Christmas

I have so many pictures and videos from Christmas. This one is my favorite. Christmas morning getting ready to head out to mom and dad's. :) The season was SO busy this year. Partly because we decided to put in new counters, paint all the cabinets, etc..it left little time to relax, but I am so pleased with the progress. I will post pictures of that soon! Back to Christmas...all the kids choir and Christmas programs were awesome. I love seeing them up there singing. It was fun because we have a great digital camera/high def video camera now and I got to record them all. We spent Christmas eve with Josh's parents and Gma B.We first opened presents here as a family and yes..the kids are spoiled! We went to church, had yummy food and then they opened some more gifts. We were all up much too late, but there was no way I was missing MUSH at my parents. I wait for it every year and Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without it. Dad read the story of the birth of Jesus (as always) from the bible and then they got to open more gifts. We left mom and dad's went to Baxter's for lunch and then back out to my parents for supper and super fun game night!! Whew, I am tired just writing it all down. It was an awesome Christmas and I loved every minute of it. I am blessed beyond measure.

Resolution

So, I have been such a slacker on my blog. I have two drafts that I started and NEVER finished. My new years resolution is to do a better job keeping up on stuff. I just told Jamie "I am so far behind I decided to make a fresh start and try harder from now on" If I would download the pictures off my camera more often it would help..Or maybe I will have a blog with no pictures. lol

This year I am doing my best to take better care of me..relax more, enjoy more, laugh more..and let some of the little things that I turn into big things..go.

15

Paige is 15 today! I still remember waiting for her to make her arrival into the world. (it was long) I remember her as this amazing 2 year old who knew everything and believe it or not HELPED when her brother was born. I remember her going to preschool for the first time, kindergarten, middle school..now HIGH SCHOOL.

I am blessed beyond measure with Paige. I say it often,but she is an amazing and abnormal teenager. Not that there haven't been hard moments here and there, but wow...She is so cool!

15 years lived, 15 years of joy (mixed with a little pain), 15 years of laughter (mixed with a few tears), 15 years of blessings...

So today I am writing the 15 things I love about Paige.

1. She loves the Lord with a passion and purpose. Knowing the right things to do and choosing to do them.
2. She is loyal. She will not change her mind about you..she gives people more chances and more forgiveness than anyone I have ever met.
3. She is a good sister. She loves her brothers and sisters and takes an active role in their lives.
4. She is funny..OH MY GOODNESS is she funny! She makes our days better EVERY DAY!
5. She is herself...all the time.
6. She is an amazing daughter. She knows me, knows the things to say, ways to help, and ways to make my life better
7. She sings.
8. She sings like no one is listening.
9. She cares about those she comes in contact with. She sees people for who they are and knows each one of us has value
10.She is passionate about life. I know for a fact that the Lord has HUGE things planned for Paige. I see it!
11. She wants to make a difference in others lives. She wants to go on missions trips, she wants to lead youth ministry, she wants to use her gifts and talents
12. She is talented in all things "ART"
13. She is an incredible story-teller...actor..
14. She is able to laugh at herself and not take herself too seriously
15. She is Paige.

Music

Music...we love it. It is always playing, we are always downloading, you-tubing, singing, dancing. Not a day goes by that someone doesn't start singing a line from a musical, sing what they are saying, sing a question, or just talk about something musical. Paige and Carter will start singing choir songs -ones that Paige has sung that Carter is singing now, or *cough cough* songs that I sang in high school. Paige is playing the guitar, Mia is taking the piano and the boys are interested in both guitar and drums. Music makes our lives better. You can forget the troubles of the moment and sing and dance it away. Ginger called me tonight and what did we start talking about? Music. There was a song that reminded her of Paige. It is called Headphones by Britt Nicole. One of our favorite artists (there are many though)

She gave it her best She tried to fit in She tried to be cool

But she never could win

Her mom says she’s great

The kids think she’s weird

Honestly she wish she could disappear

Why you try, try to be like the rest of them

When you know there’s so much more within

There’s only one you

Here’s what ya’ gotta do Whoa, Whoa...

Anytime you feel alone, put on your headphones Love, love’s coming through your headphones Anytime you feel alone, put on your headphones Love, love’s coming through your headphones L-o-o-ove is coming through your headphones L-o-o-ove is coming through your headphones

It goes on to say, keep your head held high and dust off your shoulders. Music can give us all the ability to dust off our shoulders and move on :)

Some of my favorite memories with my kids are singing. The other night all four kids and I were in the bathroom singing something obnoxious (a song called to sing it to me-choir song) and each trying to sing louder than the other. It was so funny and would sound insane to someone from the outside, but TOTALLY normal for us. I am blessed with kids who love music as much as I do. ♥

The swings

The Baxter Children recieved a wonderful new addition to our yard this summer. TIRE SWINGS! Mia asked Papa for a tire swing, so he gathered all the materials and got one up. Very quickly they decided that one tire swing wasn't enough. So, Papa came out with two more tires and very quickly got the others up! He also put in what the kids call the "tarzan rope". I just smile when I see them out there swinging like monkeys. It has been hours of fun and just what every kid should have...a tire swing :)

Carter's swing

Kain on the "Tarzan" rope

the monkey's

a day...

to those who think that a stay at home mom doesn't work..hasn't been to my house. I spent a good 6 hours in the car today running all over this town. (drop off, pick up one-drop off, pick up another..repeat repeat repeat)When I say it out loud, my day..it is insane. But, I am thankful for my life, my kids, my family.

The "S" word (school=sick)

We were all so excited to get back to school, meet our new teachers, spend time with friends..and instead we got back to school, to meet all the sickness that school carries and to spend time in the doctors office. It started with just a little stuffed nose, turned into a sore throat, and a horrible cough. We have been to urgent care, and Dr. Jamieson's office. The kids are all on the 2nd round of antibiotics, this time a super strong one. Lysol is my friend, the bummer of it all is that I have gotten sick...really sick and can't seem to kick it and we all know, when mom feels sick NOTHING GETS DONE. My house is a tornado, the laundry is overflowing, I can't find anything. This certainly wasn't my plan for when the kids went back to school. I have so many projects unfinished that need to be worked on! I thought this would be the time! Grand scheme of life..not that big of a deal, but like I told the kids: "When you are sick, it totally stresses me out" I just want them happy and healthy. What more does a mom want? :)