Jacob wants to feel the beat!

Jacob is so funny. Anytime he hears music, he gets his little bum bouncing and then gets his whole body into it. When Joseph was practicing the other day, Jacob kept crawling over to him and planting himself between his feet and bouncing to the beat. It was so funny. When Joseph quit playing, Jacob would protest loudly until Joseph played something that he could move his little bottom to. Here's a little video clip....Joseph's just fooling around, but Jacob's loving it!

From Jacob and Joseph

Christmas 2009 Memories

Christmas 2009

My top 20 Christmas memories:

1. Santa snuggling Jacob (with his Dad close by for protection!)

2. Cousins playing together and having fun! Jonathan anticipating Christmas Eve when "My friend, Camille, eats with me downstairs!"

3. David and Ben getting out of bed so many times to check for Santa that they finally went to sleep at 3:00 a.m. and let us sleep until 6:30am (well from 5:00 to 6:30, at least!) Wow, what luxury!

4. Joseph, Samuel and Benjamin sitting engrossed in Samuel's 'Science' book Christmas morning--no one hitting or jabbing or punching....amazing!

5. David being Jacob's "reindeer" and pulling him on his new sled....tirelessly through the upstairs rooms.

6. Jacob dancing to Dad's "santa mobile" present----that baby can bounce!

7. Acting out the Nativity with Jeff's family and my family and Dad holding the 'star' over Camille, the angel's head--I thought he was holding his finger's behind her head, just like my boys would do in a picture!

8. Janele's pies, Cathy's candy, Cathy's enchiladas and rolls----umm, all the yummy Christmas Eve food!

9. My little "Buzz Lightyear" (Jonathan) 'talking' to Buzz Lightyear, the space ranger! Especially when Jonathan puts him back in his "rocket" (package he came in) and Buzz says "It's time for hypersleep." Can you sleep and be hyper at the same time?

10. Joseph in awe that his mom actually picked out 'good' soccer shoes----but also watching coveting Sam and Ben's basketball shoes----trying them on----hmm, guess I'll have to hide those!

11. Joseph's comment to Ben after watching him try on his new clothes---"when I was in 5th grade, Ben, Mom took me shopping at the D.I.!" Wanting to make sure that Ben fully appreciated 'new' clothes that he didn't have to buy himself!

12. David filming everybody with his 'camcorder'-----after he calmed down, because he thought Santa FORGOT him----his Santa present was too small, he couldn't find it. Quick mood recovery for David upon finding it and figuring out what it did!

13. Joseph's excitement in giving me a beautiful necklace and earrings----very chic, and him saying, "hopefully, you won't lose it." I did lose one earring...argh---but I'll find it!

14. Christmas lights---all my trees lit up and Christmas Eve with everthing lit up outside and inside-----you can never have too many lights!

15. Samuel and Ben's and David's excitement over gifts they were giving to their parents and family---it IS funner to give! David could hardly wait for us to open his "Big Mouth Frog" game that he'd made especially for us----complete with homemade bean bags sewn at Scouts!

16. Family time-----hanging out and playing games and laughing together (well, some of the time, at least)!

17. Can't forget the special "Christmas program" at church, the sunday before Christmas. Everyone singing the Christmas carols together.....it was beautiful! Also the "Mountain Aire" Christmas program---amazing and beautiful women!, my voice students singing at the Heritage Home (assisted living)---such cute girls and listening to Joseph play "Ave Maria" and "Jesu, joy of man's desiring." And Joseph attemting to sing "Baby, it's cold outside" with Ami Higley....so cute, even though he was so shy! Singing in the Messiah, listening to my boys play christmas songs on the piano, bass, viola, violin....amazing what they will do to learn a Christmas song.

18. Making pumpkin rolls and having Jonathan help me roll them up in their 'blankies' so they could 'sleep' while they were cooling off. Then delivering the rolls to neighbors and singing (well, the first half hour was good!).

19. My boys wrapping themselves up in Grandmother's blankets---Jonathan claiming Jacob's and unwilling to negotiate a trade---oh, well, Jacob doesn't mind!

20. Listening to the Tabernacle Choir sing "O Holy Night" at the Christmas Devotional and at the Christmas concert....I don't think I've ever heard anything so beautiful in all my life! It was as if the angels came down from heaven and swept me up in a manificent force of beauty. I truly felt like one of the Shepherds listening to the amazing proclamation of Christ's birth---an unearthly experience!

It was a great Christmas.....we are so blessed!

Tribute to Grandmother and Grandfather

To my wonderful Grandparents who well understand the meaning of 'enduring to the end,'---you continue to be a wonderful example of faith and love! Thanks for setting such a beautiful example for all of us to follow! You are as beautiful and kind today as you were when I was a child. Thanks for all the wonderful memories....especially of Christmas! We love you!