What is wrong with this picture?

Half the fun of living in Texas is being able to brag about the perfect winter temperatures.
24 degrees? 24 Degrees!!
All bragging rights are lost with today's temperature!

A Great Man

I have many memories of President Hinckley. I had the privilege of being in the tabernacle when he was sustained as President of the Church. I camped out many, MANY times at BYU when he came to speak for a fireside or devotional. But perhaps one of the strongest memories I have of this great man was when he came to a regional conference in Alaska. It was almost 13 years ago, and he had been scheduled to come speak at our regional conference for some time. However, when he became the prophet, everyone said that they would send someone else to the conference -- no prophet had ever come to Alaska. But he came. I remember the minute he walked into the room, and instantly thousands of people became silent and stood. It was then that I knew Gordon B. Hinckley was a prophet of God.

One more memory -- Josh and his dad were able to go to the last dedication session for the San Antonio temple. Sam and Benjamin and I waited outside. We were the only people there for quite some time. It was beautiful and peaceful. About 10 minutes before the session was over, people started coming. And they started crowding. And before I knew it, we were behind a large mass of people. I found myself getting very angry. After all, we had been there for so long! I tried to get Sam to the front of the crowd because I really wanted him to see the prophet. But try as I might, I couldn't squeeze past the middle of the herd of people. I told him to stretch really hard and try to see, even though I knew it would be impossible. But someone turned around and said, "let the little boy through" (sounds like something you'd hear in a corny movie, but it's true!), and somehow Sam was right at the front. President Hinckley shook as many hands as possible as he made his way to the car. He saw little Sam standing by himself, stopped and patted him on the head, and then moved on. And I felt a powerful love for that man that he would take a moment to make my son feel like the most important person in the world. I will forever be grateful for that one small moment in time.

"Believe in yourselves. Believe in your capacity to do some good in this world. God sent us here for a purpose, and that was to improve the world in which we live. The wonderful thing is that we can do it." -President Gordon B. Hinckley

Number Four

Question: How can you tell for sure that you are baby number 4?

Answer: You make a major milestone step going from this

to this for the first time

with no one watching.

And if that wasn't bad enough -- then you go back to this

and still no one is there! Poor Eliana!

How is it that she is already five and a half months old? Where have I been?

Benjamin

(Not the best picture, but he was so uncooperative!)

Today Benjamin turns 6. I can't believe he is 6!! (That means that we've lived in Texas for 6 years.) In honor of Benjamin's birthday, here are six things I love about him.
1. He's the only one in our family with blonde hair.
2. He loves to use big words. When he was about 18 months old, we were in the grocery store and something scared him. He turned tome and said, "Oh, goodness, that startled me." Since then, he always wants to know the meaning of words and loves to use new words.
3. He is very kind and empathetic. He can't stand to see someone hurt. He loves everyone completely.
4. He's obsessed with gadgets. He loves anything electronic. And, he always has to have some small something in his hand.
5. He's shy, but at the same time, makes friends very easily.
6. He's got a talent for music. We used to play guess that tune with him when he was really small. And he got it every time. Now, he likes to sit at the piano and pick out a tune. Last night, he was playing the beginning of a song he didn't even know -- until I played it for him on the I-pod. He's got skills!

Happy Birthday Benjamin! We love you!

Sleep Help!!

We moved Nicholas to his new bed, finally! And he goes to sleep pretty well. But at night, he gets up four or five times and just wanders the house. Sometimes we'll hear him playing games or trying to turn on the TV. One morning we woke up to a pile of chocolate wrappers on the living room floor. We always hear him and take him back to bed, but who knows how long he's been playing around before we wake up! I'm sure I've mentioned before his need for adventure, so I can only imagine what catastrophe awaits us if we don't get him to stay in bed.

Neither Sam or Benjamin did anything like this. We need help . . . and sleep!!

What do we do?

Star Wars, Nothing but Star Wars

Josh and I nicknamed this Christmas the "Star Wars Year." Without meaning to, we kind of theme shopped and 85% of the presents under the tree had something to do with Star Wars. Which is fine, because all the boys (Nicholas and Josh included) love the movies -- and everything that goes along with it.

So for Family Movie Night on Friday, we decided to do something a little different. I told the boys that we were having a Star Wars night and the details were going to be a surprise. I must have been asked a million times what we were having for dinner. I'm not sure they were asking because they were excited, or because they didn't want to be surprised by the food. Josh picked up Uncle Dan's BBQ on the way home from work. And we cleverly stuck new labels on all the food: Brisket became Boba Fett Brisket, Turkey was Tie Fighter Turkey, Sausage was Yoda Yummies, Green beans were Kit Fisto greens and Baked beans were Ewok Pebbles. For dessert we had Wookie Cookies (giant chocolate chip cookies). Sam and Benjamin got a good laugh out of it, especially when Josh concocted a tale of how he flew his X-wing fighter to Dexter's Diner to get our special order of Jedi food.

After dinner we had a star wars video game tournament. Josh, of course, won. . . But we divided his score by three, so Sam came out the winner. And we ended the evening with an exclusive showing of Star Wars II (for the 4th time since Christmas!)

It was a really fun way to end Christmas Vacation. Which, by the way, I am so glad is over! :) I love my kids, but I've got to tell you -- Sam and Benjamin can create a mess in less than a minute flat! I hate it, but at the same time I marvel at the ability. Now if I could only find some way to channel this force of nature for good . . .

Brotherly Love

Tonight, Josh took Sam to the movies. Benjamin didn't go because Benjamin doesn't like going to the movies. Getting ready for bed was easy, but going to sleep proved to be a bit harder. As Benjamin climbed into bed, the tears started to flow.

M: Benj, what's wrong.
B: I can't sleep without Sam.
M: But you are always saying you want your own room, now's your chance.
B: I don't think I can do it.
M: Just close your eyes and go to sleep.
B: Sam's a really good brother and I can't be happy when he's not here. I miss Sam.

Brothers and friends -- what more could a mom ask for?

Resume of a Two Year Old

Name: Nicholas White
Life Skills:

• Climbs Anything
• Finds a permanent marker anywhere in the house
• Uses said permanent marker to draw on the table and the windowsill
• Throws plastic toys into the hot oven
• Can tell the second the door is open and always makes a run for it
• Can undress in a matter of seconds
• Uses words like "My favorite!" to get what he wants
• Says things are "pretty cool" when he's trying to down play excitement
• Loves to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but doesn't like others to join in
• Favorite foods are gum, candy, chocolate, fruit roll-ups and chips (yum . . . )
• Has favorite episodes of Blue's Clues that he watches over and OVER
• Loves to color, and although he knows to only color on paper, he regards walls, furniture and clothing as paper
  
• Dumps out entire containers of crickets, cricket food and gecko vitamins for Sam's pet gecko (not all at once, thank goodness -- but not only once either!)
• Can make anyone laugh!
  
  
  
  There seems to be very little Nicholas can't do -- but here are a few things:
  Can't climb out of his bed
  Can't keep his pajamas on at night
  Can't keep his hands off cell phones
  Can't stop being so adorable despite the fact that he makes me absolutely crazy!!
  
  Happy 2nd birthday Nicholas! We love you!!!
  
  

A stroke of luck

On a whim, I decided to give the boys a small something every day leading up to Christmas. I raided the dollar bin at Target and decided to call my little endeavor the "Christmas Elf."

Day one -- Saturday, I left some candy on the counter in the bathroom with a note from the Christmas Elf. The boys went CRAZY! Sam, clever as always, left me a note in my bathroom with a picture. It said, "To mom. Merry Christmas from the Christmas Elf." I excitedly told the boys that the Christmas Elf had left me something too. Sam seemed perplexed about my excitement. He thought his note would be a way to let me know that he knew I was the culprit. No luck!

Day two -- The Christmas elf left something on the kitchen counter for the boys. My elf in turn made some ornaments out of pipe cleaners for me, which I quickly stuck on the tree. (the boys glowed with pride at this gesture.) Benjamin wrote a thank-you note to the Christmas elf.

Day three -- I decided to mix things up a bit and do a service instead of give a treat. Luckily for me, the boys are slobs! So their room became my target. When I was finished, I stuck this poem to their door:

Sam and Benjamin

I went to your room to leave a surprise,
but when I saw the mess, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Toys and blankets, books and more,
all thrown about, tossed down on the floor.

So I decided to do you a favor,
And when you see why, you can thank me later.

It’s hard for Santa to leave more toys
In a house with a couple of messy boys.

Santa likes to see boys who take care of their stuff,
But I know cleaning can sometimes be tough.

So I cleaned up your room as your surprise for the day,
I made your beds and put your toys away.

I hope this will help you keep everything clean.
Cause Santa’s coming soon (and you know what that means!)

If you want to have some new toys under the tree,
see what I did and learn a lesson from me.

Keep your room clean, keep it tidy and neat,
And I promise that Santa will bring an extra special Christmas treat!

Love,
The Christmas Elf
22 days to go!

When the boys got home from school, they were a little disappointed to not find a treat. However, they were quick to point out the last line about the extra special treat. And I got a drawing of some Christmas stockings from my little elves.

Day four -- on the way home from school, Sam asked what the Christmas elf left. I told him I didn't think there was anything yet. He said, "AHA! I knew it was you!" I told him I didn't know what he was talking about. While they were playing outside, I left a little treat on their beds with a note that said, "Thanks for keeping your room clean. Love, the Christmas Elf" We went to run a quick errand, and when we came back Sam found the treat. He came running out of his room screaming (no kidding, screaming) "The Christmas elf is REAL!" I didn't get anything from my elf today -- but their room is still clean, so that is gift enough.

It's only been 4 days, and Sam and Benjamin talk like we've been doing this for years! It's fun to surprise them, I think I may continue it for years.

Thanks to an idea from the Sprague Lab Blog, we also started doing nightly family activities. I typed up a list of Christmas activities and put it in a jar. Each night we draw an idea from the jar. We made microwave s'mores, watched a Christmas movie, and tomorrow night we are going to plan a family vacation. Benjamin asked if we can do this all year. Maybe not nightly, but weekly isn't bad. . . .

Did I mention that I love Christmas?

Have you Elfed Yourself?

Have some fun -- get into the Christmas spirit!

Click Here to watch the White Family Elves!

Thanks Claudia!!

Meet the Future
Mr. and Mrs. Miles Collingwood

My good friend Michalann drove down last week to continue in our long tradition of craft days. And she brought her cute baby, who is just 2 weeks older than Eliana. Naturally we had to betroth them (did I say that right?) From the pictures, it looks like Eliana wasn't too sure about the match at first. But then she warmed up and grabbed cute Miles' hand -- so I guess it's safe to assume we have her blessing.

30 Days of handmade Gifts.

This blog is too good to keep to myself!



One of my favorites so far is this shirt dress.

Enjoy!

Traditions

For the past four years, we've been going to the same spot to take family pictures for our Christmas cards. We chose the spot because it was close, but now it's become a little tradition. This year, we didn't even consider any other place. And the boys were actually excited to go to our "favorite" spot.

I love the idea of family traditions. The funny thing is that the ideas that I've carefully planned and tried to craft into traditions always kind of fizzle out. But the things that happen by chance, like family pictures and Family Movie Night Fridays seem to stick. I can't complain. . .

Here are our past four years of Christmas Pictures:

2004

2005

2006

2007

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Nicholas

The closer we get to Nicholas 2nd birthday, the closer he gets to the textbook definition of the terrible twos. Here are a handful of phrases that spice up my day.

The Good Nicholas:
"Can I try it?" (I love this one because he always wants to try new food)

"Mommy, look at me! See what Nicholas can do." (He is always doing silly things, like walking on all fours, just to make people laugh.)

"Eliana crying. Need Binky" (This is usually accompanied by a hug)

"Mommy be careful for Nicholas." (He's recently started saying this while I'm driving. I think Josh put him up to it.)

"Can I see it?" (He says this whenever the boys are playing with something. I think it's his way of asking to be included.)

"Oh my favorite!" (He said this at the school book fair as he was running from book to book.)

"Nicholas don't like it." (This may sound like a bad phrase, but he's always polite when he says it, so it goes in the good list.)


Here is where the Mr. Hyde comes out.
(*Note: to get the full effect, all these phrases should be read screaming, with eyes glared and arms folded across chest)
M: Nicholas get off the counter. You're going to fall!
N: "I don't care!"

M: Put your clothes back on.
N: "I not going to!"

M: Nicholas, give Sammy back his book.
N: "Back off!"

M: Nicholas, we need to change your diaper so we can go to the store.
N: "I not going anywhere!"

M: Let's brush your teeth.
N: "Nicholas don't want to!"

M: Mommy needs to wash the apple before you eat it.
N: "Nicholas do it now!"

M: Nicholas, you know you aren't supposed to be in Daddy's office.
N: "Leave me 'lone!"

And if all else fails, he pulls out the big one -- "NO! NO! NO! NO!"

I've been through this twice before, so it should come as no surprise. I was hoping that we would skip this phase. At least I can say that my days are always action packed and full of interesting conversations!

Hooray! I'm 3 months old!

Say Cheese Ellie!

p.s. It's true what they say -- having 4 kids isn't any harder than 3. Maybe it's simply because you can be honest with yourself on four points -- 1) Your house is never going to be clean, 2) Your hair is never going to be brushed, 3) You laundry will NEVER end, and 4) You look at your beautiful kids and finally realize that none of that matters.