The big 9!!!

Wow. It's unbelievable about that my little baby is 9 considering I'm pretty sure I just had her yesterday.

NINE!

Nine seems so old.

Karaia was a lot of fun today. She wanted a nail salon for her birthday. It came with everything including a nail dryer! She was in heaven! From the boys she also got a make your own Lip Balm set, but she read the title wrong and she said, "Oh look! Lip blam!" So we now lovingly refer to it as lip blam. "Hey Karaia, my lips feel dry. Can I use some of your lip blam?" hehehe

Karaia is 9!!!

Karaia requested a special breakfast of eggs, sausage, and pancakes. She also requested a white confetti cake with pink frosting, that tastes like vanilla, decorated with pink frosting flowers and green leaves. Whew! She wanted to help decorate her own cake and I think it turned out pretty cute!

Karaia also requested to have her family birthday party at Grandma Candace's house. I was so happy to hear that! Even with Candace and Jim's HUGE house we were still very cozy. We feel so loved!!! Thank you for letting us have it there!!

Karaia is a great kid. She surprises me all the time with how helpful she is and how much she is capable of. Our relationship is transitioning from strictly Mom and Daughter to Mom-Daughter-friend. It's pretty much wonderful!

I LOVE this picture!

Karaia loves to laugh and has a great giggle that really shines the second she anywhere near any of her girl friends. It's hard to hear the words for the giggles. It's darling.

I have loved watching her grow into the beautiful young lady that she is.

I'm very blessed to be her mom!

I love you Karaia!

Growing

We had another great Christmas party today. It was for the Daly family side.

I can tell the kids are growing up because everyone was patiently waiting their turns and no one tried to open anyone else's presents unless they were invited too. It's so great to see my kids using the manners I have been teaching them forever.

My kids are at such fun ages.

Now if only I can remember to bring the camera and actually document some of the fun.

Santa

We saw Santa tonight at our ward party.  Sanders was sooo excited to see Santa that he tried to cut straight to the front of the line as soon as we walked into the room.  Thankfully the wait was pretty short.  Once it was Sanders' turn he wasted no time jumping on Santa's lap.

Tennyson, on the other hand, was not so sure.  It took a little convincing that it would be ok to sit on Santa's lap.  Once he was there he did just fine.  Look at that picture.  That doesn't look like a kid who is afraid of Santa does it?

 Beckham and Karaia look like they're getting too big to sit on Santa's lap.

Dinner was excellent, the program was great, and we had a really good time. 

Now I'm off to a movie with a bunch of girls from the Ward. 

Been awhile

It's been awhile since I've done a stream of consciousness post. Seeing as I don't have anything exciting to report otherwise it feels like the right choice for tonight.

I recently finished the book The Mysterious Benedict Society. I loved it. It's geared toward children probably ages 8 and above although there are a few words and concepts that even had me rereading the sentence a few times. It's a mystery without being scary. It's brilliantly written and very engaging. Sheesh. I should totally get paid for this post. But seriously, the second I finished the book I turned right back to the front and started rereading it! It has a twist ending that made me want to relive the story knowing what I now know.

Let's see what else.....

This is a super, SUPER busy month for us. 3 birthdays, Christmas parties galore, and all the other fun holiday things. But it sure makes it pretty easy to find joy throughout the day.

Alright...I am running out of rambling. Shocker I know.

Perhaps I'll be more entertaining tomorrow.

Branching out

Yesterday I just felt sad. I missed my friends that have moved away.

Today I decided I just better do something about that and began inviting a few girls I know to go to the movies with me this weekend. The new Sherlock Holmes movie opens and I have read nearly every Sherlock Holmes book and love them all.

It's no use sitting around waiting for something you want to just happen. It's way easier, but it does no good.

Short

Some days mothering skills fall short of what you plan on.

Thankfully, children are forgiving and tomorrow is open to all possibilities.

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Far into the future

Tonight Beckham asked if he could give me an extra hug.

"Of course!"

As I hugged him I realized he was crying. "What's wrong, Bud?"

Through his tears he explained, "I'm just sad. I'm sad to go to college and leave my family. I'm excited to go on my mission, but I am sad to go on my mission. It's sad to leave you guys for two years!"

What big thoughts for such a young age. My heart broke a little because of the tenderness of his heart. Wanting so much to be obedient and grown up and yet longing for things to stay as they are.

Aren't we all a bit like that?

I told him I would write him every week and send him presents for Christmas and his birthday. I also reminded him that he will get to call on Christmas and Mother's Day.

He said, "It's strange that missionaries only call on Christmas and Mother's Day."

I'm sure there will be some teenage years in there where he can't wait to leave home. But for now, my darling boy thinks 12 years until he leaves on a mission is much too much short a time.

I have to agree.