Trapping little bearded men

 The plans.

 The building.

 The construction.

 The posing.

Retrieving the reward!

Lydia designed this years leprechaun trap. I was very impressed with the design and helped construct it (with her instruction). While we were unable to catch the little guy with all of the glitter and coins we placed in the bottom layer of the inescapable trap, the kids were pleased by all of the green goodies he left behind.

Christmas post

 We had such a nice Christmas break. To be clear, kind of a rough time for me through Christmas break. Don't know how much detail to include, but I will vaguely say that it is a really dark time mentally. But even though I had to forfeit some expectations I had for Christmas (things I wanted to do, etc.) the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves.

 Also, it was so nice to have family around. I know some people find that family causes stress and anxiety, but my family is so awesome that they alleviate stress.

 We had Steve and Shawna and my mom and dad to enjoy Christmas morning with us. We had Richard and Laura, Ethan, Gabe, and Logan and Elisabeth later that night.

 It was the first Christmas (probably the first holiday) that Felix was actually able to enjoy. Usually he gets really over stimulated and hates the whole ordeal. He finally "got it" and kept saying "I like Christmas" or "I like my scooter". It was so thrilling to finally have him have a positive experience with a holiday.

 Zoe was so sweet to make Christmas gifts for EVERYONE!

 Over the break we went to the church and used Liam's RC helicopter and the PVC bows and arrows that I made the kids for Christmas.

 My dad brought stuff with which to make terrariums. I have always wanted one and was excited to make it.

 We enjoyed some cousin time!

So, when I say that Christmas break was nice, it reflects the feelings of love and support and peace surrounding our family during that time, not necessarily my mental state. Just so that I am never accused of painting an unrealistically rosy picuture.

Christmas Eve Talent show

 I got a whole bunch of ill-lit, badly-taken pictures for you. But none of them are actually of the performances. Which isn't too bad, since they would've been awful pictures, too. I really try hard to not complain or apologize for the quality of photographs on the blog, since I just need to be grateful that I have a camera and a computer from which to blog. But I couldn't help it on this post.

 Look at all our lovely guests. We had Steve and Shawna, Richard and Laura and family, my mom and dad and sister, Elisabeth over for our Christmas Eve Talent Show (which is actually a Turley tradition).

 Steve and Richard juggled. Liam played the recorder. Liam and Zoe did a choreographed swordfight. Zoe did a hip-hop dance. Lydia showed some pictures she had colored. Ethan showed how he could play a game on Grandma's Ipod. Richard and Elisabeth did a violin/cello duet. Elisabeth and I did a cello/guitar duet while we sang Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing with Laura.

 Here is the audience, enjoying.

 Steve, Richard, Elisabeth and myself played in a Bluegrass quartet: Wagon Wheel. It was so much fun to play together! 
I did get video of all the talents, just no pictures.

We finished up with the kids opening a gift (Lydia's plates) and then Grandma Sam told the story of John and Marjorie that she use to tell us growing up.
It was a lovely night. I was so happy to have this wonderful family around me.

Christmas muffins

Instead of neighbor gifts we bake and run around warm bran muffins Christmas Eve morning. We decided to go ahead with the tradition even though it was a struggle to get it done. We were glad we did.

"gingerbread" houses

 Okay, I have never made a real gingerbread house. It sounds like a pain and I don't like gingerbread. The whole "can't eat royal icing" seems to defeat the purpose. I mean, it IS all about getting to decorate something with tons of candy and then proceed to consume your beautiful design, right? Well, for us it is.
So this year I saw someone making "gingerbread houses" out of rice krispie treats. I have watched enough baking shows to know that this is a medium used by bakers for it's excellent molding capabilities. We decided to go for it.

 I built a little house for Felix to decorate. He did so great! He very patiently sat and helped me put on the different decorations, even understanding that the candies represented different parts of the house.

 Lydia left her rice krispie treats flat and made a 2 dimensional tree picture, that she is pleased with (? is that her expression?).

 Zoe cracked me up. She made 4 walls then filled it with candy! Literally, filled. What she couldn't put inside she piled up outside on her  plate. I was teasing her about it and she said, "What!? It is a hoarders house!" Hilarious. Maybe if Willy Wonka was a hoarder!

I think Liam was working on his much longer than the rest of us so I didn't get a picture. His was a prison type building. He had impaled sour patch kids on toothpicks on the roof. It was quite threatening and delicious.

Lean and Hungry Look: Halloween

 Things have been crazy. With our recent trip, school, my poor time management skills, and this years placement of Halloween (Wednesday night? who's idea is that?) I feel like it crept up on us. Liam is the only one who carved his pumpkin. Lydia painted hers and Zoe is still waiting for me to cut hers out. Party poopers! At least I had costumes for the kids to wear.

 Liam and I had so much fun making this robot. Both the light on his tummy and the light between the eyes lit up. The one by his eyes did a strobe effect.

 Rocket pack. But this year (just like last year) we ended up carrying most of the costume instead of wearing it. Boo!

 Felix wore a costume! Yeah! Also, he was quite excited about Trick or Treating. It clicked for him and he got it this year. He lasted quite awhile as well.

 Apparently Felix hates licorice. We found these taken out of the candy bowl, discarded on the table. Once after trick or treating a house he had the most dejected look on his face. When I asked about it Lydia said, "they gave us licorice".

 Goth girls. So much ATTITUDE. Don't worry they were giggling before I finished taking pictures and you could hear them chatting and giggling all over the neighborhood all night. They do remind me of another young goth girl I once knew.

 Well, I slaved long and hard over a perfect Merida dress for her. Turns out she wanted to be Hermione. Oh well. At least she wore the Merida dress once.

I dressed up as a Beatnik to go to the kids school. The kids guessed French Artist, which works too. Later when I put on my trench I looked more like a spy. Whatever.
Trick or Treating in our neighborhood is super fun. We had a great time and didn't worry about fast cars or scary people. I declare a success.

Necessity is the MOTHER of invention

I had a lovely Mother's Day. While I only spent a few hours with my husband and children (traveling back from Utah) I felt celebrated, honored, and loved.
Lydia drew me 7+ pictures and brought a flower from school. One of her pictures is a illustration of Travis gazing at me with his head in his hands. Obviously a great thing to her that someone so wonderful is in love with me.
Liam made a lovely card at school and a "All about my Mom" book. The words he said and the illustrations are invaluable. I would scan some of them, but they are all so adorable. One quote that melts my heart is, "Mom, I try to be helpful when something goes wrong, so you can be happy". Oh my gosh! Also, he said "when something goes wrong" instead of "when you are about to take a bus to Crazy Town". He also mentioned that if he could give me one gift it would be "a huge hot tub and a book that you would love". Well done.
Zoe wrote me a sweet note. One quote: "When it is summer break I would love to hang out with you and go on a vacation with you maybe, not to Hawaii or anything, but maybe if you are going somewhere I could come with you to spend time with you." So sweet. She has also been sooooo helpful around the house. Especially with the Orange One.

Travis gave me a super awesome card. Usually for Mother's Day I go to a nursery and buy a bunch of flowers to plant in my pots outside and lots of starts for the garden. That was soooo fun! I went with Steve and Shawna a few weeks ago and it was such a treat!

So, yes, basically I was super spoiled by my family when I got home, but I had a lovely morning also. I got to go to church with my sister and parents and nephews. It was a wonderful meeting! I got all sorts of chocolate and lotions from my sisters.
Okay, I hope it doesn't sound like I am patting myself on the back or anything. I just wanted to record this outpouring of love from my family and those I love. It means so much to me. It is said that parenting is a thankless job. It may be, most of the time, but I consider myself very blessed to have such wonderful children and husband and support system.