New Year Wishes

I am feeling really bogged down with all the things I HAVE to do and all the things I WANT to do, that something's gotta give. Unfortunately, it seems to be this blog that I so enjoy doing. It's a fun little outlet for me; it helps keep our extended families and friends up-to-date with what we're doing; and the main reason I started blogging was to then slurp them into Blurb books for our family history. Today's the last day of 2009 so I need to make this year's book now and I still need to make 2008's! I'm hoping in 2010 I can be more organized- which basically means I need to be "on" always. If I ever take a breather for myself things get out of control. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up and stay sane. Hoping you have a fun New Year's Eve and that your goals for 2010 will be reached!

True Christmas Wishes

I collect Santas- I think he's a jolly guy. I also collect Nativities- Jesus' birth is the whole reason for the season. For years I've wanted a display of Santa worshipping the baby Jesus. I still haven't found a larger figurine, but I did see this ornament and thought it was precious. I also wanted to share a little Christmas scripture from the Book of Mormon:

2 Nephi 25:26- And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

This is why we celebrate Christmas!

Santa please come!

The Ward Party Santa pics were put up on Flickr, so I stole a few cute ones of friends. Again, I'm working on the premise that it's better to ask forgiveness instead of permission- so if any of you want me to remove your family photo, let me know and I will. Until then, enjoy!

We hope Santa visits us and all of you tonight!

Merry Christmas!

Mandarin to French- Kaleb and Noe are adjusting well to learning a new language and everything else that goes with life in Second Grade.

England and Ireland- Leonard's new desk job back at headquarters is very enjoyable and has put the hope of another European Adventure in our blood.

Reading lots- Jennifer is excited to be involved in Book Club again (and can't wait to read Len's novel he finally started!)

Ruurs, Margriet- The author of "Emma's Eggs," "Wake Up! Henry Rooster," and "Animal Alphabed" whom we got to meet this spring.

Young Women's President- Jennifer is happy to be working with the 12-18 year old girls at church, but is feeling old since it was half her life ago when she was a teenager.

Cheerleading, Taekwondo, and Playgroups- the kids are involved in many fun activities and mommy is involved in being the chauffer.

Homeowners finally- after 8 rounds of packing/moving/unpacking we are officially mortgaged instead of renters and we love it.

Reil's, Pittl's, and Lee's- we sure miss our extended families! We're no longer on the other side of an ocean, but the other side of a continent seems just as far.

Island memories- now that the snow is all around us we keep dreaming of our tropical sunny summer vacations to Hualien and Kenting.

Swimming with dolphins- a lifelong wish was fulfilled at Ocean Park in Taiwan. It was truly magical and we hope to do it again.

Teague our baby #4- he is just the sweetest and cutest little baby ever! (besides Kaleb, Noe, and Gavin) We love having a baby in our family, especially at Christmas time.

Marriages galore- Coleman married my sister Mandy, Lacey married my brother Clint, Len officiated at Shannon & Wen's nuptials, and Kaleb was the ringbearer for Tim & Yvonne!

Anniversary #12- a dozen years of wedded bliss and we got to celebrate with another Cirque du Soleil show, KA, along with our dear friends the Cannon's.

Savior of the world- we are honored to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ during this festive season, and we are humbled by the love He has given to us.

Our wish for you this Christmas and in the coming 2010 is that you may feel the love the Savior has for you through all the joyful relationships in your lives! We are so grateful for your wonderful relationships in ours!

Blizzard or Whirlwind?

Yes, we have snow! In fact we had a snow day last week because it was coming down so thick. Our front porched is covered, but that didn't stop the snow from coming in (horizontally) and settling on our bench, window wreath, Santa & Snowman sign above our mailbox, and of course the porch itself! One of my new favorite things is to sit inside my parked van while the snow is falling and to see all of the beautiful, intricate 6 pointed snowflakes land on the windshield. God truly is an artist! This month has been so busy though, so here's another sneak peek:


Noe's cheer class at the Rec Center put on a little performance for the last day of the semester. She went up in a V-sit, but my camera wasn't working so I missed the shot. The girls were cute though. Kaleb also did his belt testing in Taekwondo and earned his yellow stripe!


The youth at church put on the play "A Stranger for Christmas" and did a fabulous job! We even brought our neighbors to watch it.

Eating green veggies now. Doesn't he look thrilled about it? Actually, he was really tired but wanted food more than sleep.

Gingerbread house only 3 years in the making! Next year we might have to get a few more so everyone can make their own.

Our Ward Christmas Dinner/Talent Show/visit with Santa/Funzone was great fun! I only wish I could jump in the Bouncy Castle too.

Our YW party was a great success with 15 girls in attendance and 7 leaders! It was heartwarming when one of them said she wanted to sit by the "cool" people and she meant me.

Kaleb and Noe had a super fun week at school- McHappy luncheon, craft morning, Christmas assembly, Continental breakfast, and Holiday/Tradition oral reports.

Our Santa Baby is 3 and he LOVED his Thomas the Tank Engine themed family birthday party!

I'm just a kid at heart and love playing with the fun toys with my kids. Gramma sent us a new Little People holiday set and we've all enjoyed it and look forward to opening more treasures next week.

Starting tomorrow Kaleb and Noe are off school for 16 days and Len is off work for the next 10, so we're hoping to have lots of fun family time celebrating the season!

Got Snow?

We do! I always say I like the snow to arrive the day after Thanksgiving (American) and then to leave the day after New Year's. I like just enough for a White Christmas. Well it arrived 4 days after Thanksgiving, but I have a feeling it will stay for a lot longer past the new year. Oh well, to honor today, enjoy this tune!

Outside and Inside

The Christmas decorations are upside! I love this season of Light and will post more pics soon!

Sisterhood

Friday night, we had a fabulous Book Club meeting. We discussed books and had a White Elephant book exchange. We also had our first of two goodie exchanges. I'll post about the books and treats on my Creative Pursuits blog, because the best part of the night was being with friends. I am grateful that every place we have moved I have been encircled by wonderful ladies who inspire me and make life more pleasant!

And as my friend Mary said, "a true friend is someone who strengthens you in the gospel and encourages you to lift where you stand." I am blessed with true friends!

We are Thankful for...

*Spending the day with my family (Len stayed home from work, and we kept Kaleb & Noe home from school). I love days like this with my most favorite people!
*Cookies! I'm participating in 2 goodie exchanges this year. Who doesn't want 22 different kinds of cookies?
*Painting whimsy. I love hobbies and creating things of joy.


*LIFE!
*Sleep, particularly when all of the children sleep through the night.
*Potato chips.


*My family.
*My birthday.
*Playing on the computer.


*My family and good friends.
*Toys, especially dollies.
*Cute cupcakes.


*My family being together.
*Choo choo trains.
*Music.


*My family making me smile.
*Momma's milk.
*Moving around.


We missed our extended families immensely, but we had a thoroughly satisfying day. It began with watching (or at least listening to) the 83rd Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! It had been at least 5 years since we've watched it, if not 8. It was beautiful, but of course made us a little homesick and rekindled our desire to live in New York someday. We made a simple, but delicious feast with all of the staples: turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, corn, rolls, cranberries, pumpkin pie with whip cream, and a yummy sparkling white grape and peach drink- so good! We each enjoyed some personal time too: Teague sang (it's so cute, he sounds like the seagull from The Little Mermaid), Gavin played trains, Noe did tons of artwork, Kaleb played the computer, I went through 2 weeks worth of mail, flyers, catalogs, and Len finally started his novel! He's had it in his brain for years, but now the prologue is finally written down! Again, baby steps are good! In the evening we watched "Miracle on 34th Street" on our new sectional- love it!

What a great holiday to remember our blessings!

A Happy Ending

Last year I posted a prayer request about my friend Tori (the beauty in the red shirt) who was diagnosed with cancer. I am thrilled to say that Tori is doing well and her cancer is a memory. This sweet girl also had her wish come true and she was able to meet the President of our Church, Thomas S. Monson, whom we also believe to be the modern-day Prophet of God on the earth. Her family was able to fly out to Utah last week to spend a few days and to spend an hour and a half with President Monson. I learned a valuable lesson from Laura (Tori's mom) too. She said when we have mounted the trials in our life there is always a blessing afterwards. Tori's trial was her cancer, her miracle was her cure (that was an amazing blessing too), but she was also blessed again with meeting the prophet. I am still humbled by this darling girl and her priorities in life. I want to be like her when I grow up!

A Little Stressed

Yes, I've been a little stressed this week, so you know what I need?


Yes, I NEED some desserts! Actually, I don't- but I still want them. I comfort eat BIG time when I'm stressed. Oh dear, I'm going to gain a lot of weight! What's causing this new stress? Here's a clue:
"When you save a young woman, you save generations." -Gordon B. Hinckley
Last Saturday night our Bishop stopped by for a little visit. Our records aren't here yet, (they take FOREVER to arrive from Asia) so I knew we weren't going to receive callings. I was dreading an assignment to speak in Sacrament meeting. I told Leonard this and told him I'd much rather receive a calling than speak at church. He laughed because he's the opposite! Was I surprised when the Bishop called me to be the new Young Women's President. Gulp! Little did I know he phoned our Bishop in Taiwan. In our Church we have a Young Women's organization for all girls aged 12-18. The program involves Sunday instruction; weekly activity nights; a personal progress goal program; yearly trips to girls camp, youth conference, and others; activities with the Stake and boys- dances to chaperone, etc; plus lots of meetings to plan and prepare everything. I am feeling overwhelmed because it is a HUGE program, but then I think of the sweet girls I get to work with and the rest melts away and I know my Heavenly Father will help me with this. I also felt a big relief when I got the names I submitted for my Presidency accepted by the Bishopric, so hopefully my sisters in the gospel will help me with this load too. I'm going to be super busy with this, but I'll try and blog weekly still because I need a creative outlet! Here's a quick overview of the past week:


Super Saturday- I LOVE Christmas crafting, decorating, baking, all of it- bring it on!


The "ABC" club- arts & crafts/baking day for the kids.

After waiting 110 days, yes that's right 110 days- our sectional finally arrived yesterday! Can I get a yeehaw? YEEHAW!! We're so excited to sit in comfort while we watch our Friday Family Movies, and we're just in time for the slew of Christmas movies to begin.

Also yesterday, Kaleb earned his yellow stripe on his white belt in Taekwondo! I'm so proud of him because he's only been in it for 2 months. He wasn't able to continue with Kung Fu, but is enjoying Taekwondo instead. I also have to mention that last week he fell on our driveway/bus stop while playing tag with his friends waiting for the bus. The poor guy scraped his face off and cracked his head open on the side of the house. I was freaking out as this was our first head wound, and man do those babies bleed! Thank goodness for liguid stitches though, he was so happy the doctor could just glue his head back together without getting poked. He has healed surprisingly fast (neosporin is another miracle worker). After several fevers passed around the kids, they all seem to be doing well now.

Hopefully, this coming week won't be as stressful. Wait, there's the New Moon premiere, yearly youth planning meeting, Stake Conference, 2012 date night, Sunday Evening Discussion, Drop-in play group, Noe's cheerleading performance, Youth play practice, laundry, groceries, cooking, cleaning, nursing, report cards, Taekwondo, Institute, Thanksgiving, Book Club, Goodie Exchange, Birthday party, Santa Parade. I'll be exhausted before December arrives- but it's all GOOD!

Lest We Forget

Yesterday was Remembrance Day here in Canada (Veterans Day back home in the States), and I attended my first assembly to commemorate the day. No, I didn't go downtown to see the visiting Prince Charles lay a wreath, I had someone more important to see. My daughter, Noe was chosen to lay a wreath for her class at her school assembly. Len had the day off work, so the 4 of us went to the school to see Noe and Kaleb (who I want to give a shout-out to for being Student of the Month last month for the character trait Responsibility- way to go!) and the program their school had planned. It was actually very touching. The 8th graders reenacted "Silent Night" from WWI, and the narrator was a Muslim girl wearing a head scarf. I thought- isn't that what it was all about- soldiers died so we could be FREE and choose to worship Allah or Jesus Christ or whomever we want, it was very sweet. Another class recited the poem, "In Flanders Fields." All the kids sang, "O, Canada" while another class signed it. And another girl played the bugle. We then watched the music video for "A Pittance of Time" while the wreath procession took place. Noe laid the last wreath and she looked so precious with her little poppy on her collar. At 11:00 we stood for 2 minutes of silence to honor those who fought and died for us.

I will always be grateful for the soldiers of yesterday, today, and tomorrow who will fight to defend democracy and human rights!

On another note, I received an e-mail last year during the election season reminding women to vote and it outlined some of the horrors the suffragettes went through so that I might have the freedom to vote today. I received the e-mail again yesterday and I thought it was very good to also Remember the Women on Remembrance Day who also paved the road for the life I live today. I am grateful for them. I'm actually thinking of getting my Canadian citizenship. I would never give up my American citizenship, but I'd like to be dual so I can vote in both elections. I love my homeland and want to vote on issues I think are important back at home. I've also grown to love Canada, and feel since I'm living here I might as well have a say on the issues here too. And to you reading this, remember the soldiers, remember the human rights activists, and remember to vote. YOUR voice matters! I would also like to direct you to my husband's post about Remembrance Day last year. He looks at things in a different way, and I always appreciate his perspective.

On a lighter note, I've now learned when the official kick-off to the Christmas season is. It began yesterday at 12:30 after the malls opened. Oh my goodness, were there a lot of shoppers out!! I know Boxing Day is the biggest shopping day of the year in Canada, but I think Remembrance Day must be a close second. I've been doing some shopping for a while, but now I'm ready to get out the decorations, start baking and crafting, and listening to Christmas music. I think it's great that I get the best of both worlds- we'll celebrate two Thanksgivings this year and get 2 extra weeks of the Christmas season!

Diet Pop

No, this isn't about soda, it's about music. My dad is a musician and plays the acoustic and electric guitars along with the banjo. I spent many fun summer nights at his band rehearsals. And one of my earliest memories is singing with my mom while the car radio pumped out Barry Manilow's, "I Can't Smile Without You." However, in 4th grade I came into my own with a little crush...

...no, I think full-fledged love affair is more like it with Duran Duran! Oh my goodness, are they not the prettiest boys ever? My mom let me plaster my bedroom walls with their posters from Bop magazine (before she wall-papered it) and I had dreams of marrying John Taylor. That year for Halloween my Aunts Debbi and Connie dressed me up as Cyndi Lauper. I looked fabulous with my orange spray-painted hair, green & purple checkerboard eye shadow, and way too many bracelets.

In high school a lot of my friends liked New Kids on the Block, but they made me laugh. I liked the "cool" stuff- Depeche Mode, U2, and now my dreams were of David Gahan!

In college I finally got a CD player (yes, I'm a luddite) and the first CD I bought myself was of The Ocean Blue (it's still one of my faves). I spoiled myself with a new CD a month. I reconnected with the great ones from the 80's- The Cure, The Smiths, but the girls were my favorite- Indigo Girls, Sarah, Fiona, Tori, Shawn, Natalie, Lisa. Yes, I did go to Lilith Fair- twice!

I always considered my music tastes to be of the alternative variety, and now I've discovered I have an appetite for Pop. Gasp! I blame High School Musical and my kids. But I can't help it, I find myself singing along with Miley, Taylor, and even the freaky Lady Gaga. And "I Gotta Feeling" you love the Black-Eyed Peas too! I mentioned before that I'm a luddite and have yet to enter the world that is MP3. It's ok though, I'm looking forward to Christmas and to find what new CDs Santa stuffed our stockings with!