Hawt Date!

Friday night Karen watched Q so Ben and I could go to the temple.  Best time I've had at the temple in a long time, Ben makes everything fun and interesting and just better.  Thanks for the date babe.

Families are Forever

We went to a primary activity this morning.  I won't pretend to know exactly how things will work out after this life, but somehow we will all be together as a family forever.  Love these guys!

No More Booster Seat For Alyssa!

Alyssa turned 8 today and that means she doesn't have to sit in a booster seat in the car anymore, and her timeouts will now last 8 minutes.  It's great to be 8!  This year we had two parties, one with the family and one with friends.  She picked a Plants V. Zombies theme.  When it was all over I asked if she liked her birthday and she said NO.... I didn't like it, I LOVED IT!  Yay! 

 

Ben made this super cute invitation for her birthday

 

 

 

Our Little Artist

Holly entered the school reflections contest in the visual arts category this year and won for her age group!  Her entry was then judged at a district level and she received an honorable mention at an awards ceremony Thursday evening.  She is already much better at drawing than I am.  She wants to start art classes soon, which I have agreed to.  Way to go Holly!

Looking Forward...

to 2014!  This should be a big year for us.  We will have 3 baptisms, a baby blessing, I turn the big 4-0 in March, and hopefully we will be able to buy a house (crossing my fingers, saying my prayers, and fasting...hopefully that will do the trick). 

One Last Look

For some reason 2013 seemed extra challenging.  Maybe it's because Qyntn kept me sleep deprived and ran me ragged all day.  Maybe it was because I felt like I was battling with my girls all the time trying to get them to read, practice the piano, not fight so much and do their chores.  Whatever the reason, I'm happy it is now in the past! 

We ended the year on a high note, however, this year we had a quiet, peaceful New Years Eve at home.  We watched a movie, played games, ate lots of yummy treats, did Holly's lego set, and shot off noise makers as the new year rolled in. 

Christmas in Washington

Here's the honest truth...

 

I was against going to Washington from the start.  Christmas is stressful enough without adding anything extra.    But because I love Ben, I agreed to go.  I decided I would try to put on a happy face.  It didn't last long.  Both Ben and I were sick for starters and the night before the trip we encountered our first problem.  We were planning to put the car top carrier on our van to fit all the presents and luggage, but when Ben went to put it on he realized there were no cross bars to hold it in place.  We ended up cramming all of our luggage and presents inside the van, which made our already cramped quarters that much more cramped.  Then to make matters worse, it was snowing the day we left.  It took us 9 hours to get to Boise from Provo which got us there pretty late...too late to swim, which disappointed the kids.  The next day we also spent 9 hours in the car.  I will admit, the kids were pretty fantastic in the car.  They kept the quarreling to a minimum which is an improvement from our past trips.  Qyntn did surprisingly well, except for the last hour on the second day.  I don't blame him, I wanted to cry too, it was a long time in a car.  The next morning though I could tell he just wasn't feeling well.  I took him home from church early, and when we got back to the house he threw up.  Oh boy, it's rough when the baby is sick and not sleeping well and momma isn't feeling well or sleeping either.   I wished we were home. 

 

The kids, on the other hand, were having a great time!  Grandma and Grandpa Fuller always have tons of fun things to do at their house. They have a trampoline, and the kids explore in the woods, play games and do crafts.  They seemed oblivious to the fact that we were making a lot of extra work for grandma and grandpa, another thing I struggle with.  I hate to impose on people, and I felt awkward and uncomfortable the entire time. 

 

Before bed every night I read a chapter from the book, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," to the kids.  It was one of my favorites from my childhood, but the kids didn't seem to want to listen.  We read it anyways.  They actually did like the book, but there were so many other things they wanted to do they could hardly sit still. 

 

Grandma had tons of crafts
for the kids to do, which they loved!

 

One of the things I really wanted to do on our trip was service.  I want the kids to learn that it is better to give, than to receive.  Luckily, Jill had been assigned to help a single mother and her three daughters from her ward.  So, on Christmas Eve morning we went shopping!  We got each of the girls some pants, a t-shirt, a hoodie, socks and a necklace.  I had also made some little candy canes that had a coupon attached that said, "Merry Christmas, from our family to you!"  The kids had a great time handing them out to all the people in the stores.  I loved watching them approach complete strangers to wish them a Merry Christmas!  After we bought the gifts, we took them to the hotel where the family was staying.  We camped out in the lobby hoping to see the look on their faces when they got our gigantic package of gifts, but they didn't come down very quickly and the kids were starting to fight, so we left.  We were all kind of disappointed we didn't get to see them, but I hope it was an experience the kids won't forget. 

 

Christmas Eve started out great!  Grandma made a yummy ham dinner, and the kids did the Nativity.  The rest of the evening seemed more like a New Year's Eve party than Christmas Eve.  I guess I was just hoping for a more reverent, peaceful evening, not another evening of games.  It didn't feel at all like Christmas Eve to me and that's when I decided it would be our last Christmas in Washington.  Next time we have all the kids together I want to be home where I can make things go the way I want them.  I'd like it to be more sacred, more reverent.  I went up to my room and read my scriptures and tried to escape the loud party downstairs, but they were so loud I don't know how any of the kids ever fell asleep that night.

 



Grandma was totally prepared with great costumes for
the Nativity.

Little Q was a bit sick

 One of the Christmas traditions I loved as a child was opening up PJs on Christmas Eve.  This year I tried to continue the tradition, but I screwed up!  I got the wrong size for Ayzha, so the two of us made a trip to Walgreens.  They didn't have PJs but they had some pajama bottoms. 

Christmas Eve PJs

 Christmas morning was crazy as usual.  The kids seemed delighted with their gifts.  Ben and I were on full elf duty, building toys and putting batteries into every little gadget, while trying to keep Qyntn from crying.  Santa left more treats and sweets then I've seen in my entire life.  My stomach hurts just thinking about it. 



Christmas morning...
Santa found us, even though we were in Washington.
The kids got tons of fun stuff...

 

By late afternoon on Christmas day I was all tuckered and toyed out.  I wanted some order, which the kids resisted.  I had them make their beds and put their toys in a pile in their room.  Is that too much to ask on Christmas?  Then we drove to Sarah's house for Christmas dinner.  It was very nice of her to invite us all, and it was delicious. 

 

The final few days just seem like a blur, I was kind of depressed, angry and sad all at once... more games, more toys.  One thing I do love about going to Washington is that I get to nap by the fire.  Ben always builds a fire.    

 

The drive back was long, but I could feel the tension and stress of the past week begin to fade.  I was coming back to myself.  This time we made it to the hotel in time to swim.  On the final morning Qyntn threw up on me, so I smelled of curdled milk all the way home, but we made it.  Ben and the kids had a lovely time and that's what really matters.

 

 

Merry Christmas!