My friend Suzanne had this article on her web page and it really struck a cord with me. It made me stop and think about the things I have been exposing to Paige over the years. I really recommend anyone with a daughter to read the article.
Girls Growing Up Too Fast

Grant decided he would try to ride his train he got for Christmas DOWN the stairs. Luckily my stairs turn and he fell off half way down. He now has a black eye and hopefully (though I doubt it) learned that you can't ride a bike down stairs. But we have learned our lesson and the train no longer goes upstairs.

Harry continues to crack us up. His new favorite expressions are: "That's HILARIOUS" when he sees something funny, "No you SILLY" when you tease him, and "That's CORRECT" when he asks you a question and you answer the way he wants you to.

Paige got a sewing machine from Mimi and Papa for Christmas. This has resulted in her disappearing into her room for hours at a time to sew dresses for all her stuffed animals. She is also working on sewing an apron from a pattern.

Matt has started painting our house! Woo Hooo! I can't stand to live in a house with all white walls so this has made me very happy!

Mitchell is content to sit and play with all the toys he got for Christmas. He got a lot of books for Christmas too and so has spent a lot of time the last few days reading. Nothing makes a mom's heart happier than to see her kids sitting with a good book.

Christmas Eve night night we went to Matt's parents for a yummy dinner. Then we came home and read Luke 2. The kids then discovered there were PJ's on their beds. We finally got them off to bed (they all slept upstairs together) and then Matt and I stayed up way too late getting ready for the next morning.

Mitchell woke up at 5:30 and I made him go back to bed. Pat, Paul and Megan came over and woke us up at 7:30 and we all got up and did gifts! (see video on the other post)

Then we had Monkey Bread YUMMMMY and played with our toys and hung out. The missionaries came over for a nice ham and potato dinner that night and played with some of the kids toys. Then we told the nativity story and the kids went to bed. It was such a good day. I have really enjoyed carrying on some of the traditions my parents started but also starting our own new family traditions. It has been such a great holiday!

Here is a video of what we did Christmas Day. Once I started cooking I didn't get a lot of photos of things I wish I had, like dinner with the Missionaries and when we did the nativity scene. But I wanted my mom and dad to have a chance to see Christmas morning at least.

The video in our family room is really dark....sorry.

A week or so ago I wrapped some gifts and put them under the tree. Within 5 minutes Grant was already ripping them open so I had to put them all away.

Well last night I stayed up late and wrapped a bunch of gifts and left them in my room and forgot about them.
Just now I heard Harry running down the stairs and he comes right up to me with a new toy all unwrapped and says, "Look mom at this cool toy. You wanna play it with me?"

UUGGGHHHHHhhhhh!
So I grab the toy and run up the stairs and sure enough there is Grant with a bunch of unwrapped toys around him smiling and has happy as can be. I made him come out of my room and then locked the door. Now tonight I have to re-wrap all the gifts. And I am way bummed because Harry saw a lot of his gifts. :(

We have had this train for awhile (Papa Paul gave it to us) but it's been put away for a long time. So I had Matt pull it down today because for the first time we have room around our tree for it. The kids have had a blast playing with it and Grant has learned a new word!

Harry:
Today while driving around and running errands I kept getting after Harry for doing something really annoying. I finally raised my voice and said, "Harry, knock it off and don't do that again!"
He smiled at me all sweetly and said, "Ahhh mom! Come on! It's Christmas Day! Be Happy!"
I started laughing so hard. I think he has watched one too many Christmas specials this season.

Then later today he got something on my carpet and I got angry at him again. I said to him, "Harry! How did you get that on the carpet???" Once again he smiled and said, "Don't worry mom. I am way tricky! You want me to show you how I did it?"
I swear that kid knows that if he can make me laugh he wont get into trouble.

Grant:
Grant has learned a new word and says it non stop.
The word has many meanings though.
No shouted at you with a scowl on his face means: NO
No said sweetly with a smile means: Yes
No said over and over again means: I want to tease you.

Mitchell:

I love Mitchell's teacher. She really "gets" Mitchell. Every time I see her she has a story to share with me about something Mitchell did that day. She says she has never before had a student so enthusiastic about learning new math concepts. I worry a lot about Mitchell having to live in Paige's shadow, so it is fun to see someone love and enjoy your child for who THEY are.

Paige:

Paige lost another tooth, but the tooth-fairy forgot to bring a dollar. For two nights in a row! I really thought this would be the last year she kept believing in things like that....but she is still going strong. So, who knows how long it's going to go on.

So somehow I have lost a couple of gifts. I know I bought them but I can't find them anywhere. I know my mom has done this in the past and I always thought: How in the world can you lose a present. Well now I know! With moving and hiding things in different places I can't find 2 of Harry's gifts! Light Saber.....Where Are YOU????

Matt grew up with a mom who loves Christmas tree ornaments. She has hundreds of the prettiest ornaments you have ever seen. There are all different and unique and fun to look at.

So last night I took all the YW in my ward to go play Laser Tag. There were 18 of us that played. It was so much fun! I love Laser Tag cause I get to run around and pretend to be Jack Bauer. (I think I was an FBI agent in my previous life) Or maybe I like it because I get to run around and act like a kid without feel self-conscious.
Either way it was fun and I won first place! This is our third year going and I have won all three times. Next year I think they are going to all gang up on me!

You know it's almost Christmas time when packages start coming in the mail! Gotta love Black Friday deals that you buy online and then come in the mail weeks later! It's the fastest/easiest/cheapest way to buy Christmas.

I am so happy and thankful for the Lord and his blessings.

A few weeks ago the Missionaries called me and said they had a new girl that had committed to taking the discussions. They were wondering if they could hold the first discussion at my house. Since then I have have had the opportunity to get to know her and love her. It has been really exciting to watch her learn and grow in the Gospel. It has also been fun to watch Paige sit in on all the discussions too. She has really enjoyed reading the scriptures and sharing her testimony with all of us.
The Missionaries and the YW just left our house tonight. She is going to get baptised next Sunday and so we sat and planned her baptism tonight. I am so happy for her! She really has accepted everything that she has learned and jumped with both feet into the church.
I am also so proud of my YW and how they have loved and accepted her and made her one of them.
I am so excited for next week! I love my calling.

Well, we moved! There are still boxes everywhere, and the old house still needs a lot of work/cleaning....but we are all moved over. Moving is such hard work. I never want to do it again. I think I will just stay here forever. The kids have all adjusted and are doing fine. Joey our dog keeps trying to dig out and run away. I am hoping he will adjust and settle down soon. Thanks to all our friends who helped us out.

During the move Grant decided he needed to wear a helmet while riding his bike. He put on a baseball helmet backwards. He cracks me up sometimes.

Well, it's been a crazy few weeks. I am exhausted from everything so I will just do a quick recap of what has happened.


We went to Utah for Thanksgiving. We stayed at my best friend's house (THANKS SUSANNE!!!). We hung out with her family, ate yummy food, did some MAJOR Black Friday Shopping, saw Twilight, let our kids distroy her house and went to Temple Square. We had a lot of fun together and I miss her so much. I am happy I was able to stay up late talking and laughing with her!