And this, my friends, is why I don't blog more often

This is for all the other parents out there who feel like they can't keep up. Our house starts out every (well, most) mornings pretty decently clean. (At least as far as clutter goes - don't think I dust or vacuum every day...or even every week). And by the end of the day, despite my best efforts, it looks like this. And these pictures don't even do it justice. These are just small sections of a few rooms. My pride stopped short of letting me post pictures of the entire kitchen or living room...or the bedrooms for that matter.

If you live in a constant state of mess, spills, and crayon and pen etched on every imaginable service, to you I say, you are not alone!

Despite our seemingly constant craziness, we are enjoying the Christmas season. The kids love the Christmas tree and we go downstairs (yes, I admit that I put it downstairs so I wouldn't have to save the tree from the kids every 5 minutes) and sing Christmas carols. They love to shake bells or maracas or dance around while we sing. So cute. This week I taught them to say "Ho, ho, ho" and they will say it to random people at church or in the store.

The ward Christmas party was amazing - we seriously have the best activities committee in the Church. Neither Megan or Colin would sit on Santa's lap but that was not surprising. At least they were smiling at him instead of crying which is actually what I expected.

Thoughts

I have been busy the past few weeks planning our ward visiting teaching conference and have been reflecting a lot lately on how visiting teaching has blessed my life. I have been so blessed with wonderful companions, visiting teachers, and sisters on my route and each has taught me something different. I have been inspired, uplifted, and encouraged. They have served me both in big and small ways and have let me into their lives to hopefully do the same. When Christ appeared to the people in the Americas, he invited them to come unto him one by one. When he ministered in Jerusalem, he not only taught sermons to thousands but took the time to teach individuals. It only makes sense that the Lord would ask us to minister and serve each other on such an intimate and individual basis.

How has visiting teaching blessed your life?

Days of Summer

Okay, so summer has ended and I am finally getting around to actually writing about it. Sigh. Such is life sometimes. I made our trip to Europe a whole separate post, but here some other highlights of our summer.

JUNE

Peter's dad came for a nice, long visit and
his rats made a new home in our lilies.

It took me a minute to figure out why Megan was vacuuming
with that tube...can you figure out where she got that idea?

Megan loves to help Mommy cook

I will simply entitle this video Colin vs. The Yogurt

My brother Matthew came to visit from Virginia for a weekend
and we took a trip to Nauvoo.

Megan looking cool at the bakery

The kids loved the oxen ride!

Throwing rocks into the Mississippi

We visited Carthage Jail on the way home
but since the kids hadfallen asleep in the car,
Matthew and I went in alone. Luckily they let us
sneak in on a tour that had already started.


Matthew happened to visit the weekend of Peter's birthday...the BIG 3-0!!

Matthew and Peter's brother Chris try to light the
candles before the smoke alarm goes off.

Make a wish!

We went swimming at the pool since it was Hot, Hot, Hot!

Colin and Matthew

I had a recital for my piano student
(who has since moved but I
now have two other students)


Colin finally learns to get on and off a chair by himself without falling


And Megan finally learns how to tie a tie!

JULY

Colin and I took a trip to Utah the weekend of July 4th
to visit familyand attend my 10-year high school
reunion. Some of my closest friends
from high school all got together the night before.


At the reunion family picnic

Go Timpview Class of '99!

Grandma Heaton sings songs to Colin

Colin with Grandpa and Grandma Randall at the 4th of July BBQ

How cute is Colin in that BYU hat!?

No, Colin, you aren't the only one who thinks
Uncle Jonathan is crazy!

Colin snuggles up with Auntie April

Megan gets all dressed up for us to arrive back home

Colin thinks he has pulled something yummy out of the fridge

We had a great visit from Kevin, Melissa and Clark...

...and Eliza, Sara, and Amy and
her boyfriend (now fiance!!) Steven.It was all chance
that they happened to come on the same weekend but we
all had so much fun!

We took a trip to the Peoria Zoo and the new Africa exhibit. It was
so cute watching Eliza and Sara watch after Megan.

Colin was so excited about the animals he literally tried
to climb over every fence and in every cage!

Uncle Kevin keeps Colin happy and out of trouble

This was our best attempt at a picture with all 5 Randall cousins!

Sara gave Megan her Ariel pajamas and Megan wears them

every chance she gets!

I think we have made a tradition of taking a "diaper" picture
every timeColin and Clark get together. I wonder how
much longer we can dothis before they
start refusing. It looks like Clark is gaining on Colin.

A year ago they looked like this:

(Colin is the one on the right.)

Marshmellows and M&M's are the best picture bribes!!

Me with my sister Melissa - I love it when we get to visit!

AUGUST

We spent most of August in Europe, but before
we left wewent to a wedding in Omaha.
Peter's sister Robyn married Mark and we
are so excited for them and Brayden!

Peter was a best man...

...and Megan was a flower girl! We were so proud
that she actually walked down the aisle without any crying
or anxiety. She didn't throw many petals, but she was so happy
to carry that basket.

Here's Robyn and Mark looking amazing and so in love -

we love you guys!!

Colin with Great-Grandma Thurston

Peter and Colin in their matching Switzerland shirts

Megan starts another year of pre-school

Poor Colin - too tired to sit up at the dinner table!

We sure have SUPER kids!

and that brings us back to SEPTEMBER

Picnic in the backyard

Megan's new bike

Colin loves riding the dinosaur

Working on his dissertation

Whoa!!

Megan in the jungle pool

There's a hole in my bucket!