Wrapping up 2013

Ali age 3.5

Favorite things to . . .

Do: Play Bolly Ball, Clean up the house, Get dressed, Paint Finger Nails, Play Hide-n-go-seek

Eat: Macaroni and Cheese, oh, I love salad

Wear: Princess Jammies

Read: Christmas

Watch: I don’t have a watch

Listen to: Violin (Cara started helping here)

Things I loved about this year: Played my puter (computer)

Things I am thankful for: Playing with Katie

Things I want to do next year: Go wimming (swimming)

Andy age 5

Favorite things to . . .

Do: Race those things that go fast, play on the computer

Eat: Macaroni and Cheese

Wear: My spider man shirt

Read: a Football book

Watch: Spider Man and Power Rangers and Star Wars

Listen to: I don’t know

Things I loved about this year: I don’t know

Things I am thankful for: Jesus

Things I want to do next year: Play Football

Cara age 7.5

Favorite things to . . .

Do: Go to school, swim with friends, play with friends

Eat: Roman Noodle Soup, Brownies, Popsicles, Spaghetti and Meat Balls

Wear: Boots and Short Sleeve Shirts and Shorts and Skirts

Read: Can we skip this one?

Watch: Monster High

Listen to: Violin music and Piano and Recorder

Things I loved about this year: We went to California two times

Things I am thankful for: The whole wide world

Things I want to do next year: Go Swimming a lot and go to HAWAII and go where our cousins are.

Caleb age 9 almost 10

Favorite things to . . .

Do: Play Football, Play with Friends, Go to Football Games

Eat: Pizza, Ice Cream, Zeppies, Roman Noodle Soup, Macaroni and Cheese, Waffles, Pancakes

Wear: Under Armor Cloths, Glasses, and Band-a-loop bracelets

Read: Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evens

Watch: Any movie if it isn’t bad

Listen to: Music and my Piano

Things I loved about this year: Colter Came and we went to California Twice and we went to Disney Land, Knotts Berry Farm and Six Flags

Things I am thankful for: Almost everything
Things I want to do next year: Play Tackle Football

Christmas Vacation?

I don't think I can really call it Christmas Vacation or Christmas Brake.  It was a whole lot of work having the kids out of school for Christmas, but we had a great time.  I look at these pictures and consider the year that we've had and recognize how very blessed we are. 

We are trying to turn Christmas into the holiday of giving, not just receiving.  The kids have participated in some giving with us the past couple of years at Christmas time and I am proud of them for the way that they respond to giving up what may have been theirs to give to others.  They may not get as much as others but they do get plenty.  

Christmas Eve at my moms was a hard day missing my dad and recognizing it will probably be the last time to have Christmas at the house I have known as home for almost 30 years.  I was especially emotional missing my dad.  Christmas Eve was such a special day to him.  My mom goes all out to make it fun for everyone.

We had a wonderful Christmas morning with our children at our home.  I love the excitement and joy of children on Christmas.  We experienced a Christmas miracle at the Kirks when there was enough cooperation to get everyone happily into a picture.  I wish the rest of the day could have gone as well, but not every family gathering is all smiles and laughing.

We took advantage of beautiful weather and the skis and board the kids got for Christmas and took them to Snow Basin.  It was AMAZING how well Andy caught on to skiing.  I wish I had pictures, but a picture couldn't capture how he just skied.  No crying, no fear, no falling.  He just took right off.  Caleb on the other hand was a little slow, but he talks a lot of smack about doing jumps etc.  Sara took John and Ali, and Josh and I really enjoyed skiing with the other three.  Caleb likes to put his helmet and goggles on Johnny.  Johnny likes it too because he gets tons of attention as we all laugh while he runs around the house like a little bobble head.

We would like to create New Years traditions around the family to keep our kids out of trouble as they grow up.  This year we got a room in SLC (at the same hotel as the Lows) and used a couple days of our connect pass.  The kids (and Josh) loved the freeze animation cameras at the Leonardo.

We spent some time at Temple Square too.  We ran into Elder Oaks at the Lion House when we were having dinner.  Josh felt him before he saw him.   I was with someone in the bathroom, but his wife walked by after I got back to the table.  I noticed her and that it was almost weird how she radiated with the light of christ.  Then Josh told me who she was and that he had just shook hands with Elder Oaks.  Temple Square was beautiful, and it was fun to be with the Lows.  With 11 kids under 10 we were even a scene at Temple Square although everyone was very nice.

Christmas is cleaned up and the kids started school today.  (Well, Caleb did. Cara had some teeth pulled and was out for the day, but she will start tomorrow.)   This pictures is funny because every time I ask the kids to vacuum or clean up, if anyone moves at all, Ali goes running for her toy vacuum.  They should make those things real!

I'm ready to get back to work and get back into a routine.  Even with all of the family excitement of December I achieved some awesome advancements in my business, getting my $1500 bonus for the first time and hitting a new rank of Gold.  My income has reached a level that it is really supplementing our family.  I have big goals for this year.  I love what I share and teach. I love the people I work with, and I love what I'm creating.