We had a wonderful Christmas full of visits from friends and fun and family.

Everything happened just as it should and all of my stresses and fears just seem silly, now.

None were disappointed, as far as I could tell. There was one whisper of "Dad, it's pink!?" As L peered into the box containing the parts to his new beach cruiser bicycle. Oops, yes, sometimes there are mistakes. He was happy with the top hat, leatherman, and phone. Yes, a top hat. Our babes lists were very amusing this year. Ja received a monicle and unicycle, but not the segway or the bidet. Lu loves his watermelon, ipod and bowler cap and didn't even complain that he didn't get a "fancy sword" because he will share Dad's :) For at least the 10th year in a row, K did not get a puppy. However, she was happy with her books, music, mirror and dress.

R and I were surprised to not be awakened until 7a. Kindly, the babes had been awake for a while and just played and talked as long as they could stand it. I think Ja woke them all up when he came home from milking the cow around the corner. A friend and his dad had planned to go at 6:15a, but the boys went at 4:45a as a gift for the dad. Gosh, that sounds like it would make a good movie. Oh, wait, it did. Well, the boys don't know, they just felt really good doing it.

In the afternoon, we had family pics. New hats and all. I love them. Hopefully, you will see them soon. Thanks, Mom for arranging them for us all!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas Adam. My babes insist that is the name of the 23rd because "Adam came before Eve, you silly!"

I feel lost in the shuffle, today. I rose early and zipped around all day while the ones with the babes bathed and changed them repeatedly. Oh thank you , thank you, thank you! Yuck to the 12 hour bug! And yeah that it is only 12 hours. (Unless you are 1 and then it stays longer) :(

We got great haircuts just in time for our Christmas Day family photo.

We saw an old friend who reminded us that a little bit over a long time can really add up! It is so worth the effort!

We dropped off treats for R's co-workers.

We surprised our favorite Honamotive mechanics with a treat for great service delivered with integrity over the years when we picked up our car from the tune-up. They were speechless.

We enjoyed an evening at home with warm showers, loud voices and then sleeping babes and the cousins. Ahhhhh.

I still feel like I have a ton to do tomorrow. I have been online checking store hours and mapping a plan, but really have no desire to go. (Which is why I am in this predicament in the first place.)
Fortunately, like each day, the important things will get finished and everything else suddenly will feel not so necessary.

Merry Christmas Adam!

I know, 2 in one day. What is this world coming to?


Our home is warm, smelling of cookies (thanks to L and Alton Brown's sugar cookie recipe), and full: of people and love. The Greens arrived tonight after a 27 hour drive across the country, and we get them here. We are so lucky!

Last night I did NOT sleep on the couch. This year of being transient has been rotten for training Tr to sleep. She is 15 months old tomorrow and has maybe slept through the night 5 times. GRRRR, but, I know it is my own doing. Lately, she wakes screaming and will only be consoled by me. After about the 3rd time before 1, I am so exhausted that I just take her onto the couch and let her sleep in my nest (the space at the opposite end from my head where she is walled in by my legs:) ) That way, I only have to exert minimal effort tending to her in the night. Bad parenting, I know. Learn from me and don't start this. It will only exacerbate the problem and give you dark circles under your eyes. So, last night, I put forth more effort and let her stay in her bed and fuss while I was nearby and it worked. She realized she was ok and fell back asleep and then I did, too, in my own bed:).

Hmmm... What else do I need to let my babes learn...


This morning, I made 5 lbs of mashed potatoes with gravy before breakfast for a luncheon at R's hospital. Now I will clean up the potatoes and breakfast and start Hawaiian haystacks for "maybe 20" seniors lunching here after their first 1/2 day of finals. When I get that cleaned up, it will be time to prepare beds for the Greens who just drove into New Mexico on their way here. They said they only have 30,000 of their 75,000 bottles of beer on the wall until they arrive tonight. HOORAY!!!

I feel absolutely negligent. Our life is rich and blessed and silly and worrisome and stressful and blessed and I haven't been telling about any of it.

You have just entered my time capsule, and are going back in time. You know how to escape if you want, but if you are staying put for the ride, then hang on. It may be a bumpy one!

I love Veterans Day. Our cub scouts and their leaders started us out right with an early morning outdoor flag raising ceremony and then pancake breakfast. At breakfast, our lives changed forever when we had our first taste of the Petramalo's homemade coconut syrup. It has been a staple in our kitchen ever since. The parade in Mesa was short and sweet, and it was so fun to cheer for L in the marching band. We did get him to crack a smile!

Fall wouldn't be the same without our school Fall Festival. J was camping, so I only had the 3 youngest. K sat and painted faces, our traditional volunteer assignment. Wow, the kids who got in her line sure were lucky and so happy when they saw the artwork their 2 tickets had purchased.

The babes and I have been enjoying library story time, together. It is especially for 2 year olds and little siblings, so we fit right in. The 20 minutes of stories and songs are just right. We occasionally have friends there, and T loves some computer time to top it off.

Almost forgot. I turned 39! It was painless and fun. R took the day off and we went to an early temple session. I loved the time with him, there. We ran some errands with no babes, thanks to a wonderful sister.

Thanksgiving was spent with family. What a joy and what a blessing. The boys and I spent the evening before making pies. That was our assignment, oh yeah, and green beans. Yum. We made chocolate cream, banana cream, toasted coconut cream and key lime. Again, YUM!

The beginning of December brought a big deadline. College applications were due. Yes, K spent several busy hours filing them out, gathering information and using my card to pay various fees. I think she was glad for the deadline, as she had spent months prior agonizing over which schools to apply to. She decided on BYU Provo and Idaho and NAU. Right now, she wants to study vocal performance. I am excited for her.

One of my favorite parts of this season, is all of the concerts and programs. Some weeks, every night. Other weeks, we have a couple of days off. J had a band concert. And then, on another night, played his trumpet while the 5th and 6th grade chorus sang. Lu sang with the 3rd and4th grade chorus and mourned not being chosen for the solo. Maybe next time:) L played with one of the concert bands. K had multiple concerts and the always wonderful Holiday Dinners. Her choir will perform at the temple on Thursday at 7 if anyone wants to join us.

I enjoyed my first auction, and my second. He hee.

R is the all time king of online shopping! I am very impressed!

We are looking forward to the arrival of the Greens from Indiana. They will be staying with us through the Holidays. 7 in all, unless there are some Penwell stowaways:) Em has perfected the art of cake decorating and now "cupcakeing" We can hardly wait.

A few weeks ago L came home and asked...
L: Do we like Australians?
Me: Of course, why?
L: Can we get one?
Me: What?
The band is arranging host families for a group of students in January. Long story short, we will be hosting 2 of them and can hardly wait. It will be so fun and we are really looking forward to meeting you both, Jade and Georgina!

I have loved the cold weather and rain, and I love the warm days, too. There is just something for being able to send the kids out to play without coats. I love it.

Congratulation, to those of you who survived this torture. And if you didn't, I understand that, too. Errands tomorrow with 2 babes. Goodnight!