Only in Southern California

So, this morning I step out into our yard to get a couple of oranges, for some fresh squeezed orange juice.  And this is the view...  snow covered mountains and palm trees.

Now, I have a serious dilemma.   Do we play hooky to drive to the beach or to the mountains to play in the snow? Life is full of hard choices.

p.s. I have I told you that I love Southern California? 

  

Confession

Will and I played hooky today.  He declared that it was too cold to go to pre-school.  It was kind of cold for California.  But, my brother living in Vermont (with a high of 22 degrees) would beg to differ.  

However, it was one of those mornings when you just want to stay in your pj's.  So we indulged ourselves, and did just that.  We made pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast.  Then, we just snuggled up on the couch and read books.  Mostly Dr. Suess and early reader Star Wars books. We did not get out of our pj's until noon.  Basically, until we had to leave the house to pick Ryan up from school.  It was fun.  I know... the school police are going to come after me.  Hee Hee!   

It's beginning to look like Christmas

Will, Bonnie, Kevin & Ryan at tree lighting ceremony.

This year's Christmas celebration as gotten off to a great start.  Saturday morning, I went to a Relief Society Brunch.  The center piece at every table was a manger.  There were six women in the ward that were asked to read brief descriptions of life and events of women that lived during the time of Christ.  The presidency then gave everyone a tile with the following saying, "Are you part of the INN crowd or one of the STABLE few?"   We ended the brunch with a slideshow of pictures of Christ with Christmas music.  It was perfect.  I wish I had some pictures to post.

Then on Sunday evening, Kevin & I took our children, some friends and some extended family to the annual community tree lighting ceremony.  (The tree looks pretty small in the pictures.  However, it was a fourteen foot tree.  We were just pretty far away.)  Then everyone returned to our house for dinner and a great dessert... thanks to Shannon's mom.

It is delightful to spend time and celebrate with friends and family this time of year!  I look forward to seeing more family & friends... that will be coming into town during the next few weeks... or at least seeing their Christmas cards. (Lizzy - my mom can't stop talking about how cute yours is!)  

Anyway, from our house to yours, "We wish you a Merry Christmas!"

  

For Mothers Everywhere

Our friends, Jamie & Maggie

Okay, this story is for all the mothers out there.  Just yesterday, I was watching Maggie (my friend Shannon's little girl).  Her mother and I switch off baby sitting, so we can volunteer up at the elementary schools that our older children attend.  I was just about to walk out of the door with Will & Maggie (giving myself an extra ten minutes) to go and pick up Ryan from school... when Maggie filled her diaper.  Realizing that I do not have her diaper bag and calculating that it will be about 45 minutes until I meet Shannon... I improvise.  I remember that I have a small stash of leftover cloth diapers (that were decorative handouts at a recent baby shower).  So, I grab a cloth diaper and some wet paper towels and begin to tackle the mess.  At that exact moment, Will's nose starts gushing blood.  I direct him over by the phone to a box of tissues and quickly attempt to clean a bottom and safety pin a cloth diaper.  Will leaves a nice trail of blood all over the carpet.  After, I get the bloody nose under control I glance at the clock.  We still have one minute before we will be late... so I pull Will's bloody clothes off and put fresh ones on, and spray spot remover on the carpet.  I am now totally sweating from running around.  Then, I huddle everyone out to the garage.  I run inside to grab the tissue box... just in case the wad up his nose is not enough.  When I return to the garage, I begin to pick up Maggie to strap her into the car seat, but I realize she has just wet herself.  I strip off her shoes and pants and leave them in a puddle on the garage floor.  I grab the other cloth diaper that I have and some of Will's old underwear to use as a makeshift diaper cover?  I know that I am going to look to some as the "late mom, with a half naked child."  But I feel accomplished... like I have taken lemons and made lemonade.  So I strap everyone in and head for Ryan's school.  I am ten minutes late.  When I get to Ryan's class she asks, "Where have you been?"  

I just had to LAUGH OUT LOUD!

I should tell her the truth - that being a mother is like crisis management.  It is the best and worst job in the world.  Becoming a mother is like falling in love.  It's CRAZY but there is nothing better in the whole world.  But, I know that no words can adequately describe that.  I just hope that one day she will know for herself.

So, to all the mothers out there... our job is both the best and the worst at times... but it is always the most important!  Thank you for doing your job...  and I promise that I will not be too judgmental if you show up late with a half naked child to school one day.    :)

P.S.  if you like to laugh... I highly recommend motherhood for you.  Laughing is a required attribute for the job.  (Otherwise you go insane). 

Thanksgiving

Kevin and his brothers, Dave and Mike.

Well, a could list a few thousand things that I am thankful for... but who wants to read that blog?  In order to simplify (and not put everyone to sleep) I will just list two.  First and foremost, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father... who has blessed me so much.  Secondly, I am thankful for my husband and his family.  I am grateful that I have spent every Thanksgiving with them for the last nine years.  As you can see, every year the feast gets bigger and better. This year, Mike cooked over forty pounds of turkey, ham and prime rib roast.  Mike - hats off to you!  Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!  

There's nothing like spending Thanksgiving in Huntington Beach.  Okay... I have to add a third.  I am thankful that my husband is smart enough not to go surfing - after the first rains of the season have washed everything from the gutters into the ocean.  Even if the surf was good.  You're such a great man, I am lucky that I married you.