::unpacking::

So we went to Orlando to join in with thousands and thousands of people for the Disney World marathon weekend. Kris and I ran the half marathon and Max did a kid race. Kris's mom came with us and saved the day by taking awesome care of the kiddos.
Anyway, I have stuff to post about that, but I'm going to have to go backwards--starting with the unpacking.

Finally five days after getting home I'm getting unpacked. I hate hate packing for trips, but unpacking is SO much worse.
But at least there was a cute baby keeping me company.

I've got to get my pictures in order and then I'll report on our fun.

::this year::

My friend Megan started a tradition a while back of choosing a word as a theme for the new year. Some sort of word that was inspiring, or descriptive of something a person might want to do, or be, or remember during the year.
Anyway, I always end up thinking of a scripture that has my word in it. And truly, during the last couple of years, I've though of my word/scripture, and it has helped me remember some of the things I needed to.

So my pick this year was from the Book of Mormon: 2nd Nephi 2:25.
"Adam fell that men might be; and men are that they might have joy."
JOY is my word.

There isn't enough joy in my life. I am so busy, and frazzled and pushed from thing to thing, I hardly have time to see all the good in what's happening around me. I'm so blessed, but I sometimes can't even see it with how quickily everything has to go. Often I feel the opposite of joy--dread, darkness, all those things that come with exhaustion and responsibility and being a grown up.
I want to be joyful. That is what I'm looking for in my life. I'm going to do my best to remember this word and this scripture all year, and make it happen.

In President Monson's talk from October 2011 he spoke so much on this topic.

"This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now."

And more:

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” 3 We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."

I should just copy and paste the whole doggone thing here, it's so good. But rather than that, just go and read it yourself.

And be joyful! I'm going to try to too. Thanks for the inspiration Megs, as always.

::::

::this year last year::

Lots of change in two cute boys. Love them so much!

::christmas report::

Alright, here we are reporting on how our Christmas day went.
It was a good day--really it just flew by. It's nice to have Christmas on sunday because it's appropriate, but it's sure different to have to run to church in the middle of all the festivities.

Sandy woke up at 1AM so sad and sick. Max of course got waked up by this--he usually doesn't but he must've just been sleeping so light. Anyway, Max was told that he had to take a bath before we could go out to the Christmas room, and so there he was when Kris went to fix the baby, in the bathroom, getting ready to start a bath. Wishful thinking!
After that everybody went back to sleep, thank goodness, and Max woke up when his alarm went off at about seven.

Once we got everybody clean, sparkling and at least half dressed for church it was time for the fun to begin.

Sandy was able to stay awake for about a half hour before he had to go back for a morning nap. The poor guy just didn't feel well at all. It prettymuch broke my heart because he's so much fun when he feels like himself. I was looking forward to him having a fun day. Oh well.

Here's Max lying on a pillow Kathy made him among the Christmas spoils.

And Sultan of course, always likes to be in the middle of everything. He thought that the quilt there covering Sandy's rocking horse present was really there for him to make himself comfy on.


After we had some fun opening presents we rushed off to church--it was tough, nobody really wanted to take a break to get ready, so we were very much almost slightly late.


Aren't the boys matching sweaters cute? It took me a while to find matching sweaters in a boys 8 and an 18 months! But I think they just look adorable.


Church was nice.
Afterwards we ate a yummy lunch of leftovers and Sandy was in serious need of a nap. He wasn't too happy when I tried to take brother photos. But they're cute anyway.




Awwww.
After that we got to open more presents, and talk and video chat with family. It was fun. Really fun and pleasant.

Here's Sand amid the riches and spoils, after one of his many naps.

For dinner, Kathy's best friend Dixie and her husband just happened to be driving through on their way to AZ. So of course we had to have them come over. Kathy made a delicious dinner and we all got to eat, enjoy, and hang out for the rest of the night. I wanted to to get a picture of John & Dixie, but I guess the day just got away from me.

So there you go, such a lovely day. It was so fun to have Kathy here. Thanks to all our family for your love and gifts and support. We wish we could've been with you all!
Christmas just zooms by so fast, doesn't it?

::christmas eve pt 3::

After the Canyon Road walk (and yes mom, we can totally take a walk there next time you come.) we headed home. Max was a little anxious to get to bed on time (for once in his life.) He had been using google maps and NORAD to track Santa all day, and knew the man was getting closer by the minute.
We ate some delicious clam chowder for dinner that Kathy made. Mmmm, it was good. We opened our Christmas Eve PJs. Max was thrilled that once I again I tracked down some big boy footy PJs. He said, "I didn't think they CAME in my size anymore!"
Then Sandy went to bed because he was wasted, and the rest of us went into the festive living room for scriptures and stories.
Best part was that Kris built the inaugural fire in our living room fireplace. It was so pretty and cozy. His mom was psyched for the fire!
So we had to take some photos in front of it.
Remember those ridiculous Max picture faces? Well brace yourself for more.....

It was dark in there so there are some funny shadows on people's faces...sorry!

This may not be Kathy's favorite picture, but it's so perfect--the exhausted adult trying to hand onto the CRAZY kid.
I have the exact same look on my face in this one.

And a few more just for good measure.

(Oh my GOODNESS can you believe that face?!)


We read our stories (some scriptures, some Tomie DePaola pop up book, some Little House on the Prairie Christmas.) And we sent that little insane boy to bed, where he proceeded to fall asleep pretty well really.
Then we grownups watched It's a Wonderful Life (some of us cried, some of us didn't) and did our Christmas thing.

Then besides Sandy waking up sick at 1AM and also waking up Max who thought it was time to get in the bath and get ready for the day, things went smooth.
Christmas report to come, whew!!

::christmas eve pt 2::

My Kris was a little bothered that I didn't mention the awful ridiculousness of Max's cheesy picture face.
Well, it does deserve mentioning--though Kris is lucky I'm not making him do a special post of his own on it.
So, a moment of silence wherein you can bask in the horrible squirtyness of Max's picture face:

Oy.

Oy vey.

Urgh.
OK, that's enough for now. But wow, how weird is that goofy smile?

So on to more Christmas Eve.
We went to lunch and it was fun. I always like doing that.
After that we went and got cold weather gear for both Grandma and Sandy.
After that we went home and worked on more cookie making. Sandy wanted to prove that he wasn't 100% miserable and he ate a sugar cookie with no frosting. In a funny way no less.


Now, at this point Max was getting so excited he could hardly handle himself. So Kris sent him out to the courtyard to make a big pile of snow. It kept him pretty busy for an hour or so, surprisingly enough. Though you can't see it, the mound is all of about a foot and a half tall. Impressive, right?

And after that there was some icicle fencing. Even later, there was some sledding on the driveway. That's some pretty memorable great stuff.

After all that fun we headed into town in order to walk down Canyon Road. This is a Santa Fe tradition. There are lots of art gallerys and little fancy shops on that road and they all get fancied up with lights and luminarias. We've never done it before--last year we thought about it but it was so crowded with cars and stuff when we drove by that we decided to forget it.
We went down there early, just as the sun was going down and found a far away parking spot.


Poor Sandy doesn't look too happy, does he? He did ok for most of the walk, but by the end he seemed to be cold, bored, unhappy and super cranky. But before that happened we got to see some fun stuff.

It got more crowded as the light disappeared.

Here's a crazy huge horse head statue for my mom.

There were fires here and there for people to sit by. Some folks were standing around them singing Christmas carols.



More horses--cool flower things too in the background.

Look at that cute dog with lights around his neck.

It got prettier as it got darker too.




So lovely!
At this point we had to turn around and hurry as fast as we could back to the car so Sandy wouldn't melt in despair.
Then we thawed out and hurried home for more fun.
Part three to come..Whew!!