I looked out the window and what did I see?

The UPS truck, and I was so excited! On the 12th of December I got a SMOKIN' deal on a camera. My parents had given us money for Christmas and I decided to buy this camera with it. I have really needed a camera for a while now. The one I have now has been used and abused for a long time. It has literally taken millions of shots over the four years I have had it, and now little things like the batteries falling out and the shutter sticking is making it hard for me to take pictures. It's hard to seem like a pro when I am yelling, "hold that pose, my batteries just fell out." I end up with more and more yucky ones like this:

and fewer and fewer FABULOUS ones like this:

(Isn't she gorgeous? She makes taking pictures so easy!)

In the last year I have actually made some money taking pictures, and would love to expand that, but I really do need a new camera. So anyway, I ordered this camera, and then have been waiting, holding my breath, waiting by the window every day, listening for the sounds of a large truck driving by that might signal the UPS truck, and cussing when it isn't ("@#$% garbage man, doesn't he know I'm waiting for a package?!?") I am almost not even exaggerating here, I was a mess about it. So Christmas came and went, and still no camera (Even though it was supposed to be here by the 15th, and guaranteed by the 24th, What does that mean anyway, "Guaranteed"? I'll tell you what it doesn't mean, it DOESN'T mean that it will get there by the date it says, and it DOESN'T mean that they do anything nice for you if it isn't, that's what!) So finally today I hear a sound, like a truck. I once again rush to the window, and My breath catches in my chest as I see the big brown truck that I have been waiting so long for. It nearly kills me as the driver takes his dear sweet time climbing down from the truck, going to the back, rummaging around, looking for the package, stopping to admire the day, and carefully hopping from one dry patch of sidewalk to another - Darn me for not doing a better job shoveling the sidewalks! Finally he reaches the door. I hear the screen open, and the knock sounds. I RUN -really, I did- to the door, fling it open, grab the package from his hands, nod my acknowledgement of the "how-are-you-today-did-you-have-a-nice-holiday-it's-so-nice-to-have-a-bright-sunny-day-after-all-that-snow-we-got-last-week..." small talk, and turn and close the door. I didn't even leave the entry way before I had the package torn open. I ripped open the box to find... not the beautiful camera that I have had actual dreams about each night since I ordered it, no, it was a DIFFUSER! What the @#$% ! I read the label, I go to the confirmation e-mail, I even check out the add on the website that I ordered. All of them say "Camera WITH light/flash diffuser" I call the company and explain that I got the stinkin' diffuser, and no camera, when can I expect the camera. They say that the ad was a misprint. It actually was just the diffuser. They apologise for the inconvenience, and to make it up to me they will send me a complementary CATALOG! Once again, What the @#$%!?! Turns out my smokin' hot deal wasn't even a good deal, in fact the price I paid for a diffuser was quite overpriced. I am sending it back. I can't use it if I don't have the camera that it goes to. I totally can't afford that camera. I want to cry, but haven't...yet. Stinkin' diffuser...

Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas was great. It wasn't at all what we were planning on, but it was good anyway. We were going to stay home until the day after Christmas, enjoy the annual hogfest, take it easy Christmas day, and then take a leisurly trip to visit our parents for the rest of the weekend. The only problem was, there was a HUGE storm expected to start Christmas morning, and not let up until Saturday night. We found that out, and we decided at the last minute to go home on Christmas Eve. That meant in a matter of two hours I packed for four people, gathered all of the gifts, got everything thrown in the car, and took off. We made it just in time. As soon as we pulled in the snow started to fall. The upside was that we made it for Grandma's Christmas Eve party, and we were able to spend a few extra days with our family. The down side is I forgot important things like pants, and a coat. Oh, well, all in all we had a great time. We spent time visiting family, of course opening presents (We got some great stuff, Thanks, family!) we did a little snowmobiling, we took a nap every. single. day!, and ate a TON on food. It was great! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas too. Good luck in the new year.

Let it snow...

This weekend we FINALLY got a little snow to stick. Well, scratch that, it was a LOT of snow, and it isn't over yet! It all started on Friday morning. We woke up and it was a normal day, by ten it was coming down so much we couldn't even see across the street. It snowed all day long. Every now and then it would slow down a little, but it never did stop. Around 5:30 Troy called to tell me that he was just leaving Salt Lake. He had been called down there to assess the damages after a car slid out of control and into one of the buildings they were working on. We were having a party with some friends at 7, but I thought he would still be able to make it home in plenty of time. - Oops, I forgot that it was snowing. I called him at a quarter to 7 when it was time to go get the sitter before the party to see how close he was. He was still in Syracuse, about 30 minutes away-in normal weather! I rushed across town to get the sitter (she just moved clear across town, but she is worth endangering my life to drive across town where it seemed that every lunatic was on the streets just to get her. She's that good! When we got home we had barely taken off our coats before people started showing up. Luckily one of those people was Troy. He was only about a half hour late. We had a great time with our friends visiting and playing games. Not everyone we invited was able to come because of a stomach flu, work, and the weather, but I think we ended up with the perfect amount. When it was finally over our friends Brad and Melissa, who had brought their kids, decided to leave them overnight (They were bringing them back first thing in the morning for me to watch while they did service at the DI.) So we ended up having a sleep-over! We don't do that very often, so it was quite a treat. We really did have so much fun. It was almost midnight before everyone left and we all had jammies on and and were settling into bed. All four girls cuddled onto the sofa bed in the family room, and Ethan slept on the floor. They were good and didn't make much noise, but no one went to sleep either. Finally around two I went down and Adia and Emmalee were out, and Katherine was almost there, but Ethan and little Hannah were wide awake. I took Hannah upstairs and laid her down on the couch and she was out in a matter of seconds. I tried to sleep, but around three Hannah was in my room asking "Where's Emmalee?" As soon as I told her that Emmalee was sleeping she curled up on the floor in my room and went to sleep. I covered her and went to check on the rest of the kids. Ethan and Emmalee were wide awake playing. I turned off the TV and told them to go to sleep, but I could still hear them giggling down stairs for about an hour. Hannah kept waking me up every thirty minutes asking me where Emmalee was but as soon as I told her she would lay back down and go to sleep. Troy was asked to be an escort at the temple for one of his friends who was going through on Saturday morning, so he had to leave the house by 5:30. When he did all of the kids woke up, and were up for the rest of the day. We had so much fun playing. The kids kept doing things to make me laugh all day. It was great! And actually, for having five kids trapped in the house all morning running off of VERY little sleep it went pretty well. Ethan was a little bit much for the girls sometimes, but for the most part they played really nicely together. We are going to have to do that again soon. When their parents came to pick them up they brought the cutest little gift certificates they had made for us- good for 2 hours of babysitting! It was sweet, but I doubt we will ever cash them in, we still want them to be our friends:)
The rest of the day we took naps (AWESOME) I worked on my lesson for the next day, and we went shopping for a few last minute presents - Thanks Grandma Gloria and Grandpa Jim for the gift cards. Then we helped the kids wrap what they bought, and watched movies for the rest of the night. I LOVE Christmas movies! I love how sappy they are, and how you can always guess how it's going to end. I love that all the girls are named Hollie of Carol, and all the boys are named Nick. I love that it gives you hope in Christmas Miracles. My family does NOT love Christmas movies, but I love that they snuggle on the couch with me and watch them anyway just so we can all be together.
Sunday was clear, but yesterday and so far today it has not stopped snowing. It is crazy. I have shoveled snow until my back aches. We have made snow men, snow angels, snow forts, snow balls, and snow-ice cream. We are having so much fun with the snow. Of course, we haven't had to drive in it. We have stayed home and enjoyed it. Troy isn't loving the snow quite as much. Of course he has been caught in Traffic every day since Friday. Twice he made it home within minutes of them shutting down the freeway. I am one lucky girl that I can just stay home and play with my kids while my sweet honey goes to work and makes the money:) Now if we can just make it through Christmas Vacation without me KILLING anyone!:)

Traditions

I love this time of year because it is so rich in tradition. I love traditions! When Troy and I were about to get married we met with our stake president who counseled us to take a few of the traditions that we grew up with, but mostly to start our own traditions. We have done that a lot. We can incorporate a lot of our old family traditions, but at the point where those collide, and we have to choose, we make up our own. I love it. I love that our kids now expect us to do certain things, and remind us when we forget. I decided I would share some of my favorites from this time of year. One is that each year we open a present on Christmas Eve (taken from Troy's childhood) (always Jammies and slippers at our house) Another one that is not fun in the moment, but fun to laugh about later is taken from my childhood. Our Christmas Tree always falls over, at least once. Even though now we have an artificial tree, and you would think it would stay up better, it doesn't. Every year without fail it falls, and usually it is caused by one of the kids. Poor little squished babies, but it does let us know without a doubt who was the culprit:) And since we are on the subject of decorating we always decorate for Christmas as soon as we can after Thanksgiving dinner. And Every year Troy hangs lights on our house, and EVERY year he either falls off the ladder, or shocks himself (Sometimes both:)

Another tradition we have is to buy a new piece for our Christmas Village that represents what we did during the year. We started that tradition as a newlywed couple, buying a church, and a bride and groom. We have pieces representing purchasing our houses, getting kids, finalizing the adoption, moving, camping, anything that sums up the big events in our life. We love it and it helps us look back and see the things that were important. I also collect nativities, and so each year we buy a new one.

We also choose a family to do a sub for Santa for. This is a much bigger undertaking on the years we have money than it is in the poor years (like this one:) But we always make sure to give what we can to someone. I am really excited about this year because though we don't have quite as much to give, the kids are more involved this year, and it is really coming from our heart.

Many of our traditions start around food, and here are my two favorites. First, we have a Christmas Breakfast. This is a relatively new one as the first couple of years were spent with our families. But the last three Christmases we have made a special breakfast - gingerbread waffles, star shaped french toast, homemade hot chocolate, mulled syrup, my famous (in our house) omelets, and ham. We don't usually eat big breakfasts like that, so once a year is perfect for us. Our other food related tradition is old (starting with my family, and Grandma Fuller's Christmas eve party and evolving from there) but it just got a title a few years ago, stolen from a friend. It is our Annual Eberling Family Hog-fest! We get tons of junk food, and our favorite treats, and instead of a real dinner hog down on crap and watch Christmas movies until way into the morning. That is one of my personal favorites, and it is one of the only things that is more fun now that we moved away. I usually miss being "home" during this time of year, and doing things with our families, but this one is great with just the four of us.

And finally, new years eve. This came from boredom more than anything, but it stuck. When we were first married we had parties to go to, but after we moved to LaSal, and had kids there wasn't much of a party scene for us, so we gathered a ton of treats, and sat on the couch watching count down shows, and info-mercials. We laugh at all of the crazy things that are for sale late at night, make a "wish list" of our top five, and sometimes even call and ask crazy questions. I know, we are a riot aren't we:) It usually lasts way past midnight because we have so much fun!

So now it's your turn. What are some of your fun traditions?

A chicken for Christmas! Just what I've always wanted!

The last few weeks have been pretty hard on Adia. See, she keeps secrets just like her dad - not at all- so when we have been taking her out to shop for the Christmas presents she is giving to someone else, she immediately comes home and tells that person what she got them. We have talked to her about how it's a surprise, so she can't tell them, and finally we thought she got it. When she and her dad got home last Saturday afternoon she ran over to me and said "Mom, we got you a chicken for Christmas! We didn't get you that necklace you like." Then she burst into giggles, and said " boy dad, we really tricked her, didn't we?" I'm so excited for Christmas. I can't wait to get my nice new chicken. What a thoughtful gift right? And so original.

A reminder...

Tonight was our ward Christmas party. The excitement, the crowds of people, and the fact that Saturday puts us off of our regular routine anyway, all made this a really hard thing for Ethan to attend and still behave. He and I ended up walking home right after dinner was over. He didn't want to go, but he wouldn't follow the rules so he had to anyway, and this made him MAD. He screamed, and arched his body, refusing to walk and at one point even threw himself on the ground and threw an all out fit. None of this was making me very happy, so as you can imagine, after the walk home (only about 3/4 of a mile, but still it was cold, and snowy, and I literally had to drag him the entire way) I had just about had all I could handle. I tried to open the door only to discover that my dear husband had locked it, and the only keys were either locked inside of the house, or in my dear husband's pocket back at the church. The party was no where near over, and so I knew we would both be ice statues by the time they got home if we just waited. There was no other choice but to hike back to the church, all the while Ethan was still bawling. We got the keys and were headed home when I had had enough. I sat Ethan down on the curb and told him that we needed to talk. I was willing to let him stay if he could be good, but the choice was his either way he needed to stop crying. He decided that he didn't have it in him to obey the rules so we headed home one more time. As crying was no longer aloud (Boy I wish I had thought of that the first time around) we had plenty of time to talk. We sang Christmas carols, and talked about different things in Ethan's life. He had me laughing with the lyrics he sang to the Christmas songs. (Like, "bring me some freakin' pudding" instead of "bring us some figgy pudding", and "oh, Christmas tree Oh, Christmas tree, duh, duh-duh, duh, duh, duh-duh..." He doesn't know any of the other words, and really I don't either) When we entered our circle, and the house was in sight again we were talking about how happy we were to be home. Ethan said, "it's a good thing that we are here because I am freezing my butt off!" I said "Really, you are?" and he replied "yup, would you like a picture?" I'm not really sure what that means, but it made me laugh. We came inside and changed into our PJs and cuddled on the couch with some hot cocoa (NOT in the diet, but desperately needed) When Ethan took a drink he said "oh, mom, this is cocoa-licious!" After the cocoa, when we could feel our feet again we played Transformers, read stories, and had a really fun night. He has also started putting sound effects to our lives. Like when I made a dumb joke he said "ba-dum, bum" like drums, and when my slippers made me slide not so gracefully across the kitchen floor, eventually falling and scattering our cocoa cups all over the floor he said "wa-wa-wa, just like on tv. I love that kid! He makes me laugh so hard. I could hardly believe it when Troy got home and asked if I was still mad about Ethan's behavior. I had kind of forgotten all about that part. I guess sometimes when I feel like I have had it with him I just need to spend a little time, just the two of us, really listening and really having fun to remind me just how lucky I am.

Heartburn

Tonight Ethan was helping me make dinner. I was chopping onions, and it started making both of our eyes burn. With tears running down his cheeks he cried "oh, these stinkin' onions are giving me heartburn!" (Something I'm sure he has heard his dad say a time or two:)

The Diet

As promised, here's an update of Ethan's diet. He tells everyone we meet "My mom put me on a diet" I'm sure everyone who sees us thinks "Yup, the scrawny little thing who's ribs are sticking out is sure the one who needs the diet!"
In case you forgot we cut out all dairy, yellow food, junk food, fruit juice, sugar, chocolate, processed meats, fried foods, artificial colors, and artificial flavors. You might ask what that leaves us with. Well, not a lot, I will tell you. We eat a lot of fruits and veggies, and can have most meats (Though we have to watch fat content) It was pretty hard to begin with, because even when I thought I was doing a great job, it turned out that I wasn't ex: I got him soy milk because he can't drink dairy, but he doesn't like the taste of regular soy milk, so I got him the vanilla. Good idea right? Nope, it's LOADED with sugar! Cutting one or two of those things out really isn't that bad, but having all of them cut out at once is tough. But we did it for two whole weeks. After the first week we didn't really notice a big difference, but the second week was AMAZING! It was like a totally different kid. We didn't have to fight with him about things. We didn't have the usual tantrums when we transitioned from one activity to another. He did much better at school, he slept better at night, and we could talk and reason with him about things. It was amazing. That's not to say that he was perfect, and all of our problems were solved, but it was a huge improvement. After the two weeks we were supposed to add things back in one at a time. We started with dairy because that was the hardest thing for us. He didn't seem to have a reaction at all, so we were excited. We also added in yellow things and he didn't have any reaction. We added Fried/ high fat foods, and noticed a difference in his behavior, but not a huge one. We also noticed a HUGE difference when we added artificial colors. He got a rash on his ears (Totally normal according to the diet plan. It didn't irritate him at all) and his behavior was terrible. Then came Thanksgiving. My family really tried to stick to the diet and made an excellent effort. They even substituted some of our regular dishes for new, diet-conscious dishes. But it was Thanksgiving, after all, and it was a holiday weekend, and it was a whirlwind of visiting people in different environments, eating out, and eating with people who didn't know about, or care about the diet, in some cases. So we decided that the week following we would stay where we were. We wouldn't add or subtract anything, and would just stick to the diet as it was. He seemed to do alright. His behavior wasn't as good as it had been before the holiday, but that was mainly due to the change in routine, not the diet. He did have a birthday party at school, and ate a cupcake. It was amazing to see his scores that day. He did great all morning, then he had the cupcake complete with sugar and artificial coloring, and his scores plummeted. It's amazing to see, in just a matter of minutes you can really see his behavior change when he has something he shouldn't. It amazes me.
So, that's it. This week we are going to start adding things again, and pick up where we left off. Mostly I am happy to know the things that really effect him, and so I know what to stalk up on and what to stay away from. That doesn't mean that we can NEVER have the things he loves, it just means that we need to have them in moderation, and we know what to expect when he does have those things.
How does it affect the rest of us? Well, it drives my mom CRAZY worrying about it, Troy doesn't mind it, he eats whatever he wants while he's at work, and then follows the diet when he's at home. Adia HATES it, and takes every opportunity to eat junk food when Ethan is at school. But she is very protective of her brother, and tells people that things aren't healthy for Ethan to eat when they forget. She also offers to eat his portion of things that are not part of the diet. ("I'll eat that brownie for you Ethan. I'm such a good helper.") I have tried my best to stick to the diet - though I do give into my chocolate cravings now and then while he's gone to school- and I have lost 5lbs. All in all, I don't think anyone has suffered in this. (Except poor Ethan who has been asking for a hot fudge Sunday all week)

Adia's "Dance Show"

Adia's ballet studio did their Christmas Recital last night. Adia has been telling everyone she meets. "I'm going to star in a dance show would you like to see it?" When they say yes she tells them "Well, you better ask my mom if you are invited." She did great. She is quite the performer. I thought she would be scared when she saw the huge crowd, but she didn't seem to be phased at all. She got to wear makeup, and thought she was so beautiful. (she really was, she has lashes for miles.) I volunteered to be the stage helper, so Troy was in charge of manning the camera...thus, no pictures, not even one. Oh well, there is always next time. Great job Adia!

K-I'm Back...I think

Well, Last week was a whirlwind that I barely remember the details of, and before I knew it I was headed back out of town and never did get a chance to blog again. There really isn't too much to report here, Just holiday business, and my annual craft fair that I do with my friend Terri. This week is Adia's dance recital, the YW Christmas Bash, the RS Christmas Party, the Ward Christmas Social, and some wacky holiday something-or-other at Ethan's school. You gotta love this time of year. Oh, I have also enjoyed your "Putting Christ in Christmas" ideas, thanks. We already planned to do a sub for Santa, I also got us on the sign up sheet to be bell ringers one afternoon next week. We adopted a Grandma and are going to make her special gifts every day, Melissa sent me an advent calendar where you read a scripture each day until Christmas to better learn about Christ, and the Christmas Story, we read a few stories from the library about christmas. And tonight for Family Night we are going to start a new tradition. I made a "manger" (in parenthesis because you have to really use your imagination, then spin around nine times fast, stand on your head and look cross eyed at it for it to look like a manger:)and we are going to put a piece of straw in it for each good deed we do, then on Christmas Eve we will lay baby Jesus in the manger, and hopefully he will have a soft place to lay. Anyway, that's the plan for now. Keep the ideas coming if you've got them. If nothing else I am just going to do my best and pray that as they grow up they will get it. I think that's all I can do:)

Miss Me?

Sorry, I have been caught up in the holiday crazies and have forgotten to post. Now, either this will be a way long catch up post, or a series of shorties. I haven't decided yet. I guess it depends on if I am at a stopping place the next time I get interrupted.


First, I would like to thank everyone who read my posts, commented, asked questions, or learned anything about adoption during adoption month. I think it was a very successful month for adoption awareness, and though I didn't post all of the things I wanted to, my main goal was to share info, and I think that has been done. It was a lot of fun to share a little bit of my side, and I hope that the message I got across was how very special, and very important it is in my life, and the lives of many others. It is a very life changing, and truly awesome thing. If you have learned anything about it this month, please share with others. If you still have questions please ask. Thanks for your support.


Next up, Thanksgiving. I LOVE Thanksgiving. All the eating, and visiting, and being grateful for what you have, and eating some more. I can't get enough of this holiday. I was very blessed to have traveled safely to my mom and dad's house, and even though we had to stop EIGHT times during the six hour trip (grrr I'm still mad about that. My body must be 90% filled with bladder because I can hold it for days, and I am in a family of pea-no pun intended- sized bladders. If I had my way we would drive strait through without stopping, so eight times is a little much for me, and causes me to be cranky) we never had bad weather either direction. And even with all of our pit stops we remained mostly embarrassment free (Confused? Read here.) We had lots of yummy food, visited with my family, visited with Troy's family, visited with our friends/family, played in the snow, worked, and shot some beautiful bridals of our friend Ashley. Pretty great weekend. (Side note for the Mallory's: Poor Jeremy has a bad rap. On the way home we were talking about you guys and how we need to go visit you in your new house, and how we liked seeing you this weekend, and Adia said "Yeah, it was fun except when Uncle Jeremy yelled at us for eating the candy at the grandma's house"(I really don't think he ever yelled) and Ethan replied, "yeah, he yells a lot. Remember in Mexico when he said the@#$% word to me?" Poor guy. He is probably the nicest guy out of all of us, and surely the one who yells the least, yet he has the reputation of being the guy who yells all the time. Oh, well, we love you anyway Jeremy, and we are very grateful that you pulled Ethan off of the roof in Mexico, and don't even mind that you said the @#$% word while you were doing it! Thanks!:)

So, next up, Christmas Cards. I'm getting ready to send them out, and realized that I don't have every one's address. So, if you have never received one from us, but want one, or if you have moved since the last time you got one, or if you are Tiffanie S., Melissa S., Or Brooke C. (I can't find your addresses:) e-mail me with your address: kt123_us@yahoo.com . Thanks.

Now, on to Christmas. Troy and I really want to focus on Christ this season, and less on getting things, and Santa, and all the crap of the holiday. We have decided to focus our Family Home Evening lessons on Christ's birth, and the real meaning behind Christmas all month. We also have a few service opportunities lined up, but do you have any other ideas? What do you do in your families? Have you heard of any ideas that you think sound good? I am open to suggestions.

Well, I think that covers the main stuff. I have had a lot of people ask how Ethan's diet is going, and I have a lot to say about that, but I am going to save it for another post. Stay tuned for more...