Christmas comes but once a year...

Wow! Here we go - it is already Christmas time and I haven't written since Sept. That doesn't seem possible. Well, I just love the holiday season - Thanksgiving was great! And now we get to enjoy some of the Christmas cheer! I love the music, the lights and all the sweet stories of Christmas. I love Pres. Monson's talk this month about when we remove the last syllable in "the Spirit of Christmas," we get "The Spirit of Christ!" Simple, but true and so great to remember! Anyway, I am just happy today and wanted to write! Life is good! We just got home from a little vacation to California! We had a great time! I went to my friends wedding in San Diego and then hung out with the Berrett side of the family! It was so great! I just love my in-laws! Anyway, now the next few days will be my final days to get in all my sneaky shopping and wrapping!! I am so excited this year - we are keeping it small and simple! A traditional Christmas.... the girls asked for American Girl dolls (way too pricey for me, but with a little help from Santa and truly no other gifts - that is what they are asking for) Kimball will take anything, Collin wants a train table and Tori probably will just get a box of stuff to throw about! That seems to be her new talent -- empting containers, boxes, laundry baskets, drawers, etc. She started walking in California by the way!! She is seriously the sweetest baby ever and we love her to pieces!! Anyway, I think that is about it for tonight! Hopefully I will get some writing in before the big day -- in case I don't ---- Merry Christmas to all!!!

what in Tarnation! its already SEPTEMBER!!

Did anyone notice that it is already mid September, school has been in session for 3 1/2 weeks, my baby is 10 months old now and it is time to start thinking about what to dress up like for Halloween and then comes the Christmas wish lists and Thanksgiving, family CHRISTMAS blessings and celebrations and BAM --- A new year! So, what can I say? I have been super duper busy! I can't believe how time flies! We went to a family reunion the begining of August, school started, and we had grandma Berrett, Mari and Aaron move in with us for the month of September!! We are having a great time and it is so awesome to have a loving grandma adoring my children! I don't know about you, but when someone says my kids are cute, smart or fun it is like they are telling me I am the most amazing person in the world!! HA hA!! but really I do love when people love what or who I love!! :)
So, I need to definately put up some fun pictures we have taken over the last few months, but I really wanted to just take some time to write down some thoughts and get back in the game.

well, on Sunday we had the great honor of having one of the 12 Apostles come speak to our Stake at the Allen Stake Center - not just an apostle but a member of the 1st Pres. - President Uchtdorf came and spoke and it was so awesome!! He is such a great man and so fun to listen to! Anyway, that is my highlight of the month.

Also of parental note - Baby Tori started crawling and even pulls up on things now! She is so cute! We are all loving her! But I am already starting to feel a bit strange knowing she is my last child and the baby phase is coming to an end soon. She will be 1 year in November and once they start walking you know it all just turns to trouble and messes!! Anyway, I just had a random dream that I had a baby boy - #6!!! Sad cuz I know that is impossible unless I adopt -- which is definately something I would do if the right circumstances fell into place, but why can't I just be content with 5!! I am so crazy busy and life is just blowin' me over half the time, but for some reason - maybe cuz I am only 29 - I feel a little sad I won't have anymore babies! I love my little girl! She really has been a blessing and sweetheart! ( But my 2 year old on the other hand is sending me to the looney bin FAST!! He is just wearin' me down - throwing things, messes, spills, stains, markers on walls, carpets and couches, he loves laundry detergent and by golly you would think he is seriously trying to help me with all my work, but instead he doubles my work load - just by trying and making mistakes --- but I know this phase will pass and he will be a seriously service oriented boy, a football player, artist and loving son!)

Ok, and also while I am journaling - I am reading a book called the Holy secret and I just really enjoy it - so if anyone is interested in a good gospel read - I like it. It is not the book called Secret - which I guess is popular right now, but it is by a Mormon author - written as a novel called THE HOLY SECRET. Anyway, that is about it for now I guess.

I will try to post pictures soon!

Thanks to all my fans for reading this blog!
Thanks to my family, my dear husband and my children for putting up with me!
Thanks thanks and more thanks!
- KATHY

Response

Yahoo! Well, thanks for all the help with going private -- I still haven't decided, but anyway, just thought I would mention that I won't be posting for a little while but I just quickly wanted to say that I do appreciate the input and I will definitely keep ya'll on my list if I do go private. We are having some friends come to stay at our house tomorrow so I just know I won't get a chance to write. Be prepared though because we have some really fun pictures to post -- nathan and Abby went to CA and got to meet jack Black and Paul Williams - The guy who wrote Rainbow Connection and be on the set of Yo Gabba Gabba! They had a blast! Plus we had a great cousins party and celebrated Pioneer Day and stuff -- so when I get a chance there will be some fun pictures!! yippy!
love to ya'll!!

Going Private

So one other thing I noticed about the blogging stuff is that many of you are going or have already gone private! So, you know, I think that is probably a really good idea! I actually can't view most of your blogs anymore and I want to still snoop on your blog -- so what can I do about that and also - how can I make mine private -- I think you do it through the settings button, but..... I think it may take forever to add all the email addresses that I will allow to view my blog -- just with friends and family and all -- any tips? Is there an easier way to do this? THANKS

The Cutest Blog on the Block

So, my sister came to town and we talked about blogging and digital scrapbooking and all that jazz and I am so excited that I found this cute website with free templates - suggested by Lisa Johnson among others too!! But seriously I was so excited it was so easy and look how cute this template is!! hahaa! So fun I could change it once a week!! There are so many fun things offered out there!! Next I need to get a photoshop program, get a header going and work on some fun scrapbooking! So thanks for all the inspiration from all you bloggers and friends and family! It is like getting ready for a date or a reunion --- I want my blog to look cute and all dressed up because wow -- people actually read these and keep in touch and I am so excited to be reacquainted with my old friends, roomates, and buddies! This is such a spastic post - but i am excited about it so much that i had to write my thoughts and they are going a mile a minute! I sometimes think that the computer is too confusing for me and I can't do it --- but I think I may have found a new little joy in blogs and scrappy stuff!! yippy!
love kathy

Summer Lovin'

So, I guess it is time for my bi-annual update!! Sad that so much time has past - so fast!! Anyway, we will start with the end of school -- here is Kimball graduating from preschool! This is awesome because - this is the same preschool I went to!! :) Seriously - this is Sister Barbara Dobson - at her home - and for the record I am sure my mother has a picture of me hugging her just the same way, in the same room, sitting in the same old green chair - and the wonderful woman hasn't aged and is an incredible teacher - then and now!


Shortly after school got out, we helped my parents out with their garden while they were out of town -- My dad knows how to grow 'em big in TEXAS! (Nathan watering - Kimball helping?)



Then next comes the surprise of all -- we were just kinda waiting in the car while Nathan finished up and I spotted something moving in the trees!!!







We jumped out of the car and Nathan moved in for a better shot -- it was a bobcat! Pretty awesome!!




Ok, then - just an update on Yo Gabba Gabba --- Collin is 2 and loves YGG! He has about 4 t-shirts and basically he wears one every day - I have to stay caught up on laundry to last through the week! So, anyway, we are excited because they are working on Season 2 and it is going really well and it is getting awesome reviews in other countries as well!! (to those of you who didn't know about it, Nathan's cousins and brothers helped create it and get it to where it is now on Nick Jr. - So, here is just a cute little shot of Collin and Tori watching a little YGG!!)


And then I just had to post these darling little photos of the kids!! We had a photo shoot with the kids in downtown Mckinney with a photographer and then we came home and took a couple in the backyard before it got too late and too dark!

Anniversary Party

Hey friends and family!! I hope to be posting more posts soon - but for now I just wanted to get the message out that we are throwing ourselves an Anniversary Party!! THis Saturday from 7 til whenever! No kids - just adults oh and babies too! But, anyway, we are celebrating 10 years!! So, please if you can make it come - bring an appetizer or dessert to share! THANKS
kathy