I quit

I can not handle being a mom anymore. I quit.

Christmas story

I know that it's been forever since I posted anything I promise I will post something personal soon. BUT I was doing a little blogsurfing today and ran into this story so I copied to share with any who are reading this. it made me happy. I hope that you enjoy it.

The "W" in Christmas

Last December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.

So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E" And, I believe, He still is.

Halloween

I have no fun pictures to share this year. We are all sick. No one felt good enough to dress up. We just stayed home and rested. A friend of mine brought over a new game and some candy for the kids. The game is so much fun and the kids loved that someone gave them candy. Another friend brought over some treat bags for them as well. It was a quiet night. We had 3 trick or treaters because we shut off the lights and hid in the basement. We really don't want to share these germs with anyone. Halloween isn't the same without the kids dressing up but I have to say it was nice not to have to go out trick or treating. Hope you all had a great time. talk to you soon.

Inspiration for today.

LIfe has been challenging around our house lately. it's been interesting to see what we are made of in the face of things that are going on in our little world. I saw this quote on a blog today it was in reference to storage but I thought it was very good in the face of trials of all kind.

Though we never know when we will face a challenge that will require us to depend on the resources we have stored, we know that the Lord has said, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).

"President Gordon B. Hinckley reminded us in October 2005 general conference of our need to be prepared: 'We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments. … I have faith … that the Lord will bless us, and watch over us, and assist us if we walk in obedience to His light, His gospel, and His commandments.'

"Let us do all in our power to 'walk in obedience' and be prepared."


“Are You Prepared?,” Ensign, Aug 2007, 30–33
I really liked this quote. It gives me hope for what lies ahead.

YoGA

I have a new love. I took the plunge and decided to take a yoga class. It started tonight. I was really nervous going in because I thought I would look like an idiot. Happily enough I may have looked dumb but I didn't feel dumb. It was great. i am going to hurt like crazy tomorrow but I loved it. I am quite proud of myself for this accomplishment.

Salsa

This has been my year to try out canning. So far things have gone well. We've done peaches, spaghetti sauce, mustard relish, corn relish and dill pickles. I am now going to attempt salsa but here's my problem I need a good recipe. If any of you out there in blogger land have one will you send it my way please? I would really appreciate it. Thanks a million. Talk to you soon.

We took a family trip to Utah this summer in August. The weather was amazing and the kids were really good travellers. The kids loved seeing all of the temples and different church history sites. I'm so glad that we took them down there when they were young. Here are a few pictures I'll do another post with more tonight. Talk to you soon.

The kids at the Jordan River Temple.

One day we went down to Provo to show the kids BYU and stopped at the MTC. It'll be fun to compare this photo to one in 14 years or so when Brady is old enough to go on a mission. That really doesn't seem that far away.

Brady at the MAyan Restaurant. I think that this was one of the highlights for the kids. They loved the dive show. We were sitting up front and center. They were amazed.

Mason

All the kids with the snake

Halle

Doesn't Mason look so impressed with the Conference Center. It was a great tour. I loved all the art work they have in there.

All the kids on the roof of the conference center.

At the reflecting pool in front of the temple

Love this picture even with all the light of them at the Salt Lake temple.

This is the Idaho Falls Temple Visitor Center. They have a Christus statue there now as well as in Salt Lake. The great thing about this one is that it's made from fiber glass not marble so the kids were able to get up close to it and touch it. It was a really great experience for them. The missionaries there were fantastic.

Halle loved the grounds at the Idaho Falls temple. She loved checking out all the flowers.

All the kids.

Dad and Mason looking at all the fun things.

All the kids on a bench that they thought was the greatest bench. I think they are too sheltered.

Summer Fun

Summer has been a blur this year. I can't believe that it's over and that school is back in already. I'm not ready to talk about school yet so here are a few fun random pictures from the summer. I'll post about our Utah trip tomorrow. It's just taking way too long to upload pictures tonight.


Mason is growing like a weed. He is now 8months old and still so sweet. He is starting to move around in a sort of army crawl. Not fully crawling yet ( thank goodness).

My funny Adam. He looks like an owl sitting like that on the chair.

Adam all tuckered out after a long day of play. he really fell asleep like this it was funny.

Adam has developed a fascination with the formula cans. One day it was really quiet and that should have tipped me off but alas I'm still not quick enough. This is how I found him on the floor that I had mopped just an hour before. Needless to say the formula now sits on top of the fridge away from busy hands!

One night after Adam had been in the bathtub he decided to HELP Brady wash while he was taking a bath. This was the outcome. He ended up having another bath because of all the soap he had helped himself to. He really is busier that the other 3 put together.

This is Brady's foot. He had a huge cement paving stone( atleast 100 pounds) drop on his foot. It definitely put a damper on his fun for a couple of weeks. He couldn't walk on it but became very adept at hopping around everywhere on one foot.

One last one of Mason just because he's cute. I'll post more tomorrow. I really a trying to be a better blogger. Talk to you soon.

Hey there Delilah Spoof

I saw this spoof on another blog and had to share I laughed so hard. Watch and love it. Just pause the music on the side so you can hear the clip.

Fun Idea

I read this post on my friend Jaime's blog and decided that I would give it a try. this is not something I would normally do but I've decided to expand my horizons. If you are interested leave me a comment then cut and paste the instructions onto your blog. Have fun.

Chocolate on my Cranium posted this pay-it-forward game and I'm going to participate!

For the first five bloggers to leave a comment on this post and commit to do the same pay-it-forward on their blogs I will do the following (and if you are one of the five this is what you will paste in your pay-it-forward post too) :

I am willing to post overseas (I am in Canada), but remember you must commit on your blog to do the same for others.

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I send you. But you may be pleasantly surprised.

2. What I send will be made just for you, with love, by my own hands. You'd be surprised how much of our personalities come through online.

3. I will complete all 5 gifts this year - 2009.

4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world, that you can touch and feel, and not something cyber.

5. I reserve the right to do something strange. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. If you find it truly horrendous, just let me know. Perhaps you'll send it forward to someone who will absolutely love it.

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post (one for each).

7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you to confirm.

Have fun hopefully some of you are brave enough to try this out and maybe you'll get something fun from me in a while. Talk to you soon.

Update

Things have been crazy in our house lately. I am a bad blogger. I thought I had a lot of pictures to post but Kyle's camera batteries are dead so here are just a few. I will post more when the batteries are charged. It's been a busy few months. Halle turned 8 and was baptized( those pics are on the other camera). We've been busy with soccer and with piano and just your basic running around. Here are a few pictures.

Mason has discovered his jolly Jumper. He loves it. He goes crazy jumping in it for so long everyday. It's fun to see how much he's grown and changed in the last 5 months. He was 5 months on June 1st. How time flies but at the same time it's been a long haul. Does that make any sense at all? Mason is rolling from his front to his back. He's trying to roll from front to back as well. So far he can get on his side and then he gets stuck. must be all that chubb it makes it really hard to roll, he gets a little high centered.

Adam is still obsessed with basketball, actually and sports ball. He loves to play soccer at home. He likes to run like a crazy man at the kids soccer games. He's always dirty. I don't know how to keep that child clean. He attracts dirt like no one I've ever known before. This was taken in March. We buzzed off his hair a few weeks ago. Those pics are on the other camera as well. to be shared later.

Halle and Brady decided to plant a garden in their little sandbox this year. While we planted our big garden they palnted their little one. They planned it out themselves. They planted cucumber seeds in the middle and flowers around the edges. They are sure it is going to be amazing, I hope they don't get too disappointed if nothing grows.

Mason has outgrown the baby bathtub so before we tried the big bathtub we gave him a few baths in the kitchen sink. A little side note. We just had our bathroom redone. I love the new look. All we need to do is paint it and it's a whole new bathroom. the boys are loving the new deep tub. They don't seem to get as much water on the floor which makes me really happy too.

One more of Mason. All dressed up in his Easter clothes. What a cutie. He just makes me smile. He really is the happiest baby. I'm lucky that he is so patient and content. Anyways that is a little update. I'll post more pictures later. Talk to you soon.

GLEE

Did anyone watch Glee last night? I think that it could be my new favorite show. I thought that it was a summer thing but I guess that I have to wait until the fall to watch it every week. Here is my favorite song from last nights episode. Enjoy

My musicals list

Thanks for all the suggestions. Here is my list of musicals that I want to watch over the next few months when Kyle is gone. It's long but here goes.

7 Brides for 7 Brothers
A Star is Born
An American in Paris
Annie
Anchors Aweigh
Annie Get Your Gun
The Band Wagon
Beach Blanket Bingo
Bells Are Ringing
Blue Hawaii
Bye Bye Birdie
Brigadoon
Center Stage
Enchanted
Evita
Easter Parade
Funny Face
Funny Girl
For Me and My Gal
Gidget
Gidget Goes Hawaiian
Gidget Goes To Rome
GiGi
Guys and Dolls
Hairspray
High School Musical 1, 2, 3
High Society
In the Good Old Summertime
Kiss Me Kate
Love Me Tonight
Mamma Mia
Mary Poppins
Meet Me In St. Louis
My Fair Lady
Newsies
Oklahoma!
On The Town
Paint Your Wagon
Phantom Of The Opera
Royal Wedding
Showboat
South Pacific
State Fair
Singing In The Rain
Strike Up The Band
Summer Magic
The Music Man
The Slipper and The Rose
Top Hat
Thoroughly Modern Millie
West Side Story
White Christmas

That's a pretty long list. hopefully I can get most of them from the library. If anyone around the Taber area has any of these on dvd I would love to borrow them. Thanks.

Musicals

I have been on a blog famine for a long time. I'm not sure what the problem nas been but I just haven't been able to make myself sit down and do it. it has been a crazy couple of months. I have tons of pictures to post and I will later but first I want to get some advice from all or you in the blogosphere. I saw this clip on my frined Eve's blog this morning
:
Thank- you Eve for reminding me of all the fantastic musicals out there. Here is another clip that I love.



I think that I need to watch as many of the old musicals I can on the weeks when Kyle is gone. So here's my question what are your favorite musicals new or old? I need to make a big list so I can start getting them fron the library or the video store. I'll leave you with one last clip that I love.



Oh and one more this movie always makes me cry.



Anyways I would love to hear form all of you your suggestions and favorites. Summer reruns are no fun, The only show I have to look forward to is So You Think You can Dance. Talk to you soon.

New book

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved this book. It is a new favorite. I don't even know what to say except that I loved it. Read it you'll love it too.


View all my reviews.
This book was fantastic. i wanted to share with any of you who aren't on my goodreads friends. I loved it. Talk to you soon

Funny Conversation

Today Brady and I were talking after school. He was saying how it would be really cool to go into outer space and try to touch a star. The rest of the talk went like this.
Me: well if you want to go to outer space you have to become an astronaut when you grow up.
Brady: that would be fun but I really want to be a motorcycle rider when I grow up.
Me: That would be cool too
Brady: Mom what are you going to be when you grow up?
Me: I'm a mom
Brady: No mom, I know you're a mom but when you really grow up what will you be?

I told him that I'm not sure what I want to be. I just really like to know that he doesn't think I'm grown up yet. Does that mean I'm not serious enough as a mom or is it a compliment that I'm fun and don't seem like a boring grown-up. I just thought the whole thing was funny. I love the funny things that my kids say. A long time ago when Halle was around 3 we were talking and I was reciting the poem about little girls being made of sugar and spice and evrything nice and she looked at me like I was crazy and says to me: No mom I am made of BONES. It's amazing what they pick up at a young age. It's hard to believe that she's going to be 8 in 2 weeks. Where did the time go? Talk to you soon.

Gratitude

This has been a very tough week with Kyle being gone but I have to say how grateful I am to have such good friends. It is amazing when people show how kind they are. I have to say i am so thankful for people who have offered to make me and my kids their adopted family one the weeks that Kyle is gone. Friends who invite us over for dinner and for dessert and just to hang out. I am very thankful for friends who take the time to listen to me even when I know I'm not making any sense and still like me anyways ( I hope)!!! I'm thankful for friends who have the patience to help me learn new things like sewing Halle a baptism dress or making a quilt or learning to crochet. I'm thankful that these people are here for me and for my family. I hope that someday I can repay the amazing service and friendship they have given me and my family. I'm sure there's no way that I can ever repay all the kindness. All I can say if any of you are reading this is a HUGE THANK-YOU. You are definitely an answer to my prayers and I really hope that someday I can return the kindness. Talk to you soon. Like the new music player? Now you can all see what cheesy music I love, I must be getting old or have too much moise in my house all my songs seem to be slow or quiet. A big thanks to Jill for introducing me to William Joseph an amazing pianist and to the Celtic Women. I would love some more music suggestions. I love to listen.

Baby Update

Warning lots of pictures in this post.
It's been awhile since I've updated this blog. I never seem to have the time to sit down and do it these days. So here is a big long post with a bunch of pictures.

Mason in the tub. He loves bathtime. He's getting so big. It amazes me how much he changes everyday.

Adam thinks he's a big boy now. He loves to sit in his high chair up at the table. He wants to be like the big kids.

Here is my little Buddha man

Just hanging out.

ADam has decided that he likes Mason is always trying to give him his soother, whether he wants it or not.

One of his first smiles. He's starting to coo and laugh now too.

Halle all ready for church. i can't believe that she is almost 8, where did the time go?

Brady and Mason ready for church

Mason

Mason

Blessing day.

All the kids on blessing day. What a cute bunch they are.

Mason ready for church. Boy is he getting CHUBBY.

Mason loves his chair.

Adam has decided that he should drink straight from the juice carton instead of from a cup. Gee Kyle where did he learn to do that?
They are all growing and are so happy. We had a quiet week off last week and now it's back to school this week. Hopefully we'll get spring soon and can enjoy the outdoors. more. Talk to you soon.

Brady's accident

Last Monday Kyle took Brady and Adam to Home Hardware with him and this is what happened while they were there. Brady ran into the corner of a metal shelf and split his eyebrow open. It's been a week and is still black. Here are some pictures.





I hope this isn't a sign of things to come. With one girl and 3 boys I really hope that I don't spend a lot of time in the ER from here on out. Talk to you soon.

Mason Noel Holladay

We are thrilled to announce that we had a baby boy on Jan. 1. Mason Noel Holladay was born at 10:55 pm on Jan.1. He weighed 8 lbs 3 oz and was 22 inches long. He was 10 days over but came very fast when he decided to come. here are some pictures for you all.

At home in his chair sleeping soundly. He sleeps so well during the day but we don't sleep at all at night.

Adam holding his brother for the first time. Most of the time he ignores Mason but every once in awhile he will want tohold him or give him a kiss.

Halle is the proud big sister. She is an amazing helper for me and for Kyle.

The four kids together. What a crew we have.

Brady at the hospital

Halle at the hospital

The next few are all of Mason right after he was born.Enjoy them



This one is so cute. He looks so unimpressed with life.

It's great to finally ahve him here at home with us. Life has definitely changed but I'm really glad that he is a part of our family and we will definitely try to enjoy all that is to come. Talk to you soon.