The Reason For The Season

One thing that we did this month was spend a fun evening with the Gums family. We are so grateful to friends and family, and the support they are to us in our daily lives. And I have come to realize that these are the things that really matter. Our presents weren't wrapped until Christmas Eve, I did not bake (thanks to those of your who brought our family a plate of goodies to satisfy our sweet tooth), and there was no year end letter to accompany our Christmas card. But I can honestly say that I have ENJOYED this Christmas season!

Anyway, we started our evening out at a local pizza joint, and then went bowling! We have a new bowling alley here in Elk Grove that is HUGE!! We all played with bumpers and loved it. Thanks Gums family!

December In A Nutshell

All the crazy excuses apply to why I haven't posted in awhile, so I'll let you all use your imagination. But here are a few highlights of December for our family.


Emma brought home lost of yummy Christmas art projects that Grant loved (to eat)!


We held Emma's Daisy Scout Christmas meeting at our house. She was such a helper getting the house cleaned, decorations out, chairs arranged, and even made a sign for the front door (Daisy Scouts Come In Merry Christmas. Come into the house with the sign on it.)



Emma had a Christmas Breakfast and Program at her school. She ended up on the other side of the stage from where I was sitting, so I didn't get any pictures/video of the actual performance. But trust me, you've never heard a better version of We Wish You A Merry Christmas, or The Twelve Days Of Christmas. And Papa got to come see her too. Thanks Papa!




We tried (without much success) to take some Christmas photos in front of the tree before church last Sunday. We had good intentions, but the kids must have not been feeling in a particularly "cheesy" mood. This was the best we got (after a few tears and threatening words.)

Great Quote

Sometimes you just happen upon something that just makes you laugh out loud:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO!! What a ride!"

A Glimpse of Heaven

Today after running errands all morning we took the kids to McDonalds to have lunch. After eating, Emma and Grant were playing in the play area together and getting along every well. When all of a sudden we hear this little boy shriek and start to cry. I immediately look around (for Grant) to see if he had pulled a classic Grant move and decked the kid. But no, Grant and Emma were stilling playing nicely. The little boy was up in one of the tubes and got really sacred. His dad couldn't go up and help him down because he was a "large" man. So Grant scurried up the play structure and before we knew it we hear, "It's okay buddy, take my hand." I could have cried right then and there. Grant proceeded to go all the way into the tube and help this little boy out. The best part of the story is that they boy was probably 5 or 6. Love it!!

Evening Distraction

You know how it goes. The kids are FINALLY sitting down watching their own show, so you think you can sit down and watch one of your own. So Jamie and I snuck downstairs and cuddled up on the couch to watch an episode of The Unit that we hadne't seen. And we get about 40 minutes into it when the kids got bored. So down they come, ready to play, laugh, dance, sing, and anything else they can think of to get our attention--right in front of the TV. At this point we are into our show and really just want to see the last 10 minutes. So Jamie finds a way to keep them busy:





He hid Grants blanket on top of the hutch and they worked together to find it and then find a way to get it down. They did pretty good. And it took a little longer than 10 minutes!! Perfect timing!! (Are we evil parents??)

A Christmas Traditon??

I think today was the first in a new tradition. Emma and I went to The Nutcracker. Grandma Redfearn and Aunt Karon also came with us. Emma was so excited for "just girls." We went out to lunch, and then went to the performance. It was a good "first time show." Not too long, but long enough-as Emma told me. She enjoyed it but was not enthralled! I couldn't help thinking to myself during the performance "Eight years from now will we be sitting here and Emma will be cursing me that I made her come to ANOTHER Nutcracker?" I certainly hope not--a mother can dream can't she?

Have a very girly Christmas

This afternoon I went upstairs to put something in Emma's room. While we were in St. George my grandma gave her an angel Christmas decoration. From the very moment she got it she said that she wanted to put it in her room. Not a problem.

As I was leaving I took a closer look at the angel, and this is what I saw:


What's next, makeup?

Thanksgiving Recap

We spent this Thanksgiving with the Redfearn side of my family. We (me, Jamie, Emma, Grant, Grandma Redfearn, and Grandpa Redfearn)all piled into the car on Tuesday afternoon and headed to St. George Utah. We stayed in Barstow, Ca. that night and drove the rest of the 4 hours into Utah the next morning. Our visit was filled with catching up, or meeting (Grant had never met his Great Grandman and Grandpa Redfearn)family memembers. Thanksgiving dinner was held at my Uncle John & Janice's house. It was nice to have a meal together, sit around and play dominos, watch football, sleep, play, etc. Emma had some girl cousins to play with and Grant had some boy cousins to play with.

The next day mom, Emma and I did a little shopping. Nothing crazy like at 5am, just a few stores while the boys stayed at home. We also hit a craft fair. Nothing like a craft fair in Utah!! That evening they turned the lights on at the St. George Temple. So we all went out for a stroll around the grounds. I say that with great sarcasim in my voice. Because as you can see from the pictures our "stroll" including tree climbing, running down the paths, trying to drink from the fountain, and knocking on the doors. This was the day before we got back in the car for a 10 hour ride, so I guess I was trying to be a little forgiving!!

All in all, it was a great time! I am thankful that I have a wonderful family who drives me crazy, but keeps me laughing while doing it. A husband who loves his kids, and know how to keep me smiling (most of the time). Parents who love me and my crazy family (in spite of the tree climbing at the temple), and still come over for dinner after we have spent 10 hours in the same car. I am grateful for friends, for friends that are an extention of my family, for the job that Jamie has, for my calling in the church, for mine and my families health, for the comforts of life that we get in enjoy without too much of a struggle. I think over these last couple of years, with economic times getting tougher, it was a little easier to sit down and count my blessings. I pray that I will remember to keep counting throughout the year.