just today...

• Luke told me that when Simon turns three years old, he will actually be 1095 days. When Luke is around, who needs a calculator?

• Ben drew a picture of me without a shirt again. We probably need to tell him that even cartoon drawings of girls should wear clothes.

• Simon went to church for the first time. We only stayed for Sacrament meeting. His brothers were fighting to hold him.

• Zack told me he knows how Jesus made our bodies. "It's easy. He just gets a skeleton and puts muscles on it and blood in it and wraps it in skin. Oh, and then he puts hair on it. See? It's easy."

it's the most wonderful time of the year....

The days and weeks go by so fast. How is Christmas only two weeks away?? I can feel the MAGIC in the cold air!

Last night was the big Christmas party for our ward. I was in charge of it. No one with a newborn should EVER be in charge of a party like that. We fed dinner to & entertained hundreds of people.. Obviously, I had a lot help. (with Kate by your side, you can do anything :) Now that's it's over, I feel so grateful-- not just to the people who came to the rescue, but to God. As cheesy as it sounds, I'm sure He knew how overwhelmed I was and sent the right people at the right time to make things happen. Amazing how such simple things can seem so miraculous.

We made 25 pans of cheesy, gooey lasagna. We transformed our Primary room into the North Pole-- and had a real train (well, a four wheeler pulling kids in barrels) in the parking lot taking the kids on a Polar Express ride. We had Elves (YW) making crafts and playing games with the millions of little kids in our ward. We had Santa and Mrs. Claus handing out incredible presents (light sabers for the boys and light up spinning wands for the girls.) We had a great photographer taking pictures and another couple printing them for the parents to take home. We had Christmas karaoke and delicious desserts. We had lights and decorations donated from a local elementary school who just had a Christmas play. We had SO many people stay to help clean up. Everything was said and done by 9:00 pm. Incredible. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE my calling?

As I was driving out of the church parking lot (with my four kids + 3 adopted teenage girls + decorations packed to the brim) I felt completely overwhelmed with gratitude. Somehow everything got done.. and it turned out fabulous. Last week, I wasn't sure if I was going to survive-- but here I am alive and kicking. It's a Christmas miracle!

And much to my surprise, Simon slept a solid 10 hours again last night. I had to wake him up to eat this morning. I am sure Simon was as exhausted after such a party, but it's more than that. God was giving me another one of his tender mercies. He is so good to me. After a party with elves, Santa, decorations and presents, I came away with a strengthened testimony. God is real. He knows what we're going through and wants us to feel of His love. I know that He loves me personally. He has given me so much. I want to spend the next 14 days focusing on the REAL reason of the Season: the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. "Let every heart prepare Him room..."

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Simon's birth announcement

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(click on the image to enlarge)

rub-a-dub, dub...

four men in a tub.

Ben and Luke haven't taken a bath in months. (They're WAY too old for such childishness!) But today they opted to get in the tub, if it meant they could bathe with the baby. Simon wasn't too thrilled about it.

It's amazing how quickly they grow.

I think Simon was fascinated with Zack's armpit.. ?

If you're wondering where the 4th child is, wonder no more.
Luke was behind the camera.

sticks and stone may break my bones....

We played Charades for FHE... only our kid-version of charades is that kind where you can say anything you want :) Ben drew out a piece of paper and confidently went up front. He pointed his finger and loudly scolded, "CLEAN YOUR ROOM!" Luke quickly guessed who Ben was impersonating = MOM.

When he sat down, Ben could see that he hurt my feelings, so he tried to comfort me. "Well, that's basically the only thing you say EVERYDAY." And I felt so much better. It's his fault, though. Just a few weeks ago he told me that if I had a messy house, I'd go straight to hell.