Christmas best

Hilton just told me, "I just can't wait anymore, MOM! Can't I just take a little peek?" He is really dying here. I have run out of hiding places for the presents and I put the presents that came in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Shuck under the tree today. That was a mistake because now that Hilton sees presents he wants to open them! I am putting some pictures on here of the Christmas outfits... This may be the last year they will all match... but I will do it as long as I can! '

Life is too short

Remember my friend, Hyatt that I told you about a couple of months ago? She was my age and had a heart attack and went into a coma. Well, she passed away. I have been keeping up on the blog and they had the funeral last week. It is easy for me to get caught up in my own life. Especially this time of year. As I sit here thinking about this family, I am in awe. Troy, Hyatt's husband is a living example of a disciple of Jesus Christ. He is not a member of my church. I know he doesn't have the same beliefs in the life after this one that I have. He doesn't have the knowledge that I have that families can be together forever. But each of his posts professes the importance of family and faith. He has endured one of the most trying things in the world. Losing one's spouse, especially when you have small children has to be horrible even with knowing you will see them again. But his words have always been positive and faith promoting. He has constantly reminded his readers of the importance of not letting the world get in the way of your family. He has reminded me to hug my kids and my husband and to forget about the stupid arguments. To remember why I married the man I married. To remember that my time with my children on this earth is limited and that the current relationship I have with them is so very limited. I have been reminded repeatedly this week from different sources that my children are not mine. They are just in my care for a short time until the time when they will be able to create their own families and bonds with their spouses. It is because of these reminders that I have thought of the result I have had in my marriage. And I am grateful to have married the man I have married. Marriages are not perfect. Husbands are not perfect, and neither are wives. But the sanctity of marriage is. The idea of marriage is. And because I have found my partner for this life and for eternity, I can only be thankful. I chose wisely. I must treasure these short moments we have in this life as they are so fleeting. And so as I conclude, sobbing and trying not to be negative about the horrible things Troy has had to endure over the last few months, I am going to try to remember that he is strong. He has his faith and his family. He is going to be okay because of these things. He is going to continue to touch the lives of so many who have come to know him and his family through his blog. And through this tragedy will come some good. People will come unto Christ. Pray for Hyatt's family. Her tiny little girls and her amazing husband who have endured so much and will not have a wife and mommy to spend Christmas with this year. The Hyatt Update blog link is on the right if you would like to read the eulogy from her funeral last week. And if you get nothing else from this post today, go hug your kids, go kiss your spouse, passionately because this life is short.

what else?

Christmas Countdown & MySpace Layouts

Happy Thanksgiving... am i late? Heehee

Here are finally some pictures from Thanksgiving. In case you are wondering about the pic with something all over Hilton's hands, that is stuffing. He helped me make it this year and was very proud of the outcome. He even ate some. Stuffing is not his favorite. We had a delicious meal and we are now looking forward to a delicious Christmas dinner, especially since Justin's Mom will be here and can make authentic stuffing, not just my knockoff!

SNOW!

Tues it was 75 degrees outside. This is what we woke up to this morning. I got my white Christmas, y'all! It is wet and cold, but I love it. It just makes me want to move back to Idaho even more...

Four Four Four Four

I was tagged by Vicki 1) Four Places I go over and over, Michaels (work), Broadmoor (kids' school), Target, church 2)Four people who email me regularly Mom, Dad, Vicki, Facebook 3)Four of my favorite places to eat Coyote Blues, Texas Roadhouse, McDonald's, Wingers (I miss Wingers...) 4)Four places I would rather be right now In bed, Rexburg, Utah, accepting an Academy Award 5)Four people I tag Shana, Christine, Chelsi, Nicole 6) Four TV shows I watch Ghost Whisperer, Top Chef, Madmen, Lost

How I feel today

I feel like I could cough out a lung... I may just... you wait!

My List... sort of

I just finished the latest book by Tess Gerritsen. I love that lady. She sure knows how to tell a story! This one was about a killer who would preserve his victims in different ancient ways such as mummification. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I was thrown another curve ball! What an awesome story! It's called The Keepsake. She is a doctor who writes thrillers. I just love all of her stuff. They are mostly centered around this woman detective and woman ME, so there is a thread that runs through each of the books, but you could read them out of order and still love them just for the individual stories. I have been reading and reading. I have really got to finish Lorelai's Christmas stocking! I am almost ready to turn the heal, which is really the most complicated part. Once I have that done it will go fast, but I just have to be motivated to knit. My eyes have really been bothering me lately, I need new glasses, badly! (Mine are scratched so badly that I can hardly see out of them.) So it is hard for me to knit when it hurts to look at those tiny stitches. But I have Pushing Daisies TiVo'd so I will get right on that. Plus I am off tonight and tomorrow night bc J has some theatery, teachery thing to do... so I can do it while I watch CSI tonight! And we still have to decorate the house for Christmas! The list never ends!

Twilight and all related Vampire stuff

Some friends and I went to see Twilight and I must admit that I loved it! I loved the books too. I cannot wait for the next movie. I read on Stephenie Meyer's website that they are officially moving forward with New Moon. Also, she has published some of her next book Midnight Sun on the sight and you can read some of it. I have only read about 10 pages, but oh man, it is so fun! My friend, Vicki, who went with me to see Twilight has become a fan. She had not read the books and made fun of me for being so obsessed at every chance... but now she is reading them bc she loved the movie and she is the one who told me about Midnight Sun. I agree with Vicki when she said that Stephenie Meyer must have made a deal with the devil, because otherwise how would educated, Thirty-something Mom's become so obsessed with such trivial books!!! They are ridiculously juvenile, but I can't help myself!!!

Mamma VS. Nana

Lorelai is really attached to Caroline. She wants to be around her all the time. She wants her to hold her and play with her. She doesn't want her Mamma, she wants her Nana... Crazy! I have never had this happen before! A baby wanting someone else more than me, their Mamma. But it is also kind of nice. When I am trying to make dinner, I can send her to Nana and she is happy and not under my feet. Caroline is a great little babysitter, but she gets a little irritated too. Sometimes she wants to be alone in her room and Lorelai stands at the door yelling to be let in. Sometimes Caroline even wants to play with Hilton alone and Lorelai is having none of that! She wants to be included!!! When the kids are outside playing, Lorelai will stand at the window yelling at them and banging on the window trying to get their attention. Sometimes they come up to the window and talk to her, but if they ignore her, she just gets louder. She is quite a little sass. She is almost 18 months and therefore almost ready for nursery and this is when she is starting to get that attachment thing... where she only wants to be with family and won't go to anyone else. She has always been pretty shy. Not ready to talk to just anyone. But it is getting worse. This child was saved for last for a reason. She is happy, but a handful. My other kids never got into stuff the way she does, and none of them have been as clingy as she is. Well... I think we'll keep her,though.