Long time

I haven't been updating this blog....I will again someday. Right now, I am working on my other blog: http://3boyslater.blogspot.com/ in case you don't know. :)

It's been awhile

I'm only posting because I feel bad for not doing so in forever. It's been a long time since I've blogged, and I've been avoiding it on purpose. There's just not a lot of happiness to report, and I hate to record the bad stuff. It's not my style. For now, just know that my kiddos are awesome, and I'm hanging in there. Sorry it's not more exciting.

Here is a picture of us with my step-sister, Bronwen, when she came to visit.


And here are my boys playing with a handcart


Ben with his baby doll (every little boy should have one!)


And in case you didn't see this one on Facebook, I found Nate like this in the middle of the night. hee hee

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I'm not sure when I realized that I wasn't dead. I think it was sometime between the peaceful feeling creeping in, and the numbness finally leaving my limbs. Awareness began to return to my body, yet I remained paralyzed.

The blast came suddenly. None of us knew that it would be our fate. We had followed each instruction carefully, one step at a time, obediently proceeding with each part, unknowing what it would bring. As each sign appeared, we knew we were on the right track without having any ideas where we would end up. We knew that we had been chosen for this purpose and that we would be swiftly rewarded. What we did not realize was that a nuclear blast would be "it." As the wave approached, I felt surprise, isolation, and then comfort. I even had a moment to wonder what would happen next and regret that I would not be there to see it.

I floated in darkness and searched for some consciousness of my physical self, it eventually came back, but only very gradually. Have you ever woken up from a dream completely numb? It happens to me occasionally, but usually when I'm awakened from the "wrong" state of sleep by an outside source like a crying baby.

I looked at the clock-it said 3:12am. I felt the dream still, and had simultaneously mixed emotions of doom, warning, and acceptance.

Pictures!!!

I have been so bad about posting pics! So here are some...

Let's start with Christmas:







On to Ben's 1st birthday. They are out of order, so if you want sequence, start at the bottom. LOL







And lastly, here's one of my latest haircut...It's all grown out now, but it was cute for a minute...

Christmas Eve

I LOVE Christmas Eve even more than Christmas morning. I like the anticipation. After all the presents are opened on the day, it's over, and I'm sad. But tonight, I just get to be happy about what has yet to come. This year, we decided not to get each other presents, in order to save money, and I am totally fine with that! To me, it truly is more about giving than receiving on Christmas. My birthday, on the other hand, is a different story. LOL

I have been so bad about taking pictures lately, but tomorrow morning, I will try to make up for that. As soon as I finish writing this, I am going to find the batteries for the camera, and get it ready to go for morning.

Tonight, we read the Christmas story in the scriptures before bed. Of course, I paraphrased in some places and added some extra explanation for a 4 year old mind. But it really brought a nice spirit to the bedtime routine, and I plan to make it a tradition. Other traditions we enjoy are: leaving milk and cookies for Santa, and carrots or celery for the reindeer, and I want to start doing the Christmas Eve pajamas too, but we'll start that next year.

My kids are growing up so fast. I hope I can teach them the true meaning of Christmas. We did the Angel Tree thing, and tried to involve Nate as much as possible, explaining to him why we were buying gifts for some other kid that he had never met. But the message got through somehow, he brought it up afterward when I didn't expect him to remember. Ben won't remember this Christmas, but hopefully Nate will.

We have an ornament on the tree that says "Nate's First Christmas 2006" and he is so proud of it. Amid all the craziness this year, Ben didn't get one. But don't worry, Nate was so concerned, he made one for Ben. Nate's is a snowman, so he thought Ben should have a snowman too. I cut it out of paper and Nate decorated it. He even wrote Ben's name on it. I love that he can do that. He can write all our names now, and a few other words too.

I love this little family so much. They make me happier than anything else ever could. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Some randomness

Some random things:

1. I am attempting to start college next month. This is a very big step for me. I hope I can handle it along with 2 kids, a full time job, and a husband who often needs my help with his own school work (writing is my strength but his weakness).

2. I love having 2 little boys, it is so much fun, and gets better every day, especially now that the little one is WALKING!

3. We have become closet football fans. Patriots and Bears, in case you are wondering.

4. I like sandwiches.

5. I miss close friends.

6. Now that I have a new ride, I really want to take a road trip. But work is kinda in the way...

7. I can't wait to do a bunch of Christmas-y stuff together with the family this week. We drove around and looked at Christmas lights last night and had ice cream afterward. :)

I can't think of anything else right now. I feel like I should get some pics and vids of the kids before this time flies by!

Message from Santa

Here is the link in case you want to see the special message Santa sent to Nate. I hope the link works...

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