Family Pictures

This weekend we had family pictures taken of the extended Wall side. The kids were actually pretty well behaved. Audrey was ready for her nap and not willing to give one of her adorable smiles. We also attempted a picture with just Owen and Audrey, but they weren't having it! I'm glad to finally have a professional family picture of just our family. I think it turned out cute. We couldn't resist getting a picture of Owen and Elise, they are such good buddies!

This is a picture of all the grandkids. So adorable! Owen was so funny - he looked like this in most of the pictures. By the way...I'm a bad mom. We didn't get any pictures over Christmas. We had a great one, and the kids were so fun on Christmas morning. Owen is finally able to understand what is going on and that made it fun. I can't believe it is the end of the year in a few days. Time flies!

My Three Favorite People

Glenn Beck and The Christmas Sweater

Nate and I love Glenn Beck. Heck, he is a famous Mormon - so it is kind of a given :). Although, I think we would like him even if he wasn't a Mormon, I mean, we also love Dennis Miller. Anyway, Glenn was here in Boise to do a show about his recent book The Christmas Sweater. Nate was actually able to go to the book signing and shake hands with Glenn (he did have to buy the book at full cover price at the store where the book signing was located in order to do that, but anyway). He even had a joke/one liner prepared to say to Glenn when he got to the front of the line - something about Glenn being a "Book Nazi" like the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld, but he chickened out (trust me it was funny :)).

While Nate was there at the book signing, Glenn announced that he was now allowing people to get tickets to his show for 2 cans of food! We were excited because while we LOVE Glenn, we weren't going to pay $50.00 or more (each) for tickets. Unfortunately there are a lot of cheap (frugal) Mormons like us in Boise so we weren't able to get in. We were so bummed. We even had a babysitter!

I just finished my (full price) copy of The Christmas Sweater last night and I wanted to share a few thoughts:

Glenn has been sharing comments and e-mails on his show from people who read the book who say the message of the book has changed their life. As I was reading it I was waiting for it to change mine. It didn't. I was a little disappointed until I realized what a jerk I was being. The reason that it didn't change my life is because I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have experienced "my" mighty change of heart in my early 20's and have been blessed to be raised in the church by a family who loves and supports me. The Christmas Sweater wasn't written for people like me (except to maybe give me a-ha moments like this). The Christmas Sweater was written for people who are not as blessed as I am. There are millions of people in this world who have never felt the peace and comfort that I feel all the time. There are so many people who don't have families who love and support them. There are people who don't realize that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are real, there watching over them, loving them, and inviting them to feel their love. I truly appreciate the fact that Glenn Beck is using his fame to spread the gospel. He has experienced a mighty change of heart in a much more profound way that I could ever imagine. He clawed his way from sorrow, sin, drugs, and alcoholism to become a truly amazing person. No one can do that alone. I appreciate the fact the he acknowledges who helped him and led him to become the man he is today. Not only does he acknowledge this to himself, but to the world through radio and the printed word.

Shame on me for expecting The Christmas Sweater to change my life. My life has already been changed through the atonement and the love of the Savior, now I just have to do my part to share it with those who aren't so blessed. What The Christmas Sweater did do for me is awaken my testimony and make me realize how grateful I am for it.

I recommend that you read The Christmas Sweater and also watch his newish DVD The Unlikely Mormon, which is Glenn's powerful testimony and conversion story. We have it if you want to borrow it :).

Sunday Best

So I had the kids all dressed in their church clothes and we had a few minutes before we had to leave, so I tried to get some good pics. They would not cooperate, but the some of the pics turned out all right. Here are our faves:




I love how Owen has his hands clasped in this one :).

Christmas get to know you tag...

I was tagged by my friend Kelly Dickerson. It looks like this was originally an e-mail that turned into a blog tag, so I have changed some of the wording a bit.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post. Change all the answers so that they apply to you.

Then tag three people.'Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like both, but wrapping paper is more fun to open.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial - or none at all this year. My daughter is a holy terror.

3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day

5. Do you like eggnog? Ewwwwwww. I don't even like milk.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? One year I got a teddy bear that was my mom's when she was little. I liked him and named him Smokey.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I kind of collect them. I keep my Willow Tree nativity set up all year.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Nate.

9. Easiest person to buy for? The kids. They are small enough that they don't even know what Christmas is.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I like to mail Christmas cards...but I don't know if I am going to this year :).

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? No comment. The giver may be reading this :).

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Charlie Brown Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? January

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My Mom's sausage balls and meatballs. I also like fudge, toffee, and my Mom's rock candy.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree ? Colored.

17. Favorite Christmas song? I have a lot of favorites. I really like the ones with the male voices like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and stuff.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes...and all the 50 states in case you were wondering.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither. I haven't found the right one yet.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning - or Christmas Eve if we have a family get together.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? When people forget the real reason for Christmas.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham and cheesy potatoes.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I really want a Wok and a food processor cookbook. Boring, I know.

That was fun, now it's your turn. I tag Angie, Janae, and Elisa.

Owen's phone call...from a girl!

So the other day my phone rings and it is my friend Wendy (or so I thought). I answered the phone and it was Bailey (Wendy's 3 year old). She says, "Hi Michelle, can I talk to Owen?"

So I handed the phone to Owen who talked to Bailey for at least 20 minutes. What is up with that? I thought the phone calls from girls wouldn't start until at least 6th grade!