MOVIES I WATCHED: 10/12/15 - 12/14/15

Girl Rising
Tim and I watched this with the big boys and as we were watching I realized I'd seen it before, although I don't remember when. It's a great documentary about nine girls from different parts of the world who have all risen above incredibly challenging circumstances. They each place a high value on having access to an education, something the average girl in America can so easily take for granted and yet these girls are generally denied. It includes some sobering stories, facts, and statistics, but is presented with tact.

Stomp Out Loud
I don't usually list movies we've seen before, but we love this movie and check it out from the library every few months. It's a really fun movie of choreographed percussion. You can read more about STOMP on their website.

Belle
This was a great movie based on the true story of a biracial woman raised by an affluent uncle and aunt in England during the 1700s. Her life is a mix of cultural extremes - the privileges afforded to her because of her dad's lineage and rights denied because of her mother's skin color, along with the fact she was born out of  wedlock in a time where such children were treated poorly because of their parents' choices. It's a great story of family, loyalty, compromise, justice, compassion, love, equality, and how life is often layered in shades of grey.

Life is Beautiful
I haven't watched this since it was a new release, but we watched it with Silas and Devon recently as part of our attempt to watch some movies with them that deal with real life atrocities. In this case, the story is about Jews in German-occupied Italy during the Holocaust. Although the story is fictional, it's such an amazing movie! The family's love for and commitment to each other, the willful decision to choose to be positive in the midst of horrific circumstances, the incredible value of humor and imagination. I love it.

The Drop Box
I've been waiting to see this for ages and finally got it from the library. This is a documentary about a man in South Korea who finds an abandoned baby on his steps, an event which becomes the catalyst for creating a safe place for mothers to place infants who would otherwise be left on the street. It's a phenomenal story of sacrifice and dedication, of taking action instead of just talking about a problem, of valuing every single life.

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12/10/15 - THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful that all four little Ws are still asleep at 8:30.

What's one thing that you're thankful for?

2015 - ANNUAL FAMILY AND KID PICTURES

Last year was the first year since having Silas that we didn't get pictures of the kids and the first without family pictures since we started when the big boys were little. Sometimes living within your means involves skipping stuff like that. Life goes on.

Last year was also the first year since starting our annual year in review that I didn't write one. Between all the chatting with people I do in person, Facebook, and our blog, there just really isn't much to say in a newsletter that hasn't already been said. Again, life goes one.

This year I'm skipping the year in review again, but we're back in the saddle with getting pictures taken. Happy about that! The kids had individual pictures taken during their birthday months and we had family pictures done in mid-November. So, without further ado, here are some shots of the 6 Ws. As a sidenote, the lighting on these looks funky in the scanned version. but none of our skin is as splotchy as it appears in the pictures. I promise.

Devon had pictures taken in June.

Silas also had pictures taken in June.

 Naomi had pictures taken in August.

Teebs had pictures taken in December.

The photographer took a shot of Tim and I during family pictures in November.

And one of the little Ws.

Then we cranked out a few of all 6 Ws.

TEEBS' BIRTHDAY - 2015

This dude had a blast with all of our birthday traditions today.  Before going to work this morning, Tim took Teebs to get a doughnut for breakfast. Teebs chose one with sprinkles, of course.

He and I went on the mom & birthday kid ice cream date between lunch and naps. We headed out in wind and rain for his first trip to El Paisanito, the same place I took the other little Ws, but we discovered an empty building with a sign on the door saying they're closed until February. Bummer. We headed to DQ instead and he got his first dilly bar, which he loved. He also chose to sit on my lap, which I loved.

After a crazy long nap, we ate his birthday dinner of choice - Barbara's pancakes (I made them with applesauce instead of oil this time), fruit and yogurt smoothies, and Devon's scrambled eggs.

Next up was gifts from the sibs. The parental gift will be arriving in the next few weeks.

And, of course, we took a few pictures in the birthday outfit.

 It was a fun day for the birthday boy!

TEEBS' BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION - 2015

Teebs has been talking for months about a little group of friends he wanted to have over for his birthday party and today was the long anticipated celebration. It was his first birthday party with friends and between them, their families, our family, one set of grandparents, and a great-grandparent, we had twenty people here to celebrate his little life.

As the starting time approached, he kept peeking out the window to see if any one had pulled up yet.

Two of his guests couldn't make it, but three came and they all chowed down on some pizza and produce together. It's nearly impossible to get a picture of multiple kids in this age group to all look at the camera at the same time and have real smiles on their faces, but that's fine.

Because it's our house, we had to throw in a silly face pose.

I didn't get any good pictures of the adults and I think Silas is the only kid I didn't get a picture of, but here are some of the other guests.

Smiling older girls.

Silly older girls.

Silly older boys.

Teebs opened presents after lunch, giggling his way through the whole thing.

Then we had cake. He'd asked for a Thor and Flash cake when I talked to him last weekend. I know nothing about those superheroes and all the cakes I found online to try copying were waaaaay beyond my skill set. I was already having a rough day and that just sent me over the edge. I cried my eyes out, then Devon sat down with me and we came up with a realistic plan of attack. One little cake with Thor's hammer.

And one with Flash's emblem.

Teebs was able to identify them and liked them, which was my only goal. We visited with friends for a little while longer, they all left, we quickly cleaned up, Teebs called Papa, and now we're enjoying a mellow, post-party afternoon.

12/3/15 - THANKFUL THURSDAY

I'm thankful for opportunities to get to know people.

What is something you're thankful for?

BOOKS I FINISHED - NOVEMBER 2015

Secret of the Andes, written by Ann Nolan Clark
I read this for school with Naomi. Third time through and I like it more each time I read it. An ancient culture, coming of age, and the meaning of family. Good stuff.

Dad is Fat, written by Jim Gaffigan
While this book did have several funny parts, it wasn't as funny as I expected it to be. Maybe it's the book, maybe I had unrealistic expectations. Either way, it was an easy ready with short chapters that were able to squeeze in during little breaks in my days.

Illegitimate: How a Loving God Rescued a Son of Polygamy, written by Brian Mackert with Susan Martins Miller
Brian was raised as part of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints, which is most easily described as a radical form of Mormonism, despite the mainline LDS church completely separating themselves from the FLDS group. While his book does explain a lot of about the history of the FLDS community, it's primary focus is really on the impact that lifestyle has on the kids being raised in it. Like Escape, written by Carolyn Jessop, which I read several years ago, this book was a little too long for me and I skimmed a bit in the last third or so, but it's a rare glimpse into a very private world. I find it both fascinating and scary.

Money Making Mom: How Every Woman Can Earn More and Make a Difference, written by Crystal Paine
While this book is clearly written for women who want to increase their income and has tons of valuable information in that regard, I think it would also be a good book for men who are considering starting a business of their own or looking for other ways to increase their income. The ideas shared are certainly not gender specific. Plus, there are many ideas in it that apply to areas of life outside of business and finances. One of the things I've always appreciated about Crystal is that she places a high priority on generosity, leading by humble example as she encourages others to live with their arms outstretched. Here are a few highlights.

p. 37, Do what you can do and don't stress about what you can't do. Tiny steps in the right direction can add up to big change over time. Keep at it, keep counting your blessings, and keep moving forward.

p.160, Your worth is not established in how successful or smart you are or how much debt you're able to pay off in two months or how quickly you can grow your blog or business. You have a unique perspective, experience, and insight that can bless and impact others in a way that someone else with a different story might not be able to.

p.164, But we weren't created to be consumers. We were made for more. We are destined to be stewards, wise managers of not just our money but also our time, our values, and our priorities.

p.208, I need to stop comparing things to what they once were and start creating new goals and projections based upon where things are right now. Otherwise, I'm going to feel overwhelmed, constantly behind, and like I'm perpetually failing.

p.216, Remember, friend, you are an instrument of blessing. You were made for a purpose. You have unique gifts, skills, knowledge, passions, and experience.

Humans of New York: Stories, written by Brandon Stanton
I love the HONY Facebook page and read Brandon's first book in October, so it goes without saying that I loved his new release. I don't agree with every person's thoughts and beliefs, understand all of their choices, or relate to all their circumstances, but that's what appeals to me about the book. If only we could see all the joys and pains, challenges and accomplishments, or desires and fears of the people whose paths cross ours each day. I know Brandon does this as a job, but it's an encouragement to me to reach out to those around me, ask questions that help me to know those people better ... to see people as people, regardless of how similar or different we are.

THE BOOKS I BAILED ON

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, written by Daniel James Brown
I've heard nothing but good things about this book and I really wanted to like it, but I gave up at page 80 of 370. I didn't actually dislike it, but for some reason it was taking me for.e.ver. to get through it. I need my reading time to be something I enjoy and I was just getting discouraged at my slow progress, so I bailed. I'd love to see a movie made from it, though. I'd definitely watch it!

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