We Have Room. . .

We had last minute winter guests land on our doorstep last night! It was such a treat to tend our little toddling cousin. Singing B-I-N-G-O and Ol' McDonald while Benji danced around lit up all our faces. Bedtime comes too quickly on nights like this, but like any winter story, every girl and boy fell quickly to sleep.

Can't get enough of this q-t? Click here

And in the morning, the dream continued with Dan entertaining everyone with his crazy, stand-on-its-end head of hair and Benji discovering the sliding property of our hardwood floor. Cinnaburst toast loaded with butter, late-coming presents exchanged and a flurry of snow made this another sweet Christmas morning.

If only we could talk them into staying at our place through New Years Eve!

Extraordinary Drink

We have amazing chocolate milk. Not only is it delivered to our door cold and fresh, but it's thick, creamy and tastes delicious (I've been known to chug straight from the bottle on this one). But something happened yesterday that stopped me right in my tracks. According to Ashley, who was the only eye witness, the chocolate milk spilled. . . ALL BY ITSELF! Amazing!

Be Wise

"I promise that if we . . . in sincerity and humility seek the pure and gentle Christ with our hearts, we will see Him, we will find Him—on Christmas and throughout the year."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

". . .lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts;

gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

- Matt. 2: 9-11

Men are like wine. . .

. . . They get even better with age!

Happy Birthday to Sco! You truly get better each year. I love you with all my heart and I'm thankful for the life we've created together. Life is good with you in it.

The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.
Madeleine L'Engle

From Our Family to Yours

(click on image to enlarge)

Baby It's Cold Outside

This is one of my all time favorite songs for Christmas! And it came from the fantastic movie, "Neptune's Daughter" which makes it doubly delicious. I love to rediscover this song when I hear any of the many versions of "Baby It's Cold Outside". Listening to James Taylor and Natalie Cole sing it together is so much fun. But I will always love this original version, it's so cute!

To a dear, OLD friend on her birthday:

Happy Birthday, sweet Jane Austen.


Pick up your favorite Austen book and celebrate with me!


Jane, you have given us all a gift that keeps on giving. Thank you!

Happy St. Lucia Day

This Swedish tradition has always been part of the Christmas Season for me. My mom recounted her memories of this holiday and I'm proud to say, the tradition lives on in our family. Thank goodness for battery-powered candles!



I want to keep this tradition alive, because I think St. Lucia is a wonderful example for my young daughters. She was a courageous young woman who stood up for her beliefs. She was gracious and loving. She served others willingly and modestly. She spread the Light of Christ. I hope by retelling Lucia's story each year, my girlies learn the true meaning of charity.

I know for me, this tradition has helped keep me linked to daughters that have gone before me: my sisters, my mom, my Grandma June, my Great-Grandmothers Agnes and Mary. . .

Fleeting Moments

While I was sweeping the floor, Ashley asked me, "Mommy, will you play this Go Fish game with me?" With a heart full of guilt and a mind full of my to-do list, I told sweet Ashley that I had to finish up some chores, so I couldn't play.



A minute later she shows me the other deck of "Go Fish" cards and asked, "How about playing this Go Fish game with me?"



She beat me 2-1.



A clean house never lasts more than an hour, but Ashley's smile will last in my mind forever.

Makin' a List, Checkin' it Twice

Christmas trees decorated. . .check.
Presents bought. . .check.
Presents wrapped. . .check.
Christmas cards sent. . .check.
Stockings hung. . .check.


Family scrapbook page designed. . .check.
Scrapbook page sent to loved ones. . .check.
Holiday music playlist created. . .check.
Music fills the air. . .check.


Holiday treats continuously devoured. . .check, check, and check.
Sanity level checked. . .check.
Nutcracker rehearsals finished. . .check.


Parties on calendar. . .check.
Christmas dinner menu finalized. . .check.
Advent calendar counting down. . .check.
Holiday stories being read. . .check, check, check, check. . .


Days left until Christmas. . .15!

Sit back and enjoy the holidays. . .check.

What's with this kid?

That's right, this long-legged beauty is my little Chloe May. When did she grow up? Last time I looked her arms were so short and chubby that they couldn't reach over her head! Last time I looked, she had a round bald head and pudgy feet! Last time I looked, she was a curious baby holding a book up with her toes practicing her "reading". Little did I know that my little seedling would sprout into this happy, bright blossom! She'll be turning 8 a week from today and she'll be getting baptized a week from Saturday. She has the beginnings of her own testimony. She's been taught right from wrong and wants to choose the right. Seeing the ways that Chloe has learned and grown these past eight years gives me great confidence that she is ready to make good decisions on her own. I can't wait to see how this blossom grows in the next eight years!

My Buddy. . .

. . .my buddy, wherever I go, she goes. . .

Ashley is my cute little buddy while her older sisters are at school. Being the only kid home, Ashley doesn't like to play downstairs by herself. So most of the time, I'm either playing Barbies with her or she's cleaning the kitchen with me. This child who has had the least attention because of birth-order is finally getting her "Mommy time". Its fun to talk to her and find out what she thinks about things. Her tiny voice and witty sense of humor make me smile. I'm going to treasure this time with my last baby home. She can't wait to go to kindergarten next year, but I can.

Happy All Hallow's Eve!

Jessica gave an awesome presentation in 1st Grade about the history of Halloween. This holiday has been her favorite ever since she watched "Nightmare Before Christmas" when she was two. If we needed her to stop crying we would just pop in the CD or DVD and her eyes would get big and the cries would fade. As part of her presentation she drew a poster-sized mummy. She had a great idea to cut it into a big puzzle that she and her classmates could put together as they learned about the puzzled history behind Halloween. I was so proud of how confident Jess was in front of her friends. She read with expression and was very fun to watch.

Instead of a treat this Halloween, we got tricked! I took Jess into the doctor to look into an ongoing problem and we left with two ghoulies diagnosed with Strep! It made for a quick trick-or-treating session and then it was off to the grandparents house for Sloppy Joes and scary Shaun the Sheep episodes. Thanks for the great time, Jim and Janice!

Hanging on by a thread. . .

Jessica's front tooth has been ready to fall out for almost a month. Every time we'd suggest pulling it out, her anxiety level shot through the roof! I even suggested that she ask her awesome 1st grade teacher to yank it (he's got a great reputation for that), but to no avail. We've been patient just watching this little tooth lose it's grip and start graying. So today, it was bothering her way more than usual and we tried to talk her into letting us pull it. Jess didn't believe us, her own parents, when we said it was time and that it wouldn't hurt. Thank goodness for Keith, Jess's primary teacher who happens to be a dentist. Jess wanted to go to him for a second opinion. After examining the poor tooth and extracting it quickly, Dr. Keith reminded Jess that she could always trust her parents advice. After the relief of getting the dastardly thing out, Jess is now acting like the "extraction" was major surgery. Ooooh the drama.

You know the family vacation was a success when. . .

1. You find small seashells in your dryer's lint filter.
2. You discover a collection of sand and feathers in your children's luggage.
3. Your children all fall asleep before 10:00 pm.

4. Your kids remember everything they've done for the past 4 days.
5. You've been active enough that you must eat ice cream to replace the fat you've burned.
6. You scratch your mosquito bites and know they were worth it.

7. You bring home a completed coloring book.
8. Your whole family is sunkissed.
9. You love your husband more than ever.
10. You decide to go twice next summer.

Bear Lake 2010, anyone?

We Can Fly!

We went to iFly Utah for my birthday (yes, I'm now 26). Check out the video to see Chloe, me, Jessica, Scott, Ashley, and Scott's parents (Janice and Jim) take a couple turns each in the wind tunnel.

We had so much fun, and we've been laughing so hard watching our kids "fly" in this video! Also, watch for our cheeks...

Part 1:



Part 2:

Waterskiing, Camping & Baseball

Our 4th of July celebration began with a bang on Wednesday. We took my brother, Micah, and his family up to Jordanelle for the first boating of the season. We had such a good time. We even got the little kids up skiing. They looked so cute on those little skis!

Thursday we headed up Little Cottonwood Canyon for the annual family camp out. With lots of cousins to play with and Oma to entertain, our kids had a fabulous time. I even enjoyed sleeping in my tent (on my cot with a 4" thick foam pad). It was a little sad to say goodbye to the family, but we had more in store for our 4th of July.



We went to the Bees game last night with Grandma and Grandpa Robinson. Honestly, we went more for the fireworks than for the game. Unfortunately for us, the game lasted 12 innings. Our girls fell asleep on our laps, so we left before the fireworks began. But it was very relaxing to enjoy a little of the national pastime.

I *heart* MJ

In the '80s, my sister and I had a huge crush on Michael Jackson. We didn't have cable, so we had to rent "Thriller" from Video Vern's. I remember calling all my friends and screaming on the phone that I was watching it. He was so cute and sweet. After we got our allowance one day, Heidi and I begged to go down to Dan's grocery store. We had eyed a cute pair of telephone earrings that had "I *Heart* MJ" dangling from the cord. I don't remember which one of us was lucky enough to purchase the last pair of those coveted earrings and which one of us had to settle for the pair that included the quote, "Where's the Beef," but nonetheless, we both felt very cool.

ABC Meme: Zeit

"Zeit ist ein Geschenk" means time is a gift.

"Watches are so named as a reminder - if you don't watch carefully what you do with your time, it will slip away from you." ~Drew Sirtors

There are many a day when I get caught in the hustle and bustle of life. My most joyous moments come when I step back and see just what is happening at that time. Why do I hurry my kids through a craft project on a summer's day? Why do I speed through my cleaning routine instead of letting my children learn how to sweep, dust and scrub when they are eager to help? I constantly tell myself to slow down. These days won't last! The time I have my girlies all to myself is quickly passing and, to quote Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If I blink, I'll miss it." I want to keep my eyes wide open to watch them, my heart wide open to love them, my ears wide open to hear them and my arms wide open to love them. I'm thankful I have time.

ABC Meme: Yearbook

Straight from the pages of Brighton High School ETERNA Volume 24:

Amy–
I'm so lucky to know you. Good luck in life. Have a RAGER.
Scott Robinson

Scott–
How come we never did anything together? Call me this summer! You're smart, cute and so cool!
Love, Amy Halverson

If either of us knew we were signing our eternal companion's book, I think we would have written something a little more profound.

ABC Meme: Xanadu

Xan⋅a⋅du [zan-uh-doo, -dyoo]
–noun
a place of great beauty, luxury, and contentment.

Xanadu = Sista Weekend

The Sistas rock harder than Olivia Newton John!

ABC Meme: Wow!

My dad, W. Dee Halverson, is an historian. His business niche is writing and publishing books about local history including businesses, individuals and events. I've had the opportunity to work side by side with him on several of his projects as his graphic designer. A month ago, I finished one of my all-time favorite projects, a book entitled The LDS Conference Center. A great feeling of responsibility came over me as I began this project. Not only a responsibility to my father/client, but to the mission of the LDS Church! This building is a gathering place envisioned by a prophet of God! I felt the need to pray many times during the creation of this book, wanting the guidance to design a book worthy to represent this wonderful building and all it stands for. It was a special project and I am grateful I was able to work on it.

Check out Heritage Associates LLC for a featured article about me and The LDS Conference Center 2nd edition. I was so thrilled to be interviewed and given such nice praise! It's a great feeling to be appreciated and complimented in this way.

ABC Meme: Vermeer

After a semester of studying Northern Renaissance art, Vermeer Van Delft became my favorite artist. I've been lucky to see some of his original work in Washington D.C. and the Netherlands. Vermeer painted pristine images of home life. The way he uses dabs of color to create detailed lace on a dress or the reflection of the sun on glass is extraordinary. I visited Delft, where Vermeer lived, while I was in college. It's as beautiful and quaint as Vermeer painted it.

ABC Meme: Unbelievable

It's so unbelievable
It's something so beautiful
I feel like you've always been
Forever a part of me
And it's so unbelievable
To finally be in love
Somewhere I never thought I'd be

-Craig David

ABC Meme: Traveling

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. ~Mark Twain

ABC Meme: Shopping

Spy it, snatch it, spend it, satisfy it.

ABC Meme: Robin's Nest

Harmony Hall's mascot is the Robin. So each morning, we meet at the Robin's Nest to start our day.

ABC Meme: Quail Mother

Quickly queued-up kids behind Mom.

ABC Meme: Playful

Past playthings are still a prioritized pastime.

ABC Meme: Obvious

I am an open book: very easy to read.