Merry Christmas!

Christmas Adam

Taylor said that today is Christmas Adam, because tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Hmmmm. I am just gonna go with it.

Randomness:

The kids have been getting along so well, making homemade gifts for eachother and wrapping them. There hasn't been much that we could do this week with all the rain. The kids are rather stir crazy. Last night, Jim was nice enough to take a few of the girls to see "Tangled" while I took Lincoln to his 2 hour batting cage practice. The rain has stopped for today, and I am excited to get out with the kids. Although, the rain didn't seem to stop Lincoln. Two days ago, he decided he was going outside, even though it was raining. He changed his clothes 3 times that day and had 3 hot baths (afterwhich, he would get dressed and go out in the rain again). How can you resist when your friends are out there riding scooters and playing football?

This month has seemed to fly by. I am sad that the Christmas Season is almost over. We have done Secret Service this month at our house. We drew names once a week, and whoever the kids picked, they had to secretly serve. This has been AMAZING for our family. Our kids all get along really well, for the most part, but they have really taken this challenge to heart. There has been a lot of cleaning eachother's rooms, putting away eachother's laundry, clearing eachother's spots at the table. All in secret. I think it has helped me the most. It seems like, even though, they are serving eachother, they are really serving me. Our last FHE, I decided that's what we should talk about. "When you are in the service of your fellow men, you are only in the service of your God." It all tied together quite nicely.

Brookie has been playing Christmas songs on the piano and singing along. She has such a beautiful, sweet voice. I love to hear her sing. Music was such a big part of my family growing up, and that is what I wanted when I had kids. My kids love music. We always have an iPod on or the piano is playing, or someone is singing or dancing. I love it! Lincoln and Levi can't resist. They have to dance when music is playing. It's like a natural reflex. They can't help it :)

This post turned into a bunch of my random thoughts, when it was really supposed to be the piano recital post. My mind must be a little clearer with getting to sleep in this past week. My kids are late sleepers. Levi isn't even awake yet, and it's almost 10:30. I know it's probably not normal, but it's normal for us.

Waiting at the piano recital. They just look totally into it, don't they? Brooklyn was going to play 2 songs, but she only played one, because "I didn't feel like playing the other one" Hmmm. I will post the video as soon as Jim can load it.

This is the only decent shot that I got at Taylor's choir concert. I think Taylor is starting to like choir. It was her last choice as her elective. She did not want to do it, but I think she is realizing that it is an easy class for her. She can sing, and she knows music because she's been playing piano since she was 5. It's an easy "A" and a nice break outside of her advanced classes.

Merry Christmas everyone!

More baseball. Sorry.

Another baseball tournament. Lake Havasu, Parade of Lights. Fun tournament. We took 2nd, but gave those Envy a run for their money this time. We killed the other teams 15-0 and 21-0.

Taylor came with us to this tournament. I loved having her with us! She is such a sweetheart, and she is a huge baseball fan.

Um, somebody needs a haircut, Joey...and this picture was taken 2 weeks ago.

This was during the Parade of Lights. We could throw a rock at the London Bridge from our hotel balcany window. We had a great view.

Tuckered out! These boys play about 7-8 hours of baseball each day of every tournament. Sometimes, more, if we have 3 games on a day. Lincoln plays his little heart out and loves every minute of it.

Thankful

Today, I feel happy and thankful for lots of reasons...

• I found my old iPod with all my favorite Christmas music on it. Yay for Johnny Mathis!


• Lincoln woke up easily this morning thanks to the "Black Eyed Peas" and "Train". I think I will just turn his iPod on every morning :)
• Thankful for Ebay, for having the Christmas stocking I needed for Levi from Pottery Barn 4 seasons ago, when I bought the set.


• Jim left late, so I got to go to CityStop for a soda after the kids left for school.


• I'm thankful that Levi made it up the stairs without DYING. I turned my head for 5 minutes. He was too fast for me.


• Thankful that Dylan and Levi's colds are gone, and nobody else got sick!


• I'm thankful that Taylor could do Temple Baptisms for the first time last night, and that Jim & I could be there.


• Thankful for Judith, my cleaning lady, who we had to let go for 3 years, and now she's back!


• We have had dinner as a family every night this week so far. Tuesday night was pizza at 9:30pm, but hey, we did it.


• I have chosen a family photo to put on the Christmas Cards. One less thing.


• Thankful for Brownie Bites from Albertsons, and my husband's amazing cheeseballs. Seriously, who knew you could lose 2 lbs by snacking on a cheeseball & pepsi all day long?


• Excited for Lincoln's tournament in Havasu this weekend, and thankful for my sister who so willingly is staying with my other babies.


• Did I mention I'm thankful for my old iPod?


• Oh, and satellite radio.

BTW, I am so in love with him right now. He brightens my day!