Pure Joy

Joy. That's her middle name and she truly lives up to it! We can't believe she is a year old. All day long we reminded her it was her birthday. She must have known we were saying something special because she would give us a big cheesy grin and clap!

Here she is just a few minutes old--she was cuddly from the very beginning. We're grateful for her peaceful personality.

Like I said. Cheesy grin. Bath time, dad, brothers, peas, oranges, and anything new or interesting will solicit this contagious happiness....

Peaceful does not necessarily mean a lack of mischief!

Proud to be 1!

Tonight for FHE we made her a big cake. What a pleasure it was to finally mix a little bowl of pink frosting! We decided the big party will be tomorrow night. (Jason finally has a few days off for the holidays--starting tomorrow night!) We talked about our little baby girl and how important she is to our family. We talked about eternal families and how important EVERYONE is in our family. We talked about Heavenly Father's Plan and temples. Then, each big brother told Sarah what he liked about her--Jordan says she is just "way too cute." Tyler likes how she puts her head on his shoulder when he walks in the door from school. Carter likes how she "hugs all the soft things she can find in the house." Our closing songs were Families Can Be Together Forever, I Love to See the Temple, and Happy Birthday, Dear Sarah! We look forward to a birthday party tomorrow.

Here's the boys meeting there little sister exactly one year ago! I hope they always show love to her and take good care of her.

Merry, Merry Christmas!!

We love you all! We hope you had a very, very merry Christmas!

Christmas Questions

Saw this tag on my friend Lisa's blog. I thought it would be fun to finally do a tag (even though I wasn't officially tagged!!)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? shiny wrapping paper. Ahh...the joy of wrapping presents with little one year old. :)

2. Artificial or real tree? real--gotta have real. The Finlayson tree burning event after New Year's is the highlight of my boys' season.

3. When do you put up a tree? um...usually by the first week in December

4. When do you take it down? usually by the first week in January

5. Do you like eggnog? eww...

6. Favorite gift received as a child? This perfect baby doll I got when I was in kindergarten. "Baby Burp".

7. Hardest person to buy for? definitely my dad. "Ahh..just get me some socks."

8. Easiest person to buy for? Carter (my little 4 year old--I think Santa has 4 times the amount of packages for Carter compared to his brothers and sister.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, lots of them. My favorite was a gift from our friends Uri and Elisheva from Jerusalem. Also, just got a package tonight with another one that is bound to be a new favorite. Thanks, Jeanne!!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail--I personally check my mail a lot more often during the Christmas season and love getting cards!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I've never received a Christmas gift I didn't like. But one year I cried over one my brother got. My parents bought him a brand new saddle--it was very expensive and very cool. Cool if you like horses, that is. My poor brother cried every time he had to ride one. And then, to get a saddle as your main gift for Christmas? I thought that was just cruel. (Also, a girl I blog stalk wrote that the worst gift she ever received was a used loofah. I think she definitely wins w/that one!)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? definitely The Grinch

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? August

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? no.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas time? fudge--I'm trying to make it like my Grandma.

16. Lights on the tree? Little, white, and bright. (I have a secret wish to decorate a tree in the big colorful bulbs my parents had when I was little--someday.)

17. Favorite Christmas song? ALL of the primary Christmas songs--could listen to them all day. (Okay, I know my husband will read this. Yes, all right. It's Santa Baby!)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? ooh. This one has been tried and tested. STAY HOME.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? YEP.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A star...well, not yet. Waiting for Jason to come home to put on the star.

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning--early. Really early. Christmas Eve is all the good stuff--reading the Christmas story and doing our little Nativity. Hopefully it puts us in the right mood for Christmas day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? This one is going to make me so unpopular. I CAN'T STAND BLACK FRIDAY!!!! Okay, here are my reasons: #1 9 years ago on Black Friday--before it was even called black friday, I broad-sided a brand spakin' new Mercedes Benz (a Christmas gift to the driver's wife who got out of the car and just started to sob--she cried and cried and just couldn't stop) in the Shaw's parking lot. Took out the whole side. My little Taurus only needed realignment--but I still have that haunting memory. #2 Lines, lines, lines #3 stampeding crowds #4 getting up early (actually that is #1)

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? Christmas red and new silver w/a few wood ornaments and snowflakes--anything that doesn't break easy. (My youngest brother ate a glass Christmas ornament when he was 9 months old. I didn't think my mom would live through that one.)

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey--but I'm really starting to like the Olsen's Mexican themed Christmas Eve. Yummy!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A day with my husband

This is a fun one! Give it a try!

This is Christmas

On Sunday, Jason and I read this talk by President Monson--it really helped me love getting ready for Christmas even more--to focus on the good things and not feel so overwhelmed.

The first real snow (power outage, icy roads = snow day!) - brothers who take care of each other and play together (only a few fights every once in awhile) - fun back yard with slippery rocks - cozy sweaters - icy tree twigs - big brothers who keep a careful watch on Sarah (she only gets into trouble when I'm in charge and get distracted) my collection of Christmas music (classics!) - christmas cards hanging on our back door) - paper chain (13 days!)

Christmas to-do list (almost all checked) - get out the rakes and grab a shovel - snow forts - shoveling the driveway - even better, looking out the window and seeing our friend shovel our driveway (thanks!) - service (to me and to others==people are amazing) - delivered treats - making treats with fun friends - wrapping teachers' gifts - chocolate (lots!) - mailing packages - singing Christmas songs

Buying our first little Christmas dress - "Cozy Tuesdays" (Jordan's teacher lets the kids bring a blanket and stuffy to school for individual reading time. They cuddle and read.) - Soft, brown blanket we bought for cozy Tuesdays (Sarah's in love with it. It's hard to send it to school with Jordan. Need 2) - Sarah's cold chubby hands on my face (our house is freezing all the time. I can double her layers on her little legs and arms. But her hands...her hands are always cold) - new flannel sheets for the kids' beds - hot chocolate and candy canes - impromtu family night with the Arnold's

Christmas crafts - family coloring night (Carter put this on our to-do list. We all sat and colored Christmas pictures for a couple of hours last night. Most therapuetic thing I've done in a long time. Jason's reindeer was exquisite.) - Gingerbread houses (uh em...graham cracker...and no, mom, I didn't end up using the glue gun!) - Tyler's cub scout candle - remembering New Years' Eve - talking about Christmas memories - smelling cinammon - hanging stockings - reading scriptures

walking. walking. walking. - growing up - so proud of herself - just a few more weeks until her first birthday - practicing "blow out the candle" - stealing candy canes from her brothers - loving daddy - waiting for dad to come home from work to show him all the jobs are done - shopping with dad at the book store - watching movies (thanks for the romantic movie the other night--Ironman. hmm...) waiting for school to get out - shopping and baking for class parties

decorating our tree - choosing a tree (is it possible to not find a tree in a New England Tree farm?) - how long did it take to get it to stand straight - smell of pine - don't even mind cleaning up the needles - is there still pitch on your hands? - how many ornaments do you want on that branch, Carter? - the kids were so helpful this year (Carter stuck right by my side until every last light was on the tree!)

hanging ornaments - can't wait for Santa - "Mom, my list is 3 pages long. Be sure you don't lose the any of it" - Love that my boys are extra well-behaved in December (Santa is coming) - why is "mom kiss dad" at the top of this Christmas to-do list? ("Mom, this is a big list--you might get busy and forget to do that!")

kind, loving little boy (he's my big helper all day...every day!) - Carter could play outside in even the deepest, piercing cold - playing the computer - practicing letters - drawing Christmas cards - eating mac-n-cheese and hot chocolate - hugging Sarah - doing homework in bed with mom in the morning (Jordan does his daily reading with me in the morning at 5:45--I love to hear his little voice while he is cuddled next to me. He's still at that reading level where I can fall asleep and still be alert enough to help him with the words he gets stuck on.) - mittens by the fire

Just trying to stay on our feet and be happy through the holidays.....

By the end of the day we just long for a soft warm place to lay down......

and we find one..(Sarah loves to find soft things and give them a hug!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have so, so, so much to be thankful for!!!! During the holidays we always miss our families and we always pray that everyone is having a fantastic time wherever they may be. We had a great day. Jason was on call so we packed up Thanksgiving dinner and decorated the break room. We spent the day at the hospital eating yummy things, playing tag and hide-and-seek in the halls, coloring turkeys, watching a movie, and just hanging out together in pilgrim/indian dress. It was such a fun, relaxing day!!!

I think the kids like Thanksgiving dinner just for the rolls....

Except for our little carnivore.....

After we got home we had a pumpkin/berry pie (THANKS HEATHER!) and hot chocolate party with a few of the girls. Thanks for a great time, you guys!!! Here's Brianna with Sarah. It was nice to have an in-house babysitter for the evening!!

So far in November.......

(Sarah 10 months)

We're just trying to enjoy getting ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas while making sure the simple and beautiful moments with our kiddos don't pass us by........

Tyler and Jordan like (mostly) the piano. They both practice well without being asked and they like the treats from their teacher.

We talked about Election 2008 every day until we finally got to VOTE! I loved how the kids were so involved in the process. It seems when I would talk with my kids about the election all the annoying, irritating political stuff would disappear and we would enjoy talking and telling stories about patriotism and good citizenship.

Carter is so good while the kids are at school. He has amazing handwriting and he will draw and color all day! He loves to hang his art work all over the house.

Leaves vs. The Kemps ROUND 3

Hmmm...uh....hmm.... (Stop gloating, Jason, and take off the ridiculous red hat. Now.)

Sarah doesn't like to be on all fours anymore. She took her first step earlier today. I can't believe she will be 11 months old in just a week. She makes us all so happy with all her little antics!

I regret not posting this Jack-O-Lantern grin during Halloween. Love her toothy smile!

Favorite food--she says ma-ma, da-da, ba (bath), and peas.

Favorite book - Ten Little Lady Bugs--she kisses the ladybugs!

Happy Halloween!!

Chivalry for Halloween..........."I'll protect you...."

Trunk-or-treat, picking pumpkins, class parties (So many cars at the church-more than ever before. Standing room only. Tons and tons of candy. Awesome Sarah Palin look-a-likes. How many cupcakes did the kids eat at the cakewalk? How many donuts at the string donut eating thingy? Yuck. "Mom you don't have to pack a lunch--it's our halloween party today. We'll just eat candy."

4 pumpkins + 4 kids + 2 bowls of goop + 1 bowl of goop on the floor + 3 knives + 1 injured finger + 2 band aids + 2 hours past bedtime + 1 perfectionist + 1 tired mom = Priceless Pumpkin Carving....

"Hey mom. We're all old enough to cut our own by ourselves this year!" -Carter Age 4

Pumpkin specifications: Triangle eyes, 3 noses, and a happy teethy mouth.

Tyler's pumpkin idea: Sword and shield.

Jordan's pumpkin: Mad eyes. Straight eyebrows. Mostly mean mouth. Triangle nose.

Sarah's position when I get too busy. She knows how to ALWAYS get my attention....

It isn't Halloween without sugar cookies. Lots and lots of cookies. Lots and lots of help.....

Halloween night trick-or-treating at the Barton's neighborhood. We were sure Karalyn wouldn't make donuts for everyone this year (uh...twins) but they were ready when we got there! Survived a ripped candy bag (is that bag really getting lighter?) A lost candy bag - devastating. (Glad we found it.) A lost shoe - devastating (didn't find it.) An Ancient Egyptian haunted house. (Creepy') Last stop. The Mender's (whole candy bars. Two each. Heaven for the kids!) Got enough chocolate?

We decided we like Halloween so much because it opens the door to the holiday season. Wow. It's already November!!!

Oh Halloween.

Our ward trunk-or-treat was tonight. It was a blast! This morning was not a blast. I was desperately running through my house looking in closets, bags, and a big costume bin trying to piece together 3 knight costumes that would be suitable for my little swordsmen. One wonderful friend had given Carter a great costume already and another great friend had a handmade princess dress she loaned us for Sarah. So, I only needed two costumes. Nothing seemed to look right and at the height of my frustration I was about to take some scissors to an old t-shirt to create something that look like a knight tunic.

That's when my phone rang.


My awesome friend Juliann: "STEPH!!! GO TO MY BLOG!! LOOK WHAT I JUST FINISHED!!!

So, I go to her blog and see this! So perfect. I asked her how she did it. "Oh, just a few coat hangers and some felt...." Amazing!!! I'm so proud of my friends and their craftiness--I know a few ladies who could literally make dinner with their sewing machine (you know who you are!). But I think this costume takes the prize for this year. (Thanks, Juliann for letting me brag/post about you AND for offering to sew me anything I wanted for tonight!)

I'll put up some pictures of my cute knights and my little princess when I get some self-esteem back. :) Actually I think their costumes turned out great!!

"Rocket" Stars

Every once in awhile I let my kids turn on the radio and we all just boogie to whatever song is blasting from my itty-bitty whimpy under-the-cabinet radio/cd player--I like it, by the way. For just a few minutes, my kids shake their booties, jump up and down, and grasp their imaginary microphones and dance and sing away. They feel cool that I let them listen to "rocket" music (that's what they call it!) Love how they call themselves "rocket stars", too. It just makes me giggle. When you have your six year old announce he's going to be a rocket star someday it just just sounds better than the Bon-Jovi/Aerosmith rock star picture that gets painted in my head. (Not that I ever listened to any of their songs or had any of them memorized while surviving the 80's!) I wonder when some big kid is going to correct my kids at school. As for now, I'll just enjoy my little rocket stars gettin' down to XL92.3. I caught a picture of Sarah and her usual reaction to our little impromtu dances. She's a little unsure......