photo a day: I did it!

I cannot believe that we have just had a year in pictures. Wow! It was definitely a bigger project than I first thought when I started out. At first it was fun to think each day of what picture I could take to post. Then I went through the stage of frustration because the end of the day came and I forgot to get a picture during the day. My goal of doing it everyday is what kept me from going to bed until I figured out a picture. Then I hit the stage of just doing it every day because it was habit. That was right around July...and that felt good because I knew that I had made it half way-no, over half way. And this is about the time that Jason got into it. He would check it every morning when he got off work. There were even several mornings when he came in and woke me up to tell me that I had forgotten to post. I would spring up in a tired panic and post my photo of the day. Now we're at the end of the year and I've had several people ask if I'm going to continue. Well...I guess you'll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out. :)

What I didn't bank on happening is how my photo a day project changed me. It changed the way I looked at tantrums and messes and set backs and disasters. It helped me to find the picture in every day life. It helped me to look for great shots throughout the day, even if things didn't go how I wanted them too. It helped me to see, or make, the ordinary something special. It helped me to tell the story of our lives...why we do the things we do each day. Ben spitting at the carousel. Paul holding Lainey's hand ALL the time. Claire really using her imagination. Benjamin getting into EVERYTHING. Emma being creative. Lainey simply growing so much. Grandma's and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles helping and supporting us and our children. There are amazing things that happen every day. And if we're not careful they will pass us by with the passing of the day, and we will forget. Well, thanks to photo a day I will not forget.

We love all of you that read our blog and commented or not. :) We've had a great year! There was a Christmas song that I really liked (there were many, but this one made me think). It was the song Happy Christmas (war is over) by John Lennon. I liked how it said...

So this is Christmas
and what have you done
another year over
and a new one just begun

I know we think about New Year's resolutions at the beginning of each year. We think of which habits we can cast off and how best to employ new ones. But it's just as important to reflect on the past year, to think "What have I done?" instead of just leaving the old year behind. So I've been doing a lot of thinking about my past year asking myself what have I done?

My goals were to...1. post a photo a day - check 2. write in my journal daily - check (I faltered a little on this one towards the end of the year, but I am caught up) 3. read my Book of Mormon daily - check (this one I faltered on as well, I think it was sign season) 4. pray daily - no check. I will definitely have to keep working on this one. I would forget at night because of staying up too late or tending kids late, and I would forget in the morning because my kids are up before me and I feel like my day gets dragged to a start. :) So this needs more work. These last three I call my dailies - prayer, scriptures, journal...all important. 5. Have Family Home Evening and family prayer consistently - check. This one was great! We weren't diligent on every day towards the end of the year, but I trust in the promised blessings if we do both of these things with our families. Definitely a keeper for next year.

So I think that's enough of me for the night. We love you and have a great new year's!

The winner is and Sandstone Cafe...

***Yasmine is the lucky winner of Jason's birthday giveaway. Isn't that nice that we gave something away for his birthday?! LKP, I thought for sure you'd get it first. ;)

Here's today's picture, or pictures rather... We went to this cute little cafe for dinner. They had fun murals painted on the walls and tons of ice cream flavors to choose from. The kids had a fun time. And you can tell by the number of pictures that I included that I had a fun time too. It was just such a fun place to take the kids and they behaved themselves so well.

Checking out the menus

The murals on the wall
While we waited for the food,
I had the kids pose in front of the murals.

We're holding up the banana split boat.

craz-ies!

what this one is supposed to look like...

we were definitely clowning around

Benjamin admiring the carousel

I included this one because I was able to capture Ben sticking his tongue out and spitting. This is his absolute new favorite thing to do. He doesn't always do it to spit on others. He just likes the way it sounds. But I sure get tired of hearing him do it, of Paul telling me he does it, and Claire crying because he has done it to her.

We're so glad you came with us Grandma and Grandpa E!

Picking up where we left off...

We love Christmas break because, among other things, it means we get to see and hang out with Raleigh and Jordan...and Kellen and Erik.

Nothing like a little dance par-tay!

where did we eat dinner?

The first person to guess correctly where we ate dinner tonight in honor of Jason's birthday wins a little gift from me.

They miss the snow...

me...not so much. I thought these shots were cute of Claire and her snowball.

The day after...

We went back to Tri-Cities to see cousins that couldn't make it yesterday.

The kids helped Grandpa open one of his gifts.

Grandma E made aprons for Aunt Stephanie and her girls.

They played a little more snorta.

Grandpa made a birthday cake in the tradition of his mother who would make a birthday cake for Jesus. It was very tasty too...I'm kicking myself for not bringing any of that home with us.

"Let's open them all!"

Our tree before the terrors awoke. I have a funny story about the tree...don't tell Jason I told you. hehe! While I was gone in Mattawa for our Christmas weekend at the beginning of the weak, Jason decided to clean the house to surprise me upon my return. He called me and in a downcast voice told me that he was cleaning for me. I was so appreciative that he would do that for me, but didn't understand why he sounded so sad. "Well," he said, "I knocked over the tree." I didn't believe him at first, but it happened. Here's a picture of our disheveled tree. He was vacuuming under the couch from behind and kept pushing it forward to get further underneath it. He pushed too far and down went the tree. Back to the Christmas details...

We woke up to the excited cries of our kids as they explored the front room. They couldn't believe all the presents under the tree and the goodies in their shoes (we left our shoes before the fireplace in the German tradition). We stayed in bed until around 7:30 when we heard, "Let's open them all!" To which we replied as we threw off the covers, "Wait for us!"

Emma got the sweats she wanted.

Paul was excited for his transformer.

Benjamin got the wooden train Percy.

Claire was thrilled about her new princess puzzle.

Can you tell the kids really wanted this one?

Jason worked last night, but thought we could leave for Tri-Cities just after opening gifts with the kids at home. Ha! That thought lasted just long enough for him to lay back down and fall asleep until noon. We went in to spend the rest of the day with Jason's family. Following is a sampling of our gifts. Mom E did a lot of sewing for our gifts this year and we all loved it. She made us girls matching aprons (the boys got pajamas) and a beautiful Christmas wall hanging. She also made this beautiful advent that I'm trying to sweet talk her into making one for me. (pretty please while batting my eyes)

sorry your eyes are closed Lara...blame Jason...he took the picture

Playing Santa

Hopefully Emma doesn't read the title to this post. I'm sure she'd want to know what I meant. We spent Christmas Eve at home this year...It was really nice. We had some friends over to have dinner with us and then we played some games. These are among our favorites. We cleaned our rooms and tried to go to bed early. We're excited for tomorrow!

Merry Christmas Card

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

That time of year

It's that time of year again...Grandma Wilson and Aunt Evelyn, Miner's, and a very full tummy.

The Real Deal

We had a visit from the real deal as far as Santa's go tonight. I think I was more intrigued than the kids because our Santa and Mrs, Claus looked so real and stayed in character so well. (They are a couple from my old ward that dress up and go around together at Christmas time. I felt so lucky that we were able to arrange our special visit. In fact, I had a woman stop by for vinyl and when she saw who was at my house, she asked if her girls could come in and see Santa.) Ben did not want to be so close, even on my lap, and Claire thought it best to hide behind me.

Lainey's first encounter with Santa. She didn't all out cry, but you can tell he wasn't her best friend either.

I love this one because Santa is so intent as Paul tells him what he wants for Christmas. That's how I picture Santa, so intent on the children that come to sit on his lap.


The bells won over Claire and Paul.

We thought it was so great that Mrs. Claus came with Santa. She's the one I coordinated with on the phone. Emma happened to be near me and she literally FREAKED out when I told her that I had talked to Mrs. Claus.

It just about killed Emma that I wouldn't tell her what day Santa was coming. Then it killed her that I wouldn't tell her what time he was coming when she found out today was the day. And it killed her that she couldn't tell anyone else (I didn't want a lot of "Is it time for Santa, Mom!" today, all day). But we made it! What a highlight! Emma even got to tug on his beard. She said she thought it was going to come down like a fake one.

Family Home Evening Nativity

We had a Family Home Evening with my family and did our Christmas today. We won't be out there on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It turned out really nice. We had finger food for dinner and then acted out the nativity.

The donkey was thirsty.

The kids loved opening their gifts.

Cousin Austin helped Lainey open her gifts.

Then there was a special visitor. Yes, Santa came and had all the kids sit on his lap...young and old. Paul and Ben (as you will see) did not want to sit on Santa's lap, even Claire wouldn't sit with him. Emma was the only one.

Mom and Dad

An interesting gift for Jesus...