DONE WITH FINALS!

I know its a little immature to want to start singing "no more homework no more books," but that's how I feel. I can't believe we made it through another bout of the finals and passes all the way. It is so good to be done. As for snow, we can hope, but its more likely to be a soggy wet Christmas as opposed to a white one. Anyway just wanted you all to share in the joy of no more teachers' dirty looks.
Happy Christmas break!

December 21st

I absolutely love days like today!

Today is the first day of Christmas break, so Madi is home with me and we got 8 inches of snow. It is another reason to love all our poorly insulated windows. Our Christmas shopping is 95% finished,and we have no place we have to be. The girlies have decided that today is pajama day at our house. Poor Chrisser had to put on appropriate clothing for work, and off he went into the world. We girls are hunkered down in our cozy world, the snow has been shovelled, and we will have a white Christmas. The world will be even more delightsome when Chrisser returns and gets into his pajamas too.
Hope you are having a happy last weekend before Christmas.

How much snow did you all have to shovel?

Stephen, happy mail is coming your way. Let me know when it gets there ok?

Love to all! :)

giggles

The last post had me in giggles most of the day yesterday. thinking of all the funny completely spontaneous things that kiddos (and adults) do that are insanely delightful. Do any of you remember driving to St George with Dad singing the "I Have to Go to the Potty" song for about 20 miles?
So what made you giggle today?
Gilli makes me giggle everyday with the thing she imagines. This month, she has a husband named Christopher and 100 children that go with her everywhere she goes. Buckling in takes a fair amount of time. She is busy "air" knitting blankets and scarfs and sweaters for them and baking up a storm of Christmas treats. We have stacks of blocks all over the house with plastic strawberries carefully balanced on the top -- her version of cupcake stacks.
Thanks for the giggles family. hope you have some too.
Love you :)

Feeling a little cheeky!

Well, Kylee is done with potty training. But, we still need to teach her how to dress properly. She decided she needed to go to the bathroom and took her pants off. She had twisted her underwear waist band so that one of her butt cheeks was hanging out. She is now officially called the "Cheeky Bandit". On top of that she was singing (to the chicken dance tune) "I don't want to be a chicken, I don't want to be a chicken, so I'll spank my butt," and then she'd spank her butt, bare cheek and all. Toddler-hood is great!

Love you all.

pat-a-cake

Ryan finally decided to show off for the camara.

Ryan's Clapping!

It is the most adorable thing. Ryan will clap by himself now! I know we've been through this before, but it is so fun and amazing to see kids grow up. I will have to see if I can't get video of it up. Anyway its finals time so I better get back to studying. Merry Christmas

its the busiest time of the year

You know the song goes, "it's the most wonderful time of the year. . ." but i think they forgot the verse that goes "it's the busiest time of the year, with the kids needing snow boots, and cards that need mailing and presents for wrapping. . ." not that i am complaining, because it is a lot of fun, but i don't think i have had time to sit still for at least two weeks. so i am making time to post quickly on this snowy cold december 3rd morning. we had quite a storm here on saturday -- we actually shovelled twice and the pile of snow by the driveway is nearly as tall as our mailbox. you should see gilli shovel. she loves to help, although her help usually involves creating random piles of snow everywhere and leaving icy spots in places where she has fallen and laid on the driveway, we love gilli-shaped patches fo ice. nice though that she loves to help.
madi has been a little anxious about getting baptized, so saturday morning we went over to see one of her friends get baptized -- she is so much more calm now. she even got to put her hand in the water and decided it will not be too cold for her. so anyway, those of you who can will be welcome to join us for her baptism the first weekend of march -- and i think she will even be a little excited about it.
chris is getting ready for our ward christmas program -- writing music, getting string players, and all of the things that go with that. at least now this is his calling -- they finally made him choir director he is really feeling joyful.
at this buisest time of the year i hope you all stay safe and warm and have some truly joyful moments.
Love you all!