Walking opens up options

     

I have decided that being a walker opens up all sorts of options to a toddler that weren't there before. The act of walking frees up two extra limbs with which to explore, open, pull out, pull down, grasp, hoist, carry and get into general naughtiness. Lincoln is thoroughly pleased with these new possibilities. His first official steps from the coffee table to the couch were on Christmas eve but he took a few weeks to decide that he liked walking more than rug burns on his knees. Still not too much on the verbal front, but he can climb up on the couch by himself and loves to jump around. Let's face it, everybody loves the baby. He just makes us smile.

Three, Three, Who could it be?

       Our little sugar-and-spice has had a birthday.She had to practice holding up the new age indicator on her fingers, but she got it after a few tries. Ruthie was so thrilled with her new hello kitty comforter, Frozen scooter, and shinny shoes. Zach and I have made an executive decision that a child must be at least 4 years old to receive a party so next year I will do something that involves the color pink and glitter. Even if Ruthie was ready for a party this year, the friends she would be inviting may not have been. Ruth Anne is quite articulate and loves to sing, dance, have her toes painted, go to nursery, jump on the trampoline, read books, go to preschool, and have friends over that will actually play dolls with her. Ruthie is getting pretty good at holding a pen the right way and tracing her name as well as cutting with scissors. She is also my neatest eater- CURRENTLY, not just for her age- and will use a small knife to push her food up onto her fork. I love to listen to her pray for all the children, "to be SO good for mom and dad," and to hear her giggle when she gets excited. 

We love you butterfly blue eyes!

She ate exactly 1 bite of this
butterfly cake she asked for

This is the 4 child and the 6th time I've used that number 3 candle.
It's about done with its usefulness.

New Office Space

Over Christmas break Zach decided to revitalize his dungeon cell down in the basement, since he will be spending so much time there in the coming months. I should have taken a before picture so you  could see the difference, but just imagine brown wooden boards as shelves and an unsightly tan color on the walls. If you are a man, you may say to yourself, "The walls still look tan," but if you are a woman you realize that they are now an appealing taupe color instead. This nook was never really organized after we moved in a year and a half ago so it was over due for a tidying up. Left side office, right side food storage. Best of both worlds.Happy writing Zach.

Mom age 20

Nancy Ruth Story age 20 February 1963

Wasn't my mother beautiful? I've loved looking at this picture in her curio cabinet since I was a little girl. Now it is mine and I will preserve it for my Ruth to have someday.

Merry Christmas Card- 1991

so proud of the snowman we 'helped' to build 

Alana age 1

My dad saved this awesome Christmas card that I had made for his folks, my paternal grandparents, circa 1991. It is made out of a folded piece of poster board so it wouldn't fit on the scanner all at one time, but perhaps you can piece it together in your mind's eye. I think I'm probably still (inexplicably) a little proud of it.  

Amber and Alana on the swing with Grandpa Steve, the swing that Grandpa Steve built himself

Alana (2yr) amber (3 1/2 yr) with father 1985

With Grandma Ella Ogarek

Alana celebrating Grandpa's birthday

Journey to Bethlehem

       I wanted to make Christmas eve special, not too hokey, not too serious, but memorable and centered on the Savior. 

       A few weeks ago I had the privilege of teaching the Relief Society lesson on the birth of the Savior and we discussed family traditions that centered around Christ. I fielded lots of good suggestions but the one that struck me as the most appropriate to my kids age level and maturity was a night in Bethlehem. We all dressed up like shepherds in blankets and towels and dinned on simple foods that could have been eaten back then. This included homemade flat bread, cheese,hummus, olives, and fruit.  We ate with our hands by firelight and candlelight to be a little more authentic. At the end of our meal our dinner guest (an older gentleman from our ward who doesn't have any good family connections) dressed up in a sheet like the angel and announced the birth of the Savior. At that point our shepherd-children went in search of the star and the baby Jesus which I had placed downstairs in the basement, a lamp light shining on the paper star to help it "glow." I asked them some questions about how the shepherds would have felt and what they would have done and all the children who were old enough to participate were very reverent. When it was over we dished dessert, sang a song, and read a funny Christmas story. Last year's Christmas nativity was good, this was better. Even if they don't remember it, I will. 

Toasty Buns

Been enjoying a few of these lately, sans roasted chestnuts. There was a pile of leftover tree (not exactly all logs) left here by the previous owner. These fires serve the dual purpose of pleasure and cleaning up the backyard.I'd like to say warmth as well but they don't put that much heat into the house unless it is really big.