A New Decade

Last night we took down the crib. Other than the day it was taken down for our move from the condo to our current home, that crib has been set up for the past 9 years. We bought the crib shortly after telling everyone that we were expecting Becca (I didn't want to have any pregnancy complications that would prohibit me from getting the nursery ready before she came, so it was TOTALLY finished by the time I was six months along), and it has been in use ever since Becca was born.
It felt very surreal taking it down to put up a big-girl-bed for Rachel. We put up the same day bed that we got for Becca just before Ellie came along. That was almost more strange to me. Watching her excitement at being able to get out of bed by herself was very cute.
This morning she got up and ran into the hall as I was going into her room to check on her. She bounced up and down exclaiming "I got out of bed! I got out of bed!" It was very cute.
She stayed in the crib longer than any of my other girls by almost a year, and I have to say that it made the transition a little bit easier....she didn't even fall out of bed once! Hooray!

Busy time of Year

I just asked Rachel to help me clean her room, and she looked up at me, shook her head and said, "I can't Mom. Sorry. I'm way too busy."

A Christmas Poem

'Twas a few days before Christmas and all through the house
Someone was stirring-- as soft as a mouse.
I thought that the girls were all up in their rooms
Dusting their cobwebs and sweeping with brooms,
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a series of murals (to my eyes came a tear).
The crayon was stretched over dresser and wall;
It covered the toy chest; it decked the whole hall.
The upstairs was covered from chair rail to floor--
I even spied crayon on more than one door.

But who was this artist who colored in red?
I'll admit I was stumped until I saw the bed:

Merry Christmas 2009!

Well, it is time for the annual "Christmas Card" and accompanying "Christmas Letter." So once again, here is the Cliff's Notes version of our year.

Greg: Is working hard for Northrop Grumman and doing a great job (he just got a stellar review from his boss, which is no surprise. I think he's amazing!) He's still teaching Elder's Quorum and is excited to break in his new guitar hero equipment (we are on set #2 after the girls destroyed the first one).

Heather: Is keeping busy with Primary and the girls, cleaning, laundry, shopping and every once in a while she sneaks in a good book.

Becca (8): Is working on multiplication, piano, and her front teeth. She is a sweetheart who loves playing with her sisters and friends.

Ellie (6): Is our Cinderella girl. You might have noticed she only had one shoe for this picture. She always seems to be losing a shoe or two. She is tender-hearted and so smart! She is feisty and fun.

Sarah (4): Is our little dancer. She counts down the days from one dance class to the next, and can't wait for Christmas to arrive. She knows her letters and is starting to sound out simple words.

Rachel (2): Is our little monkey. She is enchanted with all things monkey (especially Curious George) and gives the best hugs ever.

And there you have the summary of each of us in two sentences or less!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

New Naughtiness

There are days when I can find the humor and cuteness in my children's antics, but other days their naughtiness just makes me tired. Over the last few days, Sarah has been suffering from serious emotional melt-downs, and the other day she decided to practice writing "X's" all over the quilt my grandma made me with crayons. We have also had a bit of trauma as Rachel recently dumped two more bottles of shampoo on the carpet, colored on the wall, emptied a brand new container of baby wipes, dumped Parmesan cheese and maraschino cherry juice on the floor and unwrapped all the presents I had just finished wrapping.
All these fantastic "gifts" happened while I was trying to clean other areas of the house, and I have to admit I didn't find any of them very entertaining.
Today I have another busy day of cleaning, but for some reason I can't seem to motivate myself to leave the girls unattended, even briefly, to attempt the work that piles up as I am cleaning up after them.
Perhaps if an "elf " was watching they would behave a little bit better...Well, I guess I have procrastinated as long as I can, so wish me luck as I try to clean without catastrophe striking!