Well, usually people send a "end of year" family update w/their Christmas cards, however I decided to just do it on our blog, and include the blog address w/our cards so those that want can read our "brag" letter and those that would rather not don't have to.
I can't believe how fast this year has flown by. It seems like we just celebrated Christmas in 07 and now here we are again. My dad always said enjoy the moments because in a twinkling of an eye your kids are grown and you wish you had those moments again. Time flies, kids get older, we get older, and it is all in the twinkling of an eye it seems.
We have ALOT to be grateful for this year. Our family is so blessed and I realize that more and more everyday as I take time to focus on the positive in our lives more then the negative. Its easy to focus on all the negatives, and is a natural thing for us to do, but we've really tried to change our way of thinking and it has enriched our lives so much.
Wonderful things have happened in the year 2008 for us. Derian got every award possible at the end of her 2nd grade year, some included Top Speller in the entire 2nd grade (I'm bragging here but her and one other boy in the entire 2nd grade were spelling on a 6th grade level), Best in Math, Most thoughtful of others, Top reader.....and so many more. We are truly so proud of her. She also started 3rd grade, which was an eye opener for me. I think I realized that my little girl is turning into a young lady. She has many friends, and her teacher told me this past parent/teacher meeting that she is always including those that don't have someone to play with. That made me so proud of her. In the summer of 08 Derian was baptised. As her parents we are so proud of her. She made this decision on her own, and has taken these commitments to her Father in Heaven very seriously. Sense her baptism she has been studying the Book of Mormon and I will often catch her in a quiet corner reading this book. It makes me so proud of her for her eagerness to learn of the gospel. She has such a strong spirit, and tender heart.
Our little Ashlynn, our beautiful brown eyed girl. She finished up her 1st grade year with the most wonderful teacher. She mastered reading which was a huge accomplishment for her. She went from not reading at all to one of the top readers in her class. Her teacher would always tell me what a wonderful, sweet student she was and always so willing to help out. She also started 2nd grade & currently has been getting consistent Perfect Speller awards. She has come along ways, and has worked hard to be at the top of her class this year. We are so proud of her. She's preparing to get baptised this spring, and is reading and learning everything she can about this special, important step in her life. She is also looking forward to attending activity days w/her sister. Ashlynn is becoming such a responsible little girl and helps me out so much as well. She's very attentive of her little sisters and LOVES helping out her daddy outside with yard work. She's always been a "daddy's girl" which Aaron just enjoys so much. She's the girl that loves to help w/dirty greasy things, and fascinated with fixing vehicles or mowing the lawn, yet she can clean up and want to be a girly girl too. We love her SO much!
Little Kymbree, whom calls herself KYMEEEEE K Poulton. She is the joy of our world, yet can make us INSANE all at the same time. We always tease that she is her great granpa Lloyd all over again w/her pretty grey blue eyes, and her teasing manner. She loves to pester her sisters and gets sooo excited when the get home from school. She wants to be big just like them, and they are good examples for her. We know she loves her little sister "jj" (as she calls her) but she has a hard time sharing mom and daddy time with her. She turned 3 in November and each day gets a little easier with her cause she's growing so big. She'll start school in January and she couldn't be happier about that.
Next, little A'jaye she has given us some scares this year with her heart, but we feel blessed that it could be something far worse, and her condition is very manageable and fixable so for that we feel blessed. She is such a delight to have around and always so happy and laid back. She loves to dance and anytime she hears the music she boogies to the beat. She keeps smiles on our faces, and laughter in the house.
Aaron and I love all our girls and feel so blessed. Aaron is doing wonderful in his job and although its slow right now because of the economy he still manages to keep work for his guys. He's a hard worker and I couldn't be more blessed to have him in my life. As for me, well....I'm just busy and wrapped in my kids lives and I like it that way most days. Some days I wonder what I signed up for, but I really am such a lucky and blessed women, and I have much to be grateful for.
There's our lives in 2008. We hope for another great year in 2009 with many blessings and maybe a boy??? That would be nice, but we'll feel blessed and happy no matter what we get this June.
We appreciate ALL our family and love you all so much. We hope the season brings you many happy times, and the new year full of rich blessings. Thanks for the support and love you give to our family, and from ours to yours....MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
THANKS AMANDA & LAURA
Well I just have to say THANKS ALOT!
All this talk of stuffed mushrooms and wanting the recipee had me craving them BIG time tonight. I couldn't get rid of the craving till I made them.....so off to walmart I went at 9pm to get my ingrediants...the whole time I'm thinking....ummm, I really don't have the energy to make them tonight, but you know a pregnant craving, it doesn't let up!
So here I was at 10pm making stuffed mushrooms. When Aaron got home at 10:30 from bowling league we ate a WHOLE pan of them together, and I wish that I'd made more, but I left the other half to make tomorrow, then I found myself at 12:30 dipping triscuit crackers in the left over dip....UMMM! YOu spread that dip on the triscuit like a chz spread, and OMG its so yummy! O and I broke down and drank a coke too....I was craving coke big time! It was better then I remembered it being too.
NOw here I am at 2a.m.....and can't sleep, but those dang mushrooms were so yummy!
What else???
mmmmm, I guess thats it for now. My life is boring right now.
I'll be back when things pick up around here!!!
All this talk of stuffed mushrooms and wanting the recipee had me craving them BIG time tonight. I couldn't get rid of the craving till I made them.....so off to walmart I went at 9pm to get my ingrediants...the whole time I'm thinking....ummm, I really don't have the energy to make them tonight, but you know a pregnant craving, it doesn't let up!
So here I was at 10pm making stuffed mushrooms. When Aaron got home at 10:30 from bowling league we ate a WHOLE pan of them together, and I wish that I'd made more, but I left the other half to make tomorrow, then I found myself at 12:30 dipping triscuit crackers in the left over dip....UMMM! YOu spread that dip on the triscuit like a chz spread, and OMG its so yummy! O and I broke down and drank a coke too....I was craving coke big time! It was better then I remembered it being too.
NOw here I am at 2a.m.....and can't sleep, but those dang mushrooms were so yummy!
What else???
mmmmm, I guess thats it for now. My life is boring right now.
I'll be back when things pick up around here!!!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Tis the Season.........
to think about Santa, or to think about the Savior and all he has given and sacrificed for our lives?
I've really been bothered lately by something my Mother in law Susan told me about a month or so ago when we were talking about Christmas and the different ways we celebrate it. Ever sense I talked with her its had me thinking a great deal about how we're teaching our children and the message we send to them.
She told me that she never taught her kids about the legend of Santa nor did Santa ever visit their homes. Its how she was taught growing up to so it was no big deal to her to continue that tradition on to her family. She made me realize thru talking that maybe putting so much focus on "Santa" isn't the best message to send our kids. As I drive by homes I pay attention to the themes of the decor and I see more Santa Clauses then I do Nativity scenes or angels and things like that. We make a big deal about Santa Clause, and the gifts he brings when your a good kid and good student, but is what we're teaching our kids the right thing? This is what I've been asking myself ever sense I talked with Susan.
She said growing up, and also with her kids she was never denied, NOR did she deny her kids anything that other kids got during Christmas the only difference was they woke up Christmas morning to not "Santa" gifts, but gifts given by loved ones, their parents, and others. They got the normal things, a stocking filled with goodies and small trinkets, something sat out as if Santa had brought it, and gifts under the tree. The things they got however were given by people that loved them most, and that is what they were taught, the gift of giving to those you love and others. They put focus on family, love, giving, the true meaning of CHRISTmas, and not the make believe, or commercialized things that come with Christmas too. She said that she grew up with no resentment, or feelings of being denied anything from her childhood but more of a appreciation of the things they were given because they new where it came from it didn't come from a "magic bag" where Santa has an endless supply of money and gifts.
I tell ya, this really has me thinking if we're teaching our kids that Santa is the theme for Christmas rather then Christ, and his birth and what he brought to the world and to our lives.
When I see people shorten Christmas and put Xmas, it makes me sick. You might as well be "X-"ing out Christ, cuz that's what it reminds me of. I refuse to ever write it that way even in texting and I'm trying to shorten everything I write, I did it once and it bothered me all day. I think alot of people, maybe even myself at times, get caught up in "Santa" and X out Christ in Christmas, not on purpose but just because you get caught up in the whole holiday thing for your kids and the fun of it all. I ask myself though now if that's not giving them false belief or even putting the wrong message out there.
I know growing up my parents, along with many others, did the "Santa" thing, and I know that although we were very excited about Santa coming we also knew what Christmas was really about and just like my mother in law Susan wasn't denied anything from childhood by not having a Santa, I wasn't taught any less about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas by having a Santa so I guess we just can't let ourselves get caught up in the whole "Santa" part of CHRISTmas but rather put more of our time and focus on Christ and his life.
What my mother in law, Susan said that day really made me think ALOT, and I still do think about it. I know that my kids believe in Santa, and to take that away from them now I can't do, but I look at Kymbree, and A'jaye and the baby coming and wonder....mmmmm, do I? I think what we're doing this year is the right thing for us to do....we're only having "Santa" bring ONE thing and their stocking the rest is coming from people they love and they will know that. Santa is a fun part of Christmas, its fun for the kids and fun for the parents but I think sometimes we do put to much focus on that part of Christmas instead of the real meaning. Santa can NOT over due Christ and the true meaning of why we have Christmas.
Anyhow...those are my thoughts this week.....this has been on my mind for a long time. I guess it bothered me that As a Mormon, a religion focused on Christ and living Christ like, we sometimes put more focus on the commercialized part of Christmas then we should. We profess Christmas is about Christ but is it? maybe at some point we all put to much focus on the other parts of Christmas then we should but we need to get back to the core....
Its easy to get caught up in the "fun" parts of Christmas, Santa, reindeer, his sleigh and how he gets to all the kids, and listening for the bells, his magic bag, and making food for his reindeer. The kids love this and their imaginations are endless, ....I think that having the belief of Santa in our homes is ok, but it should be a very SMALL part about Christmas. There's so much more to teach our kids that is meaningful and real.
One thing I know for sure is that Christmas is about FAMILY and spending time together, and family traditions small or big. The smallest things you do as a family each year are the things that stick with them the most. Like our Lloyd Christmas tree, even this touches Aaron. He thinks its the neatest thing ever that my parents tree consist of everything us kids ever made as kids, the popcorn strung that has held up for 28+ yrs, the ornaments we painted together each year. Its fun to look at it each year and remember those times we had. Those are the kind of things that stick with kids and mean so much to them as they get older. Small and simple things......
I don't remember everything I ever got for Christmas or what I didn't get I remember the family things we did together and that is what we need to remember as parents.
love ya guys
I've really been bothered lately by something my Mother in law Susan told me about a month or so ago when we were talking about Christmas and the different ways we celebrate it. Ever sense I talked with her its had me thinking a great deal about how we're teaching our children and the message we send to them.
She told me that she never taught her kids about the legend of Santa nor did Santa ever visit their homes. Its how she was taught growing up to so it was no big deal to her to continue that tradition on to her family. She made me realize thru talking that maybe putting so much focus on "Santa" isn't the best message to send our kids. As I drive by homes I pay attention to the themes of the decor and I see more Santa Clauses then I do Nativity scenes or angels and things like that. We make a big deal about Santa Clause, and the gifts he brings when your a good kid and good student, but is what we're teaching our kids the right thing? This is what I've been asking myself ever sense I talked with Susan.
She said growing up, and also with her kids she was never denied, NOR did she deny her kids anything that other kids got during Christmas the only difference was they woke up Christmas morning to not "Santa" gifts, but gifts given by loved ones, their parents, and others. They got the normal things, a stocking filled with goodies and small trinkets, something sat out as if Santa had brought it, and gifts under the tree. The things they got however were given by people that loved them most, and that is what they were taught, the gift of giving to those you love and others. They put focus on family, love, giving, the true meaning of CHRISTmas, and not the make believe, or commercialized things that come with Christmas too. She said that she grew up with no resentment, or feelings of being denied anything from her childhood but more of a appreciation of the things they were given because they new where it came from it didn't come from a "magic bag" where Santa has an endless supply of money and gifts.
I tell ya, this really has me thinking if we're teaching our kids that Santa is the theme for Christmas rather then Christ, and his birth and what he brought to the world and to our lives.
When I see people shorten Christmas and put Xmas, it makes me sick. You might as well be "X-"ing out Christ, cuz that's what it reminds me of. I refuse to ever write it that way even in texting and I'm trying to shorten everything I write, I did it once and it bothered me all day. I think alot of people, maybe even myself at times, get caught up in "Santa" and X out Christ in Christmas, not on purpose but just because you get caught up in the whole holiday thing for your kids and the fun of it all. I ask myself though now if that's not giving them false belief or even putting the wrong message out there.
I know growing up my parents, along with many others, did the "Santa" thing, and I know that although we were very excited about Santa coming we also knew what Christmas was really about and just like my mother in law Susan wasn't denied anything from childhood by not having a Santa, I wasn't taught any less about Christ and the true meaning of Christmas by having a Santa so I guess we just can't let ourselves get caught up in the whole "Santa" part of CHRISTmas but rather put more of our time and focus on Christ and his life.
What my mother in law, Susan said that day really made me think ALOT, and I still do think about it. I know that my kids believe in Santa, and to take that away from them now I can't do, but I look at Kymbree, and A'jaye and the baby coming and wonder....mmmmm, do I? I think what we're doing this year is the right thing for us to do....we're only having "Santa" bring ONE thing and their stocking the rest is coming from people they love and they will know that. Santa is a fun part of Christmas, its fun for the kids and fun for the parents but I think sometimes we do put to much focus on that part of Christmas instead of the real meaning. Santa can NOT over due Christ and the true meaning of why we have Christmas.
Anyhow...those are my thoughts this week.....this has been on my mind for a long time. I guess it bothered me that As a Mormon, a religion focused on Christ and living Christ like, we sometimes put more focus on the commercialized part of Christmas then we should. We profess Christmas is about Christ but is it? maybe at some point we all put to much focus on the other parts of Christmas then we should but we need to get back to the core....
Its easy to get caught up in the "fun" parts of Christmas, Santa, reindeer, his sleigh and how he gets to all the kids, and listening for the bells, his magic bag, and making food for his reindeer. The kids love this and their imaginations are endless, ....I think that having the belief of Santa in our homes is ok, but it should be a very SMALL part about Christmas. There's so much more to teach our kids that is meaningful and real.
One thing I know for sure is that Christmas is about FAMILY and spending time together, and family traditions small or big. The smallest things you do as a family each year are the things that stick with them the most. Like our Lloyd Christmas tree, even this touches Aaron. He thinks its the neatest thing ever that my parents tree consist of everything us kids ever made as kids, the popcorn strung that has held up for 28+ yrs, the ornaments we painted together each year. Its fun to look at it each year and remember those times we had. Those are the kind of things that stick with kids and mean so much to them as they get older. Small and simple things......
I don't remember everything I ever got for Christmas or what I didn't get I remember the family things we did together and that is what we need to remember as parents.
love ya guys
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
We've got a wonderful family!
I just wanted to make this quick, MAN, I'm long winded, sorry guys I have alot to say all the time.
Just wanted to say THANKS for all your kind words, and support in this new journey in our lives that we defiantly didn't really want to take again but here we are and the excitement is taking over.
It wasn't that I was scared to tell any of our family, I just new that you all would feel the same way I felt when we found out....WHAT!!!??? NOT AGAIN! lol but as I look at my girls and the sweet spirit they bring to our family I can't help but think to myself how lucky and blessed we are and how honored we feel that these spirits choose us to be their parents. (WHy I don't know what they seen in us, but we are glad they picked us) As the days go by and I except this a little more each day I realize that this baby really is meant to be w/us, and to be honest I felt there was one more all along, I just decided after A'jaye that I couldn't do that again, but this baby didn't let us forget about him/her. I just hope that this baby is a little easier on me then A'jaye was.
Although things will be hectic, crazy, and MADLY INSANE I figure..HEK, its already insane so whats one more going to change. I also have figured that sense we were meant to have one more, I can just be thankful it happened now while I'm in "baby mode" then for it to have happened like at age 40-45....that would really suck...lol
Well thats it....just wanted to thank ya all for the phone calls, love, and support it means alot to us.
SEE, I can keep it somewhat short....
Just wanted to say THANKS for all your kind words, and support in this new journey in our lives that we defiantly didn't really want to take again but here we are and the excitement is taking over.
It wasn't that I was scared to tell any of our family, I just new that you all would feel the same way I felt when we found out....WHAT!!!??? NOT AGAIN! lol but as I look at my girls and the sweet spirit they bring to our family I can't help but think to myself how lucky and blessed we are and how honored we feel that these spirits choose us to be their parents. (WHy I don't know what they seen in us, but we are glad they picked us) As the days go by and I except this a little more each day I realize that this baby really is meant to be w/us, and to be honest I felt there was one more all along, I just decided after A'jaye that I couldn't do that again, but this baby didn't let us forget about him/her. I just hope that this baby is a little easier on me then A'jaye was.
Although things will be hectic, crazy, and MADLY INSANE I figure..HEK, its already insane so whats one more going to change. I also have figured that sense we were meant to have one more, I can just be thankful it happened now while I'm in "baby mode" then for it to have happened like at age 40-45....that would really suck...lol
Well thats it....just wanted to thank ya all for the phone calls, love, and support it means alot to us.
SEE, I can keep it somewhat short....
Monday, December 1, 2008
Breaking our silence.............
Well, Aaron and I were sorta thinking we'd make a huge secret public knowledge this weekend at dinner possibly, or sometime when the moment seemed right. Right after Dad got done talking, as everyone was seated for Thankgiving dinner, Aaron looked at me like.."now's the time, babe" and as I looked down the table (cuz I was standing near dad) and I seen all your beedy eyes and hungry glares I instantly got intimidated by ya all. lol! So you can say that I chickened out. I don't know why, its not a bad announcement, just a bit shocking is all. Anyhow, Aaron thinks its terrible of me to make an announcement like this on our family blog but my idea is different, what better place to share this at then a place you all come to read about our milestones, the changes and seasons of our lives so with that said we'll announce it here......Aaron and I are PREGNANT!
I know, I know......(Mom, I couldn't stand to keep this from you...but I can also see you right now GASPING for air....take a deep breath!, you too dad...I'll be ok!) we have a gazillion kids its seems like, and i have two very little ones but this isn't what we planned thats for sure. I don't feel like I need to explain or justify this to any of you, but when we found out we were infact devastated beyond belief. I won't get into details but we were taking ALL measure to prevent this and with an IUD in place for almost a year we still conceived this baby against all odds. When the Dr told me after taking out my IUD I spent the whole day in Aarons arms crying myself to a headache and two swollen eyes. My poor husband, a man that wants desperately to fix things whenever I'm crying, couldn't fix this one for me, he had to just cradle me in his arms and let me cry while he rubbed my face, and wiped my tears. It was tuff for him, I know cuz he hates when I'm upset, not to mention he was experiencing his own emotions over it. Needless to say, after the tears and anger had passed Aaron said something to me very meaningful and it must've been what I needed to hear from him. He said, this baby is a gift from God and for some reason this baby, against all odds, is meant to be in our family, and we have to except the honor of being this babies parents and family. NO, this isn't what we wanted, Aaron is scheduled to get fixed in January so I guess this sweet spirit thought ...O CRAP, I had better hurry! lol.
We feel blessed that the baby is ok due to the circumstances it could have been under with the IUD device. Its very dangerous, and to anyone thinking about using an IUD DONT DO IT! I wish I would have done my research. This could have been a very grim situation, and for that we feel blessed that we didn't have to go thru any part of that.
Although our house is about to go from NUTS, to INSANELY NUTS its ok, cuz honestly I've realized sense finding out that my place is to be a mother, and instead of thinking of it all the time as a hardship, and alot of work that is tiring, I've started thinking of it as a blessing that I'm able to be just a mother at home with my babies and I've started to embrace this job that God has blessed me with. YOu always want what you don't have, I've wanted a career for the past while and had made plans to go after it, but if I had a career I'd wish that i could just be a mom so embracing what we have, and the life that God has blessed us with is the ultimate challenge for all of us at times. I've actually learned alot about myself this last week so this baby has a purpose and so the journey begins.
We are due sometimes the end of June, and YES I would be lying to all of you if I told you we weren't hoping and praying for a son, but honestly Aaron and I just are hoping and praying for a healthy little baby, and a safe delivery. I was upset when I found out NOT because I'm going to have 5 kids, I was upset because I know my body really had a ruff time with delivering A'jaye and she had a ruff time too.......this is and was my concern, but everytime my mind goes there I'm always overwhelmed with the idea that this baby is strong, and determined (obviously) and wants to be here with us, things will be fine. So, there ya go. I'm proud of my girls for keeping a secret, they were dying to tell everyone they talked too this past weekend but we had told them that it was mom and dads job to let the secret out. We love our girls, and the more that the idea of another one settles in our heart and mind the more we embrace the fact that this baby must be something special and we couldn't be more happy about it. THe news is out!
LOVE YA ALL!
I know, I know......(Mom, I couldn't stand to keep this from you...but I can also see you right now GASPING for air....take a deep breath!, you too dad...I'll be ok!) we have a gazillion kids its seems like, and i have two very little ones but this isn't what we planned thats for sure. I don't feel like I need to explain or justify this to any of you, but when we found out we were infact devastated beyond belief. I won't get into details but we were taking ALL measure to prevent this and with an IUD in place for almost a year we still conceived this baby against all odds. When the Dr told me after taking out my IUD I spent the whole day in Aarons arms crying myself to a headache and two swollen eyes. My poor husband, a man that wants desperately to fix things whenever I'm crying, couldn't fix this one for me, he had to just cradle me in his arms and let me cry while he rubbed my face, and wiped my tears. It was tuff for him, I know cuz he hates when I'm upset, not to mention he was experiencing his own emotions over it. Needless to say, after the tears and anger had passed Aaron said something to me very meaningful and it must've been what I needed to hear from him. He said, this baby is a gift from God and for some reason this baby, against all odds, is meant to be in our family, and we have to except the honor of being this babies parents and family. NO, this isn't what we wanted, Aaron is scheduled to get fixed in January so I guess this sweet spirit thought ...O CRAP, I had better hurry! lol.
We feel blessed that the baby is ok due to the circumstances it could have been under with the IUD device. Its very dangerous, and to anyone thinking about using an IUD DONT DO IT! I wish I would have done my research. This could have been a very grim situation, and for that we feel blessed that we didn't have to go thru any part of that.
Although our house is about to go from NUTS, to INSANELY NUTS its ok, cuz honestly I've realized sense finding out that my place is to be a mother, and instead of thinking of it all the time as a hardship, and alot of work that is tiring, I've started thinking of it as a blessing that I'm able to be just a mother at home with my babies and I've started to embrace this job that God has blessed me with. YOu always want what you don't have, I've wanted a career for the past while and had made plans to go after it, but if I had a career I'd wish that i could just be a mom so embracing what we have, and the life that God has blessed us with is the ultimate challenge for all of us at times. I've actually learned alot about myself this last week so this baby has a purpose and so the journey begins.
We are due sometimes the end of June, and YES I would be lying to all of you if I told you we weren't hoping and praying for a son, but honestly Aaron and I just are hoping and praying for a healthy little baby, and a safe delivery. I was upset when I found out NOT because I'm going to have 5 kids, I was upset because I know my body really had a ruff time with delivering A'jaye and she had a ruff time too.......this is and was my concern, but everytime my mind goes there I'm always overwhelmed with the idea that this baby is strong, and determined (obviously) and wants to be here with us, things will be fine. So, there ya go. I'm proud of my girls for keeping a secret, they were dying to tell everyone they talked too this past weekend but we had told them that it was mom and dads job to let the secret out. We love our girls, and the more that the idea of another one settles in our heart and mind the more we embrace the fact that this baby must be something special and we couldn't be more happy about it. THe news is out!
LOVE YA ALL!
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