Home for the Holidays

We've been promised 5 different times that the offer we made on a home in Layton would be approved (the first time clear back in October!). The 22nd of December was the most recent promise. Each time the day came and went with nothing happening. (The 22nd was Nathan's Dad's birthday, so we thought it would have been a great present to say we were moving out!) I felt a lot like I did when I was pregnant with Daniel. His due date came and went and still no baby. I felt wronged. How could they make me promises and not deliver? Well the 22nd, was a bit depressing. I resigned myself to the fact that we probably wouldn't hear until after the holidays. BUT....

Yesterday, I received a long awaited call that our offer has been ACCEPTED! We still need to do the inspection and paperwork for closing, but we couldn't ask for a better Christmas present! We will keep you posted on our status, but we will have a home of our own very soon. Merry Christmas!

Caleb's Favorite Things

While staying with Grandma and Grandpa Brady, Caleb has acquired a few unexpected favorites...
The 'wand' from Grandpa's juicer and a lid from Grandma's pan make the perfect sword and shield!

Caleb loves Grandma's 'rainbow' umbrella. Who says umbrellas are just for rainy days? And don't even start with the bad luck opening them in the house.

Playing footsie on the kitchen floor with Grandma is great.

Every time we went outside, Caleb loved running under the this evergreen.

I didn't find a picture of it, but another of his favorite toys was a little orange funnel. Seriously, why do even buy toys? It seems we are inhibiting such creativity.

Random Liam

Liam is a great reader. I'm so proud of him...the only thing is it can take an hour to get a few little pages read. Not because he doesn't know the words or can't sound them out, but because he gets distracted. His mind is going a million miles a second. Often times we laugh about the crazy places his mind wanders. The other day he said, "Mom and Dad, if I woke up on Christmas before you, and Santa gave me a tuba (a tuba really?? where did that come from????), I would go in your room and play Christmas songs on it to wake you up!" Liam, you are totally crazy--and I totally love you.

Santa Knows His Stuff

A week or so ago, we took the boys to see Santa, but, as we walked up, Caleb informed me that he was just a "fake Santa". I took it in stride and told him that this was one of Santa's helpers and that he still had to tell him what he wanted so he could pass it along to the real one. I have no idea where he got the idea that this wasn't the real one, after all, he's only three and his brothers weren't debating his authenticity. Oh well, we went up to take a picture and "Fake" Santa asked Caleb what he wanted. Caleb told Santa that he wants a Clone Trooper. Caleb can be a little tough to understand so I tried to clarify by saying, "You know a trooper from Star Wars." Santa turned back to Caleb and said, "Do you want a trooper from Tatooine or Hoth?" Caleb said,"Not Tatooine". Nathan and I looked at each other and grinned huge grins--Who knew that Santa was a Star Wars geek too? Liam requested a Star Wars transformer. Last of all Daniel talked to Santa. He told him he'd like a telescope. Santa asked him what he'd like to see with it. Daniel said he wanted to see the constellation Serius (we took the boys to the BYU astronomy star show when they did a Harry Potter version--very cool). So Santa says, "Oh you want to see the constellation of the dog..."and he went on about it! I don't know what the boys thought, but I'm a believer! I think it was something like the little girl in Miracle on 34th street who sees Santa sign to a deaf girl and speak in other languages to others--Wow!

Teaching Moments For Mom

I am always amazed when kids teach and reteach me. A few weeks ago I was helping out in Liam's kindergarten class. We were talking about our senses. After we'd gone through all of them, one little boy said, "There's one more." So I asked him what I'd missed. He said, "Well, there's the one that makes us feel good inside and helps us. But really it's the Holy Ghost." I loved that it. It is so fun to be surrounded by kids in the gospel. They know more than any text book--and what they know is most important. So my new goal is to allow the Holy Ghost into my life in such a way that He can be as accessible as any of my other senses.

A few days ago I was signing some papers for the bank (a little progress toward getting our new house in Layton). As a result I was just a few minutes late in picking up Daniel from school. I apologized and explained what made me late. Daniel just looked up at me and said, "Mom, we've just got to have more faith, like the Nephites who were waiting for baby Jesus to be born." I could have cried! He went on, "We'll get the house or if we have faith Heavenly Father will show us another one." I so often become impatient with our housing situation and Daniel so sweetly reminded me that, "through Him all things are possible." I'm so blessed to have angels round about me (remind me that I called them that next time they start fighting).