a couple more pictures from the torture session. and more random reflections.

ok here are a couple more shots ONEHM sent me.

"the brothers"

and this is a big reminder why having 6 kids is hard.
here it is folks. perhaps the best of the bunch of the whole group pictures. (she just did a quick perusal)

it seems they forgot where they were supposed to be looking and where they were supposed to be. UGH! and you can't tell here pierce was a turkey the whole time. all happy clapping fun. maybe if i stare at it long enough , i'll forget the hellish torture of getting pictures, and remember this one moment frozen in time.of Pierce happy. clapping. perfect.

~~

it's times like these , (and there seem to be many lately) that it becomes blatantly obvious that having 6 kids is not that easy. normally i go merrily on my way thinking everything is just peachy keen and lately it's like there is a FLASHING SIGN telling me

"six kids are hard".

raising them, affording them, dressing and feeding them. definitely getting pictures with them, and even little stuff like buying matching christmas Pajamas for them.

I WAS TELLING LANCE THIS, AND HE WAS LIKE ,'DUH!' WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CLUE? YOU ARE JUST NOW REALIZING THIS?

and most of the time i don't notice. i isn't a huge deal. just lately there have been certain things. making me think like that.

what would i do? too late now .

and then i look at this special friend,

MAN HAS SHE GOT IT TOGETHER. her house, her 7 kids, her christmas decorations! and i wonder, what is wrong with me? she makes it look so easy! gosh i admire her!

and then i get a little depressed about it.

but hey no time for self pity. i have stuff to do. always more to do. gotta keep moving. keep on keeping on!

on another note...

I started to do the tree tonight(with Hope's help everyone else had gone to bed,Lance was keeping me company) , and then we remembered that we have to put the ribbon garland on first. underneath the ornaments. right? so we took it all off. and then i realized i'd forgotten to fluff the branches. duh! Lance said he'd noticed and wondered what i was thinking. clue me in next time genius. obviously i wasn't operating on a full charge?

so tomorrow. it's happening. i have to get the boxes of decorations out of the front room. so the tree will be decorated by 4:30pm at the latest. that is the plan. everyone is coming at 5:30.

i made my sugar cookie dough tonight. tomorrow i need to cut and bake the cookies. and maybe make more dough.

my mom is bringing the frosting. homemade butter cream. DELIGHTFUL! maybe if i'm ambitious i'll whip up some cream cheese frosting too.

and every family is supposed to bring 2 dozen cookies too. so we'll have plenty and i won't be baking for 24 hours.

i DON'T have time for that.

and again i wonder what got into me to take this on for more than 40 people . at my house again.

what? am i glutton for punishment?

i must be.

i could have had an easy night of just going to the temple lights, and doing hot cocoa. but NOOOO i wanted to decorate cookies. and write letters to santa, AND do the cocoa and temple lights.

i'm retarded.

but we're making memories. and i get to enjoy some delicious homemade cookies. and my favorite hot chocolate (from scratch, not some nasty powdered pouch)

YUM!