Catch Up

Well, every now and then, I think that I should get around to blogging.  Then I think to myself that no one reads blogs anymore and move on to something else.

Really though- I am not much for Facebooking. I like blogging.   I'll "like" stuff on facebook, but since I overheard the Relief Society presidency talking about how to use facebook to keep tabs on the sisters in the ward (this was in a previous ward) I got a little creeped out.  Not that I have secrets, it's just that words can be so easily misinterpreted online.

Mia was great in The Unsinkable Molly Brown.  She was a town child, a party child, and a life boat child.  She is getting to be quite the actress.  She made friends with the other kids in the cast and had a great time.  Gary did end up joining the cast at the last minute, to sing during intermission and also to play his clarinet in a party scene.

James and Jonny played flag football, for the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers respectively.  They learned a lot and had some great moments on the field.  James had a few turns at QB and Jonny pulled flags like crazy.  I was proud of them for doing their best. 

James got to lead the music at the church Christmas party- 5 hymns in front of the congregation of adults and kids- he did a super job.

James also got the part of Charlie Bucket in his school play Willy Wonka Jr.  The roles have been double cast, to give more opportunities for kids to participate.  He will have the part for 2 of the performances.  I am told he is known as "the Charlie Bucket that can sing."  and the other kid is "the Charlie Bucket that can act."   Umm- he can do both- but I think his nickname is more flattering somehow.  Come see him in March! 

Rachel learned to use the potty, so now we have none in diapers!  This is a huge moment in kiddodiddo history for sure!

Simon has settled down into kindergarten very nicely. I am grateful that he is enjoying making new friends and learning to read. 

Halloween was cute.  We had 2 ninjas, a pumpkin, a vampire, and the grim reaper.  I don't think I got any photos of that.  Sorry to you and me both. 

Rachel and I spent time this fall volunteering for the RNC making phone calls and eating elephant cookies.  But in reverse order- I listed her first as is grammatically correct, but she ate the cookies and I made the phone calls.  Disappointing election, but at least we did our best to get out the vote. 

Gary and I were very blessed to be able to take a trip to Hawaii in November.  It was an incredible time and if you want to see pictures, let me know and I will hook you up.  My favorite time was snorkeling in Hanuama Bay where I saw incredible tropical fish and even a sea turtle!  (you pronounce it Hu-now-ma Bay.  I tried to say it Ha-new-a-ma Bay, like the old Hawaiian dude in the welcome video, and everyone looked at me funny.  I guess you have to be an old Hawaiian dude to get away with saying it the old Hawaiian way:)

I managed to catch both the flu and strep throat last month and was most miserable for about a week- the doctor insisted that statistically I could not have both, so did not medicate me for both until the lab results came in- 4 days later.  Lucky me, to beat the odds.  Even luckier me that I am not allergic to penicillin.   I now have one more kid who is.  Poor thing caught strep throat last week and is now covered (literally) from head to toe in horrible, itching hives. Luckily she is now on the mend from both infirmities. 

Christmas was lovely.  The night before we acted out the Christmas story and Rachel got to be Mary.  She is still talking about how she got to do that all by herself.  She rode the donkey (rocking  horse) and held baby Jesus and watched over him in his manger (dolly cradle.)  James was the inn keeper, Jonny was the wise man, Mia and Simon were shepherds.  Gary was Joseph and I was the angel. That's the caption, in case I show a photo.  I know we took one.  

The first snow also came with Christmas.  The kids had fun running in and out throwing snowballs, etc.  Of course they had to warm up with hot chocolate too. Yum!

My favorite moment of all (recently) has to be when I was frantically making "hurry up ham" to feed the sister missionaries.  They were coming in 10 minutes and I spilled the package of egg noodles- main ingredient- all over the floor.  What a mess!  Before I could say a word my 2 children (who fight each other the most) grabbed the broom and dust pan and worked together peacefully while I scoured the cupboards for more noodles.  What a sight to warm my mother heart. 

Sending love to you all- and a promise to give more pictures and updates in the New Year!