Ammon...and the missing link

Ammon's birthday was yesterday. I hope he had a great day. I sure did. Ammon got to have a friend birthday party. He planned a theme and games to go with his theme. While I prefer this kind of party, I am always afraid my kids will be embarrassed. Their friends get huge parties with lots of friends and entertainment like skating rinks, swimming pools, or bouncy houses. Those are all fun parties and the kids love them. But it's not really me. And so, we go a different route. Ammon knows this and planned a party that cost me nothing. His theme was Star Wars and these were some of his games: Guess Who? (A Star Wars character taped on each back, yes/no questions, etc.); Pin the Light Saber on the Jedi (Ammon did the art work); Pod Racing (making and racing paper airplanes); Asteroid Toss (tossing bouncy balls into a moving target--that Chris was moving as he sang Star Wars themes); etc. We served a Darth Vader cake and Darth Malts. Ammon is a delightful, happy, creative child. He impresses me with his ability to be content with whatever happens and also with his self-discipline. What a kid!

Ammon's birth day--2000

Ammon was a strikingly beautiful baby. Seriously. Strangers would stop me and say, "That is a strikingly beautiful baby." Then they would sometimes ask if he was adopted.

1st birthday--no frosting. I didn't want to contaminate my pure little boy. We had family in town from California and Hawai'i. Because Ammon's birthday is right after Christmas, we have often been with out-of-town family for his special day.

2nd Birthday. Awww.. the boy looks good in navy blue.

3rd birthday. We spent it in California with family. Those are some crazy-looking ocean creatures on his cake.

4th Birthday. Bug-theme. My favorite.

5th birthday--a friend party? Too young. And a snow-theme. Ammon loves snow. This was a year when there was no snow for Ammon's birthday. We had to play snow-related games instead of go sledding. It's okay. Ammon's creative. We played Pin-the-Carrot-Nose on the Snowman and stuff like that.

6th Birthday. Ammon's favorite animal is still a penguin. We had family in town from Hawai'i. Usually when the ones from Hawai'i are here, a few from California show up, too.

7th Birthday. No photo. I have spent hours during the last two days looking for photos from his 7th birthday. I am very upset about it. After giving it some thought, I finally remember that we were in California for his birthday. I remember making and decorating a cake at my sister-in-law, Michelle's apartment. I put a Sneetch on it. (You know, a Dr. Seuss character who has a star on his belly...or maybe he doesn't.) Why don't I have any photos of his birthday? Why don't I have any photos of the trip to California? Why?! WHY?!!!! (This is why I titled the blentry "The Missing Link.")

8th birthday. Yes, this is the best I can do. I have lots of photos from his baptism a couple days later, but I couldn't find any--not one--from his birthday. I found this photo in my parents' stuff. In one of their photos of the day, I am in the background with my camera taking a picture. But where is that picture? Where is it?! Anyway, I remember that we had family in town from California.

Ammon's 9th birthday. He was totally digging Garfield that year. (I had to identify what that was on the cake, because you can't tell by looking at it.)

My 10-year-old. Have I mentioned that I love Ammon? Because I do.

Merry Christmas!

Here it is Christmas Eve. Let me tell you my great plans for December. First, I was going to blog about our wonderful Thanksgiving. Then, I thought I'd do a Christmas advent--a daily post about Christmas. That didn't work out, so I thought I'd do the 12 Days of Christmas instead. Well, Day 12 came and went, and I thought, "Who's keeping track anyway? I'll do the 5 Days of Christmas! It will be spectacular."

And here it is Christmas Eve.

We have had a lot going on this month: normal Christmas things, extra concerts, oral surgery for Ammon, sick kids, church, work, etc. It's been very busy, but so wonderful. I love my children, who make everything happy.

I am grateful that we took the time to go to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights early in December. It was beautiful, relatively warm, and good family time for us. Maybe I have some pictures. Let me check. Yes, yes I do. Most of these were taken by Sarah or Beth or maybe even one of the boys.

So, that was fun.

I had planned to do all sorts of crafts with the children. We did a couple things. Like snowflakes, and origami:

I love paper. Do you know that about me? I LOVE PAPER! I love to make things with paper. So, origami=fun!

We also made some gingerbread men for neighbor gifts. I made them Hawai'ian kane and wahine. (That means men and women.) And the note said Mele Kalikimaka. (That means Merry Christmas.) They make me laugh. And I bet they make you wish you were my neighbor.

All of our Christmas decorations are in storage. My mom is allergic to real trees. I like real. But I go with fake for her sake. (That rhymes. Rhyming makes me smile.) We just used one of Mom's little trees and made new ornaments for it. I don't know if you can see the paper chain, but it was surprisingly time consuming to make!

We've been hanging up all our Christmas cards on the bricks behind the fireplace. As you may nor may not be able to tell, they have almost all fallen down. It has been a steady rainstorm of Christmas cards. I think that I will have a contest to see whose card stays up the longest. That person or family will win a special prize. A special Christmas prize. A special Christmas prize that is like an imaginary box filled with love.

We also had a family party. Santa came.

Santa looks pretty animated...

Hmmm...that's a tough question. What do I want for Christmas?

I don't know what to say.

I'd like a light saber and a chainsaw! (Yes, that's what he asked for.)

So, that's our month in a nutshell.

I love Christmas! The season is filled with joy and happiness. No matter how busy I am, an overwhelming peace is in my heart. I feel to celebrate with all Christians the birth of the Savior!

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf recently said:

When Jesus was born, the joy in heaven was so great it could not be contained, and angelic hosts parted the veil, proclaiming unto shepherds “good tidings of great joy, . . . praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

I love the image of joy being so great, it could not be contained in heaven. We celebrate all month long this glorious season.

I believe in Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and loves each of us. It is the gift of our Heavenly Father that He sent His Son to earth for our salvation.

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Deck the Halls

I'm getting ready for Christmas. I started by decorating my blog. Enjoy. Merry Christmas! I love this time of year.

Gratitude: Day #25

I am grateful for quiet moments to spend with Chris. I like the loud times with the whole family, but I really look forward to having a little quiet conversation with my husband.

Gratitude: Day #24

I am grateful for relationships. At one point in my life, I realized that much (but not all) of what this life is about is building relationships. I am grateful for my relationship with my Savior most of all. I am also grateful for my relationship with my husband, my children, my extended family, and my friends. I am grateful for the influence of others on me and grateful for the bonds we share.

Among the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that relationships are eternal. We build temples to seal together eternally family members. The kinds of relationships we build here will continue in heaven. Scripture states, "And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy" (D&C 130:2).

I am grateful to know that building relationships is a worthwhile part of my life and something that will bless me eternally.