Second Wife and Best Friend

The 'second wife' of Kent's seems to be my best friend lately. For those of you who are rather confused, I'm referring to the Canon Rebel camera he bought 2 years ago. At first they were inseparable and I could be walking, talking, eating, scolding or any number of things and being told all of a sudden to just 'hold it' while Kent adjusted the thing to get the right shot. I never took to 'IT' for obvious reasons but gradually I became less intimidated with it and figured out enough to do a decent shot. Lately I've been lugging it around with me wherever I go. In addition to dislocating my back and keeping my chiropractor happy, the 50 lbs has a way of keeping me down to earth so to speak. This time of year I have a habit of wandering mentally to the million of things I want/need to get done, or worrying about things I can do nothing about, etc. So when I'm out with the little ones I'm too far off to really enjoy them until my purse bangs painfully into my side. Then I think, "Oh hey, I've got the camera, maybe I can get a cute shot in ..." and suddenly I'm back looking for little things from Isaac and Keila that make me smile. I am by no means become anything near a photographer, but I have to thank it for reminding me what this season is about, my Savior, His love and birth that makes if possible for me to have my family eternally.



Kent's showing Isaac how to hold the bat and Isaac actually hit a few of the balls Kent pitched to him. It was fun to see how excited he got. There's something about achieving something all on one's own.

We went to a park nearby where Isaac fed the ducks (Keila fed herself) stale bread. At one point 2 of them got daring enough to approach on land. Keila was obviously concerned about Isaac's safety and yelled at them rather aggressively. It's amusing to me because she often adores animals and can hardly wait to pet them, but apparently not if they're getting to close to her big brother!





Keila is much more daring in personality than Isaac was at her age. She loved the little suspension bridge at the park and especially when I bounced on it as she took her hands off the rails to try and balance. I love her little grins.




Little monkey sees big brother...


Little monkey do!

Only A Week

It's crazy how quickly the Christmas season passes by with only a week till the big day I've had some random thoughts pass through that I wanted to record.

I don't know if any of you have noticed, but it seems this year that I'm less likely to hear people say Merry Christmas. If I should say it to the cashier as I'm leaving I get a rather pointed, "Happy Holidays!" as if I've committed a rather huge faux pas in what I say. Granted it is a time of many different holidays for many differing cultures, but when did my wishing someone joy for a day that is significant to me because of my Savior's birth become offensive? It saddens me that some find offense where none is intended.

The other major thought that's been cycling through my brain is how bipolar this season seems to be. It's the 'most wonderful time of the year' and yet I see so often that it is the most difficult. For whatever reasons, at this time of year the things that are lacking or have been lost (loved ones, jobs, etc) seem even more poignant. Outwardly some plaster on a happy face but silently weep inside. It has made me particularly grateful for the birth of my Savior. While not all is fair and things we lack leave a keen sting I know that there is healing through Him who gave his life for us - healing now and in the life after. So that is the reason I smile, it is the quiet pillar that makes all of life, not just this time of year, joyously peaceful.

So here's to wishing all you a Merry Christmas. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing or struggling with or enjoying, I pray that this season is filled with the simple but great blessings of love and peace.

Here we are doing our yearly ornament crafts. Even Keila is getting into the spirit of things!




Finished products for Isaac's friends at school. Reindeer, button wreaths and candy canes!

A Surprise Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my man! Well ... not really, but since birthdays around this time of year tend to get gypped a little, I thought we'd dedicate a day before the chaos began to truly celebrate Kent's birthday. So yesterday Isaac and I took the time to make our own card. Unfortunately the Internet was down and so we only had stickers to go with our little poem:

Happy Birthday to you ...
You live with a zoo.
You have 2 little monkeys
Who love you ... me too!

We wrapped chocolate and surprised him early this morning. Later this afternoon Kent and I are off for a much needed massage and a dinner at the Melting Pot. Bring on the calories!!



So here's to a wonderful man, loving father and tender husband! May you following years be filled with adventure, growth and love! We love you!

One Down, Three to Go!

I've always been grateful to have a husband who understands my neurotic behaviors. Especially when it comes to money. I've often heard it said that money can make or break a marriage and gratefully Kent has learned from the mistakes of others and takes a frugal approach. He balances me since I tend to go the extreme of making a 'holey' shirt last till the threads but melt away from use and has taught me that money can make life easier and more enjoyable in the right doses. It has been wonderful these last 2 years being out of school and residency. Perhaps its due to having worked so hard together those lean years, that having such a large income feels luxurious without needing to really spend it. It's the peace of mind that if the car breaks down, we can easily pay to fix it, or there's a special event and we can afford to go the an expensive restaurant. Even so we've kept our old habits of frugality and managed to pay off one of our 4 student loans. It's a little sickening to think that we owe more in school loans that what we own on a house but there is a so much pleasure from the fact that we have so quickly chipped at the old millstone. We estimate that perhaps in 10 years we might be free from them. So here's to our hard work hun!

Dad's Night

Isaac's preschool has an annual Dad's night (and Mom's Night in the spring) for the kids. Isaac absolutely adores Kent so any activity that means he gets to ride in the truck with Baba and have his sole attention that evening is Heaven on Earth! The preschool had paper airplanes, bowling, golf and shaving (the boys used a popscile stick to shave Dad - apparently some dad's wished it was whip cream instead since many a child stuck their Dad up the nose!) and cookies and milk. The best part was that Kent had a blast too and they stayed much later than planned. Here's to male bonding! Argh, argh, argh ... ;0)




He's combined ballet and bowling together!