Finding Krissi

Christmas has come and gone the final hours of 2010 has began. I'm sure that I have a 2010 reflection post in me somewhere. But! Our 2010 is ending with family, friends and the baptism of my baby. It is so hard to type that sentence even harder to believe that we are baptizing our last little one. So the end of this year is going to come and go without a reflection post. I have chili to cook and family to visit and.... I did want to share with you a quick look at our Christmas We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma's house. At 80 years old she keeps the party rocking and we enjoy the time we get to visit with everyone. (A quick picture before we left. I try to get this picture every year on Christmas Eve.) Melting snowman was our little Christmas Eve joke since all of our Christmas snow had melted. (The stockings after Santa's Visit) This year we enjoyed a brown Christmas. The snowflakes all disappeared and the hopes of a White Christmas were in vain. ...

In just a few short hours Jolly St Nick will make his annual appearance. It is just a bit of sadness that I write this post knowing that the holiday season is wrapping up. I hope that you and yours are all having a wonderful Christmas. I wish for you a new year full of hope and blessings. May this holiday season remind you of the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas Hugs and Prayers Krissi

Fifteen years ago Brent and I were preparing to spend our second Christmas together. We were also preparing to welcome our first child into this world. Looking back I can tell you we were blissfully naïve. Talk to any women with children and she has a birth story. The ups the downs the event of bringing a baby into the world. I too have a birth story. I have four of them in fact but this post isn’t about labor but about the beautiful baby girl who came into our lives. S. was born at 3:59am on December 19th, 1996. Exactly 5 days past her due date. She came into this world at 8lb 15oz just barely missing the 9lb mark. She had the longest fingers and everyone swore she would play the piano. I can’t tell you that she was a dream baby because the truth is those first few weeks are a blur. I’m not a naturally calm person to begin with and now all the sudden there was this tiny person who depended on me. The Lord in is infinite wisdom sent me S. first because he knew I needed a chance...

I have every intention to get to the braggy post that I promised. However, in the meantime you are going to have to bear with me through a not so merry post. Each year we send out Christmas cards to friends and family far away. I love sitting down, reviewing the year, and having a chance to say hello to people we don't see nearly enough. It is also a time for me to remember how blessed we are to have so many people in our lives. Over the years my husband has collected a eclectic group of friends. Most of his friends are old enough to be his grandfather. A couple of years ago, after sending out Christmas cards, we had a Christmas card come to us from the widow of one his friends. It was sad to learn of his passing. We spent sometime remembering our friend Smokey. Who was the nosiest neighbor a person could ask for. However, he made us laugh and he loved our little babies. Even if he did tease Brent that maybe someone should explain to Brent how babies are born because we see...

Hello Friends, Welcome to my blog.  For the past three years I have looked forward to participating in Marg and Kalina's Advent Tour. I love reading everyones post and the many ways that you all celebrate the holidays. I love those things that are the same the traditions that tie us all together. I also love the traditions that are different the ones that make us unique. I am an avid reader but this is not a book blog. Let me just take a moment and thank all of you devoted book bloggers. Because of you I have found some fantastic authors to read and enjoy. Please keep up all the good work. As I pondered about my post this year my thoughts kept turning to the first year that I posted on the advent tour. I told one of my favorite stories and the more I thought about it I decided to once more to share with you why I believe in Santa. Merry Christmas Everyone! By the time I was thirteen the magic of Christmas had all but been lost to me. I had definitely entered that sta...

Today is December 17th? How in the world is it DECEMBER 17th?! Someone must be messing with my calendars because there is no way it is December 17th. What? No one is messing with me? It is actually December 17th! Well then that means I'm running behind. WAY behind. Look at my to do list. Kid's Dentist Al School Choir Performance Al City Choir Performance Al Basketball Al Piano A. Court of Honor A. First Radio Appearance S. Swim H. Class Performance H. Student of the Week Reflections Assembly School Work Teacher Gifts Hey, wait a minute all of that stuff is done. Today was the last day of school/work. I'm done! birthday treats check, school gifts check, and all of the above check. Believe me I have the hour and half of video to prove it. Want to watch? So with all that stuff done that means I get to kick back and relax. Except! There is only 8 days left until Christmas. Two days until number one's 14th Birthday (Holy COW!) 3 days until num...

I have been thinking lately about how many good things have to happen before I say, "Life is good!" However, one little, tiny, itty bitty, bad thing happens and I am yelling, "Life Sucks!" I was also thinking about how many victories I have to accomplish before I feel good about myself. However, one mistake and I am down in the mud thinking, "I suck, I suck, I suck." It seems to me that the victories in my life have nothing over the mistakes.  The mistakes I make are the Heavy Weight Champ of my self esteem. Which is really stupid for a number of reasons. Number one: I will always make mistakes! Even when trying not to make mistakes I'm going to make mistakes. Mistake making is one of natures laws. Number two: If every mistake is equivalent to thirty or forty victories the scales will never be balanced. There is no way to stay that far ahead of my mistakes. Especially, given the fact that the balance is probably more like 100 victories to one m...

If I was being totally honest I would confess to you that traditions are a little rough. In my mind traditions are restricting and exhausting. After awhile making sure you do the same thing in the same way as the year before starts to seem like more work than enjoyment. To me that goes against the reason you started the tradition in the first place. That is why traditions are not concrete in our home. Some years we do one thing and other years we do something different. Ironically, I think you would call that a tradition. :) One tradition that I do adore and means a lot to me is the Christmas tree. Each year I spend the weeks before we decorate the Christmas tree looking for the perfect ornament. Every family member receives one ornament that captures a moment from the year. Our Christmas tree has become a visual reminder of some of the best moments of our lives. Brent's and my first Christmas together ornament hangs next to, "Babies First Christmas." A Santa orna...

Today is already the second day of December. If I'm not careful the month is going to pass in a blink. Today is also the second day of Hanukkah. I watched the lighting of the National Menorah on TV today and realized how grateful I am to live in a country where we celebrate and embrace all different cultures, religions, and people. It is pretty awesome! I just wanted to pop in for a few minutes and say "Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!" Krissi

The past five days have been wonderful. No school, no work, no commitments. Just lots of family time and doing what I want to do. Including, decorating the house for Christmas, shopping, and cleaning. I never thought there would ever be a time in my life where I wanted to clean but after months of chore neglect my home was in need of some TLC. It feels great to get so much done. I'm thinking of asking for a clone for Christmas. One of us could stay home and be the housewife and the other one could do the work, school, and mom thing. Any clue on where I could get a clone? The weather has turned and we are already enjoying (enduring) several inches of snow. It looks like we are going to get lots of sledding time this year. I have made a commitment to myself to enjoy the holiday season this year. Making sure to enjoy traditions and try a few new activities. This weekend I realized just how much the inertia of daily life has taken over. I definitely need to shake thing...

Recently there has been many posts of gratitude. Bloggers have been listing all that they are thankful for this holiday season. I have enjoyed reading all of the blessings that you have in your life. Big and small. One of my friends posted that he was thankful for his pinkie toe. He then proceeded to post all of the pinkie toes usefulness. It goes to show you that there is not much that we shouldn't be thankful for. As we prepare to celebrate this Thanksgiving day with family I felt I couldn't let the day pass without expressing my own gratitude. In a recent talk given by my church leader President Thomas S. Monson he said, "Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love." I know that when I truly recognize all that I have I can't help to recognize God's love. I can't even begin to count my blessings. The past couple of years I have even learned the bles...

Last year I worked with a sixth grade student who I was constant in awe. Every assignment, every task, and every challenge she approached with confidence. She had failures but she never let the failures disrupt her confidence. She simply started again. I tell all my students that, “I CAN’T” is the phrase that shall not be spoken. The words, “I CAN’T,” have power. Those two little words used together are the same as saying, “Abracadabra.” The magic happens and you no longer can do what you were trying to do. This student taught me that success is inevitable when you try. It may not happen the first, second, third or 100th time, but eventually you will achieve success. I admired, this particular sixth grade student, because she had already discovered that failures are just an opportunity to try again. My whole life I have been so afraid of failure that I have refused to try. I can’t even begin to list the opportunities I missed because I didn’t try. I use to watch my student a...

I may have just discovered the greatest thing ever! Yesterday, while at the store checkout I decided I wanted a pack of gum. I'm normally a 5 gum girl. I'm particularly fond of the "React," flavor. It is black which makes Brent think I'm eating black licorice. Black licorice grosses Brent out. I swear you would think I was eating spiders the way he reacts. Also, it is just minty delicious. Ultimately I prefer mint gum and I'm not to fond of sweet flavors. I don't really even like bubble gum flavored gum. However, as I stood there unable to find my favorite gum I noticed Extra's Desert Delights gum. Like I said I'm not a big fan of sweet flavored gums so I kind of ignored it at first. Then it was our turn to check out and I was out of time. Heaven forbid I just go without! So I grabbed the Extra Desert Delights figuring I would try it and then give the rest of the pack to the kids. As we walked out to the car I unwrapped the pack and...

I walked two steps fuming with anger. I had been lied to. Not only had I been lied to but the lie caused me to look like an idiot in front of my boss. I was so angry that perhaps steam was coming out of my ears. As I took those two steps my boss and I both knew I had been lied to. While taking those two steps I said, "Well maybe her (the person who lied to me) and I are just going to have a little conversation." In the course of that two steps I had come up with several cutting remarks. She was not going to lie to ME and get away with it. Who does that? Who tells a blatant lie that has a very real chance of being uncovered? As my foot hit the ground on the second step I took a deep breath and turned back around. I actually heard myself say, "It doesn't matter." My boss just smiled at me. "Nothing I say is going to change what happened. It isn't going to stop her from doing it again and it will just cause a lot of drama." For a second ...

I have spent a lot of time lately complaining about all of my little ones becoming not so little. As I start to tread into the pool of the teenage years I had decided that I was not going to like the big kid pool. Except I wasn't really paying attention to the big kid pool because I was too busy looking at the pool I left behind. I have been so caught up in what I was loosing I wasn't paying attention to what I was gaining. A tiny voice in my head kept telling me to knock it off. However, it is the same voice that tells me to grow up. I'm not to fond of that voice. Between that voice and the mere fact that I simply could not keep craning my head backwards I have actually started to pay attention to the pool I now find myself treading. First of all I have to say contrary to all the rumors the water is nice. While emotions may run a little crazy my teenager and soon to be teenagers have yet to turn on me. It is ironic that tantrums still occur when one of them has n...

We survived pictures, unmedicated! :) I'm even fairly confident there is going to be a few great pictures. All of that work and NOT yelling at my kids totally paid off. We are at home now enjoying hot chocolate seeing as they just spent an hour outside, in 35 degree weather, taking pictures. As I watched the pictures being taken I just had to laugh at the fake smiles, and the stiff back bones, and the not so subtle eye rolls. I know a few years ago all of that would have driven me crazy. I wanted picture that showed just how perfect my kids are. Now I love that stuff because it is reality. Sometimes we smile when we don't want to. Stand taller than we would like and roll our eyes when we don't agree.  It is life. Life, is pretty dang awesome! Have a good Saturday everyone I have a messy house waiting for my attention. Krissi

I'm taking a break... I am currently trying to get four kids ready for pictures. The oldest is on her own and doing great.  The second one: Me: You need to brush your teeth Him: What? Why? I brushed my teeth last night Me: Brush them again.  Him: But I did it last night Me: (Grinding my teeth) DO... IT.... AGAIN.... Him: Geessse The third one: Me: (Helping to do her hair, which by the way no single person has more hair than this girl.) Do you want your hair like this or like this Her: Shrug Me: That isn't an answer like this or like this Her: Sure Me: Which way, this way or this way? Her: Shrug Me: (Deep Breaths! I will not yell! I will not yell! I will not yell!) It is not my hair I want to do it the way you want me to do it. Which way! Her: (Eyes Rolling) Like this is fine! Me: (GRRRRRR!!!) Okay The Mom, has spent a great deal of time and money to prepare for these pictures. Numerous trips putting together the right outfits. Arranging the time....

Yesterday was a, “Kick a puppy kind of day. I just felt mean, spiteful, and a tiny bit nasty. Just for the record, I DID NOT kick a puppy. I would have just been tempted had I came across a puppy. Instead I kicked at my family. I didn’t literally kick at my family. I just kind of barked, snapped, and growled. Sometimes I am rather amazed at what they put up with. I went to bed mad, sad, and a bunch of other ad’s. Then I just kind of stared at the dark ceiling thinking… not sleeping…. And thinking.. I started thinking about how there is some part of our brain that knows I am acting like a two year old. There is that tiny little voice, “Really, really, you are really doing this? What the heck is wrong with you? You know better than this.” Then there is that other voice the one that says, “Niener, neiner, boo, boo.” I keep thinking that the older I get the more mature part of me is going to take charge. Yah, that part not really stepping up to the plate. However, the “...

This week was parent parent teacher conference week.  Brent dreads parent teacher conferences. Most years he attends the first set of conferences and declines to attend the second. It use to irritate me to no end. Now I'm just a tiny bit jealous that he established that routine about 4 years ago. The first thing Brent said after conferences were over this year was, "It is like that show Groundhog Day?" I started laughing because I hadn't thought of it in those terms but it really was. Each of the kids teachers say the same thing. Each of the kids teachers say the same thing that the kids teachers said last year. Now it sounds like I'm complaining. I'm NOT! I feel very fortunate to have four kids who seem to enjoy school. Not only do they do well academically but they thrive in school. Participating in activities and excelling above grade standards. I feel blessed that this is one area of my life that seems worry free. However, I have to admit that ever...

It is COLD! It is freezing cold! Reminding me how much I HATE winter. The current temp is 32 degrees. YUCK! I came home from work today freezing. So I put on my favorite pair of thermals. Then I ran A. to scouts and came home shivering. So I put on my favorite hoodie. I was still freezing and whining about how cold I was. H. helped me out by getting me a beanie. It is one of those cool beanies with the ear flaps and the pom pom on top. I was still whining so Al. tracked down a pair of Brent's railroad insulated gloves. Then I hunkered down under my electric blanket and tried to quit shivering. THEN I had to go and get A. from scouts. I pulled into the parking lot dreading the run from the car to church. Right before I could get out A. came shooting out of the building. YAY!! I thought I don't have to get out of the car. Then as he got into the car he started laughing. Laughing very hard. Mixed in with all the laughing I heard him say, "I knew it, I just...

This my blogger friends is my 500th post! Crazy! How have I possibly come up with 500 things to post? The law of writing and statistics says that for every 100 pieces of of writing, a writer has done, only one, will be any good. (Any one want to fix the grammar in that sentence?) Meaning, that as of today I have written 5 good posts. For some reason this makes me smile. Also, eliminates the pressure of coming up with an awesome post to celebrate my 500th post. Today, we are going to talk about one of my favorite subjects, MUSIC! S. is back in the water but not back on a swim team. So we have been going to the gym at 5 in the morning in order for her to swim and for me to exercise. I love EXERCISE. Just wish I LOVED eating right. I also wish I LOVED getting up at 4:40 in the morning. AGGGG! To get my rear in gear I plug in my Ipod and start moving. Every morning I start with the same song. "Hope" Mister Mydas/Shaggy . I LOVE this song! Here is the chorus: Sh...

If I lived in the days of Job, I would have been one of the neighbors. One of the neighbors who would have asked Job, “What the heck have you done to deserve this punishment?” I would have never been Job because the unfortunate reality is Satan would have been correct. The moment my wealth, family, and health were taken, I would have cried to heaven, “Why Me!” Honestly, I cry to heaven, “Why Me?” the second anything goes wrong. I have a drama streak that refuses to be subdued. A recent conversation with wonder Willow left me in stitches (of course) and with a little thought bouncing around in my head. We were having an email conversation about perspective. She had a rather trying day and it seemed that everything that could go wrong had gone wrong. Instead of saying, “WHY ME!” she said, “That’s just how life is sometimes.” A simple statement, that likely in her mind had no profound meaning, however, that line stuck with me, “That’s just life.” You mean in life sometimes you...

Yesterday, I had to run over to the church house to pick up A. and grab some paperwork from a friend. On my way out of the church house a pack of boys were picking on another boy. Actually, five of them were holding the bathroom door shut while one of them tried to get out of the bathroom. I knew most of the boys, and in my opinion they were just having fun, but it was obviously getting out of control. Added to the fact they were in the church house. I slid in between the door and all the boys and told them to knock it off. I didn’t yell at them, I wasn’t mean, I just said okay enough is enough move on. The boys argued back a little. Tried to keep holding the door shut and I said, “Guys I know you’re at scouts but you’re in the church building, check yourselves, this isn’t nice.” They grumbled let the boy out and soon their leader showed up and yelled at all of them. Through the whole experience I never raised my voice or even got mad. It was just a, “Ha, ha, ha fun over,” kind...

I am going to admit that I had an absolutely wonderful weekend. The weekend started off with a day off of school and work for everyone. Making it a three day weekend. Friday we did a major clean up. I know that it doesn't sound like the greatest way to spend a day off, but it always nice to have a job that needs to be done, done. We managed to stuff the truck to the rim and over with garden leaves, bushes, and stuff. Now we can say that the garden is ready for winter and ready to spring forth come spring. Then much to my hearts delight Brent and I went and looked at Christmas lights. Yes, the man has finally accepted his nutty wife and went and looked at Christmas lights BEFORE Halloween. Reminding me once more why I love him. We didn't actually buy anything we were more on a scouting mission. We were amazed to see how much Christmas lights are changing and we are pretty sure that we are going to start making the switch to LED. Brent assures me that if I change to LED I...

This year our garden produced 11 pumpkins. Which was pretty amazing considering I planted them in a variety places in our yard and then ignored them. It wasn't until the leaves died that we discovered how many we had. It was funny watching Brent realize that all of the pumpkins would be carved. We added one more pumpkin from a pumpkin patch field trip with H. (These pics were taken with my palm pre phone. This post forced me to figure out how to get the pics off my phone. I had 100 pictures sitting there with no clue how to get them off. I have to admit I'm pretty impressed with this phone. Not the best pictures but I think they capture the moment.) H. and one of his best friends. This little guy is four days older than H.and they are going to be baptized together on January 1st. He is a great kid and reminds me how thankful I am for good friends and good influences. Totally off subject but I just love this picture. Here is a quick pick of all 12 pumpkins cleaned a...