Christmas 2012

Better late than never, right?

We had a great Christmas this year. Because Ben had to work/school during

the week of Christmas, we just stayed in Pullman until the next week, then went to Utah

We finally got a good amount of snow just in time for Christmas.

Sad that my kids have to play in the parking lot if they want to play in the snow.

Apartment living sucks.

We made cookies...

 and started a new tradition of making salt dough ornaments.

Everyone got to paint their own. Usually I hate homemade 

ornaments on the tree but I decided to embrace it and actually kinda love it.

It will be fun to see how the kids and their painting skills change throughout the years.

From left to right: Ben's, Willum's, Kharisma's, and mine.

Kharisma's Super Duper Reindeer Pooper

She saw it at a store and was in love with it.

She wrote a letter to Santa asking for it and we sent it to him.

The old fat guy came through for her :)

Our Christmas morning was so fun.

Here she is, modeling her new fancy coat.

Runway potential?

With that pose, absolutely. 

We enjoyed a delicious glazed ham for Christmas dinner. 

The next week we were able to go to Utah and enjoy the company of family and friends.

 The day we got there we were able to take some pictures

of the whole family together. My brother, Trevor, was visiting from

California so we got to spend a few hours with him before he had to head back.

More to come...

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Some Pictures

Can you tell I'm trying to catch up?

Sweet mustache

I walked into her room to find her doing Willum's hair

 I'm pretty sure he loves it

This kid loves food

This kid loves to be in pictures

Silly face

Home-made Italian Sodas

They love each other

New skirt I made her

Love my little artists

Quite surprised how long they played with these masks

On our way to the Christmas party with some of Ben's classmates

She couldn't find her Santa hat but while looking she found five others

and then needed a scarf to hold them all on.

Have you ever read the children's book called Caps For Sale?

She told me she looked like the peddler and walked around shouting, "Caps for sale!"

And yes, she wore that to the party. 

Everyone loved it.

Some Things to Remember

I wish I was better at blogging because

sometimes things happen that I want to 

document, but I don't do it immediately so I probably lose

some details.

Or the kids say or do cute/funny things and then

later that SAME day I can't remember it exactly. 

Anyway.

Probably a month ago, I had a dream that was both comforting and made be a little nervous. It just started out pretty random, I was back in my home town. I think I was driving around. Somehow I ended up at my grandma's house with my older brother. We were trying to get in the house but the doors were locked. We were at the back door looking for the key when we heard the front door open. We ran around to the front of the house to check it out and we saw my grandpa coming out of the house.  He passed away awhile ago and I knew that in my dream.  He wasn't the same though, he seemed to be in his prime. He was muscular and young looking.  My memories of my grandpa and all of him very skinny, almost frail like. So he came out the front door and was so happy, almost skipping down the stairs.  He saw me and my brother and winked, his eyes so bright, and said to us that he was he was so happy because he was coming to get my grandma and said he was so excited to be with her again.  

When I woke up I was feeling the Spirit very strongly, confirming to me the Plan of Salvation and I could just picture my grandma returning to her sweetheart in Heaven. What I glorious reunion that will be. I had an overwhelming feeling that I needed to call my grandma and see how she was doing.  She doesn't have horrible health problems but she's getting old and doesn't complain about anything. She usually won't admit the seriousness of situations either.  First, I called my mom and told her about it and asked how grandma was doing, half expecting to find out something had happened.  She said everything was fine as far as she knew but encouraged me to call.  I don't call my grandma enough. I love her a lot, I find that I have a lot of her traits/characteristics.  Later that day I did call her and everything was fine. I told her about the dream (although I left out the part about how he was coming to get her, but my dad told her that part later) and she reminded me that his birthday had just been a few days before so I thought that was interesting.  I told my grandma I loved her and that I was sorry I don't call her enough.  

I'm so grateful that I have the knowledge of the restored gospel and know that my family will always be together forever. 

Another thing that I feel the need to write about happened last week. The day of the Sandy Hook shooting was a very emotional day for me, I couldn't even read anything about it, the headlines were too much and the  FB comments.  Kharisma saw me crying while I was using the computer and asked me why I was crying and wondered if I was sad.  I felt like I needed to take the opportunity to talk to her about it.  I tried to keep it simple, explaining that a man had made a very sad choice and had hurt a lot of people and kids.  She asked a lot of questions about who and why and I could see her eyes filling with tears--tender heart-ed, like her mom-- so I explained that all the children were now living back in Heaven with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and that even though it's sad that the children aren't with their families right now, they will be later and will be together forever. She giggled when I told her that we will be together forever. It was such a tender moment.  Ben told me later that when he was taking the kids out on Saturday morning (he takes them out on adventures on Saturdays so I can do whatever I want, at home, alone! Usually involves cleaning, but I love it) that Kharisma said to him, "Dad, a man made sad choices and hurt my friends. When are we going to save the day?"  He admitted to tearing up a bit, and of course I cried when he told me.  I love that little girl so much.  My children are my world. My heart still hurts thinking about those families that are missing their little ones. I pray they find some comfort. 

Halloween

This was the first Halloween that I didn't make our costumes. I bought Kharisma's and then the rest I just found stuff we already had and found a few things at thrift stores.  These pictures are from the Vet school Halloween party.  We also went to the ward party and playgroup had a party. 

Ben took the kids trick-or-treating in a "real" neighborhood (meaning, not just around to the apartments we live) and they had a lot of fun.

Kharisma's First Late-Over

Kharisma is always planning sleep overs and parties. 

She is always telling me to call her friends or message them and tell them to come over. 

She just loves her friends.

So finally we planned a late-over. (Similar to a sleep over, just not staying all night)

They were so cute.

 We painted fingernails, and did pink and blue streaks in their hair, ate treats, and watched a movie.

This is them zoned out watching the movie while their fingernails dried.

Much fun was had by all!

A Race and a Feast

November went quickly by with a few exciting things.  I did another Ragnar race on the 9th and 10th in Las Vegas, NV.  I don't think it had the magic of the first one but it was still awesome and as always, I can't wait to do my next one! Sadly, I didn't take my camera so I don't have any pictures to share.  We drove all the way there and back and I have to say, those 16hour trips were pretty fun. Sure love my friends!


Thanksgiving was spent in Pullman this year with a few other families that were also here.  The food was amazing and the decorations were stunning (you're amazing Chelsea!) and even though we were away from family it was nice to be with good friends.

Later that night, I did a little Black Friday shopping with some friends which was surprisingly fun and there were a lot of great deals!