Gone skiing

Inagural ski trip. Final day to check off our 2009 resolution.

2 parents
5 children
1 babysitter (for the babe)

Aren't we adventurous?

Dinner @ Costco is my fave.

Christmas 2009

A. Carson got the telescope of his dreams, thanks to a $25 Craigslist find.

B. Kate now changes into her dress-ups approximately 30 times a day.

C. Who asks for Darth Vader gloves, costume, sword and mask for Christmas? Baden, that's who.

D. Clara didn't express much emotion opening up her gifts after her morning nap. I guess books aren't very exciting.

E. Traditional top of the stairs picture of the children before the mad dash to see what Santa brought. Would you believe that we had to wake them up at 8 o'clock? Mom and dad couldn't stand it any longer.

F. Chandler got all the Lego Star Wars he can handle. I don't expect to hear any "I'm bored" complaints from here on out. Aunt Kendra is the best aunt ever. She spent 4 hours! putting together the Legos with the boys. She didn't know she had it in her.

When we found that my parents and Brian's parents weren't going to be around for Christmas I called up my grandparents and invited them to come. They agreed to come and I am so glad. It was such a treat for us to have them and my aunt with us. We had the best time. One of my favorite Christmases to date.

This is Grandma and Grandpa discussing the rules of semi-colons and such as they proofread Grandma's personal history Christmas Eve.
















My Aunt Thomasene was always helping to pick things up around the house and kitchen. When she finds a need she gets is done. It was so nice!
























Now I'm ready to take down the decorations and ring in the new year.

By the way, Clara is 8 months old today. 8 months!

Christmas Eve.

most of the presents are wrapped.
all of them have arrived from the big brown truck (I think).
assembly, where needed is done.
Christmas cards (part) are in the mail just in time for the day after.
rooms are spruced up for Great Grandma and Grandpa Lybbert and Great Aunt Thomasene's arrival tonight.
ordering pizza for dinner. maybe this will be our tradition.
Baden told me he prayed for snow in his personal prayers last night.
suggested he pray. harder.

Hope you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS. and pray for snow.

Keeping the magic alive. . .

HERE.

Sweetest thing ever!

Captured

photo credit: You Look Nice Today Photography

We had our first ever family photo shoot the day before Thanksgiving. Ryan and his wife Tiffany, from You Look Nice Today (such a great name, don’t you think?) met us at the top of a hill overlooking the Tri-Cities. The temps were chilly, but the lighting was sublime and miraculously, there was no wind!

Let me tell you, I’m in love with the pictures. Over the moon happy. I haven’t stopped smiling since I first saw them on Sunday.

He perfectly captured the essence of our free-spirited children and our family that I want to always remember. My little treasures and I couldn’t be more pleased. He's so good you can't even tell that:

• Baden had a meltdown when he realized Kate lost his “dinosaur bone” he had found in the wheat field.

• Kate woke up on the wrong-side of the bed after her nap and was semi-uncooperative.

• Carson kept throwing dirt clods.

• Clara was so miserably cold her face was as red as a cherry.

• Chandler had to be reminded that flashing signs and performing MJ moves during our photo shoot were not acceptable.

Go here, to see what I mean.

If you’re in the Portland, OR area or Tri-Cities, WA area, Ryan is your man. Plus, he uses film. And you can’t argue with the beauty of film.

Joy to the world,

my Clara is finally happy.
Smiles.
Naps.
Contentment.

We'll work on sleeping through the night, next year. That is if I can handle it.

Hallelujah!

This was a magical scene to find on my nightly check on the children before going to bed routine.
It erased him right off the naughty list.I pray every day to know what each of my children need.
Because I certainly can't figure them out all by myself.
I often get answers at unexpected times.
Moments that leave me knowing the answers are heaven-sent.
They are answers that can't be found in books, or in the latest parenting magazine.
Specific answers for that child.
I've gotten a few much needed answers this week that have helped me understand a child better.
Answers to prayers for me are gifts that money can't buy.
So very thankful.

Some nights I stall a little longer than others before I feel rejuvenated enough to want to go to bed. No little bodies need me. Not a squeal to be heard. Just the tick and the tock of the clock. I almost don't want it to end.

I pray every day to know what each of my children need.
Because I certainly can't figure them out all by myself.
I often get answers at unexpected times.
Moments that leave me knowing the answers are heaven-sent.
They are answers that can't be found in books, or in the latest parenting magazine.
Specific answers for that child.
And they won't work for my other children.

I think this is beautiful.

Mary Kept These Things and Pondered Them in Her Heart, by Lonni Clarke

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest” (Luke 1:30–32).



Spotted on the back page of the December Ensign.

She's all that

Listener extraordinaire. Adventure seeker. Feline lover. Compassionate service giver. Intuitive. Insightful. VW driver. Shoe buyer. Realist. Faithful. Treat deliverer. Ella’s mother. Sophia’s mother. Leif’s mother. Andre’s wife. Kind. Genuine. Surprise hater. World traveler. Immaculate housekeeper. Diligent thank-you note writer. Thoughtful blog writer. “News” watcher. Lowercase letter typist. Lucky charm eater. Lemon Perrier drinker. Advice giver. Ski slope lover. Wake boarder. Mountain biker. Social worker. Pristine gardener. Smiles. Outdoors lover. Load lightener. Strong spirit. Happy woman.

To my friend who inspires in every sense of the word.

Happy Birthday to YOU!