The One Positive

The one positive thing about being sick around Christmas time is you just plain old don't gain an ounce. I was worried about gaining weight over Christmas because of all the treats. Instead, the treats are just waiting there. The fruit and meats and such have been eaten, but all of the sweet stuff is waiting for a healthier day.

It's Influenza

Yesterday, we visited our pediatrician. By the end of the day, we had 4 kids on antibiotics and a diagnosis of influenza a, which the flu shot did not cover this year. The doctor said the fevers shouldn't last past 10 days and the coughing should be over in 3 weeks.I am the last man down and glad that John is on vacation.

Christmas Morning

Despite the illness, we had a lovely Christmas. The kids congregated in our bedroom about 7:30. Rachel wet the bed, and needed a bath, I needed to feed the baby and we gave ibuprofen to all sick kiddos. Then we had family prayer and told everyone that they could not go down the stairs until Josh did. Joshua would not go down the stairs. He just sat down in the middle and wouldn't budge. Eventually the crowd busted past him and ran to their Santa gifts.

In our house, Santa leaves one or more unwrapped gifts and a filled stocking. Joseph got his request of Stormer XL ( a Lego Hero Factory guy), and absolutely had to put him together right away. So everyone waited for Stormer to be assembled before we got to unwrapping gifts from everyone

Being the oldest child, Ruth got the privilege of handing out the presents. In a family this size, even though we only give a few presents per person, present unwrapping goes slowly. Arwen, didn't make it and was put down for a nap before opening any gifts. Sometimes, Josh was too busy to bother with more presents and just threw a wrapped package back at Ruth. The rest of the kids sat with rapt attention and watched everyone open each of their gifts.

We open presents one at a time. Christmas only comes once a year. We like to extend the wonderful feelings of gluttony, and it is fun to see what everyone gets, their expressions and all.

We had a happy Christmas. I think everyone got what they wanted.  Rachel and Ruth were particularly excited. Ruth got a bunch of new clothes and is excited to go back to school to show off. Anya, was the least enthusiastic, but that was explained with a fever of 103 despite medication.

We spent the rest of the day, laying around reading books, doing puzzles, coloring and playing games. It was a good day despite illness.

Being pushed down the stairs

Rachel asked for 'all Brave' for Christmas

Building Stormer XL

The kids watched each other intently as they each opened presents

5lb Hershey Bar from Aunt Amber

Adam wanted more Skylanders guys for his wii game. I said no way, but my mom and Kate granted that wish.

This is the third year in a row, Anya has asked for horses.

Rachel loves doing hair and make-up. This is from Grandma Pardon.

This was the main thing John wanted, but he also got new shoes, which he was very happy with.

More Skylanders

Trying to read to Josh, who was ready for a nap. He didn't make it through the whole book.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Before Santa came

After Santa came

Our cute, jolly fat man.

Our Christmas Treats minus the simply orange

Christmas Eve Dinner

Our original plan was to head down to Provo and spend Christmas Eve with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, sledding and just hanging out. That did not happen. We went Sunday night to the family dinner, and our kids were just too sick. We opted to stay home Christmas Eve and have a Christmas movie marathon. We watched:

• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version)
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• HogFather parts I and II
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon version) again
• A Charlie Brown Christmas again
• It's a Wonderful Life

One thing, we weren't sure about was dinner. We were planning on ordering pizza or something easy in Provo, so I had not bought anything. Around 1pm in the middle of the Hog Father, or doorbell rang. It was our home teachers. They brought in a ham, some potatoes, rolls, olives, green beans and corn,  two desserts, and some chocolates. I got it all cooking around 3 and we had a nice Christmas Dinner. In fact, We have had the ham twice now and I think we will get two more meals out of it.

Most of us stayed in our pajamas on Christmas Eve.

Really Big Ears

Grrrr

Grrrrr... I am up after 3am and cannot sleep. My kids have had this nasty cold, cough, fever, green runny nose thing for two weeks+ now. The only kid that has gotten better is the one who got on an antibiotic for a sinus infection 11 days ago. He has no runny nose or anything. Soooo, I am certain they are fighting a hard to get rid of bacteria. I have counted up how many kids absolutely must go to the doctor tomorrow and it is a minimum of 5. But really, 8 have had the cough and runny nose for two weeks now. Only 5 have had a fever, and 2 of those for 7 days. If I bring 5 into the doctor it is $100 in copays. If I bring 8 it is $160 in copays. Since, I won't be able to get in to see my regular doctor until after Christmas, I can't just say, please give 8 of my children an antibiotic and trust that I am not making this up. So now I must decide. Do I bring 8 kids into the doctor tomorrow???

Sheppard's Dinner

This Christmas season, I have been trying to hold one or two family Christmas activities each week between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  That has involved me trying to come up with inexpensive outings or activities that all ages can participate in. That can be complicated in a large family with so many age groups. On the whole, I have felt like it has gone well. Everything we have done so far, has been inexpensive and enjoyable. All temper tantrums have been reserved for before the activity making it so we can all enjoy the activity. This past week, I tried something new that will definitely become tradition. We had a Sheppard's Dinner.

We pushed the table against the wall, turned on the fire, put blankets out over the floor, lit some candles, and turned out the lights. I made foods that are common in the Middle East: Pita and Hummus, pomegranates, grape juice, and lamb. We sang, "While Sheppard's Watched Their Flocks". We talked about what life was like during that period in history including why were Sheppard's even watching sheep and what the sheep were for.

The kids were excellent, happy, attentive, and nothing spilled.

Sisters

I love that my kids came in sets. They are such good friends. Ruth and Kate are best friends and do everything together. Rachel and Anya have begun wanting to be together a lot.

Temple Square December 2012

I LOVE Temple Square!! John and I married in the Salt Lake Temple. I love the beautiful flowers in the spring and summer, and the beautiful lights at Christmas time. This Christmas is our fourth Christmas in Utah, and our fourth trip to see the lights at Temple Square. This year, We ordered our favorite chocolate on chocolate donuts from target and brought a huge pitcher of hot cocoa to make our trip to see the lights a little funner for the kids. We ended up leaving a little late (this is becoming a theme). Getting there late ended up working well because the biggest crowds had gone making it easier for our big crowd to move from one place to another.

We loved the beautiful lights, the amazing narrarated nativity, the mild weather, our time together as a family, and the calming Spirit that always exists on Temple Square.

Things to Remember

From the Last two weeks:

1.  Arwen happily resting on me while I sit at the computer and type.
    
2. Joshua and cars-- watching the cars outside our windows-- carrying toy cars everywhere-- sleeping with toy cars.
    
3. Joseph having a complete and very detailed list of what he wants for Christmas. And Joseph riding down the escalator in the mall on his bottom because he was afraid to stand on it.
    
4. Anya listening to The Little Drummer Boy on the radio in the car and interrupting to tell me that the song is about "your bum, Mom". Huh???? "You know, pa rump a bum, bum."
    
5. Rachel coming to me while I am sleeping and telling me she knows that Dad loves me tons and tons because he draws lots of pictures of me.
    
6. Adam doing anything I ask him to do as long as I let him play Skylanders.
    
7. Johnny so sweet all of the time playing with his younger siblings, helping with chores, and never getting annoyed. He is just happy all the day.
    
8. Kate being excited for Christmas because she went shopping with me and cannot wait to see how happy the little kids will be when they get their gifts.
    
9. Ruth telling me that she likes her hair just next to her eye because it helps balance out her face.

Hiding

Okay, so I did this and at about the same age too. But come on. What is it with the hair over the eye. I miss seeing my girl's pretty face.

Please Pray

Today in Connecticut, 20 young children and 6 adults died when a gun man opened fire in their school. Tonight, 40 parents will not be tucking their babies into bed. Tonight, 40 parents are not going to hear little voices saying “I love you.”  26 families are not going to have one more family holiday, one more hug, or one more meal all together. This is an immense tragedy.

One thing I have become certain about in my life is the power of prayer, especially the power that comes when a lot of people pray for the same thing. Tonight and for many, many nights, please pray for these families. Gather your family around you and say a pray for the people who have so tragically and so senselessly lost their loved ones. They need the power from on High. Please, please pray. 

2012 Nativity Re-enactment

We finally have enough children to preform a fairly complete Nativity re-enactment.  Four of our children have memorized Luke 2, so they can  recite the speaking parts from memory on cue. Sunday afternoon the little girls and I assigned a part for everyone.Monday after dinner, the kids preformed for family home evening. Unlike most attempts at family home evening, Monday's went well.

We had a late dinner, because of car trouble. After dinner, Kate became the costume designer and I cleaned the kitchen. When all was cleaned, we took some pictures and preformed the Nativity.

This year Anya was Mary and Joseph was Joseph. Kate was the angel and Ruth was the Heavenly Host. Johnny and Rachel were shepherds with Joshua as the sheep, and Adam was the wiseman and Ruth got a second part as King Herod.