Birthday and Cakes

Eli turned one this week! I cannot believe how fast this year went by! He's such a funny kid. He likes to tease me and make me chase him. He giggles with the kids and loves to sit in our family prayer circle at night. He is always challenging Ben to lightsaber fights and loves to wrestle with Liam and Natalie. He can say mama, da, uh-oh, thanks, and hello. He's a smart little guy.

We let the kids vote and they picked to go to Pirate Island to celebrate his birthday. We had a blast together! The kids got a lot of tickets, which they combined so they could have a lot more tickets. They ate, they giggled, they left without anyone creating a scene or getting lost. Eli sat in his high chair and grinned and giggled at everyone around him.

Afterward, we headed home for cake and ice cream. Before we knew it, it was bedtime.

Elijah's birthday was a whirlwind, he chose to only wait an hour and 45 minutes from the time labor started to making his grand entrance. He immediately stretched out as much as he could and went to sleep. He still loves to be free and able to move about and stretch. He's learning to go to sleep on his own and loves to eat! We're so grateful for him in our family.

The other day, Jason and I watched the movie about Julia Child. That combined with a recent viewing of "No Reservations," my mom's new cookbook that arrived in the mail the other day ("Martha Stewart's), and a secret addiction to "Cake Boss," I suddenly felt like making something a little complicated...and blogging about it. Of course, it turned out nothing like the picture in the book, but my-oh-my it was a scrumptious piece of confectionery goodness. It would have to be with 3 cubes of real butter and LOTS of chocolate to soothe the senses. This is all that was left:

It was supposed to be a devil's food cake with whipped ganache (don't you love that word) filling and a mint chocolate ganache icing. Well. I was in too much of a hurry to wait for the whipped filling, so I just used whipped cream and the icing was very runny, but very satisfying. Altogether, I'd say that it was worth all the calories, fat, and HUGE mess. (seriously, it was a big mess, there were even chocolate paw prints on the floor.)

Let's all say ganache. Ganache. Ganache. Ga-yummy!

A Christmas Gem

Jason found this little note by Liz the other day and I had to share it.
It says "Dear Jane, mom says that we get cole just cole in our stockings for christmas lets try to be good so that we wont get cole just cole for christmas love lizzy.

PS I never said she was going to get "cole" or "coal" in her stocking.

I live at the Pediatrician's Office

In October, I took Ben in to the pediatrician for a well check and cheekily told the doctor that I hoped I wouldn't see him for the rest of the year. Ha ha. The next week, Liam broke his collar bone. Then commenced what will be called the winter of the ear infections for Natalie and Eli. This consisted of about 5 visits to the doctor, 3 antibiotics, and 3 shots. Nice. Back to the Doctor in January for an ADHD evaluation for Jane, ear check (AGAIN) for the babies, and a well check for Eli. Jane tested positive for ADD (what a shock!) so she gets to go back in 4 weeks to check on her meds. Fun. I'm guessing at this point that Eli will get tubes in his ear sometime this year. Well, I live at the office, so it's no strain on me!

Speaking of ADD, when I picked Jane up, the principal helped me check her out. He asked her if she got to go get a special lunch after he appointment. Jane used her ADD hyperfocus ability and kept reminding me about taking her to Wendy's. Let me just interject here and say that she hates Wendy's. She doesn't like hamburgers, fries, chicken nuggets, or cheeseburgers. I reminded her of this on the way home. I told her she could pick from the above mentioned items or go home for lunch. I told her that under no circumstances was I going to buy ice cream while it was 3 degrees outside. She picked peanut butter sandwiches at home.
In fact, once I picked her up, she didn't stop talking the ENTIRE TIME, until after trying several times to get her attention, she finally heard me say "Please don't talk to me while I'm talking to the doctor." (He was laughing). At one point, this was what she was saying:
"Hey Mom! Look! There's a alien on that moon. (The doctor had space themed paintings on the wall.) Huh. That's funny. Hey! That's it! The man in the moon is an ALIEN! Because, people can't go in the moon they can only go on the moon. But aliens can go in it because they live there. Oooh. I get it. Huh. I've never met the man on the moon..." and on and on. She cracks me up still.

I love being a mom.

Christmas 2010

I love winter. I love snow. From Thanksgiving to New Year's Day I think it should snow and we should sled, build snowmen, and ice skate. But about this time I start dreaming of beaches and sunshine. I've decided that I really would like to go to the gulf of Mexico in Texas this summer. Warmer water, fewer crowds. In fact, I'm pretty much ready to take any trip, anywhere. TODAY!

We had an awesome Christmas. I don't think I've had such a relaxing Christmas since we had kids. I had a weird reaction to a decongestant so I slept for half the day, off and on, interspersed with puzzles, movies, and playtime with the kids. We ate well and had a great time together.

Christmas Eve we tried a nativity and it was hilarious! Richard read the narrator part and we had David and Alyson join in as shepherds. Jane and Lizzy were the angels and Abi was Mary. The boys filled in as kings while the babies ran around as various animals or shepherds or whatever we could get them to wear. The entire program lasted about 4 minutes.

The boys were excited to have Dave have a sleep-over with them. I think Ben was more excited about that than Santa coming. Ben got up at about 3 o'clock in the morning and showered so he would be ready to go upstairs as soon as family prayer was done.

It was fun watching Natalie figure stuff out on Christmas morning, she kept watching the other kids open their presents and then spent time trying to play with the others new toys. She did finally figure it out but I think I opened most of her presents for her. Elijah just crawled around and played happily with the wrapping paper.

Over all, we felt very blessed and experienced as often as we could the spirit of Christmas and the peace our Savior's life has given to us all.

You Know the Drill

Eli was a naughty baby who does dastardly deeds for Halloween.

It's been such a long while since I have posted. Everything is it's usual crazy stuff around here. Here are a few quick highlights:

1. Eli started walking the day he turned 10 months old. He toddles- I should say shuffles- around on his tiny little feet like an old man. Already he has mastered turning and has done away with the pivot turn. He keeps trying to run to keep up with his siblings. The kid is crazy. He LOVES telephones and throws a royal fit if he can see one and no one will give it to him. Natalie loves to find him and hug him. Today they were both snuggling on my chest holding hands.
2. We've survived the recent flu/cold bout. It has been AWFUL! The twins missed almost an entire week of school. They were sad it was the pre-Christmas week with all the fun activities. I knew they were sick when they took naps voluntarily (where actual sleeping and not just resting were involved) for 3 days in a row.
3. Jason was laid off the week before Thanksgiving. We're very grateful that I felt a push to get the shopping done really early this year and had Christmas pretty much bought and paid for before it happened. He's been working hard applying for jobs, serving, working on skills, and doing any odd jobs on the side he can find. I'm so grateful for his hard work!
4. I missed a birthday post for Ben. He's grown up so much this year! He keeps getting tall so fast that his body can't seem to get sufficiently wide enough. He keeps getting skinnier and skinnier! He spends every second he can either drawing or playing outside and has become quite the artist. He loves scouts and we've signed him up to play basketball through the rec center starting in January. He is SO EXCITED! Eli and Natalie are always waiting for their turn to sit with him and Liam follows him around as much as possible-to Ben's great annoyance. The big news is that Ben has found love at last! He has a girlfriend named Ellie. We first discovered this when he wrote "Ben loves Ellie" in the snow with a stick. Later, we found he had written "Ben loves Ellie forever" on the bottom of Liam's mattress. Sounds like things are getting serious. I asked him what it means to have a girlfriend in 3rd grade. (Since they don't play together at recess.) He said he didn't know.
   
5. I got released from my primary calling and find myself adrift in the ward. The bishop said I'm on his radar but for now, I'm freeloading. Ha ha! I loved serving as the secretary and getting to know those kids, even though my time in there was brief. The women I worked with are amazing.
6. I've started accompanying a singing group of women. It has been a BLAST. We meet after the kids are in bed on Sunday evenings. I feel spoiled to be included into what I would consider the popular group. These women are courageous and have incredible talents and testimonies. I've learned so much from them.
   
7. We took our condo off the market and Kristen and Ron moved in at the beginning of November. The plan is to rent it out for a while and then try to sell it later when we have the energy to try again.
8. We are going through some major challenges but are so grateful for the gospel and all of the things we've learned during this trial! We have really come to value being with our children and each other. We're so grateful for the life of our Saviour, who has given us the chance to be together forever. We love Him and are grateful for His help and blessings! Merry Christmas to all of you!