Our Funny Family

James is officially HALF WAY through his academy!!

Life here has hit a good groove. I feel like James and I are on the same page and even though we are very much living separate lives right now, we are still connected and united.

The kids and I have hit a good groove too. I have finally started getting up early! 5:15 am I feed the baby, pray and study my scriptures, workout, and then shower all before the rest of the clan is up! Having all this time to get centered and take care of myself has revolutionized my day and my mothering. I am so less stressed out or resentful because I'm not trying to take care of all my stuff while four children also need my attention! NOW, I just need to get to bed earlier so I can be consistent with this new routine! I have set up a study area next to my bed and am beginning my study of the Doctrine and Covenants tomorrow. I am very excited as this is the only standard work of the Church I have not read in its entirety! I'm not sure how that is possible, but I am going to remedy that next year. James suggested I use the Institute manual, and I am going to do just that. I am also going to set up my workout area the night before with the DVD that I need and all the equipment ready to go. With a plan and a little preparation there will be no room for error!

The kids and I have been having our Family Home Evening lessons regularly. Every Monday night we set aside some time for a little lesson or activity to help bring us together or to work on things that will make our family stronger. We wrote a family mission statement a few family nights ago. I've been wanting to do that for years, and it actually came out very smoothly and simply. The children wrote part of it, and we have started reciting it at our family devotionals each morning. The first part says, "As we strive to be obedient, respectful, and grateful we will create a loving and happy home..." Savanna came up with this part! We have been taking the opportunity this holiday season to focus on the gratitude aspect of our family mission statement. We made a list of 100 things we were grateful for on this white board. It didn't take long at all and the kids were amazed at how much they were grateful for when we were done! I had this grandiose idea of memorizing The Living Christ as a family. I figured if we focused on Christ we would be the most obedient, respectful, and grateful family around! I think it was a little to much to tackle right now, so we've decided instead to memorize several verses in Doctrine and Covenants Section 88 that discuss how the Lord wants us to organize our homes to be more like the temple and focused more on Christ. So far we have memorized verses 119 and 120- I'm feeling impressed with ourselves!

Darn camera blurs 9 out of 10 of the pictures I take! Any way, our sweet Emma Leigh is doing well. She recovered from her illnesses and is toddling around causing destruction everywhere she goes! Just this past week it has been especially destructive. I turn my head for a minute and ALL the DVDs are on the floor or all my Tupperware is scattered around the kitchen. Toys are everywhere, and she has just figured out how to open her dresser and loves to take out all her clothes and unfold all of her blankets and carry them around with her! All harmless and pretty easy to pick up, but it is a continual battle! On a happier note, due to my new morning routine, she now sleeps from 7:15 pm to 5:15am, nurses, and then goes back to bed until 8:15! It's wonderful, and she is so much happier in the mornings now that she is getting more sleep (and so am I)!

Benjamin is still playing basketball and assures me every week that he is the best player and can make a goal any time he wants (I keep telling him they're not called goals, but he still calls them that). He keeps trying to find ways to go back on the roof. He took off his shirt while jumping on the trampoline and threw it up on the roof. He comes running in and tells me he has to go on the roof to retrieve it. I don't think so, Ben. Nice try. Good job losing your shirt! He is such a funny kid. I had to make a return the other day. All the children were speculating whose gift I was returning and if it was because they had done something wrong. Benjamin informed Savanna that it was her present I was taking back because she isn't grateful and doesn't take care of her crap! Oh my...I wonder WHERE he heard that! I'm working on being more subtle and diplomatic in my comments to my children...it's a definite work in progress. :)

Speaking of Savanna...we went to Vons last night and the bag boy was totally flirting with her! She was giggling and smiling at him (in fact, she didn't STOP smiling all night)! He was at least 17 or 18...not cool! I know she is a beauty, but she is still so young to me when I look at her. It is all happening so fast. I don't think I'm ready!

Bradley is doing so well at his piano! Like everything that boy does, he gives it his all! He is getting so excited about his baptism! He will be getting baptized January 21st at 11am. He is also excited about starting cub scouts. We are going to get his uniform and all of his patches and accessories next week so he is ready to start right after he turns 8! He will be a wolf. I don't know much about cub scouts but I have signed up to be a parent committee member and have a feeling I am going to learn quickly!

Emma still loves Marley!

That's the skinny, folks!

December 12 - 22, 2011