A SHIMMERY UPDATE

I know that you are all holding your breath at my decision. Although I have selfish tendencies (as portrayed in the previous post) - I could not very well not get the shimmer horse for McKenzie. It is hidden in my closet as we speak after last night's emergency run to ShopKo to get the sale price. However, Holly Hobbie is also on her way with an extra set of clothes and a Holly Hobbie christmas DVD to be strategically watched the night before. See how that works? Yes, my child is getting spoiled for Christmas. But, after a million times of telling McKenzie, "That looks fun.......maybe for your birthday or Christmas" all year long after each and every request......Christmas must be something worth waiting for. In fact, she really majorly wanted a princess book/CD set that we saw at Smiths last month. It was on sale for $3.50. Yes, cheaper than a happy meal, folks. She was so sweet about my "no" even through pleading eyes. I strategically snuck it into the cart under some books that were not to be purchased, while she wasn't looking. Then, while checking out, I sent her to look at the Halloween items close by, but far enough away so that she still couldn't see her dreams coming true as I bought it. That is quite the feat - hiding a purchase from a child who is shopping with you. Needless to say - that will also be wrapped under the tree in a couple of weeks. Christmas! Love it! Love the magic. Love the all-kids-sleep-in-the-same-room-the-night-before rule. Love the staying up late watching christmas movies and playing games. Love drinking hot cocoa, listening to music, and staying in P.J.s for an excessively long time. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Jason gets two weeks off for Christmas! Wonderful! This will be our first Christmas home and I can't wait to play it up real big for our kids. Christmas afternoon we'll go to Jason's parents home and be with family for a few days. Awesome! Can't wait. It'll be the best of both worlds.
Moral of the Story - It's going to be a Shimmery Christmas afterall.

Shimmer Horse

McKenzie wants this for Christmas

She tells me every day "Shimmer Horse Gift Set" as if in a transe (she repeated it over and over at the store and all the way home until it was permanently seared into her memory bank).

However, I would like to get her this

and this - with extra outfits to go with them.

Also, I don't want Christmas to become a put-your-order-in-and-that's-what-you-get so early in the game. Where's the fun and excitement in that? I'm not sure what to do. I'm also not sure why these are SO expensive (I mean, they are dolls - not real, live offspring). What I am sure of, however, is that I have way better taste in toys than McKenzie (sorry, my sweet pea - the truth is hard). O.k., the truth is hard. And the real truth is that I want to play with the dolls and their clothes. Jason, will you get me some Holly Hobbies for christmas?

So to all you moms about there - what do you do? Do you get your child the toy of their dreams no matter the cost for the cheapy looking thing - or do you figure out a way to get them what you want to get them?

Just Your Typical McKenzie Time

McKenzie decided to teach me ballet. She told me exactly how to place each limb of my body. Then, she suddenly threw a curve ball at me (as if talking me through a high extended leg lift on tippee toe wasn't enough - purposely not shown here). "O.k., now I'm going to go through the hole and if you fall over, I get a point, o.k.?"

o......k.......?





"O.k., now it's your turn".. No, she can't be serious. Nope - yep - she's serious.



What are we doing in the following picture? I don't know. Whatever McKenzie wants. That's the whole point of McKenzie Time, afterall. Sometimes kids need to feel like they get a say after all of the "eat this, line up the shoes, make your bed, empty the wastebaskets, no candy, watch cartoons, play with toys, get dressed"....all day (Yes, sometimes we do get dressed around here).


And so, you see, ballet skills that-are-sure-to-win-a-lead-role-in-The-Nutcracker-in-years-to-come are the kinds of things that my daughter learns at "preschool".

Coordination, creativity, and the love of a mama are just bonus.


Now what would possess a 29-year-old woman to spend her time doing silly things such as this? I do it in hopes that when McKenzie is a mother, the memory of her magical childhood will make her job as mom that much more enjoyable, and will in turn create a more magical childhood for her own children. That's the gift I strive to give her - the same gift my mom gave to me. And so the tradition continues. (It's like watching "The New Leave it to Beaver" done in the 80s where Wally, "The Beav", and the "Haskels" are all the adults now and have kids of their own http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFf-PuxvjkI Oh, I loved that show! Why don't they make 'em like that anymore?)

I'm so glad I got off on that tangent. Seriously. It was a good one.

Which reminds me...........My dearest Elisa Hassler, you need to view this link: http://www.tvland.com/video/index.jhtml?bcpid=174317557&bclid=202217716 (oh, and you have to scroll down to "Chain of Events") I can't BELIEVE you don't remember Eddie Haskell! That little trickster. This is why I sometimes lovingly call your girls "the Haskell girls". Because, well, when I am around them, I'll just be eating, minding my own business, casually glancing to the side (which I know I should NEVER do), when to my utter horror, something is inevitably and suddenly missing from my plate (sound of fork hitting empty stoneware). Those little Haskells! Bring them to me the beginning of December. I'll teach them a thing or two! And kiss their little cheeks.

End of tangent(s)
and end of post

Passion

I think we've found our new passion and purpose in life: we are gamers.

Game night number 2 Requirements: Bring a prop and a treat

Props included:
Amy - Jason's letterman's jacket (aaah)
Jason - an eagle scout sash
Cody - a monkey backpack
Bethany - wings
Jon - knit striped boots
Marci - a tie

This is way too much fun. I laughed a lot (sorry to any of you who got sprayed during an unexpected burst of laughter. sorry. Sorry, I said!)



And again, the kids were amazing. McKenzie and Ethan enjoyed it as much as we did. Asher was off and on - but pretty dang good for it being 2 hours after his bedtime by the time we were finished.

Priorities

Yesterday from approximately 9:34 to 10:42 a.m. our priorities did not include:

getting dressed


cleaning up


or personal hygiene - aka re-doing make-up or hair from the previous day (let alone applying much needed chapstick - bless my little heart).


Our priorities did involve:

turning off the t.v.


Accepting an invitation to a party


trying to get Ethan excited about said party even though it didn't involve raiding the bag of suckers.


and using McKenzie's home-made tickets to participate in party events which were, but not limited to:

pony rides


airplane rides (again, my utmost beauty on display. Is there anything to not be desired about those white feet?)


box car racing


coloring

and hiding

Now, I implore (with my imploring face) when McKenzie goes to school next year and we are forced to mingle more often with modern civilization, is it going to rock our world?

Game Night

Requirements: Bring a treat and wear a hat
Thank you Marci, Jon, Bethany, and Cody for coming! We had such a great time. We'll have to do it again sometime - like once a night (as they were about to leave, I meant to say we should have game nights once/week or once/month, but it came out as once/night. We decided that was a good starting point to decide whether we wanted to up it to twice/night).


Meanwhile, upstairs: Tinkerbell and toys. There were actually seven kids ages 5 months, 1, 1, 2, 2, 3 and 4, but of course they ventured downstairs here and there for some treats and some love. I was surprised at how well they did from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.! Seriously. We were able to get through a few games with very little interruption.

Serenity

Hot soothing jetted bubbles
Silent relaxation
Warm cocoa sliding inward
Peaceful meditation



What did you do during nap time today?

Boo!

It was so beautiful the morning after Halloween to watch this...


...s-l-o-w-l-y r-e-v-e-a-l this.





Angel of Death. When Jason brought this little number home last year before Halloween, my automatic reaction was to gather my children under my wings and protect them from the insanity. However, McKenzie just thought it was cool that daddy had wings like she did (she was tinkerbell last year). You'll be glad to know that to this day, there is no evidence that any of our children need counseling. Phew!

I adore this boy and his smile and his laugh and his sense of humor....yes, 1-year-olds can have a sense of humor - and his is particularly stinkin' cute!

McKenzie got pirate stickers at a party during the afternoon. She arranged them on a piece of paper to her liking and wrote a story about them, which she requested to be put here for everyone to see.

"Once upon a time there was a pirate and a ship, and they were trying to find treasure. And they found some treasure. And they looked in the treasure and there was gold. So they put the treasure in their ship and sailed away. And they lived happily ever after. The End."

Of course, we had to trick-or-treat at Casey and Sue's. We love them. And their hospitality. They fed me dinner. Yum. Thank you!

Grandma and Grandpa

I started out this post telling you the amazing things about each person I saw on my trip. Each one has qualities I adore and that I would love to fuse into my own soul. However, it started to be the longest post of all posts ever posted into the blogging world. I mean, we're talking about extended family here. I decided, for now, to tell you about these two:

My Grandma and Grandpa

When I arrived, my Mom and Aunt Maxine were at grandma and grandpa's house raking leaves. My grandparents came home after peeling potatoes at the cannery all morning, and grandma refused to trade me leave-raking jobs. She bent over and up with handfuls of leaves to stuff into the bag that I stood there and held.

On Tuesdays, my grandparents work in the temple from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. They have a garden and a dog to look after. My grandma quilts and makes cards. They went deep sea fishing last year with family.

My grandpa also went this year with a group of cousins. We took advantage of that opportunity to invite grandma to her cabin for a night. Besides their afternoon naps, which any teen-ager would need after all they accomplish, they are always busy. Grandma makes me laugh with her temple escalator stories and the way she tells it like it is sometimes. By the way, a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY to grandma yesterday! I love you so much! Would you ever in a million years guess that they are 79 and 80? I asked Grandma where she chanced upon the fountain of youth. I hope I inherited some of those genes.

Here are some pictures of our priceless night at the cabin with grandma:
She led the children on a hike through the forest

All of these fabulous kids slept in a big room together upstairs on rows of full-sized beds. Grandma slept downstairs on a hide-a-bed. She assured me that if any babies woke up crying in the night, we could bring them downstairs as to not wake the others. She said it wouldn't bother her a bit. And the thing is, I believed her.

Here she is loving our children

and teaching us how to quilt

After the kids were in bed, we spent the evening playing games and listening to stories of my grandma's life. We listened wide-eyed and with questions. It was a memory I will cherish. When grandpa returned after being away from Grandma for three days, Grandma said something like, that was the shortest three weeks of my life! :)

As I was about to pull out of their driveway to leave, Grandpa washed my window - because that's just who he is. He is the kindest, most Christ-like person I have ever met. I really think that he has obtained charity (something that I strive for, but that too often seems just out of reach). Being in his presence causes a person to feel loved. I can only remember one even remotely negative thing come out of his mouth during my whole life. But alas, it really couldn't be labeled as such because, well, you'll see..... So I was dating a guy who seemed very interested and whom I liked a ton. Suddenly, with no warning or explanation, this boy was cold and vanished. I was staying at my grandparents house for a week or two between semesters at school. We were eating breakfast and I was down in the dumps - heartbroken. My grandma lovingly asked about it. I told them it stinks. My grandpa said in the most kind way, "the only thing we want to see of that boy is his tail lights". I was honestly shocked for a moment. However, he said it in the most gentle way - a way that meant no disregard for the poor fella, only compassion and love for me. I wouldn't have thought that was possible. That's charity for you - when you have the ability to take sides, without really taking sides. I love love love this man!

There's so much I would love to tell you about these two - about their amazing marriage, grandma's many talents, how much I love listening to grandpa teach and give talks, their humor, grandma's childhood of experiencing the life of the rich and famous during parts of the year (with her father's family) and experiencing the life of a humble country-girl the other times of the year (with her mother's family), my grandfather's childhood of living in a small two-bedroom house as the youngest of nine children, the challenges they have conquered with grace. I could go on and on and on...........but then this would still be the longest post ever posted into the blogging world.

I always leave my grandparents' presence not only feeling that I want to be a better person, but feeling that I can.

Grandma and Grandpa, thank you for showing me how to live life. The way you live yours is a testimony to me of the blessings that come from living the gospel, the joy that comes from families, and the importance of a good old-fashioned sense of humor. I love you!

(Annika, I hope you don't mind that I stole pictures from your blog :) )

Spontaneity

...And so it happened on one ordinary fateful day: spontanious spontaneity occurred...

lotion stacking

bed spelunking

drum dancing

horse riding (employing the draw-string from my hoodie)

Secret's out. I'm most often a sweat-pants-wearing kind of mom. Gasp! What is Mary Kay going to say? Or the What Not to Wear crew? How could I "let myself go" like this?

risk taking

pillow climbing

portrait capturing

...And it bonded 4 souls for life.