Christmas Eve

Okay, okay, that post of Andrew's ear was up long enough.  Sorry about that.

Here are some real pictures of our Christmas Eve:

We spent Christmas Eve with my family this year and it was a great night.  After a feast of crab legs and Christmas salad, the kids put on an outstanding production of "The Nativity."

The best Christmas pageant ever.

These kids get so excited to find great costumes and dress up for this tradition. 

It's always a highlight of the night.

The only one not interested was this girl. 

She had cups to stack and couldn't be bothered.

Toward the end of the night, all the kids opened pajamas from Grandpa and Oma.  It was complete chaos as the kids all screamed with delight when they opened them and then clamored to change into their new jammies.  

Lucy was "done" by the time I tried to take a picture of the girls (minus Lila.)

The boys did okay at first.

But by the time we tried to get a picture of everyone together, Lucy had totally lost it, Peter was falling apart and chaos had taken over.

Definitely time to go home and get babies to bed.  

Plus, the kids had been tracking Santa on the computer all day 

and he was getting dangerously close.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

A Van Gogh Christmas

WARNING: The following post contains images that may not be appropriate for the faint of heart - seriously.

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,

not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

The children were nestled all snug in their bed,

When Andrew bent to kiss Abby and then banged his head.

(or his ear, to be more exact.)

Yes, on a night when minutes count, Andrew split his ear open on Abby and Isaac's bunk bed.  Luckily, Andrew was able to put his professional skills to good use and avoided a trip to the ER on Christmas Eve.  He glued that ear back together and except for some bruising and some steri-strips it looks almost as good as new.

As an upside, in an effort to protect his ear, Andrew wrapped an ace bandage around his head and spent the rest of Christmas Eve looking like Jacob Marley's ghost.  It seemed like a festive way to spend the night - and it made him look dead sexy.

Post script:  Here is Andrew's ear, just two weeks later.  Pretty excellent work, if you ask me.

From Our Family to YOU!

Our Christmas letter is unique this year because, for the first time in ten years, we don’t have a new baby or a pregnancy to announce.  In fact, with five kids, our lives feel quite full.  Our hands are full, our schedules are full, our weeks and weekends are full and our house is full. 

Apparently, our lives weren’t full enough though, because in July, while searching online ads for a refrigerator, Elizabeth came across an ad for a miniature schnauzer puppy and knew that this dog should be ours. It wasn’t hard to convince the kids that it was time to get a dog, but convincing Andrew was another story.  He fought hard against getting a dog for about fifteen minutes until he realized that he had already lost this battle.  So, this summer, “Minnie” became the newest member of our family.  We all adore her and even Andrew softened a little when it was discovered that he and Minnie share a birthday.

Minnie arrived just in time for our family trip this summer.  We took the trip of a lifetime and traveled together as a family to Florence!  It had always been a seemingly impossible dream to go there and celebrate the family name, and to be able to do this as a whole family made it even more special.  We walked the streets of Florence, soaked in the architecture, the art, and the history.  We dined at a charming little outdoor Italian restaurant (naturally) and bought every member of the family a “Florence” sweatshirt.  All too soon, it was time for us to leave.  Yes, Florence, Oregon was everything we had hoped it would be, but we had to keep moving if we were going to see the rest of the coast and make it to the Redwoods by nightfall.

With five kids, two alternating drivers, one tiny puppy, and countless well-coordinated bathroom stops, we covered over 1500 miles in eight days, attending a Dunn Family Reunion and exploring the state of Oregon.  Crater Lake, the Oregon Coast and the Redwood National Forest were beyond description.  It feels very efficient to arrive at a place for the first time, realize it should be on your bucket list, add it to the list, and then check it off that very same day.  The kids occasionally grew tired of breathtaking views and scenic byways, but they never tired of watching Disney’s 1973 animated classic, “Robin Hood” on perpetual repeat.  Oo-de-Lally, golly what a drive!

At 17 months little Lucy finally learned to walk and now thinks she is one of the big kids in every way.  She recently decided to pack up her things and finally move out of our bedroom, into a room with Henry and Peter.  Now, with Lucy in a crib and Henry and Peter in a bunk bed, the bedtime routine gets a little chaotic. Conversations extend late into the night as Peter asks Henry to tell him stories about the “dino-swords.”  The swapping of binkies is as frequent as the swapping of beds, and Henry and Peter throw Lucy’s blankets back into her bed as quickly as she can throw them out.

Just down the hall, Abby and Isaac are still suite mates, and are as sweet of mates as you can find.  They ski together, play the piano together, speak Spanish together, go to play practice together, read together and play soccer together.  They do, however, part ways briefly for flag football and sewing.

Yes, this year has been a full one.  At this Christmas season our hearts are especially full of gratitude for family, friends and the birth of the Savior.  We wish you and your family a Christmas full of comfort, joy and the sweetness of the season.

   Love, The Florences

Andrew, Elizabeth, Abigail, Isaac, Henry, Peter, Lucy (and Minnie too!)

Scenes of Christmas

How is it possible that Christmas is just a week away?  This month has gone by entirely too fast for my liking.  It has been an amazing month.  We have had so much fun but there has also been a spirit of peace in our home.  (Well, except for when the kids have been fighting or having meltdowns.  But who doesn't have a meltdown at least once during December?)

Here are some scenes from our Christmas season so far...

We have loved reading books by the Christmas tree every night.

We went to the Nativity at Bonneville Glen - always a highlight.

Lucy's first experience with Santa was less than comfortable. 

 Lights at Temple Square

Our Christmas Angel taking in all the sights.

 

Minnie's favorite place to take a nap is under our Christmas tree.

Occasionally, she entertains guests under there.

Some of our favorite ornaments:

We have pictures of each of our kids from every year.  They are starting to take up lots of space on our tree, but it's a tradition I can't quit.  This one is Isaac - Christmas 2003.  Love that jolly boy!

An "ornament" I bought when I went to Taiwan in December 1999.

(I have no idea what it's used for in Taiwan.)

A painted egg I bought in Prague on Study Abroad in college.

(I have four of them, and I have moved them all over the country and not one has been broken.)

An ornament given to me by Senator Bennett when I worked for him.

It reminds us of the years we spent living in Virginia - such a great time in our lives.

Peter had a singing performance at preschool.

Peter spots Andrew during his performance.

Afterward, he insisted I take a picture of his "outfit."

And finally, the prettiest sight we see...

is the star on top of "Andrew's" tree.

He added the star this year to the top of our 50-foot tree. 

This truly is the best time of year and our kids are such perfect ages, I hate how quickly it all goes by.  Wouldn't it be nice if December lasted sixty days and we could just skip January?  

Who's in?

Minnesota Winters

This past weekend a major snow storm hit Minnesota.  As I heard about the inches of snow that were piling up there, I thought back to the winters we spent in living in Bloomington.

Our cozy little house in Minnesota.

We spent three years in Minnesota and we loved our time there.  Yes, as anyone will tell you, it gets cold there.  Really cold.  It's the kind of cold that when you walk outside and the cold air hits your head, you get an immediate brain freeze.  What people may not tell you is how beautiful Minnesota winters are;   because, even if it's -20 outside chances are good that the sun will be shining and there will be a gorgeous blue sky.  Because of that, the bitter cold Minnesota winters were way easier for me to get through than the gray inversion we get here in Utah.

Listening to reports about the storm, I thought about our great neighbors in Minnesota - the ones who took care of us while we lived there.  Andrew was in residency so he was at the hospital a lot and was gone at weird hours of the day.  We had a darling couple who lived across the street from us.  They were in their 70s, and they became surrogate parents to us and grandparents to our kids.

Gene & Margie's house across the street

Gene and Margie were perfect neighbors.  They kept an eye on our house when we went out of town.  When I had to take Andrew to the ER for a kidney stone, they were the ones who watched our kids.  They came to Abby's dance recitals.  They gave our kids birthday presents and Christmas presents and were always ready with a listening ear when I was overwhelmed with three little kids.  For Christmas, Gene made my kids a wooden Santa face that had a red lightbulb for a nose and every year we pull it out and think of Gene.  In the winter, when the big snow storms hit, more often than not, I would look out my window and Gene would be there with his snowblower clearing off my driveway. There wasn't a time in Minnesota that I had to shovel my driveway, because even when Andrew was at work, Gene was there to take care of us.  Big snowstorms always remind me of Gene and the service he gave our family for three years.

Gene & Margie at Abby's Recital

When we moved away from Minnesota, it was so hard to say good-bye to Gene and Margie.  We had been loved and spoiled by their kindness and we knew we would miss it.  I cried like a baby when I crossed the street for the last time to say good-bye to our dear friends.

Abby saying good-bye to Margie.

It was ironic, that on Saturday, the day of the big Minnesota snowstorm just as I had been thinking about our winters there, we got a call from sweet Margie telling us that Gene had died that afternoon.   My heart was heavy when I heard the news.  I can't imagine Margie without Gene - and I can't imagine our old neighborhood without him there.  Over the past few days, my mind has been filled with memories of him and the many ways he cared for my family and I have felt gratitude for dear friends and neighbors. Thank heaven for cold winters and for the warm hearts of Gene and Margie who took good care of us while we were there.  Once again, it hurts to say good-bye.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

The Christmas Spirit has hit full force in our house.  The halls are decked, the stockings are hung, carols are playing, books are being opened, Winston - our elf - is here and hiding nightly, Christmas lists have been made and revised and nativities have been set up and changed daily.

We check the forecast daily, actually hoping for snow.  We take the long way home, checking out light displays along the way.  We talk about presents we hope to receive and presents we want to give.  We are drinking egg nog and wassail and eating ginger cookies for treats.

For all the craziness of this time of year, I have to say it is magic.  I love this season - and by season, I mean this time of year and this time in my life.  These days with my little children are a precious gift in themselves and I am holding on to every minute.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

Snowball Effect

Last Sunday we were at my parent's house for dinner when my dad told Abby one of my all time favorite stories.  It is the story of the first time my parents met...

(Not an actual photograph of described events.)

It was a beautiful winter's day up at University of Utah campus.  There had been a huge snowstorm the night before, so in between classes, my mom and her friend decided to throw snowballs at all the cute boys walking by on their way to class.  Who knows how many snowballs were actually thrown, but as the story goes, my dad was the only one who stopped and threw one back.  And that is the way it all began...

As my dad finished telling Abby the story, he gestured to everyone sitting around the table: my mom, my seven siblings, our spouses and the nine grandchildren running wild through the house.  "See Abby, this is what happens when you throw snowballs at cute boys."

Without missing a beat, Abby said with newfound understanding, "Maybe that's why they don't want us throwing snowballs at recess."

It was a hilarious response - but over the past week, I have thought about the story and how grateful I am for those two crazy college kids who met during a snowball fight, were married a year and half later, have raised and loved eight kids and have been in love for more than 43 years.

Now that is the perfect definition of the snowball effect.

It Snowed, It Snowed, It Snowed Last Night....

Last night, after baths and teeth and jammies and scriptures, I had just finished tucking all my babies in bed, when I looked outside.  Only a short while before, it had been raining and sleeting and hailing, but now, huge snowflakes fell from the sky.  Our yard and our street had been transformed to a Winter Wonderland.

This was too spectacular to keep to myself.  "Abby, Isaac, Henry, Peter!" I called. "Come see this."

Four little pairs of feet came scampering from their cozy bedrooms to see what the fuss was about.  We looked out our big front window, mesmerized by the giant flakes blanketing the ground.  It didn't take long before our little group moved to the front porch.  The kids reached out their hands catching the snowflakes and then opened their mouths to taste them on the tips of their tongues.

"Let's go for a walk!" Abby suggested.

I hesitated for a moment.  The kids were all in their pajamas and had already been tucked in once.  Was it really worth the hassle to go through that again?

YES!  Most definitely, YES!

"Get your coat and boots," I said.  Faster than I've ever seen them move,  my four kids were dressed and ready to face the elements.  My little troop and I headed out the door into the snowy night.

There were no cars, no people, no noise -  just us, the snow-covered trees and lawns, and the flakes that continued to fall.

We walked along totally enchanted by all the cozy houses that line our street.  My kids squealed as they ran down the hill outside our house.  They twirled and danced in the snow.  They  caught the flakes on their mittened hands and watched them melt away.  They shook the branches that hung low, covered with snow - creating a blizzard all around them.  They made snowballs and laughed as they threw them at each other.

It was a perfect, peaceful, magical night.  When we got home to our own cozy house, after traipsing up and down our street, the kids made snow angels and built little snowmen until I said it was time to go in.  Reluctantly, my cold and wet babies came back inside and took off all their soggy clothes.

Then with smiles on their faces, they climbed back into their cozy beds and watched the snowflakes fall outside their windows until they fell asleep.

I am not a huge fan of winter, but there are few things in life that are more perfect or glorious or thrilling than the first big snowfall of the year.  And last night we went out and celebrated the grandness of it all.

Ode to Abby

We live in a great neighborhood.  I could make a long and elaborate list detailing all the things I love about where we live.  I love the mature trees,  and the winding street.  But more important than either of those things, is that I love the people who live in my neighborhood.  I love the great neighbors who are my friends and I love the children they are raising who are friends with my kids.

Abby is particularly lucky in the friend department.  There are so many darling girls her age who live around here.  They are kind, creative, smart and fun girls and I am so grateful that my daughter is surrounded by them.

Today, Abby came home from school bubbling with her usual enthusiasm.

"How was your day?" I asked.

"Great!" she replied.  "Becca wrote me a song.  Do you want to hear it?"

"Sure." was my response.  Then Abby explained that it was to the tune, "Utah, This is the Place." It's a song I am unfamiliar with, but apparently,  at least at our school, the kids learn it in 4th grade.  So, after a brief introduction, Abby started singing the song written for her by her friend.

Abby, wearing leggings and skirts,
Abby, wearing vans everyday,
She's the lead in the play,
Singing solos each day.
This is the girl.

Abby, voice strong til the end,
Abby, loves to play with a friend.
Loves to sew, loves to cook,
Loves to jump in a book.
This is the girl.

Abby, helping friends everyday,
Abby, she is leading the way,
She's the lead in the play
Singing solos each day,
This is the girl.

She was the dog in Annie
And an Oompa-Loompa too.
This year she is Jojo ooooooohhhh,

Abby, she's a lead in the play.
Loves to cook, loves to sew,
Wears her hair in a bow,
This is the girl.

Abby, Abby, Abby,
She is the GIRL!

By: Rebecca

When Abby finished singing the song for me, I had a strange mix of emotions.  First of all, I was amazed at how clever and cute Becca is, but more than that, I felt profound gratitude.  As a mother, I felt so grateful that my daughter has a friend who recognizes so much good in her and encourages and celebrates  it  - even in a song.  All girls (and women) should be so lucky.

This funny, cute  - and clever song written for Abby, has given me a big dose of gratitude today.  I am grateful for my Abby, who is all the things the songs says.  I am grateful to live in this great neighborhood and I am grateful for dear friends who look for and celebrate the good.  Hopefully, I can take a lesson from Becca, and be better at doing the same.

Strawberry and Cheetos. A Fall Classic.

Last week Isaac and Henry were too sick to go to school, but not too sick to go fishing.  Sounds a little bit like Huck Finn if you ask me.  

Seriously, I had just called the school, early enough that I wouldn't have to talk to anyone, and left a message saying that the boys would be missing school for a family event out of town with their grandpa.  This was all true, Elizabeth's dad (Grandpa) invited us fishing on a pontoon boat (family event) up at Strawberry reservoir (well out of town).   

Not long after making the phone call we had to stop the car so Isaac could get out and throw-up on the side of the road, much like Henry had the night before.   Why didn't I just call the school and tell them the basic facts, that both boys were sick, and would miss school.  We wouldn't want this stomach virus going to other kids, even though that's probably where we got it.  We wanted to keep this within our family.  Plus, puking over the side of a fishing boat is quite common.  I've read "The Perfect Storm" and have seen an episode of "The Deadliest Catch".  

It was a great early start.  The morning sun was impressive shining on the back side of Mt Timpanogus.  It looked like the perfect day.

As we approached the lake, we dropped down into a cloud that filled the valley.  It was 22 degrees but we were prepared for the cold.  We headed out onto the lake with zero visability, in no particular direction, hopefully towards the fish.  

Henry was bundled up and optimistic.  It seemed no one was on the lake but then we came upon this lone fisherman who appeared to be posing for a gear catalog or a motivational poster entitled "Persistence" or "Determination" or "Lose Yourself in Dense Fog".

I looked over to find Henry comatose on the bench.  I guess he figured he'd wake up when the sun burned through.  

Seriously, he slept in this position for over TWO hours.

Then came the fish.  Last time we went fishing, it was more about just enjoying the scenery, the time in the canoe with my son and my father in law, but this time, we caught fish.  We also re-lived one of Elizabeth's favorite childhood memories: fishing at Strawberry with her dad and licking cheetos residue off her fingers all afternoon.  This time, no paddling, great company, cheetos, and a surplus of willing 18 inch long cut throat trout.   And then the sun burned through.  What a sick day.  I've read fishing t-shirts and bumper stickers about this kind of a day.  Now I get it.

Jon, and his brother Steve reeled these in at the same time.  Steve's would not hold still for the picture and tried to bite his finger off, which is why he cannot stop laughing.

Henry chose a special white lure and sure enough, together we caught one.  He loved reeling it in and was very proud of his lure selection.  Here is his fish, just as grandpa was about to throw it back it flipped out of his hands for the picture.

Isaac was very patient, and had endured our last fishless day, never getting frustrated.   He was casting great and having a great time and knew his time would come.  His first one somehow broke the line just as we got it close to the boat.  Finally he yelled out, "got one" and sure enough, reeled in a beauty all on his own.  He was pretty happy.

It was beautiful sunny day and will have to become a November tradition