would make a big pot of chili. Ran out to the freezer and guess what, no meat. I called the neighbor and she said sorry i only have elk meat (YUK). So off to the store i ran. Mind you i always keep the ingredients for chili or spaghetti on hand. I buy ten of everything. I grabbed the meat and quickly drove back home. Threw it in the pot and added everything except the seasoning. And let it cook. Went to the cupboard to grab the seasoning and it was almost empty. I almost passed out. I had nothing else to spice it up. Kids hated it and said it was gross. And you asked why am i telling you this, well i will tell you: HAVEN'T A CLUE, i was just bored! he he. Have a good day.

Canyon turns 8

Happy Birthday Canyon!! You are a special boy, we love you!

Beads Beads and more Beads

So i went to the Gem Faire yesterday and oh my gosh i was in Heaven or something close, cause they had everything. It was a little overwhelming, at first. Willie came with me and we were like wow, where do you start. We walked around for a bit looking, and then once i made a purchase, i almost couldn't stop. I wanted to buy so much more but i limited my self to $100 bucks. Guess i'll be busy making jewelry for a while.....

Preparedness

My dad sent me this, and I thought it was worth passing on:

Preparedness

An email from people in Texas who just experienced hurricane  'Ike'.   What testimony for preparedness.

Dear Friends:
 
We have a 6'x6' hole in our roof, no electricity or  running water. Trees down everywhere.  However, because we listened to the counsel of our Prophet we are prepared. In fact it seems to me that it's only the members of the church who seem to be calm, prepared, and helping one another with trees in roofs, flooding, etc.

There is a POD or Point of Distribution in Tomball where we live.  There you get water and ice IF you have enough fuel to wait in the  3-hour lines. We don't have to do that because we have 3 full water barrels, 75 juice bottles filled with water, and our pool, which is dirty, but we use it to flush.

It is very difficult to get gas.  Police guard the stations when fuel is delivered and you might wait half a day to get up to the pump just to have them say, 'Too bad, we are out'.   I am grateful that we have a generator.  We run it 4 hours a day to keep our fridge and light. I am grateful that we have had fuel for it. You can't even by gas containers as they are rationed.  We can only by bread once a week and limited to 2 loaves at a time.  Water is rationed by the case at the grocery store - 3 cases per family. 

The ATM machines do not have power.  For the past 6 months I have stashed small bills away because I have had such a feeling of foreboding. We have cash because of that.  LISTEN TO THE SPIRIT.  Get cash in small bills because the stores can't make change and credit and debit cards often don't work.  I had to pay 5 dollars more for an item because they couldn't make change for me. 
 
And --  PHONES ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY.

Believe it or not...  I have not had a bath in 4 days, Today was the first day I got to wash my hair with pool water.  I haven't fixed my hair in a week!!!  It just doesn't matter anymore.   We cannot do laundry because we don't have water.  So, we wear our clothes until they are literally disgusting.  When we do finally get water we will have to boil it since it is contaminated.

I am grateful for my parents.  When we got low on generator fuel they drove 45 minutes to help us.  They filled up their cans and brought us 10 gallons of fuel, which kept us going until this morning at 6:oo, am when we finally found some gas.

A prepared Family and a loving extended family is the key to survival and making it through right now.  I know that my parents would drive to the end of the earth to help me and it's nice knowing they are there.   I know that I would do the same for my children.

I want all of you to know that I have such a testimony of following the counsel of our living prophet.  There really is safety and peace in your heart if you are prepared.  Please get your generators, 5 gas cans full of gas, canned goods, baby items, baby wipes to bathe, and all the water you can store... even if you have to trip on it in your home. Have your lanterns, crank flashlights, tarps, rope, etc., ready to go because you never know when it will be your turn to endure the test. It's overwhelming, but it's going to be ok eventually. I have a home,  I have food, and I have water, because I listened to the counsel of the prophet.  Please make sure you do the same. It's time to have your life in order. Tomorrow may be too late.
 
I love you all so much.  I wish you were here.  Take care! - Jyl
 

Here comes TROUBLE!

Just in case you were thinking my life is a cake walk now that 3 of our 4 kids are in school, this is a reminder, that is NOT true. I have this kid:

Ridge playing with the salt, thanks Sacoya for leaving it out.
Oh and our counting beans for math help, now in the garbage.
Diaper bag clean up, don't you just love when the kleenex gets pulled out of the little packages.
Tupperware, always a favorite toy.
And my favorite, bathroom help, i needed to mop the floor anyway, right?

My little stinker keeps me busy most the day, in case you were wondering!

New zip code

So we bought a house, and will be changing zip codes soon. I'm thinking mid to Late October. We are pretty excited, sad to leave all our wonderful friends and neighbors behind, but ready for a change of pace. Their is not even a stop light in this town. It has beautiful views of the Wasatch and the drive to town isn't so bad now that the freeway is two lanes. Kids are a little freaked out but it will be good for them to stretch a little. We all get too comfortable sometimes. So if you no anybody who needs a great house, spread the word, we still have one for sale!

Mickey Mouse

It has finally happened, you know that moment when your baby starts liking something other than you! Ridge has become obsessed with Mickey Mouse. When he sees or hears anything Mickey, he immediately starts to sing the song. m-i-c-k-e-y-m-o-u-s-e, you know the one. He claps when "Mickey's club house" comes on TV. He will even watch it almost all the way through, which is a great thing for me, cause I can actually take a shower now without him tearing the bathroom to pieces. For Halloween we bought him a little Mickey costume, it's sooooo cute. Good thing I held on to this bobble head from my grandma's cereal box cause that's what started the whole thing.