"Jingle Bells"

So the Blake fam does a Christmas talent show each year at Val Vista Lakes club house. Here is our families talent... not too fancy, but we did get the whole family on some instrument:

Emma and me- piano duet
Ashlin- flute
Dallin- percussion bells
Bruce- harmonica
Logan and Lily- jingle bells

check her out, but keep your expectations fairly low:


Merry Christmas!

The Magic of Night

How many children usually sleep in a twin bed?

These 3 children above are the fighting children. All through out the long hours of day the battle rages between them. Random small things wage large wars, where they often reside on opposing teams. And then as soon as I announce "bed time"... something mysterious happens. Each night they beg to sleep in the same bed. Anyone who has witnessed the day time fights would think, they will not survive the night. Nope, I know the "Magic of Night". Some very special "not wanting to go to bed" bond happens, and magically unites the fighting children in to peaceful children who love eachother for night. Wierd. We have 5 children, 5 beds, and atleast 2-3 beds are empty each night. This is the honest truth.

And now.... Merry Christmas!

And next year, 1 more stocking will have to fit amongst the rest...

And just in case you didn't notice in the above picture, here is the up close of our tacky angel, yes, a stuffed dog angel, it just fit, because you know, Bruce IS a Veterinarian.

...and our up close of Bruce's stocking. He will not let me get him a new stocking which matches the rest. His even faces the wrong way. But he insists we keep the stocking he has had since I bought it for him when just engaged! (Engaged and cared more about impressing him then worrying about the tackyness of our future home) Oh well.


And some more Christmas fun... Lily's "Princess Playgroup".
(Lily in middle)

They gathered on the bean bag to watch a short "Rudolph the Reindeer" video...

... then made reindeer cookies. How cute!

And below you will see the cutest surprise that awaited my door one day... the Activity Days girls in our ward came a caroling and bringing me a box of cookies. I even knew what activity they had, as I dropped Emma off at the church myself, but didn't even consider they would come to my house! It made me cry. And they sang, and sang, and sang. We kept trying to applaude and they kept telling us they weren't done. So sweet!!

And last, I am thankful our new elementary school celebrates Christmas openly!!! YEAH! We have Christmas Concerts with Christmas songs!! Logan's kindergarten class below is singing "Jingle Bells". And it too made me cry. Why, I don't know. It just is so cute to see those little people up there shaking those bells! (Logan all the way to left)

Merry Christmas!
(Santa by Ashlin)

Another One.

So, we found out at the end of October that we were expecting baby #6. Because we have had miscarriages in the past, we waited to tell people that we were expecting until after the first doctors visit. But when I went to the first doctors visit, they couldn't find a heartbeat. They scheduled an ultrasound for the next day. Since I have been through it before... I was preparing myself for another miscarriage, though praying and praying that everything was ok.



I went to the ultrasound and it seemed like forever that the lady searched around without saying anything (when they say nothing, that is bad) then her first verbal response was, "have you had any bleeding this pregnancy?", to which my heart sank. I just knew that meant she wasn't finding anything. BUT then she told me to hold my breath and she turned the sound up really loud, and there was the most precious sound, a little fast heartbeat, and she said, "there's your babies heart beat!" I immediately started sobbing, I was so happy! A heart beat. I said, "my baby has a heart beat???" I was overcome with emotions of gratitude and joy. Another heart beat. Another baby. Another one!! I cried for an hour, no joke. I was suppose to call Bruce right after the ultrasound, but couldn't compose my self the whole ride home, just cried. I am so happy. I am so thankful. I feel so blessed.



My feelings about having 6 children:



I am going to be honest. I am nervous. I worry constantly that I will be a good enough mother, that all of my children will feel loved, that all of them will feel like they had enough attention. I pray constantly that God will bless my efforts. I am so not a perfect mom. But I do love being a mom. I love reading books to my kids, I love going on walks with my kids, I love having parties for my kids, I love making treats with them. Whenever I am not focused on the fact that I feel so sick, and remember that I get to hold another tiny baby in my arms, I can't believe it,
I am so happy.

BUT, when I yell at my kids, or the house is a wreck, or my kids talk back, or laundry is piling, I think, how will I do this?

I have always wanted a big family. When I was a little girl, I loved Cabbage Patch Kids. They were really hard to buy for a while there, other girls were happy to have 1. I was generally not spoiled, but I had 7 cabbage patch kids. I never wanted to take care of just one, I wanted to play "orphanage" and take care of a whole group. I loved hanging out at friends houses with big families, I loved babysitting my cousins of big families. It's what I always wanted and Bruce was warned when he married me.

Bruce is the best. My sort of strength and weakness is that I take on a lot. My response is always, I can do that, or we should do this. I always think I can fit everything in somehow. Bruce is not like this. He is more pessimistic. He always thinks we are too busy, or we won't be able to get to it. The reason why he is the best, is because as I take on a ton, and am flailing the night before stressed about everything that needs to get done, he is always right there helping me get it all done. I am so thankful for him. He said to me that he didn't feel the need for another baby, but he didn't want to be the one to not allow me if I would always regret it. And now he is the one next to me doing more laundry and working harder to keep the house clean, because I feel so sick. How did I get so lucky to have him? Thank you Bruce. I love you!

And I am thankful for 5 kids who are so excited for another baby. Even before they knew I was pregnant Logan put on his Christmas list, "a new baby brother".

I have faith God will bless our efforts, because quite honestly, I know in my heart how guided through prayer I felt
in bringing this on.

Family Picture Out takes

Happy Thanksgiving!

Before we get to Thanksgiving... first let me share Ashlin's "Super Veterans Day" attire she came downstairs in... hope your Veterans day was as festive as Ashlins!
A "Happy Thanksgiving" from Logan:

Here starts THREE nights in a row of baking:

Monday night- Lily stayed up with me after bedtime making pumpkin bread for Dallins class feast the next day! (This picture was "censored" for Lily's modesty)
Tuesday Night- After putting all the kids in bed I remembered that I promised Logan he could help me with the cookies we had to make for his class feast the next day. Soooo, he was pretty excited when I snuck him out of bed to come downstairs and help me...


His 2 favorite jobs: rolling the gingersnaps in sugar and licking the beater!

Wednsday Night- Making pies for the REAL thanksgiving feast tomorrow at our house. Our tradition is the kids make their own mini pies while I make the big ones. For this occassion we bring out the Christmas music for the first time of the season!

And last is Emma's cute Thanksgiving letter to our family on her feelings about having a "big" family:

I challenged my family last week that for all the days up until Thanksgiving in our personal prayers each night we would say 10 things we are thankful for. Here are my 10 tonight:

1. I am thankful that even though I didn't feel like it, I made pies with my kids, because once we got started, it was precious to see them so excited!

2. I am thankful that today when I went in to Logan's class for his feast, even though he normally acts all tough like he doesn't miss me and need me, he hugged me and told me to stay with him all day!

3. I am thankful for my new walking buddy/neighbor because it forces me to get my big rear out of bed each morning... 5:40am... ugh!

4. And I am thankful that she is Jehovah's Witness and I have had the chance to get to know someone different. I really admire her dedication, have felt the spirit much in our talks and know she does what she does in the name of serving our Lord.

5. I am thankful Bruce's mother and husband came to our house for Thanksgiving.

6. I am thankful they did a fireside here sunday night about their mission in Malaysia and my kids were fascinated and sat still through all of it.

7. I am thankful that I am not sick.

8. I am thankful that Emma loves having a big family, because I hope hope that in having a big family each of our kids always feels special and made time for.

9. I am thankful for the walk Ashlin, Lily and I went on tonight, and that Ashlin and I have so much fun together and the beautiful weather to do it in.

10. EVEN though Bruce was suppose to have the day off today, he had to work because his other doctor got sick :( and has to now work friday and saturday... but I am so thankful he IS so hard working and has a good job, and plays with the kids when I am grumpy.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What are YOU thankful for?
(turkey by Emma)

"Old Macdonald had a Farm" VIDEO

This summer Bruce and I FLEW with all of our kids to

Salt Lake City, Utah.

For a couple of the days there Bruce took the older 3 kids to his moms for Grandkids Camp... and I took the younger 2 kids (Logan and Lily) to visit one of my best friends since we were 9...

Tanya (Oxborrow) Macdonald

Sixth Grade

Highschool

So Tanya married Eric Macdonald and it was so neat to go see what their life is like now. I have many friends with fancy beautiful things and I have never felt jealous of others lives UNTIL I went to Tanya's house! They left the city and moved to the country and as far as I'm concerned they're living the real life... trying to do as much on their own as possible, so down to earth, so so neat!

So, here is the video I made from our visit to

Tanya and Eric MACDONALD'S Farm:

Is it not the coolest thing that they have a farm AND their last name is Macdonald??

The CABIN - Are you KIDDING me???

So, for ALL of fall break, my family had a fantabulous time at our families cabin in Pinetop...

UNTIL....

(My sister Carrie drives a silver Honda Odyssey)...

Check this out...
Wow, how do you lift THIS off the car??
We don't even think buff Kenny could,

but he wasn't with us to try...

Are you Kidding me????
YES, I am kidding. BUT this was like the funniest thing, because driving through the White Mountain Country Club, where our cabin is, we saw this van EXACTLY like my sisters van! AND since our husbands weren't with us, my sister took pictures with her cell and texted them to her husband saying look what happend to their van. We laughed our heads off in the background while she talked to Geoff (husband) on the phone about what they were going to do now, and him not needing to drive up, but she would rent a car, and them needing to buy a new van now. Oh, it was the BEST joke! We laughed that Carrie was literally on the phone with AT&T for an hour trying to figure out how to text a picture, she had never done it before... but it was all worth it!! Good times!!

The rest of the trip was good too,
Grandpa broke us in to a fish hatchery, it was closed,
but not for us!

Grandpa also hiked us all over trying to find an eagles nest,
and we did!!

"Grandma Ashlin" is what we call Ashlin recently, as she has gotten really in to knitting!!! Who woulda thought?? She learned in a clothing counts class, and I keep having to buy her more yarn, here is a scarf she is knitting. Bruce took her to a Diamond Backs game, and she brought her knitting, she knits in the car, on trips, in movies.... It's cute. And what a surprise to get to the cabin and see her little cousin Lexi loves knitting too!?

Good Times at the Cabin!!!

Pumpkin Seeds

As a family we just fulfilled our annual quota of carved pumpkins. The next step for us is always to then cook the pumpkin seeds for yummy munching.

Here for you is the perfect kid job, as they cannot REALLY help in the carving department with little sharp knives, yet they are persistent in getting their hands involved in some way...
While Bruce carves, my kids seperate the seeds from the orange gush, to then wash for... PUMPKIN SEEDS!

Surprisingly, everybody doesn't keep the seeds from the pumpkins they carve, but disgard them... WHAT?! How incredibly wasteful!

Pumpkin Seeds:

1. Wash and Dry the seeds.
2. Combine approx 2 cups seeds, 1/4 cup salt and 1 quart water in a pot.
3. Bring to boil and boil for 15 minutes.
4. Drain and spread on towell to dry.
5. Place seeds in a shallow baking pan and bake at 325 for 30 minutes.
6. Cool and store in dry place.

Please Vote!

If you are on my blog, please vote- I am not speaking about the election our country is prepping for, I am speaking about our own family poll to the right!

There is much anxious excitement in my family as to who is going to win most favorite Vernon, 4 days left to vote!
If you can't decide who to vote for, just vote for me! ha ha

(Please vote in the upcoming national Election too, go Republican and yes on 102)

"City Bus Trip" Video

So, my friend M.B. told me this summer that she took her kids on the city bus. I was like, what a GREAT idea! When I was a kid and visited my grandmother in phoenix, she had never learned how to drive, so we took the city bus anywhere we went. My kids were all so excited when I informed them we were taking a city bus trip to the mall. And our neighbors, Rachelle, Vannessa and DJ came too. As Usual.

So, since you learned in an earlier blog post that I like to make videos, enjoy another couple minute long
Vernon Studios Production...




What a great advertisement for the Valley Metro Bus system!

Highschool Musical 3 Review

I am giving this movie 5 Stars!!

Quality- 5 Stars

Entertainment Value- 5 Stars

Favorite Song/Dance number- The Boys are Back

-----------------------

I have heard it recieved some bad reviews, I have heard that some say it is "cheezy" or "too lovey" between Troy and Gabriella. My reply to this is: yes, it is a bit, but it is a Musical! It's NOT a drama. The genre of movie itself forewarns that it will not have a deep, intellectualy involved story line.

The music/dancing in it are so entertaining! After the first song I said, "I wish every movie were like this". All movies should intermix scenes with huge musical numbers where everyone dances and sings- ha ha! About 30 minutes in to it, it was a little slow and I wasn't so sure what I thought, but by the end, we left loving it!

Our ward halloween party happened to coincide with the opening day of Highschool Musical 3. That was a dilemna, to which do we be loyal? Well, there was little question, we clearly had to do both, and left from "Trunk or Treat" for the 10:00pm showing with friends, sisters, cousins.

We have here Sharpe represented by 2 different outfits. Emma and her cousin Amber may not have normally chosen that as a halloween costume, but knowing they were going to the opening night of the movie, it was a way to secure the perfect attire for the occasion.

Fabulous!

How can I not want to support a movie where the teenagers are dancing and singing, and not drinking and making out (or worse).

Loved it!

On a side note, someone just invited me to see a scary movie with them because it is Halloween. Let me just voice my opinion here and say, "not with me, not a chance." I am still baffled as to why it is considered recreation to watch some psychopath go on rampage and butcher people, and when did that become entertainment?

Vernon Summeration 2008

Our family tradition for the last 4 years has been the "Summer List". On the Monday (Family Home Evening) night before summer starts we get out a plain piece of paper and compile a to-do list. The kids each get to take turns naming something (within reason) they want to do that summer. We include any scheduled family vacations and it thus becomes our objective to check off all items. This year we titled it "Vernon Summeration" and it was taped to our chalkboard all summer as we checked things off. Here are a few:

Baking Party- Check

Ride City Bus to the Mall- Check

Jet Ski/Boat Trip- Check

San Diego Trip with all of Blake family- Check