Brianna's Quilt

I didn't take any pictures of the Christmas stuff Dusty and I made. Ridiculous I know. I was just so happy to wrap it and be done with it. My sister, Bri, sent me a picture of her quilt. I loved it so much. I wanted to keep it. It had this really vintage nostalgic feel to it, like it belonged to my granny. It was pink and orange and yellow and burgundy. I backed it in a bright green fleece. It was cozy. Anyways, here is the pic....

Missing

Patience.
Must have back.
Children miss it very much.
Reward if found.

First Sundays

I taught Valiant 8, 9, 10, and 11 year olds today. It was amazing. I loved Sunbeams and I learned so much being in there. More than I thought I would. It was a good jumping off point in primary. I had no idea what to expect of the Valiant class. I just went with it. I knew that the lesson I prepared I was going to need them to pay attention. I would of taught this lesson to a Gospel Principals class or even to the Relief Society.

They did so awesome.

I think they were a little overwhelmed at first, especially with how many scriptures I had.

They toughed it out.

We didn't have time for my little game/test at the end so I gave them the option of coming back at the end of church to finish. Most of them came back. They know the plan of salvation. I feel like I accomplished something. I felt so inspired from how excited they are to have learned that. They even seemed super excited to do their "homework"!

 I gave them a couple of  assignments so they could find some answers for themselves using their scriptures.

I hope that they will.

There is chocolate bar on the line.

 I had a really great time.

Ellie also had a really great time.

She has a new teacher and they also learned about being a "child of god" and learning to Choose The Right.

She was telling one of the Primary presidency what she learned and they gave her a ring.

She hasn't taken it off.

I asked her what it said. She said it was to help her learn to pick the right and not the left.

Close.

Very close.

This is Lucy's new hair cut. Just bangs. The rest is in a pony.

She likes it.

and it's out of her eyes.

Thank Goodness.

It was a good day.

I'm looking forward to next sunday and this one isn't even over yet.

Out of the Rough and into the Clear

My day started out kinda rough.

Lucy and Ellie both in my bed.

Me super tired.

A day of house cleaning in front of me.

I had to do something.

I called my local Primary President

(also my friend but I called mostly because she was the Primary President).

I KNEW she'd be busy.

Up to her eyeballs in last minute preparation of the new year.

I was right.

It was awesome.

It made me feel SOOOO much better to know that I could be THAT busy

(but I'm not).

I had a chuckle (at her expense) and had a lovely conversation.

 I did by the end of the conversation volunteer myself to her aid.

She gave me a task and I got to say it completely changed the course of my day.

I now have a primary lesson complete.

My house isn't any cleaner

but you know what

I DON'T CARE!

I am in a much better mood

 and

I know what I'm making (or taking out of the freezer) for supper.

What started out as a rough day is turning into something fairly pleasent.

Oh and here are some more pictures of Christmas.

Christmas at Home

Santa left Mulan with the Horse

That Santa is one SMRT cookie.

Lucy pretty excited about MnM's

small things.

Christmas Morning at My folks

More princesses

Both trying to get the present open.

At Dusty's parents.

Making Auntie Bobbie Geo even more lovely.

The first present of Christmas

A Good Start in 2010

Today I managed to:

do 3 loads of dishes

put away my sewing machine (a much needed break)

clean out all my knitting

transfer all my other posts from my other blog to this one

write a to-do list (for Dusty.... mwahahaha... the best kind of list)

talk to my mom for 130 minutes

read 1 trillion books to Lucy and Ellie

procrastinate washing the floors

shower (also much needed)

and finally and the most significant

Do my hair.

(which by the way

 may or may not be my new years resolution

which I don't set anyways

BUT

 if I were to set a new Years resolution that may be it

It'll most likely make it on my birthday goal list.)

p.s. where did the spell checker go? I like the new option in the post maker thing but I seriously need spell check.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree....

Our annual trip out to chop down our tree...

It was exhausting.

All of us were sick with a chest cold

(probably not the smartest idea to be hauling 4 sick people through the cold

but tradition is tradition...)

It was picture perfect.

Dusty finally broke down and got the toboggan of his dreams.

It definitely made the day more special.

He hauled his two rosy checked girls through the snow and trees

to find the most perfectest tree.

It was one of those moments.

It was challenging.

To get a two year old to agree to walking up "just one more hill"...

and to convince a four-year-old that,

"we are almost done"

when it seemed at moments that it was,

"taking FOREVER".

It was satisfying.

To finally find the tree.

It was memorable.

Despite being sick

we had such a good time

tobogganing and

roasting hot dogs and

drinking hot chocolate....

with
some wearing hot chocolate!

I'm ALIVE!!!

I thought that perhaps I should just post something to declare to the world that I have not died. I am still alive... in somewhat of a chocolate haze. We are still celebrating and visiting and doing all the merry festive celebrations. I am trying to absorb as much Christmas cheer as possible, in order to make it through the next 6 months of WINTER. Well, hopefully that gives Dusty enough time to repair the seadoo's before lake season begins!

Happy Holidays!

Puddin' and Pie (Nope just Cookies)

I almost cried when I realized I didn't save this recipe. These are the best "pudding cookies" ever. I had a bit of panic attack but after a couple of hours of sifting through blogs I sometimes browse I found it and now I'm posting it so I'll have it forever.
Thank goodness.

One more post... that's it I promise.

I know all I've been writing about is the flu BUT for the last 3+ weeks that's all I have been dealing with. Lucy got it then there was a 3-4 break and then I got it. Then there was a 2 day break and then Dusty got it and now the past two days Ellie has been "on the couch".
My laundry is piled up to an unholy level. The dishes are barely being kept up with (thank goodness for the person who invented the dishwasher.... they should surly get a spot in heaven). The whole house feels in disarray. I keep disinfecting but I've given up. I quit. Last night Dusty got home from work and was in a pestery mood. All night he poked me and tickled my feet and brought up subjects that NORMALLY would get a reaction. BUT he was disappointed. I wasn't in the mood. I just sat. I am so tired. I feel like I could sleep an entire day. A whole 24 hours of sleep. Okay. I'm going to try to move on.

I hid $300.00 dollars in my parents house. It's been in hiding for 4 weeks. I've given him a ridiculous amounts of hints but he has not found his treasure yet. At first he didn't really care and didn't try to find it BUT the last week or so my mom, my aunt, and my father have all been searching. They even pulled out the oven! This little treasure hunt has brought pure joy to my heart. It's like hide and seek only I don't actually have to hide and I get to sit on the side lines and enjoy hearing about the hunt. I may actually have to give in and just go get it for them. CLEARLY I won't be showing them the hiding spot! It was my old high school hiding spot. It hid all the things that I did NOT want anyone to see. Glad to see they never did know about it. In all the chaos of my life it really has brought some entertainment.

Hopefully this will be the last week and then I can get back to my Christmas festivities...

cold, flu, and fried food.

It's a cold one again today. Sometimes when it's cold I feel like soda bread and eggs and sausages and potatoes. yum. That's what I've been thinking about all day BUT Dusty is sick. Real ick. So that meals is out of the question. I think instead soup is on the menu (I'm sure my arteries will thank me). It's a quiet day. He hasn't gotten out of bed and the girls watched a movie this morning and now are off to their rooms for a nap. I think it may be my fault Dusty is sick. I was just going off the other day to a friend that he NEVER EVER gets sick. In the 5+ years we've been married I have NEVER seen him barf. EVER. He's never even complained of being nauseous. Well that sure changed and quickly. Last night he assured me he was going to die. I am happy to report that he is STILL living. I went in this morning to give him some gravol and check on him and he rolled over and said," I've NEVER been this sick. It sucks so bad.". UMMM yep, welcome to the flu! So Lucy's been hit this year, I got it, and now Dusty has fallen to it. Ellie is the only one left. She's been quarantined and sanitized and I'm hoping that in 3-5 days she is still symptom free and happy. Only time will tell.