A week at the Poulton's

We have had a good week. I started feeling better by Sunday night, and we've been going non-stop since. On Tuesday night, Hailey had New Beginnings, which is a yearly program at church. They talk about setting goals for the year and that the decisions you make now will affect the rest of your life. Hailey gave a talk on Faith and did a great job. She looked so little up there next to the older girls! She came home early from school that day with a headache and dizziness, so I was extra proud of her for doing so well.

Trent had scouts Wednesday and it's taken Greg all week to totally kick the strep. I have been cleaning everything, sterilizing like crazy. We don't want anyone else feeling like he has. Elise had dance, Seth had preschool and we've had lots of homework and projects to do. But I've felt pretty good, so we'll take a normal week anytime!

I have been going through a lot of old pictures to post on Facebook, and one thing is clear: I look a lot better with a tan! When I lived in California, I was out in the sun all the time, so I naturally had a slight tan all year. I didn't realize this until I moved to Washington, where I was inside a lot because of the rain. I have been reliving a lot of memories with great friends as I've looked through these pictures. I can tell I got a camera my Junior year, because I have a lot more pictures of friends in Washington and Hawaii than I do of California.
It has been really fun reconnecting with people from CA that I lost contact with. Moving was really hard, right in the middle of my Sophmore year, but I wouldn't trade any of it. I was able to have two different high school experiences, and for that I am grateful. I got the chance to start over in Washington, and it helped me to see things about myself that I wanted to change, and I did. And I won't get started on the changes that happened in Hawaii. That will be another post. :)

Pajama Day

That's what I'm calling today. It's almost 3 pm and we are all still in our PJ's! Greg has strep throat, I have a sinus infection, as well as my stomach issues, and the kids have taken full advantage of Mommy and Daddy not feeling up to par. Meaning, the house is a disaster and they're watching too much TV. A few days won't kill them, right?

As I was lying on the couch this morning, Rachel came and wanted to lie with me. She is usually too busy getting into something to sit still for very long, but she lay here and played with my hair and her little hands explored my face. It doesn't get much sweeter than that.

We were so happy when it was raining earlier this week, it got rid of at least six inches of snow in the yard. I saw the lawn for the first time since Thanksgiving. Then of course, it starts snowing again this morning. I think it's pretty when it's falling and is fresh on the ground, but then it turns to slush and gross gray piles of snow line the streets. I will be happy when Spring is here.

Auntie Lee is visiting

My sister Kylee has been here visiting for the week and we've been having so much fun! We've been shopping and we even got some cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory yesterday. Yummm. The kids have loved having Auntie Lee here, as she spoils them rotten. Her husband Eric will come in tomorrow night and we're going sledding on Friday. Her trip has been just the thing I have needed, as Greg is out of town for the week in St. George. I love my little sister!

I have been lame as far as the blog goes the last little while. Do you ever feel like you're being put through the 'refiners fire'? That is how I have felt the last three months, and I am afraid it's made me withdraw from things I normally love. There are days I want to scream, days I want to cry, and days I want to sit and do absolutely nothing. There has to be a plan for everything going on in my life, right? I'm not saying I don't have faith that everything works together for it's own good, I know it does. I'm just getting tired of the struggle, that's all. I'm just tired.

*edit: after reading some of the comments, I'm afraid this reads like I'm looking for sympathy. I promise that wasn't the case! Just one of those days.

Holiday Review

Here's how our holidays happened in 2008:

Christmas Eve was spent at Greg's parents in Orem. We had a delicious dinner, read the Christmas story and the kids got to open one present. My brother Kristopher was there with us, along with Greg's sister Ginger's family. There are no pictures because Santa hadn't visited yet. We came home and got the kids to bed by 9 pm, while Greg and I were in bed before midnight. We couldn't remember the last time that happened on Christmas Eve!
Elise slept in the boys room that night, and they decided to wake up at 4 am. Yeah, ask me how happy I was about that. They knew they couldn't come out until 7 am, so it was a long three hours of telling them to be quiet. Finally the time arrived and the kids were not disappointed with what Santa brought.
Hailey got a design kit, since she wants to be a Fashion Designer. Trent got a Havic Helicopter set (though they broke the first morning), while Elise was thrilled with her Polly Pocket cruise ship. Seth got another Trick Track and Rachel squealed when she saw her Minnie Mouse.

And Santa left me an awesome new camera! The kids loved having Kristopher there with us. I will post more in the next one, I'm having issues with blogger.

More holiday fun

Christmas Morning continues......

After presents we had our traditional French Toast Casserole, and then later Grandma and Grandpa came over for awhile. It was snowing quite heavily, so they couldn't linger long. We had such a relaxing day, with the kids playing with their new toys and the adults taking turns napping. It was a great Christmas Day.

The 26th, Jeff and Angie were visiting from St. George, so went and spent the afternoon with them. The kids love playing with their cousins. I was too busy talking to take many pictures.

Visit to Poppy Steve's

The 27th found us at my dad and Adrienne's (she hates being called my step-mom), and the kids had so much fun with Braxton. They played Twister, sledded down their great hill and watched "Horton Hears a Who". If you zoom in on the picture of Elise sledding, she is totally screaming her head off, it was so funny! And that's Seth on the right, getting snow splattered in his face! We wish we saw them more often, we love them so much.