The Great Equalizer!

This cute little man has surprised me lately with a special little talent. He doesn't even know he has this "talent" yet. In fact, he may never really know about this unique gift he possesses but it will always be special to me!

You see, Judah has become the great "equalizer" in our family.  He is our Luke Skywalker. The one that brings balance to the force.The last piece to the puzzle. The one that makes us all complete!

He gets right in there with his older siblings without realizing that he is much too little to be doing what they are doing.  It's as if he doesn't even realize that he is still a baby.

He makes sure everyone feels loved!

He is everyone's playmate and friend!

He even let's the older kids have a laugh at his expense!

He sends them off to school feeling loved!

He never forgets to say goodbye!

He even reads them a bedtime story! Yes, this little baby boy is what was missing from our family all along! I don't know how we ever managed without him!

10 years adds a little perspective.

I've been thinking a lot about what I wanted to say for my "10 Year Anniversary" post. However, I came to the conclusion that I don't really have anything profound to say, which is why I've been putting off doing a blog post about it (how's that for honesty?).

The truth is, this last decade has been the biggest, most life-changing, defining time in my entire life. Even if I live to be 100 I don't know if another decade will shape my life as profoundly as these past 10 years have. I mean, I DID get married & have all 4 of my children in the last 10 years, so that was pretty life-changing! I'm sure I have MANY more adventures on the horizon, but probably nothing quite like the first 10 years of my marriage. I'm also not naive enough to believe that I've somehow "arrived" and have things figured out either! I've still got a lifetime of learning to do!

What I do know is this; "Life never slows down or stops, it just ebbs and flows like the oceans tide". That's one of the biggest things I've learned over the last decade. I guess that's not very profound, but it's where I'm at right now.  For the longest time I kept thinking things will get easier when.... but that "when" never came! I learned to make things happen if I really, really wanted them!  I also learned that the things you want to keep, you have to fight for! Nothing is free...ever! Except for the grace of God...but that goes without saying ;-).

 These last 10 years weren't full of happy clouds and joyous singing all the time either! I went through a lot of crap that I'm happy to see gone & I hope and pray that I never have to experience those things ever again! The real truth of the matter is this: I lost a baby due to miscarriage, & that hurt me terribly. I felt the sting of rejection from close friends, and I cried. I walked down a very lonely road of discontentment and depression. I dealt with a very tough learning disability diagnosis in one of my children, and I was angry and frustrated & blamed myself for things that were out of my control.  I felt hurt and disappointed, and I tried to run away from God because I was angry. At my lowest point I even dared to speak the "D" word when my marriage got tough...but those are not the sorts of things that most people talk about are they?

But, you know what? I think we need to talk about those things from time to time. Life isn't easy & it doesn't get any easier. If we go around pretending to be "fantastic" all of the time & don't deal with these sorts of things, then what does that say about us? I could have just told you all that I just celebrated my 10 year anniversary with my wonderful husband who I am crazy in love with & left it at that. It's true too! My husband is wonderful & we are very much in love, so why talk about all the other stuff? Well, I think I'm just trying to keep it real, peeps! Sometimes that's hard to do when you are sitting behind a computer screen & you can create this artificial lens that you want people to see you through. Sometimes, I read what I write on here and think to myself: "Well, that smells a little bit like rosey poo doesn't it?".

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...the one thing I admire most in a person is honesty! So, I guess it would behoove me to keep it real with myself as well! The real truth is, I'm really doing this whole blogging thing for me & my family. The fact that I'm putting it out there for the rest of the world to read just keeps me in line (OK...OK...and it's kinda fun to share some of this stuff with you all!).  If I'm gonna take the time to write out my feelings and talk about my memories, then I better be real about what I'm saying and what I'm feeling!

OK. Enough with all that "keeping it real" crap! I promise I won't put you through that too often ;-) In the spirit of more traditional blog posts, I give you:

My Ten Year, Top 10!

(My 10 reasons why being married this long is awesome! aka "The first 10 things that popped into my head about being married for the last 10 years" )

1.) I no longer feel embarrassed when I "let one loose".  After all the other things my husband has seen me through...that one just doesn't seem to compare anymore.

2.) He finally knows a few of my favorite things!

3.) We really do appreciate the little things more and more.

4.) He can "speak for me"...and most of the time he is right on!

5.) We fight a LOT less than we used to.

6.) "Desperation is the mother of creativity"...and we have become pretty creative people ;-)

7.) He tells me I'm beautiful all the time! Despite the fact that I've had 4 babies, bare the marks of one who has had 4 babies, am reaching "that age" when things start to slide to the south and wrinkle, and I regularly get into cat fights with my jeans. Yes, despite all of that he still tells me I'm beautiful!  

8.) We still like each other! No, really...that's a big one! There are plenty of married folks who don't appear to like each other very much. We still enjoy each other & can't wait to be together every day.

9.) We keep our mouth shut when we are supposed to! You know, not every little thing should be shared with ones mate...and we have finally learned this fine art of common sense communication. It's a thing of beauty, really!

10.) Yes.....it only gets better! (I'll leave the "it" open to interpretation...but I definitely mean one specific thing!)

I Kinda Miss The Snow...

I can't believe I'm saying this, because it's sort of against my religion to say such things...but I miss the snow! Now, don't confuse this with thinking that I'm saying "I love winter", because I don't...that's just crazy talk. BUT...since I don't live on the west coast where it's sunny and warm year round I have to make my peace with "Old Man Winter" every year and just accept that it's gonna be brutally cold for a couple of months.

However, a few weeks back when the ground was blanketed with a beautiful fluffy covering of snow I just had to smile. At least if it was gonna be cold we got something pretty to go with that package! The fact that we also got a "White Christmas" out of the deal was also an extra bonus.  I'm pretty sure we got about a foot of snow, which is not the "norm" for our area, but boy did my kiddos have fun playing in all that fluffy stuff!  While I'm still not a fan of winter I'd have to admit that I do kinda miss looking out my window to view a real winter wonderland. It was pretty while it lasted...

My nephew, Owen,  roaring down the big hill!

Maya and Uncle Evan at the top of the sledding hill.

McKenna waiting in line. Wait a second....where is that child's hat? Someone should really tell her mother to go hunt down her lost hat on that snow packed hill. Goodness sakes...it was 17 degrees! Get a hat on that kid!

Maya was having the time of her life!

Ready to go!

OK....is that just plain cute or what?

*Chandler didn't make it in any of these pictures because he is a summer baby like his momma & he spent the bulk of his sledding time running to the truck to warm up so that he could go back out for another run down the hill. He wanted to like the snow...he really did...it's just not in his blood to really accept that 20 degrees is even remotely acceptable for outdoor playtime! Blame it on his wimp of a momma who stayed in the truck the WHOLE time & just watched everyone else play in the snow ;-).

McKenna and Daddy!

Over the Christmas Break Jonathan took McKenna to work with him for a special "Daddy/ Daughter" day. McKenna had been looking forward to this day for a very long time! I remember doing the same thing with my Dad when I was about her age & I love that McKenna got to do the same. I know she loved it because it was a special time where her daddy got to focus some individual attention on just her (something that's hard for parents with 4 little ones to do very often!). Truth be told, that's really what the day was all about, but I also think McKenna got a little glimpse of what it means for her daddy to be a "provider" for our family too. That night she asked me "So, daddy gets paid when he goes to work and helps other people fix their computers and stuff". Yep....she picked up on that just from spending some quality time with her dad at his work!

I believe kids need to see their parents "in action" sometimes in order to appreciate and develop a good work ethic. It's so sad to me that so many young people in our society are lazy and unmotivated because they have been handed everything without having to go out and work for it to earn it! Jon and I want to give our kids opportunities, don't get me wrong...I just don't want them to think that just because they have been given an opportunity it means they won't have to WORK to keep it. One of the best principles Jon and I learned from our Dave Ramsey course was that WE are the ones that are going to change our family tree! It starts with us & what we teach our children about life, work, and finances. It starts when we show our kids that we work hard for what we have, and that we get rewarded when we stick with something long enough to see it through to the end.

In a world that tempts us with "get rich quick" schemes, and a government that tells us we have a "right" to something we did not work for.... boy do I have my work cut out for me! I want my children to know that the only thing that lasts is that which you work for and EARN! I want them to own their successes & know that it is hard work and wise financial planning that earns them true "financial freedom".  Oh, and I want them to know those principles because that's what they saw their parents live out ;-).

McKenna Working hard on her fashion designs.

Helping daddy with the backup tapes.

McKenna the master sorter ;-)

Out to lunch with Daddy.

The best part of lunch!

What a great day!

Christmas 2009 Pictures

Christmas Eve.

Pop-Pop White reads the Christmas story from Luke 2.

All the White Grandkids.

Chandler got 3 shirts for Christmas and every time he opened a new one he immediately put it on over the one he was wearing. He wore all three shirts the whole night!

Aunt Becky and McKenna

Me and Judah (wearing his first KU T-shirt!)

Happy Birthday Jesus!

And to think, if I had only waited 13 years between my children I could have had this! Ben was a great "babysitter" on Christmas Eve. All my little ones think their cousin Ben is the coolest "big kid" EVER!

Christmas Morning.

Judah is still looking a little sleepy. Must have been his 6:00 am wake up time (thanks pumpkin!).

"I could really get into this ripping of the paper stuff...this is GREAT!".

Try not to hurt yourself with that goofy smile, Maya!

Yeah....I'm fading fast.....

I think she likes it!

You can't really tell in this picture....but that is indeed a WHITE Christmas you see out the front window! We must have had 8+ inches of snow Christmas Morning!

This was THE gift Chandler asked for the most!

And McKenna was so happy for him....awwwwww!

Judah is begging to be put to bed now!

But not before he checks out one last Christmas gift. I LOVE this little baby squat thing he does.

Oh, Maya...that extra cheesy smile kills me :-)!

Chandler will now explain exactly how to use his new Bakugan battle brawler.

*After all of this fun we went to my parents house for more food, fun, and festivities...and we forgot the camera! Hey, at least we remembered all of our kids, two giant boxes of food, another giant box of board games, presents, blankets, coats, PJ's, diaper bags, Christmas movies, and a special request for a batman toy for Zion to use in his new Batman jet. Someone explain to me how I remember a small Batman action figure for my nephew to borrow, but I forget my camera?? Really...how does that work? One of these years I'm gonna get it together...or at least I'll keep telling myself that!

The Nutcracker Ballet!

The girls in my family started a tradition a few years ago of going to the Nutcracker Ballet every other Christmas. (We would love to go every Christmas but it's a bit pricey, so for now we settle for every other year.) It's always a fun day filled with beautifully dressed little girls & plenty of Christmas magic! This year ALL the girls in my family got to attend, including great grandma Martin. I look forward to carrying on this family tradition for many, many years to come. 

Christmas Cookies

I know Christmas is over now, so I'll make this post relatively short. Here is what took up most of my time in the month of December. My butt is twice as wide now, but it was worth it! I'll just hit the gym in January and sign up for another race to get my rear slimmed down :-). It's not likely that I'll ever quit baking, so I guess this is how I'll have to handle my yearly over-indulgence filled with this sort of cookie madness.

Peanut Blossoms

Fudge

Orange Drop Cookies

Cinnamon Rolls

Red Velvet Cake Balls

Dipped Pretzels

Pretzel Hugs

Sugar Cookies

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

"My name is Amber, and I have a serious baking addiction" -Amen.

New Stuff Coming Soon!

My computer has been acting up lately & Jon had to re-build the whole dang thing (Mac users...save me the lecture...I know...I know!). I STILL don't have my camera software installed so I can't post fun new pictures and videos just yet. Because I have not been blogging I've had more to time to bake...and BAKE I have! I'm trying some new cookie and candy recipes this year and as soon as I can post pictures I'll share them with you.

Right now I'm going to go crank up the Nutcracker music and enjoy the fact that as of 30 minutes ago my kids are officially on "Christmas Break"!

Adventures with Cinnamon Rolls...

I've been trying to come up with something new to fix this year for teachers and neighbors since I've been giving out the same Christmas cookies every year & I'm kinda bored with that. I've always had an unnatural fear of yeast breads for reason too submerged in my subconscious to even understand, so I try not to go there. However, I decided to face my fears yesterday & just get over it! I heard about "The Pioneer Woman" site about two months ago (thank you, Theresa!) & this wonderful cattle ranchers wife, and her awesome food photography spurred me on to greatness yesterday! Well....sorta. I tried her famous Cinnamon Roll recipe and while things were not as simple as she makes it sound, it was a good learning experience & I DID make 8 whole pans of cinnamon rolls!

I followed the recipe EXACTLY as it was written and the only problem I ran into was that my dough was pretty soft and sticky even after adding the 9 freaking cups of flour with another CUP of flour sprinkled over the rolling surface! My cinnamon rolls did not cut into cute Pillsbury pinwheels like PW shows in her pictures & I would not call this an "easy" recipe (PW rates this as an "easy" recipe on her site...but that woman is smoking some high quality crack if she really thinks this process is "easy"!). Whatev' PW! I had oozing melted butter and cinnamon/sugar mixture rolling all over my counter and even dripping onto my floors & shoes! Every time I tried to cut a roll it stuck to my knife and fell apart before I could get it transferred to the pan. I fought really hard to keep my smooshy dough looking somewhat "circular" and cinnamon roll-ish which started making me really frustrated toward the end . I'm glad I didn't give up though, because the end result (while not very aesthetically pleasing) was very, very yummy!

I'm going to try my hand at these cinnamon rolls again for Christmas (and teacher gifts), but next time I think I'm gonna cut down on the butter and sugar used inside the rolls (I think 1/2 cup of melted butter is PLENTY and brown sugar might work a little better then white sugar). The maple frosting on top is to die for, but it's also VERY sweet so you don't need a truck load of sugar inside the rolls too! I'm also going to work a little extra flour into my dough before I actually roll it out. Oh, and in case you live in fear of yeast rolls like I did for the first 30 years of my life, here are a few tips I found that made things a little easier:

-When you scald your milk only bring it up to about 185-190 degrees (I used a candy thermometer).

- Let your scalded milk cool down for about 50 minutes & don't add your yeast until the mixture cools to about 125-130 degrees.

-If your kitchen is really cold (like it probably is today on this 4 degree day!) then turn on your oven to preheat and leave your dough in the pan on top of the oven (yeast likes a nice cozy warm environment to rise).

-"Sticky/Wet" dough is way too tough to handle, so it's best to work a little (a little light kneading where your turn the dough into some flour with the heel of your hands) flour into the sticky mess before you try to roll it out.

-Yeast dough probably takes a little time and patience to get better at, but it's well worth the effort!
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This is what my pans of cinnamon rolls ended up looking like (not so pretty, huh?), but the frosting sorta covered a multitude of sins so to speak-ha!