On the 1st Day of Sickness, my 3 Girls Gave to Me...

A temperature of 103...

On the 12th day of sickness, my 3 girls gave to me...

12 sniffling sneezes

11 loads of laundry

10 fits of crying

9 glands a swelling

8 coughs a hacking

7 sounds of gagging

6 showers running

5 body aches

4 calling "Mom!"s

3 pink eyes

2 stomach aches

and a temperature of 103!

Good thing that on the 12 days of Sickness, my True Love Sent to Me...

Twelve lotion Kleenex
Eleven “I’m so sorry”s
Ten Ibuprofen
Nine dinners ready
Eight vapor rubbings
Seven Saltine crackers
Six silent seconds
Five Tylenol
Four Thermometers
Three Freeze Pops
Two chocolate Doves
And a trip to the pharmacy

The few weeks leading up to Christmas, I felt like things were super hectic, my girls were growing up way too fast, and there just wasn't enough time to spend together. Well, that sure hasn't been the case this week! Time has pretty much come to a screeching halt, and we've had a heck of a lot of "quality" time together. So, be careful what you wish for!

Luckily, we weren't hit with everything until the day after Christmas, and the girls were happy to have new presents to help keep them occupied. I knew they were really sick when they didn't care what color cups or straws they got, and forgot about all remaining Christmas treats.

Macy was cute about making a post-it note that said, "Mom's resting" for my door to remind herself to stop coming in. She also made me a laptop out of paper, complete with places to enter my website, username and password. "It'll show up as stars." She also made an "I love you" paper attached to a rubberband, so I could put it around my finger and remember her in my heart.

Today, we enjoyed watching the falling snow and The Polar Bear Express, as Macy calls it, while eating freeze pops. I'm so grateful that Carly's fever of 105+ (with Tylenol and Ibuprofen) has come down. A good reminder of the power of prayer. I'm also grateful for thoughtful friends and family. After these few days of sickness and a niece with appendicitis on Christmas Eve, we are reminded of what really matters.

We wish you a happy and healthy New Year's to you and yours!

On the first day of Christmas Break, my 2 girls gave to me...

One Magic Moment on the striped couch you can see.

I woke to find them like this lovingly looking at a new book of Christmas carols and beautiful artwork of the Savior's birth, hearing them saying things to each other like, "Oh, isn't this one so sweet?" and "This is my favorite one. If we could have a painting as big as our front window, I'd choose this one...No, this one...Oh, I can't decide!"

Tooth Fairy Meets Mr. C

Carly on Christmas Eve: Maybe they will see each other and give each other a high five!

Carly on Christmas morning: Look, I got a whole dollar. It must be a Christmas bonus!

Holiday Baking (Sweet Memories Part 2)

When I was a kid, we used to have a marathon baking day. I don't know how many thousands of snowball cookies I rolled in powdered sugar over the years, but I still remember the time I snuck a heaping tablespoon of cocoa while sitting under the table, only to discover that it wasn't what I thought it would be.

This is one of those things that makes Christmas feel like Christmas to me, so I'm glad Myles and the girls all have fun doing it with me.

This year, we tried something new and made mini Oreos using a frosting bag to squirt out the dough and then filled them with cream cheese frosting. We decided we liked them blonde the best. We did our usual pretzel dipping and homemade caramels. We also tried melting rolos between pretzels, along with mini Reeses and Kisses.

Sweet Memories

One of my earliest memories is going as a family to the Dunkin Donuts as a special treat once in a while on a Saturday morning. A free coupon in the mail lured me into Krispy Kreme for a fun Mommy Daughter Date with Macy, and Gram sent this cute apron for Carly just in time for all our holiday baking.

Father Christmas

When I told Macy we were going to meet Father Christmas, she was so excited about it all day. She set aside 2 sticks of gum to bring for him.

Instead of asking the kids what they wanted for Christmas, he spent time talking with them about what they could do/give for other people. I think this, along with Myles' lesson to Carly's class at church, inspired her to wrap up a card and coupon book for each of us, all on her own. It was very thoughtful. (Our fav. part of Father Christmas' outfit was his boots).

Robyn's Choir Concert

This is the first year Robyn has gotten to be in a school choir. She had this fun Christmas concert the night after going skiing for the first time on a school field trip, so it was a BIG day for her.

Macy's Christmas Dances Slideshow

Macy seemed to have the most fun with The 12 Days of Christmas. She made a fun elf, as well as a beautiful angel.

Carly's Christmas Dance Slideshow

Carly took this very seriously, but also had a lot of fun with it. She performed "A Russian Dance" to part of the Nutcracker, using a hula hoop. It was very fast music, which was challenging. She was so delighted that her teacher at school told the story of the Nutcracker and played "her music."

She also performed Frosty the Snowman and The 12 Days of Christmas with her class. My favorite part was of her every time it said, "My true love gave to me."

A Good Boy

The day before our anniversary, I was singing along to Christmas songs on the radio when our four year old asked, "Mom, why would you want to dream by the fire?" I explained how maybe when she was older that would be fun to do with her boyfriend. We then got into a discussion about what makes a good boy. According to Miss Macy, "A good boy is a no smoker who does your jobs for you when you're sick." She'd obviously noticed Myles picking up a little extra slack that week when I was under the weather.

I was glad to feel well enough to visit The Mount Timpanogos Temple, the same place where we were married 11 years ago, on a Saturday before Christmas, just like this year. We were extra blessed to unexpectedly meet up with the very man who married us and who we haven't seen since.

My "good boy" helps me have patience when I am all out. He's someone who happily goes Christmas caroling with me (multiple times) and then cleans the dog poop off my boots when we get home without thinking twice. He's a man of faith who doesn't let the world get in his way. He's my best friend. I'm grateful for this year we've been blessed with and look forward to the next one ahead.

Carly's B-day Week

Crepes for breakfast, thoughtful gifts, a cousins' party, dance practice with Miss Amber...

What could be better?

We knew we were having another girl. We knew we wanted to name her Carly. I got teary eyed after she was born and the nurse brought her into me with a cute, little Christmas bow in her hair. It wasn't until then that we decided on her middle name, Noel. Look at her now, still as beautiful as ever. It's hard to believe at one time she fit into a stocking and in the middle of a wreath!

This year, she did her first dance solo on stage, and has taken off with reading. She is a very determined, talented child who knows what she wants and is aware of what other people might want, too.

We love you, Carly!

Student of the Month

"Carly is a capable, independent worker. She pays attention to directions, finishes all her work and is a natural leader. She achieves high math scores and shares her mathematical thinking."

Thanksgiving Festivities

Curly Q

(While looking in the mirror) Macy: Mom, look at how sweet I look.

It was her idea to get out the sponge curlers. It reminded me of when I was a kid and my mom would put the same pink curlers in my hair.

The Queen of England

Macy saw a picture of the Queen of England wearing a hat like this and said she wanted one. While I was at my cousin's baby shower, Myles whipped this up for her. She was pretty pleased with it.

Macy's Creations

Macy has been so busy lately making everyone lots of pictures that we decided to take pictures of some of them before recycling them. All of her portraits of us, even Carly's, had glasses. When asked about this, Macy said, "This is you grown up, and you will have glasses then!"
One of my favorites was her title for Myles' picture: DadE.

If You Give a PIg a Party...

I got to read to Macy's preschool class, and this was one of the books she chose. We had fun dressing up the pig to go along with the book. FYI, Kohl's has other book/stuffed animal combos. Thanks, Gram.

Simply Good

My kids ask for this "yummy" salad they love and can make. It's just spinach with mandarin oranges, craisins, and candied walnuts (we make a batch of these and freeze them so we can pull out a few when we need them) and poppy-seed dressing.

A couple more from Myles

Christie saw some floss on the floor of the living room and asked why it was there. Carly said, "Grammy was here last night and made cinnamon rolls." (She happens to be in Panama).

Today at lunch I was staring off into space while the girls were animatedly talking about something that didn't meet Christie's definition of "polite conversation." Christie said, "What would you like to talk about, Myles?" It was really windy, so I said, "I'd like to talk about why the wind is so powerful but air is so light." The girls started talking about something else, and Christie tried to include me again. I said no one wanted to talk about what I was interested in right then. Carly said, "When I'm a man, I'll be interested in talking to you about that." After a second (and my laughter) Robyn said, "That means never." Then Macy said, "Unless you're lucky and get a wishbone and make that wish."

I am Grateful for my Kids and the funny/thoughtful things they say

Savorings from Sept.-Nov.

Macy: What if you only had 2 hairs on your head?
(I'm thinking: I'd be bald!)
Macy: You'd be grateful. You'd be really, really grateful for those 2.

Carly (while on a family hike): Woah! Is that a hotel?
Me: No, it's a house.
Carly: They're SO rich. They even have TWO dogs...that would be a fun place to play hide and go seek, but it would be retiring (tiring).

Macy: Mom, I'm glad you're in my family.

Macy: You're an awesome woman, Mom.

Macy: Sometimes, your tongue wants more and more, but you got to listen to your tummy because he says, 'I'm full.'

Macy (Singing to the tune of How Much Is That Doggy in the Window?): How much is that four year old in the window? The one with the smiley face?

Macy (while on the toilet): Mom, will you please get me book...a long book...not like a short one...please.

Macy: Mom, scale yourself!

Carly on Obama's speech she heard @ school: He said that the most important thing to remember is that it doesn't matter how well you're doing compared to others, just if you're working your hardest, If this is the only thing you remember, it is this. Everybody looks different and that's who they are. Don't feel threatened if someone's better than you. Just do YOUR best.

Carly: A boy in my class said he can get his own motorcycle when he's 18. Another boy said when he's 18, he can swear. He was the one unraveling his sock all day.

Macy (after going to the little petting zoo @ the school carnival): Now I know how to hold a kitten properly.

Macy: I'll love you still when I'm 14...EVEN when I'm 21!

Macy: I love you to the tippy top of the mountain...and back...a hundred million times!

Carly: What does Santa do when he's out delivering presents and he has to go to the bathroom?

Macy: flippers (flip flops), flaucet (faucet), blister (blizzard), accept (except), Fake Newtons (Fig Newtons)

Macy (after reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar): So, first there's this egg and then a caterpillar that eats lots and lots. Then he gets into a raccoon, and then he's a big, beautiful butterfly!

Robyn's phrase of the month: I mean, lit-er-a-lly.

Robyn: Video killed the radio star.
Carly: Internet killed the video star.

Me: Is your friend allergic to anything, do you know?
Macy: Yeah. Germs.

Macy: I'm glad you don't work like his mom because it would be like you were dead except that you could come home at night time. That would be sad, really, really sad.

Carly: I know what my teacher's gonna be for Halloween!
Me: Oh, really? Did she tell you?
Carly: No, she didn't tell me, but I've made a projection, and I know it's gonna come true. She's probably gonna be a witch because lots of girl teachers are witches.

Macy: That lady is SO old! But, she used to be 4 just like me someday.

Carly's analogy after hearing Myles explain that he almost got Linux to boot at work, saw the cursor, and that was it: So, it's like if it were dark, and then a light flipped on, but then went out again.

Macy after my cousin's reception: When I get wedded, can I sing with my Daddy and dance with him like that?

Me: What did you like best about the wedding?
Robyn: The music.
Carly: Seeing everyone.
Macy: Everything!

Macy: I love you, Mom. I love you now and forever. I love you so much. I love you so much I could cry because sometimes when you're so happy then you cry.

Carly: If you had to choose, would you rather be a jock or a bookworm?

Macy: One of my old teachers came to visit today.
Me: Really? Which one?
Macy: Ummm...I can't remember her name.
Myles: It was the redhead.
Macy: She didn't have a red head...but she did have red hair.

Macy on Trick-or-Treating: I wish the rain had ceased!

Myles: Do you want some Halloween candy?
Me: No, I already brushed my teeth.
Robyn: You are an unpredictable woman!

Macy: You're never all alone. You always have something with you where ever you go.
Me: Really? What?
Macy: Your body. It always goes with you where ever you go. Isn't that nice?

Myles while Macy's sliding down the handrail at the park: I'm not sure if that's safe.
Macy: But it's more fun than being safe.

Robyn: I know something poisonous I've eaten.
Me: Really? What?
Robyn: Rhubarb leaves.
Carly: Yeah, we know they're poisonous because Mr. Wonka has tested them out on the Oompa Loompas.

Macy singing away: Just a spoon full of alcohol makes the medicine go down...!

Macy: What if we had 100 babies?
Carly: Then we'd each have 20 to take care of.
Me: How did you know that without even thinking about it?
Carly: I did think about it. There's 10 tens in 100, so we each need 2 tens, which is 20.

Macy: I feel kinda love in my heart.

Macy made a little book for me and Myles titled: This is a Special Book. On the back, she drew 2 pics. of herself. Under one, she wrote: R-tist, and under the other: athr.

Macy in her prayer: Please bless us to be happy and not get the stomach flu...or die-ah-ree-ah...or anything sickness!

Me: I'm learning each day to be caring and kind. I think of good deeds in my heart and my...
Macy: Spine!
("mind" from "I'm Learning the Ways of Jesus")

Macy: When I grow up and move out, I'm going to take a picture of me AND print it out so you can remember me.

Robyn: What's a minor?
Me: A child under 18, like you.
Robyn: I'm not a minor! I'm a maximum!

Robyn, referring to her sweater: I've worn this guy for two days. I better put him in the wash.

Macy: My eyes are glued to the pretty mountains, especially because there's still red from the leaves on the bottom and snow on the top.

Macy (in my bed early in the AM): One, two, three, four, I declare a...a...tickle bug!

Macy: My cow is allergic to grass. He can only eat bacon.

Me: What did you talk about in your class at church today?
Carly: Exclamations...I mean apostrophes...No, I mean The Apostasy!

Macy: You wanna piece of meat?! (Meaning, You wanna piece of me?)

Macy: I love you as much as the universe, and apricot jam is in that.

Macy: I love you as much as the stars.  And that's a lot because I love the stars as much as 100 gallons of milk, so I love you more.

I Spy with my Little Eye...

something that starts with the letter "P."

Just in Case

This girl tells me that she loves me at least 1,000 times a day. She tries to tell me she loves me more than I could ever love her in a bushel and a peck. I tell her I don't think that's possible.

So, I thought I'd post this just in case someday she starts forgetting how much we love each other!

Peter and the Wolf

Carly got to be the duck this year and had a really fun time with her part. Miss Amber was amazing, as always, doing the adorable costumes and face painting, backdrops, and choreography while still "keeping it magical" for the kids.

I love her smile and eyes in this one. I enjoyed watching her interact so comfortably with the "grandmas" and "grandpas" before her performance at the rest home.

I heard her telling someone that the hardest part was remembering to smile all the time. "But, would YOU be smiling if a wolf was going to eat YOU?" she asked. She thought it was super fun to be eaten and then spit out by her friend, Syd, the wolf.

Macy was in 7th Heaven to get to be the grandfather and act out the show like the "big girls" during her regular dance class. She talked about it nonstop for a week.

Peter and the Wolf Slideshow

Creative Costume

I have to say this is one of the most creative costumes I saw at Robyn's school. I thought it would've gone well with one of the Queen of Hearts!

I asked him if it was getting uncomfortable, but I didn't realize he even thought of putting a boppy pillow between him and the cardboard for comfort and support.

Halloween Slideshow

Rainbow Brite

Robyn was excited to get to wear this cool retro costume that her aunt wore when she was a girl. I had fun seeing her school parade and helping with her class party. The moms had fun activities planned including a skeleton scavenger hunt, making GAK, folding cardstock into a coffin and using a mini Twix bar wrapped in gauze for the mummy.

As soon as she got home from trick or treating, she had to take inventory. The girls have been really nice about sharing with each other and their parents :)

Give me a "W!"

Carly decided early on that she wanted to be a cheerleader this year. It was nice and easy.

We went with some cousins to sing at the rest home.

Carly was excited to be invited by one of her new friends at school to a girls only Halloween party where they did some really cool crafts.

Tigger Here

When Robyn was just a baby, long before this little tiger was even born, one of my neighbors came pounding on my door to tell me about the after-Halloween-blowout sale at the Disney Store. I do admit I went a little crazy, but the deals were SO good, I couldn't resist. I re-assured Myles that Robyn and any future children we had would get lots of use out of all of them, which they have. I just can't believe it's been 9 years, and this is the last year of using the last costume!

Macy was really excited to see Pooh Bear at the school parade and wanted a pic.

She was lucky enough to get to join me to help out with Robyn and Carly's class Halloween parties where she got to decorate cookies and make this GAK.

For trick or treating, Myles helped her dream of being a purple robot become a reality. Unfortunately, I didn't get a happy, non-blurry robot picture, but how happy would you be if a wolf was helping you and you couldn't bend your arm?

I felt sad that the girls were taking forever to eat dinner instead of getting ready to go Trick or Treating, but it worked out for the best when they were ready right after the worst down pour.