Christmas

Christmas is definitely magical again when you have children. We had such a great holiday season. I decorated the Christmas tree while Brock was out with the boys - I had the room dark with the Christmas tree lights on when Brock walked in the door and his face just lit up - I don't think I will ever forget that look. He went right to the tree and started to take off all the ball ornaments - of coarse. I let him play with the tree and the ornaments throughout the month - I wanted Christmas to be fun - not something I was constantly nagging at him about - one day I will have a pretty tree -but for now I am content with a child proof tree.

When Christmas morning hit things were absolutely wonderful. This was the first year we slept at our own house for Christmas, it was nice to be there as a family. I did not get great pictures (my camera is... well lets just say I need a new one - Santa did not deliver!), but they capture the day alright.

Santa brought colored pencils and a large sketch pad for Brock. He loves it - and colors for a long time now. He fills the paper with a lot of different colors and lines - it has brought me a lot of joy watching him learn this new skill.The biggest hits were actually the stocking stuffers (all from the dollar store)- Brock LOVES his sunglasses and wears them all the time - and he likes for Noah to wear his too - fortunately Noah does not mind wearing them. The other hit was a Nerf gun I got at the dollar store - Brock hardly puts it down - who knew I could have spent 3 dollars on Christmas??

Noah got a jumper

My parents got Brock his SALVATION!! A Basketball hoop!!!! This picture sums up what our days have been like since Christmas. He loves it!

Brock and Noah in their new outfits from the Hanna's and their giant stuffed dog from Santa.
My mom made Noah a beautiful quilt (Noah's ark inspired print of coarse) - she made one for Brad (my sister's baby) too. I love it!!

It was a great Christmas - we got so spoiled from our families - Thanks everyone. This was an especially great Christmas for me because this was the first year Jason and I exchanged gifts. The rule had always been that we don't give presents to each other (never had the money too) and the rule actually did not change for this year - but we both got each other gifts any ways. I was SO EXCITED to give Jason a new computer screen. I did not want to spend any of our money - so I have been "collecting" money for the past few months (selling stuff of Craig's List, doing some odd jobs, etc) then I went out on Black Friday and bought it - I could not stop smiling the whole way home -and when Jason was opening it I was literally shaking I was so excited to give him it. It was especially fun because he had NO IDEA I had even got him something - surprises are great!

We had a wonderful Christmas and can't wait for future ones - for I suspect they will only get better from here.

Christmas Eve

This year we spent Christmas Eve at Jason's parents house. We had a fun time - this year was supposed to be the "Herbert Christmas", but non of Jason's brothers or sister could come - so it was just us "Utahns". Grandma Herbert and Brock made sugar cookies - Brock was really into it and clapped every time he cut a cookie out.
This was the best picture I got of Brock and Noah - Noah has started to really like eating his hands.

And - if you can believe it - this is the best picture I got of the family - could Jason look more annoyed?? and Brock was very tired.

Bishop Gibb

Last week we had a Christmas party at our old Bishop's house. We loved our old 169th ward and our bishop - Bishop Gibb. It was so good to see him and all of our other friends who have either moved or got sent to another ward in the split. We learned so much at our time in the 169th ward - it made Provo feel like home.

The whole group (Upper left: Spencer and Anna Bardsley, Kordel Braley, Sam Curren, Craig Lindsey, Sarah and Wes Jones, David and Sarah Lee Gibb, Heather Braley. Bottom left: Nathan and Brianna Rollins, Jess Curren, us, Candice and Josh Kvavle, and Karen Bourne, (and the kids))

The kids: Rachel, Noah, Brock, Grace, Ethan, Kimani, Shane, Andrew, Corinne, Kyrsten, and Ella

Me and Heather nursing our little ones.

My day

I came home from running errands with the boys to find this on my front porch.
Ooh flowers - who could they be from and why? (The table was put there to make room for our Christmas tree)

They were from my wonderful husband, just because. And to top it off it came with a box of chocolates!

Then for a family Christmas activity we made sugar cookies. Now I am aware that my sons are only 19 months and 3 months, and there would not be much participation - but I had something a whole lot different in mind. I bought a bunch of icing tools to make them pretty and sprinkles and candy... they were going to be great. After 5 minutes of decorating I had NO cookies on my tray - every time I finished one - either Brock or Jason had eaten it - not to mention Brock ate pretty much the whole bowl of yellow frosting. I said, "forget it" I hurried and did a quick slab on each cookie and called it good. I think this is what I have in store with my life of boys - I think I need a daughter.

What I had in mind

What I got...pathetic

It's Begining to Look a lot like Christmas

As mentioned in the previous post - Brock loves this whole Christmas thing. (Unfortunately I don't think he knows it is temporary). We watch "Frosty the Snowman" about 5 times a day. This morning as soon as he woke up he wanted to watch Frosty. He got his Santa Hat (that he wears all day (even if we leave the house)), his Santa toy, made me turn on the Christmas tree lights and watch Frosty. I opened up the window and found that it was snowing. It was such a great Christmas feeling morning. Frosty, snow, Christmas lights, a little boy in Pajamas and a Santa hat... what could be better??

Great's Santa Party

Every year my Grandma (their Great Grandma) has Santa come to her house to see all of the grandchildren and give them presents. He has each child on his lap and he reads about their accomplishments in the last year, asks what they want for Christmas, and gives them a gift. Both my kids liked Santa - actually Brock has become quite obsessed with the whole Christmas thing. He says "Santa", "Snowman", "Reindeer", "Frosty", "Santa Hat", "Elves", "Baby Jesus", "Mary Jesus' Mother", "Joseph Jesus' Dad", "Angel", "Star", "Donkey" and "Manger". He was SO EXCITED to see Santa. (Although you would not know it by the pictures - my serious Brock)

Noah, Brock, Audrey and Brad with Santa

Still no camera...

Still no camera - and I am in the mood (and have the time) to post, so I was going through my pictures to see if there was anything I wanted to post about and I realized I have some identical pictures of Brock and Noah. They are almost the same age in these pictures as well.

Do they look alike? I say yes - but most people say no.

Noah

Brock

Noah

Brock

Noah

Brock

Noah

Brock

Funny that I have the same pictures. I did not do it on purpose - I kinda knew I had the pics of Brock - but I just wanted some in the bath and towel and stuff.

Brock was such a serious and deep baby and child. Noah and Brock are night and day when it comes to their demeanor. Noah is always so happy and smiley, you can just tell he is an optimist, and while Brock would smile and was NEVER angry or mad - he just always looked like it. Funny how kids come with their own personalities.

No Posts

For the most part posts with out pictures are boring - I try to not do them very often. But my camera is lost and has been since Thanksgiving. So... no posts - sorry.

• Noah laughed last night
• We put up our tree - my dad and brother cut it down themselves!
• We all have had the flu for a week and a half
• Today is my birthday

People in my life who have inspired me

Karli Bell - She is truly my inspiration in life. Almost everything I do that is hard in life I start by telling myself "Karli did it" or "Karli could do it". I don't do it on purpose - she is my best friend, so I don't want to compare myself to her or make our friendship into a competition - but I decided long ago that if i could figure out how to be half the woman/mother/wife she is than I would consider my life a success. Almost any good habit I have I have acquired from her. I have had to stop trying to live like her though - we are just too different. Karli goes a mile a minute doing everything and does it all seemingly perfect - and I just can't do that - I need sleep, I need down time - she just doesn't need those things (well her "down time" is organizing or something that is productive). Her life always seems to be in a perfect balance (I know she is reading this thinking I am CRAZY and that her life is CRAZY - but it really isn't). I could go on forever... but I will spare you - she is wonderful and I learn something new from her every time we are together. I SERIOUSLY EVERYDAY look to her for inspiration and the desire to keep going and organize my life better.

Don Pendleton - Don was my boss when I was working before I had my kids (oddly enough I still think of him as my boss - I think he always will be). I cannot put into words the things and values I learned from him. On a professional level - I grew so much and discovered so many talents of mine from being his assistant. I became more confident and realized I could do anything. If I ever have to go back to work I will be confident in my business skills to go after and get almost any job I want. He taught me so much. On a personal level he taught me so much about integrity and moral character and how you can and should use them in your business dealings. I will always look back on those years from NET and working with Don as some of my best "self-discovery" times.

Char Smoot - Char was one of my friends from work at NET. Char taught me the true definition of a mothering heart. Char was the mother of the whole office. She always made sure everyone was taken care of every way possible. She was only a a few years older than most of us - but she was much wiser. She had three kids of her own at the time and she was working full time - but she always found the time to make me (and bring me) lunch when I forgot mine, or find dinner recipes for me when I was complaining about not knowing what to make. She picked people up from the bus stop when their car broke down, and ALWAYS let everyone know when there was extra food in the office. She always put everyone before herself - just like a mom. After working with her I truly discovered that as women we have an opportunity to be mothers to everyone around us.

My mom and dad - I (as most people) have come to appreciate my parents more as I have gotten married and have kids of my own. Obviously my parents have taught me a lot and I could go on and on about them, but what I have used most recently in my life is the "just do it" attitude. I never realized my parents had this attitude until just recently. My dad always worked so hard for us - when I was young he was working between 60 and 80 hours a week and was getting his MBA at the U at the same time. I know it was hard - but I don't remember it looking like it was hard. While doing all of that my parents had 5 kids - so it was pretty much all up to my mom to take care of all of us and the house. I never remember her fighting with my dad about how he "never helps" - they both had a lot to do and they both just did it, and appreciated what the other one did - they did not compare or keep track of who did what. Granted I was young - and there was probably a lot more going on behind the scenes that I was not aware of - but I do know that we were well taken care of. I do know that my parents strongly believed in having my mom stay home with the kids and they were willing to give up anything to make that happen. I appreciate that example more than they will ever know. Even when all of us were in school she still never went back to work - I love that. It was such a comfort and blessing to know that she was always there - to bring my homework in case I forgot it, or bring us lunch on our birthday, or come get us when we were sick. Her children are her life. She has talked about going back to work now that her youngest is soon going to be out of high school and going on a mission. I told her that she was still my mom and shouldn't work. I love knowing that any day I can go to Salt Lake and she will be there - I would hate it if I needed her help and she said, "I can't I have to work", I never had to hear that growing up - and I don't want to start now. (I am being a little sarcastic - I am a big girl and she can work if she wants too). And for all of this I am grateful for my dad who worked so hard to make sure we had a mother at home. They have inspired me to do my part in my own family. To be the mom and take care of the kids and the house -because that is my job. I remember my mom saying once that (I am paraphrasing) "a lot of women think that parenting and the house should be 50-50 - but that is your job - just like making the money is his job. Sure he should help when he comes home - but it is your job."

Kim Olsen - She was my young woman's president when I was growing up. I have thought of her several times since I have left my home ward and have received callings of my own. I truly saw her magnify her calling. I felt like she gave 100% of herself to the young women. I have tried to take that same approach in whatever calling I have.

There are more - and I might add some others later - but I have been thinking about these 5 lately and wanted to publicly express my gratitude.