Christmas IS Merry, Very!

I came across this on Facebook and it was wonderful and amazing and just what we all need to get in the Christmas Spirit. Watch it  here. You'll be so happy you did!

Thanksgiving 2012

Ours was a delicious Thanksgiving filled with our favorite foods and favorite people:

Favorite people...

Favorite food...

Favorite people preparing favorite foods...

Favorite people eating favorite foods...

And everyone's favorite person of all (with a favorite weapon).

Happy Thanksgiving!

5,475 days

Today we have been married for 5,475 days.

(Well, I was too lazy to figure out leap years so approximately 5,475 days, or 15 years).

Together we have laughed and cried and puzzled and wondered and been grateful and frustrated and cranky and forgiving and better and sometimes worse. But mostly we have been a team, although an  imperfect one, working through this challenge called life together. I am just so grateful that a guy like Rich took a chance on a girl like me. In the end, I married a Rich King, and my life has forever been blessed because of it. Happy anniversary Rich! I love you.

Eleven

Dear Cassidy--

Eleven looks very good on you. I know it is going to be your best year yet. You are so smart and talented. You are so awesome and amazing. You are so kind and beautiful. I'm just so thankful you're you!

Happy birthday, darling daughter of mine. I love you!

Love, Mom

(P.S. In case you're wondering, here's how we celebrated 11 candles on Cassidy's cake:)

There was a piano lesson AND an indoor soccer game....

There was a sleep over (not pictured) AND shopping (also not pictured)...

There were cupcakes AND a birthday cake AND dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe.....

There was a new iPod from Mom and Dad.....

There were presents from Grandma and Grandpa.....

and there was ice skating with friends and brothers.

(Note: The aforementioned events did NOT take place in one single day, but rather were spaced out over what we like to call Birthday Extravaganza Week)

Happy Birthday Cassidy Lyn!

And just because I want to include these...

 (So proud of our 3 year old who tried ice skating for the first time!)

(And really, you didn't want to miss this one, did you?)

Welcome to Cubs

We went to Garrett's 1st pack meeting tonight.

I had forgotten how much fun pack meeting is, and really, how much time, effort, and energy Cub Scout leaders put into the Cub Scout program. Thank you.

I love Garrett's enthusiasm for Cubs....and for life in general. Maybe he would let me borrow some of his enthusiasm for say.....doing the laundry. Or cleaning bathrooms.

He got his Bobcat award tonight, and I wore an ultra bright pink snow coat with a red shirt underneath. Stylish, I know. (Hence the play with the photo's saturation.)

As part of the Bobcat ceremony I got to paint his face.....

which was really fun. He told me he was not going to wash it off ever! Thank goodness school picture day has passed!

(Oh how I love my little bobcat!)

Help if you can....

Just wanted to give a shout out today to the website www.ihelpedgangnamstyle.com. If any of you are  looking for a worthy cause to give to this holiday season, some friends that I grew up with in California are in desperate circumstances right now. They are young parents with young children who almost overnight have lost their home and their only source of income. The above website has been set up by another friend who is trying to raise money for this family. Thanks for reading this, and please help if you can!

Baptism

Yesterday, this handsome young man was baptized. 

(My completely unbiased mother-heart thinks he is the cutest, most wonderful eight-year old to ever grace the planet!)

 This handsome young man has to wait a few more years before he's baptized!

(But still so cute!)

Garrett said, "Mom, I have butterflies in my stomach!" and yet, that irresistible grin was permanently affixed to his handsome face throughout the day. 

The program was wonderful:

Cassidy gave a talk on baptism and the Holy Ghost

Kendra played a musical number

Eva was the chorister

Dick and Derek were the witnesses

Rich performed the ordinance

Grandma and Grandpa gave prayers

I played the piano

and...

Garrett chose to follow the example of Jesus Christ and join His church

I am so so grateful for friends and family that come to support us. Our family is not as big as I wish it could be so I feel especially grateful to friends who are willing to step in and fill that void.

My heart is full today as I think about the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, about how grateful I am for baptism, for the Savior, and for His plan for Garrett and for each of us. I am so grateful Rich and I get to be Garrett's parents! We are so blessed to have him, and to have each of our children.

We missed my mom today, but feel somehow that she still got to be part of Garrett's special day.

 2007, Ben's baptism

2009, Cassidy's baptism

(Evidently we didn't get a family picture that day. That happens.)

 2012, Garrett's baptism

These are the true "Parent Paydays", and I marvel to think how quickly time passes, and how 3 of our 4 children are now baptized!

Other fun pictures from yesterday include:

Ben LOVES that he is getting taller than the adults in his life!

The best in-laws anyone could ever ask for!

My heart MELTS at the sight of these men in my life. I love you all!

(P.S. Mr. Mac got some serious business this week from the King family!)

 (And one more photo, just because I love them so!)