Thanks HoneyGram

Anya holding her pretty purple dress from HoneyGram

Talmage was just sure that HoneyGram would send him a CTR ring for Christmas. She didn't let him down. He takes such good care of it! He's also wearing his shirt from Stephanie. He loves that it has a "fake grey shirt underneath".

Kitchen from Santa

Our living room after Santa came. The big green present is the kids new kitchen.

Here is what it looks like-- behind me. I just opened a sweater that I bought and told Aaron to wrap up.

The kids are ready to cook-- but this is the first present they opened so they got to play for a few minutes and then we had to get back to work, opening presents.

Christmas Eve

Talmage and Anya in there new pajamas on Christmas Eve.

Hemnick

This is Talmage's new pet tarantula. He named it Hemnick (a name he made up). It is a remote controlled, big tarantula from Justin's family (Aaron's brother). He loves it. Aaron is scared of spiders in general and is especially creeped out by this one. I think it's great. I love scaring Aaron about spiders because he gives such a great reaction. Anya is scared of the spider and has learned that if she stands on the carpet or mats in the kitchen it can't get her (it works best on the hard floor). Great gift Justin!

"Can I sit by Ruthie?"

At our recent ward Christmas party we were sitting with a family that has a little girl in Talmage's sunbeam class. Her name is Ruth. After getting our food Talmage said "I want to sit by Ruthie." Her mother (from Panama) looked at Talmage and faking seriousness asked him if he was planning on going on a mission, and if he was living worthy to go to the Temple. Talmage was just staring at her and she though it had all just gone over his head. After a minute of thought Talmage responded with "We just had tithing settlement with the Bishop!" This surprised Ruth's mom. She started laughing and laughing and told Talmage, "You can sit by Ruthie." Not much gets by Talmage. What a blessing and a curse.

Big Lolly Pops

The kids enjoying their bib lolly pops. Anya thinks all yummy, sweet things come from Honey Gram. And Talmage gives Sierra credit for the treat. As you can see they loved the novelty of licking a sucker bigger than their face.

The Unforgotten Suckers

In July when Sarah, Aaron's sister, and her family came to visit they brought the kids these huge lolly pops. We put them up in a cupboard and periodically forgot about them. Every once in a while the kids would remember them and ask for them. But it was always at a bad time like right before church or bed or breakfast. So finally we remembered them at a convenient time and the kids enjoyed getting all sticky and sugary-- then they had a bath.

A Night in Bethlehem

This is us all dressed up for our ward party, it was called A Night in Bethlehem. We had a simple dinner that we "purchased" with fake coins from booths set up around the cultural hall. Talmage loved being in charge of the money and made sure we paid for everything we ate. At the end we had a live nativity put on by the young men and young women with singing from all of us in the "audience". I conducted the primary in two songs. They did well and looked so cute all dressed up. We had a fun night together.

Cheese!

Talmage and Anya, with there cheesy smiles, holding "Puppy" and "Elmo". They love these little friends and take care of them like they are real. The kids want to bring them every where, so we have had to set up some guidelines. They can't come to the table for meals or into Church, but they ride in the car on the way to church and then "guard" our car while we are gone. Sometimes Talmage asks me to watch Puppy for him while he's working on something. I wonder if I have four kids instead of two sometimes because I'm trying to keep track of four.

My Latest Ultrasound

No I'm not pregnant. My latest ultrasound was on my shoulder. Not nearly as cool to look at as one of a baby but interesting. I have continued to have problems with my shoulder and so at my last doctors visit I got two Cortisone shots in my shoulder. Now, four days later, I am able to move my arm almost normally. Hurray! The diagnosis was tendinitis that was complicated by the Rheumatoid Arthritis and then because it was so soar I wasn't using it enough and the tendons started to tighten . . . It was almost "frozen shoulder" but not quite. I now have stretches and things I have to do to keep it working and I'm not supposed to do any lifting with it-- who wants to explain that to Anya? I realized how much of a miracle it really was that I was able to move it that one Sunday to conduct the Primary Program. We're still working on figuring out the best treatment plan for the Arthritis. I've had so disabling flares again lately. For the most part I can laugh about how being an "old lady", but sometimes it hit me how much I miss being able to run, hike, and play silly cames on the floor with the kids.

Over and over I am reminded of my blessing though. And a big one is good health insurance. I don't even want to think what the cost of my last doctors visit would be if I didn't have it. Besides the visit itself I had the two cortisone shots, the ultrasound, x-rays on my hands, wrists and feet (checking to make sure I don't have permanent joint deformity), and a bunch of blood work (making sure my organs are tolerating my medicine). And because of good insurance and a great health plan from Aaron's work we personally will pay nothing. When I got home Talmage and Anya ran up to me and wanted to see my band aide. They were all covered by my sweater but they have learned to expect me to a least have a band aide from blood work when ever I come home from the doctor. They were pretty thrilled to see three! I'm glad I can please them so easily. They are probably my biggest blessing and joy-- oh Aaron's in there too! I love having a good reason to keep moving and trying to feel my best. The kids are also learning to help out around the house. Last week I heard Talmage get up from his "quiet time" and go into the laundry room. I hurried up the stair to figure out what he was getting into. He was pulling the laundry out of the dryer and moving the clothes from the washer to the dryer (we a have front load washer). What I sweet kid to think of that all on his own. He did a great job too. When it was time to start the dryer he let me because "kids aren't supposed to touch the buttons, that's why they put them up so high."

Poor Cosmo

Cosmo two weeks before his accident.

Today, Cosmo (Talmages' pink Begonia) was just moved out of intensive care and appears to be in stable condition. Anya thought it would be a good idea to uproot him. (She loves picking weeds out of the grass and I assume she was doing the same to Cosmo.) She tried her hardest to pull him out of his pot but only succeeded in tearing off most of his leaves and flowers. Talmage was standing right next to her but wasn't paying attention to what she was doing. Once I saw what she was doing I stopped her. She had a lesson in plant do's and don'ts and Talmage got to practice forgiving. He did a good job not being angry or crying about it-- he was very concerned though. Well Cosmo was brought into the house and pampered with gentle waterings twice a day as needed and moved around to keep him in the sunlight as much as possible. It has warmed but up (yesterday was in the low 80's) so Cosmo got to enjoy some fresh air and sunlight outside. Today he has a new shoot and an open flower so I think he will survive. Talmage is excited. He now wants to plant a tree called Steven. Trees are a little more work and money than a potted plant so we'll probably have him wait a little longer before getting one.