Hi Everybody!

So another year is rolling by so fast. I am trying to stay up on things like my journal entries and the blog with limited success. We have a new face at our house. Ross came to be with us a couple weeks ago and it seems he will be with us for several months. He is eight years old and a fun boy. He and Sarah seem to get along fairly well. He and Rylee are either playing well or fighting like cats and dogs. I prefer the playing well in case you are interested.

They all say funny things. Today at church Sarah's leg fell asleep but instead, she said, "My leg is dead."

Then Ross was referring to a story about the consequences of not telling the truth. He said,"Remember the story about the boy who cried Fox?" I have to admit I giggled.

The one with Rylee I don't find so amusing though. After I asked him to do something for me, he answered flippantly, Fine, ya old lady!" When I told Scott, he asked how much roof repair he had as a result. I am happy to report that I did not blow my top. But Rylee did spend some time in time-out.

So my Mom came for a visit and thanks to a very generous friend (thanks Marg!) she went home with an adorable new pet. He is a miniature Daschund and my Dad named him Oscar (as in I wish I were an . . .) Isn't he cute. Their cat Rusty doesn't think so but they seem happy with their new baby:) Also, they are now in the throes of potty training and teaching him not to bite everything.

While visiting, my Mom also made a blanket and burp cloth for Sarah's bitty baby, Sidney. I took a pic with Sarah and Grandma and the baby in her blanket
so Rylee had to have a picture too. Doesn't he look like a great Dad?

Here is Sarah, Grandma, and bitty baby in her blanket. I love the great smiles on both of their faces. We are so lucky to have parents who love us and our children.

This is a close-up shot of the snowman Sarah and Rylee made with the ONLY snow we have seen all winter. Not long after Christmas, we had one snowstorm. Sarah and Rylee were out of bed, outside, and building the snowman before my feet even hit the floor from the night before. They were SO excited to build him. When they came in to get things to use for a face, etc. the legos came in really handy. Pretty good job for a four year old and a seven year old.

Here is Sarah and Rylee with snowman. Notice she cares about what she wears outside. He, on the other hand, thinks a sleeper jammie is a great choice. It's warm and you don't have to find socks either. Score!!

We just want to say thanks to all our friends and family. This was a great Christmas with all our children around us (we thought Tay would be at boot camp by now.) Ally wrote a song this season called Preoccupied and it tells all about how easy it is to see problems and not do anything to make a difference. But all around me, I see people who are constantly looking out for one another. People who take care of those around them and who have taught us to do the same. Thank you for being such a good example to us and to our children. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Emerys.

p.s. This year we mainly fall under the category of "Live life and record it when you can." Our cat fed the camera to the dog's water bowl." Animals keep life interesting:) My kids would probably say the same for their parents. he he

Christmas 2009

Here are the littles (Sarah and Rylee) in their jammies on Christmas Eve. They look forward every Christmas to opening the gift from Grandma Charlene and Grandpa Art on Christmas Eve. A friend even heard Sarah say, "And mine will be pink. They always get me pink." The kids all love their jammies. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa.

Surprise! My twin and I showed up to Christmas Day dinner with the same sweater. Neither even knew the other got a new sweater. They are the same material only hers is a pull-over and mine is a cardigan. Guess it's true what they say. Great minds do think alike.

The end of another year

It is already time to get ready for Christmas and again I am stunned at how fast this time of year arrives. The kids have decorated the tree and the house. Sarah was relentless in her enthusiasm (read nagging) to decorate. Her favorite thing to do. So the house is ready at least. For me to be ready requires music. I must attend one musical program themed around Christmas or else the season seems incomplete.

Last night, my wonderful husband stayed at home with the littles so Ally and I could go to a stake musical production and then the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. I had the most glorious time. Not only was the music wonderful but the talks were just what I needed to hear to get my priorities straight and my heart in the right place. I also thoroughly enjoyed having Ally to myself for a couple hours. She is such fun to be with and one of my good friends. I got to put my arm around her and simply enjoy her company. Thanks Ally.

Scott and I also got the great opportunity of going to the temple with Ally and Cameron and other youth in the ward to do baptisms for the dead. It was neat to see my two teenagers in the temple doing work for others who need it. I am constantly amazed that these great kids part of my family.

Rylee said something funny the other day. (It happens frequently) He called me on my cell phone and then went downstairs. As I was listening to him talk, he suddenly said, "OK Mom, I put you on speaker phone so don't say anything rude about Socks." (our cat and the only living thing downstairs with him) I laughed hard at that.

Sarah is becoming quite the big kid. Although I think she will still be singing "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth." Silly girl.
After a few interviews and terrible job opportunities, Taylor has a job. Yeah! He is working for a friend who owns a Sprint Cell Phone Store. I think he will work almost full time until he goes off to boot camp which looks like sometime in March. We are happy for him to be busy and still be home for the holidays.

Cam is the coolest kid. The other day I felt terrible emotionally. The kind of day where there is no reason to be grumpy but you are? Well, Mom called and I told her I just needed her to come hold me. As I turned around from talking to her, I saw Cameron sit down on a kitchen chair and hold out his arms. He gave me the holding and hug I was so in need of. What a humble experience it was to see him respond to a need he heard me express to my Mom. His friend came in just after that and upon seeing me on Cam's lap said, "Dude, what are you doing?" Cam said," Dude, my Mom is sad and she needs a hug." I was impressed. I am sure it is his dad who taught him to be so compassionate.

As for Scott, he is simply getting through everyday. Work is tiring but he loves our family so much that he does it all for us. He also recorded songs with Ally so thanks to him we have four of her songs down for posterity. Thanks Scott!

Oh, we got an opportunity to love another child in our home for two weeks. Logan is five and he lived with us from November 11th until the 23rd. He taught us to be happy in bad circumstances, to be accepting of others, and he gave our hearts a reason to be bigger as we loved him from the very start. He lives with his grandma now and she is a constant in his life. Logan, our five year old, we are glad you are safe and we love you.
Merry Christmas to everyone! We love you and hope your holiday season is filled with God's Love all around you!

Halloween 2009

My creative girl wanted to go trick or treating to raise money for Unicef. So she came up with the idea of a "One-Eyed, One-Horned, Flying Purple People Eater." I think the coolest thing I ever pretended to be was Raggedy Ann.

Sarah was a witch and was so happy to get cat's face painted on her cheeks. Love the cute grin she has on.

Rylee was a wolf. Later in the day he lost his ears as we trick or treated. We then told people he was a robber with a tail. He he

My good friend Melissa is getting baptized at the end of the month. It has been a great and sometimes frustrating adventure for her as she explores which church she wants to join. I have been so happy to be a part of the adventure. I thought it was especially fitting that she chose to be a missionary for halloween. She looks so happy. The gospel is a great gift:)

The last picture is the silliest. They hold a Boo Bash at the high school with games, treats, activities, and a haunted house. This is a game where you eat a doughnut off a string. Rylee, Jainey, and Sarah had a blast. Maybe I should feed them vegetables with this method?

Scott and Cameron celebrated birthdays in October. Scott is now 47 and Cameron is 13. Three teenagers at the Emery house. AAAHHH!

All I want for Christmas is my FOUR front teeth. And while your at it, can you get me the two missing on the bottom also. She is so cute!

Here are the teen-agers. Can't you just feel their personalities coming off the screen at you. They are so great. I love being their mom:)

Sarah and Rylee love to share this chair to watch movies. I like it when they collaborate to do fun things instead of clobbering each other.

We Survived The Swine Flu

I guess there's nothing that clears your schedule quite as fast as the whole family getting sick. Our family had the swine flu and it took weeks to get everyone through the worst of the symptoms. We are on the mend now and I am determined that we will get the flu vaccine so we don't have to do another month or two of sickness this winter.
I was surprised, though, that it wasn't as dire as I thought it would be. We had lots of headaches, fevers, aches and pains, congestion and severe exhaustion but then things would get better. As I look back at the whole episode, I realize the wisdom of the statement "The absence of pain is bliss." How very true that is. When everyone was finally well and we could go to church, go out in the sunshine, play with neighbor kids, etc it felt so wonderful.
I guess the bottom line of this post is to remind myself and others to appreciate health and happiness. It is such a tender mercy and a blessing from God.