China

Sam spoiled me this year and got me something I've wanted for a long time. 4 place settings of fine china With platinum rings around the edge and if you look close you can see a white swirl pattern around the edge. Unfortunately it had to be special ordered, and it didn't come in time to use for our Christmas dinner, but I'm very happy to have it, and I'm excited to build it up and and to the collection.

Christmas slide show

Sorry this isn't very long, our camera batteries died, so we didn't get very many pictures.

Christmas Centerpiece

This is the Christmas Centerpiece I made out of fresh flowers and I posted a picture because I am DANG PROUD of the way it turned out.

Behold Your Little Ones

A few days ago Nicholas came up to me with a blanket draped over his shoulders and said "Look Mommy! I am like Christ! He the proceeded to tell me that he was going to the tree to get some white fruit and that I should always be kind and good. Most kid his age dress up as spiderman or superman, and he wanted to be like Christ. At night when we put the kids to bed we sometimes put Nicholas to sleep in our bed until Christian falls asleep so they don't keep each other awake. 2 nights ago when Sam was moving Nicholas from our bed to his, he noticed that he had fallen asleep with a pen in his hand which he thought was strange but he didn't think much of it until he and I went to bed later that night and he discovered that Nicholas had taken that pen and scribbled all over my pillow. When I asked him about it the next morning he said that he was making a star so that Jesus could come. The First Presidency's message in the Ensign this month was titled "Behold your little ones". It talks about the Savior and reminds us of how in 3 Nephi, when he visited the people in America. He called all the children to him, and he blessed them. He told the people to "Behold your little ones". I thought about if my children were there, how he would hold them and adore them, and love them for all that they are, and not see all their little quirks that make me want to pull my hair out. I learned that I need to BEHOLD them, take them in and see them as the savior would. I have noticed that when I do, I am thankful for Nicholas' zeal for life and all that comes with it. I am able to cherish the star that now adorns my pillow because it is a symbol of Nicholas' testimony of our savior, his birth and life which was given to each of us.

Merry Christmas from Nicholas

Here are just a few cute clips... one is Nicholas wishing you all a Merry Christmas, He'll probably kill me for posting this one when he gets older, but I couldn't help it! The other is when he finally got to meet Santa. He has been dying to talk to him to ask him for a train table for Christmas.

Disney World

"Mickey Mouse's Big House"

A.K.A Disney world. What an adventure! After months of planning and endless phone calls to my sister Kathy (who works there and got us discounts),and a 10 hour minivan ride, we finally made it. We had a great time! We walked until our feet practically fell off. We ate like the word "diet" was taken out of the dictionary-(Ghiridelli's ice cream sundae, need I say more?). We saw all there was to see-including the Orlando emergency room. And we rode every ride you can imagine-even the scary one that went upside down 3 times, and the tower of terror that has an elevator drop you hundreds of feet- which is even scarier when it malfunctions at the end and you really think you are going to die. It was a great week!

THINGS TO NOTE WHEN GOING TO DISNEY WORLD....

1. All of the toilets flush automatically, this can be frightening to a 3 year old.
2. The "wait time" posted above a ride is not always accurate.
3. At Walt Disney World dreams do come true, but you have to pay for them, so bring a FAT pocket book.
4. The Norway ride is the single best Norway ride ever invented.
5. If your child has asthma, bring his medicine or you end up in the emergency room with a nurse who says "Don't you know you have to bring asthma medicine when you come to Florida?".
6. Bring a thermometer so that the nurse can't give you a hard time about not knowing that your child also has a temperature.
7. Buses are great for naps- just ask my brother David.
8. The magnet store in Downtown Disney doesn't sell Disney magnets.
9. Wear contacts, not glasses or you don't get to see any of the rides you go on because you have to take them off.
10.DON'T drink the soda from Italy.