THE WEEKEND OF TEETH AND SNOW

It's a sad day for a mom when the youngest loses her first tooth.

My girls are growing up. Both of their birthdays are next month. Camille wants to have a dance with boys and practices with a yardstick on the trampoline. (We aren't having a dance, by the way) Abby just wants to invite a million kids to her party. (We aren't having the entire neighborhood over either.)

Abby was very excited to have the tooth fairy come. Mom was sad because Abby is way too young to be losing teeth, or is she?

A view of my street, the day after Christmas.

I'm glad it's finally starting to melt!

A POSSIBLE CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE!

I knew I was in trouble 2 weeks ago when Camille sat on Santa's lap.

Santa: What would you like for Christmas?

Camille: A PUPPY!

Anna (My Friend): You are in trouble Julie!
Those that know me well know I'm not a big fan of animals and pets. Tanner had to BEG for years for a pet, earn the money and I finally caved. However, the snake minds his own business in Tanner's room and Tanner feeds and cleans up after him. I thought Camille would let the whole puppy thing pass. She hadn't mentioned it again....UNTIL this morning.

Camille: I am so excited today is Christmas Eve! Tomorrow I'm going to get my puppy!

Daren: Santa's elves called a couple days ago. We talked about it and decided the puppy will not be coming to our house this year.

Camille: Total and complete weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. She began to cry so hard she couldn't talk. I don't want anything else for Christmas. I have been a good girl all year and a puppy is all I want. I don't want any toys...just a puppy!

Julie: Sobbing

Camille: More sobbing

Julie: Thinking of taking everything back to the store on Christmas Eve so her daughter can have a puppy - but dreading the lines at all the stores.

Camille: FINE...I'll be thankful for whatever I get. BUT I REALLY WANT A PUPPY!!

Julie: I feel like a shmuck because my hatred of pets has ruined my daughter's Christmas!

THEN THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE ON CHRISTMAS EVE

DING DONG

Just in the nick of time, Old St. Nick was at our front door. Camille exclaimed, "I really want a puppy." Santa patiently sat Camille on his lap and explained that the puppy would not be coming this year, maybe next Christmas. He told her that she was a very good girl this year and that he had some special toys to bring her later tonight.

I just hope I haven't ruined Christmas and she is happy with all her new toys!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! WE LOVE YOU!

THE GIFT OF TRAVEL

GIFT #6

TRAVELING WITH DAREN

There are so many things I love about Daren. He is truly my better half and I am a better person for being married to him. Being married to Daren is a gift that keeps on giving. He is truly my best friend and I LOVE our life together.

I could list all the things I love about him but I know he would hate that SO instead I decided to focus how much fun I have with him. We have been married 8 years. In that 8 years we have been to Washington DC twice, Florida twice, The Caribbean, Texas, Missouri, Chicago, Hawaii, California (WAY too many times to count), The Pacific Northwest (again, TOO many times to count), and hopefully soon...The Big Apple!! He is so much fun to travel with. Going on trips with him is one of my favorite things to do.

One of my favorite memories... we went to Hawaii a few years ago. While we were there we decided to go parasailing. There were 3 height options - 700ft, 900 ft, and 1200 ft, which is the highest the State of Hawaii allows. We decided on the 700 ft. We started to pay our money and somehow the guy talked us into the 1200ft. We get out on the boat and 2 girls start their turn parasailing. They were really high in the air. We asked the guy...they must be doing the 1200 ft, right? He said, oh no they are 700ft in the air. Daren and I looked at each other and I think I turned green. We are both afraid of heights. Next thing we know, it was our turn. I was so scared for the first minute. After a minute or two, it was so beautiful. It was a scene I will never forget - looking down at the beautiful blue waters of Hawaii and reflecting on how quiet everything seemed. It was at that moment, that I looked over at Daren who was also enjoying the moment and I realized how wonderful it was to be in such a beautiful place, doing something that is WAY out of my comfort zone with my best friend!

Thanks Daren for all of the fun memories and a wonderful life! I LOVE YOU!!

Getting ready to start our 1200 ft. launch (Yes, I think I'm about to throw up)
Coming in for our landing - what an awesome experience!

AN UNEXPECTED GIFT

GIFT #5 - THE IINUMA FAMILY

Yukiho, Sachiko, Sotaro & Toshiya

As many of you know, we had the amazing opportunity of having a Japanese student stay with us for a week in October. There were 235 Japanese 9th graders that came to stay throughout Utah County with different host families. About 2 weeks before Sotaro came to America, I received an e-mail from his family. They introduced themselves and something in that e-mail struck my heart. His mother expressed a nervousness about him coming to America and I could feel that she was concerned and worried about him being so far away from home. I had such empathy for her because I know I would feel the same way about one of my children going to a foreign country for the first time. About this same time, I started blogging. I decided each day to update my blog so his family would not worry. I wanted Sachiko and Toshiya to know that I would take care of Sotaro, as if he were my own son.

Our family just thought we would be having a house guest for a week. We had no idea how Sotaro would capture our hearts. There is something so special about his boy. He brought a special feeling into our home. We enjoyed him so much. He is smart and funny. We laughed together and played games together. It was fun to introduce him to American things and watch his expressions.

After Sotaro went back to Japan, his mother, Sachiko and I started e-mailing each other. We e-mail frequently and I really enjoy hearing from her. It is amazing to me how similar our lives are. We both love our family and children. We both can't believe how quickly our children are growing up. We have a lot in common and I love being able to have all of them as friends. Their family holds a very special place in our family's heart. We love them, even though we've only met Sotaro for a week. We are hoping they will be able to come to America in 2010.

Sotaro e-mails us every Sunday. Each week I look forward to Sunday because I enjoy hearing from him. I enjoy the pictures his mom sends us and hearing about his success in school. A couple days ago, we received a Christmas package from his family. It was so beautiful! They sent us a wonderful Christmas card and a family picture. They also sent us the same book Sotaro had brought with him to America that has English and Japanese in it. We have all enjoyed looking at the book and are still trying to speak Japanese.

Yukiho & Sotaro - We are happy to see our BYU flag is safe and sound in Japan. The Wendels were looking for it a few weeks ago!

We love The Iinuma family!! Thank you for bringing joy into our family!

MY 2 LITTLE TREASURES

GIFT #4

Every mom dreams of having their own little girl. For me, I was blessed twice in 12 months! I love having 2 little girls. What makes the girls so much fun is they are so different, yet so much alike. They have the same interests, yet their personalities are so different. We've been told by many, one is a little me and the other is a little Daren. Can you guess who is Mini-Me and who is Mini-Daren?

Yesterday, Camille and I had a Girls Night Out. We were the only ones at home so we went out to dinner and to the mall. While we were in the car, Camille says, "Mommy, my childhood is PERFECT!" I started to chuckle and I asked her why it is so perfect. She says, "Because I have a mommy and daddy that love me and I love them!" My chuckle quickly changed to tears. That compliment made my day! I am glad her little life is PERFECT!



ABBY is a little shy, somewhat reserved. Although, she has a TON of friends. At school she has learned how to share our telephone number with her friends and they call our house constantly wanting to talk on the phone. (I am SO in trouble in 10 years) She is very sensitive and cries at a drop of a hat. She loves school and is very smart. She loves to learn and is also very good at art. She has a lot of patience to sit still and concentrate on whatever she is doing.

CAMILLE is very social! She loves friends, parties and to be the center of attention. She loves to perform and says she wants to be a star! She is so sweet and caring about other people's feelings. She hates to see anyone left out. She truly loves everyone and everything in life. She is always excited about something and constantly makes us laugh. She is growing her hair out for Locks Of Love. She HATES having long hair but does not want to cut it until it is long enough for her to give to another little girl who has cancer. She says she wants to be a hero to a sick girl.

My girls are treasures that money cannot buy. I love being their mom and watching them grow and mature. They are growing up way too fast!

FACEBOOK - GIFT #2

It might sound crazy but I am go thankful for Facebook. It has been so much fun to catch up with friends from high school, college, and from previous times in my life. I feel so blessed to have been able to visit with friends who from circumstances of life, we have lost communication. I am so excited to go to Las Vegas soon and visit my dear friend Erin. She has told my kids that she has crazy stories about me from high school. However, I can only remember stories about how studious I was and how my total and complete focus in life was about obtaining an education. I have no idea what stories she is referring to! :)

THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH - #3

I love Disneyland! We have been blessed to take our children there too many times to count. We usually go every 6 months to a year. When we lived in Las Vegas, it was exactly 3 1/2 hours from our front door to the front gates of Disneyland (with no traffic.) I love Disneyland so much that each time I go there with my kids, as I walk through the front gate and smell the churros and popcorn, I start to cry. It only happens for a quick second and then I don't cry the rest of the time. There is something magical about taking my children to Disneyland. I have so many fun family memories of going there as a child and as an adult with my children. We have been taking our kids there for years and I hope to continue to take them there for many years to come!

Camille's first trip to Disneyland - 2 months old! (2002)

2005

2008

Looking through our hundreds of Disneyland pictures makes me want to go there right now!! Gift #3 is my family memories at Disneyland

GIFTS

One of my dearest friends from high school, Erin, has a really cute blog. This month she has devoted every day to express gratitude for a gift in her life. I decided to copy her idea and share gifts that I am grateful for. So each post until Christmas will be a gift that I am grateful for. They will be posted in no particular order.

Today's gift -

MY NEIGHBORHOOD

I feel so blessed to live in this neighborhood. I love living here. I love the people in my neighborhood. I love the friends we have made since we moved here. I love the people who teach my children at school, at church, in scouts, at piano, and at all the activities they are a part of. I love how my doorbell rings constantly with children who want to play with my children. I love my children's friends and I am grateful that my children have wonderful and amazing peers to grow up with.

Thank you to all of our wonderful neighbors who we are blessed to call friends! We love you all and hope you have a wonderful Christmas season!

LITTLE MISS V.I.P.

This week was the week that the kindergartner in our home has been waiting for! She was selected as her class V.I.P. We brought her favorite snacks, pictures of her family, her favorite toys and games to share with her classmates.

When asked what makes her the happiest - her reply:

"When my brother Tanner lets me hold his snake."

Her class was surprised to learn that she loves to wear the snake as a necklace. I still don't comprehend how she's afraid of a fly but she'll wear a snake as a necklace!

Congrats Abby on being the V.I.P. You are a V.I.P at school and at home!