BREEZY FIELDS

We had such a fabulous day today. Mike and I each took turns going for a run because Jane had a morning babysitting job. Ellyn had occupational therapy and Sadie and Sawyer played pretend something or other. Sadie even turned down playing with two of her friends that came over so she could stay with her brother. Sadie had her first soccer game. The game included sun, rain, wind, and hail. It was the most bizarre weather ever. Sadie hasn't played soccer since she was five so she is learning but her coaches work well with her and she is picking it up quickly. She is so cute. I didn't take any pics of her actually playing. I get too excited. I'm embarrassed to say I am a loud, cheering, soccer mom. I made corned beef and cabbage for dinner, a family favorite, for most of us. Ellyn voted to have cereal. Mike made homemade chocolate pudding, a recipe from the Hominy Grill that we visited in Charleston. It was so amazing we bought the cookbook just for that recipe! There was...

This rain is going to be the death of me. I can feel it, the pent up scream clawing its way out. Every time I check the weather forecast it is right there, subdued only by the small faces of my children nearby. I am soooo glad Mike is home now. He is keeping me sane. How you might ask? First of all, I have my best friend home and everything is more fun and much easier (except laundry) with him around. Second, he only puts up with so much complaining and emotional drama. Is that hard to picture? No? I didn't think so. All is well at our house, aside from my sanity. As long as Mike doesn't get scooped up for a deployment he has a pretty sweet job here that he is excited about. It involves quite a bit of travel. Orlando and Germany are quite possible in the near future. I'm not bitter, oh wait! Yes I am, but I am pretty thrilled for him. He has worked so hard for so many years to get done with all of this schooling and be back to a real job. I hope it is everything it seems...

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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