*Sigh*

Kira brings in her midterm-
Vocabulary: 96.87%
Spelling: 100.35%
Phonemic Awareness: 96.54%
Grammar: 93.88%
Writing: 92.40%
Mathematics:97.65%

Citizenship: (responsibility, class participation, works independently, shows effort)
U- unsatisfactory

Seriously? seriously. The teacher must have had U set as default- Looks to me like Kira is not responsible and never shows effort. /sigh Seriously?

Christmas Miracles

There are miracles everyday, everywhere you look. Some are so obvious that you can hardly avoid the sweetness in the air. Others are so small- you could walk by without a second glance. But at Christmas time your heart becomes tuned to the love ans spirit in the air and its hard to miss a thing.

I have had so many miracles I wanted to share them with you, each touching me in a deep but different way.

• Samantha Quinn Young was born December 14th 2007 at 7:31 pm weighing only 6lbs 12 oz. We have not had a baby in the family for over 18 months- so we are happy to have her- but this is the first little girl baby born since Kira- 6-16-01! Its been a long time. I was able to hug and kiss her on Saturday! (hurry and send me pictures Lorelei) Lorelei and Mark will be wonderful parents. Congratulations Guys!!
• After working at my new school for 3 months- I only talk to people in passing. I work directly for the district, and am not involved with teachers at the school at all. So I know them by face if even. Last week on a particularly hard day (lots of coughing and tissues) A teacher pulled me aside handing me a small gift saying- " I know we don't work together, but I know how hard you are working, all the first graders talk about how much fun they are having with you, and I see test scores going up. Thank you." I made my whole day
• I had to work in the bakery on Saturday. When I came home Dave and the kids had cleaned the house for me. Granted I had cleaned it the day before, but this morning I look around thinking I only have an hour of work to do- instead of the usual Monday mayhem.

• Last I want to share a few thoughts. There is a special dear friend out there whom I love more than I ever knew possible. Our friendship is an unlikely one in theory- yet exists strong and true. She always makes me laugh, always hears me cry, she knows when to listen and when to talk (I could use a pointer there :P) and is as stubborn as me. She has done something for our family this Christmas by being a friend that she can never imagine, that I can never repay, and that we will never forget. A friend who is full of the Christmas spirit everyday of the year- its a Christmas Miracle to me. Thank you !
  

I may have to edit my list as the days get closer to Christmas. Are you listening to the beautiful carols? I am! ALLLLL the time.

Waiting...waiting...waitng

Patience is NOT my thing. I do not LOVE to wait. I want to do my Christmas cookies and fudge, I want to order the kids Christmas presents. ( I am just ordering clothes and shoes too! Trying to just get what they need with one fun exception!) BUt no...can't do it.

This monster house is the sucker of all the funds and until our re-fi goes through I have to live the cautious way we have lived since July. This Re-fi was planned with our Financial guy from before we bought the house- we just had no idea HOW careful we had to be. No little buy a shirt for Christmas here- or oh! thats on sale there! Just live and no extra spending. We have our Christmas bonus- sitting in the bank- wanting to be spent- but must have something extra in case the re-fi goes into next month. Can't get into the savings.... I hate to WAIT!

But HOW can I complain??? We are all so happy, and healthy! We love each other so much, and would never regret our move to such a nice neighborhood. The kids have mad such friends and they can play outside- I don't have to sit on the porch with a book! I don't have to call out every 20 minutes to make sure they have not been abducted by the local drug dealer. How can I complain?

So- not complaining. Just TRYING to wait- with a happy smile - not gritting my teeth!
(KIra has grown since we have moved here and all her pants are floods- She need her Christmas pants! AHHHHHH! )

My days...

A couple of funny things happened that I want to jot down so I do not forget them.

On Saturday Dave and I went to a after party thrown for the young athletes who competed in the Junior Figure Skating Nationals in Salt Lake. It was an insane party meant to celebrate the end of a very trying week for these Olympic hopefuls. The room had 8 GIANT blow up toys, a LOUD DJ, face painting, every sport game, and us: a portable photo booth - http://www.rentphotobooths.com/ (mention us and we get a small compensation.) Talk about WILD!!! There were 400 teens and their friends, parents, and coaches. It was so fun to watch the release from pressure and these young people just be kids- in their grown up world. I have never seen such gymnasts in my life! Why do I find this particular thing funny? This was the first date David and I had been on in 3 months! We joked the whole time that we need to get out more!

Sunday at church we were in Sacrament meeting. The girls were being good. Kira was folding paper and Nicole was doing her best to listen to the speakers. Well during a particularly serious statement from the pulpit, I hear Jordan quietly snore. I poked him to wake him from his pillow- Dave's leg. He shot up wiping his mouth- as we notice the quarter sized pool of slobber on Dave's leg. Dave's face blanched- and it was all I could do to hold in my peals of laughter. Jordan was so mortified, that Dave too- was holding in his laugh. So Funny.

Finally last night we took the kids into the city for family night. We saw the lights at temple square which were awe inspiring as usual, had fun sifting through the Sharper image, (http://www.sharperimage.com ) where we saw everything we never knew we NEEDED, and had a nice dinner at the old Speg factory. ( http://www.osf.com/ )

When we go out to dinner or church for that matter- the rule is: Mom and Dad sit together, and kids can sit on their sides. No kids between us. This gives us a particularly funny view at restaurants. Dave and I on one side- Kids on the other. When Jordan starts telling his ENDless kid jokes- I see Nicole next to him rolling her eyes, which he can't see. Kira sending daggers, when one of the others is telling on her- its quite humorous. Last night- Nicole brought up a movie she would like to see and presented it to us as a future possibility. --Alvin and the Chipmunks-- Dave burst out laughing at the same time I declare VETO. I wish you could have seen the look of horror on her face! How dare we veto such a wonderful, perfect movie! I need to a video camera mounted on my head- to record the wonders of expression.

What a hoot. The rest of the night was really neat. Have you been to the South visitor center at Temple square in the last few years? It has changed so much! I thought it was wonderful! We always go through the North one- and I am grateful we decided to see the other. It is basically dedicated to the Salt Lake Temple. The miraculous feat of building it but pioneers, dragging enormous Granite from the canyons- the primitive tools used to cut them into the perfect stones. Oh wow- and then the amazing pictures of the inside. I have been inside, so I can relate- but to see Nicole as she saw the beautiful baptismal font on the backs of golden oxen- " Mom- look! That is right were I went! Up those little stairs!" Wow.

CAn I just stay home?

Do you know if you are about to lose it?

That is a question I would ask someone as they were hauling them off to the nut house.

Last night I became very unhappy.

I don't want to spend the holidays trying to please everyone.
I want to stay home and enjoy my family.
If I don't go visit everyone- I am afraid I will see no one. I have to practically beg for someone to WANT to visit us. Is that because I am always willing to go- or is it something much more depressing?

I can't remember a holiday where we were the visited- not the visitors.

I want to stay home. I want to wear PJ's. I want my kids to smile and not be the ones who rush out the door to see everyone. I want to be with our families.

I don't think I will be getting both.

darnit.

The Holidays have begun!

Thanksgiving came and went- and we had a nice time. We spent 3 days with Dave's parents where his brother and his wife came for a few hours to- Spent a bit of time with my mom and Rex too. So a bit of family- just not all.

I am feeling happy and excited for the holidays. We have discussed the holiday with our kids- and really want to have a fun humble Christmas, with gifts consisting of things we need. Kids asked for Clothes and shoes, and I have asked to replenish my food storage. We are sending cards to loved ones and really toning it down. We are so grateful for our many blessings this year- our beautiful new home, our health, and our gorgeous family.

We put up some lights on the front porch- it looks cute and we will put up the tree tonight- Magical...really magical. The Nativity will go out tonight as part of our family night. We want our kids to feel love for others this season- We are going to also make dinner for a family in need and maybe a few dvd's to make their night fun. So excited.

Dave will be helping me with pictures finally- let me get our house festive and happy and I will post them.

Also anyone who reads this- my dear friend Rachel could use a few prayers. Include her for me?

A 12 year old girl...

You heard it! We have a 12 year old girl! On the 17th Nicole turned 12. She was so thrilled- and I was so nice- and insane! I threw a party for 11 12 year old girls. I planned games and food and activities. What did they do? SCREAM for 4 hours- Screaming running up and down the stairs, screaming sitting on the floor in the darn tell scary stories, screaming when Jordan walked into the room. Yep- Screams- 10:30 did not come fast enough for Dave and I but Nicole said it went too fast.
We then had a nice family party where I made some yummy soup and rolls. She again had a great time. But the most exciting thing for a little 12 year old LDS girl is leaving the primary age kids and going to the Young Women program. She was so excited and enjoyed herself so much.

Yes, I cried. My baby now a young woman. As she went to bed on her birthday- I left friends I was playing with for a minute- to sing her happy birthday one more time, kiss her goodnight and cry for a second. She may no longer come to me with every detail of her life- I will cling to the things she does bring me. Happy birthday baby!

Pictures...

I still have not figured that out yet- so that will be in the works a bit longer!

I was asking Jordan's opinion about the site. He asked- "does it have to be so pink?" he may have a point- but he will just have to deal with it for a bit.

Dave said it has potential and wants me to flood it with pictures- I guess he thinks his family is cute?

Last night was GREAT!!! Long awaited game elements added to the Warcrack- little things make me happy!


Another interesting side note: as we were scanning he read Bonnie's post. He and I went to her link together- " Mom who are all those kids? I thought she only had one."
DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM???? Holy CoW- Bonnie- When and where are we meeting! (sad- just seriously sad)

Well, let's see if I can even do this?

This should be an interesting experiance! I have NO idea what I am doing- But its Tuesday Morning.....some of you know the trouble I can get into on a Tuesday Morning!

SO.... This is my first thought and we will see if I can actually pull this off. (Melissa help, thoughts, and technical advice is SO welcome.)