We love this night!!!! This is one my most favorite things about being a Mommy. I love all the happenings b4 and after the children go to bed. I can never sleep on Christmas Eve. I just can't wait for tomorrow morning to see all their beautiful excited faces in anticipation of what could be awaiting them downstairs!
Happy birthday girly! We were sad that Dad couldn't be there. This is the day that it snowed a lot! The freeway was shut down as were all routes into the Antelope Valley. We felt so bad that he couldn't be there. Mike has never missed a birthday. We said a prayer for him asking Heavenly Father to please bring him home safe and soon. About 15 minutes later Mike called and said that he was able to get on a train (the train stop not station....had at least 300 people waiting and fighting to get on a train) and that he would be home soon. Our prayer was answered. That was such a crazy day. A huge thanks to Nancy and Joe. Joe was so sweet and offered to pick Mike up from the train station here in Palmdale so I wouldn't have to drive with the kids on unsafe roads. Thanks so much you guys, you were a life saver that night! We were so blessed.
Camryn wanted sushi for her birthday dinner (which didn't happen due to the whole town shutting down from the snow) and a delicious chocolate bundt cake, also at the store that we couldn't get to. Thank goodness I always have cake mixes on hand and was able to whip this one up. Notice that I only had one candle too. Poor girl. That was also on my list of things to get that day when the kids would have been in school!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foTuixJuNb0
I love this song. It is performed by an opera singer named Renee Flemming. (It's not so opera-ish after the first 45 seconds) The song is called "Simple Song" by Leonard Bernstein. ( I love Bernstein) The musical accompianment is beautiful and simple. They are at the Mainz Cathedral which is so beautiful. It was my favorite place in that village when my sister and I visited when we were teenagers. My brother and sis in law lived in Mainz while he was stationed in Germany.
This is funny! This morning, Gavin woke up early (like usual) turned on the computer and decided to play Club Penguin. I guess he had some questions or something and thought he'd call one of Jeffrey's friends at 7:00 in the morning. They picked up the phone and hung up right away. Was that too early or something????? Ya think? His friend called back around 10:30 when I guess they were all up and ready to talk on the phone. In G's head, if he's up then all of his friends must be up too!
Why? You ask. Because I was the only sister not there for him and am so far away from him and my family and he had to have open heart surgery today and have 5 yes 5 bypasses done! It was an all day event that looked like it all went well untill the late afternoon when his chest wouldn't stop bleeding. So, what did they do to help my Dad out? They cut him open again and found that he was bleeding so bad from one of the aerteries that couldn't coagulate. They sewed it up or something, I was still in shock with what my sister was telling me. They can't give him very much in the way of drugs because he had already had so much in his system prior to being cut open again and were afraid that he could slip away. Poor guy has been through so much. We all fasted on Sunday and prayed that he would pull through and the Doctors would be able to do their job and everything would turn out fantastic! I know I just run on and on........
Has this this ever happened to you? On Sunday evening I was in my bathroom and noticed that there was a brand new jar of Claussen pickles on the counter (strange I know.) I asked around and found out that Blake had taken them upstairs to Mike while he was getting ready for church ( I was already there) and asked if he could have some. Dad said "no we are leaving for church in a few minutes." And so there they sat all day! Today I called the Claussen company and asked if they were still good even though they had never been opened? (Gavin and Blake love these pickles, don't know what they would do with out them!) She told me that we should not eat them as they must stay refrigerated even though they hadn't been opened and also that they should never stay out of the fridge longer than an hour. Did you know that? Don't eat the pickles!
I don't have a picture with this post but wanted to share anyway! Tonight I got a phone call from a good friend (Kristi) who wanted to drop off some Christmas goodies and I was thinking.....not tonight, any night but tonight (I was already in my sweats and looking pretty frumpy) she shows up with this adorable bag of homemade treats (the coconut bars were my favorite) plus a beautiful candle with a shiny silver lid. Before she can even leave, Angela shows up with my kids absolute favorite thing....fresh chocolate chip cookies! Our family night treat was going to be sugar cookies that the kids get to decorate but, with all those treats we opted to do it another night! Thanks girls!!! We love you!
I know it is Southern California but holy cow it was freezing last night!!!! (And yes everyone has red eyes...where was the red eye reduction thingy?) Oh well, we are glad to have a fun family photo in this huge tree that grounds the lawn. It was so beautiful. The temple was so bright even in the dark of night. The kids loved rolling down the front lawn while all the adults chit chatted about babies and tons of other stuff to do with life!
I know it's not a traditional color, but I absolutely love it! I'm off to a birthday lunch with the girls.....I'll post when I get back!!
The new picture above ( at the top of the blog) is our Christmas card this year. I ordered 20 less than what I needed. So, I will try to get more tomorrow or the next day.....so if you didn't get one in the mail, here it is! Merry Christmas!
Here are the kids with their hot cocoa....Cami had to have the huge mug that is almost as big as her head! I got the basic decorations up and then let them load up the tree with tons more ornaments. They really enjoyed Family Home Evening aka family night!
This is no doubt our family's favorite Christmas movie. It is full of laughs and I almost cry because I laugh so hard!!! So, since tomorrow there is no school due to more teacher conferences I decided to let the kids stay up late and watch A Christmas Story. 
This is no doubt one of my favorite pieces of art. Mary and Jesus....it is so precious and so real. I have a large giclee` of this over my piano that Mike's Mom bought for me after I had Gavin. We shared a very special moment together when she took me to the gallery to surprise me. The name is called: Be it unto me by Liz Lemon Swindle. Do you think she really knew what she would give and sacrifice? I sometimes look at this and wonder.
Life is crazy but it wouldn't mean anything with out my family!
Ta da! I have opened my very own special to me online shop! I am so excited!!! Today I offically launch: Pemberley Court at http://www.pemberleycourt.etsy.com/ I have a few things listed with many many more treasures on their way! (I have been busy with a birthday party and Thanksgiving and traveling are right around the corner!) But, I don't think that'll stop me. Also I have given my new baby it's own blog: http://www.pemberleycourt.blogspot.com/. Come by and say hi!
on what I have been working on........just waiting to iron out a few more kinks and then I can tell you more!
Tonight I got to go spend a very fun eveining with some very fun girls! A movie and dinner. We started off at the theater where we watched Twilight which was excellent! Then off we went to have dinner at Claim Jumper. It was so nice to be able to get out and spend time with such good friends. 
Here are most of the kids minus a few who weren't able to make it yet....due to Cub Scouts but they arrived a bit later and we were so happy to see them! This is everyone after doing our first activity. They all had soooo much fun with this! Notice the big yellow prize box?
Is anyone still reading? I feel like it has been sooooo long since I have posted! I have been very busy working on "something" I will let you all know what it is very soon. Aren't you just dyin' to know what it could be?????? LOL
Thanks to all for your prayers and well wishes. It really meant a lot to me. Talked to my Dad today and he is home from the hospital and doing better. He took a nap outside in the sun and then walked down the end of the lane, let the horses out and I think he did too much!!! That is totally my Dad. If you are sitting you are idle.
Mike came home today and flipped on the T.V. and told me watch! My hometown of Yorba Linda is a blaze! I feel so terrible for all of those families. Such beautiful homes and nature are destroyed!!! I hope they can contain it soon. You can read about it here: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/corona-fire-off.html It is all over the news and I must admit it is a little hard for me to watch.
So, last night I got a phone call from my sister Dallas, she said "Are you sitting down?" I'm thinking that she is pregnant or won the lottery or something! That wasn't even close to what she was about to tell me." Dad had a heart attack this evening!" My hear sank, I wasn't sure what else was going to follow. She filled me in on what she knew which was: After going to the hospital he was quickly admitted and they performed surgery quickly there after (angioplasty?) they put 3 stints in his blocked artery and will need two more stints in the near future. It shocked us all because my parents eat so healthy! They have for many many many years. The Cardiologist said that 75% percent is hereditary and the rest diet. After the shock wore off, I felt a bit better about it today. It is hard living so far away from them and my other siblings especially when something like this happens. We are so grateful for the talented surgeon that worked on my Dad's heart. We said a special family prayer for him last night and asked God to please protect him and that everything would be OK. He answered our prayers and my Dad is doing better today and will stay in the hospital for a few more days. Thank you to Jeff, Linda and Dallas for keeping me posted on Dad. I love you guys and you too Mom!:)
while looking for some pictures of my Dad. I miss my little girl, she is all grown up now and almost 7!
We had an opportunity the other day to share our family's Christmas traditions in a video for our ward's(church) upcoming Christmas party. It kind of thrust me into that reality a little sooner than usual. It was so nice to have the whole family gathered around in the living room as Mike shared our top 3 favorites which are: Reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas followed by reading from St. Luke KJV Bible about the telling of the birth of the Savior of the World. We feel that this really helps us to remember the reason for this special day, that we are so blessed and that it's not all about what St. Nick might bring! Next came the tradition of baking all kinds of cookies and then the kids got to share about opening one gift on Christmas Eve which is always always always pajamas! Hey....I like to have great looking Christmas morning pictures!
I took this picture awhile ago and forgot all about it! I just love how G has his arm around C! They look so dang adorable and you can tell they really do like each other! These two used to do so much together when C was little. G would do just about anything for his sis. Including dress up. Shhhh don't tell! Here he is helping here with her homework and enjoying some hot cocoa. 
I can't believe that I have been blogging for 1 year already! I have really enjoyed every post and reading everyones comments. If you don't have a blog, you gotta make one! My church councils us to keep a record or a journal of our lives and I think that blogging is a great way to do it an share it at the same time! I love how I get to keep in touch with family and friends and share what we are all up to in our lives!
Mike and I (and Blake) all got our stickers this morning for voting! We dropped the kids off at school and headed over to our polling place and voted. Mike and I have never been able to go together and vote. It was a great morning. After we dropped little man off at preschool we went to the mall to do some shopping for the kids and then to Claim Jumper. We eat there way too often, but with the economy the way it is we are just trying to do our part to keep them in business! Now we have been watching Fox News (the music is so dramatic in the background)to see what the outcome will be!!!! This is a very exciting time for us. Since Mike will not be home tonight I think I'll have to be on the phone with my "girls" as we wait and see! Kim......I'll be callin' ya tonight! (Nancy you too!) Anyone else want in??? Hollie??? Can we do 4way calling?
First Camryn now poor little Blakie. We went to church today and he was fine but as soon as we got home he was cranky and feeling hot. I put him in my bed and he crashed and slept for about 3 hours. Yep, as soon as he woke up he let it all out all over the floor downstairs thankfully it cleans up easier on tile....too much information??? If you are a Mom then you get it!
Camryn was vomiting in the night which means she cannot go to school which means that she cannot wear her costume which means that she cannot show her friends, can't attend the fun class party and can't do the pumpkin contest! I am so sad for her.
So, today we had our play group's Halloween party at my house. It was supposed to be at Andrea's home but her little guy was ill so I said we could go ahead and have it my house since I live just down the street and it all worked out. Thanks to everyone who brought food for our lunch and a big thanks to Andrea for the candy and craft! We missed you guys!
