Baking madness... and Small Paul cuteness

Last week was our official cookie tray handout for family home evening. In total, I baked 896 cookies, plus 5 different types of candies for about 36 trays we handed out to families, teachers, and other assorted friends. It was a lot of fun! I love baking sooo much, it is probably my favorite thing to do, other than hanging out with the kids! The best part of the crazy number of cookies is that by the time they are done I have no desire to eat ANY of them - the thought is just overwhelming. If you received a Mathews cookie tray, we sure hope you liked them! If not, you will still probably get your hands on something I have baked this Christmas season - I normally have something loaded with sugar in hand wherever I go... I hope everyone knows how much I appreciate having them in our lives, and my feeding you is just my way of showing it!


Small Paul is 15 months old already - seriously, how can that be? He is a super genius with an ever expanding vocabulary... He now says:
Bird
Arf
Out
Up
Dad
Mama
Ana (Savannah)
Fish
That
Boob (thanks Paul)
And most importantly, bap (any Christmas decorations, especially lights)

However.... HE WONT WALK! What gives? He can stand, will furniture walk, and is a master of going up and down the stairs. He can also escape from any grocery cart seat belt faster than I can grab a can of corn off of the shelf, but no walking... I know that part of this is because he has a harem at the ready knocking each other down to get a chance to hold him, but really? 15 months? Michael was running at 9 months, and I was worried when Reagan didn't start until 11 months. Is this a Mathews thing? Is this a baby with lots of older siblings thing? I keep reminding myself that life is easier when they aren't walking, but I'm getting a little worried!

It's December, and duct tape cant fix everything...

Still no pics, why? Well, my camera is literally held together with duct tape, which is really silly because it still doesn't work 99% of the time. Why bother with the duct tape you might ask, but I am still holding out hope that it will magically repair the camera, if I just believe hard enough...

Christmas is pratically here!!!! Can you feel the excitement in the air? OMGoodness I am just flat out giddy with anticipation! This weekend is the Creche festival in a nearby ward bldg., and it is always very cool. Last year there were over 700 nativities from around he world - I just love seeing them all. They have everything from the most simple to totally ornate, toy ones, hand carved ones, itty bity inside a walnut shell ones, and giant living people on the stage ones.
The rest of the lights at the temple go up this weekend, so that will be our FHE for next week - totally excited about that too!

I think that the LA area is going to be invaded by a gagillion (slight exageration) Mathews family members soon too, which is very exciting for all of us! Man, I sure do love me some Mathews cousins/aunts/uncles etc...

To quote Shawn, "I'm so excited my head is going to explode!"

Best evers...

No photos this time, I just want to say how grateful I am for my wonderful, fun, and very blessed life! I am finding that I am having more and more days, moments, and events that I've walked away from thinking "that was the best_________ever". This year has been great, and I am so grateful that I have such a fantastic, loving, caring, supportive husband, along with such wonderful kids to share my life with! I can't imagine how things could be better. Our house is crazy, and loud, and I love it! Our kids do silly, random things, and will stand their ground going toe to toe with whomever, including me, and I love that... My girls are stubborn, but as they mature, that will be what makes them strong women, and no one will take advantage of them. My boys are strong, determined, and see the world through their creative, imagination filled eyes, and they are sensitive enough to become great dads and husbands, just like Paul. Life is good, even if no one but me eats all of their veggies, or picks up their dirty socks.

The Big "1"

This face...



I SO LOVE this face!! Every day for a year now we have had this beautiful face, and this beautiful person here making our lives more complete. Small Paul is the happiest baby I have ever known... he has a smile for everyone, and laughs at everything the bigger kids do. One day we were at the doctor's ofc., waiting to check in, when an older woman came over & was staring at him - I was distracted by trying not to lose Shelby, Reagan or Shawn when I noticed her. She had tears in her eyes and told me that he was so beautiful, and that he had just made her day so much better. Just a week or so ago another woman was looking at him while I was waiting for copies at Staples. She told me "you know, I've never had children of my own so maybe I appreciate them more, but your baby is overwhelmingly beautiful..."

I have to agree with them.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend & photographer, Chrissi Richards, got the brilliant idea to have Small Paul, her daughter Julia, and our tortoise, Dorothy, race... Dorothy won - Small Paul kept heading the wrong direction!

One busy summer!

I have to narrow down my pictures to decide what to post... We are having one crazy, busy, fun filled summer vacation!!
We have visited St George where we saw lots of family we love to visit with... the beach, botanical gardens, museums, the aquarium, Disneyland (of course)... the list goes on, BUT - yesterday we went to the Skirball Cultural Ctr in Los Angeles. It was so much fun!! They have a ginormous Noah's Ark that is totally hands on interactive splendor!! I'm making sure that Grandma Mathews steers all of the visiting family with kids towards it. It's not too far from her house, maybe 20 minutes without traffic, and your kids will love it!!!

Peace, Love & Shelby

We have been under construction around here for the past few weeks. Our goal? Shelby's very own brand new bedroom!

Shelby is all about peace signs, owls, & color. I had a few people look at me like I was crazy when I explained my color pallet - but I think it turned out cute and totally Shelby-styled!

Check out my attempt to be creative, or at least somewhat original curtain tie backs. Is that what they are even called?
Reveal day was today - minus a ceiling fan - and Shelby L.O.V.E.D. it!!! I'm so happy for her to have her own space!

We also have added a small stretch of hallway, and a great big walk in storage closet for all of our *stuff*, but neither of those areas have tile, or even a completed paint job so I won't be sharing pictures of that quite yet. I have major organization plans for in the big closet though, so I may share that soon!

Flat out bragging...

We are so happy that summer has finally arrived, and we are SO proud of our kids! We ended the year by sweeping the awards ceremonies once again!

Shelby and Reagan both made the Principal's list - yay!! I apologize for the photos, trying to get in a good spot at these ceremonies is a full contact sport amongst the parents! Savannah also made the Principal's list, but alas no photos. Her awards ceremony was at the same time as YW, and she really didn't want to miss YW. They are getting ready for girl's camp and having so much fun! I can't wait for Shelby & Reagan to get their chance in a few years!




Shawn was chosen for the citizenship award for being wonderful and charming, and for having his homework in all of the time! (I trapped him for a photo - you can just feel the excitement when you look at him right?)




Genius children I tell you - every last one! Those Baby Einstein videos really paid off ;)