Daven's Three!

Today is Daven's official birthday but we have been celebrating for days already. We took him to McDonalds last week when Dad was off of work and did cake, ice cream and presents yesterday when we still had cousins, aunts and uncles in town (and no late dance practice). He was giddy with excitement when we sang to him. How fun it is to watch our children grow, exhausting but fun! (P. S. The cake is a Mario hat if you can't tell.)

Nativity

Our nativity with Joseph (Corban), Mary (Brynna), and baby Jesus (doll). Shepherds who were sore afraid (Kjerstin) and Angel (Daven).

Ketchup

Currently there is laundry to be folded and put away, a book to be read so I can pass it on to someone else, a family home evening to cement into place but I am sitting down to write. Ketchup is a sweet-and-sour condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high fructose corn syrup, and an assortment of vegetable seasonings and spices such as onions, all-spice, cloves, cinnamon, garlic, and celery. I don't know if that accurately will describe this post but I do need to catch up since it has been 3 weeks since I have written a post. In 1876, Heinz tomato ketchup was advertised: "Blessed relief for Mother and the other women in the household!" I think that is a better descriptor of this post since the need to put my thoughts in a more concrete form is necessary. It has been an interesting Christmas season. I really feel like I eventually got the Christmas spirit. As I would start to form a complaint of why we do all this at Christmas, I would think of Christ and how He suffered for not only our sins but all our other sufferings that was not necessary. I think how it is not needed to give this toy to a child but how our Heavenly Father answers our prayers and supplies our needs and our wants. It made me especially grateful for the gospel. This is the sweet portion of the sweet and sour catchup. I think because of this blessing the Lord has allowed me a clearer look at myself- a picture of myself through His eyes. I see things that are good and things that are not so good that I never noticed before. It gives me a list of things I need to work on. It is a little sour to the mouth but I suppose the sweet and sour together make a good combination.

Christmas 2010

When I think back at 2010, I think of things that didn’t go how I expected them to at all! Some things didn’t happen. We did some things I never thought we would! It has been very enlightening!

Bridger has now been out of graduate school for one year. We always think that we will have so much time when “…” passes. Yet it is never the case. I put him to work helping me shuffle kids to activities. Work has also kept him busy because they assume he has lots of time, now. In addition, he has started working with two different groups of scouts at church. We still have to work to find nights that aren’t occupied. His promotion for the year is the title of “neighborhood yard guy.” He is taking care of our neighbors yard (who has diabetes) and our other neighbor (who is deployed in Iraq) in addition to our own! He is pretty amazing!

I now have 2-3 days a week with only two kids at home most of the day. That must be too slow of a pace for me because I have started doing some mystery shopping to occupy what free time I have. My kids think it is great when I have a McDonald’s mystery shop! I would love to eventually go back to school. We will see when we can schedule that in! I still love to squeeze time in to talk to friends, read, write, run and cook.

Corban is now 10 years old and in 5th grade and is at his last year at the elementary school. I can’t believe it! It seems to have gone by very fast. He has started playing hockey. He played roller hockey when there was no ice and is just starting to play ice hockey.. He seems to be doing pretty well, and is really enjoying it! ! Even though hockey is new for him, some things never change, which is his love of video games! He has also started staying home to do short babysitting for me. I no longer have to take 5 children with me everywhere I go!

Kjerstin is 8 and in 3rd grade. She was baptized this year. She and Brynna love to perform and will sing or dance for you anytime, with or without a request. She recently wrote Brynna a note that said, “Brynna, you are the best sister I have ever had. Actually, you are the only sister I have ever had. Love, Kjerstin” She is a good cook, is very flexible (she wants you to know that) and loves to plan and organize things. I think she was born to keep me organized.

Brynna is 6 and in kindergarten. She is really shy but is finally making some new friends in her class. She is a good big sister to her little brothers. She decided she liked Gideon when we got him home. She was mad he was a boy but decided he was cute so it was okay. She is naturally loving and will snuggle you anytime you need a little love.

Daven is going to be 3 in 1 week! He LOVES his siblings and they love him. Although he has his own bed, he is regularly asked by them to come and sleep in their beds. He had a hard time this summer when his older siblings went to cousin camp and he had to stay home. I frequently heard, “Where are the guys?” and I was in trouble because they weren’t here! He shares Corban’s love of video games!

Gideon James Critchfield made his entrance into our hearts and lives in a very dramatic way. He was born via emergency C-section on February 10, 2010. He is a happy little guy and has earned the nickname Mr. Giggles. He is not content to be a baby. He is all over the place, and wants all the toys but his own. The only time he holds still is when he is sleeping. He goes to sleep without crying when we lay him in his crib. I have never had a baby do that! He is pretty special.

Facing December

I have spent some time lately in the Lord’s classroom and unfortunately I can’t say I’m such a great student. I think it is hard and wondering why I have to go to school because I am too tired, saying I am not smart and all sorts of other murmurings. I have really enjoyed re-reading the conference issue of the Ensign. I also really enjoyed the 1st Presidency’s Christmas devotional last night. I have felt a bit like the Grinch lately. I hear, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!” and I think, “Really?” Is it so wonderful to be so busy and feeling so poor because you can spend a $1000 in a month and still have other things you could buy? I really haven’t enjoyed Christmas. It means more things for me to do and more people for me to try to please and I really don’t feel up to the task. Kids list seem unending. And I know that there will still probably be one or two gifts they wanted that they won’t get. I love the meaning of Christmas they laid out for us last night. I volunteered at the Festival of Trees Gift Shop last week. I read a book while I was waiting called The Magic of Christmas. IT is about some cute little mice who wonder if the magic is in the snow and the sledding and the baking, etc. The end of the story says it is being together that makes the magic. I don’t necessarily agree with that either. I loved my Christmas’s as a missionary and the ones when we were living in Oregon by ourselves and didn’t see any other family. I remember Christmas being magical for me when I was a kid. I want that back. I make goodies to take to our neighbors and those we care about but they are the ones who really don’t need the food. Their counters are overflowing with goodies others have brought as well. I loved how President Monson said that the Christmas’ he remembered were the ones where he was giving service to others. I loved how President Uchtdorf said we need to think about Christ’s role in our own lives and focus on that. It was just the medicine by grinchy heart that was two sizes too small needed. I think I am ready to face December again!