Studio C

Brad and I took Scott and Emma to a live filming of Studio C on March 2nd.  Our family became a big fan of Studio C a few months ago, when we watched the first season on the BYU channel and on YouTube.  We watched some skits over and over again, too, and know many of the lines by heart.  It was a big treat for us to have the opportunity to see the show being filmed live in the studio audience.  Scott and Emma were especially excited.

We arrived at the BYU broadcasting building two hours before showtime, but we were still too late to get into the line for the live audience.  We were told to wait in the overflow line.  Luckily, we were the first people in that line, which made it possible for Scott and Emma to get into the studio when there were two seats available.  That left Brad and I in the overflow room.  We sat in the front row, right in front of the big screen.  Right before the show came on, the entire Studio C cast, minus Jason Gray, entered into the front of the room and welcomed us to the show.  Brad shook hands with Matt Meese and Stephen Meek.  We LOVED watching the show.  We found out that the reason why Jason didn't come into the overflow room was because he was covered in make-up for his role as "Gollum."  He was awesome!

We had such a fun time!  We will definitely plan on seeing the next season live.  We love Studio C!

The Highlight of My Day: February 2013

Something good happens every day. Here's what happened in February 2013:

Fri 2/1/13: The highlight of my day was spending time with my husband. He knows how to make me happy, and keep me happy. I love spending time with him.

Sat 2/2/13: Today I made pork chops with sauteed veggies and mushrooms. I lost track how many times Brad told me he loved my cooking throughout the evening. "Becky, there are moments like these when I'm so glad I married you." I made him brownie cookies just for saying that!

Sun 2/3/13: Brad and I stayed home from church today, since we were sick with colds. The little ones stayed home with us, too. I made some pot roast for dinner, and we watched "West Side Story" with Scott for his school assignment. I liked spending time with my family.

Mon 2/4/13: I was able to sneak out of the house tonight to pick up some yarn from Michael's and Walmart. I'm excited to create some new items!

Tue 2/5/13: Lizzy gave her first all-by-herself family prayer tonight. She brought me to tears with her "thank you for us going to the library" and "thank you for us going to our house." It was so sweet. Scott and Emma were very impressed, too. It was a nice family moment.

Wed 2/6/13: I finished crocheting a hat and scarf order today! I like making items for people and selling them.

Thu 2/7/13: Brad wrote me a very heartfelt email today that left me giggly, teary-eyed, and very, very happy. I love my husband. I feel tremendously blessed and fortunate to be married to him.

Fri 2/8/13: Lizzy is mostly potty-trained now! I've been working really hard with her, and today she was very successful. Brad and I are very happy with her. Brad and I had fun watching Merlin tonight and Lizzy joined us. We're watching the fourth season now. Fun stuff!

Sat 2/9/13: I went on date with Brad to Chili's this afternoon. It was lovely! After our lunch, we drove to Michael's and Brad bought me some cute bird decorations for my living room. I love him!

Sun 2/10/13: Brad got all bundled up this morning and went outside to shovel some snow off of our porch and driveway. While he was hard at work, Lizzy opened the blinds in the living room and yelled out, "Are you having fun, Papa?"

Mon 2/11/13: We had a fun Family Home Evening tonight. We helped decorate boxes for The Utah Food Bank for Emma's service project. Then we ate some homemade cupcakes with red frosting for Valentines Day.

Tue 2/12/13: I had an enjoyable time heart-attacking the bishop's house with the Activity Day girls. I had Kaylie, Rachel, Jessica, and Maddy Bennett with me. Fun girls!

Wed 2/13/13: Learning dance moves with my husband tonight was definitely the highlight of my day! We had lots of fun together. I love him.

Thu 2/14/13: I made heart-shaped french toast layers with nutella, strawberries, and whipped cream for dinner tonight, along with strawberry shakes. Brad and the kids loved it. I love spending Valentine's Day with them.

Fri 2/15/13: Brad and I had a lovely time dancing in the living room again. This time Lizzy and David joined us. Emma invited Makenna to come over for the night, so the two of them, along with Scott, enjoyed playing video games together. It was a fun evening.

Sat 2/16/13: I enjoyed walking with Brad and Lizzy around the neighborhood this afternoon. The temperature was a lot nicer than it has been, and it was nice getting out of the house and into the sunshine. In the evening, Brad and I went to our stake's Valentine social at the stake center. Brad and I had fun dancing together.

Sun 2/17/13: Brad and I watched the season finale of Downton Abbey, Season 3 tonight. Most of the episode was really nice except for the last 60 seconds when one of the main characters dies unexpectedly. I was shocked, angry, and disappointed when I saw that.

Mon 2/18/13: We spent the afternoon at Temple Square, going to the Church History Museum, looking at all the pretty fountains on Temple Square, and visiting the Joseph Memorial Building. It was fun spending some recreational time together as a family.

Tue 2/19/13: I am very pleased with the new healthy lifestyle I have been living for the last seven weeks. I feel happier, healthier, and stronger than I did before. I have been developing new eating habits and fitness habits, and even some new mental habits as well. I've been enjoying watching "Biggest Loser" on TV, and dedicating time to focus on myself. Oh, another highlight of my day was Lizzy going poop for the first time on the toilet! Hooray for Lizzy!

Wed 2/20/13: Lizzy, David, and I drove Jason to his high school this afternoon, so he could go to his welding class. Lizzy was so shy and bashful with him. I think she thinks he's cute. After we dropped Jason off, we headed to Harmons to get some produce. Lizzy and David love to ride the little car carts at Harmons. It's like going on a Disneyland ride.

Thu 2/21/13: I am so proud of Lizzy doing so well with her potty-training. She gets so excited when she goes potty on the toilet. I love her enthusiasm.

Fri 2/22/13: I had some lovely one-on-one time with Bradley today. He took time off work today so we could work on the van and fix things around the house, but it also meant we could spend more time together. I love being with him. He makes me happy.

Sat 2/23/13: Lizzy and I got dumped on when we left Walmart this morning. We took three steps out the doors and we were covered in snow. I couldn't even tell where our van was, everything was so white and pretty.

Sun 2/24/13: I love lazy Sunday afternoons! We didn't have to go anywhere, or do anything after church. I even got away with not having to make dinner tonight. I love that!

Mon 2/25/13: Lizzy gave me a cute surprise this morning. She came to me me while I was in the den and told me she wanted to vacuum the living room. "I want to push the button on the vacuum," she told me. I knew the messy state of living room when I last saw it, so I told her no, the floor was too messy in there. Lizzy shook her head and said, "No, Mommy. Is not messy. Lizzy do it." It took me a moment to realize what she was saying. "Did you clean up the living room, Lizzy?" "YES!" she shouted with excitement. I was a little skeptical, so I had to see the room for myself. Sure enough, everything was off the floor and put away as well as a three-year-old could do it. I was very impressed!

Tue 2/26/13: I had a busy evening tonight, driving to Activity Days, dropping off girls, going to the library, and picking up Scott and Brandon at their friend Bennett's house. I laughed out-loud when I saw Scott. He was wearing his white lab coat, his crocheted crab hat, and a dark brown goatee. I was not expecting that! They were making a crowbar commercial for school and Scott really got into character.

Wed 2/27/13: I'm making a gray poncho for my mother right now. I struggled with the new stitches at first, so I redid everything three times before figuring out I was using the wrong hook size. Third time is a charm! It's starting to really look pretty.

Thu 2/28/13: I had a fun day spending my time with my two little ones. David LOVES playing the "cone-on-the-head" game, and Lizzy loves to paint with me. We played a lot of chasing games, tickling games, and we read books and sang songs, too. David loves Itsy Bitsy Spider. I love my children.

January News

NEW YEARS DAY

We started off the new year bowling at All Star Lanes and having our annual New Year's Day lunch at the Harman's.  I love our New Year's Day traditions.  It was wonderful having the Polaks in town this year.  Emma and Charlotte tied for first place in the kids' bowling lane, and Aksel wasn't too far behind.  Scott played with the adults this year, and Lizzy played her own game for the first time.  David fell asleep in Grandpa North's arms while everyone bowled.  It was during his nap time.  After we went bowling, Brad and I enjoyed learning how to play "Ticket to Ride" with Zach, Bruce, and James at Aunt Marian's house.  It was a fun, relaxing day.  I love being with Brad's family.

SHAVING LESSON

Scott had his first shaving lesson this month.  His dad helped him by giving him a few shaving tips.  Bye bye, peach fuzz!
I can't believe how quickly this boy is turning into a man.  I mean, just look at him!  He's going to be all grown up before we know it.

SNOW

January was extremely cold this year-- much more cold than usual.  It's snowed on and off every week this month, and the temperatures consistently stayed in the single digits and even dipped in the negatives.  The pipes in our basement froze, but Brad and his dad figured out how to warm them up again before the pipes could burst.  We spent most of our time indoors.  By the end of the month, the temperatures began to rise up again, and Lizzy and I had a wonderful time playing in the snow outside.  Lizzy had fun drawing pictures in the snow with a stick she found, and we made a snow-"woman" together.  We gave her a pink sunhat and scarf, and a little baby carrot nose, and Lizzy had fun giving her kisses.

SCIENCE PROJECTS

Scott and Emma got busy doing their Science Projects near the end of the month.  Scott's project was on how soil affects plant growth.  He grew pinto beans for one month in various types of soils.  The soil that the pinto beans refused to grow in was Utah clay.   No wonder the plants in our yard keep dying!  Emma teamed up with her cousin, Kaylie, and together they did their project on mind power over the sense of taste.  They made homemade candy and dyed them colors that didn't correspond with their flavors.  For example, they made green raspberry candy and orange grape candy instead of using the traditional red or purple dye.  Everyone who tasted the candy were convinced they were the more traditional flavors. They did so well on their project that it was chosen to represent their school in the district science fair.

Emma's and Kaylie's project was chosen to represent their school in the District Science Fair!  Go girls!

The Highlight of My Day: January 2013

Something good happens every day. Here's what happened in January 2013:

Tue 1/1/13: New Year's bowling was a blast today! I loved watching Lizzy play her own game, and watching Scott play against his dad. Emma and Charlotte tied for first in the kids' alley. David fell asleep in his grandpa's arms. It was fun visiting with Brad's family at the Harmans' house. We played "Ticket to Ride" for the first time. Zach won. It was fun visiting with everyone, playing good games, and eating good food. I love family traditions!

Wed 1/2/13: I beat Brad at his Amazing Mutant Chess game tonight. Made me feel like a geek. We've played five games so far. He won three and I won two.

Thu 1/3/13: Life is good! I am so grateful for my amazing husband, who demonstrates how much he loves me and his family every day. I am blessed to be married to him.

Fri 1/4/13: Brad and I have been enjoying re-watching Season 2 of Downton Abbey for the second time. We love picking up new details and having discussions about the characters and story-line. One of our favorite shows for sure!

Sat 1/5/13: I had a busy morning, going with Lizzy and her cousins to the primary P.J. party, and then later going to Sam Johnson's baptism and luncheon. My highlight of the day was finding out that I'm going to have a baby niece in June. I'm very excited to be an aunt again!

Sun 1/6/13: Scott had his first shaving lesson today. I, of course, had to document it and put pictures on Facebook. The boy is growing up! He is becoming more and more like his father every day. Speaking of his father, I beat Brad again tonight during another round of Amazing Mutant Chess. We're evenly scored now.

Mon 1/7/13: We played more "Harry Potter: Scene It" as a family for FHE tonight. Brad won, but I was impressed by how well Scott did. He's got a knack for naming characters and places quickly. Brad and I stayed up late and watched the first episode of Season 3 of Downton Abbey. It was such a good episode!

Tue 1/8/13: I lost two pounds yesterday, which made me happy! I did an excellent job eating well today. I made ratatouille for dinner tonight, and everyone liked it (except Lizzy, who wouldn't even try it).

Wed 1/9/13: I finished Emma's Rainbow Dash hat! Scott was pretty disgusted by it, but Emma loved it. I like making geeky hats for them.

Thu 1/10/13: Lizzy watched "The Biggest Loser" with me while I crocheted a hat for Marilyn. During the movie she asked to sit on my lap and brush her hair. I thought that was sweet, so I stopped crocheting and began brushing her hair. The static made her hair go crazy, but it was still cute none-the-less. I love my daughter.

Fri 1/11/13: I had a busy, active day today! I danced with Lizzy in the morning, shoveled snow out of the driveway around noon, went shopping and picked up my nephews from school, and cleaned up the nursery and made dinner in the evening.

Sat 1/12/13: We had a fun afternoon at the Harmans' house. Aunt Marian made pork chops and potatoes for lunch-- the same recipe Brad's mom used to make. Brad and I played "Ticket to Ride" with Marian and Gordon, and I won the game with 114 points. Marian, Brad, and I played some Nerts in the evening. Marian won that round.

Sun 1/13/13: It was nice having our home teachers come tonight. Brother Hyde spoke about our prayers being answered and told a great story about a time he took a photograph of a rainbow up in the mountains.

Mon 1/14/13: We built things with dominos tonight for FHE. It turned out to be a very fun activity, talking and laughing, and spending quality time together. I love my family!

Tue 1/15/13: Lizzy sang the "Downton Abbey" theme all the way to the doctor's office and back this morning. David had his 15-month well-check with Dr. Vierra. He's on track for his weight and his height now, which made me very happy!

Wed 1/16/13: I have been having so much fun dancing with Lizzy and David every morning. Today was especially fun! I feel so much better getting in some exercise each day. It's lovely.

Thu 1/17/13: Why do I have so much fun filling up my vegetable and fruit basket in my kitchen? I really do! It was fun going to Harmon's tonight with Brad and the babies after student led conferences. I bought a ton of produce, and Lizzy enjoyed riding in the car cart.

Fri 1/18/13: The little ones and I had a fun morning running errands. We went to Entheos and dropped off some food for the teachers, then we went shopping at Walmart and Sam's Club.

Sat 1/19/13: Brad and I had a wonderful day today! We went to watch Les Miserables in the morning. Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean was amazing! We had hamburgers at Five Guys Burgers for lunch, and we had an enjoyable afternoon with Lizzy watching Megamind while David napped. Later in the evening we went to Alexis Hill's wedding reception and visited with a lot of people we knew. Today was a perfect Saturday.

Sun 1/20/13: Brad got the antenna on the television working tonight, and we both enjoyed watching AFV, Once Upon a Time, and the next episode of Downton Abbey. It was fun watching them on the big screen TV verses the computer monitor.

Mon 1/22/13: Brad sure loves my ham and lentil soup. I've made it three times since New Year's Eve, and he and I can't get enough of it. So, so yummy.

Tue 1/23/13: I had a busy night tonight with the Activity Day girls, having an interview at the Stake Center, and shopping at Michael's for the kids' science fair display boards. It was a good night.

Wed 1/24/13: The highlight of my day was falling asleep in my husband's arms. Yes, he's wonderful. I love him!

Thu 1/25/13: I enjoyed watching Downton Abbey with Bradley tonight while I continued crocheting Scott's creeper hat. Finished by the end of the episode!

Fri 1/26/13: Today was a busy day! I had fun exercising, running errands with the little ones, and carpooling kids after school. I helped Scott get ready for the winter scout camp, and Emma had fun working on her Science Fair project with Kaylie.

Sat 1/27/13: Brad, Scott, Emma, and I went to the temple to do baptisms for our ward temple night. It was beautiful! I loved that Emma thoroughly enjoyed her first time going. She kept going on and on about how we'll have to do it again soon.

Sun 1/28/13: I began crocheting a Homespun afghan today. It's going to be pretty and soft and warm.

Mon 1/29/13: The kids finished their Science Fair projects tonight-- just barely before the due date. They did not need my help as much this year as in years past, which made me both happy and sad. So proud of them for doing so much on their own!

Tue 1/30/13: My hamstrings are sore! I've been working out really hard daily, but I'm loving it, so I'm going to keep at it. The little ones like it, too. They know it's a part of the routine now, so they get excited when I start the music.

Wed 1/31/13: We went to the Science Appreciation Night at Scott's and Emma's school tonight. We found out that Emma's and Kaylie's project was chosen to go to the district science fair. Way to go, girls!

David's 15-Month Stats

Weight: 22 pounds 3 ounces, 16% for his age
Height: 32 inches, 74% for his age.
Head Circumference: 18.5 inches, 43% for his age. 

12-Month David

David is an energetic, mellow, and happy baby.  He runs, climbs, and crawls underneath things.  He's still very easy-going, and rarely gets upset about things.

New Developments In The Last 2 Months

• He can walk and run.
• He can climb down stairs.
• He has a growing vocabulary: "bye-bye," "thank you," "what's that," "open," "mama," "papa," "daddy," "kitty," "whoa," "ow," "no"...
• He has six teeth, and two more poking through!
• He laughs at "jokes" now.  He is developing a good sense of humor.
• He dances to music.  He loves dancing to "What Makes You Beautiful," by One Direction.  For some reason that song gets him moving more than the others.

Favorite Foods

Pretty much everything, except foods that are too sour or bitter.  He LOVES bananas the most, though.  He begs me for bananas.  He also loves grapes.  He eats about three times more than Lizzy eats.

Little quirks:

• He has a thing for phones right now, but what baby doesn't?  He likes to pick phones up, push a few buttons, and then puts them back on the stand.
• He loves getting into the dishwasher and pulling out the utensils. He also likes opening up the cupboard in the kitchen where the garbage bags and ziplock bags are kept and emptying everything out.
• He practically slides down the stairs now, on his belly.  He moves really, really fast.
• His left thumb is still his sucking thumb.  He sucks it when he's sleepy or when he's sad.
• Lizzy is David's favorite entertainment.  He is fascinated by her.
• He likes to walk around the house eating apples Lizzy leaves behind.
• He love music.  His favorite song that Mommy sings to him is "Open, Shut Them."  He tries to do the movements and says, "open, open" while pushing his hands out in fists.  It's very cute.

I love my funny little boy!

The Highlight of My Day: December 2012

Something good happens every day. Here's what happened in December 2012:

Sat 12/1/12: Today felt like Christmas! Brad and I got out the Christmas decorations and decorated the house. In the evening, Brad and I took the little ones to Temple Square to enjoy the Christmas lights. The weather was perfect, and Lizzy and David loved seeing the lights and water fountains without getting too cold. Lizzy even took off her coat and shoes and tried to wade in the water!

Sun 12/2/12: Brad and I took the little ones to Bruce and Loralee's house for dinner tonight. Loralee made pulled pork for dinner and it was delicious!

Mon 12/3/12: We decorated little foam trees for Family Home Evening tonight. I was amazed by how different all the little trees turned out even though everyone used the same exact materials. I loved the creativity!

Tue 12/4/12: I loved the one-on-one time I spent with my kids today. I think my favorite moment of the day was playing in the bathtub with Lizzy. She's such a sweetheart. I love how she makes my mama heart so happy.

Wed 12/5/12: I ordered and picked up my Christmas cards today. They looked beautiful! I can't wait to start mailing them off.

Thu 12/6/12: I started making my first made-from-scratch gingerbread house today. I had no idea how time-consuming it would be, but it was fun! I got the walls up, the roof, and the chimney. Tomorrow I will decorate it.

Fri 12/7/12: I finished decorating the gingerbread house today! The kids loved it! My favorite part of the house was the little gingerbread family in front. There was a gingerbread man, woman, and four little children-- just the right number for our family. We took it to the ward Christmas party tonight. I love our new ward.

Sat 12/8/12: My favorite part of the day was making lunch with my family. We all pitched in making grilled cheese sandwiches. Emma made the tomato soup, Scott sliced the cheese, Papa buttered the bread and put the sandwiches together, and I grilled the sandwiches. We ate lunch listening to Christmas music.

Sun 12/9/12: Emma gave a wonderful talk today in Sacrament meeting. It was her first talk as a Young Woman. She spoke about Salvation Through Obedience. I was impressed by her confidence, her preparation, and her presentation of the subject. She did an excellent job.

Mon 12/10/12: We ate like shepherds tonight for FHE. We had chicken, cheese, dates, grapes, and pita bread, and ate on a blanket in the living room.

Tue 12/11/12: I gave my Activity Day lesson on traditions tonight, which turned out better than I thought it would. The girls had lots of ideas to share, and they enjoyed the craft I brought.

Wed 12/12/12: My little kids did the cutest things today. Lizzy was going through her toy box this morning when she came across some old dog tags that belonged to Rosie. "It's Rosie's! It's Rosie's! We have to take it to Turkey's house!" Later in the afternoon Scott found Lizzy flirting with the vacuum cleaner-- kissing it and calling it her "Prince." It was very funny. David learned how to say "no" today. I got a kick out of him saying, "nooo," every time I asked him a question. It didn't matter what the question was, he would say no to everything.

Thu 12/13/12: I'm counting down the days till Christmas by presenting my hubby with a "gift" every day. Today my first gift of Christmas was a clean and organized bedroom. Took me all day to get it done. Brad was very pleased and surprised when he got home.

Fri 12/14/12: Today was a lovely day! Brad and I went on a little romantic getaway to a nearby hotel. Two bottles of Martinelli's apple cider for Brad on the second day of Christmas!

Sat 12/15/12: Brad and I watched "The Hobbit" today! We enjoyed it, although we did have a few complaints about the added scenes. It was still good, though. Brad's present today: three boxes of movie candies.

Sun 12/16/12: I enjoyed having the Bruce-Clan over for dinner tonight! We had chili and fritos, and we watched a lot of Studio C and Divine Comedy. Brad's present today: 4 scented candles.

Mon 12/17/12: Today's gift for Brad was 5 Downton Abbey discs! I was very excited about this one. For FHE tonight we read "The Christmas Oranges." I made little orange candles out of clementine oranges, and we ate orange slices and drank some orange shakes. After the kids went to bed, Brad and I watched some Downton Abbey.

Tue 12/18/12: David has mastered climbing down stairs! He's getting to be such a big boy! I attended my Relief Society's Hot Chocolate Party at the church tonight. The drinks were yummy, and I loved visiting with the sisters in my ward. Tonight's gift for Brad: six cans of A&W root beer. We drank some while watching more Downton Abbey.

Wed 12/19/12: Brad and I went to a wedding reception tonight with the two little ones while Scott and Emma were at their youth activities. It was nice seeing old familiar faces from our old neighborhood. Today's gift for Brad: seven awesome love coupons.

Thu 12/20/12: We had 12 kids at our house tonight! It was busy, but fun. My highlight of the day was watching "The Amazing Spiderman" with my nieces and nephews, and Lizzy and Scott. It was very well done. Today's gift for Brad: eight bars of chocolate with caramel.

Fri 12/21/12: Brad and I got carried away tonight and watched three episodes of "Downton Abbey." We stayed up past midnight. Today's gift for Brad: nine steamy love notes. Yum!

Sat 12/22/12: Today was a busy day! I got done all my Christmas shopping today. Brad and I watched the Christmas special of Downton Abbey. Loved it! Today's gift for Brad: 10 yummy pastries.

Sun 12/23/12: I enjoyed singing in the choir and teaching my Christmas lesson for my Sunbeam class at church. Tonight we went to Grandpa North's house for games, soup, and hot chocolate. I love my in-laws! Today's gift for Brad: 11 uni-ball pens.

Mon 12/24/12: We spent the whole day getting ready for our big Christmas Eve dinner tonight. I made a bunch of cookies and sent Scott and Emma outside in the blizzard to drop off some plates to our nearest neighbors. Grandpa North and Marilyn and James came over for dinner. We had a roast turkey, mashed potatoes, salad, broccoli casserole, and rolls for dinner tonight. It was fun visiting with family! The only downside for this day was Lizzy being very sick with a fever.

Tue 12/25/12: We had a fun time opening presents on Christmas morning! Lizzy was still very sick, but her fever broke a couple of times and she was able to play with her new toys and dresses a bit. My favorite gifts this year: Piano Guys CD, bamboo pillow cases, Brave & Cinderella blu-ray discs, and a restaurant gift card. My highlight of the day was seeing all my kids enjoying their Christmas presents.

Wed 12/26/12: I took Lizzy to the doctor this morning, even though she was looking a little better. The doctor said Lizzy had a bad virus, but that she should be feeling better soon. Lizzy's fever dropped down to normal in the afternoon and she began playing like her old self. I'm so happy she is feeling better!

Thu 12/27/12: I shoveled the snow out of our driveway today, so Brad wouldn't have to when he got home from work. I was nearly done when the neighbor boy across the street came out carrying his snow shovel and began helping me. I love our neighbors!

Fri 12/28/12: Lizzy is finally acting more like herself, although she's still not quite normal yet. I'm not used to her taking naps during the day any more, but it's kind of nice, too. It lets me get done things.

Sat 12/29/12: We had a fun afternoon playing Nerts with Marian and having dinner with her. She made some yummy homemade lasagna, with a side of garlic bread and steamed veggies. Marian showed me the crochet pattern so I can learn to make her blankets. I'm excited to make one!

Sun 12/30/12: We had another dinner at Brad's dad's house tonight... this time with Amanda and her family! I loved seeing Charlotte and Aksel again, and Lizzy loved playing with them, too. She kept calling Aksel, "Jack." Amanda was as wonderful as always. At the end of the night she told me she was glad I married her brother. I'm glad I did, too. I love being married to Brad and being a part of his family.

Mon 12/31/12: Amanda and Zach stopped by our house today. It was nice visiting with them. I'm making Charlotte and Aksel hats for Christmas. Brad and I celebrated Christmas Eve by watching more Downton Abbey. Lizzy and I did some fireworks together after it got dark. Lizzy loves fireworks.

Christmas Memories from 2012

Christmas Lights on Temple Square
Brad and I took the little ones to Temple Square on Saturday, December 1st.  It conveniently turned out to be one of the warmest December nights I have ever known in Utah.  Lizzy took off her coat and shoes before I could stop her.  Lizzy loved looking at the water fountains more than the Christmas lights, and she wanted to wade right in, but Brad and I wouldn't let her.  David was more interested in walking around Temple Square than sitting in his stroller and staring at the lights.  He made a lot of ladies smile at him, toddling around in his over-sized boots, and losing his balance once in a while while he walked.  Pretty hard not to smile at that.

Ward Christmas Party
Our ward's Christmas party was on Friday, December 7th.  I made a gingerbread house to use as a centerpiece for the party, and Emma made one with the Beehive girls in her class at church.  We had a "Cafe Rio" themed dinner at the party, which was delicious.  Brad and I sang in the ward choir, and Lizzy surprised us by singing with the primary children without any coaxing from us.  Lizzy and David enjoyed sitting on Santa's lap before we left.  They both love Santa.

Family Home Evening Activities
All of the Family Home Evening activities for the month of December was focused around Christmas.

On Monday, December 3rd we made Christmas trees out of green foam, buttons, and yarn.  I was amazed at how unique our trees turned out to be.  In my mind I thought everybody would make their trees the same way, since we all had the exact same materials, but everybody's tree was a work of art, including Lizzy's, which she did all by herself.

On Monday, December 10th we ate like shepherds on a blanket in our living room.  We had chicken, dates, cheese, pita bread, and grapes.  We'll have to do that again next year.

On Monday, December 17th we made candles out of clementine oranges and read "The Christmas Oranges" while eating orange slices and drinking orange smoothies.  I love the book "The Christmas Oranges," and it has been a family tradition to read it once a year at Christmas time.

12 Days of Christmas
I did something this year that I have never done before.  I had a marvelous time giving Brad presents leading up to Christmas Day.  Each day I gave him a new gift, increasing in number as the days went by.  Each gift was relatively inexpensive, or in some cases, free.  My favorite gift was presenting him with the first 2 seasons of Downton Abbey on blu-ray, which I bought on sale for an amazing price.  That was the biggest surprise, and he was very happy.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: 

12 (secret) packets, 

11 ball point pens, 

10 yummy pastries, 

9 sexy love notes, 

8 chocolate bars, 

7 awesome coupons, 

6 cans of root beer, 

5 Downton Abbey discs, 

4 votive candles, 

3 candy boxes, 

2 Martinelli's, 

and a clean and organized room.

Christmas Eve
We spent Christmas Eve at home this year.  I made a big turkey, and a broccoli casserole, and we invited Marilyn & James and Grandpa North to have dinner with us.  Marilyn brought mashed potatoes, a salad, and rolls to dinner, and Grandpa brought the drinks.  We had raspberry/cranberry Christmas punch, and it was yummy!  Lizzy was feeling pretty sick this year, but the rest of us were fine.  I liked having Scott and Emma with us for Christmas Eve.  We had our tradition of getting pajamas on Christmas Eve, and both Scott and Emma liked the jammies they got.

Christmas Day 12/25/12
Little Lizzy was still very sick Christmas morning, so we brought her bed downstairs in front of the tree so she could watch us open presents.  David loved the wrapping paper the best.  He clearly thought it was extra fun ripping paper without it being taken away from him.  He got some cute toys, clothes, and books, and a play cellphone, which he loved.  Lizzy got some adorable Disney toys, including a Merida and Angus set, and a Little Mermaid doll, but she got the most excited when she opened up Grandma Whitcomb's and Rachel's package with dresses inside.  She loves dresses!  Emma received a bunch of My Little Pony toys, and a pretty purple turtleneck sweater, which she has been wearing constantly.  She and Scott also got a present from Rachel: a Harry Potter Scene It game.  Scott received art supplies and a Lego set, and lots of random small gifts, such as a Lord Vader Christmas plush toy.  Brad and I were just happy to get "Brave" and "Cinderella" on Blu-ray, and to receive gifts from Aunt Laurie and Rachel, and Scott's and Emma's maternal great-grandmas who are always so thoughtful in their gifts.  We are very thankful for our family and loved ones who think about us during the Christmas holidays.  We ended up spending Christmas at home this year, since Lizzy was feeling so unwell.  We liked having the Bruce Clan come over for a little while, and we enjoyed spending time at home watching movies and editing photos.

Visiting Extended Family
One thing I love about the holidays is spending time with Brad's family!  We had a soup and game night, complete with a hot chocolate bar and Mr. Kruger's Christmas on the Sunday before Christmas.  It was nice playing games and visiting with Brad's family, and eating delicious soups and yummy treats.

Brad and I took the little ones to visit Aunt Marian on the Saturday after Christmas.  We enjoyed playing Nerts with Aunt Marian and eating her yummy homemade lasagna.   Lizzy liked playing with Aunt Marian's dog, Rocket, the most, and David loved getting into Marian's stuff, especially her cupboard in the kitchen.  We entertained ourselves by saying "forbidden" to David every time he got into the cupboard.

We also had another family dinner on Sunday, December 30th, when Brad's sister, Amanda, and her family came to visit out of town.  I was amazed by how big Amanda's kids have gotten.  They are so tall and slender!  Lizzy loved playing with them, and kept calling Aksel "Jack" over and over again, even when I told her what his real name was.  David and Aksel definitely look like they could be brothers-- they look so much alike!  Grandpa North provided a nice big dinner for us, and I brought some clam chowder soup to share.  It was lovely.  Loralee brought some yummy treats, including a batch of cookies Lindsey made herself, and some yummy monkey bread.

Christmas 2012 was a wonderful year for our family!  I am grateful for the memories we created together as a family, and for the love that we have for one another.  I'm looking forward to 2013!

The Currant Bush~ 10 Years Ago Today

‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’ ~ Hugh B. Brown

Ten years ago today, my husband was like a currant bush.  He was confident and strong, and he thought his life was good and prosperous.  He realized, at times, that some aspects of his life were not measuring up to what he wanted, and what he knew the Lord wanted, but he was content to have things remain the way they were.  His life changed dramatically on a cold December night in 2002. Everything that my husband loved, worked for, and treasured was taken away from him in a single heart-wrenching blow.  All of his branches were hacked off.  My husband was left with nothing-- nothing but his enduring faith, his physical health, and his will to live. At that moment in time, my husband did not understand how everything would be made right again.  He did not understand why "the Gardener" had let this happen to him. But my husband received strength at this time-- far more strength than he knew he had within himself.  Slowly he began to repair his life and grow into the fruitful currant bush he knew "the Gardener" wanted him to be. He could not have done it alone.  I will forever be grateful for the countless prayers and acts of kindness and support he received from family, friends, and even strangers ten years ago.  My husband was blessed tremendously. He has flourished, grown, and prospered far more than he could have envisioned at the time.  To all those who know Brad's story, it is amazing to see the contrast between the man he was ten years ago and the man he is today.

All of us have moments in our lives when we feel we have reached rock bottom.  Sometimes during these hard and difficult times we do not understand why these hardships are happening to us, or how our lives will be made right again.   I always try to remember that trials and hardships happen for a reason, and that the Lord knows what we are capable of and what we need to do to become better people.  He will do what he can to help us grow and prosper into the people He knows we can be.

Links:
"The Currant Bush," Hugh B. Brown, January 1973.
"As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten," Elder Todd Christofferson, April 2011.

The Highlight of My Day: November 2012

30 Days of Gratitude

Something good happens every day. Here's what I was grateful for in November 2012:

Thu 11/1/12: Today I am grateful for modern-day technology that allows me to edit photos on my computer and share them with friends and family who live far away. I love Photoshop and Facebook! I had so much fun working on photo projects today.

Fri 11/2/12: The weather was perfect tonight. Brad and I took advantage of it by taking the little ones for a quiet walk around the block. I am very thankful for the new neighborhood we live in.

Sat 11/3/12: Today I am grateful for early-morning, uninterrupted, lovey-dovey conversations with my best friend. I started off my day feeling beautiful, appreciated, and loved, and it only got better from there! I love my husband so much.

Sun 11/4/12: Today I am grateful for my wonderful step-daughter, Emma. We had a blast exploring the world of "Pottermore" together, shopping in Diagon Alley, and learning more about the story behind the stories. We're hooked. We'll have to explore more tomorrow.

Mon 11/5/12: Emma gave the lesson for Family Home Evening tonight. She needed to pass a few things off in her "Faith in God" booklet. I am grateful for the restoration of the gospel, and for the power of sincere prayers.

Tue 11/6/12: I am grateful for sweet little moments with my kids. I liked dancing in the kitchen with Lizzy and David today. We were listening to a Glee CD. I don't watch the show, but I wanted to hear the music, so I checked a CD out from the library. We had fun!

Wed 11/7/12: I am grateful for good, wholesome entertainment that my husband and I can equally enjoy together. I loved watching "Downton Abbey" with Brad tonight. I finished crocheting another hat during the show, too.

Thu 11/8/12: I am grateful for my extra nice and generous husband, who goes out of his way to scoop me a bowl of ice cream, or rub my shoulders, or change the baby's diapers, without being asked. He is always right on the ball, willing to help or make me feel better. He is wonderful!

Fri 11/9/12: I am grateful for good friends and good company. Brad, the little ones, and I went to visit the Hills at their home in Magna. We had chili and bread bowls for dinner, and pumpkin snickerdoodles for dessert. David showed off his walking skills and walked all over the house. Lizzy liked hanging out with the girls.

Sat 11/10/12: I am grateful for a husband who knows how to drive in heavy snow! It snowed at least 10 inches yesterday and today. It's a winter wonderland outside.

Sun 11/11/12: I am grateful for lazy Sunday afternoons with my husband. He makes me so happy. I love being married to Brad.

Mon 11/12/12: I was so happy to get David's baby book in the mail today, and to find Emma's birthday present at Bed Bath & Beyond. I am grateful for the time I save, and the cool things I find, when I use the Internet.

Tue 11/13/12: I am grateful for the routine of going to the library every week, and checking out good movies, CDs, and books for free. The library is such an amazing resource for our family.

Wed 11/14/12: I am grateful for Scott taking out the garbage every week. He is such a good boy.

Thu 11/15/12: I am grateful for an amazing husband, who takes off work to help me when I'm feeling unwell. I'm also grateful for medical benefits and insurance. My husband is such an excellent provider!

Fri 11/16/12: Today I am grateful for my mother. She flew in from California to visit me, and she brought me some homegrown avocados and a dozen fresh lemons, straight off the tree. My mother took us out to dinner at Virg's tonight, in celebration of Emma's birthday. She's wonderful!

Sat 11/17/12: Today I am grateful for good food, parties, and gatherings with family and friends. We had a birthday party for Emma at Grandpa North's house to celebrate Emma's birthday. It was Harry Potter themed, so we had chocolate frogs, jelly beans, golden snitches, butter beer, snowy owl cupcakes, and a candy birthday cake. We also had beef stew and shepherd's pie for dinner. We ended the night by going to the Hill's Annual Pie night. We had so much good food today!

Sun 11/18/12: I am grateful for moments my children get to spend with their Grandma Whitcomb. I absolutely loved watching my mother hold sleeping baby David in church today. He looked so precious snuggled up underneath my mother's chin. I also loved Lizzy looking for Grandma at church, and helping her find her purse and jacket. Lizzy is a little mother herself. I love that.

Mon 11/19/12: Today I am grateful for Family Home Evening. We did our annual "I am Thankful" drawings together as a family. I loved drawing our new house-- first time! I am grateful for family traditions and family routines. I love the time I get to spend with my family.

Tue 11/20/12: I am grateful for the happiness my stepdaughter, Emma, brings into our home. Today was her 12th birthday. She was so happy this morning, it made everyone else around her happy. I love her very much, and I'm looking forward to her starting Young Womens shortly.

Wed 11/21/12: I am grateful for the help the older children give me in our home. Scott was very helpful today when I needed to do some last minute Thanksgiving shopping. He takes good care of the little ones.

Thu 11/22/12: Today I am very grateful that Brad and I were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of our children. It's such a treat being all together for the holiday. We spent Thanksgiving at Bruce and Loralee's house this year, and all the kids had a great time with their cousins, and Brad and I had fun playing games. As usual, Loralee was a fantastic cook and made delicious food. I made a turkey veggie tray this year, and a green bean casserole using Loralee's recipe. So good!

Fri 11/23/12: I am grateful for KSL.com! We sold a stationary bike today and bought a Christmas tree with the same cash. It's almost like we traded a bike for a tree.

Sat 11/24/12: We enjoyed playing board games with our neighbors today. I am grateful for the new neighborhood we live in and the good people we've been getting to know better.

Sun 11/25/12: I am grateful for the BYU channel, and for the fun times I had with Scott and Emma today watching Studio C. I enjoy watching good, clean, comical fun on TV, especially with others who enjoy it as well.

Mon 11/26/12: David learned how to say "thank you" a few days ago, and today he learned how to say "yay" for the first time. I am grateful for the sweet little moments I get to share with my children as they grow. They change so much every day!

Tue 11/27/12: Today was an extremely busy day, but I did find some time to work on Scott's headcrab hat. It's going to look pretty awesome when it's done. Today I am grateful for skills, talents, and abilities. I like being creative and making things.

Wed 11/28/12: Today I am grateful to be Scott's stepmother. I finished Scott's crab hat today. It's such a weird looking hat, but Scott seemed to really like it. I was flattered that he put a photo of himself wearing it on Facebook.

Thu 11/29/12: I've been crocheting and getting done projects around the house. Today I got the house ready to put up Christmas decorations. I can't wait to see what the decorations look like in our new house! I am grateful that I have my own home to decorate this year. It's so awesome being a homeowner!

Fri 11/30/12: Marilyn and James came over to watch "Temple Grandin" with Brad and I, and brought dinner to share with us. I love my in-laws! I am grateful to be a part of the North family.

I Am Thankful Artwork

We had our annual "I Am Thankful" Family Home Evening Activity on Monday.  Here's what we came up this year: