Catching Up is NOT Fun to Do!

I am going to make great strides in the next couple of weeks to get the blog up to date.  I know myself too well, so I know that if I don't do it soon I may quit altogether, and I don't want to quit this.  

I love blogging and the following are some of my reasons why:

* It helps me to keep a family record of most of the big and some of the small events of our family life.

* It keeps me taking pictures, since I recognize certain moments as being 'blog-worthy.'

* It helps me to recognize the magic in simple moments.

* It sometimes spares my children from harsher punishments, since I will pause and breathe long enough to take a picture before punishing them.

* It helps me to recognize how blessed I truly am.

* It brings into focus, that amidst the craziness that we call life, beauty dwells in the simplest and smallest of moments.

My list probably could go on, but I really need to get pluggin' along if I am going to get caught up, so on to 'funderful' (wonderful+fun) pictures of some small, real stuff from the previous few months.

*** Note: I halfway embarrassedly admit that in the past I have previously edited some pictures to crop out the mess in my house, the blemishes on my face, and all the 'ugly' that I was ashamed to showcase online, BUT NO MORE!!!!!  After pondering about how the facades online and elsewhere hurt people by making people feel like everyone else is living up to an unattainable level of perfection, I am committing to myself and to anyone who reads this that I am going to let my real life shine through, because the real goodness of life (minus the glitz and the glamour) is the most beautiful and genuine thing I have to offer!

Emmy decided to walk for a minute in her sister's shoes; she looked like such a cute, little runt in them!

Jared's first work Christmas party here came with "FREE HUGS!"

During December, we took our cuties to the Mesa Temple Lights.

It was fun and busy, trying to make sure our kids didn't get lost and didn't touch (or at least break) anything that they weren't supposed to;o)

One night as a family, we watched "Cupcake Wars" on the Food Network, and I made some cupcakes during it!  I liked them, and so did my fam!

Jed did remarkably better at being potty trained than I expected him to!!!  I am so proud of my big boy, who has decided that Ninja Turtle underwear are preferable to superhero ones;o)

By the end of certain days (you all probably know which ones I mean), I feel like I look in the above picture.  Worn out?  Yes!  Haggard feeling (and looking)?  Yep!!!  Victorious?  Absolutely, I made it through the day!!!!!