Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Love the Stewarts
We're on vacation, but great posts to come: graduation and DISNEYLAND!!!

Scripture Power...

Amberlee has been such a creative little writer lately. She finds some clever things to do with her time. She came to me with this cute little poem the other day.

My sister Jessica and I were talking a while back. She is such a great example of motherhood to me! She was telling me what a powerful impact following Elder Scott's counsel to memorize scriptures has had on her ability to be a good mother. I was amazed as I listened to her kids recite some of the scriptures they had been memorizing. I started thinking of all the Disney songs and quotes my kids recite, and I thought we could definitely start squeezing some scriptures in there. I am astounded at how quickly they pick it up, and it has been good for me, too. I have picked a theme (usually something I need. Appropriately "patience and honesty" for these two) and then let them pick out of a few options. I have really felt like we've got new "friends"-- our leaders are so inspired. (And so is my good sis for following them, and inspiring me. Thanks, Jess!

"Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly. They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world." -Elder Richard G. Scott

In The Meadow We Can Build A Snow...Bunny!

We got our first snow (for one day) a couple weeks ago. It's gone now, but the kids were thrilled to take advantage and Doug was awesome and got right out there with them. He helped them make what was going to be a snowman, but both girls were rolling the heads and wanted their head on top, so King Solomon... I mean Douglas, included both heads, and I told him that from the window it looked like a bunny. :) I love where he put it so it could be peaking right into our window. He's such a fun dad!

Briggy and I were nice and toasty by the heater, watching from the window. I'm getting to be such a party pooper in my old age. :)

I think Briggy wanted in on the action though. :)

I gave my little man another hair cut--kind of butched him on accident, but I'm comforted by how quickly it grows back. We're almost fully recovered. :)

He started crawling today!!! He's been so close for months now but he just got the motion figured out today! He's so cute! He's also very fond of sucking on his toes. Over six months!!! Time flies!

Me, Myself, and I...

Amberlee's school does a neat thing called "Community Led Learning" where once a week for a couple hours, the students divide into groups and are taught by someone in their community under a theme. I think this theme was "self awareness" and when this group was done, we went to a fun little celebration the nice teacher put together. They learned some neat things about using creative dance to express themselves- it was fun to watch them! They also made self portraits and collages. I was proud of Amberlee- she was a brave, cute little dancer! A Free Spirit! :) (Like her ma- that is my kind of dancing- I wanted to join her.)

Footloose in Spokane...

The irony of that title! I came here on a High School Swing Choir tour about 10 years ago. We went to the Broadway production of Footloose and I actually stood right in front of the statue because we preformed inside the hospital. Who would have thought then that ten years later I would have 4 cute babies and that I would be taking one of them there to get his foot checked?

The appointment went well. I was happy to hear that his foot is still palpable and should self correct quickly. He showed me some exercises I could try but they only put braces or do surgery on the most extreme cases. It was a long way to drive, but I was happy nothing was serious. I guess with so many cases of foot problems in our family, I'm a little paranoid.

Seth loved the waiting room... I think he could have waited a lot longer. :)

It was kind of a fun trip with my boys- Amberlee had school and a sweet friend took Autumn for the day. We used a coupon to get a Jack in the Box Outlaw burger (which is actually pretty good, but I eat out so rarely, I'm not a great judge. :) Seth and I were excited to dig in.

Brigham thought they tasted like card board... wait a minute, that was the box. :)

It was right in front of a cool old church. And then we were off. Thank goodness for GPS- I really struggle navigating through cities! Curse those one-ways! :)

Give Thanks...

Well- there it is... what was left of our feast this year. I totally forgot to get some good shots of everyone enjoying Thanksgiving dinner, but here is a small glimpse at our Thanksgiving. A very sweet couple in our ward invited us to join their crew at the church. It was really nice of them (and nice for me not to have to do all the cooking! :) We knew their son and his wife from the student ward, so it was fun to catch up.

The kids had fun running around the gym and pushing each other around on those tables-- which should (and probably is illegal). Remember doing that? Remember how fun it was?! And remember how many times our parents told us to get off? ...Well, now I know why. At least half of them were injured at some point. "It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt."

We had pie- thanksgiving was complete. :) I made the blueberry and banana cream... selfishly :).

And for the grand finale... while we were visiting, Seth and the other naughty little boys made their way in between the foyer doors to the ice melt and dumped the entire bucket. Doug and I spent quite a bit of time sweeping those little pellets our of the corners... kind of ended the festivities on a sour note, but all in all, we had a nice time. (And we will be keeping our kids on a leash from now on. :)

(The entire floor was white- this picture doesn't do it justice, but we did get it all cleaned up. I will never look at ice melt the same way again.)

The Literature Lugging Legacy Continues...

WHY?! This is one of my major pet peeves! It almost always happens right after I just organized the books (I think because they see me take them off the shelves). Anyway- I haven't gotten proof of Autumn, but she is not innocent of this crime. :) Needless to say, we got them all put back... not quite so organized though.
Here is a flash back of Miss Amberlee- my little bookworm.

TOP SHOT...

Have I mentioned how much I love Doug?! I don't know how he manages to come up with so many creative new ways to keep our crew entertained, but he does. The other day, he whipped out his old childhood five-shooter rubber-band gun and set up all the army guys for an intense "Top Shot" competition. :) (That is one of Doug's favorite shows, but he's even gotten me hooked.) Doug was definitely the "Top Shot" but the kids weren't bad... I on the other hand, required a great deal of coaching... but it was still lots of fun.

Check out how flexible this little gal is?!

Silly kids- chairs are for sitting in, not laying on.

Couldn't you just eat this little guy up?! He loves his baths! He kicks and rolls all over the places, and he has figured out how to keep his head up- I just love his little pink body and his happy nature.