M & M's Game

We got this as a gift from my friend for Christmas and it was really fun for the kids. You get a bowl and pour M&M's in it. You have a pair of dice and roll them. When you get doubles you get to eat M&M's you pull from a bowl with a pair of chopsticks. We gave the kids a plastic spoon and made them take one at a time. We played with my sister, Bridger's parents and the kids on Christmas Eve. Bridger, of course, was very adept. I wasn't too bad, either. The kids had a blast and so did everyone else. Sometimes they couldn't even pick one up before someone else rolled doubles. I recommend it (recommend is spelled so you have 2 m's, like M&M- that is what my 6th grade teacher taught me).

Snow!

The snow is up to Kjerstin's shoulders. We have been dumped on this week. And anytime it isn't snowing the wind is blowing to blow the existing snow around. We are living in a winter wonderland! The kids have had a great time in the snow and have actually been very good shovelers! The roads have been messy. It has been a good time to just stay at home. In Oregon they have been getting snow and ice storms, too. They were out of school for a week before school was supposed to get out. If we still lived there, life really would stop. We don't anymore so life goes on and Bridger still has to go to work. I echo my Oregon friend's comments that at least we have the things we need to survive and get by despite the weather thanks to the counsel given us by our prophet.

Nativities

We had a tradition when I was growing up. There was some yarn (straw) and a basket (manger). Every time you did a good deed you got to put a piece of straw in the manger. the intent is that by Christmas the manger is full of hay and soft for baby Jesus. Corban asked me where baby Jesus was and I told him that it wasn't his birthday yet. As we were driving around as a family looking at Christmas lights, Corban was irked that the nativities that were set up had baby Jesus in the manger. "It's not his birthday yet! Why do they have the baby Jesus in the manger!" I tried to explain but he was insistent that if it wasn't Christmas yet, they shouldn't have the baby Jesus in the manger. We hope he was as attentive to the idea of doing good deeds as well!

It's the Semi-finals!

Today Bridger was telling us when his finals are for school. Corban got very excited because his Dad was in the semi-finals! Funny how perspective changes!

Bridger's birthday

This week was Bridger's birthday. I told him he was a year older than he was because I thought I was a year older than I am! I guess that it won't be such a shock for me to turn a year older next year. Maybe it is because I am so tired that I feel old. I don't know. Bridger doesn't like me to spend money on presents for him. I compromised by buying him Swiss Rolls, a favorite treat of his and the kids. Kjerstin just had to take a picture on the digital camera so here is a picture of the swiss rolls!

Daven

It is coming up on 1 year old for Mr. D. I can't believe it. Here is a little cute picture of him. He loves people food. He has learned how to scream. He babbles and is starting to wave. I was doing some early Christmas shopping and saw a pregnant woman shopping. That was me 1 year ago! My how time flies. I can't believe my baby is growing up and my other babies are as big as they are. Enjoy the moment because it passes way too quickly!

Friends

David and Marilyn Craig (previously from Norco/Corona, CA now from Syracuse, UT) came to visit me. It was so good to see them. They were telling my kids that without me they wouldn't have the gospel in their lives. It was the other way around. It was such a priviledge for me to teach them and in some way be involved with the process. They are amazing people and I love them (so do my kids)! They were shocked I have 4 kids. So am I!

Our Labor Day

Over Labor Day we went to visit our good friends the Roth's in Oregon. Here are the photos! We all had a great time!

Just Clowning Around

My father in law has this clown costume. My kids love it! It personifies what clowns they really are!

TMI

CNN.com is my homepage on the internet. I usually read the headlines everyday to keep updated on what is going on in the world. There was an article on Brad Pitt being on the Oprah Winfrey show and telling too much information on what was going on in their family life. That got me interested as what would be considered too much information. Just for the record, I am not a Brad Pitt junkie. The article was a video clip on entertainment news on CNN. It has 2 ladies commenting. They thought it was inappropriate that he was saying that at first he was shocked with all the bodily fluids you deal with when you have kids (ie blood, spit, urine, vomit). Now he says he is comfortable dealing with it. They were all grossed out and wondering why they didn't have somebody they hired to deal with all of that. How terrible is that! These commentators think they are above that and Brad Pitt who is more famous than they are is more humble than they are and more willing to care for these children. They were grossed out that Angelina said she used the football hold to nurse her twins. Anyone who has breastfed I am sure knows the different holds available. That should be approximately half of the adult generation. It shouldn't be too much information. I was once again in shock of the world we live in and the worliness of it. Maybe this is too much information for you!

Let's Read!

Our ward has an enrichment activity group that is a book discussion. This is my outlet. We had it last night and it was at my house. I LOVE reading. It is my thing I do as a stay at home mom to stay sane. It spurs my intellect. We discussed "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. It is a story of a lady who lived in Holland and helped to hide the Jews and ended up in a concentration camp and how she kept her outlook so she could not be bitter. It has so mnay applications to our lives today how we can be true Christians and truly rely on the Lord and give him our burdens. It is a good book. If you know of a good book, please let me know! I always have 2 or 3 books I am reading at a time and am always interested in more. Next month we are going to read the Count of Monte Cristo and if you want to join in, please do and let me know your thoughts.

School Starts!

Corban and Kjerstin started school this week. They rode their bikes together on the first day of school. Kjerstin was totally into what she was going to wear on the first day. Corban could care less what he was wearing. If it doesn't have to do with video games, it isn't important to them. It seems they have really good teachers. Kjerstin had her first full day of school today. She told me she missed me--just what a mom likes to hear. She said she got a little sad to be gone so long but it was a little fun, too. Kjerstin's teacher is the wife of a guy I used to date. That is what I get for living in the town I grew up in. Corban said to me, "Aren't you going to ask me 'How was school' or 'What did you learn today?'" So I did and he said "Good, nothing." But he still wants me to ask. What a boy! Brynna got a little lonely today having them gone all day so we had to call her Grandma Critchfield so she could feel important and have someone besides Mom to talk to. It was a good day for me. I am not on full time entertainment/stay on task duty for a while. I got a bunch of errands run and some cleaning done! I am proud of them for doing so well with school.