It's beginning to sounds a lot like Christmas...

Well, we're in full Christmas swing now. The lights are up, the tree is up (not yet decorated though) and the house is starting to look more festive. One of my favorite parts of Christmastime is the music.This year I got a new Christmas album from one of my all time favorite artist- Enya. I'm really enjoying this new one. It isn't purely Christmas, it is more "wintery" (as the title "And Winter Came" states!).

My other favorite Christmas music is Canadian Brass. Maybe it was my days in band, but I love their sound and they do wonderful Christmas music! The Little Drummer Boy is one of my favorites.


Speaking of the little dummer boy, this is my favorite Christmas book. We had it when I was little and I just got it for my kids.

Where to begin...

We returned Saturday evening from our Thanksgiving vacation to Phoenix. It was a lot of fun and I will get to that in a bit. Just for a bit of info for those interested, I was released as the 1st councilor in the RS presidency on Sunday. And my new calling... to be determined... so at least for the moment I am callingless. I'm still helping with some of the loose ends that happen when a transition occurs, but am anxiously interested in what my next calling will be....

So, It's hard to put our vacation into a recap but I will try...
We started out our trip with a quick visit with Justin, Kirsten and Naomi-N8's brother, SIL and niece. We hadn't seen Naomi since her baby blessing. We had a picnic and went bowling. It was great to be able to see them.


One day we split up and N8 took the older kids on a hike, we took the younger ones to a play gym and the rest of the men went golfing. Oh how I wish Ridgecrest had a play gym like this!! We would live there all summer long!


Thanksgiving day started off very early. A group, including N8 ran in a 5k. They all did excellent even running through the rain puddles.
This was Mo's first thanksgiving and my brother and sister in law fed him all sorts of stuff. His favorites were pickled beets and frozen fruit salad!!
We did the early morning shopping the day after. We were up and going at 4:45am so we could get to Walmart for the opening. We then hit JC Penny's, Target and Toys r Us. It was fun to find the deals and spend time with my sister, mom and sister in law. It was fun to have more stores to go to, but Ridgecrest is much calmer on the day after. That afternoon we went to my Aunt's home in Buckeye and rode some of her horses. The kids (and adults) loved it!! Emma kept wanting to hug the horses. She is such an animal lover!
Our last evening we spent celebrating my Brother in laws birthday at his favorite fish and chips place. Lucky for me they had great chicken too!
Almost everyday while we were there the kids and adults enjoy the hot tub. It's always fun to see how many people you can fit in.
It's good to be home, but bittersweet. One of the main reasons for us going to Phx for Thanksgiving was my parents mission farewell. They did a great job on their talk. My mom even found a way to incorporate Harry Potter and the Dementors into her talk. They report to the MTC a week from today for the Santo Domingo East Dominican Republic mission. They will be serving for the next 18 months. Bud will almost be 8, Emma will be heading to kindergarten and Mo will be running and talking by the time they return. We couldn't be more excited for them on this new adventure and know that they will be serving the Lord.

A little before and after!

So as if life wasn't insane enough, N8 left on travel this morning. Since we're headed to Phx for Thanksgiving I thought it was time for Mo to have a little trim. So, the top 2 are a before and the bottom 2 are after:
I did it last night with scissors and didn't like it so tonight I broke out the clippers. He looks so grown-up. I like it but it will take a bit to get used to.

I'm also trying to get a lot of Christmas stuff put together. We're going to see most of my family on Sunday. It's my parents mission farewell. We also arranged for my dad to be able to ordain N8 a high priest on Sunday evening. Then when we come back he'll be set-apart into the bishopric. So, back to the Christmas stuff, here's some of what I'm working on. If you're a family member-don't look!
The last picture I just have to throw in. Emma loves cats!! We have 2 kitties- Pichi and Paccha. They generally don't let Emma hold them. Paccha lets her brush him and play, but not really hold. Pichi just puts up with the kids, but doesn't even really let the kids touch her. So, here's Emma and Pichi. See the fear in Pichi's eyes and the happiness in Emma's!!

From 2008-11-18

A time for change...

So we're at that time of the year that where the weather is changing, the time just changed and we're experience a very drastic change in our church callings. Well mine hasn't actually changed, but we're assuming!!

This morning at 7:45am we received a call to meet with a member of the stake presidency at 9am. So, of course you go through the list of what kind of thing they could possibly want. But, N8 was just released as the assistant scout master and put in as scout master about 2 months ago. I was released 3 weeks ago as the 2nd councilor in the RS pres and called as the 1st councilor. So were were not expecting any sort of change. But it came anyways!! Today N8 was called to be the 2nd councilor in the Bishopric!!!!!! can I add more!!!!!! Can we all say SHOCK!!!! Not that I am shocked that he can do it, or shocked that he is worthy, but still shocked! It hasn't all quite sunk in. He's on travel this week and we're in Phoenix for the week of Thanksgiving. So, he misses his first bishopric meeting and his first Sunday in the bishopric.

So, here's to a less shocking and changing week for you all!!

When it time for change, you've got to rearrange! Gotta love the Brady Bunch:

It happened and I didn't get a video!!

Well today a major milestone happened and I didn't have my video camera ready!!! Mo took his first steps today. Kim was hear to witness it and N8 got a phone call right after. It was just a few steps, but still super exciting!! Luckily when N8 got home from work Mo complied and took a few mores steps to daddy. I'm guessing that he'll be running by the time we get to PHX for Thanksgiving! We'll see. This is so early for my kidlets. Bud and Emma were both 15 months when they took their first steps. Mo turned 11 months a couple of days ago. We'll see what tomorrow brings!!

From 2008-10-30

We won the fight, now let's take a nap!!

What a night!! But in the end it was all worth it! Proposition 8 passed and marriage in the State of California is now define as marriage between one man and one women!

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/05/voters-decide-hot-button-issues-nationwide/
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-gaymarriage6-2008nov06,0,3317246.story?page=1

What a wonderful experience it was to work so hard with such valiant people by our sides. It was well worth all of the time, money, sleeplessness, etc that so many people put into it.

This entire process has led me to really think about my personal involvement within my community and politics. In fact I taught a lesson on that topic in RS this past Sunday. (BTW for anyone interested. I was released as the HFPE councilor and am now the Education councilor is the RS Pres).

So the following statement by the 1st presidency really makes me step back and think. What am I doing? So to all of you out there- what are you doing to be involved??

The First Presidency

“We wish to reiterate the divine counsel that members ‘should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness’ (D&C 58:27) while using gospel principles as a guide and while cooperating with other like-minded individuals.

“Through such wise participation as citizens, we are then in better compliance with this scripture: ‘Governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and … he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them’ (D&C 134:1).

“Therefore, as in the past, we urge members of the Church to be full participants in political, governmental, and community affairs. Members of the Church are under special obligations to seek out and then uphold those leaders who are wise, good, and honest (see D&C 98:10).

“Thus, we strongly urge men and women to be willing to serve on school boards, city and county councils and commissions, state legislatures, and other high offices of either election or appointment, including involvement in the political party of their choice” (First Presidency letter, 15 Jan. 1998).

So now on a totally different subject! Over the last few months my website had been on the fritz. So, Nate and I have been working so that I will be able to maintain and update a site without having him help me. This weekend we transferred over to the new one and I need input! How does it look? Any problems you see? What would you change or add?

www.vinylchitchat.com

Thanks!!

Tired of the political ads yet?

Well I am!!! I am so ready for Tuesday to be done! The biggest reason I'm ready for it to all be over is so we can stop seeing all of the terrible political ads that have been aired! But there is one that isn't on TV but if it was I wouldn't get tired of. It was made be the CatholicVote.com Now I realize that I am not Catholic, but the message is one that I agree with and I hope many people consider come Tuesday.


Just a quick Halloween highlight as well:

This year we had a Pirate, a Princess and a Pumpkin!! My 3 P's were too cute (just a note, the 3 P thing wasn't even planned!).

Here are some pics for you all to enjoy!



We now have too much candy, but maybe it will help us get through these next couple of days until the election is done. Today N8 and another member of our ward walked through pouring rain hanging Prop 8 material on over 200 doors! We have a "Yes on 8" calling list over the next 2 days and then comes election day! It will be an early start with yard signs going up all over town at 5am! Then last the whole day!

Yes on 8!!