It's now officially the Christmas Season

Last night we kicked off the Christmas season with a wonderful FHE. By wonderful, I mean, Jeremy only fell asleep for part of the lesson, Jake and Abby only did a few near summersaults on the floor, Hannah only interepted a couple of times with questions and I only yelled at the family once or twice.

I was in charge of the lesson. I stole a story, The Last Straw, that I had heard in primary the day before and read it to my family. It's a tear-jerker about a family that learns to serve one another to bring the spirit of Christmas into their home. Then I extended the same challenge to our family. We drew names to see who we'd secretly serve this week. I imagined it would be a flawless hit, but we had to re-draw a bunch of times because people would keep drawing their own names, then I heard the moans. My family is apparently also a bit competitive because I heard things like, "I already put 3 pieces of straw in the manger" or "I've done more than you." In the end, the family was okay and we are all working to serve each other without advertising it.

Jake was in charge of the activity, so we decorated the tree. It is always fun and exciting when the kids see old ornaments they made years ago and the quick reminiscence that follows.

(This year was Hannah's year to help Jeremy with the Angel)

We finished the night with Abby's treat - hot chocolate made with milk (not water), with marshmallows and way too many dollops of cool whip and candy canes. Talk about a rich and delicious treat.

As we sat around sipping, I realized how really blessed I am. I have a super cool family that I love with all my heart, a home to shelter us from the worries of the world, the gospel, and especially The Savior. It's moments like that, that I want to bottle up and hang on to forever.

Acronastix

Back in Sept. I signed Abby and Hannah up for a program through the parks and rec dept - Acronastix or Acro as we call it over here. They loved it and kept wanting to be re-signed up each new session. The coach was great, he knew what he was talking about and had a lot of experience, be could get a little cranky sometimes (a lot grouchy yesterday, their last day). Anyway, acro is a cross between gymnastics and acrobatics. The girls learned tumbling, flips, hand stands, head stands, back hand springs, balance, catapulting, stilts, juggling, swings, the big ring that hangs from the ceiling, all the fun stuff. It was like a huge playground for them each day. The cool part was that my girls were the only ones signed up for the past 2 sessions so Cody, the coach would let Jake and Annie participate fully. They all learned new stuff and I think they had a good time.

So here are a ton of pictures from their class -

Hannah, the frog, upside down in the rubber swing thingy

Abby - doesn't she look like a trapeze artist?

Annie loved swinging. I'd push her really high and she'd yell, "Best day ever!" like Rapunzel.

Jake and Hannah trying to balance each other out. This one made Cody really cranky.

Abby with her beautiful form. She was Cody's favorite. He tried all the stuff that freaked me out on her and she nailed it each time.

Jake in the midst of a perfect back flip. He could catch some major air on his flips.

Hannah balancing with Abby in the pipe. This one also made Cody cranky.

Abby practicing the stilts

The pyramid

Jake and Abby doing synchronized handstands

Annie on the tramp doing a flip

Abby upside down in the swing thing

Jake on the ring

Hannah on the ring

Abby's 8

Our Fabulous Abigail on her birthday/baptism day.

Our little peanut turned 8 on Friday, Nov 25th. Living in PV, she was lucky enough to get to be baptized on her birthday. Her baptism was all hers, no other kids in the ward or stake, just Abby. It was a big day, a great day, and a beautiful baptism. Abby had a ton of support. So many family members made the trip up to see her, for which we are so grateful. Thanks to all who came up.

Abby in her gorgeous baptism dress that was made by Grandma Platt. It was much prettier than the boring ol' jumpsuit that was the alternative.

Abby and Jeremy, who baptized her and confirmed. He gave her a beautiful blessing.

Singing happy birthday to Abby. There were so, so, so many people there to support her on her big day. I love big family parties - the chaos, the noise, the laughter, the good times. There's nothing better.

Happy Birthday, Abby.

I'm so proud of your choice to be baptized and confirmed. You have grown up so well and are such a great kid! Thanks for coming to our family and making it lively and fun.

Just Hannah

Sometimes I think Hannah suffers from middle child syndrome. She is often overlooked unless it's because she's done something wrong then she's busted and seems so devastated. Like when she pulled the hook down in the hall that Jeremy had recently hung. It came down with about 6 inches of drywall. She's still paying that one off....

Anyway, I've been trying to give her a little more attention. And this is what I've discovered about Hannah:

1. She likes to talk. There have been times that I've taken her to the store and she doesn't stop talking the whole time, and I'm talking an hour long trip to Wal-mart. She comments on anything she sees in the store, anything on her mind, anything.

2. Hannah likes to ask questions. Movies are her specialty, even movies I haven't seen yet she'll ask questions about 15 seconds into. Last night our family got tickets in the suites to the Sundog's game (semi-pro hockey team in PV). She sat by me and asked questions about the players, the uniforms, the score a hundred times, the rink, the mascot, the zambonis. Hopefully this means she's absorbing the info she's getting and becoming a smartie pants.

3. I've always known she aspires to be famous, but last night at the game it really hit home. I told her if she danced the Chicken Dance or the YMCA she might find herself on the jumbo tron. She was skeptical at first until she asked (see #2), "If I'm on TV does that make me famous?" "Yep," was my answer, "famous here for this moment". That's all it took. She shook her bootie forever trying to get on the big screen. It finally happened at the end of the YMCA when our little suite made it on with Hannah as the only one dancing, and dancing hard I might add.

4. She is not an unhappy child, but she's never been one to smile a lot. She has a great sense of humor and can laugh, tease and have fun, but she doesn't smile a ton. So when I can get her to smile, I know it means something real. It melts my heart because it is so sweet though sometimes a little unnatural.

5. There are a ton of other things I love about Hannah: her love for kids (specifically Hadlie), her ability to memorize movies, her growing sense of fashion, her imagination playing Barbies...

I love you, Hannah. You make our home lively and you are a treat.

Big Weekend

We had a fun filled weekend. I took the girls down to Mesa on Thurs night while Jeremy and Jake stayed in PV for Jake's game on Sat morning.

We got a bunch of stuff done, in no particular order - bought Abby's baptism dress, I went to the temple, the girls got to play with Maddix and Bronson while I hung out with Alex, haircuts, Drew's birthday party, playing at the park, some birthday shopping, a puzzle, some more shopping, cinnamon rolls with my fam - mmm mmm good, a tour of Dyan's new house - beautiful, and the big reason for our trip down, the Goodman reunion. I have to say, I have the coolest family in the world. Maybe it's because I grew up so geographically close to all my cousins, but I get excited to see them and hang with them. They are a good group of people and I'm amazed all the time at how generally normal everyone is, though colorful at the same time.

While I was there, Jeremy and Jake were up in PV. Jake had his last soccer game on Sat. morning and Jeremy has been his coach. Their undefeated season was on the line. Jake has had a stellar season, scoring usually 3 or more goals a game. He gets the game, he has amazing ball control and sense of the game. He explodes and beats everyone around the ball and it is so fun to watch. I was sad I was missing his last game and waited anxiously for the call after it ended. The call came and it was Jake excited. "Mom, we won!" A perfect season. "And I scored 3 goals. And Ryan scored a goal too!" I think he was as excited for Ryan as he was for himself.

I then talked to Jeremy and got the story. After scoring 3 quick goals, Jeremy pulled Jake back on defense. He got the ball and dribbled up the field, burning guys left and right, in typical Jake fashion. He even burned the goalie and got him to commit to himself. Jake had such an easy shot, clear and right there. But he saw Ryan, the kid who's played soccer for several years, never on a winning team, not a really good player, never scoring a goal. Jake passed up an easy, open goal and passed the ball perfectly,to the only place the ball could have been passed for Ryan to score, and Ryan booted it in the goal. Ryan scored the final goal of the season for the undefeated Scorpions, his first and possibly only goal he'll ever score. The crowd went wild, Ryan beamed and turned bright red. At the next break, he and Jake were pulled out of the game so Jeremy could give them both huge hugs. Pure elation by Ryan, Jake, Jeremy, the whole team and the parents.

The Scorpions front row - Brendon, Jake, Jaden, Justin, Shawn Back Row - Coach Gittins, Ryan, Jarred, Josh, Tanner, Geronimo, Riley and Coach Platt

I heard that story and I cried. Jake is such a great kid and crazily competitive. It was such an incredible act of sportsmanship and he was such a team player to give the ball to Ryan. I think I'm more proud of that one play that I unfortunately didn't get to see, than all of his other tons of goals and great plays all season combined.

Jake you're my MVP.

P.S. Jake made the All-Star team and will play on Friday night in the big All-Star game.

This one's for you Julie from Annie

This was mine and Annie's conversation today at acro as I took her to the bathroom:

Annie: What are hands for?

Karrie: Well, to pick things up, to eat, hold things, to write, to type...

Annie: To go like this? (She grabs her crotch because she's about to wet her pants)

Karrie: I guess you use your hands for that too

Annie: And to pull your pants down and to wipe?

Karrie: Yep, you can't do those without hands

Annie: (a bunch of other off the wall stuff I can't remember), and to hug?

Way to redeem yourself, Annie.

Julie, we're feeling for you and hope your hand heals fast.

The Halloween Awards

The first annual Platt Family Halloween awards were last night. This doesn't mean the kids in the Platt family were the only ones up for running, but that they swept the awards. Anyone at the 4-ward Trunk-or-Treat could have won, but my kids won in all four categories in the inagural Halloween award ceremony.

The award for the Prettiest Princess goes to.....

Annie Platt

The award for the Most Adorable Pirate Likely to Make you Walk the Plank goes to....

Hannah Platt

The award for the Zombie Girl that is Most Likely Frighten the Bejeebers out of you goes to....

Abby Platt

The award for the Creepiest Zombie Boy that is most likely to make his debut on Walking Dead goes to...

Jake Platt

The award for best costume designer goes to...

Jeremy. He was responsible for Jake in his entirety - clothes and make-up. He also did Abby's costume. He ripped the pj's then took patches, put real stitches in them and patched them on the holes in her costume. I did her make-up and hair.

Here are the 4 winners in a group photo.

This was definitely a more fun year for Halloween at our house. We Trunk or Treated at our ward building, then went over to one of the few neighborhoods with sidewalks to Trick or Treat. The kids made out. Jeremy and I made each of the kids give us each 5 pieces of candy and then the rest was theirs to eat and give themselves tummy aches as they please. We rounded off the night with watching Gremlins and Casper. I think I fell asleep first. Who knows when the kids finally conked out. They're probably exhausted today at school.