Out with the Old, in with the New

I'm posting twice today because it's the last day of the year. I'm planning on making a book from the blog this year, so I figured I better sum it up.

Every year we put our family's new year goals and predictions in my journal. I told my grandma this when we bought our yearly journal together. She said, "Isn't that a bunch of fooey!" Ha ha- you have to know my grandma. She doesn't like the word "goals"- same with my mom. I think it's the whole formality of making goals and the pressure to make your life structured and not to deviate from it. But whether you call it a goal or not, we all have things we want to accomplish (my mom and grandma included!). I like to write them down- it helps motivate me a little more- even though I rarely make the goals completely (I'm a slacker:).

These are our goals/predictions from 2009 and the progress we made:

Predictions:
Tavish works only 1 job- nope, still working 2 jobs...hmm...maybe someday
Sara reads books- Yep- yay Sara!
Mac will learn to walk- yep, took 14 months
There will be 1 marrige in the family (hopefully 2)- There were 3! Tavish's brother, my brother, and my sister- Yay!
Tavish thinks there will be another big terrist attack in the US (isn't that positive thinking?) Holly says no there won't- Holly is right as usual.
We get a swing set- Yep!

Goals:
Mac:
Sleep through the night- Yes! Yay! Thanks Mac! (most of the time)
Sara:
Be nice to Andrew- Yep- most of the time
Clean room at least 2 times a week- Yep- most weeks
Not grab Mac so much- Uhh... no
Read books- Yep
Andrew:
Don't fight with Sara or kids at school- Pretty good
Read harder books- Yep
Write in journal once a week- Nope
Don't leave things laying around the house- I wish
Holly:
Read D&C (changed to New Testament then B of M in spanish)- Nope, did a little of each- doh!
Make Weight Watcher goal- ha ha, when do I ever make my weight goal? (I did lose 12 pounds though- better than nothing)
Go to temple once a month- Almost
Visit Teach every month- Not quite
Get basement organized- Yes!
Tavish:
Live off Vantage pay check and save 5%- Uhh... nope
Read scriptures every day- Hmm... I don't think so, but he did better than me.
Play sports with the kids- Once in a while
Get Duty to God stuff sorted out- Changed callings to ward clerk, so no longer aplicable

I love starting a new year. I feel like it's a time to start fresh, reflect on the past year, repent of things we didn't do so hot on, and try again- giving us hope for a better year!
Putting it simply by Joseph B. Worthlin: "May we set righteous goals and work to achieve them, do what is right, and reach out with love to those around us..."
Happy New Year!

Christmas in Saint George

This week I am grateful that I was able to spend Christmas with my family (mom, dad, brothers, sisters). We went to St. George for Christmas to be with them. It's been 4 years since I've been with my family on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I always love staying home for Christmas with our own little family and spending time with the in-laws... but every year I have a little homesickness for my mom, dad, and siblings. I kind of envy those people that get to visit both their families and the in laws on Christmas day. Ok- I know I'm a baby- at least they don't live out of state or out of country right?

Anyway, it was great. I loved being there with everybody (we were sad Mary and Ryan weren't able to come though). We took the kids to the park... played tennis (I love St. George in the winter)... watched our family Christmas movies... played games... ate way, way, too much... stayed up chatting... And got spoiled with too many presents (especially the kids- that's what happens when they are the only grandkids). Another bonus for us is that everyone helps out with the kids :)

It was nice not to feel homesick this Christmas, despite the pain of packing everything, the drive...all of that. I love my family and am grateful for them. I'm also grateful for a sweet husband who was willing to be with my family this year.

Feeding the Ducks- Christmas Eve (Look how handsome Tavish is here :)

Santa found us in St. George. I love the monkey PJs.

Presents from uncles and aunts, grandmas and Grandpas, Moms and Dads, brothers and sisters

Too many presents... Where are we going to put all of this?

The Spirit of Christmas

Some of our attempts to keep the Christmas spirit...

1. A few weeks ago we decided to go see a the local Christmas Creche. There were all kinds of Nativity scenes from here and around the world set up in a church. Most of the rooms had several nativity sets set up in them. There were 100s- big, small, old, new... It was very cool. It was nice to have do something simple (and free) to help us remember the reason for the season. I loved it, and the kids did too.

On the way home, Tavish said, "They didn't have a Lego nativity; we should make one out of Legos." So that's what we did. Can you guess who made what?

2. Last night we went to see the lights at Temple Square. We haven't been since we've been married. How sad is that living in Utah and never taking our kids to Temple Square during Christmas time? I'm so glad we went. There is such a peaceful feeling at Temple Square- especially at Christmas. It was beautiful. There was quite a bit of fog that surrounded the temple.

It brought back memories of my mission and being in the Madrid MTC in December. We lived on the temple grounds, several floors up. I loved to study out on the couches that looked out on the temple. When it was foggy, the top half of the temple stood out from the clouds. I felt like I was living in Heaven. (Madrid temple pic above)

Anyway, that's how it kind of felt at temple square last night. Of course, it would have been better if it wasn't so crowded, but what can we expect going on the family night before Christmas?

Overall- I'm grateful for my Savior and this time we have to celebrate his birth. Merry Christmas!

Terrible Twos

This past week has been busy with cooking, shopping, cleaning, birthday... all of that good stuff before Christmas. I have a little toddler that seems to be undoing what I do. I've even heard the other kids say, "Mac! I just picked that up!" Ha Ha...the story of my life. I call it the "terrible twos" even though he's only one and a half. I've decided to appreciate my little toddler and his messes, instead of getting frustrated (Ok- doesn't always work, but I do try really hard). I've tried to take pictures of him to remember how dang cute he is.

So- how do I see the hand of the Lord in my life? He's blessed me with an energetic, healthy, entertaining little child with a cute personality. I just love little Mac!

Here he is helping out in the kitchen.

Throwing a fit when I got him all bundled up to go out into the snow.

Mac loves to DUMP things... toys, cereal boxes out of the garbage can with lots of crumbs (don't have a pic of that), pretzles... just before this he took a bag of popcorn out of the garbage and dumped the leftover kernels...

He also likes to throw things in the toilet and playing in it... haven't got a picture of that either- I'm always in too big of a hurry to get him out and washed up.

Mac loves UNdecorating the tree and playing with the presents. We decided to put the gate around it and had to fix it just right because he was finding ways to get through it. (Sara checks the presents under the tree EVERY day)

5 years old

Last week was our Sweet Sara's birthday. I can't believe she's 5 already. Here are 5 things I love about Sara:

1. Sara cares about others.

2. Sara is easy going.

3. Sara is helpful.

4. Sara tries to do what's right.

5. Sara loves people, (especially her family), and we love her!

Here is what Sara says are her 5 favorite things that happened this year:

1. Going to the jumping place

2. Going to the ocean

3. Going to the park

4. Having family nights

5. Going Fishing

We went to Jumpin Jacks for her birthday. It was fun!

What a good Dad spending time with the kids (even though it made me nervous- that was a big slide!)


I think Mac was most interested in the drinking fountain.






The Birthday Girl

Let it Snow...

Today I'm thankful for great neigbors! We've had two days of snow... 12 inches the first day (we measured) and about 6 inches the second (we didn't measure). Yesterday our neighbor came over and snow-blowed our driveway and a way for Tav to get out of our road. (We are the only house on our little road, so it doesn't get plowed until all the storms are over). After being sore from shoveling the day before, I was SO grateful for our good neigbors (Tavish was too!). We've been lucky- I love ALL of my neighbors!

Thanks neighbor. You are my blessing of the day!

You can see the snow better on this picture from our deck.

All bundled up to go out and shovel

Modern Mecicine and Technology

How I have recognized the hand of the Lord in my life this week: I am grateful that God has blessed and inspired man to create modern medicine and technology.
This week we were able to get the swine flu vaccine. Yea! I can't tell you how many times I have tried to get that for us... I'm sure you don't want to hear all of the details. I'ts been something I've worried about. I've heard too many bad stories from the flu. So, on Monday I decided to go to Provo to get a reservation ticket for the vaccine. I was dreading waiting in line with Mac to get the ticket, then wait in line again to get the shot the next day. We were also going to get the van registered (nothing like putting it off until the last day:) Anyway, I went online to check if the Health Department were giving tickets that day, and lo and behold- they started giving tickets online! Yay! I got the tickets online, registered the van online, and we got the shot the next day. What a blessing! I'm so grateflu for modern medicine and technology!

I've also been lucky to do a lot of Christmas shopping online with good deals and free shipping. Yesterday I decided I needed to actually go out and get some stuff, so I took the 3 kids shopping. After all the crowds, traffic, my fighting and screaming children (Mac literaly screamed about the whole time in Shopko), I was ready to scream myself. The kids were driving me crazy. To top it off, I wasn't able to find what I wanted, we came home to a bomb of a house, and our brand new Christmas lights didn't work (that we were planning on putting up). I was ready to run away. Luckily, Tavish came home and could see the distress on my face, and said, "I brought a movie home; you need to relax." He was right- he's such a good husband.

So what I learned: I'm going to take advantage of our modern technology and conveniences and do as much shopping online as possible... and only go out when I need to- by MYSELF! (Is that possible?) That should help me not be such a grinch this Christmas season.