Scrooge

I am not putting up Christmas this year. Why not? A few reasons:

1. We are leaving in a little over a week for South America. My mom lives in Argentina and we have been planning a visit to see her for a year now. Why put up Christmas when we are leaving two weeks before it will even come? Then to come home to unpack bags, as well as the holiday?

2. Jared is not here. It's not very fun to put up Christmas AND take it down by yourself. The "family" life is not the same when it's just ME doing all the leg work. We did hang up a strand of Christmas lights outside. And I mean a strand. It's actually dangling from the garage door. I want to have traditions for my boys, but if I can get away with it for now...so be it.

3. We have no tree! Last year we bought a fresh pine tree in Maryland (at the local Home Depot), and the year before we left our tree in El Paso, TX when we moved.

4. No room. I really have no nooks, corners, shelves or areas to put up the decor.

5. Lack of motivation or desire. I simply don't want to put forth the effort, all to just take it down in a few weeks, alone, and overwhelmed.

So, call me scrooge. Tell me, "Ba-hum-bug!"

Christmas this year will be spent in a non-traditional setting...en la Argentina. I promise next year to start up with traditions again for my boys; elf on the shelf (one I would like to start), monkey bread for breakfast, PJ's on C-mas eve, acts of service, gingerbread houses, caroling, seeing temple lights, and putting up our Christmas tree!

For my boys

Dear Adrienne

In 15 years, I want you to read this again when you are in your mid 40's (2025 ish). By then, your boys will be in their late teens and early 20's. There are a few things that I want "our" boys to know how to do and be:

1. Know their way around the kitchen. I want them to have a few recipes that they can easily make. I want them to know how to make homemade bread, bake brownies, grill on the BBQ and whip up some pasta dishes.
2. Chores: laundry, dishes, keeping bedroom clean (including making their beds, clothes picked up), scrubbing the bathrooms and mopping floors.
3. The Waltz. They need to know how to lead a girl onto the dance floor, maintain good posture and with confidence show her how to move around in the box.
4. Piano. Basic sight reading, church hymns, and anything else they like.
5. Car mechanics: how to change oil, fill up air, check for leaks and the 101 on brakes (Jared will be in charge of that department).
6. Service. I want them to know how it feels to help someone else move into a new home, or mowing the lawn for a neighbor, or helping out at a volunteer unit. I plan on exposing them to as many things as we can do as a family. Christmas caroling? Plates of cookies? Babysitting?
7. Work Ethic and Money. Summer jobs, weekend paper route (will newspapers even be around by then?), PT jobs after school (if not too involved in sports), earning extra money through allowance. I want them to understand responsibility, balancing a paycheck, discipline and the value of a dollar. Teach them about saving money, importance of a credit and using debit cards.
8. Affection. I want lots of hugs, kisses, smiles and wrestling to go on para siempre!
9. Grooming habits: flossing every night, hair combed, color coordinating clothing (gotta impress the ladies!), keep nails trimmed and clean, shaved neck beard and cologne.
10. Spanish. English. Be bilingual in both languages. Proficiency to take AP classes in High school and to continue to grow with their knowledge as they get older. Perhaps even study abroad?
11. TESTIMONY. Not much needs to be said there. May it be their own! Having experiences to share their beliefs with others (prior to their missions), and learning to how to pray.

This is what I want for "our boys." You have a lot of responsibility on your shoulders as their mama. I am sure the time will go by quickly and I want you to feel proud of them and secure in their future. They are God's children and what a privilege it is to raise them here on earth. Just remember the bigger picture and work on it!

Road Trips

Grateful List


Day #30:
*I am excited to be done with this month-long gratitude list! It's required more creativity and opened my eyes to more things, but I am looking forward to posting "random" daily life posts.
*Enjoying some cheesy chili cheese fries
*Bundling up my boys in "sacos gordos" and watching Isaac laugh at the cold breathy air in Williams, AZ.
*Costco, you are my favorite grocer. I loved going to buy a huge block of cheese, frozen strawberries, mangoes, organic peanut butter, vitamins, zip lock bags (for Abu), grapes, eggs, milk, protein powder, Jared's birthday bike, 4lbs of fresh spinach and of course a churro.

Day #29
*Listening to my honey give a fantastic talk on Moral Discipline (it really was one of his better talks he has given. He is such a great public speaker!)
*Whipping up some chicken/zucchini spaghetti with fresh green beans and crescent rolls for lunch guests.
*Watching Isaac sing along to the i-pod in his ears. So cute! "ga ga guh ga"

Movie Theatre

Grateful List
Day #28:

*Going to see New Moon with Nikki Thrower and then shopping for shoes! We both agreed that Edward needs to get a bit more toned, but Jacob sure did look amazing. How wonderful it was to ditch the kids to feel like a girlfriend and have a great time!
*Cooler afternoon with a gorgeous sunset, perfect weather for the park.
*The Boley's for picking Jared up at the airport (and letting my kids take a nap at their house while doing so 'til 11pm).
*Helping Wesley with some reading homework and watching him sound things out...h-e-r, her!
*BOGO sale that got me some fun New Balance kicks.

Turkey Day

Grateful List

Day #27:
* Visiting with my dear friend KariAnn Young. For her sweet laughter, witty sense of humor, common bond, listening ear and beautiful laughter. I wish we only lived closer.
*Taking Wesley on his first bike ride to the grocery store. A few crashes later, he did a great job and has a few rainbow band-aids to show from it. Isaac and Austin happily rode in the trailer.
*Watching a fun movie, "Monster-in-law" while running on the treadmill. The 45 min. of cardio flew by as I laughed and enjoyed some personal time.
*Spending the morning together as a family before Jared drove back to Burbank. A few breakfast burritos, playing with Isaac, and taking the boys for a joy ride around the block in "dad's car."

Day #26: (Thanksgiving!)
*Jared and I played the "thankful game." He thought it was silly. A few favorites: job security, health care, shoes, gospel, family, car, medicine, knowledge, etc.
*Football, soccer, and baseball at the park with los primos.
*Pumpkin pie, stuffing, fresh cranberries and saucy gravy were a few favorite dishes!
*Gorgeous 80 degree weather!

Wheel of Fortune

Grateful list
Day #25:

*Letting my boys stay up 1/2 hour to watch Wheel of Fortune together. They thought it was fun to see the letters go up. I enjoyed eating my long grain rice and chicken dinner that took 1 hour longer to cook than expected, thus the boys settled for poached eggs and toast.
*Anticipating Jared's arrival at 1-3am??? Still stuck in L.A. traffic and driving...
*Good samaritans. I found a lost dog and between myself and another family, we hope to find the owner of the pooch.
*Sweating at the gym. Highlight of my day. (Then again, so is Isaac at any moment of my day!)
*Ability to type, read, see, hear and communicate.

Blue Skies

Grateful list

Day # 24:

*Austin vacuumed my kitchen floor from lunch time. Another reason why I have kids!
*I LOVE Arizona blue skies....all 242 days of the year.
*Lysol disinfectant spray. I just feel better spraying down all faucets, doorknobs, light switches and toilet seats.
*Teaching Wesley how to ride without training wheels. Took lots of patience, scraped knees, tears and encouragement, but he did great for his first day. Muy bien Wesley!
*My dear, chunky, sweet, big eyed, gurgly, happy, and kissable baby. Need I say more? I am so in love with that adorable boy. I could hold him, tickle him, feed him and kiss him all day long. I cherish the moments I steal with him EVERYDAY (b/c I know how fast they go!) to love on him. Never grow up Isaac! I love you so much!