So, I was recently chastised for not "setting doggedly to it" and continuing to write in my blog. I was flattered actually that the stories were missed. I've continued to write in the journal, so I'll try better to post some of the stories on line. Thanks everyone for reading.

7 December 2009, Monday

Jana has been feeling that life is too busy and that she isn't getting time enough to play with the kids. She's been putting specific times on the calendar to spend with the kids one on one or together. Today she baked cookies with Sam and Kaylie. She has found that making specific time to do what she wants has helped her feel closer to her family.

9 December 2009, Wednesday

On the way to scouts with Dallin, I picked up Josh for his first night. I listened to elementary school jokes in the back seat all the way to church.

11 December 2009, Friday

Kaylie had dance this afternoon and during her class, they reenacted the Nutcracker. Kaylie got to be Clara, since she was the leader for the day.

Kaylie gets a little grumpy after dance on Friday afternoons. Dallin said to Kaylie today, "You're not the boss of me." She replied, "I am the boss. I'm the boss of everything!"

12 December 2009, Saturday

Jessica was chosen to be Clara in the Nutcracker and did an excellent job. Katelyn and Lindsay also performed in cute rolls. Christy made several new costumes for the ballet, and did all of the alterations. She's been extremely busy.

Our kids did ok for the first hour and a half, but then I had to take Nathan and Kaylie out. Afterward, we got a couple of pizzas at Costco and went to Doug and Christy's for a few minutes to eat.

13 December 2009, Sunday

This morning I made breakfast with the kids while Jana was getting ready. I moved the stool Kaylie was kneeling on to get a measuring cup and she lost her balance and spilled the bowl of eggs. She was very sad even after I reassured her that it wasn't her fault. Then I said something wrong to Sam and he began wailing. Eventually, after we all had a break, I was able to pull things together and we had happy kids at breakfast.

We wanted to get a picture of the kids in front of the tree. Since we were getting them dressed nicely for church, we decided to squeeze that in to this morning too. We we pretty hurried but we got some really cute pictures.