Christmas cards

So, I've never really been one to send Christmas cards. I think about doing it every year - but somehow I haven't ever gotten around to it. Wait - I take that back. I think I sent Christmas cards one year before I was married, and that was just because I found some funny cards about snowmen and yellow snow. Funny, right?? I think I might have a couple floating around here somewhere. Maybe I could use those somehow . . .

Since I have three adorable girls, I need to start sending out cards or a letter or something to brag about how awesome they are. I at least need to reciprocate all the cards that get sent to us so we don't seem like such slackers. Shutterfly is having a promotion where I could get some Christmas photo cards to send. (these cards, these other cards, or maybe these) They look super easy to make and wouldn't require too much actual creativity on my part. It can't be as much work as thinking of and buying Christmas presents, right?

Anyway, maybe Shutterfly can actually pull me out of my Christmas card slump and I can send some sweet pictures of my little family around for everyone to see. Of course, then I'd have to choose from all of their cute layouts. Too much work for me? I guess we'll find out!

Here are some of the cute layouts they have - now I just need to find a great picture of my kids where they are ALL looking in the same direction!

I wish we were photogenic (models) like THESE people!

Happy Birthday Sophie!!

My little Sophie is 4 years old today!! She is such a little blessing to our home. Sophie is adorable, funny, kind, smart, loving, sassy, snuggly, and naughty - all rolled into one. Sometimes she is more diva than I want to handle, but I just love her to pieces. She comes up with the best phrases sometimes. Her most used one is "You hurt my heart." So sad, even when it's totally unjustified. I was telling her to be quiet or share or something in church and she looked at me and said "Don't even think about it!" Little stinker!!

Anyway, Sophie is a blessing to all of us and I'm so glad to have a day to celebrate her. She woke up to breakfast in bed - pink pancakes with chocolate chips / blueberries and syrup and whipped cream on top. She was pretty excited to be old enough to get to participate in this little tradition. Sophie got to open a few presents this morning and has had a pretty great day so far. We're going to see Tangled together as a family later and she is really looking forward to it. Thanks for being a part of our family Sophie!!

Shopping with kids

I just got back from shopping at Walmart with Sophie and Alice. I am feeling SO frazzled!!! I can't stand it. I think just Sophie would have been fine - but Alice is such a nightmare to shop with. Now I feel like I need a nap. And some chocolate. Bleh. I don't know how this is supposed to NOT be difficult.

Thankful

I'm thankful for my wonderful family. I'm thankful for getting to have a pretty darned good Thanksgiving dinner - and that my Mom was able to be there and seem a lot like her usual self. I'm thankful that my family doesn't have conflict and backbiting, that we really do love each other. I'm thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and that I can be forgiven of my sins and live with Him again. I'm thankful for the potential to have Celestial glory and that my family is also striving to attain it. I'm also thankful to have lost 32 pounds these last few months so I can feel a little better about myself. I'm thankful that my husband has been willing to be on that journey with me as well.

I'm thankful for a good job for me and Tom - that it is a very stable company filled with some great people. I'm thankful to get to interact with the young women of my ward and learn from them - and also try to be a better person so they will have a good example in me. I'm thankful for three beautiful little girls and for their undying affection and love. I'm thankful for their father, my wonderful husband, and for his love for me.

I have a lot of blessings to be thankful for - and this is just a small portion of them.

Early birthday present

I got an early birthday present last week. (Birthday/Christmas/Valentine's Day . . . ) I got a new camera and I love it!! I just need more time to play with it and more cooperative kids to photograph. Not to mention the *perfect* outfits and hair. Anyway, here are a few new pictures of the kids. I'd like to take a photography class sometime so I can get the most out of this new camera.

A bit overwhelmed

I feel like I have too much going on lately. I don't think I have more than most people, it just seems like a lot for me and so things are falling by the wayside. Like my house. Bleh! Can't it just clean itself?

With Tom working again, I am working from home full time with kids full time and it's harder than I thought it would be. Maybe it's just because work has been really stressful lately. It's hard to say. Or maybe I really didn't realize how much of the kids' attention Tom really diverted. By the end of my work day, I just don't feel like picking up after the kids and keeping things neat. I'll figure this out eventually, right?

Fall Soccer Season

Okay, so soccer has been over for 3 weeks or so, but I didn't post yet - so here goes. Abby had a lot of fun this year playing soccer. Her coach actually knew what he was doing and taught the girls some good skills. Sophie liked dressing up as a soccer kid when she went to watch the games and Alice just like to roam around a lot and wander onto the field. Abby actually scored a few goals at the beginning of the season - she was SUPER excited about it. Somehow, though, the teams got pretty good and Abby wasn't able to score any more. Hopefully she'll be excited to jump back into soccer in the Spring.