'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

The Annual Pyramid

Shepherd Fisher

Nativity '07

Wiseman Brayden, Joseph--Connor, Mary--Maddie, Baby Jesus--Logan, Shepherd Fisher, Angel Mckenzie & Angel Leah

Brayden's New PJ's

We thought getting Brayden enormous dinosaur footsy pj's would be SO funny, however, the joke was on us when he opened them, shouted "yes!" and ran to try them on!? We looked at each other, puzzled, and hoped they'd be too small. Yes, they were, and yes, he totally fooled us.

Think they'll sleep? Surely the angry one will...

Keepin' it Real

Yesterday Connor said to Rick, "Dad, you know everything, huh. Because Treysen said dads don't know everything, but I don't believe him."

As all parents know, for every ego-building statement of adoration like this, there are at least two of the other kind of kid statements that...keep us humble. Recent "humility builders" we've gotten? While trying out a hula hoop last week, "Dad, that's just sick." While standing still last night, "Mom, I think you have two mosquito bites on your chin." I need not point out that mosquito season was months ago.

Good times.

I'm Official

Yesterday was my blessing day.

I tried to look cute in my white clothes.

That was no problem.

I got a little nervous about my big moment...

Should I fall asleep? What if I cried?

Mom told me I'd do just fine,

so I put my game face on.

Everyone from my mom's family got to come. Here's a picture of us. The sun was REALLY bright. Aren't I glowing?

Here's me and Dad. (I still have my game face on.)

Dad said special things in my blessing and he and Mom got a little teary thinking of me. I'm their last baby, you know. I decided to be awake and quiet during the big moment. I just looked around and showed Dad my blue eyes.

When we got home, I was SO tired. I took a nice nap while everyone else ate lunch. It was a great day.

Lucky Me

Maddie saw me with these two sad boys in my arms yesterday and exclaimed 'Whoa, Mom, you have your hands full!' I told her to grab the camera so I can remember these sweet, tricky moments when my babies aren't babies anymore. She reminded me of something I heard President Packer say a few weeks ago, "Hands full now, hearts full later." I do have my hands full at the moment, but I must admit my heart is pretty full too. The last two months have been a blur, but a fairly smooth blur, if there is such a thing. Life is busy and fuzzy and at some point most days I look around at everyone and everything that needs my attention and wonder what in the world I'm doing and how in the world I am supposed to do it. Usually those are the moments I feel like taping everyone's mouths shut and heading for the hills. Still, there are other moments when everything is under temporary control--when everyone is fed and clothed all at once and doing their homework or practicing the piano or playing without teasing anybody else...and I just feel lucky. To the 5th degree.

Here's 2-month old Logan and the rest of the gang lately:

My Name is Mischief

This picture is becoming a good description of Fisher. That is permanent marker. He found it in Brayden's room yesterday and decided that drawing on his face was what he should do with it. I had to laugh. And then wonder if we were in for days of permanent marker face. Surprisingly, I was able to scrub it mostly off with Baby Magic soap. Who knew? Also yesterday, he climbed and, consequently, fell out of his crib. Later he knocked himself over backward in the rocking chair. Despite my relentless attempts at teaching otherwise, he continues to break into the child proof cupboard full of hazardous cleaning supples and use the garbage can as a treasure box of sorts. Upon rescuing items like bottles and shoes, I am left to wonder how many things of little to major importance we have lost this way. I also wonder if we'll make it through the season without him pulling the Christmas tree over on top of him. The best thing I've seen written on a package lately? Shatterproof ornaments.

Lo Lo

Our favorite Fisher word: "Hello"

(You also heard him say "cheese" in the middle.)

Squishy Face

Logan - 6 wks

First Time for Everything

...and today it was my first time to run over one of those tall orange construction markers. Considering that the main road off our street has been riddled with orange for months and months and months, it was probably just a matter of time before I missed, or rather, didn't miss one. I believe I've nudged them with the car before and successfully driven between them upon realizing I'm driving in an off-limit lane, but never completely flattened one. The crossing guard watching from her car as my witness, I was gingerly making a left hand turn onto the ever-evolving road and it came out of nowhere. Well, better an orange marker than a pedestrian, I always say. Or at least, I always say that now.

A Cautionary Tale

It sure has been a while since I've written anything. Sure, I've snagged a few moments to find pictures and eventually post them, but this doesn't require a stream of consciousness (who has heard that term since 9th grade English?) I'm hoping my ability to think clearly will return before long. In the meantime, all I can think of right now is Has anyone ever gotten a gummy worm stuck in their nose? I was reminded that it happened to me a few months ago and NOT because I was sticking a gummy worm up my nose, thank you very much. On the contrary, I was trying to eat a red & white one (the only flavor worth eating) and somehow swallowed a tiny bit backwards. (?) I think I laughed suddenly or something. After about an hour of an itchy, pink-runny nose, that bit of gummy actually reemerged into a kleenex. Gross, I know. I was horrified too. Just thinking about it makes my nose tingle. The moral of this story is to eat gummy worms with care. And not in mixed company. I certainly haven't tried since.

Perpetual Leaves

Rick and the kids spent a few hours on Saturday working in the yard, mostly raking leaves. While filling the 22nd and final bag, a wind blew through and leaves began raining onto their freshly raked lawn. Shouts of "You gotta be kidding me!?" and "Oh come on!" were heard from our oldest two children who didn't get more than a moment to reap the benefits of their hard work. Since the lawn is once again hidden, I'm sensing that this Saturday will be a repeat. And still more leaves to fall...

Fall Photos

A Look Back

...at first meeting Logan.

Grateful

What a miracle the arrival of a brand new baby is. And I got to experience it one last time. Nothing compares. We had a few unexpected bumps during Logan's labor--my blood pressure struggled to keep up, dropping to 55/34 at it's lowest point, and I had too much bleeding afterward. Things got a little fuzzy more than once, but thankfully, they took care of me without alarm and aside from the physical effects I felt during the process, Logan and I emerged just fine. He is perfect and I know there's a reason he came to our busy family. In the past, I have left the hospital feeling overwhelmed and wishing I could stay in the cocoon of the hospital for a longer time. This time, however, I came home feeling encouraged and almost excited. I felt ready to move forward with our new family. What a surprising blessing. I also hadn't really considered that something could go wrong that might keep me from returning home again. I am immensely grateful to be here with Rick and each of my kids. It's an enormous responsibility to raise children together in these trying times, but it's also a beautiful process that I wouldn't want to miss. I'm humbled to be here to do it.

Ode to Megan

In honor of your 21st birthday today, Megan, I decided to devote this post to you. Plus I love this picture of you & Logan. Thought these clips of Connor yesterday, trying out the boingy balloon he got at preschool, were a fitting tribute. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and enjoy:

PB & J

Last night Connor was playing with his Grandpa Tom on his lap. I don't know exactly what they were doing, I only heard Connor say "It smells like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," followed by Dad's burst of laughter. The culprit of the smell? Dad's hair. I'm sure he gets that a lot.

3 Weeks Already?!

Getting cuter & cuter and louder & louder. Plus, he's really good at going cross-eyed. :)

Hazy Halloween

In the last 3 weeks, we've had a baby, a piano concerto recital, regional conference with President Hinckley, a birthday, two school projects, a piano festival, three parties, two parent teacher conferences, three soccer games, a school parade, a fieldtrip to Gardner Village, five flu shots, one date, a trip to the pumpkin patch, a family pumpkin-carving extravaganza, and finally Halloween! Soccer just ended for the season, leaving piano, dance, activity days, Webelos, and preschool as our extracurriculars until basketball and indoor soccer begin later this month. The kids wanted to know what I would be for Halloween. Is bleary-eyed mom a costume? If so, I'm wearing it again today. Do not, however, mistake that for a complaint because I'm thrilled to be feeling mostly like myself again! If I could get the surprisingly complicated in-&-out-of-the-car routine down, I'd really be on top of things. Baby steps back to being the well-oiled machine of a mother I usually am. Ha ha. In any case, here's our Elvis, movie star, Harry Potter, Hedwig, and tiny pumpkin...