Finding Krissi

If there has been one and only one holiday tradition that I have been able to pull off each year it has been our holiday letter. As your cards far and wide have trickled in I have felt the increasing pressure to get the cards done. However, even with the increasing pressure I have yet to pull the cards out of the target bag, address them, stamp them, write the Christmas letter, and send them on the way. Perhaps this year we just call the Christmas Card an Epic Fail (well maybe "epic" is a little overkill). Although, I have vowed never to go completely virtual this year the ease, connivence, and the lack of time has forced our Christmas goings and comings to this poor neglected little blog. Proof  that I bought them and that they are still in the bag. On a side note: Dear Santa, Please send me more time. Sorry, back on track... This has been a pretty great year for our family. We have had lots of comings and goings. New experiences and fun times. Basically, ...

We have officially entered my absolute favorite time of year. I love Halloween. I count down the days to Halloween. The day of Halloween I'm absolutely giddy because.... the next day begins the holiday season. Ahh yes, I can year the dissenters right now yelling at the computer, "BUT what about Thanksgiving!" Sorry folks but I firmly believe that Thanksgiving is part of the holiday season. It is the day to say thank you, a day to relax, and a day to spend with family before the mountain of Holiday fa la la's begin. I love Thanksgiving a whole day dedicated to eating. It is a chubby girls favorite day. :) However, it does not hold the power to keep me from Christmas dreaming. With three teenagers in the house I am constantly reminded that the days of my whole family being together on Christmas are coming to an end. Soon Brent and I will have to share our children with other parents. Which is just one reason that I plan to suck up all the holiday cheer I can o...

We have been in vacation mode around here. Which basically means staying up late and sleeping in. Sleep in is such a wonderful thing. I really wouldn't mind a few more days/weeks of vacation. Oh well, like they say all good things must come to an end. Vacations have to eventually end, and in order to thrive we must be productive. If it sounds like I'm trying to talk myself into being happy about our winter break coming to an end you would be correct. The normal crazy business of our lives returns in full force today. I get to go and meet my future students today and I am nervous. Belly ache I don't wanna go do I really have to do this nervous. Sometimes I kind of wish I could crawl under my covers and not come out. I guess that isn't really an option. If you too are joining back with the real world today have a wonderful vacation is over we can do this day.

I find it kind of funny how much a new year feels like a do over. It is as if we get this single day each year to wipe the slate clean and try again. It doesn't matter if you agree or not the world around you is full of people making resolutions. It is kind of awesome. I love how I have this day to reflect on my life, what is working, and what is not working and resolve to make it better. I also love the feeling of optimism. I have heard several people say that this year is going to be "the year". "The year" for what I'm not quite sure but they all seem pretty excited. I know the last few years have been full of a lot of ups and downs for us. I'm not sure that this year is going to be "the year," but I'm positive that this year will bring us a few giggles, successes, disappointments, tears, excitement, and blessings. I just have to say, that no matter what this year has waiting for me I am thankful for the brand new, shiny, do o...

I just read a blog post from a writer who has posted almost every day for 8 years. That is amazing. I find that my blog often goes without a post as my days blur together. I loose track of what day it is and what is going on in the rush of every day. I have been reading her blog for a couple of years now. She lost her sister and I grieved with her as did her other readers. I was thinking about how many wonderful, sad, happy, moments she has recorded. It is the small things that we look back on and she has it all documented. Even the sad things that define us more than we like to admit. I'm a little jealous. It is the last day of 2011 and my energy is lagging. The hubby had to work tonight so we did the midnight thing last night. Now I get to do it with the kiddos tonight. I hope I make it. I feeling a little sad today. Not enough sleep and feeling a little blue that the Christmas tree and lights are gone. Back to reality without the twinkling lights of the holiday. ...

Below is my advent tour post. For links to other great Christmas post please follow the link in my sidebar. Merry Christmas. I can't believe that there is only six more days until Christmas. This holiday season has been so busy and full of the Christmas Spirit. I love this time of year with all of the hustle and bustle. Although a little less hustle might be nice. I even love all the holiday cheer found on the web. Reading everyone's holiday posts is one of my favorite holiday activities. The stockings are hung, the lights are sparkling, and the Christmas tree is decorated. Each year our Christmas tree is decorated with memories. Below is our 2011 ornaments. Each one holds a little story about our 2011 adventures. Al and I giggled with glee when we found this Jolly old fellow. Brent continues to love baking and preparing yummy meals. This year he ventured into pie making. Our house was full of yummy smells a hobby we all  are happy to support. My ...

Yesterday, December blew right in... I  mean it... It literally blew right in. I came home from work yesterday to find our neighbors trampoline in our backyard Unfortunately, the trampoline was destroyed. Fortunately besides a few broken branches, loose fence boards, and a broken bird house we weathered the wind. Others were not as fortunate. The damage to Davis county was severe enough that the kids are enjoying an unexpected day off of school.  Many schools suffered damage and power outages. Not to mention damage to homes and business. Mother Nature can be kind of crazy. Now that the wind is passed and things are calmed down; I feel that no matter what my family says and does I am officially allowed to be Jolly. With a house full of growing children the magic of Santa has diminished. Finding the Spirit of the holidays is proving a little more difficult. However, I have my ways of making my children cooperate. Now that I have them where I want I'm thinkin...

I think by now we all know that these thanks giving posts did not go quite as I expected. I just want you to know that it isn't because I don't have a lot to be thankful for. Because I have ALOT to be thankful for. It has more to do with time management and the inability to make a day longer than 24 hours.  Im sure there are a lot of moms out there who know exactly what I mean. That being said here in all their glory are the last 10 thanks givings. November 14: I am thankful that my 11 year old has a cell phone. I have to be honest and let you know that I fought Brent on this one. I didn't think she needed a phone yet. I thought a year or two more would be soon enough. However, he won the fight and she got a phone. To tell you the truth she is the only one out of the three that makes me glad they have a phone. She is the queen of sending me totally random text that make me laugh. She shares random moments and I can count on her for a giggle every thursday night ...

There are good points and there are bad points in living in a state like Utah. I personally feel that the majority of bad centers around one person. Mother Nature! It seems that she is always in a state of constant change here in Utah. One day we have awesome sunny weather. The next day we are in midst of buckets and buckets of snow. I kind of wish she would make up her mind. Although, I have to admit Mother Nature delivers some spectacular images. Today, I am thankful for falling leaves. I know that the leaves changing and falling means only one thing, winter is coming! I know that winter means only one thing, snow is coming! I'm learning that these are not  necessarily bad and evil things they are just the seasons making their presence known. I also learned last weekend that there is a reason and a order to everything. Snow coming before the leaves have fallen not necessarily a good thing. (This picture was taken November 5th. The picture above was taken Nov...

Thursday night was another ending to another class. It was a rather stressful week with a rather stressful ending. I would tell you the story if I thought the story was even a tiny bit interesting. When the grades posted last night I was relived and yes THANKFUL for this particular ending. There is nothing more enjoyable than the ending to a more than stressful situation. Next Thursday I begin my last class before student teaching. My life is changing yet again. Some days I can hardly wait for all that this next year will hold for me. Other times I'm not quite sure I'm ready for all the change that is coming. Although, I have to admit that life would get pretty boring if nothing ever changed. So today I am thankful for endings and beginnings. I wonder if that is why sunrises and sunsets are so beautiful? Sunsets are saying goodbye to all the day's blessings and challenges. Sunrises are saying hello to all the wonderful opportunities of a new day. ...

We both knew that there was no way I was going to post daily. Just like Thanksgiving day itself these post will come fast and binge style. :) I think a lot of women dream of a maid to come and clean their houses or a chef to come and cook their meals. I on the other hand dream of a master scheduler  who would create a schedule just for me. A schedule that allows me to get everything done that I want to get done. Unfortunately the only person who can create that schedule is me. Additionally, the only way I can get everything done that I want to get done is to give up sleep and turn a 24 hour day into 27. A master scheduler would probably tell me to prioritize or something in those regards. Oh dear considering this is a gratitude post I am not off to a good start. Thanksgiving thanks number three is "traditions." Our lives are full of traditions. Things that we always do to celebrate life. Traditions can be grand and traditions can be small. Traditions are what we l...