Two little tykes goofing around!! These are the moments that I am sure the children will have more memories of than the parents will- so, I wanted to capture them and blog some 

Lady the dog was really wanting some attention from her master- it was a two paw beg 

You could barely open your presents this year before......

before.... Caleb would come clean up!!!! It was so funny to watch him ! 

More Christmas collections: Shawn is suspicious, Mariah made everyone a scarf, Katie's favorite puppy was replaced, Mariah has a scrapbook kit and volleyballs, Shawn finally has basketball shoes- just in time, and more books for everyone to dive into! 

Some of our Christmas pictures- got the idea to make collections of pictures from Sarah's blog- it makes it really nice to add several pictures at once.
Katie loves ponies, Caleb loves football, Josh loves building, Mariah gets to experiment with makeup?!, and Shawn is just delighted with Christmas!!!! 

We LOVE our Christmas books~~~~

More gifts from family :-) Boy, our children are spoiled!~~ 

We tried to do a really cute hairdo for Katie for Christmas pictures... she hated it at first and went running everywhere trying to get away from the camera- even ran to Dad! Finally, she decided the hairdo wasn't so bad and even gave Caleb a hug!!!

Merry Christmas!!

12-27-05 Okay- I didn't get our Christmas pictures up yet... hopefully very soon. We ended up having the WHOLE family sick on Christmas up until today- how did we do that? It was a virus of some sort- body aches, don't feel good- ness, head congestion like you wouldn't believe, fever,.. we all just felt very yuck. Katie felt the best of the lot- which wasn't exactly helpful, actually... a three year old on the loose with the rest of the family down is kindof hard! I truly can't figure out how we all got it at once- that's never happened. Blessing? It could have been a two week one at a time kindof deal. I guess we are glad to not be missing school and work though! And, we truly are all doing sooooo much better this evening. I think tomorrow will feel like a new day! (Okay, blonde moment- I know- it will be a new day- but, you all know what I meant by that! Yeah, I caught you guys snickering...sigh.) Pictures coming soon....... thanks for your patience!

Daddy took "the children" (Katie and I stayed home) to go see the movie The Chronicles of Narnia. Josh has read the book (The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis- I love his writings) and it was one my favorite series of books while I was growing up- and even currently too! Shawn and I watched it on a date we had with another couple and I knew that Katie would not enjoy it (she is so very sensitive- yeah!) but, I really wanted "the children" to see it (yah- the hardened ones.... just kidding- it is just what it sounded like for a second there- it is a very good movie- it is just that Katie truly is sooooooooooo sensitive!). What does that have to do with flowers... okay... anyway, when they arrived home, the children had bought me flowers- 3 sets of different roses. They are soooooo beautiful- the picture doesn't do them justice. Aren't my children wonderful?! (And of course, my honey who financed them!!!!!) I love our family! I love my roses! I am not yet sure where to put them- but, I'll manage.
{Little Shawn is going to want a disclaimer here- he also wanted to buy me flowers- but he was off helping James- someone else they took to the movies with them- to pick out a new collar for his puppy... he just completely missed this part- thus, 4 children being gone and 3 bunches of flowers- little Shawn is truly so very thoughtful every day!!}

Here is our kids bathroom (and piano- needed a 4th picture- this shows the nice pink roses!) My friend Jill did the painting~ I LOVE it- it is so fun- we have a small fish tank in there (when the fish have not died), fish decals in the shower, pictures of our beach moments and sand castle building- it is one of my favorite rooms- yeah, I know it is a bathroom- but,whatever! I'll have to get her to do another room- so that my favorite isn't a bathroom!!!!!!! 

I know most of you are probably done with the animal pictures- but I think they are cute and I just know that Niffer loves to see them too. So, these are for me and Niffer. I like these because of how well all our critters get along. It is a picture of peace to me. I love seeing my big love of a dog be so gentle with the kittens. She puts her paw around them outside, they use her for a stretching post, they chase her tail, they cuddle up next to her when napping- it just creates an atmostphere of the lamb and lion peace picture in my heart. (Lady- the dog- is sleeping on her blanket- I made her a blanket that she knows is her spot- she sleeps on it and gets her hair on that instead of the carpet! We can also send her to it and have her stay- she is a good puppy- she is one yr. old now- she looks like a big puppy!!)

We invited over Reva Walker to join us for a dinner/family home evening. She brought her accordian and played Christmas songs for us at the end. The children were captivated by that! They each got a turn to play it- it was a lot of hard work!! Reva is a long time resident of Arco and is currently writing a history of the area. She plays the organ in the temple every week and was Shawn's 5th grade teacher at Arco Elementary... BIG Shawn's 5th grade teacher that is.... wow- didn't think about having to clarify that! Her sister can play the piano like nobody I have ever seen. One time she played for a fun program at the church. She said- hold on a minute- I have to get my music ready- she then proceeded to put sticky notes of the names of the songs on the piano- and off she went- playing up a storm- just amazing to listen to. Reva is currently teaching me a new way to learn piano- by chords and is going to train Mariah and I on the organ!

Here are some Santa pictures! I got Santa to let me get one last picture of teenager Shawn sitting on Santa's lap!! Mariah and Josh opted for the standing pictures. Caleb was all for it. Katie looks great in the picture- did wonderful- until she came back down to dad's lap and opened up her bag- then she started just bawling her little eyes out. We couldn't get her settled down for quite awhile. Nobody knew what was wrong.... finally, she managed to blubber "I asked Santa for some makeup".... she had asked him for makeup and just knew she would open that bag and find it- instead she found an orange, lots of great candy, a juice box, etc.... it is the picture I wish I had taken and didn't get- she had the biggest tears. At first I didn't take a picture because I was worried that she had gotten hurt somehow... then when she told us the problem... well, mom had to go get the giggles out for a little while... and then explain to all the worried souls around us why she was so upset. I hope lip gloss counts as makeup- I truly don't want a repeat on Christmas morning!! (what does a little 3 yr old want with makeup???)

Mariah, Josh, and Katie- my cloggers! These are some pictures I got at one of their Christmas performances. Mariah's team moves around so much it was hard to get a shot that isn't blurry! Josh's picture isn't the best either- sorry. I know G-ma Patty is going to love seeing Katie's costume- she looks like one of your square dancers!!! I video tape some of their dances- but I rarely get pictures... I will try to get better ones in the Spring dancing season!!

Katie and I have 2 new friends- Elaine and LaRee. They live on their own and family lives close by and helps them with anything they might need- for instance, they just did their clothes shopping trip with a sister before this picture- LaRee is wearing a brand new sweater that is sooooo soft- she absolutely loves it- and so do I. In Aug, after school started we had them over for lunch and to look at LaRee's yearbooks (she loves yearbooks/pictures). Ever since then we have them over every couple of weeks for lunch and to do something. This day we had decided to make sugar cookies, use cut outs, decorate them, and go caroling to their family members in Arco. We had so much fun- as you can see from Katie's expression! It was my favorite activity we have done so far. (For halloween we tried to make a spooky village out of lunch sacks, cardboard, tissue ghosts, etc.... we couldn't get the tree branch in the middle to stay up so that the ghosts could be flying in it- we tried everything- ugh) The time before this picture we made Christmas ornaments/ napkin holders that I had made when I was a youngster at home. (the stick horse candy cane felt thing and the santa face napkin holder- for my family that can remember!) Anyway, they have become a wonderful part of mine and Katie's life while "the children", as Katie calls her siblings, are at school. We love Elaine and LaRee.

I know- I post the wierdest things- cats, trees, cats in trees, chickens, eggs, mummies, walls..... but, the children took this picture-I don't know why- but it shows the new color of our bedroom wall. It gave me an idea. I think I will take pictures of some of the rooms of our home and give you all a tour- that way, when you come to visit- you will feel right at home. Dumb or fun idea? I could actually post new pictures every few months and the rooms would be different- I change things around so much.... Becky is laughing right now- she has been here more than any of you- and things have been different each and every time. Well, I will think about it.

Cuteness. Just plain cuteness! I also have to admit something. My present last Christmas was a king size down comforter. But, it is too warm for Shawn when it is on the bed... so in all honesty, it has become my blankie. I actually drag that huge lump of a comforter all around the house to cuddle up in. I really don't think you need a picture of me- Katie is soooooo much cute-er!! But, it is fun to have a picture of 1/8 th of my very huge blankie for the scrapbook!

Okay- so I am sitting here browsing through the pictures that were downloaded onto the computer and posting here and there.... and I just came across these pictures- never seen them before- was never notified of any mummy wrapping going on in our home... and by the date of the pictures- Dad and Mom were gone to Idaho Falls that day.... when the children wake up, we will have to show them these and ask some questions! At least I know who was involved- Josh, Shawn, and definately Caleb!!! Well, and putting some more thought into it- Mariah would be the one with the camera probably :-) You know, I shouldn't be posting this- but, it is kindof a funny thing to think that your children are recording on camera their whatever you would call this?!

These two little imps are so funny. I found them in a Christmas basket next to my sewing machine- I can't believe they both fit in the basket! Toby with his fluff is obviously taking up all the bottom of the basket... they actually are found there quite often these days- we didn't realize this wasn't a one time picture!

I know, I know... little Shawn will not appreciate this picture being posted- but, he loves his new computer game so much- and he has been so limited on the amount of time he can play (because of homework, chores, activities)... it is dark outside, he is wrapped in a quilt... but it's a Friday night and he is going to play his game!! He loves it!!

Josh and Caleb sang at the "Festival of Trees" in Arco! They both did such a great job- I loved their fun songs :-)