Sledding towards 2010

 

Christmas 2009

 

Things to remember about Christmas at the Kings 2009:

Opening presents is really really fun, for the giver and the receiver.

Santa really will bring you a typewriter if you ask for one.

Santa really will bring you a  netbook even if you didn't ask for one.

Grandmas and Grandpas give the best presents.

Ten-year old sons give very thoughtful presents.

We now have enough video games to open our own rental store.

And when it's all said and done, there will be both tears of joy and tears of sadness that it's over for another 365 days.

But it was merry--VERY! (Dr. Seuss)
Happy Christmas

Frosty

I know just how you feel, friend.

A few thoughts in my stocking.....

Thought #1.

Meet Linus.

Linus, AKA Sam, is almost 11 months. He'll be one NEXT MONTH. He is, among other things, an avid thumb sucker. But to complete his sucking enjoyment he must have the ever-present blankie/burp cloth/sock/kleenex or some other piece of softness clutched in his other hand, held up to his face. This is why we call him Linus. Left thumb in mouth, right hand clutching something to his face. Sometimes the poor fellow finds some raggedy dryer sheet on the floor that he makes do with until someone can find his blanket. It's a hard-knock life, kid.

Linus likes the snow.

And string cheese.

And his mom. It's mutual.

Thought #2:

It's been a wonderfully busy month for Miss Cassidy Lyn.

First a birthday, then a baptism, then lots and lots of singing with the Lehi Children's Choir....

First at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, where we take the annual family picture in front of the tree. I usually spend a few moments intently watching strangers to try and pick out the best person to ask to take our picture.

I'm not sure if they thought we only had three children and Garrett was some poor street urchin standing in the way or if they just had a mild case of macular degeneration, but that small, dark semi-circle in the middle of my sweater is all we got of Garrett. Way to focus on Garrett's best feature, his unruly hair....

Cass and the choir also gave a beautiful performance at the Alpine Tabernalce.

Cassidy is a great singer and we love being a part of LCC.

Thought #3:

When your 5 year old calls you downstairs to take a picture of an EXPLOSION GOING ON IN A VIDEO GAME HE IS PLAYING, it's easier to just take the picture then try to talk him out of it. And then later, when you dump your pictures from your camera to your computer, it will probably make you smile and be glad that you have said 5 year old.

Thought #4:

I recently bought a pair of jeans at Walmart. My daughter informed me they were quite stylish because they had BLING on the pockets. Only one problem. They stunk. No literally, they smelled really bad. So of course I washed them and....the smell was still there. My family wouldn't sit by me. Garrett said they smelled like the dead frog he found in Delta and carried around for 3 days. I'd have to agree. I took them back to Walmart and the return lady almost passed out. She happily refunded my $16.01. I bought diapers instead. They're pretty good at covering up smells.

Thought #5:

My favorite store EVER has to be the Postal Annex down by Best Buy. I stopped there today, laden with packages to be mailed to California for Christmas, and a not-happy Linus in the stroller. I dumped all my packages on the counter, including my Christmas cards, and for a very reasonable fee they stamped my cards, packed my presents, printed address labels and addressed the boxes. When I got home there was an email from them saying my package had shipped and when it arrives, I'll get another email. I seriously think we need more Postal Annexes in our lives. How about one for children? You know, your having one of those days when you totally understand why some animals eat their young......and you just go down to Postal Annex and drop the kids on the counter, pay a small fee, and someone else  packages up your chidlren and sends them to relatives in California. But don't worry---you'll get an email to confirm their  safe delivery.

(Just kidding, kids)

The sun, has gone, to bed and so must I....( Can you name that movie?)

But here, for your viewing entertainment, are more random pictures....

Baptisms are GR8

On Saturday December 5th our Cassidy was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a beautiful day.

She was so excited to get her very own scriptures (and a few other small gifts as well).

Cassidy was cool and calm the entire day. She could hardly wait to get in the water with her Dad. After the ordinance, as I was in the dressing room with her, we talked about how she was perfect at that moment, perfect enough to live with the Savior. She loved the idea of being able to be with Jesus. As a parent, it's just one of those days when your heart is over-filled with joy and happiness, and gratitude to Jesus Christ and His church. The blessings of the Gospel are so beautiful.

Cassidy was baptized with her friends James and McKenna.

We managed to take one outside photo despite the frigid temperatures!
Thanks to all our friends and family for supporting Cassidy. I was going to post said picture of all our friends and family but alas! my father-in-law took that photo and I don't have it yet. Just picture them in your mind....

Thanksgiving Extravaganza

Happy Thanksgiving from the Kings. It was a wonderful lazy, fun, family day filled with games, yummy food, football, and gratitude for all the above.

And then there was Black Friday.....and I went with my crazy friends at 4:30am to the stores. Us and a few other people. And I just have one thing to say: If YOU too were out shopping and you left your cart unattended for a few minutes and when you returned your stuff was missing, I might know who rifled through your treasures and took what they needed. All's fair in love and shopping.

And then there was Saturday......and we put up the tree...

and then BYU won....

and we all lived happily ever after.

R + K 4EVER

R,

Even after a decade, THIS EVERYDAY LOVE between us is like one LONG SLOW BEAUTIFUL DANCE. I just really LOVE WHO YOU ARE  and after 12 years of marriage IT STILL FEELS GOOD. ONCE, I asked myself why I was so lucky to be married to someone who is so smart, handsome, and technologically capable. Please know that you are MY WISH come true.

IT FEELS LIKE TODAY that we first fell in love, and I MELT still each time you walk through that door (especially when you bring home dinner). THESE DAYS  I realize the COOL THING is always being WHERE YOU ARE, whether on the OKLAHOMA-TEXAS LINE or BACKWARDS in MAYBERRY. (Is Mayberry a real place? It's probably near Delta)

SO HERE'S TO YOU, Rich. I know you will always be there to SEE ME THROUGH, ME AND MY GANG (B,C, G, and S). There are WORDS I COULDN'T SAY ( because I've chosen to write using mostly Rascal Flatts titles, which seriously limits my means of expression) but what I can say is this: I love you more than FAST CARS AND FREEDOM, (neither of which I have a lot of right now). I've been WAITING ALL MY LIFE for you, and I'm so glad that LIFE IS A HIGHWAY and you work for UDOT right now.

GOD BLESS THE BROKEN ROAD THAT LEAD ME STRAIGHT TO YOU!

Happy 12th anniversary, Rich.

K

Do the Hoe-down....that's how we roll! (or, "Cassidy's 8th Birthday Party")

Boom clap.

One little two little....EIGHT little girlfriends over to celebrate (Thanks to Jillian, Kendra, Lauren, Aleece, Bailee, Margaret, Adilynn, and Olivia)

Boom d'clap d'clap.

Hannah Montana karaoke is way fun, especially on a sparkly pink stage (not pictured, but built by Mom and Dad and VERY cute) when you get to hold your very own microphone.

Boom clap.

These 4 are in the same second grade class. I'm sure they NEVER talk in class.....

Boom boom clap.

Twisting the night away.

Boom d'clap d'clap.

Presents are the best!

Do the Hoe-down and then the Throw-down

There were 10 females in the house, and 1 Ben. Evidently second grade girls really enjoy chasing and torturing boys. He loved every minute of it (except for the fact that he couldn't get enough microphone time to sing with Hannah).

Throw it all together-that's how we roll!

For you my friend, it was all worth it!