BIAM

Some of you may know I'm writing a children's book. The whole process started three years ago. In our homeschool we were studying the state of Utah. In our local library, with out wonderful librarian I was searching out books to read with my children. One of the first stories I thought of for my younger children was the miracle of the gulls. I figured surely there would be a children's book or thirty, and I love the story. The librarian told me there wasn't a book about it and challenged me to write one.

The entire ride home I thought of the millions of reasons i didn't have time to write a book. I was pregnant with the twins at the time, and had five children, a husband and a home that all demanded my attention. No matter how many excuses I came up with, the idea kept coming back...so I started to write.

I discovered that I really enjoyed writing. I enjoyed doing something that stayed done...assuming you don't mind ten or twenty rewrites. I don't mind people commenting or criticizing my story and I really enjoy having a focus for what I am studying. I loved doing the research, though I was surprised at how much research a simple picture book required! The story is still the same simple story I knew as a child, but the form has taken a thousand different shapes. Through the rewriting process I have found a few people who have given me great advice, and I am close to sending this in to a publisher. My goal was to send it in before I had Abi. I always go late, so that would be the middle of January...except Abi came early and here we are.

I stumbled across this blog and decided to join up and get the book sent to a first publisher this month. I'm really close to sending it in, so this really is possible. After all I only had one baby this time! I also figure writing this little blurb will get me going. After all everyone will want to know when I get my first rejection notice right?! Then I will be able to say I really am a writer

hug o war

Who can resist this invitation for a hug? Rebecca is a great hugger!



Susie obviously loves being hugged! I love to see my Becca and Susie hugging, especially now that they are balanced enough to not fall down!

Cinnamon applesauce ornaments

We love making these deliciously smelling, and slightly messy ornaments.

Here is the whole gang...
Becca dressed for Christmas in Hawaii...
Lydia could not resist the smell...
Susan and her hands...


Cinnamon applesauce ornaments

1c cinnamon
3/4 c applesauce
1T allspice
1T cloves
1T ginger

the allspice, cloves and ginger are purely for smell, so feel free to replace them with cinnamon, double up on your favorite, substitute or whatever...

Mix together well. If necessary use more cinnamon (or flour) to make the dough not quite so sticky. Roll them (about 1/4 in thick) out and cut them, don't forget to use a straw or pencil to make a whole for a ribbon to go through (if you do forget hot glue guns can also attach ribbon to hang them ). You can dry them on the pan, but they smell REALLY good if you bake them at 200 for about 1.5 hours (depending on how thick they are).

Raymond's Baptism

December 1st was Raymond's Baptism day! We started the day with a good bit of snow. Raymond was in a mood. He still had a thousand questions to ask, and would choose the most innopportune times to ask them. I just checked with him, and he did finally get satisfactory answers to all of his questions! We were sad that Mom and Dad Kelly couldn't come today. We were happy to have my parents there and the Rexes, David and Tresa Hamsons, Michelle Kelly and numerous friends. We enjoyed Grandma Hamson's talk. Raymond said he felt the spirit most after he left the Relief Society room. He said it felt warm and like hot air just came right down inside him...

Here is a family picture. We were obviously very done with sitting still and not at all in the mood to smile...


Here are my parents, Chris and I and the guy himself in his sparkling choir gear, to look extra handsome...

Festival of Trees

November 30th.

The four oldest children had a choir performance at the festival of trees. They sang beautifully. Raymond thought it was tiring, but he did a fabulous job with all the actions and singing. Natalie thought it was nice and fun.
Lydia in this picture is second from the left in the front row..amazingly she is singing (she coudln't help it she knew the songs so well!) most of the time she was also twirling her tie on her skirt or twirling her hair....

Natalie is in the top left corner...

Here is an amazing gingerbread creation of a dragon!



Just to allow me a new motherhood experience, as we were walking away from the stage to go meet the older children, Ben took off pushing the stroller at a run. I (35 weeks pregnant) grabbed both little girls and tried to chase him...that didn't work. I waited and walked after him, but he didn't come back. I sent out the other choir mommies and went to get security to report my "run away". He was found at the very far end of the expo center happily running with the stroller. He was not aware he was lost, to busy enjoying the freedom of having no one say "Ben please push the stroller carefully!" After that I had to recover...yikes that isn't good for the heart.