Happy New Year

Hooray! It is a new year! We had a few friends over and had a good time playing and singing and visiting. It even snowed a little, an added bonus. We are exhausted now so I will write more later-

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Merry Christmas to All

Wow, have we been busy. Rich is home and we have been playing and busy every second since he arrived (on a delayed plane of course, which meant he got here at 2:00am).

We had a wonderful Christmas. We spent the day as most of you did, unwrapping and testing our every new thing. I have to admit we have reached a spectacular milestone this year. The girls unpackaged most of their new toys!!! That means this is the first year I have not had nubs for fingers after untwisting those awful twisty things that they have holding every single item in a package. Just where do the manufactures think these toys are going(Timbuktu) and how do they think they are getting there(dragged behind a freight train)? What can happen to them from point A, to point B, to point C? Anyway, we made it and with all our digits intact.

We spent a lot of the day singing on our new singing machine. We got to watch Rylie rock out in her own concert with mix of Hannah Montanna and High School Musical. It was a delight!

Then we had dinner with some friends and the Elders. It was a nice spread and great company. Could not have been a more perfect ending to a perfect day.

The best part of all, for me at least, is that we had a showing of our house yesterday. We had to hussle to get things put away and back in order(after all we have been Christmasing for a few days now...) but we did it and it looked very nice I have to admit. So, time will tell.

I hope you all had a wonderful day.

Today's Solution to the Boredom Issue

This is Rylie's Pokemon Fishing Pond-We have been trying so hard to not make a mess on the off chance that someone would want to come and see our house on a moments notice just a few days before Christmas ( I know I know...) Today I am lightening up a little and this is what resulted...

It is a wonderful fishing pond. You can catch a Pokemon stuffy or some other "mysterious" item. I was lucky enough to catch a pink satin Barbie purse!!!




Luckily someone was willing to give me a quick demonstration on fishing or who knows what may have happened.


Notice all my fish, I think I missed my calling in life to brave the seas and be a fisherman!


Paigie got the pillowcase on her first try--LUCKY!!! Some may argue that the real score was her second try where she reeled in a darling cat that purrs when you wiggle her.

Never a dull moment here.

Last Christmas

This song has been one of my all time favorite non traditional Christmas songs since about 7th grade, back when WHAM! was the greatest thing to hit the airwaves.

We have gone full cirlce here in our house because this is now one of Tori's favorite Christmas songs. She has been humming it all morning long. It made me laugh thinking I did exactly the same thing, except when I did it it was WHAM!....I feel old today.

So here it is the new and improved Last Christmas by Ashley Tisdale...

Boredom is the Mother of Invention

A New Kind of Super Suit


A New Dress


The New And Improved Way To Eat a Yogart


With all the snow outside we have had to get really creative with things to do inside that dont make a mess. Its been interesting let me tell you!

Finally a solution that will occupy an entire afternoon....

We Were Enchanted

We went to see this movie yesterday and we LOVED it. The songs were so darling that we wanted to dance. It was great beacuse we had the entire theater to ourselves. The kids were moving all around choosing different seats and we talked as loud as we wanted and laughed as loud as we wanted. It was totally great.

Anyway, all my girls are at this incredibly romantic age where everything is about true love and happy ever after (okay maybe they have always been this way?!?)thanks to High School Musical. This movie is totally about those two things so it was the perfect choice for us. I recommend it, it does have a mean scary witch and all that goes with her(think Snow White)but it was not terribly intense.

Tori is Twelve

Yesterday was Tori's birthday. We had a super fun day that was topped with her first ever MUTUAL!!! That was for sure the highlight of the day.

Tori is a wonderful little girl, I mean, young lady. She has always been a wise and insightful little person but it has multiplied as of late. She always tries to make good decisions and surprises me everyday with her wisdom.

I love you Tori! I am grateful for the last 12 years and I am so glad you are mine.

Our Top Twelve List

Every year I make a list of the top things we learned in the year (my cousin Tami started this on our family web site, it was so cute that we all wrote in what our lists would be and it has been a tradition ever since). It used to be a top ten list but has grown to be the top twelve list...

Gilmore Top 12 List

Something strange happens to you when your firstborn child turns 12, but when it happens the same year the Mormon Tabernacle Choir becomes your favorite “group”, it has mid-life crisis written all over it.

I don’t care how hungry you are or how often you try….a carrot never tastes as good as a Butterfinger!

If you encourage the primary children to pray for snow, you better have your snow boots ready!!

In a house full of girls everything can be used as a “microphone”.

When you are 9 and three quarters years old, the traditional holiday “mysteries” suddenly become a lot less mysterious.

My high school was no where near as cool as the one on High School Musical!

The level of fun you are having is directly related to the number of shoes (not belonging to your own family) by your front door.

When you walk around Lake Zorinksi early in the morning you are greeted by just about every walker you pass with a friendly “Good Morning”. You are also likely to hear “On your left” screamed at you by every biker that passes you. It is translated into “move your slow moving self off the bike path before I run you down with my Schwinn!”!

You can pretty much be certain your hop-scotch will not wash off in the rain if you draw it with a permanent ink Sharpie.

Just when you think your kids have finally outgrown stuffed animals, they will discover Webkinz.

Brand new pair of walking shoes: $99.99
Brand new pedometer: $20.00
Half Marathon Registration fee: $55.00
Seeing your family cheering you on as you reach the finish line: PRICELESS

And last but not least,

If your husband walks in the door and says “which of our phones stays charged the longest?” you might want to brace yourself, the conversation he’s planning on having might very well result in a job offer and relocation!

Ice Storm

We had an ice storm a few days ago. It was very beautiful,something like a magical ice fairy land. It is hard to tell but there is about a quarter of an inch of ice on every solid surface. If you click on the pictures it makes the larger so you can see the detail.
We are buried in snow now, but I thought this was amazing.

Our Back Door


The Rail


Our Swing


Our Front Yard



The Dirt in the Flower Bed


My Van


Our Truck





Swing (notice the chains)



Grass








Trees

Whitney took this picture for me, we will have to work on the flattering angle technique later, but for now notice this adorable apron the primary kids made for me. I was released from being primary president and they gave me this darling gift. I will never forget the sweet children and adults in primary! I have learned so much from them and am a much better person for having known them.

My Daughter the Humanitarian

The other day Whitney was trying to earn some money to buy gifts for her friends. I was on the computer and kept hearing this bell ringing. I finally turned around and there was Whitty ringing a bell with a sign "Money for the Poor" I said "Whit, you are definitely not poor" and she said "I know, but how else am I supposed to get money for my friends gifts?"

A few minutes later I heard the bell ringing again and I turned to look and she had crossed out the POOR and wrote "ME Please, and poor". So now the sign read "Money for the me please, and poor".

I figured this was now a legit cause and went and scrapped together a little somethin' to put in her bucket(We have established I am a push over for a bell ringer with a bucket--especially one this cute).

I also tossed in a big piece of bubble gum for good measure.

Friends

I am so blessed. I have met some really wonderful people in my life and for some wonderful reason the Lord let me have those people for my friends. Why am I ALWAYS so fortunate?

These were a "just because" gift which is my absolute favorite kind of gift. This just made my day (although it was not today) and I had to share.

Tragedy In Omaha

It started out as an eventful day with the President visiting Omaha. We sat here glued to the TV watching his plane arrive and later it leaving to return the president to Washington DC but then suddenly the news got very scary.

Yesterday afternoon a young boy went into an Omaha mall and opened fire in a crowded store. Eight people died and several more were injured before he took his own life. My heart is breaking today for the families and loved ones of those who have died and also the family and friends of the boy who has done this terrible thing.

You never think something like this can happen in your safe little community and I know for me when I hear these kinds of things it never seems real. I guess it is a coping mechanism. But I have to say this feels very real and way to close to home. It makes me reflect on past violent occurrences with more of an understanding of the grief people must have felt. What an unforgettable day in Omaha.

So Much To Do So Little Time

Rich is leaving on Friday. We are running around anxiously tying up loose ends so he is able to go without worries. We had Tori's 12th Birthday tonight even though her b-day is next week. We will have a party with just the girls then.

I have taken so many photos with the specific purpose of posting them. The only problem is that in an effort to make our house perfectly presentable we put away the cords to get the photos off my camera. I have no idea how to do that part so I am hoping to get a crash course on photo downloading tomorrow night!

Anyway, that is what we are up too around here. It is super exciting but oh so sad at the same time. We decided last night that at some point we would think this was no big deal, so were just going to think that now too. So deep breath and no worries this is NO BIG DEAL!

It's Things Like This I Wonder About

This is the time of year you start hearing those bells ringing. I love the Salvation Army bell ringers. There is one tiny problem. I feel guilty. I love to give money to this very worthy cause but here is the dilemma...The way I see it there are really only two ways to handle the situation 1. Give a one time large donation or 2. Give a small donation every time you pass a bell ringer thereby equaling the same total. If I do the first one I feel guilty every other time I pass the bell ringer without putting something in. If I do the second one I feel like I should be putting more in than the $.75 or whatever change I can scrape together. I am curious, what does everyone else do? One time donation or multiple smaller donations?

Tori has all the answers, "The money all ends up in the same place mom, so why do you worry?" I love that girl...

I do still want to hear everyones opinions though...

Some Bad News, Some Good News

The bad news is Rich has a nasty cough. The good news is we have plenty of Vicks Vapo Rub!

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

I was dreaming about this all night. Our favorite places on the earth...

Utah Bound

Rich was offered a job today in Salt Lake City. We are thrilled! Utah here we come!

Be Our Guest

Today Tori made a darling restaurant for Rich and I to enjoy a date night together. She covered ever detail (with a little help from sisters, much to her dismay)...

(this restaurant is great. You can come after your afternoon nap and you dont even have to fix your hair!)

even ENTERTAINMENT...



and a Waitress...

and a Chef....

and a FIRST COURSE...


and MORE ENTERTAINMENT...
This time we got to watch the bear change colors....



and STILL MORE ENTERTAINMENT...
first we watched the turkey fly around the room


then we watched her juggle a bag of marshmallows

and just when it couldn't get any better...
a MAIN COURSE...
the house specialty BBQ chicken and Macaroni and Cheese...Yummy!
(notice the snack cups with marshmallows and even licorice and a Bit 'O Honey...this place is FANCY!)


and an ENCORE PERFORMANCE...


which was followed by DESSERT...
it was so yummy (ice cream topped with whipped cream) that I didn't get a decent photo...

and then you guessed it...
MORE ENTERTAINMENT...