#24 start a diet to help aaron

aaron has crohn's (for those of you who i have not informed). we started a strict regiment on january 1st in attempt to diminish the symptoms of his disease. no grains (including rice and corn), no milk, no starches and of course no refined sugars. yes, just as you are wondering now, we also asked ourselves what would be left to eat; lots of healthy foods that come in their natural, God-made form. hooray for us all, he is responding remarkably well:) and i am finally cooking more than once a month. rather, i am cooking multiple times a day and always trying new things so i don't hear complaining that it is chicken soup for dinner AGAIN. this week is sprouted grain sourdough bread. sprouting my own grain on the counter next to sourdough starter from my blessed neighbor.


a few other goals i've accomplished - -

#25 have a game night with gideon and katie (charades...need i say more?)
#26 go to bed before midnight for a week (amazingly difficult, but so rewarding)
#27 drink 8 glasses of water in one day (tap water tastes so gross)
#28 use clothe diapers for a week (three weeks now and going strong)
#29 make a book for my blog 2008-2010 (actually went all the way through 2011 and was a christmas gift to aaron's grandparents)

early christmas

we gave in and opened a few presents early. we're getting jade ready for the grandparents' house. or, lets be honest, we just couldn't wait to share a few of our gifts. jade caught on so quick she found more presents hidden deep under the tree and started opening. christmas is full of family this year and we wouldn't have it any other way. 

watching tv

despicable me. i don't know what genius mind was behind this one, but jade will sit and watch the movie in it's entirety. i don't have to sit next to her, i don't even have to be in the front room. and it's the only movie that does this to her.

i admittedly confess that this dvd is often found in our player, and it is often playing. i feel the guilt peering over my shoulder if it goes for a third time. at that point i deliberately turn it all off and we go outside to makeup for the brain cells i killed letting her watch the one-eyed babysitter for so long. 

we're all happy and smiling in the end.

happy holidays

i'm feeling the unnecessary craziness of christmas. it's coming fast. the window for ordering and sending gifts is quickly closing in on us. 

holiday plans and expectations can easily dominate the real reason we celebrate the season of christmas. though presents, parties and adorable christmas dresses are a source great fun and joy, i'm making commitments to my Savior and taking this opportunity to reflect on how i can resolve to be more like Him and thus show my gratitude and deep testimony i have of His gift to each of us. i love my Savior and hope we all can grow in our relationship with Him as we turn our hearts toward Him this christmas year. 

merry christmas to all :)

learning new things

we're including brushing teeth in our bedtime routine. don't think we're on top of things, the routine has been in effect only two days so far. and for the brushing to be effective i have to wrestle her down and quickly find the few teeth she has in there.

i just can't get enough of that wispy hair and those chubby little fingers. there is so much intensity and focus in that gaze. the learning curve of that little brain moves leaps and bounds every day, it's hard to keep up. and she runs everywhere....it's hard to keep up with that too. 

recital mania

christmas 2011
pictured here (in alphabetical order) me, abby, caleb, connor, eliza, emma c., emma e., grace, jayden, jordan, josh, keaton, kiara, lincoln, mavis, olivia, peyton, sami, shella.

eighteen out of twenty students pictured here (missing mckayla and jared). what a great experience. i wanted to talk to every parent and grandparent personally and tell them what an individual their child is, how much i love and am so proud of each of them. what an immense blessing it is to be part of all these children's lives and get to know them.

i am a very blessed person.

oh jade