Happy New Year 2012

I’m ringing in the New Year here at 12:01 … Hello 2012!

I didn’t think I’d still be awake.

The house is quiet. Jimmy is sleeping.

There are fireworks sounding outside.

My brain is very tired.

But because the barnlings stayed up until 10, that left a few quiet hours to finish prep for my Relief Society lesson.

What a better way to celebrate the New Year than studying about this:

And now I’m off to bed. More later on New Year’s Eve. Never a dull moment ’round here.

cool new year’s drawing by by Juan Chavarria Jr. on Twitter.

Christmas 2011

In case you missed the band-aid.
This was one of my favorite things about Christmas… in the middle of the closing Christmas Hymn in Sacrament meeting, I just got the giggles about Max’s band-aid. How is it that he happened to get the very most industrial band-aid we have for his teeny scratch. And how is it that it ended up on his eyebrows. (p.s. we finally dared put a warm washcloth on it and gently eased it off today… eyebrows in tact. yay!). Also – I like that Eliza is hanging down in the top of that picture. Cute pudgy hand!

p.p.s. I just needed another week to get in the groove for Christmas. I just wasn’t quite there – ya know… like mentally. I feel like there are so many traditions that are hard to pull off with so many little ones. We didn’t do well at the 12 days of Christ like last year. We only snuck in a few Christmas books by the tree. We did try to learn Estrella de Luz (Star Bright in Spanish). Hopefully next year I’ll be more on top of my game with R.S. stuff/giving tree/and Christmas with little ones. But Christmas was nice…. because it was about Christ.  That part is always the BEST to talk about with the kids. I loved when our home teacher was over and asked the kids what we do on Christmas. Abe said, “We spend time with and love our family.” Hannah said, “We celebrate the birth of Jesus.” And our hometeacher was trying to get at that we open presents on Christmas. It made me chuckle inside. I’m glad they were trying to think deeply about it.

a white Christmas?

I’m afraid the only WHITE CHRISTMAS we’ll have this year is the white in these photos. No snow around.

Looks like the kids are ready for presents. It’s 7 a.m. and they can’t wait much longer. Zu-zu must have been really excited as she got up at 5:30.

p.s. It was NOT a very silent night. Tru was up. Eliza was up (poor girlie has an icky tummy). Max was up and in our bed. Such is life.

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve program was a little mellow. Today 3 of us came down with the stomach flu – blek! I spent the day laying in my bed with Max by my side. He said awesome things like, “I weally wike you mom. I do.” “But I don’t wike gatora. Will it be good for me?” “oh, it’s dewicious.” Then he thought he needed to throw up so he hovered over the red bowl. I came back from showering and he had fallen asleep over his bowl. Upon waking, in a groggy voice, he said, “I need my alligator.” We realized he meant his “GATORade.” Then he would smile a really big cheesy grin for me. Oh – and he put a gynormous bandaid on his head because he had a scab that he said hurt…. only I can still see his scab. But that bandaid is sure covering his eyebrows well. Ouch!

Back to our Christmas Eve Program. Each of the kids had a small part (pretty much made up on the spot). Mom helped Tru talk about how Jesus loves everyone. His voice is so cute when he repeats. Max was too sick to participate. We sang Silent Night for Abe’s part. Hannah told about how she loves the story in the Book of Mormon when Christ came to America. Mom and Dad shared something short, we sang a few more songs, opened up pj presents, had hot chocolate, read Egor Sprite Story, and put those munchkins in bed early. Definitely not our traditional Christmas Eve… but with 5 littles and sickness in the house, we’ll have to go with it. p.s and thank you Tru for taking that not-so-gorgeous photo of your sick mother. Awesome.

I sure hope it’s a silent night in our home this Christmas Eve. May the sickies (well – and Truman!!!) sleep all through the night. p.s. Silent Night is Abe’s favorite Christmas Hymn. Hannah likes Joy to the World.

Always our prayer – to watch over our little ones.

Presents are finally wrapped. I’m whipped and we’re heading to bed. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Sacrifice & Devotion – Joseph Smith Birthday Celebration 2011

Today marks the 206th Birthday of Joseph Smith Jr. As is tradition in the Price fam, we celebrated with Grandma & Grandpa with a fabulous roast/potatoes/orange rolls/scandinavian fruit soup dinner… with gingerbread and lemon sauce for dessert. It really was that fabulous.


Afterwards we went downstairs and enjoyed a nice program by the fire. Abe told the story of the First Vision … with Max placing the flannel board figures up to go along. Then Hannah read in the Bible Dictionary about Joseph’s translation of the King James Bible. The adults shared a quick thought each. Tru repeated after me a short story about Joseph Smith loving the children and wiping their tears and muddy shoes. Max told a rather adventurous story about Joseph Smith stopping the stage coach. Then Hannah and Abe sang their songs from their school program.

It was the best fhe we’ve had in a long time. I don’t think Truman even hit anyone. Maybe? No screaming anyways. One of the best distractions lately for Truman is put him in charge of taking photos. It’s highly entertaining to watch him… and see the photos later.

Thanks for the fun night mom and dad. And thanks for being patient with all of us wascally wabbits.

Gifts – Life – Healing

p.s. so much going on this week. finally wrapped up The Giving Tree for the ward. huge job! Doctor’s appointments today for Eliza and Max. Shots. Ouch. Mostly trying to keep the house and family together. Love this new quote up in the shop… perfect encouragement for today.

Tomorrow: get the home and family in order so we can actually enjoy the weekend. major tidying going on. major laundry and dishes. happy-happy-joy-joy.

Let your Heart Be Light

On Friday Jimmy and I went on our anniversary date to the Jon Schmidt Christmas Concert. It was nice. We first went to Texas Roadhouse thanks to a gift certificate from a friend. We had the nicest waitress… really. She was so nice. She has 8 girls… 8. They sang to us. She gave us free food. Nice. Plus, those rolls are my favorite.

Back to the concert. We rode a rickety old shuttle bus from Eccles Stadium to Kingsbury Hall at the U. We had lots of time to chat beforehand. I really enjoyed the concert. Steven Sharp Nelson joined in with his cello. It was overall a delightful evening. The concert was long… from 7:30 – 10… but good. I really can’t even believe that Jon could keep going. I know how tiring it is to play the piano, especially when they are intense songs and you’re giving it your all. Wow. Great musicians.

One of my favorite songs was ‘Where are you Christmas?’ when Jon’s daughter came out and sang. Here it is:

Steven Sharp Nelson also released this video this week “Carol of the Bells”. My kids enjoyed both of these.

Thanks for the nice date Jimmy.

Joy to the World

Loved this quote I read from an older Ensign. The Atonement really is for all. I just love that! We all need Christ. It is a JOY that he came to heal and save us from sin… A JOY!

For Unto Us a Child is Born

I find myself humming the Messiah at Christmastime.
Thanks to Jo Cherrington, I at least know a few of the choruses.
Marvelous Christmas music to celebrate our Savior!
Delightful Christmas prints.

The Wondrous Gift is Given