Yo ho ho ho

A pirates life for me! It is freezing today! I know we don't really know what freezing is in New Mexico but it is currently -1 degrees with the wind chill and we are feeling it even inside!! Alexander got all bundled up this morning with two long sleeved shirts, a coat, his socks and snow boots, jean,s his Canadian hat and his gloves all by himself and went outside in the backyard. I didn't realize it was in the negatives so I shewed him back in and they decided to be pirates instead of Antarctica explorers. They used the stairs as their ship because there is a middle landing perfect for their loot. I thought it was great because they were getting along and using their imaginations. Although every time I would board their ship (use the stairs) they started shooting me with imaginary rifles. The funny thing is they told me I was the good guy and they were the bad guys but I was the one that always had to die.

Alexander was using the tennis racket as a weapon while Eva was looking for more good guys to shoot

They even had patches that I found, and I put their pirate banner up for effect.

Oh and Alexander informed me that pirates LOVE cheese sandwiches for lunch (his request every day)

We are winding down with How to Train your dragon on the projector and popcorn and skittles while I try to get through the giant masses of laundry and feel warm and cosy on this frosty day.

P.S Daniel put that Rodeo song on the play list and I didn't realize it was there until after the fact. BLARG

Jamison Laughing

I love this kid

My favorite little dancers

They loved these little high tech tops

Christmas Morning!

The kids have been so excited for Christmas morning this year. All month long we have been watching Christmas movies, making cookies, making desserts, decorating and just relaxing. It was Jamison's first Christmas and he is the youngest baby at Christmas so far in our family. I LOVE being home for Christmas. Its just so comfortable and relaxing. So here are some of the photo's from Christmas morning.

Here we are coming down the stairs. Alexander and Eva were so happy and excited.

Alexander opening gifts from Santa

He was very excited after every gift :)

Jamison opening a gift
Eva's favorite gift that morning
They all got one of these. Jamison is too small for it but he will love it when he gets big enough.
After santa gifts we opened family gifts

It was a fun morning and we are all still playing with the gifts and just relaxing but I am already thinking about all the organizing to do for New Years. We are staying home New Years and going to bed as soon as the clock turns midnight.

Merry Christmas

I LOVE my husband

Daniel finished all the floors and all the transitions and everything! He is the BEST! You can look here for the before's of this room

Here are some pictures of the front room with furniture.

part of the front room

That is the front door to the right
Eva running through the picture

The little sitting area by the front window
picture taken from the sitting area
(I hate the couch but it will be there until we find a new one to go in there)
The wall behind the dining table is going to have my seascape collection as soon as I finish it
oh and the china hutch will go in the corner where the baby chair is

A view from the stairs
My dining set.
Yes Daniel even finished my chairs for me!

Alexander playing dead for the camera
why? good question.
Eva joining in of the playing dead

I have to admit I have felt extremely spoiled this time around (having Jamison) Daniel has been doing everything and hasn't complained or anything (unlike myself) He really is a great man (cheesy I know but he helps me so much!)

Miriam

I am the luckiest Mother alive

In Relief Society today the lesson was on Motherhood. So the 1st counselor had the primary president's husband take pictures of the primary children last week just in primary going to class etc. Then she chose 50 of those pictures and we were supposed to look through half the stack and find a picture to each use for the object lesson. LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN THE STACK THAT CAME TO MY SIDE OF THE ROOM! Its from last week Alexander's first talk ever and I have a picture of it. I feel so lucky!

Gratitude

I have been reflecting deep within myself on this last year for the past few days and I am really grateful for everything I have. We have come pretty far from where we were just a year ago and my heart is full of gratitude to my Heavenly Father. We have been blessed immensely through family and friends and the gospel and we are just so grateful. I have really been loving life. There are many ups and sometimes it seems even more downs but it all strengthens us and helps us to see the bigger perspective. I often let all the little things and big things get to me and at times that causes the feeling of desperation and a lack of faith. I have felt my lack of faith many times this last year and Daniel has been there to pick up the slack and in just a small amount of time it is restored. I am so grateful for the strength he brings to our family.

On Sunday I felt inspired to bare my testimony. This does not happen often. I usually sit there and take care of the kids and don't even look inside myself to see if the spirit is prodding me to get up ( a horrible habit I know ). I noticed hardly anyone getting up and it made me realize that everyone is probably having a rough time and that they just weren't feeling it (this is how I was feeling). Christmas time brings much joy but can often bring feelings of sadness, regret, nostalgia and even loneliness. So I got up, I didn't think I would uplift anyone I just knew that getting up would uplift my spirits which was what I needed. When I sat back down I felt an overpowering feeling that I am not perfect and its ok that I am not. I do not bare a perfect testimony, I don't tell funny stories or horrible stories or stories that make you cry but I shared my testimony with everyone in the room and most importantly with myself. The feeling that I am imperfect gave me great comfort. I get so overwhelmed with all the things I feel I should be accomplishing and I am not and it pulls me down and makes me feel as though I am not good enough and constantly falling short.

I was reminded that I am not perfect, non of us is perfect but this life is the time to strive for that. But the perfection we are striving for is so that we can be with our families eternally. I kept telling myself perfection was getting my to do lists all accomplished, trying to keep up with everyone in the world. Sunday made me re-realized that I need to live in the world not of the world. I need to trust Heavenly Father with my short comings. I feel good and I wanted to share the feeling.

Merry Christmas,