15!

 15 years ago today our sweet Gage Aaron was born. He was the most snuggly and the chubbiest baby out of all of the kids in our family. We affectionately called him Jaba (as in Jaba the Hut) because his fat rolls had fat rolls. He's grown out of those and  has become such a joy in our family.     

Gage loves his brothers and sisters and goes out of his way to play games and spend time with them. He's a tender hearted guy and wants them to feel loved.

He's got the same sweet, goofy and fun personality that my brother had who he is named after. He's just a good kid through and through. He's usually good at most things he tries. He's done well in school. I think he's almost always gotten straight "A"s.  He was good at baseball but stopped playing when it got more competitive than fun. He plays the drums very well and has gotten into Honor Band 3 years in a row now. 

We love our Gage! Happy Birthday!!!!

Nap time...

December...

In December the kids had their school Winter Wonderland Program. (Ally called it the "Alice in Wonderland" program). Jack and Ally's classes sang songs, Jeremy and Gage played in Concert Band. Everyone did a great job and it was fun watching all of the kids.  

It always seems that the two nights they pick for these outdoor performances are the coldest of the month. Most of December was mild with clear blue skies except the week of their program which was cold and even a little snowy. Good thing we bundled up and they had hot chocolate! 

(Ally, Jackson, and Julia waiting to come down stairs)

Of course Christmas was the highlight of the month. Christmas was smaller this year but I think it was better. We had several opportunities to serve others and be selfless and that's what makes it feel more like Christmas. Some of the ideas came from Rich and I but the kids suggested some things we could do to serve others also. 

Gage even got a Red Ryder BB Gun. He was very excited. I think everyone got one thing they really loved...except Ally. She thinks she wasn't very good this last year so Santa didn't bring her what she really wanted. She could never put her finger on what she really wanted so I'm sure Santa gave it his best guess. She had her birthday party a few weeks later and got plenty so Santa's not too worried about it I'm sure.

Janet gave us year passes to Knott's Berry Farm for Christmas (Disneyland is a bit out of our budget this year) so we went New Year's Eve day. The kids had a great time.

Jack, Ally and Julia loved the spinning Mexican Hats.

Julia had to hold her hands up on the Snoopy School Bus that swishes around. 

The girls didn't know what to expect on the hot air balloon ride. 

Everyone had fun. We left semi early since we didn't feel like we had to fill the day because of our passes. On our way home we dropped Jeremy off a a friend's house where he stayed the night. Gage and I went over to the party at church for a bit while Rich and the little ones rested from their long day. Gage and I got home around 9:30pm and Gage was concerned that Jack wouldn't stay up until midnight with him. A few minutes past 12:00 we checked on the boys and it was Gage who was sleeping and Jack was wide awake! 

The kid's school break was 3 weeks long but they were all sick with Scarlet Fever and confined to the house the first 2 weeks. The last week we wanted to do some fun things besides Knott's so Janet and I took all of the kids but Jeremy out the Bear Valley Springs where her sister Sally lives so the kids could see her chickens and ride Abbey, her horse. 

Ally has been on Abbey several times and loves it. She was the first one to take a turn and she got to "drive" Abbey herself and did a great job.

Julia took a turn next. She didn't ride by herself, Sally was leading Abbey. Her little legs barely fit over Abbey's back!

Jackson got to ride and was a little bit nervous about it although when he got off he said that it was "awesome"!

Gage got the hang of how to ride Abbey pretty well.

I even got to ride her. I'd love to learn to really ride a horse but that's on my things to do someday list. We love where Sally lives and would love to move out there someday if it works out. Maybe if we do I can finally learn how to ride! 

Abbey is a sweet horse and was very patient with all of us. She's so good with the kids I never worry about them being on her.

After we left Sally's we stopped at a little food place, I think it's called Frosty King, in Tehachapi to get shakes. They make the best shakes! We always have to get a one for everyone before heading home. 

That pretty much wrapped up our December and Christmas break!

Ally Jane...

Today our little Allyson turns 7 years old. She's been such a blessing to us and a joy in our family. After having three boys in a row I was consigned to expect that I would only have boys. When the ultrasound showed she was a girl I cried...finally my girl!

(Ally age 2)

Ally arrived with some drama and maybe that's why she's such a character now. When she was born on the morning of January 9th, 2003 the cord was wrapped around her neck 4 times and the doctor had to pull her out because she was blue. She's the only one Rich didn't cut the cord for and I didn't get to immediately hold. They rushed her over to check her vitals and help her breath. Poor little thing didn't look like a pretty little girl, more like a boxer after a fight. That night the pediatrician who checked her told me that her collar bone was broken because of the way they had to pull her. I was so sad my little girl had to start out life like that but she's a tough little thing and I guess I'm glad she is.

(Ally and Julia)

She's always held her own with her 3 older brothers and still been a sweet and protective big sister of her little sis.

(playing dead at the Grand Canyon, age 3)

She's quite the comedian in our family and is always the ham and the trouble maker. She's my only child who ever got kicked out of Nursery at church for hitting the other kids. She talks non-stop, is curious about everything, is afraid of nothing except monsters in the dark, she plays mommy to the little kids, has more energy than anyone else, and is very loving and snuggly when she wants to be.

(The self inflicted bob, age 5)

She has cut her own hair a few times and actually did a pretty good job of it so people told her it was cute.

(Ally and Julia @ Knott's Berry Farm)

She loves all of the big rides at Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm and gets mad when they say she's too little to go on some of them.

(Ally riding Abbey)

She loves to ride Abbey, her Great Aunt Sally's horse. She tells everyone she is the best horse rider in our family. She's confident, sassy, funny, goofy, sweet, and a force to be reckoned with. I adore her and although she's not what I imagined I'd get in a girl I'm so glad I get to be her Mom because she's so much more. I know that as she grows she will be an amazing young woman. Happy Birthday Ally-bug. We love you!

Just a bit of bragging...(moms can do that)

Last week we attended the St Marys Medical Center Christmas Dinner for the volunteers. There are 60 kids who volunteer at the hospital in all areas. Jeremy works with the lab and the emergency room. He accompanies the Phlembotomists and takes the blood to the lab for them which cuts down on the time it takes to get test results back for the patients. Jeremy has had some neat experiences and some hard ones. He has volunteered to hold infants to keep them still while blood is drawn. He isn't afraid to do that because of the compassion and experience he has learned from helping out with his little brother and sisters.

At the dinner they also gave out 5 awards for outstanding service in different areas. Jeremy was chosen as the winner of the Teamwork Award. We are very proud of him! We were told so many sweet and wonderful things about him from his colleagues and supervisors. We are blessed to have such a great teenager!

(Jeremy receiving his award)

Los Angeles Temple lights

Last Wednesday the Young Men and Young Women leaders at church took the youth to the LA Temple to see the beautiful Christmas lights that are displayed every year. Rich and I went along because there were a lot of kids going, two of them are ours, and we have a Suburban so we could fit a lot.

It is always wonderful to be reminded of the true meaning of the season...

and why we can rejoice in our blessings no matter what our circumstances.

It was the first time some of the kids had been to the LA Temple. They were all very excited to be there.

The boys posed...

and the girls and their leaders posed for many, many pictures. These are only a very few of what was taken at every possible picture spot on the grounds.

The lights were beautiful.

Pictures do not do them justice.

The kids had a fun night. After we walked the grounds hot cocoa and cookies were served and then we did the long, late drive home. We will go again in the next few weeks so that all of our kids can enjoy the lights and being at the temple.

So much to be thankful for...

This year is a bit tighter than other years financially because of the economy and how it's affected our business but we still have so much to be thankful for. We have wonderful and healthy kids (except for the occasional cold or ear infection), we have so much fun together as a family, we have great friends and we have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives that makes all the difference. We are indeed thankful everyday for the blessings we have.

I am thankful for Rich. He never fails to make me laugh everyday, and he cooks! What more could I ask for? He made most of the Thanksgiving dinner this year. He is a Food Network junkie. He loves Alton, Paula, etc and so on. He cooked two turkeys this year. The first was Alton Brown's recipe which went to the community center for the dinner for less fortunate individuals. The turkey he cooked for our meal was from Tyler Florence. It was a Maple Bacon Turkey and it was so delicious!

(mmmmmm...)

He rubbed sage butter under the skin, covered it with bacon, and basted it every half hour with maple syrup. It was juicy and sweet!

We had all of the rest of the trimmings...garlic parmesan mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, stuffing, cranberries, olives, rolls and apple & yam casserole. It was just our family and Janet. A small gathering but that means more left overs!

(they're all thinking..take the picture already, we're hungry!)

We ate about 1:30 and let the food settle a bit while everyone played games. About 4:00 we drove down to Riverside to visit with my side of the family at my Grandparent's house.

(my beautiful cousin Rachel)

My cousin Rachel was busy helping my Aunt Jody cook their dinner while we visited with everyone else. Jeremy and Gage got to hang out with their cousins, which they love to do, and we had a fun time just sitting around visiting with everyone. Holidays are always a bit more special with Grandpa and Grandma because we don't know how many more we have with them. That is another thing I'm grateful for, that we live close enough to visit them often so my kids will remember their Great Grandparents like I remember mine. Grandpa has given up shaving, which I guess he can do at 88, so he's looking very Santa Claus-ish.

(Grandpa & Grandma Goodwin and Julia)

We stayed until late because we always hate to leave. It's such a blessing to have family!

(The 4 generations of girls...Mom, Ally, Grandma, and Me!)