Eight is Great

Eight years ago today this special, beautiful child came into the world.

There has not been a day since, when I haven't felt blessed to be her mother, to have her in our family and to share in her sweet, happy spirit.

Emily is almost always happy. She loves everyone, and is the most kind and gentle sister anyone could wish for. If she has a treat, a toy, a spot on the couch - or anything - and Jacob or Jane would like it, she gives it to them. She reads them stories and helps them play - she even picks up more than her fair share of toys at clean up time. She idolizes Rebekah and never has a harsh word to say about her. She is just plain nice.

She is enthusiastic about everything. Every day is exciting to Emily. I look forward to her sparkle each day and experiencing the world through her eyes.
She loves new things, and is willing to try her hand at anything. She loves the food network, and cooking. She may be a great cake decorator when she grows up, or a famous chef - but she probably won't eat much of her own food, because she's still very particular about what she likes to eat (fruit will probably never be on the menu in her restaurant.)

Emily is a hard worker. She always gets her jobs done at home, and tried very hard to do her best in school - which brings her great grades & love from all her teachers. She is great at soccer and swimming. She recently swam over a mile in a 1 hour period! Just like in everything else, in sports she gives her all and generally reaps the benefits of her hard work.

Emily, I am so proud of you.
You are a bright ray of light in our family and we just wouldn't be the same without you!
We love you so much.

Swordfish

Jacob earned his swordfish badge last week, by demonstrating his "big arms" all the way across the pool & "ear with blow" with the kick board.

I'm so proud of him, and thrilled that he loves swimming.

I love you my goofy guy!

Joy to Everyone

Steps to fill your heart with Christmas joy -

1. Go HERE.

2. Click "play video"

3. Be uplifted.

Santa

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Christmas Wishes

Emily - "red iPod nano"
Jacob - "balloons"
Jane - "baby horsies"




** Bek became way too cool for sitting on Santa's lap in 2004.
We did get one shot last year with her there - but I'm pretty sure she'd kill me if I posted it here.

Maxed Out

I'm not into a lot of TV. However I do lots of laundry, which is frankly, very boring. It's almost always at night when my kids are in bed - so I DVR Oprah, and 60 minutes and watch them then to distract me from the folding (often all I've recorded from 60 minutes is football that ran over!) When I run out of those love to watch documentaries, which I get from the library or Netflix.

I've pretty much run through all the "humanitarian issue" documentaries, so got this one.

Here's the synopsis from Netflix -

"Investigating both the personal and the national debt owed by Americans, this thought-provoking documentary explores the staggering financial burden we live with every day and exposes how the contemporary financial industry is set up in ways that can harm unwitting customers. With both sobering facts and black humor, Maxed Out unveils the consequences of our debt addiction, including its contribution to the vanishing of the American middle class."

This is GREAT. Seriously good. It was made two years ago, which makes it's message even more poignant. I had Rick watch it on Friday night (while we wrapped party favors for Emily's class holiday party together), and want Rebekah to watch it over the break. Everyone should see this, but I especially think High school student who will soon be heading of into the world of college & financial independence.

If you have a Netflix account, it's an instant play.
Otherwise look for it at Blockbuster or your library, but make sure you see it!

First Haircut

When Jacob was 19 months old, he had his first haircut (from the lovely Jen.)
He had the sweetest little soft curls at the nape of his neck, and they never grew back. So when Jane's hair started to grow and had curls, I vowed I would never cut it. Her brother however, had made no such vow and before she turned two he had chopped it twice.

It all eventually grew back and just before Thanksgiving, I noticed that her bouncy curls were looking a little unkempt and began pondering a haircut. Maybe it would give the bounce back to the curls once they were free from extra weight - or they may never come back, what to do ???
I probably spent a LOT more time worrying about it than I should have (I love her hair.)

A few days later Jacob was going to a birthday party and I was wrapping the gift. Jane reached for the scissors - "Oh no you don't sister" - I got her the nice kid-safe one's that supposedly only cut paper.
I wrapped and she cut scraps into strips singing that she loved Stella (friend next door) and that she was going to give them to her. I glanced up thinking how cute she was - just in time to see her snip the scissors closed. Right against her scalp. At the front.

I cut Rick and Jacob's hair - but I do not touch my girls heads, so on the way home from getting her cast off we stopped at Snips-it's. This place just opened, and our old one moved - so I thought we'd try it out (also because I had a 50% off coupon which they said I could use for both girls.) Hopefully they could neaten up the super-short bit in the front & revive her curls.

Getting up on the seat, ready to go.

Blowing bubbles.
She didn't even seem to notice she was getting her haircut.

Holding still.

The only time she really moved around a lot was when some hair got in her nose!

She got a cute pink ribbon.
Then it was Emily's turn.

After your haircut, you take a small piece of your cut off hair & put it into this "magic machine" and it spits out a toy. The kids thought that was AWESOME. They got a lollipop and a balloon too.

Jane also got a certificate and small bag of her hair, since it was her first (official) haircut.

I'm happy because they look well cared for again AND Jane's curls have revived with some weight cut off them.

Stinky Arm

When Jane got her cast on the Dr. told us she would probably only have to have it on for two weeks, so we headed back to the Dr. to hopefully, get it off. Her arm was getting so stinky. All those years working at Primary Children's gave me great practice for bathing kids with casts & keeping them dry - but we still had a few water mishaps, some food that got smashed into it, oh and the play dough she got up there - really there's just no way to keep a two year olds hand totally clean & dry!

There was a boy in the waiting room who had his put on the same day as Jane. He went in before us and came out looking sad, and with the cast still on!
Uh-oh, I thought, I really hope we don't have to keep Jane's on.
However, her arm was all healed and she got it off!

Before.

During.

After!The bigger kids thought the left over cast was cool.

When the Dr. asked if we wanted to keep it, I hesitated - really, it stinks.
The kids however were sure that we must save it - so it came home with us. I pulled all the cotton out, and left it outside to air out - maybe that will make it tolerable.

Jane has a bad rash all over that arm, but hopefully with a few days of good cleaning and lotion, it will clear up.

We're so glad she didn't have to have it on long & that she's all good as new.
We love you Janie Baby - stinky arm and all!