"Do you like my hat now?"

Isaac got an inside out stressball for Christmas. It is very entertaining.

6 hours

That's how long it took Nate to finish his computer model to make a soduko solver. But he had a fun time figuring it out. At least it was a challenge for a little while. If you'd like the file email me and I'll send it to you.

"This proves that I'm a geek."

So I got Nate this Soduko electronic handheld game for Christmas. He decided that because the electronic game gave too many hints to solve the puzzle (and to do it with the paper version would pose problems of not knowing you were getting it wrong until the end)

See here to find info on the game

Nate decided to build a computer program in Excel to solve the game. He has been working on this all afternoon. And he says to me, "This proves that I'm a geek." Of course I knew that when I married him. But it came from his mouth...

Joy to the World!

Toby's favorite gift was the Lego's. He spent all day building and playing.

Aspen's favorite gift was the Magic of Pegasus Pony. She spent all morning doing horse hair!
Isaac finally got the giant box of Tinker toys and spent the morning building with Nate and Jake.Hazel got a little egg shaker. Perfect size for baby hands and it makes noise. Other favorite was the paper, of course.
All the kids liked Hazel's presents. Aspen and Isaac were trying to get bitten by the roboraptor. They were a little disappointed that the bite didn't actually hurt!! Silly kids.

Hazel really enjoyed her first Christmas morning. When she gets excited she wiggles all over.

'Twas the night before Christmas

We had Jake and Amy's family and Mike and Mindy's family with us on Christmas Eve. The more the merrier, of course!! Could have had a few more as well. One of our family Christmas traditions is to decorate gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve. This started as an activity to help occupy my children who were counting minutes until Santa would come. Depending on the number of children involved, we sometimes use the elementary school approach of gluing the graham crackers onto a milk carton. Other years we just decorate one large one. But this year we had 7 children that had very definite ideas about house decorating. Everyone had a good time. I think that more candy ended up in tummies than on houses.
Another Christmas Eve tradition is the story Davey and the First Christmas by Charlotte Byj. My Grandma Kerksiek used to read this story to us each year. I found a copy on EBAY (where else?) and we continue this tradition in our family. The kids had to listen extra closely this year - I lost my voice a few days ago and it is still trying to come back.

Bratislava ... where's that?

That's in Slovakia, if you were wondering. Nate was in Bratislava for work for the past 2 weeks. He got to do a little bit of sightseeing while he was there. Bratislava is about 45 minutes from Vienna, so he visited there also. Nate found that he could understand a lot of what the Slovaks said and could read a lot also, thanks to serving a mission in Bulgaria. You never know when that experience will pay off!

Wear 'em out

Jake and Amy and their children have been visiting with us for the past week or so. Needless to say that 7 children together can be tiring for the adults after a couple of days. So to wear them out and assure an early go to sleep time, we took them to the park. As always we came home with pockets full of rocks! Hazel just likes to watch everyone else play -- and to eat the rocks.

A Walk In the Park

Toby participated in the DARE Program at school. They presented a musical program for the whole elementary and then an evening program for the parents. It was pretty good.
The kids had their Christmas piano recital at the beginning of December. Toby played Away in a Manger. Isaac played Christmas Time, and Aspen played Up on the Housetops. They did a great job.
Here's our Christmas decorations from the outside!
Hazel is just too cute!!

Isaac loves to hold Hazel!
The weather got nice again so we went for walk in the park after church a couple Sundays ago.
Hazel's fall picture.

The rest of the story

I was finally able to get the pictures off my camera. Here are the visuals to previous posts.

It's A Beautiful Day

They say here in Texas, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a bit and it will change." That is certainly true this weekend. If was down in the teens and low twenty's the past couple days. Today it is in the upper 60's. And it was Saturday - so I took the kids biking for an hour or so. (Trying to get them tired out so that they'll sleep well.) It is a perfect fall day - clear and bright. There are leaves everywhere, everyone in the neighbor hood is out playing and doing yard work and putting up Christmas decorations. It is all very idyllic. I'm so grateful for days like these. It seems as if life is paused and there is forever to enjoy the moment. And although there are a million other little things that I need to get done, this beautiful day is just calling out to be enjoyed. I'm so grateful that our Heavenly Father created things just to be enjoyed. Sometimes I feel that they were just for me. Truly, there is beauty all around.

Ice Storm Update

Well for us our snow day was great. We made cookies and played games and the kids played outside. But apparently most roads were impassable for most of the day. Up in Dallas an 18 wheeler jack-knifed and plowed into an SUV then burst into flames. The driver escaped unharmed fortunately. On the other side of the freeway at the same time was another accident involving another 18 wheeler. It was taking drivers 9 - 10 hours to make the 3 hour drive from Dallas to Austin. I'm glad that we stayed in. There was just a ton of black ice all over the roads everywhere. Tonight is supposed to be colder than last night - Nearing Zero for some areas. But at least it won't be raining. I still don't understand how the rain doesn't turn into snow when it is so cold. It was way below freezing but raining and sleeting. ANyway, it was fun for us to listen to Christmas music, frost cookies and be warm indoors. The funny thing is - it will be in the upper 60's again by Saturday. I don't think I'll ever stop being amazed by Texas weather.

SNOW DAY

9:00 AM
SCHOOL IS CLOSED!!!!
Wahoo!!!
Now what to do today.....
Aspen was out playing with the ice this morning. The trampoline was a solid sheet of ice. Aspen jumped on it and was sliding all around. She had pieces of ice hanging off her fleece PJ pants. This is as close to snow as we get...so at least Aspen was taking advantage of the situation.

Ice outside

7:00 AM So I had to get up early to check the news to see about school - And we still have to go today (BUMMER). But.... At least they are delaying the start of everything until 10AM, SO the kids get to sleep in and I can go back to bed. THe roads have lots of ice on them and all the overpasses and bridges are shut down. It's a good thing. People in Texas don't know how to drive in anything but sunshine. Unfortunately - no snow. Maybe next time.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

It is soooo cold. It is 27 degrees here in Austin - but with the wind chill
it feels like-----------12 degrees!!!!!
And it's supposed to get into single digits tonight!! This is insanely cold weather for Texas. I went out to take a picture of my house with only a light sweater on and I couldn't stand it I had to run back in after only 25 seconds. Maybe I'm getting wimpy after 8 years of living in Texas. But it is really, really cold. THe wind just gets inside and it is hard to get warm. It is supposed to rain and maybe snow tonight even (my kids are crossing their fingers). And schools are either closing or are being delayed a couple hours tomorrow (my kids are crossing their toes for this one!) It was almost 80 degrees a couple days ago! But that's Texas for you. luckily, I heard that the cold front was coming and so I was able to go and buy coats for my kids yesterday. Good thing. Their old ones were about 3 or 4 inches too short(on the arms) and wouldn't zip up on Isaac. So today we enjoyed hot chocolate after school. And nothing beats a good grilled cheese sandwich and soup on a frigid day like today.

I was going to post some pics, but I think Nate took my firewire for my camera, so, alas, I can't get the pictures off my camera. So there will be some added later.

Make A List

1. I love lists. Ask Nate. He makes fun of me for doing it. I write one every night before I go to bed. If I don't, I can't sleep. I usually write at least 4 or 5 others during the day. During church, while I am waiting for the kids or at the doctor's office. It passes the time. I can't seem to keep track of my lists so I make the same lists over and over again. So here is another list.

2. I love that even at age ten, when Toby loses a tooth (and he doesn't have many more to lose!) he still puts it under his pillow.

3. I love that Nate made Hazel an extra bottle and put it in the fridge for her middle of the night feeding for me.

4. I love that my brothers and sisters are growing up and now we are better friends and do more and talk more.

5. I love blogs, even more than email. I can keep up with all those people that I wouldn't get the chance to otherwise.

6. I love the time after the kids are in bed and before I go to bed. It is quiet and I can relax.

7. I love the way the house looks and feels at Christmas time in the dark with all the twinkle lights on the tree, the porch, the banisters, every where.

8. I love singing Christmas song with my children around the candle windmill.

9. I love holding Hazel in the middle of the night when it is quiet.

10. I love looking at catalogs and window shopping. (Cheaper and I can do it in bed!)

11. I love trying to get organized. It always looks good on paper, but harder to keep going in real life. It's too hard to schedule and plan real life. But I keep trying.

12. I love making stuff for other people. It seems more worthwhile than doing it for myself.

13. I love reading the terrill blogs - it is probably the most intelligent and thought provoking thing I read during the day for the most part. Mostly it is magazines and catalogs (see noumber 10 above) they are easier to put down and pick up again. I always plan on doing such things myself, but life with a baby is not so easily mulitasked. They are my heroes when it comes to literature. How can you all remember so many quotes and stories and poems and song lyrics?!

14. I love that my kids are independent.

15. I love that there are great blue herons in the pond behind my house. Since moving to Texas we have taken up bird watching. Most every kind of bird either lives here or migrates through, including the monarch butterflies and lots of bats.

16. I love shoes. My favorites list on Zappos.com is enormous. Unfortunately my closet and bank account are not.

17. I love that my kids watch everything that I do - it keeps me on my best behavior.

18. I love that my mom made us take piano lessons through high school. I am starting organ lessons next month.

19. I love to snuggle underneath my feather comforters at night when it is freezing cold outside.

20. I love chocolate. (must include that)

Isaac's Best Handwriting Ever!!

Today I was at school and saw Isaac's teacher in the hall. She was so excited because for Isaac's spelling test today, he had the best handwriting she has ever seen from him so far this year. Isaac usually has nearly illegible handwriting. This is great handwriting. He was so excited and we are all very proud of him.

My, what big teeth you have!

Well not that big really... but they are the better to eat you with!! Hazel's first tooth popped through this morning. You can barely see it there on the bottom...but it is there. Nate was bummed...he wanted to find it first.

O Taunembaum, Second Verse

At Vickie's request I am posting pics of our tree from outside and a better inside shot. Tomorrow we'll finish the rest of the decorating. Check back again for the finished product!

O Taunembaum, O Taunembaum

We made the annual pilgrimage to choose and cut a tree.
This is the small tree lot. We kept walking.

The kids managed to cut the tree down mostly by themselves. (Nate only did ten saw strokes.)

It was only 85 degrees. Not very winterish, or fallish for that matter. But it looked like fall.

Nate looks a bit small next to the tree. It was 11 feet tall. Unfortunately, it is about 6 feet in diameter.

The finished product. Nate was very indulgent - it is all new this year!

tHANK yOU

We had a great Thanksgiving with Mike and Mindy down in San Antonio. It was nearly 90 degrees, not very fallish. But fun to be with a small part of our family. But I wanted to post big Thank You for all my blessings.

I am grateful for:

Take out Turkey and fixin's from Rudy's, making thanksgiving dinner a cinch to prepare
Cars that work
Gas being under $2.00 again
Chocolate (can't forget that!)
4 wonderful, smart, beautiful, funny, adventurous children
A supportive, indulgent husband (Let me get that 12 foot Christmas tree and then helped me decorate it)
Friends that are still my friends even when life is so busy that I don't talk to them for a couple months
The gospel
Great parents who provided me with many opportunities to grow and learn
Email
Digital Cameras
Music
Books
Living in America
Having a living prophet
Being part of a big family
Sleep (when I can get it)
Good Food
Dentists (which I hate going to but would be toothless without)
Sunshine and rain
That my parents taught me to work hard
That my best friends, after Nate, are my brothers and sisters and parents
That I have a forever family

Sit, SS--II--TT, good girl!

Hazel is trying to get strong enough to sit on her own. She'll get there soon. Meanwhile she is happy and enjoys lots of attenntion from everyone that sees her, wherever we go. (mostly grandmas and mexicans who always comment to each other and call her gordita) They all have to smile back at her. Who can resist this smile?

The next one

Lest anyone believe that I always look so scary. The following were some of the next photos in the series. I didn't realize Nate was going to actually take the picture. and he wouldn't stop taking pictures. I was getting a bit exasperated with the whole thing.

Look out!!

My computer has a link to our photo album as the screen saver. And it kicks in after about 1 minute of inactivity at my computer. So I sit and watch my pictures go by while I feed Hazel. It is always funny what shows up that I don't remember taking. Occassionally photos show up that I need to delete, some that I love and then there are ones that are just funny. I am laughing at myself for this one. Nate took this on Isaac's birthday a couple of years ago. And although it isn't very attractive, I think it is very funny.

Tears, Tears, and More Tears

I am not usually a sentimental person or one that cries at movies and such. But lately I have been watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition and I always end up teary eyed. I am so touched by the kindness and generousity of the shows regulars, but more by the service done by the 100's of volunteers who come from all over the states to help build a house in a week. It is incredible. They work night and day and are happy to be there. I am also inspired by the stories of the families that they serve. Last week was a lobster fisherman who lost his arm in an accident, but still went out everyday, refusing all offers of help, to provide for his family. And a couple weeks ago was a woman with many foster children, all of whom were disabled or disfigured in some way. It takes true Christlike love to give that kind of service. If only everyone could be like that.

Betsy's Recipe Exchange Club

So I thought that Phoebe had a great idea to have a recipe blog. So I am starting a club. If you would like to join and be able to post on the blog just email me at foodsnobbery@yahoo.com and I will add you to the list. There will be a link to the new site to the right on the side bar. HOpe you'll join.

Scaring Myself

With Nate in gone on business I should know better than to watch or read scary stuff. But I am very forgetful sometimes. So yesterday I was watching Criminal Minds on TV and scared myself to death. The episode was about a man breaking into peoples houses as they were about to leave on vacation and torturing them and then killing them. I only made it halfway through the show and was becoming paranoid so I had to turn it off. I don't know what it is about being the only one awake in a big house at night that will get me every time. It's okay as long as Nate is there to protect us I guess. I don't know why I watch those kinds of shows anyway. I know that they aren't good. So I think I am making a new start and I am going to just put my TV away. I've got a list of 75 books to read , so that would be a better use of my time.

In the midnight hour

I've been lamenting the fact that Hazel has regressed in her sleep-through-the-night habits. Since going on vacation, she has started waking 3 or 4 times a night. Needless to say, that kind of schedule leads to a severe sleep deficiency, on my part at least. Since Nate is out of town on business I had planned on helping Hazel regain her better sleep habits while he was gone. However, I have realized that I am too much of a softy. I only want to see my children happy and somehow this method of helping her learn to sleep through the night by letting her cry and fall asleep on her own is leaving me in tears as well.

I have come to the conclusion that instead of fighting the nightly interruptions, I will embrace the opportunity to spend some quiet alone time with my baby girl. I only wish that there was enough time during the day that I could spend hours and hours of undivided attention with each of my children. This has been my dilemma since choosing to have more than one child...I wish there were more of me to go around so that I could meet all the needs of my sweet children. I love them with all of my heart. There is no place I'd rather be than with them.

I need a vacation!!

Well, it was a whirl wind of a vacation with so many things to do. And although I am tired I am glad that we did it all. The kids loved Disneyland and Legoland and it was the perfect time of year to go, cool and less crowded. I think they will remember this for a while. And of course it was great to see everyone. And being part of Hester and Spencer's wedding was memorable. But now we're home and trying to get back to normal. It took all last week to get my laundry, dishes and house clean. But finally yesterday we got it done. And I've decided to do some more streamlining and dejunking so that it won't take that long ever again. The kids just have too many things. As do Nate and I. If I get rid of it all then I won't have to clean it!!!

Hester's wedding

I know there are a lot of pics out there already, so here's a few more.






I liked that Vickie pinned on Spencer's bouttonnier!