Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Conversations With Cohen

We had the most wonderful Christmas.

It contained, of course, presents, food, candy, candy, candy, family and a lot of driving.

My favorite moment this Christmas Season '09 was Cohen's...we'll say understanding of what Christmas really is.  Our conversation went something like this:

Moi "Do you remember what Christmas is about?"
Cohen "PRESENTS!"
Moi "Um...do you remember why we get and give presents?"
Cohen "Because if we're good then Santa brings them!"
Moi, a little nervous that I'm failing as a good Christian mother, "Um...but why does Santa bring us presents?"
Cohen, in the attitude that he's speaking to an ant who knows nothing (I am the ant) "Because it's Christs birthday and people gave him presents and so we celebrate his birth which means being born."

Few.  Close one. 

Hope you had a few close ones this year.   Here's to trusting our teaching and our children in 2010!

Happy New Year (soon...)

Kelly Out

A Tag For The Nostalgic

Can you think of five?  I had a hard time...good luck =)
Smells of Childhood...
Fried potatoes and Top Ramen with lots of Season Salt
Incense
Smoke (yuck)
Nail polish
Dog

Words from High School...
Biddy Curls (what we called a boy my friend had a crush on)
Ooooooooooh yeaaaaaaaaah.  That was big when I was in HS.
What period?  3rd.  Crap.  Test?  Yes.  Dang it!
FBLA, DECA, Debate, Nerd...

Sounds of College Life...
Lots of late night laughing with my roommate
The click-click-click of the NEW thing called "texting".  Heard of it?
Lip smacking.
Air Hockey at Institute
Late night door knocking

Memories from Yesterday...
Cohen and Kembry whispering in church
Scripture pages turning (I really love that sound)
Lots of laughing with the Neff Family at Sunday Dinner
Brett and Cohen putting together Leggo's.  So cute.
Guitar Hero.  Sigh.  I have a problem.

Future Daydreams...
FINISHED!
FINISHED!
FINISHED!  (all for different things too =)
Two cars again...
A dog!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Still Learning...

(Christmas spoilers!  If you're still a Santa Believer, please don't read =)

I've been a mommy for four Christmas's now, and well, I still just don't have the hang of it.

I had Brett hang up our stockings over the fireplace with care, and then I stuffed them full of presents and goodies.  Brett exclaimed (yes, exclaimed) "Wait!  You're not supposed to do that 'til Christmas Eve!"

Now where did I put that rule book...?

Brett's mom has an amazing talent of making Christmas magical and fun.  They had wonderful traditions, one that I'm going to adopt this year is wrapping the big present from Santa in special wrapping paper, and putting it out after kiddies have gone to bed to dream of sugar plums and what not. 

One year she made ornaments out of candy.  They didn't last long.

But every year, ALL of us get stockings full of candy, toys, gifts, treats, goodies, and everything else you can think of.  The stocking is a Christmas celebration in and of itself!

I love Marilyn.  I'm 25, and I still get excited for Christmas morning!

My ultimate question here, is what do you do?  Do you have any fun traditions, because I need to start some for our funky family.  Do you hang the stockings up, full, before XmasEve?  Is your Christmas tree bare underneath until XmasMorn?  Do you read stories the night before?  Wear fun pajamas the day of?  Go out to a movie or breakfast?  Drive all over the valley and fill up the gas tank twice?

Happy, Merry, Exciting December 21st!

Kelly Out (to do a bit more shopping.  I'm pathetic, I know!)

Thursday, December 17, 2009

For Every High There Is A Low..

For every two there is a fro...haha, I love "Sword in the Stone"!

Anyway, planning for my Relief Society Lesson has been a trial in and of itself, let alone all the walls tumbling down around us.  But I stumbled upon one that had my heart pitter-patting.  It is called a "Silent Lesson".

The first words out of Bretts mouth were, "So, you got lazy on this one."

Ahh Brett, you dufus.  No, in fact it's proving to be more work than even a regular lesson would be.  But what I LOVE LOVE about it is that it is meant to bring in the Spirit of Chrismtas.  I.E. The Spirit of Christ.  I.E. Bring your tissue papers, sisters, cause this one's gonna knock yer festive little socks right off!  And I don't have to say a single word the whole time!  YES!!!

Merry December 18th!

Kelly Out

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Shelves in the closet; happy thought indeed

Some happy thoughts =)

  • My four year old son, Cohen, calls fortune cookies "information cookies".
  • While watching a preview of E.T., that same four year old said, "This is called 'Scary  monsters with long necks.'" 
  • My daughter put all of her colored band-aids on her fingers, then twirled around singing.  It made my day.
  • After reading above mentioned daughters fortune, which said, "Take that chance you've been considering", she squeeled, "Thanks mom!  I will!"  I'm very, very nervous.
  • Our car is fixed.
  • Our heater is fixed.
  • My hand is fixed.
  • My childrens idea of a "GREAT TREAT" is Panda Express with spicy chicken, and "Chop stiiiiiiiiicks".  That's my idea of a great treat, too.
  • I love eating with chopsticks, even if I'm not really good at it.
  • It's December 16th.
  • Anthony Hopkinhs narrates "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".  I think that's ironically hilarious.
  • IT'S DECEMBER 16TH!
  • Murray December 16th!
Kelly Out

Monday, December 14, 2009

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

Alternate title: I will find strength in my trials. 

I get my cast off tomorrow!  The heater gets fixed tomorrow (oh precious warmth)!  Our car gets fixed tomorrow!  I like using exclamation marks!!!

Happy Merry Dec 14!

Kelly Out

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Perspective

I love that the Lord blessed me with one talent: the ability to learn from other peoples experiences.

Awhile ago, a friend of mine told me a very touching story about perspective.  She said she was feeling stressed and upset with life, etc.  We've all been there right?  The kids were wild, out of control, and as my cousin Abbie would say, "malfunctioning robots".  And even though she didn't give me specifics, I knew exactly how she felt.

Well, on one of these kids-gone-crazy days, those days where you've just about had it! a little cousin came running up the stairs to tell her her son was asleep and wouldn't wake up.

What she said next still gets me teary.  "It all just came into perspective.  All the things I was upset about just didn't matter anymore."  For those few minutes when her son wasn't responding, the good kind of tunnel vision set in.  The vision where you can only see those few things that really matter.  Those things that teach you to not say, "What else could possibly go wrong?" (Hiccoughs, that's what!)

She told me this a few days before I felt the exact same way.  I've felt that way for awhile now, but I get great comfort remembering her few words: "It all just came into perspective." 

I remind myself that even though I've been going through yucky stuff that I really would rather NOT experience, that it could be SO MUCH WORSE.  That I'm not like Job.  That my husband is healthy and has a wonderful job that makes him happy.  That for some reason he loves me, a lot.  That my children make me laugh more than they make me cry.  That they're healthy, happy, smart and very energetic. 

I remember that I know and, to a point, understand the Plan of Salvation.  That of all the things I have to think about and worry about, I don't have to worry about my eternal salvation.  My Savior has done it for me already.  That all I have to do now is the best I can do.

And suddenly I feel like I can take on any mental/physical/emotional ride you can throw at me.  I have the perspective I should have.  For now.

Happy December 9!

Kelly Out

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Sad

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We all need that little electronic pat on the back, folks.


Friday, December 04, 2009

Good day, happy day, productive day

Brace yourself single reader...

I cleaned my house today.

Release the held in breath...and breathe.  Good work-out today, folks.

On a side note, I love my children.  My daughter keeps coming up to me, with puppy dog eyes, and saying, "Mommy, I'm so sorry I smashed the eggs in my carpet."

Please note, this was on Thanksgiving morning.  She truly seems remorseful. 

And then she eats my dads box of chocolates...sigh.  Oh well, we're all in the process of learning.

Happy December 4!

Kelly Out

Thursday, December 03, 2009

I hate to complain, but...

...when you're watching your 4 year old play Knock-Out, or whatever it's called, and you really feel like you're the guy gettin' the crap kicked out of you...

It's been a rough couple of months.  Aside from mental/emotional issues going on that I won't bore you with for fear the flood-gates would release the tears, I've been on a physical roller-coaster as well.

Swine flu. UTI. Kidney Infection.  Kidney Stone.  Broken Hand.  And last night Bretts car broke down.  (BAH!)

Minus the cast, I thought I was on the UP n UP.  But I spent last night tossing and turning, wondering if the pain in my kidneys was a sure sign they were finally giving up and shutting down.  I mean, how much more can they possibly take?

I can take my own physical ailments pretty well: I've dealt with them my whole life!  But now I have kids and a husband and a house...the pressure is being felt on more than just my kidneys.

At what point is a person allowed to have a mental breakdown?  I vote for now!  Do I have a second?

Hahahaha, I'm reminded of one of my favorite lines in my favorite movie. 

Phillip: I feel like Job!
Catherine: Phillip, really!
Phillip: Okay, then I'm not Job!  But really...!

Which leads me to my favorite scripture, "Thou are not yet as Job..."  I love D&C!

I have a learned a very valuable lesson, and I pass it on to you as motherly wisdom:

The moment you ask yourself, what more could possibly happen, you get the hiccoughs.

Merry December 3!

Kelly Out

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

For Bethany...

...one of those funny, amazing women who underestimates her worth!

“I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived. “ – Marjorie Hinckley


Thanks Abbie for posting this quote a few months ago.

Oh, and thanks Sister Hinckley for being one of the most amazing women who have ever lived. 

Kelly Out

Some more regurgitation

'55* Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.


'09* If I greet him with a warm smile, he knows something is up!


'55*Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is no the time. Let him talk first-remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

'09*Right. I'll wait until after the gin and tonic to let him know that I attempted to start a warm fire for him, and ended up burning down the garage.


'55*Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

'09*First off, he won't even need to worry about me complaining, because if he decides to stay out late, I'm not speaking to him anyway. Secondly, if he needs to be home and relax, then he should COME HOME and RELAX.

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