If you’re looking for a good cause, I have one. Follow the link below to read a Deseret Morning News story about a family dealing with some difficult health issues.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20081214/ai_n31135573
Their daughter, Caitlynn passed away on Saturday, December 20 following complications related to a fever.
They have a fund set up at Cyprus Credit Union under the name “Williams Family.”
I posted the word list for the mixed up words on our 2008 Christmas Greeting. How did you do?
P.S. UFMC stands for Utah Federation of Music Clubs
Have I told you how amazing Jade's teacher is? They have this great line of windows on the north wall of the classroom. Just out those windows sits a set of perches and bird feeders, each filled with a different variety of seed. The kids write observations of the birds in a bird journal. When a child has a birthday, the teacher sends home several recipes for treats for the birds they can make and bring in. The kids love it! Jade loved the birds a little too much in fact, and had to be moved so she was sitting facing away from the windows. For Christmas, Jade brought home one of those pine cones covered in peanut butter then rolled in bird seeds. We hung it up just before it snowed. As you can see in the photo, the birds love it. We were all so excited when our feathered friends noticed it and munched away.
I love the social events of the Christmas season. We mark up our calendar with party plans all month long. Well you’ve heard the scripture (Eccl. 3:1) “To every thing there is a season, and a time...” I’ve decided this just may not be the time and season for me to enjoy all these get-togethers. If you notice my absence at an event, here’s the explanation.
Last night was our 3rd annual “Open Garage Party.” Some neighbors and I coordinated our efforts to start a tradition where instead of taking around neighbor gifts we bring a food bank donation, a treat to share and visit in someone’s garage. My kids have been talking about it for weeks. Of course, our first real snow storm of the winter decided to happen yesterday. Since the party was only 6 houses away, we walked. Aeris wasn’t at all happy being bundled up, but once the stroller started moving she was fine. Once we arrived, Jade and Logan immediately headed for the treat table (of course!). Aeris started to fuss. I took her out of her snow clothes, but she continued to fuss. I shooed Jade & Logan out the door to play in the snow rather than eat themselves sick. I tried to converse with the neighbors, but Aeris cried harder and harder. She’d had dinner, a good nap, and a diaper change before we left. Was she too cold, too hot? I had no idea. In the mean time, Jade and Logan kept coming back in saying they were cold. Logan didn’t have on snow pants since the pair he wore last year is too small and I haven’t dug out the bigger size from the basement yet. They both opted for knit gloves instead of waterproof mittens because they could put them on without help from me. Their hands were frozen. So after spending 30 minutes getting dressed and ready, and another 5 walking over, we left after 20 minutes. Logan screamed the whole way home because he was wet and freezing. They stripped in the garage and headed to the tub. I spent the next 20 minutes sorting/hanging their wet clothes and putting some into the washer. Once I had Aeris back at home she didn’t cry once. Unfortunately this isn’t an isolated event. She had acted the same way at our church Christmas party.
I have these visions of attending holiday parties where the kids play and enjoy treats in moderation and I chat with my friends. The reality is my kids are attracted like magnets to any food at a party, especially anything with sugar in it. I distract them with other activities, but they just can’t stay away, so minutes later they’re back. Because of this, I spend parties hovering at the food table so I can turn them around every time they head over. Since Aeris isn’t walking, I can’t put her down because she’ll be trampled by the crowds. Instead I hold her in my arms, squirming and fussing because she gets overwhelmed easily in large groups. I can’t manage much of a conversation because I’m constantly focused on how far Jade and Logan are from the food and because Aeris is crying in my ear.
Someday. Someday.
Opportunities to socialize with my friends will come again, but my children are growing older by the second. For now I cherish that they still feel the magic of Christmas, even if most of that magic comes in the form of cookies. I’m glad Aeris still prefers to be at home. Those times will be gone very soon and I’ll wish I had them back when they are.
It's so exciting when your baby hits a milestone. I'm thrilled to share Aeris's latest tricks!
Hands and knees crawling!
Wow! Two handed walking. This one happened all of a sudden. The physical therapist has had me praticing the two hand hold. Aeris hasn't liked it at all. She definitely wouldn't take steps. Then on Sunday night, during family prayer of all things, Nate had a hold of her hands and she started taking steps. I was the one praying, so my eyes were closed. Thank goodness she was loving it and kept going so I didn't miss it! She is now totally comfortable stepping.
Nate, being the wonderful husband that he is, put Made of Honor into our Netflix queue with the idea that it would nice little romantic comedy that I would enjoy. We watched it last night. I couldn't figure out who they were writing this movie for. Generally, romantic comedies appeal to women, so I figure this must have been their intended audience. I was turned off from the opening scene, where the main male character in the show, the one you're supposed to be rooting for in the end, roams around a college Halloween party, obviously drunk, looking for someone to sleep with. You find out in this same scene that he's known for sleeping with a lot of women. Fast forward ten years and nothing has changed. He loves to sleep with lots of women.
Then there are the two "geeks." The writers of this movie obviously introduced these characters thinking it would be funny for the main characters to hide from, ignore, and be rude to them.
Oh yes, and they always have to include their one allowed F word.
I actually felt sad for the girl at the end. She was a pretty likable girl. Too bad she had to end up with such a shmuck!
