Feelings....

My family keeps asking me when I am going to update our blog. I looked back and I realized that I blogged twice as much in 2008 than in 2009, is this because I have become a slacker???? That is the question I asked myself today, but in asking the question and looking at the last year, I realize that if I said I am just being a slacker, that would be a cop out! So the real reason that I have had a harder time blogging is because of all the feelings....and the emotions that go with them. I don't want to keep expressing them, but I can't help feeling them, and when I write they sometimes pour out of me like a waterfall!

Experiences we have in life change us, there is just no getting around it, we all change! The way we look at life and such changes also. I guess after an emotional year I look at things more emotionally (in my case this means more tearfully) I have always been easy to cry, but sometimes this is ridiculous! Don't get me wrong I don't sit around crying buckets every day, I just tear-up more easily as I think of, watch, and experience life itself! I guess I haven't blogged as much because I don't really want to feel all the feelings again as I write about our family experiences.....does any of this make sense??

So it is December 11, 2009. I am sitting in my favorite recliner by the beautiful Christmas tree. I absolutely love Christmas :) the smells, the weather, the family and friends, the shopping, the music.....I especially love the music...like start up the day after Halloween and listen constantly until January 2nd, and sometimes even a little in July when it is so hot you can fry an egg on the concrete....THAT KINDA LOVE There is so much meaning to Christmas Music that it can make any season a Happy Season!!! Lately, the past few months have been busy, busy, busy, as I am sure your lives have been busy too,(I am not trying to say that I am busier than you..I hate it when people do that) Anyway I will finally try to give a little recap!!!

The school musical was in Nov. The kids did an awesome job, All the kids (about 120 girls and 45 boys). The musical was "Curtains" an edited version of course. I had to be one of the parents who approved of the script, be over the parent seamstress ladies, and over the student ushers. It was a busy time as there were about 12 moms who sewed 120 prairie dresses, 30 dance hall dresses, 30 mermaid costumes, and 30 pair of chaps. I did a little sewing myself it was funny, stressful, and frustrating (the sewing) I also delivered all the sewing material to the moms, picked up the finished products and fit them to the girls at school. I spent so much time there that it was like being in HS again a terrifying thought at my age!! Anyway it all turned out Amazing and it was well worth all the time and work put forth by all! These kids are amazing!!! They make me want to cry, pull my hair out, and laugh all at the same time!

We also had the Fall Choir Concert, planned the Performing Arts Tour, and had the Canyons Invitational at our High School.

We had Thanksgiving at our house this year with Deb & Jim, Chris & Liz, Matt, Zach, Scott, Tim & Vanessa, Nichael, Chloe, Natalie, and the 5 of us...it was great to be with family and enjoy the kids. Black Friday Shane & I were up at 4:30 to go shopping, later we hit a movie with the kids, and decorated for Christmas the next day!

So far December has brought....Snow finally!! We had 4 other families in the ward over for "Cookie" night. Where we make and decorate Christmas Sugar Cookies from scratch....it is so fun to watch the kids from 2 years old to 52 years old eating the dough and decorating. We took the girls to Festival of Trees...this year there were 4 extra daughters(Stacey, Rachel, Michale,and Gwen) as Nicole's friends/roommates came with us! It was great!! Last night we went to "Zoo Lights" and once again there were 9 of us....Kendra, Megan's friend, and Rachel, Gwen, and Sarah came with us. While Shane & I were standing in line for hot chocolate, the girls huddled in a circle and sang "Hokey Pokey" Shane commented on how boring our lives could have been with all boys instead of girls...ha,ha.
We also had the opportunity to hear Megan sing in the JSMB, Church History Museum, and in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square. Tomorrow night the choir will sing Forgotten Carols with Michael McLean....and it is the ward Christmas Breakfast.
Whew....we are not even half way through December! Here are a few pics....
Enjoy!!!