Happy Birthday Boys

Today was full of craziness. Good craziness. I decided a little while ago not to do a birthday every year. I love to throw parties but it can be a lot. Plus with us having three in March, two in December and one in November it puts them really close together. I decided I would do it every four years. When they are four, eight, twelve, and sixteen. Those are big birthdays for them anyway. At eight your baptized. At twelve you graduate to YM and YW. Then at sixteen you date and drive. On the off years they can have friends over but I'm not going to plan a big party. Well unfortunately we didn't really time things right and had Jacob and Andrew four years apart on the same day. Oh well, every four years it will be crazy. Plus I only have to decorate for one day ha ha. I have a twin sister and I know how bummed I was to share a day at times so I didn't want the boys to feel like they were gypped from having their "own" party. Cake and all. What's funny is they both wanted the same cake. So I ended up doing two Ben Ten watch cakes. I think their omnitrix cakes turned out fun. We had Jacobs party first. We played bingo and duck duck goose (one of Jacobs favorite games). They liked the heavy heavy hangover part for the gifts.

The four year olds were tame compared to the eight year olds. Man they were wild. For Andrew's party they learned how to make Ninja stars out of paper then had a contest to see who could throw the most in a basket. Then they played pin the ninja star on the ninja. I'm surprised Andrew didn't want me to make a ninja cake since he likes ninja stuff so much.

They had a good time and thats all that matters. I have to add this picture because I think it's so funny. We gave Andrew left handed junior clubs for his birthday. We got a great deal while we were in Missouri. I love his reaction. Kevin is excited to take him out with him come Summer. To end a fun day of birthdays we also got an offer on our van WOO HOO. Happy Birthday Andrew and Jacob, we love you!!!

Just my thoughts...

I have had a hard time this Christmas season. It's nothing awful, just blah feelings. I love the spirit of Christmas and the reason for the season. I just worry about my kids.

Danika found out a few months ago about Santa. She kept it from the other ones and has been getting them excited. I love it because she is more thankful for the things she received this year knowing where they came from.
Maybe our first problem was that we didn't have the kids write a letter to Santa. This may have avoided some of our issues. I just didn't want them to think that whatever they write down they would get. We had asked them which I figured would be the same but you know how kids change their minds weekly if not daily. Plus some of the things they asked for were not even an option. Andrew told us he wanted an IPhone. "Yeah right...Mom and Dad have a pay as you go phone and your seven!"

So our issue is... that a couple of our kids are complaining that they wanted what another sibling got. I think it is so ungrateful. I had to sit and remind Andrew about the story of the Christmas Orange. Some kids get nothing for Christmas and here he is with so much and he complains. After that I didn't hear anything more about it.

I worry that they feel entitled instead of grateful. It's calmed down a lot but yesterday we had crying over gifts. I told Kevin I was ready to forgo presents all together next year. Really...who's birthday are we celebrating? Who is the one getting the gifts? I'm sure we won't but I'm tempted. I want them to give more than receive. To be grateful.

I know we will try some different things next year but if you have any thoughts or ideas on how to help children feel grateful instead of entitled, I would love to hear them. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Thanks for reading my babbling.

All at once

I don't know if you have heard this, but I've heard that people pass away in three's. I swear thats how it goes with problems too.
We came home from a wonderful Christmas party at my parents this weekend (of course I forget to take the camera) and find that the dishwasher is having problems. The heating coil won't turn off. If the door is not shut it won't go on but if it's shut (not even turned on) it will heat it up. So I'm on the phone for an hour on hold trying to get someone at Maytag. There is someone coming to check it out tomorrow.
Then I go upstairs and open the blinds in the boys room and find that their is water damage by the window. (What??? it's a new window, maybe it's a bad seal?) I call the company and they are coming next Monday. Then we go to Andrew's orthodontist appointment. He tells us that he will most likely need braces at two different times. Yikes.
It's frustrating when things happen at once but I just think, "the house hasn't burned down from the dishwasher and no one was hurt", "the window stuff should be covered by warranty" and "sure braces are big chunk of money but it would be a lot more without insurance."
I feel like I dwell too much on the negative sometimes. So that will be one of my new years resolutions, to see the positive even in negative situations.

I wanted to share this quote. It has been going through my mind this season. It's helped me see past the worldly things that force their way into my life. To focus on what's important.

Receive it,
Feel it,
Just to know God loves you,
The gift is to be felt continually day by day.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Where's ???

Our camera isn't the greatest when it comes to zooming so I'm sorry these pictures are blurry. You'll have to play Where's Waldo or in this case Danika, Andrew and Luke. I took them at thier Christmas program.
Danika is pretty easy to spot in front. Andrew isn't as much, he is on the right by the wall in the middle.
I took this picture because Danika is helping Colby move his hands to the songs. I'm glad they have an opportunity to help out the handicap children. It's a good experience and she enjoys doing it.
Now Luke is the toughest to find. He is on the 2nd row down under the H in the sign.

The next picture is from Danika's Orchestra performance. They also performed tonight at the High school and did a fabulous job. I'm impressed at how much they have learned in such little time. They only started taking lessons at the end of September. Way to go Bridger bears! I'm a proud momma what can I say. I tried and tried to upload a video but it's not working :(

Holiday Greetings

Today I'm at home sick with the BriLynn and Jacob who are also sick. (Yucky head colds, tis the season) While the others were at Stake Conference I watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas with littler ones. I didn't know if they would pay attention but they did. Jacob is asking if he can watch it tomorrow. My favorite part is the end when the narrator says:
"I love you. Thats what Christmas is all about.
Klarrisa said it to Mr. Krueger, Mr. Krueger said it to Jesus
and Jesus in so many ways said it to all of us."

Isn't that beautiful! I'm always in awe when I think of the Love our Savior has for us.


Christmas Letter and Card 2010
Sorry it's not the clearest, I just took a picture of it.

Twas a Few Weeks Before Christmas

Twas a few weeks before Christmas and all through our home,
not a child was sleeping, they were up writing this poem.

The stockings were flung on the couch with great care,
'cause Santa forgot to bring us a chimney last year.

With Mama in maternity, Dad in his suit.
With another on the way, were gonna need some more loot.

Then what to our wondering eyes should appear,
but a crying child, "are you hungry my dear?"

More rapid than eagles for dinner they came,
I whistled and shouted and called them by name.

Now Danika, now Andrew, now Jacob and Luke.
On BriLynn and Daddy, come get what I nuked.

As we bowed down our heads and gave thanks for the food,
We hoped the burritos would lighten the mood.

We had messy faces and little round bellies,
That shook as we laughed like bowls full of jelly.

A wink of Kevin's eye and an ache in my head,
soon gave us to know, it was time for their beds.

But we heard them exclaim as we crept out of site,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

May the Lord bless you and your family this Holiday Season.

Love the Westwoods

PS Sandra really does make home cooked meals.
PPS We rarely have frozen burritos.

Good bye van, hello humongous!

With a baby coming in a few months we figured it was time to find a vehicle that would fit us all. Our van is only a seven passenger. I'm sad to have to sell it. It really has been a good vehicle. If you know anyone who is looking for a van let them know. It's a 2004 Dodge Grand Caravan. It has 82,300 miles. We are asking 7500 but are negotiable. It was a rental car when we bought it five years ago so we are the only personal owners.
As for our new car it's a 9 passenger 2005 Yukon XL. A 9 passenger Yukon is hard to come by, they don't make as many bench seats for the front as bucket seats. We wanted one though just in case we are to have a number seven. My max is seven :) It's HUGE!!! Notice the tennis ball hung. I know when to stop when that hits my windshield ha ha. We did ourselves a huge injustice by looking at newer Yukon's. They were super nice but after figuring we would have a payment of over 700 dollars we came down to earth.Good bye van you will be missed.