Between my family and Chris’ family, there are 22 people. 9 of those have a birthday in December or January. I find it hard to keep up with honoring the birthdays because it’s in the middle of the holidays (I know, that is lame!). Does [...]]]> (My mother-in-law blowing out her candles at her birthday celebration)

Between my family and Chris’ family, there are 22 people. 9 of those have a birthday in December or January. I find it hard to keep up with honoring the birthdays because it’s in the middle of the holidays (I know, that is lame!). Does anyone else struggle with this? I love my family dearly. And your birthday should be a day that makes you feel awesome. So here’s a little birthday blogging shout out to Mom, Grace, Will, Karina, Nancy, Henry, Justin, Violet, and Karen.

Maybe we can celebrate half birthdays in 2012? Any takers?

If you know me well, you know that I love lists. I make lists for everything (this goes back to my high school year book days where list-making was mandatory). So it may be surprising to know (especially to Melissa–Hi, Melissa) that I don’t make lists at the new year.

Years ago, I found that I was [...]]]>

If you know me well, you know that I love lists. I make lists for everything (this goes back to my high school year book days where list-making was mandatory). So it may be surprising to know (especially to Melissa–Hi, Melissa) that I don’t make lists at the new year.

Years ago, I found that I was making the same lists each year. You know, more gospel study, more exercise, more adventures, etc. Obviously the yearly lists were not working.

So, I decided to go a different route.

Now, I choose a word or a phrase or a scripture to be my theme for the year. (A few years back there was an article about this very thing on Bloom. You can read it here.) I let the word/phrase/scripture guide my choices for the year as they come around. Usually, by the end of the year I have internalized my theme and it’s a part of me. I really have changed. I really have made progress. And that feels awesome.

This year I’m aiming for the essentials.

Here’s the back story. (The back story happens to be personal, unlike the craft tutorials I usually post about around here, but I feel like I want to share.)

A couple weeks before Christmas, I miscarried my little baby bean at 12 weeks. The whole experience included passing out in the ER in the wee hours of the morning, very kind doctors and nurses, heartache for the little one we lost, and a deeper awareness of how precious life is. I still get teary thinking of all the angels (seen and unseen) who came to our rescue when we needed back up. Words can’t express the feelings of gratitude I feel for them.

At the end of the day, I’m glad I’ve had this experience. I better understand other women who have had similar experiences (there are a lot of us!). I realize how amazing Chris is. I care more tenderly for my three healthy, darling boys. My trust in God and the Plan of Salvation has deepened.

The experience has left me with a deeper awareness that some things are essential and some things are just nice to do.

My husband and kiddos: essential.

My relationship with God: essential.

My role as a nurturer: essential.

My connections with my family, friends, and neighbors: essential.

I hope that in 2012 I can keep the essentials in the spotlight–giving them the most time, attention, and loving care.

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Good reads if you are interested in the essentials, too:

Good, Better, Best by Dallin H. Oaks

Finding Balance by Julie B. Beck (listen to the audio clip)

Here we are a little dazed and exhausted after Christmas Sunday church.

The last two weeks have been jam-packed full of family and holiday spirit. We loved every minute of it. We have an empty house now (kind of lonely — very quiet) so I have lots of time to think [...]]]> Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Here we are a little dazed and exhausted after Christmas Sunday church.

The last two weeks have been jam-packed full of family and holiday spirit. We loved every minute of it. We have an empty house now (kind of lonely — very quiet) so I have lots of time to think about the year ahead… What are my goals? Are my priorities in the right order? Which dreams will come true? I can’t wait to see how it all pans out.

Wishing you the very best in the year ahead!

Monkey glasses, bunny ears, a beard and gloves is almost the same thing as a shirt and tie, right?

Tomorrow, Chris and I are playing a viola [...]]]> As you may or may not know, we go to church each Sunday. This is what happened one day when Chris asked the boys to go get their church duds on:

Monkey glasses, bunny ears, a beard and gloves is almost the same thing as a shirt and tie, right?

Tomorrow, Chris and I are playing a viola and piano duet at church. All the practicing of In a Bleak Midwinter has made it my favorite Christmas song. I especially love the last verse:
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
yet what can I give him: give my heart.

I love Christmas time. I love celebrating the birth of the Savior of the World with my family. Merry Christmas, everyone!

One of my boys cannot get enough of sports. He loves rules. He loves strategy. He loves winning. He loves wearing his electric blue hi-top converse.

He just started his first basketball season. It was so fun watching him play his first game: arms up and waving, feet shuffling, eye on the ball, making baskets.

So proud of [...]]]>

One of my boys cannot get enough of sports. He loves rules. He loves strategy. He loves winning. He loves wearing his electric blue hi-top converse.

He just started his first basketball season. It was so fun watching him play his first game: arms up and waving, feet shuffling, eye on the ball, making baskets.

So proud of my little man.

Someone at my house turned 30. So we celebrated.

Some of our Birthday Traditions:

>> The special person of honor chooses the dinner menu (Chris chose lasagna).

>> They also choose the cake (Chris chose the most delicious chocolate cake known to man, minus the frosting — we don’t like frosting)

>> The family decorates the family room with signs [...]]]>

Someone at my house turned 30. So we celebrated.

Some of our Birthday Traditions:

>> The special person of honor chooses the dinner menu (Chris chose lasagna).

>> They also choose the cake (Chris chose the most delicious chocolate cake known to man, minus the frosting — we don’t like frosting)

>> The family decorates the family room with signs celebrating the birthday person (hand-written on computer paper… mostly inside jokes — my family did this when we were kids and that was one of my favorite parts of birthdays. I loved reading the signs on my birthday and making the signs for my family when it was their turn. Really fun tradition. In fact, I still have a stack of my birthday signs from years ago.)

>> Birthday person gets to use the “You are special today” plate at dinner (another thing I loved as a kid).

I think that’s it. Pretty simple. Happy birthday, Chris. We think you are great!

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Happy Thanksgiving! I’m enjoying this time with all my kiddos home, which means not much blogging.

If you are waiting to buy something from BookBoundBindery.com, please email me. I have items in stock (journals, photo albums, gift card holders, notebooks) and would be happy to email you (unedited) photos since I’m slower than I thought getting it listed on the web. Because I could totally get it to you before Christmas.

I like to ride my bike. Especially when I can be the caboose in our family bike train because I like to mosey. I’m the kind of biker that loses my balance because I’m watching the sky instead of where I am headed. My brother is a real biker. He goes fast. And looks official. My [...]]]>

I like to ride my bike. Especially when I can be the caboose in our family bike train because I like to mosey. I’m the kind of biker that loses my balance because I’m watching the sky instead of where I am headed. My brother is a real biker. He goes fast. And looks official. My dad is a biker too. He rides in the mountains. Maybe some day I will bike like them, but for now I’m happy to scoot around the neighborhood with my family.

Check out that hair! This was too funny — I had to share. He loves to ride around in that little car thing. Hours of fun. Hope you have a very merry weekend with your family. We’ll be riding bikes, playing kickball, and laze-ing about if you [...]]]>

Check out that hair! This was too funny — I had to share. He loves to ride around in that little car thing. Hours of fun. Hope you have a very merry weekend with your family. We’ll be riding bikes, playing kickball, and laze-ing about if you need us.

One of the firemen got all dressed up in his fire gear. The guy on the right is timing him — 1 minute and 16 seconds! Did you know their gear weighs 65 pounds!? That’s worse than being 9 months pregnant.

Yes, my little buddy wore [...]]]> We went to the fire station with some of our preschool friends.

One of the firemen got all dressed up in his fire gear. The guy on the right is timing him — 1 minute and 16 seconds! Did you know their gear weighs 65 pounds!? That’s worse than being 9 months pregnant.

Yes, my little buddy wore a headband that day. It makes him feel awesome like he’s a basketball player wearing a sweatband.

We had a great time, even though it was during Baby’s nap time.See how he’s already learning how to tease?

Afterwards, I made a mistake… I took the boys to the library. Then to the mall. Then to the post office. Then to Target.

That was too many things. And I didn’t even find something to wear for our family photos.

You can be certain that I love Chris because I go with him to places like this

And you can be certain that Chris loves me back because he takes me places like this

And to top it all off, there is do doubt Chris’ parents love us (Hi Karen and Evan!) because [...]]]> Just in case you were wondering:

You can be certain that I love Chris because I go with him to places like this

And you can be certain that Chris loves me back because he takes me places like this

And to top it all off, there is do doubt Chris’ parents love us (Hi Karen and Evan!) because they cared for our munchkins, making it all possible.