Christmas Report and Mexico Preview

This year, our Christmas present was a trip to Mexico for the whole family. Months ago it was unanimously agreed upon that a trip was better than presents. In a later post (as soon as the 600+ pictures are sorted), I will give more details and photos. The trip was a huge success with very few hard moments. I am loving the ages of my kids right now. They are so fun and easy most of the time.

One of the highlights for me was a moment I shared with Wendy: We were on the upper level of our hotel pool, overlooking the older girls and James building a sandcastle as the sun set. The temperature was perfect and the scenery breathtaking, along with the lulling sound of waves crashing. Before long, Wendy pointed out the first star. I took that opportunuty to teach her about wishing on the first star, you know, "Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." Once she had the words down, she made her wish and asked me if I had made a wish too. I told her that I wasn't sure what to wish for, and her reply was, "Well Mom, sometimes I'm a little naughty, so I think you should make a wish that I won't be naughty any more." And she was serious.

We got home on Christmas Eve and headed to my Mom and Dad's house to spend Christmas with the family. I was a little nervous that since the trip was over and everyone else would have a lot more presents, the kids might regret our decision to take a trip. After the gift opening was done, Wendy remarked at how many presents she got, and Christine said she got everything from her list except the Ferrari (maybe next year). Once we got home I asked them if they were still happy about our choice, and their response was a resounding "YES!" I'm so happy they share my love of travel. Stay tuned for pictures.

Let the Winter Begin

Winter Storm Warning now in effect until 5 am MST Tuesday...
... Blizzard Warning in effect from 5 am to 11 PM MST Tuesday...

* Winds/visibility... sustained winds at 20 to 30 mph with gusts to
40 mph will increase during the day Tuesday. Widespread zero
visibilities are forecast by Tuesday due to snow and blowing
snow.

* snow accumulations... additional accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are
forecast.

* Impacts... life threatening conditions will occur through
Tuesday. Whiteout conditions will disorient travelers or those
stepping a short way from warm and dry shelter. Power outages
may also occur.

Precautionary/preparedness actions... A Blizzard Warning means sever

winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing

snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to

whiteout conditions... making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel.

If you must travel... have a winter survival kit with you. If you get
stranded... stay with your vehicle.

I really hope I can get to the store tomorrow to buy a turkey and everything that goes with it. Otherwise I will have about 20 hungry people hanging out at my house. I guess I will go pack my winter survival kit.

Two years later

Our town is small enough that we don’t have a single pet store. We do, however, have pets. One day about two years ago, Christine and Amber were cleaning out the mouse cage when they informed me we were out of bedding. I asked if they meant we were almost out of bedding. But no, they assured me we were completely out. What did they expect me to do? The nearest pet store is 35 miles away, and I was in no position to go there right that minute. Then I thought of a local store called CAL Ranch (I have no idea what the CAL stands for). So, I went down there to see if they had any mouse bedding. They had a collection of stuff from camping gear to sprinkler system parts to cowboy/girl clothing plus a large assortment of animal paraphernalia, so I started looking in that section. I found cow colostrum (I’m not kidding), animal birthing tools, salt licks, horse tack, baby chicks, and large animal feed, but nothing for mice (with the exception of mouse traps, mouse poison, and mouse-looking toys for dogs.). So, I decided to go ask one of the cashiers. This is how the conversation went,

“Hello, do you have any pine bedding?”

“Why, yes, we do.”

“How much does it cost?”

“Ten dollars.” Ten dollars seemed a bit expensive, but what was my choice? So I said, “OK, I’ll take it.” After I paid for it, the lady said, “I’ll call someone to help you load It.” ……Load it? I need a man to help me load it? What did I just buy, and will it fit in my car? All of these questions and more were going through my mind at this point. So I followed the man outside, looking all the while like I knew what to expect, and this is what I saw: a shrink-wrapped package of pine bedding the size and weight of my six year old, with a picture of a horse on the front. It did fit into the back of my minivan, and in two years we have barely made a dent in it. I’m sure it will outlive the mice, but it’s good to know that for ten dollars you can get a lifetime supply.

I've Arrived...Somewhere

Today, I took all of the kids out to dinner by myself. Now this in and of itself is not completely new. The new thing is that it was easy and fun! I only had to chase Wendy down once as she was headed to another table to be social (In her defense, she can't really help it. It's just in her nature to find friends everywhere.). The food was good and the conversation too.

I couldn't help but think back to some very difficult dining out experiences in the past. The most memorable of which was when we just had one baby, and James and I took turns, one of us eating while the other stood outside in the rain holding and comforting a VERY fussy Christine. Another when the childless couple sitting at the booth next to us informed me that my child wouldn't stop staring at them and could I please make her stop, as if being stared at was the worst thing that had happened to them all week. I can't count the number of times I've left a fine meal to change an extremely messy diaper in an extremely small, confined space, or left the restaurant soaking wet from some one's spilled water, and mainly just feeling like I wanted to pull out all of my hair by the time we were done eating. This was such a different experience, and I loved it. Now if I could somehow get them to pay too...

We Will Move Faster if We Hurry Less

I have always been one who thrives on free time, requiring more alone time than most. Since having kids I definitely don't get much of either. Today, James has the girls (and one neighbor kid) at Mack's Inn, and Jack is at a youth event, which leaves me home alone. I don't remember the last time that happened. After trying to cram in everything that needs to be done before I join my family tomorrow, I found myself reading an article titled, "Don't Be In a Hurry." Even while I was trying to read as fast as I could so I would be able to finish all of my tasks, I came upon a couple of gems.

"When you get up in the morning, before you suffer yourselves to eat one mouthful of food,...bow down before the Lord, ask Him to forgive your sins, and protect you throughout the day, to preserve you from temptation and all evil, to guide your steps aright, that you may do something that day that shall be beneficial to the kingdom of God on the earth."

"Does our sense of urgency, initially fed by noble purposefulness, morph into mere busyness?"

"When we plan some time for contemplation and renewal, we will feel drawn to our work instead of driven to it."

"Be still, and know that I am God"

It is always good to be reminded that our to-do list, while noble, is not the sole purpose of our days. Now, I think I'll go do yoga.

...And Jack makes seven

That's right, we are now a family of seven and proud parents of a teenager. So far he is a model teenager who eats anything and helps with housework. With one more hand, I actually get the opportunity to mop the floor more than once every millennium. Thanks to his natural parents for raising him so well, and I have to say thumbs up to an exchange student from Thailand!

The problem with camping...

The problem with camping with four little girls when you are 100 yards from the car and a half mile from the nearest bathroom is that, between the time they say they need to go and when you arrive to the bathroom, the poop "sneeks back in" and they don't need to go anymore. We just returned from the "City of Rocks" for a little rock climbing. Definately worth the three hour drive.