2012 Resolutions

After having a rough 2011 in more ways than one (I know, you're all sick of hearing me whine and complain about it) I have been really seriously thinking about New Years resolutions for 2012, and how to make this a great year.  There is no obligation for anyone to actually read this post, as it's probably boring.  But for me, I wanted to write it out so I can check back and remind myself of what I should be working on this year.

Now, there are the typical ones that I always want to do: Lose weight, be more organized, be more patient, be more awesome.  But this year I REALLY want to improve myself, my family and my relationships.  This year is the year I want there to be more joy in my life, and so I am being more specific about my goals.

Myself:

1. Play the piano more frequently

I LOVE to play the piano and used to sit and play for at least an hour every day.  I haven't done that since having kids, but I want them to learn the same love of music I have.

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2. Personal scripture study

I've never been very good at this...and actually, my scriptures right now are still in Washington. Oops.  

But this year I want to improve, even if it's just a verse a day.

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3. Keep my bedroom clean

For some reason my bedroom is ESPECIALLY hard for me to keep clean, and it becomes a catchall. This year I want a relaxing sleeping space.

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4. Eat healthier

 I'm not talking a complete lifestyle overhaul, that will never be successful.  But making some small improvements to start out with.  I want to feel better and have more energy to keep up with my kids.

Family:

 1. Family Home Evening

We were good for a while, but this year being all crazy and living apart, we haven't done it at all since July.  Yikes!  But this year we WILL do better.

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2. Family Scripture Study

See above description...it's the exact same.

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3. Get Out.  Be More Physically Active

I want to go on hikes, walks, bike rides, camping, or just play in the backyard together.  We've been a bit sedentary and boring in 2011, but this year we will enjoy God's creations more as a family.

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4. Watch less TV

We have already improved on this, but I don't want all of our "together time" to be spent watching movies or TV.  I want to do things listed in #3.

Relationships:

 1. Date Night

Marty and I haven't been able to go out on dates very often.  This year I want to try to go out together with no kids, no distractions at least two times a month.  So get ready grandparents. :)

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2. Be Present/Available

I want to really be present in my relationships with family, especially my husband and kids, and available for them.  Take time to really listen to them, enjoy their company, be involved in their interests, put away distractions and just be together.

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3. One on One Time With Kids

Pretty self-explanatory.

So that about does it.  There are some other things I will work on as well, but those are the big ones.  It seems like a pretty long list, but it's doable, and I'm very excited for what 2012 has in store for my family!  

It's going to be a great year no matter what!

The Obligatory Christmas Post

I know there are going to be about a million of these posts floating about the interweb in the coming days/weeks, and that probably at some point you will be tired of seeing or reading them.  But too bad...here is another one about OUR Christmas.

I don't really have too many words this year - shocking I know - because we were blessed beyond belief, and I don't know how to express all that gratitude in words.  Just know that it was an absolutely incredible Christmas and Holiday season, and that we saw many Christmas miracles in our life as well as others.

So...here are some pictures that show a little more of the holiday happenings.

Coming up the stairs on Christmas morning.  (Well, technically Christmas Eve morning.  Santa came early to us because we weren't sure when Marty had to go back to Washington.  By the time we did know, however, we had already told the kids Santa was coming early, so there was no going back on it.)

My mom always insisted on this same picture when we were growing up. Just carrying on the tradition.

Seeing the presents.

Molly's festive outfit later that day.

 

Grandpa Ridges trying to play in the princess castle.

Christmas Eve brunch (YUMMY!)

Addison got a toy foam axe...oh, the joy this child was experiencing "chopping" everyone.

Cousins tearing into the goods.

Addison in the WAY cute skirt and bow my mom made for all the granddaughters.

My 3 girls plus their cousin, Brooklyn, posing in their skirts from Grandma.  This was the best we could get with Addison in there.

And as for little Molly, well she was just completely exhausted by all the festivities.

So, that about wraps up our Christmas. (Like that pun there?  I'm pretty punny.)

It was a WONDERFUL holiday season, and definitely ended too soon.  

I'm just so grateful we got to spend it with all of our loved ones!

Christmas Letter 2011

Here is my attempt at a Christmas letter for this year.  Please remember that I am still on pain medicine, however, and cannot be held responsible for anything I write.

Dear Friends and Family - 

To say that 2011 has been a whirlwind of a year would be the understatement of the century.  We managed to survive the first few months of the year unscathed, but since then it's been quite the adventure.  

Marty - Is STILL in the Army...even though we thought that would be done back in July.  He has done his best to adapt to living alone without all of the girls and drama that we bring.  You may think him crazy, but he actually misses it!  Marty is excited to use his training from the Army to begin a new career (wonderful things are already in place) in the "civilian" world, just as soon as the Army decides to let him go.  He continues to be the most wonderful daddy EVER, and has 4 little girls who are completely head over heels for him.

Camille - Has stayed very busy this year growing a baby and single parenting the other three girls while living in her parent's basement.  It's a glamorous life we lead.  She currently has two church callings in the ward - RS Newsletter writer person (pretty sure that's the technical name) and Ward Choir Accompanist - both of which she actually enjoys.  She left her job doing transcription work in order to 1. Not go crazy, and 2. Prepare for the baby.  This has proven to be the best decision she's made since agreeing to marry Marty.  At least it felt that way at the time.  She is now working on adjusting to having 4 kids, but feels she really has no business being in charge of that many children.

Brielle (6) - Is in the 1st grade, and has officially had her first crush on a boy...who so happens to be the younger brother of a boy her mom dated back in the day.  Awkward.  We keep telling her how gross boys are, but she just says "too bad!".  We are in trouble with this one.  She absolutely LOVES school and will not miss it for anything less than Scarlet Fever.  Brielle loves singing and is THRILLED to be singing in a children's choir for a Christmas program.  She is the biggest help to her mom and has pulled a lot of weight around the house while daddy has been away.


Claire (4) - Has continued her love of Batman far longer than anyone ever thought possible.  She has added other loves as well, but Batman seems to remain front and center.  Claire is in preschool this year and is loving learning all sorts of new things and making new friends.  Claire tells everyone she is a daddy's girl, because "she shows her bum crack a lot".  Isn't that sweet?  She is still the life of the party and always has something ridiculous or funny to say.

Addison (2) - Is on the verge of being committed to the insane asylum...because she is CRAZY.  She never stops jumping and is known for her bullying ways.  We are so proud.  The way you know she has accepted you is if she randomly walks up and smacks you on the leg, then you know you are favored in her eyes.  She likes to yell "no" and "stop it" all the time, and is exactly everything you would expect from a 2 year old.  But on the flip side she is super lovey and gives hugs and kisses freely.


Molly (1 week) - Joined our family on December 15th and has successfully survived her first week of life.  Being the youngest of 4 girls is going to be interesting, but she has been the sweetest, most mild mannered baby, so I think she will be all right.  She has already taken more "love" from her older sister's than we thought a baby could handle, and has done so without hardly a squeak.  Her favorite pastimes are eating, sleeping and filling her diaper.  It's a rough life to be a baby, but she is doing a very good job.

As this year winds up, we are hoping that 2012 brings our daddy home for good, as well as some new opportunities and adventures.  Life will never be dull, but maybe a little less chaotic would be nice.

We hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas season and an even more wonderful 2012!

The Davis Family

(Eventually I will get some pictures...but for now, this is all you get.)

Molly Maxine Davis

Welcome Molly Maxine Davis!

December 15th, 2011 - 1:00 p.m.

8 lbs. 10 oz.,  20 inches long

Our sweet little baby girl made her entrance via scheduled c-section Thursday afternoon.  

(Yes, we were originally scheduled for the 20th, but my doctor loves me and moved it up to the 15th.)

Molly is lucky enough to get her middle name from her Great Grandma Campbell.  As soon as we found out she was going to be a girl I instantly knew I wanted to use Maxine as the middle name.  We decided to wait to ask Grandma Campbell though until we had the baby, just in case for some reason we changed our minds.    So Grandma was my first phone call, and she was gracious enough to let us pass on her name to our sweet girl, now we just pray and hope that Molly will grow up to be as wonderful as her Great Grandma!

The c-section went well, it took a little longer than usual because my doctor - again - loves me and did remove a lot of previous scar tissue, apparently giving me a mini tummy-tuck.  Love him! 

Here's how things went yesterday.

Goodbye belly.

Hello awesome outfits to go in the OR.

Hello beautiful Molly!

Molly is an ANGEL, she rarely cries, eats like a champ and is alert and content.  We couldn't be more happy and grateful for her wonderful little spirit.  She is definitely proof that you can grow a big baby on a steady diet of ice cream!  A theory I wasn't purposely planning to prove, but now that I know how well it works I will tell everyone I know about it!

The other three girls are all very excited as well...well, at least Brielle and Claire are, I'm not sure Addison has any idea what is really going on, although she loves to see the baby and try to poke her face and eyes (I'm sure it's out of love...right?).

 This is what Addison wanted to do the whole time.  What baby?  Look at this big bed!

And there you have it!  

We are excited to have Molly in our family, she is already very loved!