noah's drawing...

While cleaning up a bit I found this picture that Noah drew. I think it is pretty good! And I am glad that he recognizes the rules being broken... Maybe I will have to hang onto this picture to show him when he is a teen and wants to start breaking these rules! ; ) Noah just loves to draw. He pays attention to details and is able to replicate them really well.

in the morning...

There are times when busy days turn into busy nights and before you know it the time has come to go to bed only to begin once again another busy day. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming. Sometimes I like to stay up extra late just to enjoy the quiet of the house and do what ever I want for a time. I like that. The stillness. Being able to sit in one spot for as long as I like. I find it interesting that something as simple as sitting still has become a luxury for me.

Anyone who knows me understands that I am NOT a morning person. Nope. Not at all. I would sleep in until 9am everyday if I could. My mornings are usually full of trying to work out, read my scriptures, make sure everyone is dressed, fed, and that all school papers and lunches are made and packed. Breakfast is served and eaten then out the door the older 3 go. Busy. Crazy busy some mornings. (especially if one of the kids wakes up in a "mood").

As each new morning starts and I think over all of the things that will need to get done that day I find sanity in some of the small things in my morning routine that almost get over looked a midst all the swirling of activity. I love to open my blinds. Strange...yet true! Each newly opened window lets the morning light into our home. With each window I feel myself wake up. There is something about morning light that brings peace to my spirit and helps prepare me for the day ahead. I take just the briefest moments and look into the sky. I take a deep breath and begin my new day. It is just a moment, but it makes all the difference.

new kit...

GG Digital Designs has done it again....her new kit XOXO is simply adorable!

I love the blue and red together....and don't get me started on the scrabble tile alpha! Super cute!

Tonight the hubbs and I are heading to see Brian Regan perform...I.CAN'T.WAIT!!

a Jordan Christmas...

Our holiday season started out with a Max that was ready to be potty trained. Not the best timing, but I could tell that he was finally ready to start. He was SO ready that it made training a breeze in comparison to some of my other kids. We have had minimal accidents and he has been accident free for a few weeks.

My sister Rachel and her family came to Utah for the holiday. We spent every day together. We tried to pack in tons of fun. One night we headed up to Salt Lake to see the lights. Here is our family plus Cole.

Even with all the hanging out I still had some time to make yummy pumpkin chocolate chip bread for our friends and neighbors. I love how excited Owen and Max got at watching the bread bake. Super cute!

My sister Rachel planned a Christmas party for the kids with games for everyone after.

The kids helped decorate their homemade chef hats and she had aprons for everyone.

Next up was decorating gingerbread men.

We watched Polar Express at my parents club house theater, went swimming several times at the city pool, and on Christmas Eve we had our second annual dinner at Golden Corral. Not my favorite, but the kids just LOVE to pick whatever they want. Including all you can eat ice cream!

I love that Noah and Zach can play the piano. Noah even volunteered to play his recital piece on Christmas eve while we did jingle bells.

After all the presents were under the tree the kids received their Christmas jammies

They all looked so cute in their jammies...ignore Zach...he was being super grouchy. I don't have a single picture with out a frown. But he pulled through and a good nights sleep snapped him out of it and into the joy of the day to come!

As is Jordan tradition the kids waited on the stairs until they heard Johnny Mathis sing the Drummer Boy song. Oh the anticipation! There were many whispers about how they were going to keep their eyes closed all the way down the stairs so that they didn't see anything until they could see it all at once!

After a wonderful Christmas morning at church we headed over to my parents house to open gifts with each other. Owen had a little accident. He fell and bonked his eye on a chair. It split his little eye brow open. We were worried that he might need stitches, but he healed up pretty well all on his own.

The day before Christmas Eve Travis thought he might have a sinus infection. So he went to the doctors to get some medicine. Sure enough it looked like he did so he was prescribed some antibiotics and started feeling a little better. On Christmas night he was having a lot of pressure in his ears... in the middle of the night Travis felt his ear pop and a release of the pressure. He went into the doctor again the next morning and sure enough his ear drum had ruptured and the infection was pretty bad. He was given a stronger antibiotic and we had hopes that all would be cleared up in a few days. On Thursday night he discovered that he was covered COVERED in a red angry rash. So he headed to the insta care and the doctor said that it was a viral rash. Travis didn't quite believe the doctor and so in the morning headed to his regular doctor where he was told that he was actually allergic to his antibiotic. So he was given a different antibiotic and told that all should be well. Well just this last Saturday Travis said his ears still felt weird...so into the doctor AGAIN he went and was prescribed a pro biotic and another round of antibiotics. Oh what a joy it is to hopefully (fingers crossed) have his ears cleared up!

More time spent at the Museum of Paleontology and the Bean museum followed up with dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe!

The night before my sisters family was leaving we headed to the Riverwoods and had dinner and walked around to see the lights. I had heard about this cute toy store called Blickenstaffs and they kids had a ball! It was super fun. I now have another game on my list of wants that I discovered there...

It was a great holiday spent with family playing loads of games. The cousins got to spend some great time playing and are forming strong bonds that will last forever! Happy New Year!