Batter Up!

My family got together to play baseball. I never knew I would like it so much.We started playing girls against boys, but that didn't last long. It's not that we girls aren't good. It's just that all the boys are REALLY good.

My husband looks so good when he pitches. I was very surprised that I did a pretty good job pitching as well.
Not quite as good batting, though.
Again, way too good looking for his own good. I absolutely love his smile. Every time I see it, I fell all warm and fuzzy inside. (Not to mention a little smug that he's mine.)
The little kids played behind the fence where they wouldn't get knocked out with the ball.

But they tried to knock each other out anyway.

We took turns watching the babies. Nicholas is the happiest, funniest baby I have ever known.

Then there's Grace. The drama queen. I love it. And I absolutely love this photo. (Oh, and all these photos were taken by my sister-in-law, Tasha. She's amazing with a camera. She's amazing without it too, but you know what I mean.) Anyway, Grace was upset becasue her gramma couldn't hold her while she played. So tragic.

What is this all over the couch?!?

And here we have another hair cutting disaster. It was a horror scene when I went into the living room to find Grace with scissors and hair strewn all over the place. Just a few days before this happened I was thinking to myself, "Grace's hair is getting so long and beautiful." I really cried over this one. When I told Grace that we had to go get her hair cut ahe was so worried. She said, "If I don't have long hair, I wont be a girl anymore!" I have short hair. What does she think I am?

I took her to the salon once, they trimmed it a bit and it still looked awful. I took her agian the next day to see if they could make it look better, they took more off, it still looked bad. Finally I asked a woman in my ward to try to fix it, and she put the salon to shame. It still isn't the prettiest haircut. Only Grace could still look so cute no matter what her hair looks like.

O Tannenbaum!, O Tannenbaum!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree,

Your branches green delight us.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree,

Your branches green delight us.

They're green when summer days are bright;

They're green when winter snow is white.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree,

Your branches green delight us!

We had quite the adventure a few weeks ago. Ricky's family went to Idaho to cut down a Christmas tree from the wild! I used to live in Montana, so my brother would just go for a hike in woods around our house and cut down a tree. When I moved here to Utah, I couldn't believe how expensive a tree cost at a lot! To cut down a tree in the forest near Preston, Idaho, all you have to do is pay $10 for a permit and then, go get your tree. The drive to Idaho would be expensive, yes, but we were headed to Lava Hot Springs anyway. And it was really fun.

I wore Jacob in a wrap while we hiked. He was so tired the whole time, but he is a sleep fighter.

So this is how he looked the whole time.

Ricky found our tree. It was just the kind I love. Tall, narrow, sort of sparse. And the needles are a bit different than typical Christmas trees. It looked just like the tree Ricky and I had for the first Christmas after we were married. It's some kind of spruce.

Grace loved playing in the snow. Here she is making a mommy and a baby snow ball. Always beautiful. Always funny haircut.

This is Jacob at the end of the trek. Still fighting with every ounce of energy he has left.

Where's Your Happy Thought?

"When there's a smile in your heart

There's no better time to start

It's a very simpe plan

You can do what the birdies can

At least it's worth a try!

You can fly! You can fly!

You can fly! You can fly!

You can fly!"

Nothing to Compare.

One of my most favorite things in the world: the feel of tiny baby fingers discovering my face. (This is actually my sister, Emma's face, but whatever.)

I Like "Piddle Doo."

I never do the typical "This Little Pig" game with my kids. I learned this rhyme from my sister, Kelley. I don't know if she made it up or if she heard it from someone else, but this is how it goes. You start at the pinky toe:

"Little Pea, Piddle Doo, Dooda Wissa, Wissa Wassa, Ugga Bugga Bugga Bugga Bugga..."

Slimey...Yet Satisfying

We started feeding Jacob solids. He likes it.