A Poll that I wish to know the answer to.

Today I had around 10 people visit me. If you didn't leave a comment-well that makes me sad. But...I understand because I don't always comment even though I enjoy reading people's blogs. But if you'll please excuse my bossiness for a moment, TAKE MY POLL! Every week. Thank you.

Sleeping Beauties

I took a 40 minute nap today so it's all over for me. After lying in bed for 20 minutes I got up and started snapping photos. I LOVE sleeping kids for many reasons. There is the obvious-they are not up to annoy me and the precious-that they look so peaceful and angelic.

I also have this confession of sorts. I don't like my kids to be sick of course but there is almost nothing better in this world then a child who doesn't feel well coming and up and falling asleep on your shoulder/in your arms. I love it and I love my kids.

Samantha and her many books that she "reads" before she goes to bed.

Tommy is my sprawler. He needs to have at least 3 cars with him before he can fall asleep these days. He also likes to include his bear, baby dolls, several blankets, and books so it can be a crowded little crib.

My little doll. I have to admit I was nervous to take this one but she slept right through it.

Our Year...in a hundred pictures or less

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Holly Jolly Christmas

Merry Christmas! We are loving our time in CA with my family. We arrived Saturday. We went crazy and decided to have a party on Tuesday. We made two enormous lasagnas, garlic bread and salad and more desserts than you could shake a stick at (as my father would say). We had about 40 people come. EVERYONE we invited. It was so much fun. I was able to catch up with lots of old friends. We played "I never" and a TRUE White Elephant. The most fun was this game my mom got in a magazine. She wrapped a 10 dollar bill (the players didn't know what it was) in like 10 graduating boxes. Then everyone in the circle would roll the dice really quickly and pass it along. Anyone who rolled a 6 would get to try to unwrap it really quickly. The catch was that you had to wear oven mitts while you were the one unwrapping. It was a blast, people were dying laughing. And apparently we've been ordered to have this party every year now-so there you go.

We spent Christmas Eve in a pretty traditional way. The kids acted out the Nativity and they enjoyed that. Samantha and Livvy were shepherds and really got into their part. Tommy refused to be one of the sheep, but that was okay. My dad was the funniest Wiseman you've ever seen. Then we had our almost annual talent show. I helped the kids do a rousing song and dance to Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. Tom reprised the chorus of dead cockroaches. David and I performed the Beaver Dance. My dad played Jingle Bells on his comb wrapped in seran-wrap. It was awesome.

Today was Christmas, it was love and fun all around. Tom made a most wonderful dinner and we had a pretty spectacular morning. It is better to give than receive and all that, but I'll tell you the "Santa gifts." Samantha could open her own Disney store with her Princess paraphanalia and added to it with a Princess tent and Sleeping Bag. Tommy was the winner with the best reaction when he saw his track and moving cars (very awesome with hills, tunnels, gates, etc.) and he just flipped out. I can't describe it in words, but it was darling. Eliza got the most beauuuuutiful dress and a little swimming pool with swimshade for next summer. It was a great Christmas.

Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy these fun pictures.

I've never...actually yes I have.

I saw this fun tag on Heather's blog. This is pretty fun to see what people have done. All you do is bold any of the items that you have done.

1. started your own blog
2. slept under the stars
3. played in a band (what about an orchestra?)
4. visited hawaii
5. watched a meteor shower
6. given more than you can afford to charity
7. been to disneyland
8. climbed a mountain
9. held a praying mantis
10. sang a solo
11. bungee jumped
12. visited paris
13. watched a lightning storm at sea
14. taught yourself an art from scratch
15. adopted a child
16. had food poisoning
17. seen in person the statue of liberty
18. grown your own vegetables
19. seen the mona lisa in france
20. slept on an overnight train
21. had a pillow fight
22. hitch-hiked (but Tom has)
23. taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. built a snow fort
25. held a lamb
26. gone skinny dipping
27. run a marathon
28. ridden in a gondola in venice
29. seen a total eclipse
30. watched a sunrise or a sunset
31. hit a home run (in the park)
32. been on a cruise
33. seen niagra falls in person
34. visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. seen an amish community
36. taught yourself a new language
37. had enough money to be truly satisfied (when I was little)
38. seen the leaning tower of pisa in person
39. gone rock climbing
40. seen michaelangelo's david
41. sung karaoke
42. seen the old faithful geyser erupt
43. bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (my mom did when I was little and I've never forgotten it)
44. visited africa
45. walked on a beach by moonlight
46. been transported in an ambulance
47. received a prestigious award
48. gone deep sea fishing
49. seen the sistine chapel in person
50. been to the top of the eiffel tower in paris
51. gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. kissed in the rain
53. played in the mud
54. gone to a drive-in theater
55. been in a movie
56. visited the great wall of china
57. started a business
58. taken a martial arts class
59. visited russia
60. served at a soup kitchen
61. sold girl scout cookies
62. gone whale watching
63. got flowers for no reason
64. donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. gone sky diving
66. visited a nazi concentration camp
67. bounced a check
68. flown in a helicopter
69. saved a favorite childhood toy
70. visited the lincoln memorial
71. eaten caviar
72. pieced a quilt
73. stood in times square
74. toured the everglades
75. been fired from a job
76. seen the changing of the guards in london
77. broken a bone
78. been on a speeding motorcycle
79. seen the grand canyon in person
80. published a book
81. visited the vatican
82. bought a brand new car
83. walked in jerusalem
84. had your picture in the newspaper
85. read the entire bible
86. visited the white house (just the outside)
87. killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. had chickenpox
89. saved someone's life
90. sat on a jury
91. met someone famous
92. joined a book club
93. lost a loved one
94. had a baby
95. seen the alamo in person
96. swam in the great salt lake
97. been involved in a law suit
98. owned a cell phone
99. been stung by a bee
100. learned to play an instrument

YOU do it too. I mean it. I want to hear what you've done.

Blessed

We had Eliza's Blessing Day last Sunday. It was a nice day without much pomp and circumstance. Tom gave her a beautiful and simple blessing. Unfortunately I had to hear about it from others because Tommy was screaming about the fact that his dad had walked away. I heard part of it anyway. It's interesting what difference a year makes (a year plus really). It seems like just yesterday we were in Virginia blessing Tommy. Then it was a circle comprised of entirely friends and we had a great big luncheon later that day. Eliza had Tom's Uncle Quinn and two members of the Bishopric and later we went to Tom's Grandma's for dinner. (I know that doesn't matter, I just think it's interesting).
She wore the dress that Samantha wore. I also wore it in fact. My great-grandmother on my father's side made it for me. A lot of my cousins and all my sisters wore it as well, but I was the lucky one who got to keep it! Here are some pictures of my darling little baby. I think she's the sweetest, smartest, cutest, most lovable baby ever and I am so, so grateful to have her in my life. I was surprised when I found out I was expecting her but she's been the best little surprise ever! Indeed, we feel very blessed to have her.

To show the length of the dress.

At Grandma's house.

Four Generations (but not all pictured :))

My Cute Family

AKA...I was bored.