Christmas

It was a wonderful Christmas! Isn't it always if you take it to heart?

Funny happenings:
1 - Lauren got a Winnie the Pooh touch light clock. It lights up when you touch it. Regan looked at the box and said, "Look, Lauren, it's a 'tough night' clock!"
2 - We've been tying quilts for the Pediatrics ward at the hospital. I've heard service can be painful, but not like it hurt Ben when he stepped on a tack when we were cleaning it up Christmas Eve. It bruised the ball of his foot. Also not like it hurt Dylan, when Madelyn slammed the sliding door of the van on his fingers after we delivered them to the hospital Christmas night. It was a good experience, though!
3 - We live near a field, and every winter have problems with the mice. I put traps out and tell the kids all the time not to go near them. While preparing for breakfast yesterday, I stepped on one and serioiusly bruised the three middle toes on my left foot. Stupid mice.
4 - Madelyn got a Bratz glamour kit as a gift. She was playing with the guinea pigs for a while in the morning, then came into the kitchen. I didn't have my contacts or glasses when I looked at her across the room and saw that her eyes looked swollen and red. I was afraid she had been rubbing her eyes while playing with them, so I asked her to come over to me. It turns out she had just put on her new sparkly pink makeup. . . . . under her eyes to cover up her dark circles.
5 - Lauren got her first Barbie! It was the kind that come in the long skinny package. She looked at it, then pointed it at Dylan and started making shooting noises! My delicate little one year old. She also got a doll stroller that she put her baby in and immediately began ramming people with it and making crash noises. Do I need to worry, or does she just have older brothers?

It was a really nice, mostly relaxed day. It was great to visit with family, and to share our love for eachother through gifts. It seems like everyone put thought into what they gave. That is one of the most rare and precious gifts of all. I was especially moved by my sister-in-law, Jenn, who left a message on my phone on the verge of tears after she received the gift from us. I was touched to know it meant so much to her. It's not always easy to know what to do for someone else. Of course I was also almost in tears over the cutest magnet board that Nick and Nicole made for us! I can see it being a special part of our new home, along with a sign they gave me that said"Live Well, Laugh often, Love Much". I have always loved that one, it pretty much sums it up for me.

I hope that all our friends and loved ones felt the joy of the season in their homes and hearts. We love you all and think of you often.

Guinea pig surprise

The kids had wanted a new guinea pig to be the friend of Pudding, one we already had. We surprised them for Christmas by adopting a baby guinea pig that our friends' guinea pigs had. They were so excited about it. Her new name is Nibbles. She hardly had two minutes to herself all morning and was probably relieved when we went to my mom's house later. I picked her up late on Christmas Eve, and wasn't sure if the two were going to get along. At first, the baby wanted to smell Pudding's rear, and tried to nurse. Pudding was having none of that, but after about ten minutes of chasing in circles on the living room floor, they settled down to a late night salad and then I moved them to their cage. They're doing great! Welcome to the family!

Our new House!!!

I'm a post-a-holic today. I'm way behind on. . . life. Yesterday we found out that the buyers accepted our offer so we are finally buying a house!! This one, to be exact! It is in Provo, out near the lake. I refuse to post pictures of what the inside currently looks like, but as we make our improvements, will post side-by-side comparisons. We are planning to move January 10th, so mark your calenders and prepare to come help us haul our stuff over there! Ben's back isn't up to the job. The kids are excited about the swings and the big tree to hold their prospective tree house. Ben is all about the big garage and shed. I am just excited it's mine.

Temple Square

Also on Regan's Birthday, we went to see the lights at temple square. It hardly seems like Christmas if we don't. We didn't last year, or the year before, or the year before . . . . I guess since 2003. But it's worthwhile! And we will from now on!!! Here are some fun pictures Lorinda took to illustrate the point. The only downside was we didn't have any snow at that point, the upside was we could feel our appendages! No frostbite!! P.S. You'll notice that Ben and Madelyn each looked drugged in one picture. Funny how the little ones manage so well while the big dorks ruin the picture! This is their punishment.

Baptism Pics

Regan's Big Day

Regan was baptized on his birthday! It was amazing, he's such a sweet boy. I just can't believe my little beefy boy is already eight years old. His baptism was at 9AM, we can hardly all get out to church at that time, but amazingly were on time and in good shape for the baptism. All the family from Vegas came, Grandpa Russell with his friend Chareen, one of Regans friends from school named Kyah and of course all the Carr's and Redford's. Silly Aunt Kim came, too! Regan was given the opportunity to pick someone to give the closing prayer, and a talk on baptism. He chose Nanna for the prayer, and Uncle Josh for the talk. They were great choices (the first of many I'm sure!) Josh has a way of understanding and sharing the gospel with anyone at any level. The kids were listening! He helped them to understand and look for the feeling of the Holy Ghost to let them know they were making the choice that Heavenly Father wanted them to. He shared personal experiences, and related to them, while still treating them in a grown up way. Daddy faced him the right way in the font, and he fairly glowed when he was done. Ben confirmed him and gave him a great blessing.
After the baptism we went back to our house to celebrate! We had brunch, visited, and opened his gifts. Whoever gave him the fake fart bags is in deep doo-doo! Ben didn't read the directions that say don't hold in your hand and don't shake until he was doing just that! His clothes still smell like sulfur. Regan was smart enough to run away after the capsule was broken!!! It was a great morning. We love Regan sooo much and are so very proud of him.

My tummy ache

Microwave fudge, microwave fudge
I've eaten so much that I'm turning to sludge.
I make it because it is easy and yummy.
And now I am feeling upset in my tummy.
Microwave fudge.

Here it is:
2 1/2 C Sugar
3/4 C butter
5 oz. evaporated milk
12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
10 1/2 oz. mini marshmallows
1 tsp. vanilla
optional chopped nuts

put the butter and sugar in a large glass bowl. cook 60 seconds. Add evap. stir. cook 5 minutes. stir. 3 minutes. stir. 2 minutes. add chocolate chips. Stir until melted. add marshmallows 1/2 at a time, stirring until melted. add vanilla and nuts (if you want). Stir. Pour into a wax paper lined 9x13 pan and spread evenly. Cool, then serve. Be sure to lick the bowl. Since it is MICROWAVE fudge, when I say cook, I mean in the microwave. DO NOT scrape the sides when you are stirring or it will turn out really grainy. The bowl gets really hot. don't drop it. Enjoy, and be sure to share or you may also have to wax poetic.

Thanksgiving on the "farm"

What a fun thanksgiving! My sister, Dakota is a little bit of a hyper-diaper. She's only content when she's crazy busy. So, once she and her husband Ryan finished remodeling their house in Tooele they sold it and bought a property in Spanish Fork with several acres to start their own farm. First, they adopted a dog, Marley. Next came some chickens. The chickens were closely followed by a llama, Cedric 3 rabbits named Forrest, Fluffy and something else, and 3 goats (I forget their names). It's not clear to me whether the miniature horse, Penelope or the other two llamas, Tina and her baby came first. So at last count that's 3 llamas, 3 goats, 3 rabbits, 5 chickens one dog and one horse. She is loving it! They also have a four wheeler and some kind of little car the kids can drive around. When you add to this the fruit trees and rocks, sticks, and room to run. . . .what kids wouldn't be in paradise there? Mine are. Except Lauren. At seventeen months she is not anything less than terrified by touching any of the animals. She loves them, just not that close. So between a farm full of animals and a playroom full of toys her house was a big hit for thanksgiving. It was also nice to spend more time together as a family. Also we played Mad Gab and I thought Ben was going to wet himself. Dakota says everything with an Asian accent when she plays. It was fun and I over-stuffed myself.