A wizzle celebration...

Our sweet Elli turned 8 on December 21st (the first day of winter). Her dad calls her WIZZLE and her mom calls her BELLE.

Here are just 10 of the many things we love about her...

1) She has lots of happy energy and loves to smile.
2) She LOVES animals and would have one of every kind if we would let her.
3) She gives lots of hugs and kind words.
4) She is an awesome soccer player.
5) She LOVES babies and wants to be a mom "sooo bad!"
6) She is a great cleaner and organizer.
7) Math is her favorite subject at school.
8) She loves to ride her bike and play outside.
9) She loves music and is learning to play the piano.
10) She has a great sense of humor and makes us laugh! She is our crazy wizzle!

Happy Birthday, Elli! We love you!!

So you think you can dance?...

Here's a little old fashioned Christmas wish from ours to yours...

go to: http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/EGMdWdUa3VxViF7EvTlJ

**Remember to mute the blog music first :)

What's in a name...

Recently, Rachel was interested in the meaning of her name. That led to a fun search of the meaning of each family member's name...

Erling Alex
Erling: Noblemans son
Alex: Protector of mankind

Tanya Ann
Tanya: Fairy queen
Ann: Gracious

Rachel Ann
Rachel: Innocent lamb
Ann: Gracious

Elisabeth Nicole
Elisabeth: Consecrated to God
Nicole: Victory of the people
Nickname "Elli" means devoted to God

Benjamin Alex
Benjamin: Son of my right hand
Alex: Protecter of mankind

The Dogs
Molly: Bitter
Zelda: Woman warrior

Well, I'm a "gracious fairy princess"...how fitting! O.K., let's hear it. What does your name mean?

You can go to http://www.meaning-of-names.com/search/ to find out.

photo shoot

While downloading some pictures I discovered a private Little People's photo shoot...courtesy of Ben. It cracked me up. The kids absolutely love this nativity set. They play with it for hours. Ben keeps referring to Mary as "Mary Flowers"...not sure where he came up with that, but I think it's so cute that I don't want to correct him. His sisters do however.

I overheard them playing yesterday. They named the one on the left King Jose and the one on the right King Julian. Don't ask me.

* * *

Does this happen to anyone else's gingerbread houses?! Where, oh where have my gumdrops, red hots, bubble gum, and sprees gone? Oh where, oh where could they be? Guess there are no takers on the starlight mints and butterscotch thingys.

We survived...

No need to worry, my mother and I survived Black Friday...didn't start any fist fights or use a single swear word. That's me on the left.

My Heavenly Father loves me...

On this Thanksgiving day and always, we have much to be thankful for! May we be overwhelmed with gratitude as we count even the smallest of things as blessings from our Heavenly Father. Thank you to each life that touches ours. We took a moment today to sing a primary favorite and ponder it's words...

Whenever I hear the song of a bird

.

.

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

.

.
Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

.

.

Whenever I touch a velvet rose.

.

Or walk by a lilac tree,

I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heavenly Father created for me.

* * *

He gave me my eyes that I might see

The color of butterfly wings.

He gave me my ears that I might hear

The magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:

I thank him reverently

For all his creations of which I'm a part.

Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

Today I'm thankful for...

* * *

Just a thought...

Hope is critical to both faith and charity. When disobedience, disappointment, and procastrination erode faith, hope is there to uphold our faith. When frustration and impatience challenge charity, hope braces our resolve and urges us to care for our fellowmen even without expectation of reward. The brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stonger our hope, the purer our charity.

-President Dieter F. Uchdorf

Second Coundselor in the First Presidency

What the fang?!!

We went to the premier of Twilight at 12:05 am on Friday! Can anyone say cheese?! Fortunately, I like cheese and I like hanging with the girls. Elisa coined the phrase "what the fang?" I thought it was hilarious (maybe you had to be there or maybe we were just so tired that everything was funny). I started New Moon yesterday while the kids played at Jumping Jacks. After three hours the kids kept saying that they were tired and wanted to go home. I just told them to go jump some more. I chipped off 149 pages and I'm ready for more. The kids slept well last night.

What I know...

Sometimes I complicate life. I try to re-invent the wheel (as Georgia would tell me). I'm a "wheel re-inventer". Sometimes my brain won't turn off thinking about how to tweek this and how to tweek that. I forget the things I already know.

I had an epiphany at church today.

I need to return to the things I've learned...nothing new or profound and really not too original.

Here are a few things that I've learned:

God lives and loves me.

God loves everyone just as much as He loves me.

I can't change other people...only myself

Share everything

Play fair

Say you're sorry when you hurt someone

Clean up your own mess

Don't take things that aren't yours

Happiness comes from serving someone besides yourself

Be kind

Remember people's names

Practice what you preach

Forgive people quickly

Put things back where you found them

Do more listening, less talking

I am a Child of God

***

It's knowing and living the most simple things that brings the most happiness and peace.

Crazy eights tag...

I've been tagged by my friend, Heather. . .thanks a bunch! I couldn't possibly let her down, so here it goes...

Favorite TV shows (in no particular order)

1) Jon & Kate plus eight
2) Law & Order (any variety)
3) Dr. Phil
4) King of Queens (reruns)
5) Biggest Loser
6) The Office
7) Third Rock from the Sun (reruns)
8) Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives

Some of the things I did yesterday

1) Went to an allergist appointment (I'm off the shots now...yeah!)
2) Went to lunch with Michelle at Olive Garden...yummy!
3) Delivered Scentsy orders
4) Went to Macey's with the whole fam damily (according to Alex he was living in Old Mother Hubbard's house)
5) Did 2 loads of laundry
6) Cleaned a clients house
7) Tripped and fell in my family room (no worries, I'm OK)
8) Looked all over town (well, not really) for our two stupid...sorry, not supposed to use the S word...trouble making dogs. They dug a whole under the fence, escaped and were missing for 4 hours. Thanks to the Ludlows for finding them and calling us. They were just guessing they they belonged to us because they didn't have their collars on...they chewed them off each other! Needless to say, while we were at Macey's (see #4) we bought them new shiny metal ones!

This is turning out to be a really long tag...

Favorite Resturants

1) Mimi's
2) Mongolian BBQ
3) La Puenta
4) Joe Bandido's
5) Olive Garden
6) Ruby Tuesdays
7) Training Table
8) Los 3 Amigos

Nothing light for me...

A few things on my wish list

1) a fancy, dancy new camera
2) a new body...pre-baby. Better yet, my perfect resurrected body, NOW!
3) to go on a cruise with Alex...sporting my perfect resurrected body!
4) for my kids to make choices that bring them happiness and peace.
5) to hire someone to do all my laundry...weekly.
6) to have my dad home by Christmas.
7) to live out all my days with Alex. Unless he turns into a grumpy old man. Oh, wait, he already is!
8) to never do anything that would make someone feel sad.

Things I love about Fall

1) smell
2) changing leaf colors
3) cool, crisp air
4) memories of meeting Alex
5) Smell of Scentsy candles...yes, that was a plug!
6) Thanksgiving with family
7) Using big, cozy blankets
8) Taking pictures...Fall makes for an amazing backdrop

So, there it is! Like it or not...

Tag to anyone who feels so inclined :)

I finally did it...

***

I fought it as long as I could. Elisa and Stacia invited me to go with them to the opening night of Twilight. I make it a rule, if at all possible, to never turn down a good party invitation. I knew I couldn't possibly see the movie at a theater filled with a bunch of crazy, silly vampire lovers and not have read the book. Sooo, I took the dusty Twilight book off my book shelf and read it this weekend.

***
I couldn't put it down...

I was mesmerized! I hate giving into peer pressure.

Where can I get the next one?!!

I should have seen it coming...

.

It's my fault really...he did tell me several times that he was STARVING and begged me to fix him dinner... at 4:30 pm.

.

This is what happens when Ben takes matters into his own hands...

***

Peanut butter, grated cheese and jelly sandwich!

Knife licking good!!

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He ate about half and didn't utter a single complaint of starvation after that. I guess he just needed a little protein fix...can't blame the boy.

Quotes from Chuck...

I've always loved Charlie Brown...as a child I watched my mom play the role of Lucy Van Pelt in the play "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". After seeing the play at least a dozen times, I had all the lines and songs memorized.

I had a roomate in college who we called Chuck because she was always cheering for the underdog (whoever or whatever that may have been at the time). At Christmas, we had to pick a tree that was "never going to get a home". Needless to say, our Christmas trees always had unusal character and charm.

Some of my favorite Charlie Brown quotes...

***

"That's the secret to life...replace one worry with another"

***

"It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black."

***

"I've developed a new philosophy...I only dread one day at a time."

***

"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me, 'This is going to take more than one night'"

***

"This is my depressed stance. When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this."

***

"Happiness is anyone and anything that's loved by you."

Missing my dad...

Tonight, Alex pointed out the amazing reflection of the sunset on the mountains. I couldn't resist taking a few pictures.

***

The mountains always remind me of my dad.

Growing up, our house faced the Wasatch Front. Every Sunday as we came home from church, my dad would drive around the corner to the house, stop the car, and say, "Aren't those mountains beautiful?...Do you know how lucky we are to live near mountains like this?!" We would roll our eyes and say "yes, we know, they are so beautiful and we are so lucky!"

I love my dad's positive outlook and gratitude. I miss my dad and can't wait for him to be home where he can enjoy the mountains he loves so dearly!

Halloweened out...

The Kids had a blast this week celebrating Halloween. The celebration started with a trip to Grandma Lynda's annual family Halloween get together. We had yummy chili, carved pumpkins and listened to several children not using their indoor voices for about two hours...

Sticking your tongue out makes pumpkin carving easier!

Vampire teeth and Ben's ghost pumpkin

Rachel designing her pumpkin and cute Aunt Marie and Christian

Tuesday night we ventured over to the nursing home where Grandma Melanie works. They put on an awesome party, with LOTS of fun stuff for the kids to do!

Alex always likes to create his own costume.

This is what he came up this year...

I'm not quite sure if it is church approved...

Grandma Mel appeared as "The Witch". She cackled, cracked jokes and made a witches's brew for the kids to drink. She does an amazing job! Last year the kids didn't even know it was her. She has frequent requests to make guest visits at Hallowen parties.

Grandma Mel referred to Elli as "little witchy poo"

The kids enjoying the delightful decor at Grandpa and Grandma Mel's house.

I can hardly wait to throw these pumpkins away on November 1st. They are so shriveled up and have teeny tiny little buggy things crawling in them.

The runaway chipmunk...

The dogs were barking furiously, so I went outside to see what had their attention. They had scared this poor little chipmunk up the side of the neighbor's house. As far as I know, chipmunk sightings are pretty rare 'round here.

He eventually ran to the top of the house and went down the other side. The next day the children pointed out that the Chipmunk was now on OUR roof.

Interesting...

If anyone is missing a chipmunk, please let us know!