Merry Christmas!

We are headed out of town early tomorrow morning, so I just wanted to download Christmas morning pictures before we left. It's been a fabulous day here on Belmont Lane (as I hope it has been in your neck of the woods)...probably one of the best Christmas' yet. simple. We didn't go anywhere, but played all together while the "weather outside was frightful" (well, not really. Just rainy...which is "frightful" for California standards). We opened presents, drank wassail, played games, watched movies, took naps (amazing), talked with our loved ones, snuggled up by the fire, and were happy. I love days like this...especially when it's Christmas.

Last night, as I was getting the stockings all ready for Santa, I noticed a note tucked deep down in Savannah's stocking. It read like this: "Dear Santa, I think I was being a bit too greedy last year. I am eight now. The last time you came I was seven. I love that doll you gave me last year. I'm not really going to ask for anything. From, Savannah My list is on the back: 1. Happy for Christmas 2. Healthy for Christmas 3. able to do service 4. Help others 5. and give to others 6. My sister Erika to feel better Merry Christmas!"

I'm not even making that up (I could never cook up a note like that). Adam and I cried. You have those moments as parents...payoff moments. You get a glimpse that maybe, just maybe what you're teaching your kids is sinking in. I loved that.

Joseph got a sword (actually a "star wars sword!!!" that glows in the dark). One of his sisters bought it for him from the dollar store. We could have just stopped there...it was by far the hit of Christmas. He was wielding it all over the place.

Austin found Hershey kisses...we could've stopped there too.

Hope you have a peaceful Christmas season. Love you, each one.

Tender Mercies

This past Sunday night, I flew down to Houston (as a last minute plan) to see my 93 yr. old grandmother, Dorothy. She lives in an assisted living facility and has been there for almost six years now, since my Papa passed away. We have never called her Grandma, Nanna, Granny...just "Dorothy." It just suits her. She (and Papa) have always had a special place in all her grandchildren's hearts. All growing up, it was just "Papa & Dorothy" like salt & pepper. So, having the supportive husband that I do, I was able to spend two full days with her. Along with my wonderful sister-in-law Natalie and sweet nephew, Ethan, Erika and I spent our days just chatting with Dorothy and being near her. We packaged nuts to give out to the people who work there and decorated her apartment for Christmas, while she rocked and sang to the babies. Heaven was very near. She hss absolutely no short-term memory. In fact, my sister Lauren called while we were there on Monday. It was Lauren's birthday. I handed the phone over to Dorothy and said, "Dorothy, say 'hi' to Lauren...it's her birthday!" She took the phone and cheerfully said, "Hey! I hear it's my birthday!" We laughed. She has a great sense of humor. This was definitely a tender mercy that the Lord so kindly bestowed on me. At the end of our visit, Dorothy took my face in her hands and said, "I am so happy you came." I know that tomorrow she will not remember me even coming, but I will.

On a separate note, our family has been enjoying the Christmas season, I'm sure just like you. The girls were in the Oxnard Christmas parade with their school. They had a great time. They even talked Adam into dressing up in his tux to walk with their group as one of the hot chocolate servers from the Polar Express. He is always such a good sport.

The other picture was taken right before we walked around the neighborhood, looking at lights. We do that often...it's so much fun! Hope you all are having a wonderful, enjoyable Christmas season. Love to you all.

Nine is Divine

Before I "dot another i" (Bob Kratchit...I'm sorry. I can't help throwing in a line from The Christmas Carol-my favorite! I'm giddy with excitement that it is Christmastime!), I just had to express my thanks in this wonderful season of Thanksgiving! I have the best family and friends and life. In my mind, I'm thinking of each one of you individually and thanking my lucky stars (well, actually Heavenly Father)for sending such incredible people in my path. I'm crazy about each of you. I have the greatest life...what can I say?! On Thanksgiving morning, my sister Adrienne and I were chatting about how great it is that Thanksgiving is the holiday that comes right before Christmas. (My sister is so wise and profound...I just love her.) It puts us all in the right mind-set for the "most wonderful time of the year." Anyways, how could I go another second without expressing my gratitude for my many, many blessings...Hope each one of you had a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving.

And, how can it possibly be Christmas already??!! I got jipped! There couldn't possibly have been 365 days in this year! My mom used to tell us that the older you get, the faster time flies by! She's right! Yikes! Nevertheless, I have had a wonderful year.

So, about a year ago, my sister Lauren (also very wise and profound--I just love her too. living in Milwaukee)called to see if I could watch her little darlings during Thanksgiving week 2008, as she and her husband Hubble were going to be going on a trip with her in-laws to Ireland. Loving to spend time with any family I can get my hands on, I agreed. (I'm sorry my grammar is very sub-par right now. It's late and I'm writing with half a brain). So, I had my cute little nieces and nephew come and spend the week with us last week. We had a total blast and lived to tell the tale! Thankfully,my sister Adrienne came out from BYU to help me and my cousin Jimmy (living in LA)came also. We didn't do anything extravagent, but laugh, make big messes, eat, and laugh some more...memories. Juggling nine little ones under nine yrs. was actually a great strategy. It makes having six again not seem so hairy after all!

baby steps, baby steps...

Whew! I'm sitting in this chair, my children are sleeping (minus the tiny, sweet one in my lap), and I don't even know what happened today...it's all a blur (a fast one). I keep muttering to myself, "Baby steps, baby steps..." Much like Bill Murray in the movie What About Bob, shuffling down a crammed sidewalk, bustling with people, muttering to himself "Baby steps, baby steps..." But, as I vaguely remember from the movie, he was a little "coo-coo-crispies"--if you know what I mean, and I...well, no comment.

Last week, after Adam's mom went home and Adam went back to work, I was ready to fly solo(or so I thought). However, after the children all had veteran's day off, the laundry piled up in record speed, the house looked like all six children had been home, and I contracted mastitis (a breast infection-boohoo). I called my mom out in Salt Lake Wednesday morning, to see if there was any possibility of her coming out to help me. I didn't care for how long, I would take anything. Being the mother that she is, she received permission from her mission president to come out a day early (she was already planning to come for the weekend) and was in my home that night. Looking back, I don't think she was anything less than a miracle...a tender mercy. She was just the one I needed...I think I even detected a halo over her head. As always, she picked me up, wiped me off, kissed my ouchie and sent me back on my way--all better. Thank heaven for moms. That's how I want to be when I grow up. So, we are back on track, and doing good again.

Annie had her pizza party for soccer. Everyone had a good time. After leaving Rusty's Pizza Place, we were debating opening a pizza place of our own after seeing the masses of people at 11:00 a.m., eating pizza and celebrating their soccer season. Wow! One of the moms brought heavily iced cupcakes for everyone. I spotted Kate in the corner, wiping all the frosting off her cupcake. "You didn't like the frosting Kate?" Kate, "No. It tastes like dead jello." I replied (trying to hold back the laughter), "Dead jello? I've never tasted that." Kate, "Well then, Play-doh. yuck!"

Joseph is taking his role as big brother quite seriously. If we don't watch close enough, Joseph can be seen trotting around the house with Erika in his arms, her head flopping around, like he's holding one of Kate's dolls. Aaaah! He wants a chance to soothe her, but instead of tickling her or singing to her, he just puts his hand over her mouth. Oh boy! We've got some work to do around here, training our future fathers, but for now--baby steps, baby steps, baby steps...

Happy pictures

I'm sorry, I still am having technical difficulties. Here are a few pictures to go with that entry.

Hello Happy-Happiness!

These are the lyrics of a Sesame Street song that has been running through my mind all week. I don't even know any of the other words, just "Hello Happy-Happiness!" It seemed to suit the events of this week.

Grandma Thunell was a magic ingredient of this week's success. She kept the laundry going, the homework complete, the kiddies entertained, etc. so that I could rest and nurse and nurse and nurse some more. She left for home on Thursday, and I will always appreciate the time she spent here. Adam was able to take off Wed., Thurs., and Fri. of this week. It's been special having him home to spend time with us. Things just seem to run a bit smoother...ahhh.

Erika is growing (or at least she should be, with her high consumption of milk!) and I love just looking at her, smelling her, cuddling with her--it is heaven. The girls love holding her, especially the little mama Kate. Joseph is always shushing all of us, "Shhh! Baby E-ka is seeping!!!" Austin is still trying to figure out his spot. He is usually right there on my lap as I nurse baby girl. I don't mind at all. I love cuddling with two babies.

And, just because you have a new baby doesn't mean all the kids slow down. I was in getting Austin x-rays this week. His elbow keeps popping out of joint--ouch! So, he was in to see the Orthopedic Dr. this week, trying to figure it all out. As I was standing in the waiting room, an older lady looked at Erika and said, "How old is your baby?" "Five days." She looked at me and said, "Sit down." I laughed out loud.

Annie's soccer season finally came to a close yesterday (is it ok that I say, "whew!"?). It was certainly fun while it lasted, and I know that Adam will enjoy having more of Saturday available. As Adam had the latter part of this week off, he was so great at taking charge...hallelujah, truly. Kate was having a "moment" and I heard him say, "Come on Kate, let's go outside!" (with ipod in hand). He spent a good 45 min. on the swing outside, playing "Guess that song." I could hear their dialogue through the open window: Adam, "Kate, can you guess who this is?!" Kate, "A rock star?" Adam, "Kate! It's Oingo Boingo!!!" (with a whole lotta enthusiasm) Kate, "Oh." He proceeded to pull out all of his 80s music: Duran Duran, Asia, Journey, Styx, and I'm sure a little Pat Benetar's "Hit me with your best shot. " It was so cute, a little moment in time that was so sweet to observe. I then watched from the upstairs window him playing four squares and monkey in the middle. It definitely brought me "Happy-Happiness!!!"

Introducing...

Our little baby girl, Erika Louise Thunell, joined our family on October 30th at 12:35 p.m. She weighed in at 7lb. 9oz. and measured 20 inches long. Like Savannah, she has a full head of black hair, and we're still trying to figure out who the rest of her features resemble. Everyone has been claiming something...Annie, "She definitely has my chin.", Kate, "Look at her nose and then look at mine--they're the same!" The jury is still out... Eventhough it is total chaos at our home(nothing new), somehow in her tiny, sweet, helpless body she brings a calming, peaceful spirit that is so powerful and strong I am left feeling amazed and in awe. I feel Heavenly Father's presence very near and I can't help but think that there are angels still surrounding her, bidding her farewell and good luck in this new, exciting journey ahead. It is especially in these moments that I am exponentially grateful that I am a mother and I am in close companionship with Heavenly Father in bringing another one of his beautiful children to the earth. It is a blessing that I have difficulty expressing in such feeble words, but I'm sure you can understand my feelings in spite of me... We arrived at her name as we were searching through our geneology. The original Erika Thunell joined the church in Sweden. She and her husband traveled over to the U.S. and joined the pioneers in Utah. Her husband, a master craftsman, was one of the ones who worked on the beautiful staircase in the Manti temple and helped hang the doors on the Salt Lake Temple. It is a beautiful heritage and I'm so glad and grateful to have a husband with such a legacy of faith and goodness to pass on to our little Erika Thunell. Louise has very special meaning to us, in that it is my Grandma Dorothy's middle name and my mom's middle name. These two women have been two of the most important women in my life and I love that Erika is named after both of them. They, also, are women of joy and goodness. On the day of delivery, I was hooked up to the pitocin and epidural by about 9-9:30 a.m. I had her at 12:35 p.m. It was, by far, my easiest delivery yet. I think Adam felt a little short-changed as he brought the DVD player for us to watch, books to read and games to play and we didn't end up doing any of it. Oh well, I think we both loved the way everything turned out. It's been rainy and overcast, which makes it even more cozy and is the perfect weather to sit and cuddle with a newborn baby. Everyone is doing well. Grandma Thunell has been amazing, holding the fort up with all these wild Indians, which is a feat in and of itself. All is well, all is well...actually, all is wonderful. I'll post more later. In the meantime, have a wonderful day.