Snuggly Luke

He doesn't let me do this very often, so I had Brandon quickly go get the camera and take a picture.

Crash! Bang!

Last night we returned home from a wonderful Christmas Eve bonanza at the Thomas family and after pulling into the garage, I got out to help Brandon pull forward as far as possible so that we could open the back of the car with the garage door closed.  I was holding two platters with cookies on them and I thought, "I should put these down."  So I did.  Here is the result.

Our Annual Christmas Talent

Every year for the Thomas side of the family, we prepare a talent that we can share with the family on Christmas Eve.  This short video is this year's Christmas talent for our family.  All of the pictures of the barn were taken at my Parent's house.  We hope you enjoy this little vignette, because we had a blast making it.

Snow Lady

A few weeks ago, Peter and I sat down and made this craft together.  Peter loved using the glue to put the tissue paper on this old pizza sauce bottle.  I had fun decorating this lady.  I'm half tempted to start saving jars so that I can make an entire snow people family next Christmas.

A few days ago

I was reading in the Ensign and I came across this Gratitude Challenge. Brandon and I made a late night activity out of it and came up with some pretty awesome things we are grateful for. I highly recommend this activity! I was reminded, once again, how lucky I am.

• • 
  Write 10 living people you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 people who have died you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 modern-day inventions you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 foods you are grateful for.
• • 
  Write 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for.

By the way, a few of Brandon's favorite dead people are; Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Eddison, and Alexander Graham Bell.  Oh yes, he also is grateful for Lord Voldemort.

Cleaning and Scrubbing

When Brandon and I moved into our home in July I resolved to be a better cleaner and scrubber. You see, we lived in our last apartment for 4 years and I never was very good at keeping that place sparkling. I think it's because the apartment was filthy to begin with and I told myself it was so old I could never get it clean again.

Anyway, now that we have a new home (well, almost new - it was built in 2006) I am determined to keep it sparkling clean. For each month during the year I've assigned myself to deep clean at least one room in the house. This month the room to clean is the pantry and downstairs bathroom. This morning I finally finished and it makes me so happy. Everything is finally organized the way I want it.

Brandon was also a sweetie and hung up this coat rack for me last night. Although we have a coat closet by the front door, we rarely use the front door so I'm looking forward to having a place to put our coats that is right by the garage door. I also tell myself that someday I'm going to have a little bench right beneath the coats with a bench that I can use for storage.

1st haircut

Today Luke had his first haircut! I wanted to wait until he turned one, but last night at a family party my cousins kept telling me what an awesome mullet he had.  So we made a trip to Aunt Alli's house and off it came. Luke really wasn't happy with us and this picture doesn't even come close to showing the agony he thought we were putting him through. In fact, Brandon only got two pictures of the event because he had to come and help hold Luke's head. This kid is a fighter.

The Case of the missing Ceiling Fan Remote

A few weeks ago our ceiling fan remote disappeared. Yes, with two boys in the house things do go missing quite often. The only problem with the remote going missing is that we use it every single night. So we searched, and searched, and searched some more. I remembered Luke playing with it in the upstairs hallway and after that it just disappeared into thin air.

Almost every night Brandon would come home from work and ask me if I had found the remote. Every night I would have to tell him that I hadn't yet. Well, today Brandon finally found it. Yep, that's right - he sat down in the rocking chair in Luke's room and moments later had the remote in his hand. I literally screamed for joy.

In the process of trying to find the remote I've reorganized our pantry, kitchen cupboards, office, master bedroom closet, Luke's closet, and Peter's room. Whew, now I can take a break from all the cleaning I've been doing.

Crawling Luke

Here is a short little clip of Luke crawling. We call him our little monkey because he doesn't crawl on his hands and knees. Instead he crawls on his hands and feet. Silly kid. He is also quite fast at crawling. It's not unusual for me to put him in the family room to go work in the kitchen. However, by the time I walk into the kitchen he's right under my feet again.

A Christmas Poem

I'm not sure if I've ever shared this little poem online before. I think I wrote it up last year, for our annual Thomas Christmas Program. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. We have been having a marvelous Christmas season and I hope you have too.

That Holy Night

Laurie Ann Thomas

Mary so humble, so willing, so contrite
Was feeling so much on that holy, holy night.

Joseph so gentle, so willing, so meek
Helping to lead, to guide, and to seek.

The shepherds so astonished, so frightened, and so able
After hearing the angels, they found the stable.

The wise-men had watched for many a year
For the bright shining star they knew would appear
So, they traveled and traveled and traveled some more
To pay homage to our LORD, KING, and SAVIOR.

The animals were hushed and quiet that night
As they witnessed what was a magnificent sight.

The loving couple with their babe so small
The babe who grew up to be LORD over all.

It was then in that small manger bed filled with hay
That GOD, our creator, gave us hope of Returning someday.