Randomness

• It was warm and sunny this week, so we went to the park a few times.  I discovered that Amelia has no fear of heights or maybe it's that invincible feeling that she's not going to fall.  Either way, my toes were curled just watching her climb up, up, up.  Once I was sure she was confident in her repeated efforts of climbing up, I had to stop watching . . . but then wondered how quickly I could get down from where I was if she fell . . . and whether or not I would have to do something uncomfortable to get to her.  After anxiety filled moments (on my part), I suggested we go play on something else ;)
• My Dad's recovery is going good; thank you for the prayers that have been said on his behalf.  He has a positive attitude and is his normal cheery, joking self on the phone as he heads into rehab/therapy for the next few weeks.
• The other day when it was Sophia's turn to choose the movie for "quiet time", she wanted to watch "Blue Planet" - a movie she had watched in part with Daddy a few weeks ago.  She was intrigued and fascinated watching all the fish, dolphins, and whales.  Amelia liked it too until the Killer Whales attacked and killed a baby Grey Whale.  She cried . . . and I did too.  I've never liked watching nature films - they're too "violent" for me.
• Dance class didn't go so well for Sophia this week.  She mostly just wanted to dance on the sidelines.  But judging by this picture Ken took, Sophia wasn't the only little dancer that wasn't "into it" ;)

•  Amelia still loves her tap class . . . and thank goodness for thrift stores where I found a pair of tap shoes Amelia's size, to replace the original ones I had bought that were too big.

• Seattle and any city surrounding us, has been caught up in Seahawks fever for the last few weeks (okay, the last year).  I have never been a big NFL fan - not against it - just not a fan.  I feel a bit guilty not jumping on the "band wagon" to cheer for the "Hawks", and feel like I'm the only one in the whole city not watching the Super Bowl today.  Although I can tell when the Seahawks score, based on the fireworks I hear, and then I must admit that I check the internet for a score . . . just to keep in the know, you know.

An Interesting Week

I haven't posted anything deep and meaningful lately, and I'm not sure this blog post is going to end up that way, but here I go.

On Wed, I got a phone call from my sister that my Dad had had a really serious heart attack on Tues. night.  My Dad, ever the practical one, had actually driven himself to the urgent care, and was surprised when they told him he'd had a heart attack and checked him into the Hospital.  The next morning, the Logan hospital, after discovering how serious the heart attack was (they called it a "widow maker" - 2 arteries 95% blocked), transported him to the Ogden hospital, who scheduled him for open heart bypass surgery on Friday.

Friday came and the triple bypass surgery went great.  My brother and sister-in-law were at the hospital all day and sent us all text message updates regularly to keep us all in the loop.  My Dad is doing so well, they took him out of ICU on Sat. and is scheduled for discharge from the hospital on Wed. The nurses say he is recovering like someone 65yrs or younger, not like someone who is almost 85.

Through this whole experience, I have felt peace, not scared; comforted, not stressed.  I have felt my prayers answered and know prayers have been answered on behalf of my Dad.  It's been an amazing experience.   I wish I lived closer to be able to help my Dad, but I will do what I can from here and know that my brother and sister and their families are doing a great job helping and supporting my Dad.

Birthday, Ballet and Tap Dance

I love my birthdays, every one!  I wanted to throw myself a party, but decided to go for a simpler way of celebrating.  I spread out my birthday for 3 days, and spent one-on-one time with 3 of my favorite people . . . oh, and I spent time with these 2 silly goofs too . . . and of course, my wonderful husband.  This was the best we could do for a group shot.  Happy Birthday to me!

The next day was Sophia's first ballet class.  She looks so tiny out there, but she did great and was so excited to tell me all about it when she got home.

This was my favorite video from Sophia's class.  We've been practicing our galloping vs. skipping.  You can tell by her tongue sticking out that she's concentrating so hard on doing the skipping just right.  Love that!

And this session, Amelia decided to try tap dancing.  She was a little nervous before the class because it was something new, but she did great too . . . until the too-big shoes that she was wearing started to hurt her feet.  We've already remedied the problem, so she'll be on top of her game for next week, ready to tap, tap, tappity tap.  And even though this video isn't of her actually "tapping", it's one of my favorite songs to dance to in the kitchen with my girls.

A Sunbeam . . . a Sunbeam!

My baby is growing up.  No more Nursery - she's a Sunbeam now.  One of the ladies in our Primary Pres. made these cute shirts for the 4 new Sunbeams - just like she did last year for Amelia's group.

Sophia is usually more smiley, but she had a bad cold and this "serious" look is, I guess, as good as she could give.

Sophia told me she had a good time in Primary, but she didn't want to go back.  Funny thing - that's exactly what Amelia told me a year ago when she went into Sunbeams.  But Amelia went happily and excitedly back the next week, and I suspect Sophia will too.

The Aftermath and Resolutions

• The Thankful Tree was so successful in November, that I created a Service Tree for December - a blank paper Christmas tree, with paper ornaments added every time one of us did something for someone else - a friend, neighbor, ward member, family.  Amelia especially liked it and I loved it when she recognized that someone had done something nice for her.

• Does anyone else suffer from post-Christmas angst as new toys/gifts are broken/ruined/lost within days of Christmas?  Ken tells me it's just me, but I gotta think that someone else out there feels at least some of what I do.
• We got Sophia an "Anna" dress from Frozen - it was torn and shredding by the next day.  I spent an hour the other day fixing the dress in the hopes that it will last a few more months.
• Amelia has lost and/or damaged parts to a simple game she got.  She doesn't seem to mind, so I guess I shouldn't either.
• And don't even get me started about how much sugar is in this house and how much we've all consumed.  I think I'll deliver veggie/fruit trays to our neighbors next year!
• Last year I was quite philosophical about my New Year's resolutions/ theme for the year.  Overall, I don't think I was very Charitable last year, at least within my own home . . . but the fact that I can remember what my resolution/ theme was, should count as something, right?
• So this year, I've simplified my goal to my Top 3:
• Read the Book of Mormon every day.  It would be great to finish it in 2015.  It would be awesome to study it intently.  But the fact that I haven't really read from this amazing book that I truly love, since before Amelia was born, tells me that I have to start small to get back on track.
• Build up our food storage to a 3-mon supply.  This has been on my to-do list for over a year now.  I have a great plan, I just need to implement it.  How hard should that be, right?  We'll see if I have more than pasta and diced tomatoes by Dec. 2015 :)
• And the hardest, but probably the most important of my Top 3:  Be more patient, loving and understanding in our home.  I pray for this daily.  But I don't always do my part daily.  Being a mom is hard.  Being a mom who is a control freak makes it really hard.  I'm just hoping I figure out how to be more patient, loving, and understanding before the girls go away to college.

Happy New Year . . . and may your resolutions be with you!

Christmas Recap

As the kids get older, we've been starting a few traditions, such as going to the Festival of Trees, looking at Christmas lights around the area, and frosting sugar cookies on Christmas Eve.  We've done gingerbread houses a few times, but no one likes to eat the finished product and I have a hard time throwing away all that sugar.  So we (meaning I) have decided that frosting and decorating sugar cookies is a great alternative.  And this year, I spread out the "joy" by making the cookies on the 23rd and frosting them on Christmas Eve.  I can't handle too much "fun" in one day.  The girls did a great job frosting the cookies - much better than last year.  I think we're onto something.

The "decorating" part though, well, that could use a bit more practice.  I think we actually ran out of sprinkles before we were done decorating because they used so many.

After a Christmas Eve program (a few scriptures and Christmas hymns to go with) and setting out cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, the girls were nestled all snug in their beds.  Knowing how curious the girls are with the decorations/ornaments, we chose not to put out Christmas presents until Christmas Eve.  We'd already wrapped everything, so it was just a matter of bringing them out of hiding and putting on the final touches.  This is Ken's "hurry and take the picture, I'm trying to get this done so I can go to bed" face ;)

This is Sharon's "I'm trying to look cute by the tree when all I want to do is go to bed" face.

Amelia woke up at 6:30a and was ready to get started, but since Sophia wasn't awake yet, I let her open her stocking from Santa while we waited.  And then Ken suggested we have breakfast while we waited for Sophia to wake up.  And when Sophia woke up while we were eating, we all managed to finish our Christmas waffle breakfast BEFORE we opened presents.  I kind of like that tradition - not sure if the girls will let us keep that one though.

The "party" started soon after with Amelia discovering her new scooter, which led to Sophia finding her new scooter . . . and the "race" was on.

Here is Sophia trying out her new yo-yo from Santa.  Thank goodness Santa found a yo-yo that "always comes back".  And thank goodness no one has been hurt by a flying yo-yo yet. 

 Grandpa Ray sent art kits to both girls.  Here's Sophia displaying her first watercolor.

Grandma Diane sent a card making kit for Amelia and she quickly got to work making a card . . . for herself.  Because when she makes a card, it turns out so cute, she wants to keep it.

Everyone got things that made them happy and I was happy to be with my family.  We also had fun Skyping with my Dad and brother in UT.  And we ended the day with another one of our traditions, watching "The Nativity" on Christmas, to remind us once again, why it is we're celebrating the day.  We hope you all had a Merry Christmas . . . and to all, a good night.

The Santa Saga & Other Tidbits

Amelia has kind of a love/hate relationship with Santa.  This picture was taken when she was 9-months old - not screaming, but not really loving being with Santa.  And I'm okay with that - Santa's a great guy and everything, but he's definitely not the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Last Saturday we went as a family to the Christmas Forest, an event sponsored by Providence.  It's a bunch of fabulously decorated Christmas trees, Santa, and crafts for the kids.  Amelia loves the crafts and some of the trees, but she did NOT want to sit on Santa's lap.  Sophia, on the other hand, went right up to Santa, sat on his lap, and told him she wanted a yo-yo for Christmas.  She looked so cute - and would you believe we forgot our camera?  Not to be forgotten, however, Amelia told Daddy what she wanted (a toy car) and made Daddy tell Santa. 

That night we went to our ward's Christmas party.  Santa was there again and neither girl wanted to sit on his lap.  Sophia seemed to be like "I already told Santa what I wanted; I don't need to tell him again".  And Amelia just wanted nothing to do with him.

Last night was Ken's work's Christmas party.  Ken and the 2 Jim's played music, there was plenty of good food . . .

and then Santa showed up.  Surprisingly, Amelia was one of the first in line.

This Santa wasn't listening to what the kids wanted for Christmas, instead he just handed them an unwrapped toy.  Amelia got a cute little monkey (ironically, a monkey identical to the one she got for a brief ER visit about 2+ years ago).  Amelia was devastated and cried and cried.  Santa didn't bring her the car she wanted.

It took Sophia a while before she wanted to go visit Santa.  I don't think she would have gone at all, but then she realized he was giving out gifts, and didn't want to be left out.  So here she is sitting with Santa . . . 

 Then Amelia and Daddy showed up for a picture.  But Amelia was still mad at Santa and didn't want to sit on his lap, so she "hid" in the back with Daddy.

And here are the girls at home, wound up with party energy and frosting from their cupcakes, being silly and showing off their gifts from Santa.

 

And in other semi-related news:  I was successful in my attempts to make snow globes with the girls this month.  Now what to do with the 8 oz. (minus 1/8 tsp) of glycerin I have left?