I Think My Smart Phone is Making Me Dumb

The kids on Christmas morning.

In 2013 I resolve to use my smart phone less and live in the moment more! After reading this talk by President Uchtdorf, I have felt inspired (and chastised) to spend less time texting and more time living in the moment (note: I am not in any way insinuating that your smart phone is making you dumb, I'm just trying to hold myself as accountable as possible in hopes that I break some bad habits). While my phone is very handy and contains all the information I need from my calendar and email accounts to my scriptures and Groupons, I don't want my kids to remember me with my face buried in a touch screen.

I have come up with a set of guidelines for myself so that, aside from making and answering phone calls, I am only using it during set times of the day when my children are either asleep or in the middle of quiet time.

This will not be easy for me, so wish me luck!

I am also jumping in on Kandis' Project Honeybee. Want to join me, too?

Happy New Year!

The Bet

Baby #4 (aka "The Caboose")

Maddie has been certain since we told her about the baby growing in my belly that she was going to have a sister, always referring to the baby as "she" or "sister." Ryan, on the other hand, has been equally certain that the baby was going to be a boy.

So the two made a friendly little wager just before my scheduled ultrasound the other day.

"Maddie, if the baby is a girl, I will take you to Fro-Yo World and you can get as much frozen yogurt as you want."

"But," he continued, "If I am right, and the baby is a boy, you have to write and illustrate a book about how I am the greatest Dad in the whole world."

She agreed to the bet.

And she will be writing a book starring her one and only bestest dad in the whole wide world.

We are very excited to be adding another superhero to our clan. And the little babe seems to be growing happily and healthily, right on track for his May arrival.

 Merry belated Christmas to me!

Because I Forgot to Include a Video of Davis

Davis sings "When Joesph Went to Bethlehem."

Because It's Been Awhile...

Maddie sings Silent Night


Isaac sings his favorite Hanukkah songs.

Merry Christmas!

From the Mouth of My Babe

With the kids at the trolley museum this weekend. We got to go on a ride to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus.

While eating lunch today, Ryan informed Davis that he wouldn't be leaving the table until he ate all his chili. "Dad," Davis said, "I fink it's time for you to go back to wuurk."

From the Mouth of My Babes

Santa Claus is getting a mouthful from the D-man at our church Christmas party last week. He attempted to sit on his lap again two other times after this, just to make sure Santa understood exactly what he's asking for.

 After putting the kids to bed the other night, Maddie came down stairs with her best fake cry.

"Moooomm! Isaac is punching me!" she wailed.

"Well!" bellowed Ike, defending himself, "She keeps singing Silent Night really loud and she won't stop!"

Maddie and Isaac at the Polar Express Christmas party as well.

For Those Looking To Show Their Love...

A pile of pillowcases sewn by several women in my ward this morning. A local quilting shop is collecting 600 homemade pillowcases to give to the students of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. 

My heart has been very heavy for the past few days as our state and our country and our world has suffered tragic loss. I'm sure your hearts have felt burdened as well. My dear friend, Carlee, has relatives in Newtown, CT. Thankfully, none of her nieces or nephews were harmed in the shootings that took place on Friday as they attend a neighboring school. I wanted to help her spread the word about a project that is taking place to bring a little bit of light to this quaint New England town as they work to heal their broken hearts. 

The idea is simple: spreading love, goodwill and cheer through the heart of a child. We are calling for elementary-aged children's art on paper hearts of all sizes, to be plastered all over Newtown, CT. Include child's first name, age and state. With these hearts, we hope to spread a tangible expression of the love felt by so many people, all sharing in grief for those suffering. Send your paper hearts to:

P.O. Box 754
Bethel, CT
06801

If you are looking for a way to help but don't know how, please consider sending a paper heart to Newtown with your child's artwork decorating it. While I felt it necessary to tell my older children a little bit about the events that transpired on Friday in Newtown, when we decorate our hearts, I will only explain to them that "we are creating happy drawings for people who are feeling sad." 

Even though there are terrible things that happen every day, I still believe that most people are good. I can teach my children to be the good in the world and look for the good in others. 

If you would like to know more about Hearts to Newtown, please feel free to check out their Facebook page here. 

I recently read this talk by Elder Holland about finding peace during tragic times at Christmas. It has brought me a lot of comfort. I hope it does the same for you.

From the Mouth of My Babes

The kids and I after decorating the tree. 

A few Christmas quotes from the kids:

"This is my most favoritest time of the year!" ---Isaac

"How does Santa get into houses without chimneys?" ---Isaac

"I am so exciting to eat our gingerbread house! It is the most beautiful house ever!" ---Maddie

While listening to the song, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas," "Why can mom and dad hardly wait for school to start again?" ---Isaac

"How does Santa see in the dark?" ---Isaac

"Why do all of the Christmas movies forget to talk about Baby Jesus?" ---Isaac

From the Mouth of My Babes

The other day I found Maddie and Davis squeezing their own orange juice using clementines. I think they each managed to get about 1 teaspoon of juice. 

Maddie whispered in my ear the other day, "Last night, Papa came into my room when he got home from work and he gave me some marshmallows! He told me not to tell you but I decided that keeping it is secret isn't what God would want me to do, so that's why I'm telling you!"

Ike finished packing his lunch the other morning and I asked him what he decided to put in it, "String cheese, carrots, and an orange." he yelled to me from the kitchen. "But Isaac," Maddie chimed in, slightly concerned, "You don't even like carrots." In his best big brother voice, he counseled to her, "I know, Maddie, but I want to be healthy. Plus, if you don't eat carrots, you could go blonde. Do you know what going blonde is? It's when you can't see anything anymore! I do not want to go blonde."