Decking the halls...

So most of our decorations just went back into the boxes...no where to put them. I'm getting anxious to see what our new lights will look like up--no pressure honey! ;)

While we were looking for lights I got a great idea about what we could put on our bushes. I was quite excited as I proposed my plan to Jared--he then reminded me that we have no bushes because I either pruned them down to the nubbins or ripped them right out of the ground. Next years decorating will have to include planting new bushes to be decorated.

Jared is one of those crazies that likes to go out on Black Friday. He was up and at 'em at 4:30 a.m. He got most of our shopping done. I think all that is left is the long list he gave me for himself. Hmmm.

Today was a good day--thanks Jen for having Seth over to play! I caught up on my Oprah's from last week--I want an LG refrigerator!! I got some mulch to finish off the front yard so it looked somewhat "done" (I hated the be bark that was in our flower beds and so I have been removing it and taking to my sister's house in large black bags so I can put in finer mulch! I know--I'm a little nutty.) And I got to talk with 2 friends from Texas...a real treat!

So now Jared is putting the kids to bed...the whining and balls bouncing...and chasing was about to make me have an anxiety attack, so he stepped in. I can hear him singing Christmas Carols to the kids...odds are they are the wrong words.

Feeling old, cold and frustrated...

I found a roster from when I was in the Primary Presidency in our ward in Chicago. There was one particular family that Jared and I were close with. We babysat their 3 little boys while they went on vacation...and then Jared's last semester there--I only had a part time job--so I babysat their 4 year old while the mom volunteered at the school. Charles was such a cutie...he'd constantly proclaim his love for me and desire to marry me when he grew up. He referred to Jared as my "brother"...he was a bit confused. He'd sit on my lap and twirl my hair.


According to my roster...Charles is now 15! I'm guessing he's not interested in me anymore and is probably too big to be sitting on my lap and twirling my hair. His big brothers are 20 and 22. I'm old.


I'm not so sure this moving north was a great idea for my body temp. I am cold. I remember our first winter in Chicago...I have never been so cold. There were times our car would not start until 1 or 2 in the afternoon. I had to get rides from my Visiting Teacher to work--she had a garage. We didn't. When we went home to SLC for Christmas it felt so warm to me. Fast forward 12 years spent in California and Texas and I do not like cold. I am enjoying getting to wear sweaters again, but I can already tell this will be a long winter for me.

Jared took the day off yesterday to get some stuff done around the house since we were not home for the long weekend. We went and got lights to put on the new house. Didn't get them up yet though. He got all the decorations out of the attic for me--and it looks like a tornado came through. I've got a lot of work to do. It's a bit frustrating to figure out where to put things. In Houston I had 2 fireplace mantels, an entertainment center, a dining room table and lots of "display" counter space to work with. I don't have those here. So we are trying to figure out how to display all of our memorable nick knacks where they won't be destroyed by little hands. It's frustrating.

Have a great Tuesday!

It's not ONLY Thanksgiving and George Eliott's birthday...

Sarah...it's our 14th Wedding anniversary! Wow. That's a long time for Jared to have had to live with me. To quote my mom, "He's like an old shoe." I'm fairly certain she intends for that to be a compliment. Anyway...I'm feeling pretty lucky and Thankful today for Jared and 4 sweet kids.

So...this morning we started off our Thanksgiving festivities with the Human Race. A 5K turkey trot as one might call it. We came in dead last. I even had to walk the last quarter mile with 1 shoe...I know I'm a trooper. Lest you think I gave my shoe to someone more needy--my toes felt like they were turning black from lack of circulation and I felt certain that it would be wise to give them some blood. The trotters were: My mom, Ann & Travis, Karen & Bill and Rachel & I. Jared stayed home with the boys...and I am glad for that! There were too many crying kiddos on the trail. I'm glad none were mine! There was one dad scolding his 6-year-old saying, "there are thousands of people here and you're the only one crying!" Gee I wonder why??

Happy Thanksgiving Ya'll!

A new favorite...

The sounds and smells of the holidays are what I love best. I bust out my Christmas music on November 1. I love it!

This year I discovered the holiday line of Method hand wash at Target. My favorites are the Hollyberry (red) and Peppermint Vanilla (silver). They both smell so tasty!

I really like the method hand wash--and other cleaning products because they are not anti-bacterial. I have read a lot about using anti-bacterial products and decided to stop buying them. We like a little bit of bacteria around here.

I was tempted to buy a few of each scent...just in case they don't have it next year...and then remembered the Oprah hoarding show and decided that 1 of each was fine for now.

Have a happy day!

Let it snow!

We woke up to our first snow fall. The squeals were like it was Christmas morning! It didn't take long for Jonah and Luke to start making dares to each other to run across the lawn--with no shoes on mind you--touch the fence and run back. They bet each other a dollar to do it. Both of them did it which means they didn't loose any money, but didn't gain anything except cold wet feet. Boys.

So my theory that is doesn't snow much in Boise doesn't seem to be panning out so well for me. I'm sure glad I finished up my project in the yard yesterday. I guess I really do need to buy a coat...and some gloves...and some shoes without decorative holes in them.

How many 6-year-old boys...

do you know that come home from school and ask for spinach leaves and fat free Italian dressing for a snack. I know 1...quite possibly the only one. I also have an 8-year-old boy who has been on a carrot kick. I wish the good eating would rub off on Seth. He's strictly a waffle and cereal kid.

Tonight Jared and I got to go out--thanks to his mom and dad for watching the kids! It was a much needed break. We went out for a quick bite and then saw Beowulf. It kind of felt like being in a giant cartoon/video game. I'm still not sure about the whole thing. I had forgotten how bloody the whole story was. I read it while on Study Abroad...and quite possibly I didn't understand it well enough to know how bloody it was. Anyway, I wouldn't necessarily rush out to see it--but at the same time--part of me enjoyed it. Interesting story. On my list of things to re-read.

Hope you have a good weekend!

Not missing the turkey project...

My friend's Jen's son brought home the turkey project. It is even the EXACT same xeroxed turkey we had in Houston. She now understands my complaint...and I believe forgot to do the thing anyway...GO JEN! I had a small panic attach the other day when I saw some hanging on the walls at the school...but alas...Luke's teacher gets the award...NO turkey's here!



BUT...lest you think we've been project-less...think again! We got a doozie. But had a good time doing it. The third grade has a tradition of putting together a city. Each class talks about what things they would need in a city and then they each pick one to build. Jonah chose the prison. Maybe it's because we frequently remind him that he may end up there some day...just kidding.





Jonah's prison on the hill...

He and Jared worked hard...my job was on gravel clean up each day. It was an amazing sight to see the whole city complete. I have to say...I will look forward to Luke's turn. Rachel was envious of the attention and time devoted to this project. She pouted and told me that when she had to make a tv for class a couple of years ago all she had was a shoebox, some paper towel rolls and no parental help. I told her that she built more than a tv...she built character.

Jonah's house complete with diving board into the pool and a trampoline.

A little update...

Nothing really exciting is going on around here, so I thought I'd update on Luke.

We finally got in to see his new Neurologist. He is great. We are really excited about the situation. His doctor is the only Pediatric Neurologist in the region...so he's a busy guy.

When we went in the first time he asked us who Luke was being referred from. I told him Dr. Marvin Fishman. His jaw dropped and he said, "I always like getting patients from doctors whose textbooks I own." Dr. Fishman retired after our last visit with him in June, so it was a good time to move on I guess. Anyway, Luke's new doctor seems to think that once we get the medication worked out we'll only have a few more years to deal with the seizures. He even said that Absence Epilepsy is is favorite because it has a happy ending (usually). It is the rarest form of epilepsy (even more rare in boys than girls I've read) so isn't Luke lucky to have drawn this card?! Apparently, though, the earlier it is diagnosed the better chance you have of growing out of it. So that's what we'll hope for.

Luke's last medicine seemed to be working on the seizures, but he has felt like garbage every day for the year he'd been on it. So we've switched to something new. He's feeling great now but having 4+ seizures a day...so...

We'll keep going and see if we can't get this new one to work.

His doctor did ask me to follow up with the CVS issue last year. You may remember that the Pharmacy gave us the wrong medication and overdosed Luke last Halloween. It was a scary and miserable experience. So now I have to find all my notes and make sure they made record of everything like they were supposed to...

Happy Monday to you!

Sweet little baby...

This is my first Ellison niece Sloane and her big brother Noah! So sweet! Noah is 14 months...so Zibbey's got her hands full! We love you!

Welcome little Sloane!!

Rachel is no longer the lone granddaughter on the Ellison side. As of this morning she was joined by Sloane Isabella Ellison--5 lb. 14 oz. I will post a picture as soon as one is made available! Congrats to my brother Dan, Zibbey (who did all the work) and baby Noah...whom I guess we shouldn't refer to as baby anymore...