Blessings

when I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessing instead of sheep
then I fall asleep counting my blessings

when my bank roll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
and I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery

and I picture curly heads

and one by one I count them
as they slumber in their beds

so if your worried and you can't sleep
count your blessings instead of sheep

and you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

This is one of my all time favorite songs. I don't know who wrote it, but it is on White Christmas, though it is not very Christmassy. It's good advice that really works!

Christmas Music

I have to admit that we start listening to Christmas music the day after Halloween. Joe actually starts a little earlier than that at work, which his co-workers love I'm sure. So this is a list of our favorites and the occasions that fit them best.



Best music to start the season - Any Firestone classic record. (Back in the day Firestone tires would give away Christmas records with purchase of tires. Good luck finding them now.)

Best for decorating - White Christmas soundtrack ( In this case we just watch it, or Holiday Inn. If you haven't seen them you must!)

Best for cleaning - Charlie Brown Christmas (I'm not into jazz, but this is really soothing and motivating when you need to get the job done)

Best for baking - Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity (When children are nestled all snug in their beds this music is beautiful to reflect and roll dough)

Best for watching snow fall - Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Need I say more?) Best for driving and looking at lights - Nat King Cole (Lulls children to sleep)

Best for doing after feast dishes as a group - Jackson Five (It makes the work go faster, plus it makes people dance)

Best for decorating cookies and gingerbread houses - Bing Crosby (Zippy and fun!)

Best for kids - Chipmunks, John Denver and the Muppet's, or any Rankin/Bass classic (Rankin/Bass refers to Frosty, Rodolph, Jack frost and all those other silly claymation TV classics)

Best for Christmas in the cabin - An Old English Christmas ( A long time family favorite)

Best for opening presents - Music box Christmas ( This music is magical. We only listened to it on Christmas morning when I was growing up and it made the occasion even more special.)

Best for Christmas parties - a mix of all of the above!

Check them out, and a Merry Christmas to all!

questionable material

There are many things in life that I don't understand, but the one on my mind today is reading on the toilet. I don't get it. Why would you want to sit on a hole, exposing the most vulnerable part of your body to a drafty bowl of cold water, and have a relaxing read? You see the books and magazines on the back of toilets as if to say "stay a while". I don't want to stay a while. I want to get up, get out and get on with the day. If I did want to read I would curl up on the couch, or in bed. The toilet would be the last place that I would take a book. You would have "ring around the bum" if you were in there for more than five minutes. And don't even get me started on the cleanliness issue. When I see a cross word puzzle and a pen I nearly loose it. I have begun to see why nerds carry multiple pens in their pockets, because do you really know where other pens have been? No offense to potty readers. I still love you. I just won't be reading your potty books.

The Helmet

So, I got this new helmet thing for my "misshapen" head that everyone keeps talking about. I, of course, think I look fine, but whatever. Mommy says I need to wear it 23 hours a day! I'm like "Are you kidding me? What will my girl cousins think? And right during the holidays when there will be pictures galore!" But as most things in my life I take it in stride, and wear it like a good little boy without any complaints, because I'm cool like that.

HEY! I said no pictures!

Well, OK maybe one.

I do look kind of cute, huh.

Then Mommy pimped my helmet and now I'm stylin'. Oh, and by the way I am eating in this picture. That's right real food. I think it was squash that day, a family favorite. It's just alright for me.


Are you kidding me with this? Who can sleep this way? Helmet and bi-pap mask? But actually the helmet makes my mask fit more comfortably, and I usually sleep all the way through the night with it. I"ll take the perks where I can get them.

Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow.

Jewelry Open House

I am having a Jewelry Open House tomorrow! Come find great gifts at a great price for a great cause! All proceeds go towards Greyson's medical bills. Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, hair clips, pacifier chains, etc. Most items under $7!

And now some pictures with my terrible camera!

There is something for everyone, and everyone is welcome!
See you there!

Date: Saturday, Nov. 21st
Time: 11:00am-2:00pm
Place: Brown Residence (call for info if needed)
Questions? 801 - 221 - 4605

waddled

We decorated for Christmas the other night, which consists mostly of Joe doing all the work while I sit on the couch and watch "White Christmas". I do help a little, but it is Joe's favorite thing in all the world to do. He looks forward to this all year, so I sit back and let him do his magic.

The tree. Our camera is really bad so you can't really grasp how beautiful it is. Just trust me.



Mila insisted on helping with the "socks". (wow we really need a new camera)



Then she made me take this picture down through the tree. Pretty creative. Classic Mila face.



The boys wanted to be "waddled" in blankets as they drank hot chocolate and watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".

And so we "waddled" them.


Grey watched from the couch, contented as always.






The kids wanted to help. But after some minor destruction, chaos, and fits...


this is all we let them do.

Mila + Me + Walmart bathroom = HILARIOUS

Mila (on toilet) "This is going to be ugly."

Me "Bhahahahahaha!"

(the picture was probably not the best choice, fingers in mouth and all)