Getting close to Christmas!

My posts feel somewhat lacking lately.  I have lots of things I would like to blame, but the reality is that with 5 kids, remembering homework, brushing teeth, laundry, and figuring out dinner...after that there's often not room for much else.  But that's okay, as I've heard over and over again lately, 'there's a time and a season...'  And during this season, there just ain't any time! :)

It's hard to believe Christmas is less than 2 weeks away...wasn't it just Halloween?!

Zerin's class was participating in the Storytelling Festival where they have to memorize a story, and then recite it to the rest of the class.  I have never seen Zerin so focused and determined to do something before (other than maybe learning baseball).  He chose 'Pingo' by Brandon Mull (the author of Fablehaven).  He practiced for hours.  The day of the competition, I told him to call me if he could to tell me how it went.  So when I got a phone call at 11:30 last Friday from the school, I was a little nervous.  But guess what...he WON 1st place!!!  I may have accidentally screamed into the phone I was so excited.   So now he goes onto the district competition in January.  I love it that he loves reading so much, so this is just a fun little bonus.

Last week, I finally got around to having a physical (it's only been 11 years).  The way the doctor worded it was something like, 'You're in perfect health, and if you were 70 I probably wouldn't say anything, but at your age, you should really check into some hearing aid options.'  Argh!  I know!!!!  So, I get to go to an ENT/Audiologist in a couple of weeks to see if that's really true.  Sad, sad, sad :(

About 3 weeks ago, Asher lost his glasses.  I think all things considered, we have done pretty good.  But I would prefer total destruction of the silly things to losing them.  We have a warranty for breakage, we got nuttin' for losing them.  Bummer.  At least our flex-spending money starts up again in January!  I am hoping we don't burn through it by March like we did this year :)

Last Friday night was Bryan's family Christmas party.  Or as it should have been called HALF of Bryan's family Christmas party :)  Dallin and Sarah just had a baby so they are in Colorado, Marne is still on her mission in Indiana, and then of course family gatherings just haven't been quite the same (or as lively) without Dad.  It just isn't Christmas without his crazy fuzzy hats, and odd sweater/scrub combinations :)  We all miss him a lot.  But we still had a lot of fun...Bryan's mom went out of her way to make each of the Grandkids (and kids) feel special.  Poor Belen was so tired that she was getting pretty ornery with her cousin, Kade, but he seemed to forgive her :)

Sunday, we got a big surprise when my sis-in-law went into labor (9 days early), and had a sweet baby boy (name TBD).  He is so stinkin' cute and looks just like his big brother, only with different hair :) 

This marks the first year that we haven't done the 12 days of Christmas for someone...I am just off my game this year.  So when I opened my door to find a cute package of YUMMY smelling candles on my porch this morning labeled, 'On the first day of Christmas....' I made an audible "awwww."  We have such good friends.

So there you have it!