BREEZY FIELDS

This is completely for my own memory, could put anyone else right to sleep- Seriously, while I was mostly prepared for the storm that hit last week I don't know what we would have done without electricity. Our neighborhood was the only housing area in our entire ward to keep lights, heat, cooking ability, etc... the entire week. I truly believe this was one of my Heavenly Father's tender mercies. I know I could have kept us warm. I had planned where I would hang blankets so the gas fireplace could heat the kitchen and the living room, but I think with Ellyn and the kids and no dad last week would have been incredibly difficult. Once again we were blessed, instead of shivering and breaking out food storage we were having game nights with the Coleman's and the Lundholm's, play dates, big group breakfasts (we had 24 of us in all- waffles, pancakes, two different kinds of homemade syrup, bacon, sausage, hot chocolate, orange juice, whipping cream, berries, I think that ...

Monday night of last week I had to take my sweet little princess into the E.R. Do you see the look on her face? She never cried. She lunged head first, over my shoulder into the glass on our fireplace just seconds after we had turned it off, and came up smiling. I didn't even know she had been burned, I thought I had caught her in time. I was "guarding" the fireplace while Ellyn and I played with a whoopie cushion. Obviously it was ineffectual. I normally don't freak out in emergency situations. I freaked out on this one. I thought I hadn't wiped all of dinner off of Ellyn's face, remember no tears and a smile? I rubbed the entire blister off her nose. I could see layers and layers of skin. I was holding cold water to her face, calling Mike, crying, yelling at my kids. It was horrible. Ellyn and I drove to the E.R., on the half an hour drive I panicked, worried that I hadn't done enough to stop the burning. I called Meagan to ask if Wil's hand...

Sadie's first year as Mary. Aunt Meagie getting our little shepherd dressed. Costuming the crew.  Doesn't Kaia look angelic? Harris was very convincing as our little lamb. Ellyn seems to be saying "I may look like an angel..." Sawyer was such a good shepherd.  He listened, and was quiet, and acted out his part with sincerity.  He really loved the story this year. Our wise man and Samuel the LAME-inite (just kidding Jane) being teenagers. Uncle Jason got to be Joseph.  I think he was okay with the role since it meant he was able to keep baby Adam out of the hands of children.  Sadie is attempting to look pious.  She was a beautiful Mary. One with Ellyn's face and Sawyer and Hazel cut off.  One with the back of Ellyn's head, but we have Sawyer and Hazel.  It's nearly impossible to get everyone.  Our little sheep is missing. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Another year of the Stinchfield/Bennett Nog Run.  This year was a huge crew.  I'm going to have to find the picture Tom took of everyone.  Buffy's mom and sister's family came too!  It was so much fun, even if Ellyn and I only walked less than half of it.  Uncle Mike poured all the "nog" and lead the group in warm ups as we waited for our mile marker to get set up.  Kim's girls brought bikes, many pushed jogging strollers, Tracey's stroller included speakers playing Christmas carols!  If she wasn't so fast we could have heard more of them:-) Next year I think I'm going to have to give out bells and have Jackson help us design a t-shirt.  It is a family tradition worthy of continuation. Jack and Ruby exceeding max weight for a stroller. Anne looks excited. Tracey and her speakers. Melia takes a little spill and I take a picture before I go help.  That's the nice aunt that I am. Jane trying to figure out if she'll get t...

Yesterday morning I received a text from my husband. I can't remember exactly what it said but it was something to the effect of "are we done looking at that burnt up, nasty, vegetable encrusted skillet yet?". I suggested that he should perhaps, write on the blog. He told me he had essays to write on Obama's speech to the Westpoint graduates in 20... Yada yada yada. Whatever. I did not foresee a time between now and the 3rd of January in which I could post anything to the blog. Until... Jane's band teacher asked that all students be 40 minutes early to their Winter Concert. Really? I wanted to text with my husband, since we never have time, but Mike is using the ever so lame, "I have to write an essay" excuse again and so I sit here, blogging. I have read all valid tweets to keep me abreast of the daily news and now the guilt has set in. Let me begin by saying we had such a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have pictures and will post that another day. In ...

There are those moments in life when our anticipation of what lies ahead quickly dissipates when met with said object of anticipation. I present to you, this evening's meal. To clarify, this was what remained after I had salvaged what I could. Left behind in a dishwasher's nightmare of a skillet you will find brussels sprouts even I, the hard hearted mother that I am, could not bear to make my children ingest. Sautéd, carmelized, carrots, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, and onions-earthy deliciousness to soothe my over candied, Halloweened out soul, were to be the entree this evening. Instead, Sadie ate a bowl of Cheerios, Ellyn ate mac and cheese left over from lunch, Sawyer, some of the sweet potato and a banana. I have no idea what Jane may have consumed upon her return from Driver's Ed but the phrase "Wow mom!" did escape her lips when I stated that her dinner was waiting on the stove (I was trying not to laugh). I, alone, ate my meal. Penance f...