Creation!

I have been looking for something for Sharing Time for Primary this week and found this video. It is so beautiful and totally worth your 6 minutes to watch it. It is amazing and really makes you think.

Our Exciting Adventure! - Dec. 7

 Jared and I decided for Christmas that we should go on vacation rather than spend so much money on things the kids didn't really need.  I have always thought memories were more important than having everything little thing you want and still agree with that.  And, any of you who know me at all, know that I LOVE DISNEY!!!  I love how easy it is to fit in there and no one stares at you with your 5 kids, everyone just tries to be happy and enjoy.  (Yes, I realize there can be pushing and a bit of selfishness, but for the most part, it really isn't bad).  Plus, there is something for everyone.  I am telling you, it is like the perfect spot for a family vacation.  ANYWAY,  I have been to DWorld a few times - maybe 4-5.  Jared has been a couple times and Jaxon and Josie have been once.  So, where to go?  I have wanted to go on a cruise forever, but haven't been.  But, things that make me a bit nervous I would rather experience without kids first - just to know the problems that may be encountered.  Other than that, I knew I wanted to go somewhere warm.  Then, I started seeing all these deals about Disneyworld.  And, I have watched MANY specials on DWorld and know how awesome their Christmas decorations are supposed to be.  Anyway, long story short, we decided to go to Disneyworld!  And, as a bonus, we decided to go to Harry Potter World at Universal.  (That was the highlight for some of the kids).

Anyone who wanted to come was invited, but I pretty much set the schedule.  I set it around the free meal days at DW and cheapest airline dates.  :)  Which left us going on Tuesday, December 7th and coming home on Thursday, December 16 - a full 10 days.  Which may seem like a long time but we filled every second of every day and could've stayed longer.  (I could've stayed an extra month!)

We flew out of SLC, which I prefer to Las Vegas but it is usually more expensive.  Luckily, we found the best airline tickets out of SLC - had to pay for our luggage so we checked one bag and carried the rest on.  I am sure we looked like a traveling circus.  (Wish I would've taken a picture, but I had no hands and no time to stop).  Each child had a backpack filled with things to do and a maximum size carry-on luggage that rolled so they could pull their own.  Plus, we had 2 camera bags, 2 booster seats, and 1 stroller.  Can you say chaos? My parents came with us as well as Ry - well, that is a little complicated, like single people's life's tend to be - Ry came for the first half and then had to leave.  Sara came for the last half.  Crazy.  Linds didn't come at all.  :(  We were glad to have whoever could come for whatever amount of time.  So, picture us walking through the airport - Jared and I, heavily laden with stuff - Jaxon, backpack with at least 50 lbs of homework, pulling his own carry on plus Jainie's.  Josie and Josh handling their own bags, thankfully.  Jake handling his backpack and trading off with his carry-on and Jainie barely being able to walk without being carried.  She did pull the stroller when not riding in it.  Then, Dad, Mom, and Ry bringing their stuff as well as anything else we couldn't get.  All of us in single line - following the leader, usually me.  Hopefully, no one wanted to get through our impenetrable line of defense.

We made sure to wear comfy clothes with no jewelry - trust me it took us long enough to
get through the security, I can't imagine having to empty pockets and take things off.  Shoes
were bad enough.  In Orlando, they had a special line for families, because we tend to
take so long.  :)  No one got searched ever and I think Jared is the only one who beeped.  Josh
wanted to take his little pocket knife, because Jared always takes his and was very upset when
we told him they would take it away and Jared wasn't even taking his.  I think he was really
wondering about airports and crazy people.

It was pure relief when we would get to the gate.  Just put our stuff down and sit.  Whew!  We made it.  We had a plane change both on the way there and on the way home.  We stopped at Denver on the way there and Houston on the way home.  Both times, having to change planes.  Either way, we made it.  It was definitely the part of the trip I was dreading most!  I don't like flying.  Especially with five kids.

Jaxon was ambivalent about flying again, I think he thought it was kinda cool.  He does want to be a pilot so I guess it is good he doesn't think it is a big deal.   Josie had just been to San Francisco with the girls a couple years before, so she was the calm influence over the kids.  Josh had flown on our trip to Nauvoo, but he was a baby, so he didn't remember.  He was actually the one who kept telling us that he wanted a plane flight for Christmas.  He didn't care where, he just wanted to fly.  Until, a couple days before the vacation, then he didn't want to go.  He volunteered to stay home, with anyone, go to school, the whole deal if he didn't have to go.  He gets a bit nervous.  Jake was super excited, there was a lot of hand shaking and nervous teasing.  Jainie was excited but nervous as well, having no idea what to expect.   We all made it, and the return trip was funny because you would have thought they were all seasoned fliers.  They wouldn't even look out the windows - TV and sleep were much too important.  :)

Mom and I had planned the whole seating perfectly.  However, a couple days before leaving,
we received an email telling us that our plane was switched.  It was only 4 minutes different so
neither of us thought much of it.  Until we got to the airport then we realized they had changed our
seats.  We were all in individual seats not be each other!  AAAHHH!  Luckily, a lady there got us
 seats that were a bit better so everyone but Jared and I were sitting by someone else - for the trip
to Denver.  Then, the long one, this is how we sat - these 3 together, me with the crazy ones and Jared
by himself.  Hopefully, he got some sleep.  Mom, Dad, and Ry were way up there on their own.
Not ideal, but it worked.

These 2 did great!

We got to Orlando at about 6:30 - their time.  It was just as the sun was setting - so beautiful.  Lots of water!

I love this picture - the way the sunset reflects off of the wing.  Planes really are amazing!

So, there you have it.  Our exciting adventure to our exciting adventure.  After we arrived we picked up our rental cars (this was Jared's least favorite part - he hates rental cars, it seems something always goes wrong), picked up our 1 piece of checked luggage and tried to get out of the airport.  That only took a couple wrong turns and an extra half an hour.  But, we made it to our hotel and all the kids were wound up and all the adults were exhausted.  Our first meal was pizza ordered to the hotel room and some calming ESPN.  Ahh, what a life.  :)

I could've danced all night

     Both Josie and Jainie LOVE dancing!  I think they would do it all day if they could.  This December they performed twice - once at Christmas Tree Lane and once in "The Nutcracker."  Tap dances at Christmas Tree Lane and ballet, of course, in "The Nutcracker."   It is so much fun to watch them, I love it every time.  

     Josie has danced for years and so this is old hat to her, but this is Jainie's first year.  I was a little nervous for her, wondering if she would be scared to go out on stage, but nope, she is a natural - no problems.  In fact, she was beaming.  After is was over, she kept saying she wanted to go back out and do it again.  Then, the next day, this is how the conversation went.  "Mom, can I ask you a question?"  Me:  "I guess."  Jainie: "What would you say if I told you I wanted to move. . . without you and dad?"  Me:  shocked - "What?  Where do you want to go?"  Jainie:  "I want to back and live on that stage that I danced on."  Me:  giggling - "Well, I don't think they would let you do that and they don't have any food."  Jainie - with obvious disgust for my poor knowledge "Yes, they do mom, I saw some in those machines."  Me - "Fine, let's go talk to dad about it."  Luckily, later, Josie explained to her that you can't live on stages and for "The Nutcracker,"  we won't dance on THAT stage anyway. So, then Jainie was fine.  She just loves the stage.  :)  (Isn't it funny how siblings can so often explain things better than parents can.  A little frustrating really).

Jainie is the tall one in the middle with the bows that don't match. :)  They really did match the little swirls on her
leotard, they just didn't match from the stage - stupid lights! :)  And, yes, she is tall!  Crazy, Josie is usually the small one.  Kids just like to keep us on our toes, I guess.

One of the mom's in Jainie's class brought each of the girls a rose for the first performance.  It was so sweet.  Why don't I ever think of those things?

Jainie wanted to take a "funny" picture, luckily Josie goes along with her corny ideas.  I thought this one was pretty cute though.  Girls, I don't know what I'd do without 'em.

So, this is the Nutcracker.  Josie was a flower and Jainie was a gingerbread girl.  They performed this twice, once the day we got home from Disneyworld - that was a whirlwind - and once a couple days later.  Actually, Jainie was sick the last day or so of vacation and the day we got home, so she only performed it the second time.  They both were adorable!

 A few girls from Jainie's class.  I just love how they still love holding hands together.

Some of Josie's class.  They chose their own outfits and LOVE them.  I think the biggest draw was that they came with their own hanging bag.  Growing up is so fun, isn't it?

 All the cousins together.  There are 2 in each class, which makes it really fun for them.  From left:  Josie, Madison, Lauryn, and Audrey.  Front row:  Jainie, Julia, Tricia, and Emma.  Cute girls and all darling dancers!

 Luckily, for me, another friend remembered to bring flowers for Jainie and Josie here as well.  They were so scrumptious too - there was a sprig of Christmas tree in them and it smelled SO good.

I only wish they weren't growing up so quickly.  STOP!!!

My Twinkle Josie

    My twink is 11-years old!!!  I started calling Jos "Twinkle" so long ago, now it has shortened to "twink" and that is just what she is a twinkle of pure heaven, something so perfect and right.  I am absolutely positive I would not have survived a home of so many crazy boys without this girl by my side.

     I don't know anyone who knows Josie who doesn't absolutely adore her.  She always tries to do her best and make others happy.  She is a people watcher, like her mother, and has always found teenagers quite interesting.  She thinks they are loud, self-centered, cocky, and way too cool for their own good.  (I think she is pretty spot-on).  Well, a few years ago she claimed she would NEVER act like one even if she were forced to endure the teen years.  I guess time will tell, but she is getting closer.  I find it quite humorous.  I will keep you posted on her progress or lack thereof.
     She loves life and trying new things.  She is the least picky eater I have ever seen.  I love trying new recipes and one time decided to try cooked spinach - in my defense, the recipe said it was good.  Well, any of you who have tried cooked spinach, probably know that most people don't like it, it is slimy and pretty gross really.  Anyway, we told all the kids they had to eat it or no dessert.  LOL.  I definitely didn't eat mine, gross, I don't like much.  I don't think Jared even ate his and he will eat just about anything I try to make.  None of the other kids were willing to even try it, but Josie ate her whole plateful!  Jared and I were shocked.  And, she didn't eat it for the dessert, but just because we told her to.  She is VERY obedient.  It still makes me chuckle though.  I try not to do that to her anymore.  (She still hates spinach! oops).  Her favorite foods are her dad's fish, creamy potato soup with garlic, doughnuts, & ice cream - all kinds.  "Ice cream's delish!"                
     She loves school and is an excellent student.  Her favorite subjects are spelling (she still has 100% on any test she has ever taken) and reading/English.  She usually loves going to school unless there are dumb boys in her class.  Luckily, she still doesn't like boys, except as friends.
      She still likes playing pretend with her friends and with her family.  She is always good to play school with Jake and Jainie.  She loves playing with dolls still as well.  She has 5 American girl dolls now and loves each one.  She giggles all the time when she is with her friends and it brings my heart such joy that she is so happy.  She loves quizzes - taking quizzes, giving quizzes, reading them, etc.  I had to fill out 2 yesterday, one about sports and one about when I grew up.  She thinks they are hilarious!
     She loves dancing and is VERY talented at it.  I think she would dance all day and night if she could.  Jazz is the genre she likes the best right now.  She would love to try ballroom but can't get either of her brothers to cooperate and dance with her.
     She is an amazing person and has so much in store for her.  I can't wait to see what she becomes.  She wants to be first a mother and then maybe a teacher.  She is one smart, all-together girl.

This was actually on the 6th, because she insisted on breakfast in bed
and we were going to leave for our vacay on the 7th and be gone for her
actual bday on the 8th.  In honor of the trip, I made Mickey Mouse pancakes!
But, you can see her bag, all packed by her side.

So, this is the real day.  Waking up with Jainie and opening her camera.
It was actually so fun to have someone taking pics besides me, she got a
lot of cute ones that I hadn't seen.  :)

We stayed at one of the Universal Studios hotels so we could get into Harry
Potter world earlier.  It was so beautiful.  Too bad we were too tired to
explore much.  This is on the path into the hotel.

So, this is Ollivander from Harry Potter.  We went in to his shop where he chooses one person
to match a wand to.  Jake really wanted to be chosen, but was too little.  Josie also wanted to be
 chosen for her bday and luckily! she was.  It was so much fun.  He asked her to levitate some of
the boxes, she tried, but the shelves fell so we knew it wasn't that wand.  Then, he asked her to
 turn on some lights and when she tried, they started flickering but wouldn't turn on = wrong wand.
Then, he handed her the next wand and all of the sudden, a breeze blew through the room and a
 light came on above her head and we knew it was the right fit.  So darling!
It totally made her birthday!

She got to meet Captain America and thought this pose he had them do
was pretty funny.  Jake really got into it!  :)

Here she got to meet some Who's with Jaxon and Uncle Ry.  They were pretty cool.

She tried to take Marmaduke for a walk, but he ended up taking her.

She and Josh outran a dinosaur that was chasing them.
Josh barely made it!

We all LOVED the butterbeer, but the pumpkin juice was
not a favorite.  It was VERY pumpkin"y".  We bought Jos
the souvenir mug for her birthday.  Yummy froth!

For her birthday dinner, we ate at Boma, which is in Animal Kingdom Lodge.  It has
all sorts of African foods to try.  It is really yummy and a fun, new experience.  Here
they brought her out a cupcake and we sang Happy Birthday.

So, Happy Birthday to the most wonderful 11-year old in the whole wide world! We love you Josie Lyn Esther.  You are and always will be a princess!

My Baby Girl

     So, how did I get this old?  I really don't know, can't figure it out.  How did time pass so quickly and how come I can't remember so much of what has happened?  Blah, blah I know another sad story.  Anyway, this one is actually happy!  Yup, well, kind of, in a mixed emotion sort of way.
     My baby girl, Jainie Elizabeth Belle, is five years old!!!  Yep, one whole hand as she likes to say.  How did it happen?  Not sure.  Am I happy about it?  Well, yes and no.  I think anyone who has kids understands.

Still so small, yet getting bigger every day

      Anyway, she is a sweetie.  She ALWAYS wants to help with everything.  She is my little shadow.  She will always take my side in an argument.  :) love this.  She always wants to be right by me.  She is a ray of sunshine.  The whole family adores her, she can do no wrong.  She LOVES having her picture taken and will give you all sorts of poses and fake smiles.  She loves being scared and we often hide from each other so we can jump out and scare each other.  But, she doesn't love surprises.  She is a girl who likes to be in control and likes to know what is going on.  She will pout and pout if you don't tell her what your up to.  She is very social and loves playing with other friends.  Yet, she can't wait til the kids go to school so she can dance around and play pretend by herself.  Her favorite play toys are dolls and stuffed animals.  Her favorite baby doll name is "Alice in Wonderland."  Her favorite color is PINK!  And, she will add purple and green now.  She has always wanted to grow up to be just like Josie and doesn't understand why Josie won't let her play with all of her stuff.  She wants to marry Jake and was honestly heart-broken the other day when Jake informed her, for the 1st time, that he would NOT marry her.  He has someone else in mind.  She just couldn't believe it.  She is now stumped, she has no idea who she will marry.  It threw her entire world into a spin.  I suggested Josh, but apparently he is too tall.  :(  Poor Josh, he would marry her in a heartbeat.  Apparently she is not a morning person but will stay up all night long entertaining you with stories or dancing and singing.  She loves having her fingernails painted and is really quite a girly girl.  She can't wait to have "shoulders"  (this is what she calls breasts:) and I am not willing to correct her).  She also loves chewing gum, she would have it in her mouth 24/7 if possible.  When she grows up, she wants to be the tooth fairy.  (She is magical, she could do it.)  Obviously, I am smitten with this little girl.

We always take breakfast in bed, but last year when we walked
 in singing, she told us to go away and hid under her blankie.  So this year,
we didn't mind that she woke up and then pretended to be asleep.  Thus the
darling smirk on her face.  I wish I were so excited for my birthdays.

     Some things she doesn't like are dogs and cats.  Really, I think any animal.  She is deathly afraid of them.  She doesn't mind them from a distance, but if one even starts moving her direction, she will scream and insist on being higher.  She is quite a picky eater and is always telling me she doesn't like certain foods.  When her dad, Jainie, & I go out to eat, she will usually get yogurt, chips, apple slices and always strawberry milk.  And, she wouldn't mind a cookie, either.  Oh, and she loves cottage cheese.  She doesn't like the older kids treating her like the baby, unless is has some beneficial point for her, then she will happily take it.

This was the birthday dinner that she chose.  She wanted it because it is what
the kids mostly take to school for their lunch.  I usually won't let her have frozen sandwiches
because we save them for school.  So, that is what she wanted, Smucker's frozen pb&j with
carrots and apple slices.  Oh, and chocolate milk.  Yum yum!  (I have to
admit, I really enjoyed her choice :)).

For her birthday cake, she wanted to decorate it herself.  So, we made a sprinkle
cake with pink frosting and she put everything else on herself.  She loved it!  And,
you'll notice she has a braid, her first one, she thought it was beautiful and VERY grown up.

Her piano, what she has wanted for a LONG time.  She had such a hard time
deciding which one she wanted.  At first she wanted a Barbie girl one.  But, then we
found this one which plays primary songs, she ultimately decided on this one, even
if it is a "boy piano" as she says.  

     Mostly, she just wants to be "grown up" like her brothers and sister.  And, mostly her dad and I just want her to stay little.  It is a constant struggle.  Raising children, I really didn't know it would be both so fulfilling and yet so heart-wrenching at the same time.  But, I'd do it over again in a minute.  :)

Her hat from preschool.  She loved it!  Not sure why
she chose blue, she said it was her favorite color that day.
I told you she likes to make faces!  

     Happy Birthday my little chippy.  We sure do love you!

Tree Hunt

     One of my favorite traditions is going up to find a Christmas tree.  I have always been one of those - "don't want a perfect tree" kind of people.  I like the ones that look like they have sheltered animals and gotten a few "real" parts that aren't so pretty.  But, I do like enough branches to hold all of our ornaments, which is tricky, we have A LOT of ornaments.  I also am the type that likes the tree to be decorated by the kids, no perfection here, it is their tree too.  So, it is usually a little CRAZY looking, but I love it.
     Anyway, we always ask the kids who wants to go with us and who doesn't.  Every year is different.  If they don't want to go, they stay home with Grandma.  This year, my brother, David was here with all of his kids (7) and so everyone except Josh wanted to stay.  I don't blame them, that is a pretty good incentive to stay and play.  However, Sara wanted to go get a tree with us for her house in SLC.  And, she had a friend with her, Laura.  So, the 5 of us jumped in Jared's new truck and headed up the mountain.  The roads weren't too bad and we only got stuck once!  Pretty good.  And, then it wasn't even that stuck.  Jared had to shovel a couple times and push pretty hard while I nervously pushed on the gas in the truck and voila!, we were out!
     Josh was a trooper, I think he liked the one on one time with all the adults.  Sara and Laura walked around trying to have a snowball fight (which they weren't very good at) and Jared and I looked for trees.  Josh mainly walked a few steps then fell face first into the snow and laid there relaxing.  I think he just liked the snow.  But, after a few hours! - yes, it took us a long time, we had our trees.  Yeah!  One more thing done for Christmas!

Josh, Sara, & Laura - pretty crazy people.  But they were really fun to have along.  On the ride home, they asked which Christmas songs we hate.  How absurd!  Who hates Christmas songs?  But, Sara and Laura each had one they despised.  Laura's was "Last Christmas" and Sara's was "Merry Christmas Darling," which luckily FM100 plays on a consistent basis over Christmas so every time I heard it after that, I would call her and let her listen to a snippet.  I think she really enjoyed that!  :)  Only single people with too much time on their hands think of hating Christmas songs, good grief, the whole spirit of Christmas is LOVING!

Thanksgiving 2010

     We had such a lovely Thanksgiving this year.  My mom was hosting for my dad's extended family and there are so many of us, we had to have it in the church.  I was in charge of taking a pie (we took cherry & banana), green bean casserole (not bad), and some rolls.  Pretty easy assignments, right? The kids and I went the night before and helped Mom set up tables, chairs, and decorations.  It was actually pretty fun and got me more in the spirit of Thanksgiving.  Funny how service seems to do that for you.  Too bad I always seem to forget. :)
     Anyway, the next day we went and ate and visited and ate and played basketball (not sure why we have never been a 'play football' family, always basketball) and ate some more. YUM!  I used to hate Thanksgiving, I thought it was SO boring!  I remember growing up going to my Grandma Leila's house and all us girls thought it was a rip-off.  We would all eat, food that wasn't that good (I think we were crazy!) then all the boys would watch football or play basketball and us girls would end up doing ALL of the dishes!  What a crock!  I hated it - life is all about fair for me and this WAS NOT fair.  Oh well, I got over it.  Now I think it is kind of funny.  But, I prefer paper plates. :)
     I am not sure why I liked this Thanksgiving so much, maybe because it felt a bit more real - Thanksgiving"y" if you will.  Maybe because all my kids are old enough to feed themselves and then play by themselves and I can just sit and relax.  It was very pleasant.  We took Jared's brother, Garrison with us as well.  He is always fun to have around and he dressed up for us and looked so handsome! :)  (Not sure why I don't have a pic, I think it goes back to the enjoying myself, I wasn't running around snapping photos).
     Anyway, I don't know what more to say about it since it was about 2 months ago and I have forgotten a play by play of what happened.  But, I know the feeling I get when I think about it and it is peace and pleasantness.  So, a big thanks to all who work and cook and are willing to share Thanksgiving with family so we can enjoy each other and renew bonds that may have withered a bit during the passing year.

Jake insisted on a whole turkey leg since last time we were in Dland, both the other boys got one
and made a BIG deal out of it.  (Jake didn't eat it all, but he enjoyed it!)

Mom, Ry, and Sar cleaning up the kitchen - always a fun chore!  :)

Jaxon dribbling past his dad trying to get a lay-up.

     So, Happy Thanksgiving, hopefully it sends you warm fuzzies of memory from your wonderful feast!  If not, feel free to come and join us next year - everyone is welcome!  (Well, there may be some restrictions since this blog isn't private - you'll have to be approved! :))

Part of "The Spread" - doesn't it make you hungry?