Family picture and update....

If you were expecting a Christmas card this year from us... well this is the best you are going to get!! Sorry it just didn't ever make it to the top of my to do list.

We had a great holiday season in spite of the stomach flu on Christmas Eve, Day and the day after. I have come to expect it now for holidays. I guess that is one of the effects of having this many germ mongers in our home. The kids enjoyed a full 2 weeks off but we did miss our traditional snow trip that was canceled due to lack of snow. California has been totally dry where normally we are raining 3-5 days per week. It is finally in the forecast for this week so our plants will be glad for a drink.

We made up for the cancelled snow trip by a ice skating trip. Luckily I had the excuse that I had to watch Mamma's boy-Matt and I am pregnant and didn't want to hurt myself. Otherwise, the five minute jaunt on the ice was not enough to revive 6 months of ice skating lessons nearly 20 years ago. The other kids had a blast which totally surprised Dave and I. I was all set for a miserable experience when they all spent the first half hour hugging the edge and making it around the arena one time. But they all loved it and kept it up for 2 hours or more. I finally started timing the boys and promised a reward for a fast time around the ice and they were soon zooming along. It is always nice when you turn out to be wrong about how crazy and hectic an experience with many kids will be.

Our family in October at Dave's parents 50th in Burley, ID. (The girls had left their glasses at home on this trip. Ari's pose is the classic-I have nystagmus- look.)

In other news-

Jacob is doing well in 5th grade just don't try to change his after school routine. He picks up his book and reads as he walks to the bus totally forgetting that it is Cub scouts and his mom is sitting in the parking lot. Don't worry we have only had mix ups like this about 5 times. I harass and tease him mercilessly for it and told him no reading until he gets to where he is supposed to be.

Thomas- Newly turned 9. Starting to get more helpful at home especially if there is a Wii reward. Read the last 2 Harry Potter books in the first week back to school.

Ariana- Still working on reading. I was hoping for another quick learning reading but it is not coming as naturally as for the boys. Not sure if her vision is the root of the issue or just not as quick to pick it up. Otherwise she does great at school and her teachers are always helpful to make sure that she can see. Sometimes I am discouraged by her nystagmus issues but for the most part I don't feel she is much different than the boys.

Lily- Loves to color draw and craft. All the work is paying off and I am hoping we finally have a kid that will take to handwriting more naturally. She also loves entertaining her bro Matt. He calls her "Lilo" and loves to be with her.

Matt- now sleeping in a toddler bed. The first week the transition went smooth but my resolve is weakening now that he gets out of bed more. So far we are blessed at nap time and he always gratefully takes his pacifier and heads to bed. I love this age-2o something months! He is so funny-talking and interacting more with everyone. Every Sunday as soon as they say the closing prayer in Sacrament he begins to scream because he knows that nursery is next. But once we drop him off he is fine.

Dave is enjoying the slow season at work and his weekly work at home days. I am grateful that it is an option and that we get to have him around a little more.

I am loving my primary calling(working with the kids) at church. I have been in primary in some capacity for most of the last 10 years. I would have a hard time now sitting through the Relief Society (for women) lessons. I need a wiggle song or something.

I can't believe that we are more than half way thru this pregnancy. The baby is healthy and normal which is fabulous and now you know as much as we know as we always wait to find out gender until it is necessary. I don't want to gender stereotype my pregnancy. Ha ha ha!! No we actually love the surprise.

Farm- No winter garden again this year. Oh well there is always next year. Dave finished a great coop for our chickens and we are finally getting about 5 eggs a day. I don't know about your family but that is about the right amount for us. We increased our goats by 2 this fall. And no one has shot our peacock yet and it is mating season again which means the hens are constantly getting a display of beautiful feathers but he is getting noisier and he roosts on our garage leaving a nice poop pile on the ground. Otherwise we just have our mellow dog and 1.5 cats. 1 cat is always around but the other comes and goes maybe depending on the type of cat food we are serving.