Disney Thoughts Still to Come

Lots to tell...too little time. I'll post when I have a chance to breath!

Merry Disney Christmas!

Signing off until next week! We leave at o-dark-30 in the morning for the airport and then on to the happiest place on earth. I'm sure we'll have lots of pictures to post and adventures to report.

Sugar Plum Fairies

We took the girls to the Nutcracker last night. Ballet Idaho does a wonderful job and makes it just right for kids and adults combined. I don't think I've personally ever seen it done better. What a GREAT treat! We've done it 2 yrs. in a row and so it is now officially a Christmas tradition. The girls all had on their new Christmas dresses and looked simply lovely. Good memories...

I Got My Christmas Doll Early This Year

We have great fun playing house together.

Pretties On Our Tree

Every ornament on our tree has a story behind it. There's the elf my aunt made me when I was a child, an angel my mother hand painted for her and my dad's 1st Christmas tree, the Nauvoo temples the kids got from our trip there 5 yrs. ago, many handmade ones from James' and my 1st tree and so many more. It truly is a walk down memory lane when I get out all of these treasures. I thought I would share a sample of just a few favorites.



This is Tessie's 1st ornament, Humpty Dumpty.I love glass ornaments and the glow they put off from the lights on the tree.


Here is a good picture of James. I found the frame ornament at Wal-Mart and just had to buy it and put his deputy picture in it. He especially likes how I place it on the tree so that when you sit on the couch it is right there staring you in the face. It's a good memory of our time here in Burley.



My mother gives all the kids an ornament every year. The red truck is last years ornament of the boys. Just love it!





I would like to introduce you the the King and Queen of the Cats. They reign over our tree every Christmas and give us a good chuckle every time we look at them.


One year in primary we gave all the kids a cute picture ornament for Christmas with their picture in it. This is when Olivia was a sunbeam. It simply makes me smile and wish to have her back right at that age again. Right by her is a shiny Logan Temple that I got last year. I met my sweetheart 12 yrs. ago on the 17th and he took me to the Logan Temple 5 mos. later. I'm still crazy about him!





Tinker Bell is a favorite at our house. I got this ornament on our last trip to Disneyland 2 yrs ago. Can't wait to find another treasure this weekend for our tree.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

We are going strong into the holiday here at the Burley Homestead. We got our Christmas up this week, which was a challenge as I had 3 babies to care for at the same time. I always love watching my kids contemplate where to put their ornaments. Nate's work is pictured. Too cute. It didn't stay sad to say as Tess is now mobile and quite taken with the pretties on the tree. I have an obsession with ornaments and my tree can testify to it. Nothing prettier than a heaping tree full of ornaments. Our bestest buds the Meusborn's came for the day on Saturday and the kids made gingerbread houses. It was messy and fun and the kids put more candy in their mouths then they did on the houses. The burning question is, "How long do they have to sit on my counter until I can get rid of them?"

Ah-Yes! I am one of those moms. Create the moment...get rid of the mess.

Update on Superboy

Just a little update on Mark. He got his cast on Thursday and was given 3 rules for which James and I are very grateful. He was told, #1 Do not stick things down your cast. No toys, food, hangers, pencils, etc. This made me laugh when I thought about my brother-in-law Tim putting peas down his cast when he was a little boy. "Oh course I ate my peas Mom!" I bet he smelt yummy by the time it came off. #2 Do not get your cast wet. This has made for some great moments trying to get him to brush his teeth and comb his hair. He's convinced any little drop of water will send him back to the hospital for another IV and more surgery. I won't even try and describe bath time. #3 Do not use your cast as a weapon. This is a critical rule when your brother is 2 years old and loves nothing more than to drive you crazy. From following him into the bathroom, to stealing Legos, to fighting over who gets to sit where and with what place mat at the dinner table...this rule is a must have. Our next big hurdle is to get him out of the habit of whining and demanding instant gratification. Little kids are smart, adaptable creatures. He quickly learned he could get what he wanted instantly those first few days. He is not learning so quickly how to get out of the behavior. It is an uphill battle. My mom gave me some good advice to tell him...he may have a cast on his left arm, but he doesn't have one on his backside.