Bowling with the Deloreys

Bowling is not my forte, unless it is on the Wii. Dan had a great idea of us of our families going bowling. He is a much more serious bowler than we are. The kids had fun and that was the purpose.

Thanks Dan and Natalie for filling our Christmas vacation with fun for the kids. Christmas IS for the children.

New Years Resolutions

We had a great New Years Eve with our family tradition of having Chinese food. This time we had the Petersons (Ann, Jake, Ooh Ooh, John, Sara, Baby Jacob, Amy, Kylee and Medium Jacob) and the Deloreys (Dan, Natalie, Lexie, Abby and Elly) join us (Marlee was in Utah and greatly missed out) The crab rangoons were great. Sorry Mars. My friend e-mailed me these New Years Resolutions and I think that I can definitely follow these.

It's that time of year again. I am terrible at keeping resolutions. I am very good at setting them, I make many, just terrible at the follow through. So I've decided to make resolutions I can keep.

Drink plenty of Diet Coke
Intend to clean my bathroom every week and then do it quarterly instead
Vacuum on occasion (I have a friend who vacuums everyday! I can't wrap my head around that)
Plan to exercise then don't (this one will be sooooooo easy)
Try to get to work at 8:00am and get there around 9:00 instead
Spend more money and save less
Throw the laundry in the spare room and just get it from there when I want to wear it instead of wasting time hanging it up
Mop the kitchen floor at least once this year
Use the exact same amount of fowl language I always have
Eat chocolate daily
Gossip more
Watch too much television
Waste copious amounts of time on the internet


Really, I would like to take better care of my health. I have some serious issues and it is time to get serious and take care of myself so I can spend time with my great family and wonderful friends.

Christmas Day

After spending a wonderful Christmas Eve at Ooh Ooh's house and looking at an amazing musically choreographed Christmas light house, we had a wonderful Christmas morning at our house. I have decided for next year we are going to follow the Victorian Christmas. Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read. Do you think my kids will go for it? How do we teach that it is more important to give than receive? If anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Noah's birthday

We had everyone over for Family Home Evening and Noah's birhday. We read the great story "I Believe in Santa Claus". That is one of my favorite Christmas stories. I can't believe Noah is 11. Thanks for all the great gifts.

Botanical Gardens

We have had such a fun holiday time with the Petersons. I can't believe that I don't have more pictures documenting more of the fun but we will start here. We went to the Idaho Botanical Gardens to look at Christmas lights and to see Santa. Oaklee was the only one excited to see Santa. Bad Marlee and Noah.

Grateful for the birth of our Savior

Today during sharing time, I was explaining about the birth of Christ being foretold by multiple prophets. As we were singing songs about Christmas, I began to be so grateful for Mary and Joseph. Joseph for being so careful and caring to Mary as well as Mary for being so patient and willing to do what was asked of her. There are so many things that are asked of us and I don't know if I can be patient and ungrumbling when things are tough. I cannot imagine riding a donkey many, many miles to go to be taxed. I can't imagine eating warm goat cheese and hard bread for sustenance, and I can't imagine giving birth in a stable with no pain medications.

What an example for all women. Mary, the Mother of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving with Family

We were able to go to Utah this year to be with family there. We had a fun filled weekend with Thanksgiving dinner, a bunco tournament and the planning of Friday shopping. This year we were slackers and didn't go out until 4am. We were able to get all of our shopping done but two presents. YEA us! Oaklee went and played with Kylee on Friday while Marlee, Amanda, Wayne, Grandma and Sydnee went and saw Twilight again. I took a nap while Noah played Guitar Hero. He was pretty good at it. Maybe Santa was watching and got him one for Christmas. Saturday, we went and looked at Christmas lights and Wayne took Marlee to Temple Square for bonding time while the rest of us played Don't Eat Pete. Crazy game!

We came home on Sunday but can't wait to go back.