Motivation

This morning I witnessed what my children can do when truly motivated. I had commented to them on my way upstairs to shower that if they were able to clean up the downstairs, and keep it clean until we left for church (which isn't until 12:30pm-and a lot can happen in 3 hours) then when we got home tonight we would put up the Christmas tree. Well....that was all that needed to be said. By the time I was out of the shower, the living room was spotless, furniture moved (to make room for the tree), and the tree was standing! The older 4 worked together to get it up from the basement in the box (something that I have had trouble with in the past), and Hayden assembled the tree once in the living room. All the children were dressed in their church clothes, teeth brushed, hair done, and shoes on! I was completely shocked!!! We now had 2 hours before we left for church, and so Brian went to the attic to get the decorations down and we let them decorate it before church, and still had time to have lunch and get there early! This NEVER happens at our house! Even though church doesn't start until 1:00pm, we are ALWAYS running around looking for shoes, doing hair, ect. at the last minute. Brian said we needed to put up a Christmas tree every Sunday if this is what happens! I put the ribbons on the tree, and the angel, but the rest was all the kids! I was very proud of their beautiful Christmas tree, and how well they worked together to get it done! I guess I've just not been using the right motivational tools in the past!

Thanksgiving

Things I am thankful for this year:
1. My husband
2. My children
3. The fact that I live in the day and age with washing machines
4. This pregnancy (even though I'm still sick)
5. Drive-thru pharmacy's
6. My frugal spouse (he helps to balance me out)
7. The fact that our mortgage is the only debt we have
8. Brian's job
9. The lake that is across the road-we have such fun fun feeding the ducks in the winter, and fishing in the summer-I love that we can walk to it!
10. All the history around us-we love to go visit the sites
11. Our pediatrician-I LOVE her!
12. Our new family photo (I've wanted one for 4 years)-thanks Jeri !
13. The new house we close on next week!
14. The fact that with this upcoming move, my children will still stay in the same school, and we will just be on the other side of the lake that I love.
15. Good health (even though I could exercise more)
16. A patient Orthodontist (Ronan is having work done-oh my!)
17. School Teachers that love my children
18. The gospel of Jesus Christ
19. High speed Internet-who could ever go back?
20. Bulk shopping-with this crew that's all I do!
21. Vehicles that run well
22. My camera-I LOVE it, but don't get it out as often as I should lately!
23. Online shopping
24. My visiting teaching route-love my sisters and my companion!
25. My king size bed-I can't sleep if someone is touching me! We've even had a child sneak in a time or two and I didn't know it!
26. Portable DVD players & Nintendo DS units on long road trips! Those have saved my sanity more than once!
27. Duncan's Pre-K class-it have helped him grow SO much! I think he'll actually be ready for All-Day Kindergarten next year!
28. Ashlyn's sweet cuddles-she just melts me!
29. Morgan's wonderful big sister skills-she is such a help!
30. Hayden's interest in history-I love the conversations we have
31. Ronan's silliness-he is such the jokester of the family and fun to be with
32. Summer days at the beach
33. The beautiful fall colors in my cul-de-sac (we get red, yellow, and orange leaves, falling on bright green grass-I love it!)

I have so much to be thankful for this year, I couldn't name it all. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

NEW HOUSE!!!

Last night we found out (after 2 days of being on pins and needles) that the sellers accepted our offer, and we will be moving!!! Yahoo!!! We have been looking for a new house for almost 2 years now, but haven't found the 'perfect' one. With another baby coming I was REALLY hoping we would be able to find one, and it found us! Some friends called us last week to tell us their next door neighbors were putting their house on the market. Come to find out, we knew them also, and went over to look at the house. I new it was for us right away, but 3 other offers came in on the same day (can you believe that in THIS market-lucky sellers)! So we had to do some negotiating, but they gave it to us (gave in the sense that we are the ones that get to take out the huge mortgage on it)! I'm so excited to have some more space, and my kids will get to stay in the same school...YES!! Happy day!!!!

Almost forgot.....

Two weeks ago Ronan started Cub Scouts, and boy was he excited! 45 min. before it started he kept saying "Should we go? Should we go now? I don't want to be late to my first day of Scouts!" This coming from the boy who I usually have to keep prodding to get ready so we aren't all late!
Brian took him and Hayden up to the church for scouts, and said that he ran out of the car towards the door, without his scout book (when told to look for it under the seat, he replied "No! I don't want to be late! Gotta go!"). On his way in the building every time he passed someone he calmly chanted, "I'm a Cub Scout! I'm a Cub Scout!" He is so very excited to finally be a Cub Scout!!!

Last Saturday this is how Brian had fun:
He took Morgan ice skating, and thought it would be a good time for her to not use the walker while skating, but try and do it on her own while holding his hand. Well, she went down and took Brian with her! Luckily Morgan just got a small cut on her knee from Brian's blade, but poor Brian broke his fall with his right eyebrow! It was really swollen when he came home (didn't get a photo of that), and has just been a rainbow of colors every day since. We now have a lot of yellow and brown mixed in with the red and purple color! Poor Brian! He got an x-ray done, and nothing is broken, just a really wicked black eye! We know how to have a good time at this house!

Happy 50th Mom!

Last weekend we threw my mom a little surprise birthday for her 50th! Her birthday was Oct. 22nd, but since my parents would be in town for Ronan's baptism, my sister, Missy contacted my other sister and brother, and got them to come out for a surprise party for mom-with all her children there! It turned out great! She knew my brother was in town (just for Ronan's baptism though of course), and kept lamenting that my sister Heather was the only one missing. Well, little did she know she was on a plane coming here at the time! Sat. afternoon Brian took my parents and the kids on a hike, while I stayed at home while Ashlyn 'napped' aka: decorated for the party. Missy took off the the airport to pick up Heather, and when they got back.....SURPRISE! It was lots of fun! We had cake and ice cream, & played the money game....she got $50 bucks this year!

Then I got a babysitter, and the adults all went out to dinner together, while the kids had pizza and a movie (their idea of heaven).

Brian snapped a photo of the Baker clan together while we were waiting to be seated at the restaurant.

Ok, I have to tell this story.....

This is my brother in the banana suit that he wore ON the plane while traveling out here, and then again on the way back home!!

He flew out here on Friday, Oct. 31st-Halloween, and thought it would be fun to dress up. He also video tapped himself, and the reaction of others while walking through the airport and talking to people as a 'Banana'. It was hilarious to watch! We were all cracking up when he showed us the video!! Funny enough he also ended up having a missionary moment while on one of his flights and preparing his talk to give at Ronan's baptism. This women sitting next to him was very interested and asked a lot of questions. He said he thought to himself one time while talking to her about the church "I'm still in my banana suit!" :) Too funny.

It was great to see my parents, Sean & Heather, and have a fun party for mom! Thanks everyone for coming out!

Ronan's Baptism Day

Last Saturday, Nov. 1st Ronan was baptized by his dad. It was a very special day, and turned out wonderful. My parents and brother flew in to be there, and Ronan was so grateful for that.
Ronan had Nana & Uncle Sean give talks at the baptism. He was lucky to be the only child baptized that day, so he got to choose the program. My sister Missy & my mom were kind enough to take Ashlyn out for me so I could stay in during the program.

Ronan & Uncle Sean

Nana & Papa with the whole Mahaffey clan.

After the baptism we all went out to lunch together, and Ronan was treated to a ride in Aunt Missy's car to the restaurant!
I am so proud of you Ronan for your choice to be baptized, and for your sweet spirit. What a wonderful day this was!

Halloween Day!

I'm running a bit behind...almost a week later, here was our Halloween!
Duncan's Pre-K class had their party at 10:00 that morning, which I was late to due to the ultra-sound appointment. But, luckily my parents had just flown into town the night before for Ronan's baptism, and so they attended his party and got some photos for me!
This is Duncan and his good friend Madelynn during the party.

The Pre-K kids went on a parade throughout the school since they would miss the school wide one that afternoon.
In the afternoon Ashlyn, my parents and I waited out on the soccer field to see the school Halloween parade-it was great! Duncan's teacher had said he could join the parade that afternoon if he wanted to, but he enjoyed just watching the kids go by in their costumes (or playing with a nearby friend on the school playground).

Ronan was our house wizard (Harry Potter)

Morgan was a cowgirl.

Hayden was a Revolutionary War solider.

After that parade the kids each went back into their classes for their parties and lots of goodies. We stopped by each class, and ended up taking them all home a bit early to spend time with Nana & Papa before trick-or-treating.

Aunt Missy joined us all as well for the trick-or-treating fun. She had a blast taking Ashlyn to each home and asking her to roar like a lion for the people. Of course she never roared on cue, but did do it for us when no one else was looking!