because we couldn't leave Justin out..

Hope you're having a great weekend!

The other day at church Justin and I were sitting in the foyer waiting for a meeting and this cute, blond 7 year old boy walked by. All of a sudden he started smiling and waving wildly and I laughed as I watched him walk down the hall. "What was that all about?" I asked Justin, "Why was that kid waving at you?" and Justin said "I don't know, aren't you the one in Primary? I'm pretty sure he was waving at you."

Oh, that's right

I had to find the kid in Primary and apologize for not saying hi earlier.

I should do a real post but I'm too tired

so here's Audrey reading to her Dad.

To Do

This year's "Fun New Year's Resolutions" list is finished. I love this little tradition of ours. In the days leading up to New Year's I find myself looking into the future, thinking of what to put on the list: things I want to do, or learn- fun, enjoyable things that I can look forward to. It makes me look at 2010 a little more brightly. And it's always fun to find out what's been on Justin's mind too. Last night we finished our late night screening of Harry Potter with just a few minutes to spare before midnight. We turned the tv to some countdown show and worked on our list, then counted "5...4...3...2...1" and smooched. A great way to start a brand new year.

saying goodbye

image from here

I can't say that I'll be very sad to see 2009 go. It's been a rough year for us. I know that while we've experienced things like Justin losing his job and moving to a smaller home in a new city we've grown emotionally and spiritually, but it's been difficult. They're not called "growing pains" for nothing.

And so, it is with great pleasure that we welcome 2010 tonight. As usual, along with the everyday regular resolutions that everyone makes Justin and I will be keeping our own personal tradition of compiling our list of "fun New Year's Resolutions". (and eating lots of homemade guacamole) I'll report back tomorrow with the results.

H a p p y N e w Y e a r !

Christmas on the Farm

Audrey had a great Christmas

Deck the Halls

la la la..... la

Merry Christmas from the Vippermans

Lately

-I've tried to put any fear and worries temporarily out of my mind and just take these last few days before Christmas to really enjoy the holiday.

-I've been finishing and wrapping gifts until late into the night. Putting the last stitches into Audrey's third dress, then wrapping it up and tying a pretty ribbon around it felt so satisfying.

-We've been hiding the presents under a table in the corner so that Audrey (who is a pro at unwrapping) won't be tempted to dismantle them. I'm DYING to take her over and pull up the table cloth dramatically and reveal the piles of brightly colored packages just to see her eyes get big and hear her reaction. Christmas morning is going to be so much fun.

-speaking of presents- making our gifts this year has made getting ready for Christmas so much more exciting. It feels like we have more invested in the finished product which means more anticipation to see how it's received. More care and thought must equal more satisfaction and pride when the gift is given. Having a homemade Christmas is definitely something we're thinking about making a tradition.

-Justin and I discovered an awesome homemade hot chocolate recipe. That, plus the "aztec hot chocolate seasoning" that Ariane gave us for Christmas last year equals the best hot chocolate ever. I've consumed much more than I should have the past three evenings.

-An old friend of Justin's came to Boise yesterday evening and we picked her up and took her to dinner downtown. It was a splurge financially that we haven't been able to do for awhile. It was fun and really made the past few days start to feel like a celebration.

-This morning found me in the kitchen with my apron on- cream cheese softening on the counter in preparation for making truffles, the kitchen-aid noisily whipping fluffy marshmallow and Audrey and Justin and I smashing candy canes with a rolling pin.

-Our t.v. has been constantly playing Christmas movies- 'Elf', 'Rudolph', 'It's a Wonderful Life', as well as others that we've recorded. I've watched 'You've Got Mail' twice in the past week. It's a great movie to have playing in the background while I'm cooking and while Audrey scatters cookie cutters everywhere or makes a bed for her teddy bears (using every available blanket and pillow in the house) on the living room floor.

-And the other night I finished the dishes from dinner and Justin asked me what we were doing now. I told him I didn't know and he switched the t.v. over to the DVD player to show me that he had 'White Christmas' (my FAVORITE Christmas movie) in and ready to go. We sat on the couch with a blanket on our laps drinking cocoa and listening to Bing Crosby sing. Justin is such a good husband.

-Audrey loves the snow ("no") and Santa Clause ("Canta Cwause") and is so excited to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house tomorrow. So is her Mom. We have to look at the Christmas lights ("chri-mas wites") out her bedroom window before I put her to bed at night and along with saying goodnight to her Dad when I take her upstairs, she also waves and says goodnight to the Christmas tree.

-I'm excited to see my hometown tomorrow. To drive past the familiar businesses and the same street lamp decorations that they've been putting up since I was little. To see my parents, and my siblings, and my sister and her new husband, and my Grandparents. To look out the windows in my Mom's dining room at the beautiful view. To be home.

another great Sunday

I ran across this link recently and the beautiful story and music gave me chills.

Hope you enjoy it.

The 2nd Dress

is finished.

juxtaposition

Yesterday I got two messages from my sister. The first was reminding me that I hadn't updated anything for quite some time and then a little later, the second one went like this:

"Are you alive? I haven't heard from you in awhile."

In case you've also noticed that something is off, let me explain.

I am, in fact, alive.




(and kicking)



Very much so. In fact 'life' seems to be almost more than I can deal with these days. The day to day chores, the responsibilities, the worries, the lists. 'Life' seems to keep handing me challenges and then sitting back to watch how I'll cope, for instance:

-A late night discovery that left me unable to sleep and terrified about my health.

-An evening phone call from my Mom that had me worrying about my Grandpa's health.

-More paperwork than I know what to do with for cub scouts. Rechartering? Quality awards? And having the distinguished title of "unit commissioner" has given me another meeting on top of the four per month that are already required.

-I leave my weekly presidency meetings with pages of notes in my scribbled handwriting: lists of things 'to do', phone calls 'to make', lessons 'to prepare', along with questions to find the answer to that I'm too embarrassed to ask my presidency members.

-Figuring out the names of 60 Primary children. And their teachers. And their parents.

-Laundry? Again? Didn't I do that yesterday?

-Questions about buying a home.

However despite everything that life is handing me right now,

I'm good.



I have more problems and worries and regrets and responsibilities right now than I ever have, and I'm sure that there are more on the horizon. But I suppose that's also just part of 'life'. And, as is always the case, there are highs that accompany the lows. I come home from church every Sunday exhausted but edified, overwhelmed but uplifted. I finish the dishes and fall into bed every night physically drained but full of love for my family. I drink hot cocoa with Justin and read books with Audrey. I'm excited to go to my parents house for Christmas.

And right now my fingernails (and Audrey's) are a very merry red.



I'm happy and most of all I'm definately

alive.

christmas party

Last night was our ward Christmas party. There was dinner, and then a short Christmas program which included our primary kids dressed up as characters from the nativity singing Christmas carols.

I love being in the the primary- it was so much fun helping the kids dress up and get ready, then watching from the wings. We had asked the kids to dress up as whaterver they wanted. We had cows, angels made from fairy cotumes, sheep, and about 12 wise men. And Audrey even participated- she sat in the group and "sang" right along with the other kids.

I was one proud Mama.


And afterward Santa came.

Audrey loves "Canta Cwause"

just because

right now

It's snowing outside.

Justin is at a presidency meeting.

Audrey isn't sleeping- I can hear her singing upstairs. So much for an after church nap.

My house looks like Santa's workshop. We've been busy little elves here, painting, sewing, gluing, cutting. It's surprising how much I've enjoyed the challenge of making almost all our gifts and how excited I am to see people's reactions when I give them. At the beginning of the year I'd thought about opening an etsy shop and then had decided against it. Now, looking at my finished products, I'm wondering about it again.

Justin told me today that he's thinking of having the scout camp-out in January here at our house. And I looked around at my small living room and tried to picture 6 big, loud, hungry teen aged boys here and got really nervous. Where will we put them? And then I thought- it will be fun, bring it on.

It's my month to do sharing time in Primary. My first time didn't go as smoothly as I'd planned today.

I'm listening to the 'Up' soundtrack on itunes. I love it. I almost cry every time the music slows on track number three, the part in the movie when Carl and Emmie find out they won't be having any children- for obvious reasons.

I found out how to make bib necklaces on Friday and hurried to make one- I'm kind of in love with it. Justin doesn't understand the trend but I told him that was okay, cause I knew who would understand and be just as excited as I was- Lyric and Ariane and Beth. What do you think?

I love being in Primary at Christmas time. How did I forget about all the great Christmas songs that they have the kids sing this time of year? 'Picture a Christmas'? 'Christmas Bells are Ringing'? Classic. I love sitting in there and singing along.

We have plans to make hot cocoa and watch 'Elf' tonight. I'm excited. And, I'm thinking some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies might be in order. Do I talk too much on here about making cookies? You'd think we make them all the time....oh wait, we do.

thanksgiving round up

Thanksgiving was great. We stayed at Justin's parents house this year along with all of his siblings and their children. It was definately a full house. We watched football, talked about our kids and watched our kids play together. There was also a trip to Wendell so Audrey could see her other grandparents. We're lucky to have our parents live so close to each other.

We saw the fireworks at 'Christmas in the Night-time Sky' in Twin and did some shopping. We ate pumpkin waffles. And as is usually the case, we stayed up late into the night talking and laughing. The first night Lyric and Ariane and I traded wardrobe and sewing tips.

The second night was spent around the game table, talking about old family stories and at one point Justin was laughing so hard that he was literally crying.

I'm pretty sure a great time was had by all. Thanks to Justin's Mom and Dad for hosting, and to his siblings for just being themselves. It was fun to catch up. And Lyric- thanks for the fabric. I now have another skirt to add to Audrey's Christmas stash.