Thursday, January 23, 2014

My mom was right about a lot of things.


“To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters.
We know each other as we always were.
We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. 
We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys.
We live outside the touch of time."
- Clara Ortega

****

Jessica texted a group sibling text Christmas Eve:

Merry Christmas! I sure love all of you! Mom was right
—my siblings did become my best friends!



We’ve started a new family scripture study this year (shout-out to my friend Beth who is always willing to share). Every night we discuss and read scripture about a different gospel principle. The theme changes monthly and January’s focus is the family. It’s given me reason to reflect on my very own family. I’ve been thinking a lot about that text Jessica sent. And about that quote by Clara Ortega. About family. And friendship. And about how absolutely right my mom was; my siblings, no doubt, are my best of friends.  

I thought about it when Jami and I started up on another one of our telephone conversations; it was one of those deep ones, about God and charity and about letting go of what we are and becoming more of what we want to be. We can waste hours talking on the phone, discussing everything and nothing and then still have more to talk about the next phone call (which is usually only separated by hours). I thought about it the other night when the group sibling text turned to grocery budgets or the time when my sisters and I texted back and forth about the price of Costco toilet paper (no kidding) and Alan chimed in “who gives a sh@#...”. I thought about it when Alan came over to take down my Christmas lights and when Jessica volunteered to mail me one of Luke’s stuffed animals because Jace couldn’t find his (meaning I had taken his to DI.) . I think about it every time I go over to Kate’s to do a vacant house check; because every single time, without fail, the kids talk about how excited they are {and about how ridiculously long it is taking} for Kate and Jake to get back home. I think about it when the kids talk about Aunt Marie – they adore her, and admire her – and also when I see pictures of years gone by of the adorable cousins growing up together.

I guess what I am trying to say is that my siblings ROCKS and I am so very blessed to have them as friends.

*****

I think Marie's adorable little Christmas card that she wrote me this year summed up my sibling thoughts best.

"...some people will say that their siblings are annoying or weird, but all I can say are that mine are crazy AND really cool! Merry Christmas."

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Us, photographed. {2013}
















*****
Huge shout-out to my sister-in-law, Sarah, for taking our family photos. 
Love you, Sarah! You are the best.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

This Decmeber



Baby it's cold outside.


Decorating our 2013 Gingerbread house.


I'm not entirely sure what to say about this picture.


Toddler selfies. 
One of many.
She's a fool for my phone's camera. 
My favorite is when she accidentally changes the setting to video camera. 
They are so fun {and a little bit nauseating} to watch.
Also, I think that word is so lame. Selfie.


The Nativity.
Created by Brynlee.


Oh Christmas Tree.


Gingerbread men for the Christmas Tree in the toy room. 
Marlee ate at least half of every single cookie on the tree.


Money for the "giving jar"


Requesting roller blades.


Jace asked for superheroes.
Not a bit surprising.
It's been his requested gift every single year since he was old enough to talk.


Shopping for angel tree gifts.


December 16th. Post surgery. 


Kate came to hang out, and help out.
She was our lifesaver during surgery week.
This time she brought a big ol'drink.
Marlee thought she owned it.


I take that back ... she did crack a smile during her Christmas Program.


Pajama Day at school.
Plus, Santa showed up.
It's a good day to be a preschooler.


We scrape the sidewalks.
Jace scrapes the trampoline.
And then he comes inside and asks if I will make him cookies for all his hard work.


Snowman in the making.


Ta-da. All done.
They used cherry cheesecake cherries for the face. 


Just like Spencer and I did way back when in 2001.
Great minds think alike.
Or desperate snowman makers use cherries.
Or something.


Marlee thinks she belongs there on top of that table.
And she's such a permanent feature up there, I'm starting to feel that is where she belongs too.


My neck patient was getting a little stir crazy.
#mustgetoutside.
#needfreshair
#itsrainingitspouring


And I sent these two out with him. Because they too were going a little stir crazy. 


Skip-Bo always reminds me of my friend, Erin.


Legos from Santa's Elves.


Christmas Eve at our house.


Opening her 2013 Christmas ornament on Christmas Eve.
This year we went with the Disneyland theme.


All I wanted was one Christmas Eve picture in their new pjs.
Just one. 
They were way to hopped up on Christmas to be inconvenienced by a picture.
Adorable little punks.


Food for Santa's reindeer.


Christmas morning.


Pink, pink and pink.


Christmas is magic.
And my boy is handsome.


And then we lounged around all day.
It really is how Christmas was meant to be spent.


For obvious reasons, I'm going to go ahead and title the next two pictures 'Jake's a dork'...




Where Chloe performs every child's favorite trick.
I remember doing this to my dad.
Over, and over, and over again.


Grandpa is the best. 
Even ask Max and Marlee.
He gives free rides.


An adios to Christmas Disco Dance Party!


It's New Years Eve and Jami is EXCITED!


New Years Eve with Brynlee, Brooke, Spongebob and Patrick.

And with that I'm off to bed. Night.
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