A Quick Update

We've been a little busy down here with the hustle and bustle of Christmas and having family in town to celebrate with. I have yet to upload our real Christmas pictures to my computer, so for now I thought I'd share a few of the others things we've been enjoying:

Smooching under the mistletoe...

Mountains of junkfood....

Replacing every old light fixture in the house.....it's nice to have a father in town who is a great handyman....


Enjoying the presents Santa brought this year (like my new bedding.....LOVE IT!)....




Hope your Christmas has been Merry and Bright!




More Christmas from our house to come soon......

The Truth About Christmas

Skyler has been asking a lot of questions about Santa this year.

Tonight he laid it on thick.

"Mom, tell me the truth. Don't lie to me. The presents that we get from Santa, are they really from Santa, or are they from you?"

I should have seen this one coming. I think he's been testing me for the last month in fact....starting with telling me that he was going to ask Santa for a violin for Christmas. I've desperately been trying to talk him into asking for a guitar instead. (Much less expensive than a violin!) I think he's on to me....

Anyway, he asked his question while I was reading to he and Kayla, so I calmly answered,

"Skyler, I'm going to tell you the same thing my mother said to me when I was a little girl and asked that same question." There was a silent pause and then I continued, "What do you believe?"

He answered....

"I believe that Santa was once a regular person who was kidnapped by bad people and forced to become famous and move to the North Pole. Then, they make all the moms and dads wrap up presents for the children and write Santa's name on them. And Santa is forced to pretend to be Santa and be famous and has to live where it's super freezing cold and the moms and dads have to do everything for him."

I tried very hard to keep a straight face. "Skyler, where did you hear that?" I asked.

"Oh, I didn't hear it." He shrugged. "That's just what I believe the truth is."

"Well," I answered, then trying to change the subject said "Maybe it's true. Let's get back to our story."

The kids listened quietly to the story ("The Night Before Christmas" of all things), then a few minutes later, Skyler interupted again.

"Mom, how could Santa get all around the world to every house in one night?" and before I even could respond, he decidedly said, "well, not the whole world. He doesn't have to do China because I don't think they have Santa there."

This time I couldn't keep a straight face. "Skyler, why don't they have Santa in China?"

"You know, mom, " he said a little impatiently, "Because it's China! And mom......who eats the cookies we leave out for Santa?"

Now this question really made me nervous. Of course I am the one who eats the cookies each Christmas Eve, usually when I am wrapping whatever last minute presents I always seem to have left.

I just kind of shrugged my shoulders this time and answered, "Well Skyler, I don't know...must be Santa!"

"No," he replied matter-of-factly "It's David. He loves cookies. I bet he eats them all."

Phew! At least I'm off the hook for that one....and I don't mind letting David take the fall!

So, we finally got back to our story and were able to make it to the end without too many more interupting questions.

When I knelt with
the kids to pray, I looked at them both and decided to make one point clear.

"I want you guys to know something." I started. "What you believe about Santa, is your decision and I can tell you, that if you choose to believe in the magic, the magic will always be there."

Then I continued,

"But there is one thing that we believe about Christmas that I know for absolutely sure is real."

Before I could go on, they were both already jumping in.

Kayla's answer was something like, "I know! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost!"

Skyler's answer was a little more complex, "Jesus Christ is Heavenly Father's son and that's the whole reason we have Christmas!"

I can't tell you how that felt in that moment to know that each year my kids have listened as I've tried to explain to them that presents and Santa may be the funnest part of Christmas, but the real reason we celebrate is because of Jesus Christ and all he has done for us.

I hugged them close and later as I tucked them in, Skyer began to make inquiries again.

"Skyler," I sighed, "You can believe what you want to believe. Just don't go around saying that 'Santa isn't real' or you won't get any Santa presents....no matter where you think they come from."

He gave me that funny little smirk that told me he knew exactly what I meant.

I kissed him goodnight and told him as I walked out of his room, "the secret of Christmas is to believe in the magic. If you believe in the magic, you will always find it."

I hope he'll remember that for when he's a parent.

Because as a parent, I've learned that the magic of Christmas.....is watching it through my children's eyes.

Technology....Ugh!

Just so you know, my absence on here is not from a failure of motivation to blog. I have plenty of motivation.

It is also not entirely from lack of time, though that is always an issue....and I know I'm not the only one in that boat!

The real problem has been my possessed computer. At least that's what I've determined the root of the cause is. My computer has been possessed by some phantom computer genie that is seeking to completely frustrate my technological existence.

Let me explain....

My computer has been having problems for awhile. Several weeks ago, I admitted it into the computer hospital after realizing it had probably fallen sick to a virus. It had....a trojan and several other random viruses. And yes, I have anti-virus software which apparently didn't stop these.

One week and $200.00 later, I picked up my supposedly "healthy" computer. To aid it's normal function, my generous boss also had more ram installed and added an external hard drive to ease it's failing memory. That little set up cost nearly $300.00.

After another week of problems seemingly caused by a failing moniter, I purchased a new moniter as well as a wireless mouse and keyboard and was assured by the "know-it-alls" at the computer hospital that this should resolve any remaining issues. Another $200+ later...... I readmitted the computer that STILL would not function properly, convinced that they failed to remove all of the viruses.

Another week later and they returned my computer back to me claiming they could find nothing wrong with it and apparently I am imagining the fact that it keeps shutting down on me, that the screen goes into random wild fanatical displays of light and shade, and that on more days than not, the thing refuses to start up at all.

This morning I have decided that it is possessed. Since no one else has a logical solution, that is the conclusion that I have drawn.

What makes me mad is that over $700.00 has been spent on this said possessed computer when I could have purchased a brand new unpossessed one by now. Where's the computer whisperer when I need one?

The good news is, the new external hard drive now contains all the wonderful important things I need on it: pictures, the entirety of my work, etc, so at least all is not lost!

Thankful

This year has been a big year for me in so many ways. Even though I know we should count our blessings continuously, I love how Thanksgiving provides us the opportunity to reflect upon all that we have been given.

I have been so greatly blessed this year and my heart is bursting with gratitude yet each time I attempt to detail all I am thankful for, it just sounds so trite. Besides, I always write too much and then what I am really trying to say gets lost in the middle of all of the words.

I digress already.....

What I am most grateful for, are the people in my life. My family. My wonderful family that I am blessed with. The family I gained this year. The family I lost this year. The friends I have. The new friends I have gained this year. The old friends who have always been there for me (you know who you are :).

I am grateful for the learning experiences I've had this year. I've learned to appreciate where I live, the home I have, and the employment we are able to find here.

I've learned to appreciate the special times with family: birthdays, baptisms, weddings....and how deeply blessed I was to be a part of those moments with those I love.

I also experienced the bittersweet moments of the passing on of a loved one....and learned so much about life, eternity, and family in the process.

I am grateful for my prayers that have been answered. And I have learned to be grateful for the prayers that were not answered in the way that I wanted, but that were answered in the way that the Lord knew was best.

I am thankful to live. I am thankful to be able to learn and to grow. I am thankful for shopping trips with a screaming two-year-old. I am even more thankful for shopping trips sans said screaming tw0-year-old. And I am thankful for the increase of patience he is teaching me!

Most of all, I am just thankful. So very blessed, and so very thankful.

I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving tommorrow! I will be watching the parade, setting up my tree, gorging myself on delicious food, enjoying the company of family, and marking up sale ads like all of the rest of the Black Friday crazies! Cheers!

The Bunny Killer

When I was a senior in high school, I left my house in the pitch black before 6 am every morning, and traveled to a town 20 miles away to attend Early Morning Seminary.

One fateful morning started out like any ordinary day. I pulled out of my driveway and onto the road that would eventually become the highway leading me out of town.

As I left the edge of town and accelerated to the highest speed I felt I could get away with, a slight movement off the road caught my eye. I let off the gas and peered into the dark to see a little bunny that ran into the road in front of me, got scared by my headlights, and started to dart back away from my oncoming car.

Though I had hit my brakes by this point, it was evident that the bunny was moving safely to the side of the road and would soon disapear into the woods where it came from.

I assumed wrong.

Just as it was running full speed to the side of the road, suddenly it caught the sight of headlights coming from the opposite direction, stopped in it's tracks, then almost instantly did an about face and ran with all of it's might......

right into the path of my front tire.

I screamed.

I shivered as I felt the bump of the front tire, followed by the bump of the second tire.

And in a split second, both of our lives where changed forever. (Well, technically mine was changed and it's was ended.)

Then I started to cry. As I drove, I cried and cried and cried. Then I bawled. Then after 15 minutes of crying, I realized I was nearly there and needed to pull myself together.

I pulled slowly into the parking lot at church. I put my car in park and sat there for a few more minutes trying to let my eyes and face have a chance to dry.

Finally I felt composed enough to walk into class which I was sure was already well in session.

I walked in as inconspicuously as I could, but apparently my face gave it all away.

My teacher looked at me and with a very worried and concerned tone asked, "What is wrong?"

The faucets turned on again.

"I HIT a BUNNY" I cried. And then I cried and cried and cried again.

At first it was quiet and then the snickers started and soon all out laughter. I wasn't offended because I new how ridiculous I looked and sounded.

I relived the story and afterwards I seemed to be the only one who did not find any humor in the situation.

And from then on, I was dubbed, "The Bunny Killer" and the name has stuck. To this day, when I visit my home ward, there is always that one person (or two or three) who has the audacity to say hello to me -not by name- but as, Bunny Killer.

What's really annoying is when the younger kids who weren't even youth at the time know the story and taunt me mercilessly about it.

A week or two after that fateful incident, I walked out of Seminary to find a stuffed Easter rabbit tied to my bumper with a sign that said "Bunny Killer". Because I couldn't get the ropes loose, I had to drive to school with it stuck to my car and endure the interrogating questions that incurred there.

(I got back at the culprit of that cruel prank by inviting him to prom that year even though he was on crutches from having just had surgery on his leg. It gave me some feeling of restitution every time I insisted we dance!)

So, even years later I am still haunted by that incident.

I bring all of this up, because for the last two weeks, I had a sixteen year old girl from church staying with me while her parents were out of town. Before the sun came up each morning, I drove her the short distance across town so that she too could attend early morning seminary.

In the last few days that I drove her to seminary, I was rudely reminded of that painful part of my past by a bunny with a death wish. Not once, but twice the little devil darted out of a set of bushes and headed straight for my moving tires.

The first time, I slammed on my brakes until I came to a complete stop. "You might be late to seminary, because I'm not moving until this bunny runs back where it came from."

We sat for several minutes until it aimlessly hopped down the street.

Two mornings later, it darted for my car again. Suicidal obviously. I hit my brakes again and just sat there again.

I think it was mocking me. Maybe it was playing chicken. But, it finally gave up and moved on it's way, and I went on mine.

I think it got the last laugh though because I've had several nightmares about bunnies in the last few days......maybe it's the ghost of bunnies past................

It's Been One of "Those" Days...

And it's not over yet... *Sigh*

Now and Then

Kayla, Jackson, and Skyler 2009

2009

Skyler 2006 age 4

Skyler 2009 age 7

2006

Kayla 2006 age 2 1/2

2006

Kayla 2009 age 5 1/2

Jackson 2009 age 2 1/2

He wasn't the most cooperative while having his picture taken, but he was still very cute...

Does the shirt look familiar?

Jackson 2009 trying to be the cameraman

Pure delight!

The Fall

When I've walked out of my front door the last few days, I've been greeted by this glorious pecan tree behind our house. Yesterday it was absolutely brilliant in the sunlight and the leaves were beginning to drop gently to the ground. I kept thinking about this post on NieNie's blog.


So yesterday as Jackson was quietly napping in his room, I decided to take a break from all that I "NEEDED" to do (you know, the never ending list), and actually live in the moment. I don't do this enough and I feel like I let too much of life pass me by.

It was magical! I sat there on my little bench, surrounded by my delightful little pumpkins and listened to the rustle of the wind in the tree. Then I watched as the leaves escaped their perches on the limbs and swirl around every which way until they softly swept to the ground.

I felt a little rediculous taking self portraits, but I wanted to get the leaves in the background just to remind myself that fall really does come here, you just have to wait for it. And you have to learn to appreciate the 80 degree weather that coincides with it. I have learned to appreciate it.

I think of Martina McBride's song "Blessed"....and how grateful I am for a few quiet moments out of the day to remember what wonderful things surround me.

Then I went back in and cleaned my house, took care of my children, fixed my family supper, and did not have another moment's peace to myself for the rest of the day.

And that's exactly how it should be.

Halloween (In a Nutty Shell)

Halloween came quickly this year! At least that's how it felt. But, we did manage to cover all of the basics:

Carving pumpkins grown in our very own pumpkin patch...

According to a seven-year-old boy, the best way to carve a pumpkin is with a belt and sword.


And who really likes the sticky slimy pumpkin innerds? Not these guys!

The carved and finished product. Mom's pumpkin is the one eyed creature. Call it laziness or the fact that I had to carve the other three also. You pick...

And no Halloween is complete without the annual Trunk-or-Treat.

This year we had a "Thomas"...

...and also a Hannah Montana and a "I Have No Idea".

Honestly, Skyler never came up with a name for his costume so this was the answer he gave everyone who inquired about what he was.

He was very proud of it though, and I was proud of him for using his creativity on it without having to conform to a costume with a name.

A fairly convincing Hannah...




And Mr. "I Have No Idea!"

And the SCARIEST THING OF ALL.....

Happy Halloween!

What's wrong with this picture??

We took about 20 family pictures via timer method today.

The kids were told to smile each time the picture was about to take.

One certain 7-yr-old wasn't feeling it apparently.

All but two of the pictures turned out similar to this. (The other two I have proudly posted on my "family" blog.)

So, here ya go. One big happy family with one little grump.....

Enjoy!!

The Official Color of This Month

Can't hold my alcohol...

Last night was a rough night. Kayla's cough worsened dramatically and her fever spiked, sending us to the ER just before 10:00 pm.

Turned out to be bronchitis on top of the flu.

Two hours later, I took her back home and tucked her in bed, then ran back out to get her prescription filled.

I also stocked back up on Children's Motrin, Tylenol, and cough medicine because we have been going through those like water.

I also grabbed some much needed Theraflu, Flu and Sore Throat for myself. I felt like I was holding liquid gold in my hand because I so desperately needed relief from my own pain.

Now, usually I don't take any kind of medicine like that....I tend to sleep to deeply to function if needed in the middle of the night, and I feel so groggy in the morning that I wish I hadn't have done it.

But I was desperate, so after waking Kayla to give her antibiotics, I returned to the kitchen to my prized bottle of Theraflu and carefully read the directions.

Adult dose: 2 tsblsbskflkdadfd;akfldkj

2 teaspoons, right? I took one of the kiddie measuring cups, poured myself two teaspoons, and swigged it like a pro. Oh, how warm and soothing it was against my raw throat!

Immediately I went to bed and quickly fell into a deep, deep, Theraflu induced sleep. I did not wake up until morning when my alarm went off, signaling me to call the schools.

I groggily called to inform them that my children were sick again and would not be there again today.

Then realizing the children were still sound asleep in their beds, I crawled back into bed and quickly drifted back to sleep. Two hours later I awoke to their noises, still very groggy and unable to clear the fog in my head.

It took me another two hours to feel like I had finally shaken off the medicine. "Well", I mused, "At least I got some good rest. It was worth taking."

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful up until I happened to notice the size of the cap on the Theraflu. "That's a very large cap." I thought to myself. I held it up and realized there was writing on it with dosage lines....."1 TBLS" "2 TBLS".

At that moment I realized I hadn't even come close to taking the adult dose of that stuff.

What can I say? I'm a weakling!!

P.S. I took the above picture this afternoon as I was washing the dishes for the day. I always leave the medicine cups for last. Those are just from today's doses of medicine for the kids. Three sick kids + tylenol +motrin + antibiotics + course of the day = 12 little cups and one syringe.

Yeah, this is really fun stuff!

Advantage

There may be one advantage to being sick. Right now, my husband is in the kitchen washing the dishes....a rare event. Don't tell him I blogged about it or it may never happen again!!

~Katy

Balm of Gilead

Six and a half years ago, I moved from a place I truly loved. Shortly after that event, my life started to crumble around me and left me facing difficult decisions and searching for a way to pick up the pieces of my shattered life and move on.

Though I was able to find a way to happily move on with my life, there has been one wound that has been slow to heal. In the years since I moved away from Utah, a move that seemed to be the catalyst to much pain and heartache in my life, I had been unable to return to that land I loved.

Until a few weeks ago........

Due to the passing of my father-in-law, we had the opportunity to travel to Utah for his burial. David and I decided to continue up to the Provo/Salt Lake valley after the services, to spend a few days visiting old friends and places. Or in other words, to provide me with some much needed healing and resolution.

It was an indescribable feeling. On the day that we went up to Salt Lake, as we rounded the point of the mountain, I was overcome with emotion of seeing the Salt Lake valley again after so long. I turned to David in tears and told him how I felt like I was returning home. David tried to be very sweet and consoling which he deserves a lot of credit for.....afterall, what man wants to have to deal with a wife in tears any more than he has to?

I know that Utah is not meant to be home to me at this point in my life, but for a few days, my soul was fed with the soothing reassurance that my life is okay having left all of that behind. I have learned to grow where I'm planted and to appreciate all the blessings that surround me now, but I also so needed to bring closure to that part of my life.

And, in the short time that I was there I got to spend time with a few of my oldest and dearest friends. I was so thrilled to get to spend time with these ladies!! They have always been there for me through the good and bad and being together was just like old times!

Thank you Cami for allowing us to invade your home and leave a mess in our wake (you know what I'm referring to! )

I also had the sheer pleasure of being able to attend the Relief Society General Conference session with these gals and afterwards we enjoyed a delicious meal at one of my favorite Salt Lake City restuarants, Tucci's. We talked and laughed and just had a fabulous evening! I miss you girls!

I only regret not having enough time to visit everyone I would have loved to see, but I am resolved that it will not be another six and a half years before I make it back!

In the meantime, my soul has been fed and healed and coming back home (as I have learned to accept it as) was nearly as refreshing. Afterall, I have learned to grow where I've been planted.

~Katy

Self-imposed Blogging Rules

Rule # 1

Only blog when a). There are no dishes waiting in the sink and b.) There are no piles of laundry waiting to be folded and put away

Rule #2

Do not blog between the hours of 10:30 pm - 6:30 am

Rule #3

Blog Often

If this blog goes more than a week without an update, send a search party. I am probably buried under a pile of dishes and laundry.

~ Katy

Fresh Start

What is it about starting fresh that feels so good?

I love starting a new year with new resolutions even though I rarely stick with them for more than a few weeks.

I love moving into a new home...by new I don't mean as in "brand new" (have yet to experience that one!) but as in a new place. A new start. A chance to be a new person there that somehow I wasn't able to be in my previous dwelling. So maybe I don't magically morph into anyone different, but it still feels good.

I love discovering new things and learning new ways to make living life better. Somehow they do help me magically morph into a different person. At least a slightly improved person.

Most of all, I love the atonement. It allows all of us to become "new" over and over again. When our old character is marred and damaged by sin and wrongdoings, we have a way to make a new, fresh, start.

Tonight, I am relishing the joy of starting a new blog. Reminds me of my teenagers years and the excitement I felt at starting a new journal. *Laughs* Almost makes me want to go blow the dust off of my most "recent" journal and relish that pasttime. Almost, but not quite.

I've decided to start a new blog. Definitely not because I was so good at keeping up with my old one that I felt adequate to maintain two.

But, I've decided to pursue a new purpose and direction with my blogging and a fresh start seemed only appropriate for my venture. So dear readers, please excuse all of my old bad habits that I will most likely carry over despite my attempts to leave those behind. After all, I undoubtedly will not magically morph into a fabulous blogger. But hey, it's okay to settle for mediocre, no?

~ Katy