Do You Hear What I Hear?

It's the 2nd of December. I can not believe it. While quite often time has seemed to creep by the last 8 months, it also has had an uncanny knack for flying by as well. Now, if I ever manage to multi-task like that you better watch out. But just between you and me I think we're safe in assuming that won't happen. I'm already feeling the full effect of the Christmas Spirit and it's going be one perfect month. We are so blessed.

*holiday decor (which I semi- scaled down from last year) is up

*Jeremy braved the roof and strung up the most perfectly straight line of lights ever

*oohed and ahhed over three precious newborn babies

*we've enjoyed lots of quality time with family

*explained, in depth, why the Who's were happy even after the Grinch stole their "things"

*purchased a beautiful tree (with a coupon even)

*decorated this fabulous tree with mismatched, sentimental, and perfect ornaments

*read the book "I Believe In Santa Claus"

*named and placed our "scout elf" who is keeping a watchful eye on our little ones

*cranked up the tunes on the Christmas Station

*finished almost all of the simplified shopping

*making exciting plans to spend Christmas with my family

*Christmas photo, for the grandkids, is scheduled for this afternoon

*our manger is being prepped for Baby Jesus' arrival with lots and lots of kind deeds

I think the only thing we're lacking is some Holiday baking... it's in the works.

Merry Christmas!

A Grateful Heart

topping my list in 2009

:: a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of me, pretty amazing when you really think about it

:: one amazing husband

:: practically perfect children

:: a huge family who loves me {some bound by blood, some by friendship}

:: a warm, cozy, love-filled house

:: the restored gospel

:: faith & hope

We Are Family...

November is National Adoption Month!

*Of the more than one million pregnant teens each year, 500,000 will choose to parent their babies, 450,000 will abort and fewer than 100,000 will place their babies for adoption. (U.S. Census Bureau)

* There are 510,000 children in the U.S. foster care system; 129,000 of these children are available for adoption.

*More children become available for adoption each year than are adopted. In 2006, 79,000 children had parental rights terminated by the courts, yet only 51,000 were adopted

*Each year, one in five children (26,517 in 2006) who are available for adoption turn 18 and leave the foster care system without a family.

*Nearly 40 percent of American adults, or 81.5 million people, have considered adopting a child, according to the National Adoption Attitudes Survey. If just one in 500 of these adults adopted, every waiting child in foster care would have a permanent family.

Statistical source: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System; Department of Health & Human Services (January 2008) via Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, unless otherwise stipulated.

1/3 of my siblings have joined our family through adoption.

Would you have guessed?

.

It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.

~Johann Schiller

The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.

~Erma Bombeck

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.

~George Eliot

The Never Ending Tradition

Just found this little gem and couldn't let it go unshared.

Turkey Bowl 1999

This Somerville Family tradition has been going strong since the beginning of time (I'm pretty sure anyway) and will commence in less than two weeks. This isn't our "Somerville Year" for Thanksgiving, so we won't be participating. But two weeks, can you believe it?

Another One Bites the Dust

Yes, another one of my "former Young Women" is officially engaged. And the funniest part is that I had her as a Beehive. A Beehive, people.

I've said it before and I'm sayin' it again, I feel old.

A Slippery Slope

I've been looking at old family pictures. I sometimes tend to get a big head looking at all the photos because I am one cute little girl!

Now, before you go getting overly concerned for my prideful self and decide to host an intervention- just wait! Because, as you will soon see, it doesn't take long for my vanity to get checked. While strolling along in the photo journey we hit a little place I like to call the "ugly years". And after realizing that I did, indeed, go out in public like that I have no more pride.

Honestly though, where exactly do you think the breaking point was for me?

I know what my answer is.

1980- Smiling because I'm so fashion forward with my "vintage" binky leash.

1981 - Posing it up with the siblings.

No this is not a backdrop.

It's a real canyon somewhere... probably in the motherland, Utah.

1982 - Sure my hair is a little crazy but my mom has 4 kids.

It doesn't change the fact that I'm still adorable.

1983 - Girls picture!

Me and my sisters are hot stuff in our matching Easter dresses.

1984 - So sweet. Look at those cheeks!

1985 - I've still got it! Except I don't have that rainbow headband.

My sister Adrienne broke it not long after this shot, and I never let her live it down.

1986 - I think the decline starts right about here with

my crimped hair and all.

1987 - The picture my sisters refer to as "the poker".

Let's be honest. It really does look like I'm getting poked with a hot stick.

1988- Even though these earrings were totally in style,

it still doesn't make it right.

1989 - Ok, Self. A note for the future:

hair pulled straight back is really not a flattering look.

1990 - Wow! Although the bandanna absolutely makes this outfit,

I think the the bangs should get an award for their supporting role.

1991 - What in the world was going on with my hair?

I think the left side of my body must have had it's own gravitational pull.

And really, did I not sleep the night before?

WAKE UP!

1995- I think 1992 ended my ugly streak (and the purchase of school pictures by my parents) but this photo goes in there just because if you, being of sound mind, decide to go to Glamour Shots and pose with your hand on a big sombrero you deserve to be mocked.

Murphy is way too Interested in my Life

Murphy's law.... not so much a fan. Shocker, I know.

Yesterday it was 67 degrees- 67, people! That's warm for this time of year. Needless to say I was thrilled because I in my mind I made plans to do some staining today. Yeah, I had grand plans until I woke up to frost. Right now the temperatures is currently 38. **FYI staining isn't really do-able in temps under 50.**

So now I'm stuck baking pumpkin for puree {which is the obvious crappier option of my "projects" for the day} instead of staining like I really want to be.

WaRnInG: Murphy you just might want to find someone else to stalk, cuz I'm really getting sick of you hanging out over my shoulder. I think you've forgotten that mastered the "rear naked choke" at enrichment last month. Don't make me use it.