End of the Year Updates

Raea is amazing. I watched her patience as she was helping her cousin to read. I am so blessed to have such an independent, responsible, nice girl to start off my family. I never want her to change.

Ethan is funny. He loves his stories. The other day I told him not to make up stories with real people. I told him that when he learns how to write, I want him to write me a story every night. He then asked me if he could make movies, and I cried because I knew he would be so good at that.

Larissa is awesome. She doesn't need anyone to create her own happiness. (Probably because she never gets the remote) she is not entertained by the TV and will spend hours in her room with her dolls and her purses. She has renamed her grandmas "Grandma Far Far Away" and "Grandma Close" and constantly talks about them.

Herston is surviving. He had a procedure on 12/22, which showed 2 large cysts obstructing his trachea, another lung infection, and probable celiac disease from the biopsy. He will have to have another surgery to remove the cysts and more blood work for the diagnosis of celiac disease. We feel optimistic that we are working towards a solution. He has also graduated to the nursery!

Grant is wonderful and even more domesticated. He has really had to step up to the plate lately due to my other demands, and he is shining. I wouldn't have been able to do work and school without him. We just need to work on the man dinners a little. :)

Coming in 2010:
My clinicals
Yellowstone
Ethan in Kindergarten (Only 2 kids at home, that hasn't happened since he was born!)
Raea's baptism
Enjoying a cup of water with Herston?
Disneyland?

Merry Christmas

Assorted Christmas Ramblings

Oh, gifts!
I am not liking Christmas this year. Too much pressure. Especially when I hear, "if you aren't going to buy me a real present, then don't buy me anything." My thoughts: You better like this one.

Oh, traditions!
There is 3 gifts I get for my kids every year: church clothes, pajamas, and toothbrushes.

On the Sunday before Christmas, I saw all these little kids running around with gorgeous new dresses. And then it hit me, why is Larissa wearing her Barbie play dress, when all of my kids have fancy matching Christmas dresses and suits under the tree?! My friend suggested that I let my kids open that present before church. GENIUS! Consider this one done for next year.

Then another friend said she opens pajamas on December 1st, so they can wear them all month. Where have I been? These cute winter pajamas aren't going to be good all year.

Am I saving any presents for Christmas? What kind of traditions do you have?

Tree Lights

Grant wouldn't let me boycott Christmas even though Lilly bit through our Christmas tree lights. A little bit of wire nuts and a little bit of kid power, and we were back in business.

Temple Lights

My second trip to the Temple Lights this year, but not as smooth.

However, the hot chocolate sold across the street was a good idea.

First Piano Recital

Earlier this month, Raea had her first piano recital. She did great and had good stage presence.

Slow and accurate.

Christmas List

Ethan and Larissa dictated to Raea their Christmas list. I thought it was interesting that Raea catergorized them, too.

LARISSA:
Games- Sorry Sliders
Toys- Princess Baby Doll, toy penguin

Clothes- Princess underwear, shorts, shirts, shoes, skirts, jeans

Money- $8

Backpacks- Princesses backpack, flower backpack, spider girl backpack

Stuffed Animals- Stuff dog

ETHAN:

Games- Hipo (where they eat it and are furry)
Toys-Batman cave

Money- $80,000

Backpack- spiderman, batman, frog

Clothes- spiderman shirt, jeans, shoes, shorts

RAEA:

Games-wii, monopoly
Toys- Hannah Montana's hair styler, more high school musical dolls

Clothes-Surprise me (5 of each)

Outside Things- like more chalk with 3D glasses, pool toys, a playset

So what about me you are all asking, here is my list:

The double hiking chariott, but since I have 4 kids that can't keep up, I need two.

The double cross country skiing chariott. Again, I will need two. I will also need all the snow gear for me and my kids because even though I love to play in the snow, I don't like to be cold.

Lastly, I would like a 10 day multi-sport vacation trek to Patagonia. I have included the website for your convenience. "We cross the Andes into Chile where we bike, hike and raft in volcano country. A sure highlight is the snow climb to the steaming crater of active Villarrica Volcano. "

I guess more importantly I would like the time, money, and babysitter to help allow me to do this.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Soccer 2009

This was Ethan's second soccer season, but his first season with AYSO. Ethan is a magical thinker and had a hard time focusing on the game. However, he loved playing, and he had the world's best coach.

Raea is at such a great age for soccer. She is finally getting the thought process behind the game. She loved playing goalie, but she made me nervous that she was leaving the net open when she would attack just like her aunt. I loved that she was all over the field because, "they weren't passing it to me, so I was just going to go get it."

Say What- Christian Version

I love my kids' preschool. They memorize a scripture each month, and if I have something to do, they can go to the extended lunch group. However, being a Christian/Baptist school brings a whole new set of say-whats.

Jesus is real... just like Santa.
Someone put Jesus in your heart.
You have a black heart if you don't believe in Jesus.
Did you know there is a big book about Jesus?

And my favorite... Larissa asking to sing the prayer.