Best. Purchase. Ever.

We went back and forth about whether or not to get the kids a tramp for Christmas. I was worried about broken bones... it's something I still worry about...

But oh my goodness, even in this dead of winter, my kids bounce on that thing any chance they get! They love it! We all love it! I finally got enough courage to do some front and back flips on it, which makes this near 30-year-old feel like pretty hot stuff. There have already been picnics on it, daddy-daughter/son adventures ("adventure" is code for date), and even our littlest loves to bounce on there with the big kids. She's always pointing out the window and saying, "Jump! Jump!"

So, yeah. I'd say it has been my favorite "toy" we've purchased for our kids yet, especially since we got it for a steal on Black Friday last year, and also especially since I wasn't the one braving the lines in the wee hours of the night to buy it. (A big thanks to Will for that!) And also a big thanks to Uncle Jake who set it up for us! I'm really irritated I can't find the photos I took of that. :/

Anyway, hip-hip! To many more memories made on the family trampoline!

A Child's Prayer

Usually Magson kneels with his head in the pillow and says something like this over and over again during his prayers:

I thank thee that we could have a great, great day...
I thank thee that we could have a great, great time,
And I thank thee for this great, great day...

I've been trying to help him think of more things to say, and this last week I've especially encouraged him to ask for some patience. Or maybe it's me that needs the patience? Anyway, to my surprise and despite his muffled voice, I've managed to catch a few pleas for patience here and there. But I haven't been able to catch everything, and since his prayers have suddenly gotten considerably longer and less repetitive, tonight I stuffed my head into the pillow next to his so I could hear better.

This is what I caught:

Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank thee for this great, great day.
Please bless me to be patient.
Please bless me to have my own dad.
Please bless me to have my own mom.
Please bless me to have my own friends...

After he said "amen," I immediately asked him what it meant when he said he wanted his own mom?! I was feeling really sad that he was basically saying he didn't have a mom, a dad or friends. Heartbreaking!

His grinning reply: "It means I love you. I'm pretty sure that's what it means."

Whew.

Snaps: Proud Owners

We're going on day #3 of more snow and no school. (These particular pictures were taken on day #1.) And thanks to our winter wonderland, I'm now the proud owner of a really clean closet. Somehow all the snow has put me into spring cleaning mode.

This little one below is the proud owner of the only semi-decent pair of snow gloves in the family. Lucky her!

He's the proud owner of his very own snowman. (Don't worry, Magson does own better winter get-up than this. I just made him run back outside and get a picture taken with his snowman after he'd already shed his coat and gloves... he gave the snowman his hat.)

And this little miss is the proud owner of, well, ...I don't know exactly. Let's just say all things adorable!

Define Shine

With the new year here and shining with so much potential, I have a million thoughts swirling. But I can't seem to make sentences out of them. All I know is I have a feeling twenty twelve is going to rock. Anyway, until I find words, I hope you enjoy these two pictures that caught my eye tonight.

All kinds of shimmer and shine, these two. xoxo

Sisters Christmas Video. Check.

I am fully aware that I tend to go into hyper cheese mode when placed in front of a video camera, but Jake (my sister Em's hubby) managed to work his mad filming/editing skills to take the really gushy Marie stuff out (they told me to act like I was in love and I went a little overboard!) and left only the best in. Anyway, I love how it turned out and it was so fun to make!

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. Mine was pretty fantastic!

Two Steps Behind

Just wanted to pop in and say that I'm still alive! Things have just been so busy, and I constantly feel two steps behind lately. But I hope to get my blogging groove back on soon! But realistically, the soonest that will happen is 2012! I've been doing a lot of last-minute online Christmas shopping, picture orders, and I also got called to serve as the president over the teenage girls at church (which I LOVE). So yeah, I'm just finding my new groove right now.

I have managed to keep up with my weekly posts over at Notes She Wrote, though! I just barely wrote a story over there about this sweet girl:

Beach Bums

Even when the weather was just so-so, we still hit the beach just about every single day during our trip down to California last month. We did lots of other things, too, (the San Diego Zoo, Imagination Station, hot tubbing, and relaxing), but I gotta say, I think we all loved the beach best! And I think my camera did, too.

I will cherish these pictures forever!