Christmas Eve

Last night we took the kids over to Kelly and Debbie's house to do our eve of Christmas Eve tradition of decorating Christmas sugar cookies for Santa. I love it. The awesome piles of frosting covered by awesome piles of sprinkles and candies. hahaha It was a great night.
Today is crazy. I still have two children's worth of wrapping plus what the kids got for each other to wrap. I always have the goal to wrap as I buy and stay on top of it all. It never works and then I end up staying up too late on Christmas Eve to finish it. Lame. One of these years I promise I will wrap everything by Christmas Eve and then be able to just relax and enjoy Christmas for all it's worth. (I know it's hypocritical to be blogging instead of wrapping right now but don't judge me...)
I will admit I have been a bit of a Scrooge this year. My Christmas spirit has taken a back seat and I am just not into it at all. And by at all I mean... sick of it. Sick of present buying. Sick of trying to make sure I stay in budget. Sick of trying to make everyone happy. Sick of all the holiday bull crap that the media feed us and talk us into thinking of Christmas as this commercialized holiday. We might as well refer to it as xmas because where is the Christ in Christmas? I haven't felt it at all this year except for a little moment at Temple Square - which was a miracle that we got to go and I'm sooo glad we did! I'm seriously finally realizing why my mom would get so mad when we were growing up and threaten every year to cancel "Christmas" and all we would do would be service. She would threaten that the only presents we would get would be ones we would go buy for other people. I admit this is a little extreme. Especially when children are young like mine still are...but is it really??? Isn't the Christmas season supposed to be about "good will toward men" and remembering our Savior and His life which He gave to save our own? He gave His entire life to service...so is it so much to ask to keep our present giving to a minimal and our spirit of service much, much greater? I don't think so. Next year is going to be different in the Barrett household. And every year afterwards as well. I vow to renew my Christmas spirit, and instill the correct meaning of Christmas in my children.
Glad I got that off my chest. I'm off to relax and enjoy this Christmas Eve and especially enjoy Christmas on the Sabbath tomorrow. Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all will remember the true meaning of Christmas and keep it all year long!

....the long walk....

Two Sundays ago was fast Sunday. Meaning Fast and Testimony meeting at church. No biggie. Done it 100 times. Gone, felt like I should or shouldn't get up to bear my testimony. Sometimes I get up, in fact last month I did. More times I don't in sacrament meeting but almost always do if we do testimonies in Relief Society. I enjoy it sometimes actually. In the 9 years of marriage to my dear Chad I can count how many times he's gone up to bear his testimony and many of those were only if he had to be up there to talk - which has been extremely rare. I will admit it. The thought had crossed my mind that this fast Sunday happened to fall the day after Daija's baptism. I figured I would probably go up. It's what mom's do.
It was a normal meeting. Children and adults alike took their turns going up to profess truth. It was wonderful. I did happen to be pretty busy juggling children though. You will imagine what a surprise it was to me then when Chad - my sexy hunk of a man - stood up, and did NOT walk out of the chapel, but DID walk up to the front of the room and bare his testimony. He has a beautiful testimony. It's strong. It's plain and clear. He's always a little funny and a little serious.
After he sat down - of course I was beaming a smile because of how proud I am of him and all I get back is a sly grin back that says "your turn". hahaha... nice try buddy. Apparently he had a sort of "deal" with Daija that if he went up, she'd go up. She has been asking for several months if she can, we always say yes!, and then she gets scared and doesn't want to so we never pressure her. She really wanted to get up this Sunday though so Dad gave it his best shot. Even after he sat back down he volunteered to go back up with her and sit there while she took her turn. Eventually she swallowed her fear and stood up to walk up to the front. It's such a long walk. We don't sit too far back anymore. Not like we used to - like not even in a pew. Thanks to Chad's calling of doing the programs he's there early enough to get us decent seats. But man, that walk no matter how long or short, to get up in front of a bunch of people - and I remember especially as a little kid - is a looonnngg walk. So they walked up together and sat down in "line".
Next it was her turn. Then it was our neighbor Tayler's turn. She kindly turned to him after hesitating for a while and let him go first. While Tayler was bearing his testimony, Daija's good friend, Emma, came up and sat next to Daija. They held a very reverent, whispered conversation about how Emma knew Daija could do it. It was exactly what Daija needed. She got right up after Tayler took his seat. Stepped up to the mic and like she'd been saying it every month of her life bore a beautiful testimony. "I'd like to bear my testimony. I know this church is true. I love my family and I know they love me...." I'm pretty sure she said something like, "I am happy I got baptized yesterday...." I don't remember exactly (it's been a drug filled week for me and I'm worried about quoting her exactly and getting it wrong...) She did such a good job! My little girl is growing up!
That same week she had her first Achievement Days activity. They each brought a dozen cookies with them. I guess they took plates of cookies around to some of the elderly in our ward, and also got to take one of everybody's cookies home. I think they did more because she told me more...but I can't remember right now. I'll have to ask her tomorrow and edit this later. It's late. I'm going to bed. :) I love you Daija!!!

Daija's Baptism

Daija can't do anything in her life without a little drama. Why would her baptism be any different?

Somehow there was a miscommunication about the jumpsuits. I assumed someone would get "them" to me. I also assumed there would be one for Daija and one for Chad. Take notes: never assume anything. So on my end I assumed they (the primary presidency) would get me the jumpsuits and somewhere on their end they thought someone had actually got me the jumpsuit. (notice there's no "s")

We arrived at the church at 11:00 to be there a little early to greet our family and friends. We were the only ones there. I began wondering if I should have checked in with someone about the jumpsuits. There was water in the font so I knew we were there on the right day. hahaha...

Family started to arrive. Finally the primary pianist showed up. I asked her where the jumpsuits were. She looked at me surprised like I should have them already. Nope. So she frantically called the other member of the presidency that was on her way. She picked up Daija's jumpsuit and brought it to the church house. The bishop showed up. Thought he needed to go get the jumpsuit. Left and came back. Realized that Chad didn't have clothes to do the baptism yet. Chad left, grabbed his temple pants and a white shirt and came back. It was a small miracle he could fit into them because we usually rent pants for him at the temple because the ones he owns are from when we got married! hahaha!!!

 I changed Daija into her jumpsuit. She was not happy about it. In fact I had to do some serious sweet talking her into even going out to the program in it. She hated taking off her beautiful dress and she didn't want anybody else to see her in it. (She's not like her mommy at all....)

Obviously, from the pictures, we eventually got everybody in the right clothing and ready to start - by 12:00. It was supposed to start at 11:30. LOL A huge thanks to all our family and friends and their patience with us!

 4 Generations Thalman :)

These family pictures are hilarious! We had no idea which camera to look at, there were at least 4 to choose from... hahaha Toby was taking the one with our camera for the Thalman picture. Dumb, he should have been in it... o well. In absolutely NONE of them is everyone looking at a camera much less the same one. So naturally I took the ones where I looked the best. LOL!!! Take your time and look at all of the people. There are some awesome faces! 

Daija received some special gifts for her baptism. She got her white dress and shoes from her Barrett Grandparents. Grandma and Grandpa Thalman gave her a very cute scripture case/purse. We got her a Quad with her name on it and a necklace. Not just any necklace. It's a beautiful birthstone only to be worn on special occasions that she can keep nice for her whole life.

Daija is 8!

Daija - my little angel - is 8 years old. I can still remember when she was born. She was so tiny. Now she's grown up to be a beautiful young lady. She's beginning to talk more grown up. She's dressing more like a young lady. She's behaving like a preteen. I just can't believe how old she seems. I constantly have to remind myself she is still "only" 8 and that it's not like she's 12 or something and going into young women's. She does start Achievement Days though and is so excited!

 Daija had a wonderful birthday party. It was pretty easy to make her cake. It's what she asked for so I didn't mind having something easy and it turned out cute.

First, we played "Spin the Nail polish". One friend spins the bottle of polish, then whoever it points to at the end gets to paint their nails that color. After we all spun and got colors we took turns painting each others fingernails. The girls got to take their color home with them at the end of the party too.

 I think the girls really had fun. :)

 My cute kiddos...They are so silly.

 Daija got some pretty awesome gifts from her friends. Don't know why this one is sideways... but it's a very cute picture of her friends smiling and opening gifts.

 We ended the party having cake and ice cream. It was really yummy! :) Daija is blessed to have many great friends. The last picture is her dressed up in all her birthday stuff. The dress is from us. The hair thing from a friend. The purse from another friend. New earrings, new necklace, a little art journal. She was pretty spoiled and had a blast!

Fam pics 2011

Last Friday Chad had the day off, the weather was decent, and I had colors picked out so we took Daija out of school just a little early, picked Toby up for "lunch" and headed to Castle Park. We had a great time! And I FinAllY got updates pics that I've been wanting since Collin was born!

 My adorable little baby is getting close to crawling. Over 8 months old already - it's crazy!

 Kyla is loving school and all her friends. Her teacher says she is a big helper to the other kids in class and very sweet. :) She and Chase are (usually) best little buddies when she's home. They love to play imagine games and I often find them pretending to be saving each other from some bad guy. Neither of them are the bad guy ever which I find interesting. :)

Sometimes I still can't believe Chad and I have been married 9 years. I love him now more than ever. We've had a very, very rough year but I know we will make it through because we always do.

Our crazy little family. We always get the nicest pictures when we do them ourselves. Weird. It really is amazing when you consider there is no one actually taking the pictures. I guess we've done it enough the three oldest know to look at the camera. Hopefully Collin will learn soon. :) Toby is pretty much awesome. He is so good with the kids. Even though I am sure he is annoyed occasionally. LOL He is very helpful around the house and when we are out he always help with doors and helping me keep track of the younger kids. I'm pretty sure he likes living with us - although he doesn't ever say so. Daija wrote him a note the other day while he was in the shower and put it on the bathroom door - it said "I love you Toby" in all different colors. She of course hid because she was embarrassed and when he didn't say anything she asked him what he thought of the door. He said it was a little weird but it's ok. hahaha The kid cracks me up. I just don't think German's express those kinds of feelings often - and he's a boy.

Chase was being a stinker. I don't know why...

Daija refuses to take good pictures any more. She insists on closing her eyes, or making silly faces - so I'm really glad we got this good one of her! :)

These are definitely in random order.... we had so much fun with these pictures this time. The park was the perfect back drop. I had actually intended on using the trees around the park to make it look like we went to a "wooded" area but we had so much fun and architecture at the park was so perfect we didn't even try to get any by the trees. I love my family so much. They mean everything to me. Even when I'm tired and ornery and sick and out of patience - like I have been lately. I'm glad we were able to go and get these done and that the weather was so beautiful that day! It makes me happy!

HAFB Airplane Museum

 I have way too many pictures for comments. The first two Toby took. He loves photography.

 We had so much fun going around to all the planes and display cases. The kids were really into asking questions and learning. It was so much fun!

 Of course Daija has to make a funny face in every single picture. So it's not that I just don't like her more than the other children. I do actually try to pick ones when she's not AS weird! LOL

 Chad's favorite plane of all time. The SR-71

 I am way too short - they would never let me in the Air Force. hahaha! But I think the pic turned out pretty cute. :)

We had to make Toby take a turn. HAA!

 Kyla and Chase in the playroom. The picture loader started to be really slow. Toby got a cool one of Daija and me I wanted to post right here too but I became impatient...big surprise - no.

Chad has never known about the kid learning area. He was like a little boy playing with that simulator! :) I LOVE him!!!! We had a GREAT day and it was really cool to share it with Toby.

Halloween 2011

So my posts are going to be a little backward. I'll be posting about a few events out of order simply because I'm way behind on my poor little blog and I want to get Halloween up before it's too old. :)
This year we had a very busy Halloween. We had a party at Aunt Michelle's house. We went to Black Island Farms (post about that later, including the Airplane Museum). Went to the kids school parties on Friday, left school after party part to go to Daddy's work trick or treating. Then on Saturday was the ward Chili cook off (pics at the bottom of the page and pics are of us getting ready for it that night...). After church on Sunday we carved pumpkins at Kelly and Debbie's (didn't take my camera - you will have to wait until I get them from Toby) and then normal Trick or Treating on Monday night including a yummy cheesy broccoli soup in bread bowls at Grandma Barrett's. WHEW!!! I need a nap. LOL

 This year for his "costume" Chad let each of the kids take turns coloring/painting his face. He has decided this is going to be the new tradition for his costume every year. The kids LOVED it!!! Daija's face is a tell-all. haha

 Kyla was laughing the whole time. Thought the red nose was so clever. Silly girl.

 Chase was much more serious about it....

 Until he would turn away to get more paint and then he was very excited about it!!!

 The end product. I did help smear it a little and made sure there weren't too many clumpy thick spots.

 Our camera accidentally got stuck on a manual setting so our pics were really bright for a while. Hopefully Toby can work his magic on them and I'll post them doctored up later. It was a fun Halloween!!!

Toby the astronaut! He says Halloween is almost as bad as Christmas is in Berlin. Just wait until he sees Christmas! LOL The trunk or treat at the church this year was a HUGE hit and the biggest showing I've seen in a long time. It was so much fun! I made my in laws White Chicken Chili recipe for the cook off. I think I should have won. Mine was being scraped out of the bottom - but I think the judging was rigged. ;) hahahaha

Can you tell???



O my gosh he is seriously so adorable!



A blast from the past! I was reminiscing through old photos I have on the computer... These pictures are a little easier to tell apart than I thought they would be. Can you tell which one is Kyla, Chase and Collin? They are about the same age and size. I wish I could have found better ones because sometimes even I can't tell who is in the pic!

My mellow little man :)



My sweet pea!

My mini-me

Minus that Daija's pictures are when she was two because I didn't have a digital camera when she was born (besides she always had a ton of hair so you can pick her out in all the pics) I think all my kids look alike. Like I said sometimes on first glance it's hard for even me to tell them apart. And I'm the mom! hahaha They are so freakin' cute!!!