the story behind our 3 Christmas gifts

I've always thought that it would be good for Christmas not to get too much. I wanted it to be a time that we could remember the Savior's birth. From a friend of a friend, I heard the idea to do 3 gifts for Christmas - a gift of love, a gift of need, and a gift of want.

Gift of love - These gifts are gifts of the heart, sometimes homemade, but ones that tell our children how much we love them.

This year my children received different gifts - Faith's was vinyl (see the post below) for her wall to remind who was she is; Dawson's was a toothfairy box (a tin that I made) so hopefully he can start losing teeth and earning cash; and Kate's was a toy that she can put in and take out because she LOVES to do this and because Mom didn't have time to finish her baby cross stitch. These gifts are gifts of the heart, sometimes homemade, but ones that tell our children how much we love them.




Gift of need is pretty much anything that he or she needs, new jeans, school supplies, etc. Our children received a backpack with their 72 hour kit. This is a need.

Gift of want - this is something that they want - not that you want! It could also be anything that they set their minds to and mom and dad can afford, right?

crazy 4 vinyl

It's funny, 'cause I haven't really been into vinyl. We ordered some for Faith's gift of love for Christmas. The rest is really history because I can't believe how addictive this stuff is. Anyhow, for .04 cents a square inch you can spruce up and update your home. Here is a few things that we have done:


This one is the one Faith received for Christmas. The colors are a bit off in the picture. Her wall is pink, the block letters say "Child of God" are in cream, and "Remember who you are" is in black over the top. We put it up the day after Christmas.


We thought that this saying was 'fitting' for our boy!


This one is for Kate. It sits over her crib and I really think that if she could talk, she would like it!


This one is over our front door and has a really big impact (on me at least!)

If you haven't already, you should check out www.crazy4vinyl.com

Winter Wonderland

Here are a few pics of the snow at our house from yesterday's snow storm. It looks like it is going to be a white Christmas!

news about Kate (again) & Brandon

Thursday Kate's ears were perfect. On Monday, the infection had returned even though she has been on antibotics since Thursday. They were able to take a swab and have it cultured. We are hoping that this might be the key on how to get our little angel better.

Brandon had a freak snowmobile accident yesterday where when he hit a rock, he flew off and the snowmobile flipped and rolled on top of him and then off. He is really sore, but fine. We are definitely saying our prayers everyday!!!

Love you all!

Miss Kate's UPDATE from SLC

For all of you who have been praying for Miss Kate, here is the latest on her condition.

SLC, btw, was a quick, fast trip! We forgot her medical records and ended up turning around and meeting a family friend halfway and then driving 90 (I NEVER do this!) pretty much the rest of the way.

Dr. Muntz checked her ears, which (it so happens) were clear and beautiful yesterday! He throughly explained why we would want to do such and such etc. I was pretty empressed. There was a joke going on about how it's genetic, so we can't blame Kate, we can just blame mom. LOL!!! So, here's what we are going to do:

1. As much as I don't like antibotics, we are going to put her on a maintenance dose of antibotics (one that she hasn't been on before and also one that is good for those tough bugs that don't stay away) because the research shows that more than 50% of the kids that can keep an infection away for 3 months don't ever get another infection.

2. If the infection does come again, we are going to get a culture of it to see if what kind of bug it is OR if it could be a yeast. We will just go to our doctors here in Pocatello and they will send it down to UT (or at least the result down). This will help us in the future if the bug just doesn't stay away or could change what we did.

3. She is also going on Nasonex and Singular to help control any swelling that might occur in her nasal passages or throat passages that will hopefully help the drainage that we have been seeing in her ears. The research on this is not great, but is promising that this will give help where help is needed and pretty much couldn't hurt.

4. We will meet with him again early February to see how she is doing and re-evaluate her.

She is such a joy and blessing in our lives. We hope and pray that she may continue getting better and to grow up to be a healthy lovable girl.

TRICK-OR-TREATERS!

Per many requests, here are my cute trick-or-treaters! Hope that you had an awesome Halloween (now that it's December)!

ANNIVERSARY GIFT - MUSIC TO MY EARS

The piano . . . (it's okay to make noises - ahhh, it's beautiful!)

Faith & Kate 'practicing' and making beautiful music in our home!

For those of you who know me, I love music! Really, I do! I have been playing the piano since I was 8 years old. When I was 11, I started accompanying my mom in church when she would sing; I also started playing the flute. I have always loved music. Brandon and I were married 9 years ago this November. I haven't had a piano to practice on for 11 years. Not for my lack of trying. So imagine my surprise when I got home and saw this gorgeous piano in my front living room. It is a Fisher 1899 upright grand piano. The action of the keys is amazing; the sound is one of the best I've ever heard. My husband found it in Boise and surprised me with an early anniversary present. I love him so much and can't wait to celebrate many more anniversaries!