I love this time of year- this is a great reminder of what it all about. http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/

12 days of Christmas Giveaway

Enter to win this amazing giveaway at http://designmom.com/
All sorts of delightful gifts will be given such as-

I am thinking positive thought!

Pregnancy Glow

What is "pregnancy glow"? I have always wondered what magical part of pregnancy they are referring to when they talk about the glow.

Are they speaking of the wonderful red rash that takes over my body and causes me to twitch and scratch half of the day and through the night?

Are they talking about my veins all aglow and bulging in a way that causes me to move at a slower pace just to reduce the pain?

Maybe the little beads of perspiration that set give your face a glimmer when you are heaving over the toilet.

Are they talking about :

leg cramps

stretch marks

red eyes from sleepless nights

swollen feet

swollen everything

dizzy feelings

angry outburst

pure exhaustion......

I will try to make this one of the few times I complain about pregnancy- because really- I love the reward. But man, you sure have to work for it!

P.S. This is obviously not a picture of me! I was going to treat you all with a picture of my rashy legs but entertainment has its limits.

Our current favorite pastime

What do you do when it is too cold for bike rides and there isn't enough snow for skiing and sledding? We have campfires - in the backyard. Almost every weekend - despite the cold and my growing belly and spreading pregnancy rash- my husband begs to go camping. We used to do winter camping without a second thought- my how pregnancy changes me! Where is the adventurous woman he married!

We struck a compromise and built a fire pit in the backyard. Now we devore smores to our hearts content and still curl up in a warm bed. I am getting wimpy in my old age.

Carrie's Photography

My sister Carrie and her darling family came to visit for Thanksgiving. We had such a blast and she was so sweet and took tons of pictures of my kids on property.

She is so talented and found beauty in our overgrown yard! I do love our trees though! They were definitely on my Thanksgiving list this year. As were all of you- my good friends and family.

Thank you Carrie! If you are in Utah, she goes to your chosen location for photo shoots. I will post more pics of their fun trip once I find the cord to my camera!

And now sugarplums are dancing in my head and I can't get enough of Christmas! I have what my father calls the Warner Women Christmas Disease. And there is no cure! You can ask my husband.

Super Dad

How I wish I was attending this tonight! If you ever have a chance to go to one of these-do it- you will not be disappointed. People come from all over. He is so amazing! Good Luck Dad!

If you want to learn more about what he teaches- you can check out his book at-
http://www.amazon.com/Bonds-That-Make-Free-Relationships/dp/1573459194

Check out this fun BabyLegs giveaway at http://inevergrewup.net/giveaway-16-the-perfect-baby-shower-gift/#comment-3779. My sister introduced me to fun BabyLegs leg warmers and I can't wait to get some for my new baby! Wouldn't these be fun for Christmas?

Message of Thanks

For all those who have helped in the Nie effort and had the Nielson Family in their prayers, there is a special thanksgiving message at http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/2008/11/thanksgiving.html. Happy Thanksgiving.

"Feeding time for Teddy...come on Teddy-
It's delicious- try it!

Fine then."

I am taking a short break from teaching art lessons. I love it but want a chance to enjoy the holidays and finally paint my art room. If you ever feel like you are losing passion for the things you have always been passionate about- teach it to children and you will fall in love all over again.

Deal of the Day!

Do you want to take advantage of a really killer deal? At Albertsons right now by one Sara Lee Pie- any flavor and get another one free + 2 containers of any flavor Breyers ice cream. You pay $6.39 for 25 dollars worth of goods. I may not make pies from scratch this year!

My father, C Terry Warner, just gave what will probably be his final devotional address at Brigham Young University on Tuesday. Then my mom threw a great surprise reception honoring his retirement at the Education in Zion exhibit at the new Joseph Smith Building on Brigham Young University campus. All but my brother Danny who is India were able to fly in the day. It was so fun to see everyone! If you have a chance to see this amazing exhibit that he has spent the last 8 years putting together you should. It is the permanent purpose of the third floor. My incredibly talented brother did all the murals and sculptures. I don't know how we share the same gene pool!

New Phase

I feel that I need to explain my sudden blogging laziness. For those of you that know me well and can't reach me at 11:30 when you call even though I am usually up all hours. This is why.

When we told my kids they were bouncing off the wall. My oldest said- "OK- what do we do next? Do we need to call the Doctor to put the baby in you, or God?" I guess he thought now that we had made the decision to have a baby we had to have someone put it in me!

Don't forget!

H2O

H- two-O how I love thee! I will never take you for granted again! On Friday we found out we had a broken water pipe- the main one! We had to shut off the water- although we turned it on quickly on Sunday for showers. My husband had to dig down about five feet in our driveway with a digger he rented to remedy the problem. He just got it up and running yesterday! Thanks to my neighbors for letting us bathe there!

no toilet flushing
bathing
showering
dishes
drinking from the tap
mopping
deep cleaning
LAUNDRY!

As you can imagine- I am very busy today!
It baffles me that so much of the world lives without clean running water!

Something to add to my Thanksgiving list this year!

Money Collection

My son just approached me and said- "mommy you are rich! Where is your money collection?"

Me: "Why do you think I am rich?"

MiddleMac "Because your old and the older you are the richer you are."

I sometimes wonder where my money collection is!

Oh- isn't youth so innocent and blissful?

Posh on a budget

About 4 months ago I saw this family that we go to church with at the house across the street. We continued to see them come and go until one day I was thrilled to learn they were moving there! As you can see they have the sweetest kids, my son is partial to six year old Mazi- can you blame him? We feel so lucky to have them as neighbors.

I am totally inspired when I enter their home. Besides being beautiful, Aubri surrounds herself with beauty. She is an talented photographer and is always crafting and I am sure you will be inspired as I was by her latest creations. If you want a one-of-a-kind gift this Christmas- pick up a couple of these! She makes these with 100% leather, crochet flowers and vintage buttons. They come in children and adult sizes.

If you are interested, please call her at 208-890-5151
or E-mail Aubri poshonabudget@gmail.com.

Cards are here!

Packs of 10-



Packs of 8-

Packs of two.

So send a note the old fashioned way! *more on the way

Free 2009, 4.25 " x 5.5", calandar magnet with first five orders!

Blogging Breaks

Sometimes people ask me- why don't you do more art? This is hardly ever asked by someone that has multiple boys. I thought I would show you what my days are filled with-

Diverting disasters-




Cleaning up disasters-

And asking myself why?

"What?"

"Oh, this!"

Down by the Banks

I am not sure I could have dedicated the hours these boys did building this river! These boys couldn't have had more fun! Middle Mac had his what seems to be ever present accessory on- his plastic horseshoes around his neck. Of course they are necessary but clothes are not. Hmmm- starting to get excited for grass.

New in Shop!

New card packs coming to my site next week- perfect for any occasion!

New 5x7" in my shop! For your sister or a friend you think of as a sister! Inspired by my recent weekend with sisters! While in Utah I saw a good life long friend that I consider one too! Coming soon as cards also.

The Single Scene

I have several friends and two sibings that are single so when I heard this message someone forwarded me- not only did I feel joy that I am not on the prowl but also sorry that they are still out in that jungle! If you want to read some hilarious stories about the adventures of modern single women, check out http://latterdaysaintssublimates.blogspot.com/

flashbacks

I LOVE having boys. But every once in a while I think it would be so fun to have a little girl- just so that when I am old and gray someone calls me everyday like I do my mom. Also, so that I can dress her up for every occasion. I recently came across this photo. I thought to myself- she looks like sh could be mine. On closer examination I realized he was! My oldest had been dressed up by his cousins! I couldn't stop laughing at the thought of this little boy that lives for superheros and his cowboy hat dressed up in a bonnet. It reminded me of all the times I forced my brother Mitch to dress up with me and I would put ribbons in his curly hair! Sorry Mitch- it looks like you recovered.

We just came home from a bike ride and I was putting my youngest down for a nap. My middle son came bursting in the room half naked and faking a pant as if he was out of breath. "Mom, I have some good news and bad news. The good news is that I went potty in the potty. And the bad news," sigh,"I fell in the toilet."

As I sat there in the rocking chair looking at this little man squirm around and hop as if he were on hot coals I had to ask myself, should I really still be considering this good news?

Sisterhood

Nothing is better than sisters! Two weeks ago we had a sisters retreat with my mom and my five sisters and two of my sister-in-laws in gorgeous Deer Valley. What a blast! A weekend of cooking, exercising, talking and talking and talking. Nothing is better than sisters to rejuvenate your spirits. Everyone deserves a sister- either one that was born in your family or one that you have deemed a sister. Speaking of - Happy Birthday to my dear friend Kelly! I wish I could celebrate with you!