And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care

Corbi - do

Luke and Otis

This is Luke and his friend Otis. Otis is visiting for the Holidays. These two rambuncshus guys have brought much holiday joy to many!

Happy Holidays From the Harris'

Art is the Guaranty of Sanity

After Samson's baptism we, as a small family, went out to eat and then celebrate at the Mesa Temple. We walked all around looking at the fantastic lights. The kids were so excited to be there instead of driving around. There was such a great spirit.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street

check it out here

We Be Loyal Scouts!

Keaton earned his Webelos badge and was presented it tonight by Brother Rogers. Keaton hasn't been able to come to a pack meeting since he turned 10 so tonight he earned 13 Webelos pins (Athlete, Fitness, Artist, Showman, Traveler, Citizen, Communicator, Family Member, Readyman, Craftsman, Engineer, Forester, Geologist, Naturalist, Outdoorsman.) and 6 extra academic and sports pins. I am so proud of Keaton. When he realized how close he was to finishing all the requirements he took it upon himself to complete it. I love you Keaton and hope you keep the excitement for scouts, setting goals and learning new things.

Reflections of...

I haven't caught on to this mom thing yet. I have wanted to have more of a schedule for my kids so they know what to expect. They all work better that way. (especially Sam) The few weeks before school I had a nervous breakdown. Literally. I had to up my prescription and everything. Hopefully this would help me as well. I think it has helped a little but procrastinator me seems to be missing something or coming up with it at the last minute if not completely to late. (hence the lack of blogging, plus I think that most of my blogging was consistent when I lived in Flag because my mom lived so far away and I wanted her to see more of my kids and life) Well a natural Prozac for me is good temperatures. The weather has changed and we are more able to keep the doors and windows open. This lets in more light (that doesn't feel hot) and I think my brain feels cleaner and less foggy. (also thanks for the blessing Justin, I love the priesthood in my home for my children and myself) How come things have to get so bad before I try to make it better (makes me sad about the world because I believe she has the same filosofy)(as I pick up the fussy baby) Maybe procrastination, foggy brain, nervous breakdown, lateness, lack of blogging might be because of a certain someone (who shall remain nameless) that lacks a schedule of his own and likes to rub our noses in it. By saying that, I am thinking of the sixteen other things I am doing (spelling with Sam, math with Keaton, sound lesson with Nellie, playing with Corbin, feeding everyone dinner, bribbing, conjoling, threatening, loving, smiling, enjoying and every other blink is getting longer and longer. (.......long pause.......) finished bathing, homework, ran a mile (uphill), scriptures, prayer, finish book for book report, decide the cookie has to be really good to eat, thinking of what fabric I have that could make a great Harry Potter robe, so on.

Having said all that, I think I want more from my days. More quality. I only have limited quanitity but why waste minutes on empty calories? Someone once told me, you place a high value on the things you spend time doing. If things that you feel are important to you are not getting accomplished or time budgeted for then the value must not be as high as you think. Instead the things that are 'wasting' time obviously have the highest value.

I am more willing now that the weather is nicer to make a dent in my list of things to do. I wish I actually wrote those things down so I could remember them.

School Pictures

Families can be together forever!

Flagstaff: Labor Day 2009

Pappy is old

Pappy turned 60 on September 18th. His kids put together a nice 60's party. It was fun and I hope he appreciated it. They all love him so much.

Pappy and Granny

The quartet (Pappy, Jon, Justin, Jentry)

Tina, Robin, Michelle Feelin the groove!

What a cute family!

No teeth

Teeth

Corbin insisted on getting 2.5 teeth while on our trip. He has been drooling and chewing on things for 6 months now and it has finally payed off.

Twilight Tour

Bella's truck

Bella's house

Bella's High School

La Push Beach

Seattle

La Push Beach
Chinatown with Wendell
Pike Place Market
Hoh Rainforest
Hoh Rainforest Elk

Have I Mentioned Justin's Blog?

I am so glad to have a husband that is an artist. He sees things so differently than I do and because of that I get more out of the situation than otherwise. (Not as helpful with our relationship, but we are meeting in the middle)

He has been posting more than I have on his picture blog. I am so happy to have all those great pictures. Check it out

I feel like Alison

In every way this is a compliment. I admire my sister-in-law in many ways. We don't talk that often and sometimes our personalities might clash (I'm learning) but she is an amazing person.

Today is the end (I hope) of one of those weeks. My house has been relatively clean, I mopped the floor more than once. My children have worked together to make it messy again and again and then clean again. I have cooked healthy dinners that my family likes everyday this week (or Justin has, Thanks!) I have participated in Relief Society, community and school activities and some that included my calling. Now to top it all off, Nellie has thrown up 7 times in the last 12 hours, Corbin has pooped on me twice, spit up on me more times than I can count, there is no bread in the house for the boys school lunches this morning, I need to make it in to work today, I have 16 (not exaggerating) projects i have started that are now abandoned around my house. Did I mention that my father-in-law's butt keeps calling me? (Today I just put the phone on the counter and waited to see how long it would take him to notice, he never did)I am starting dinner (yes, before the boys get home from school), baking cookies for an after school snack and I showered today.

Okay, you are reading the title of the post again right.

How does all this make me feel like Alison? Weather things go wrong, right on schedule (running out of bread, I knew I would but I didn't make it to the bread store to get the most healthy kind of bread my children will eat at the rock bottom price of .50) or spontaneous wrong things (kids throwing up, "surprise mom I had 6 pages of homework instead of none", "Keaton did it, No I didn't, yes you did, MOM!") She still pulls it all off. She still runs her house efficiently. She still pulls out a craft to do with the kids. None of it derails her. She still knows what is important and how to make it all work. I think that she is an amazing woman. I am glad to feel like Alison today, and hope that I often will.

What can you buy for $1.75

2 huggies wipes
3-150 sheets lined paper
18-2 pocket folders w/ prongs
3-childrens scissors
(notice the penny in change)

Yes I feel good!

Does this show his true whitness?