We were pelted with snow last night. I was a good hour late for work like many other people who chose to blaze on, despite being tempted to get an early start to the holiday weekend. the snow covered trees on campus were breathtaking, especially when the morning light danced on them. This picture hardly does them justice, but I Thought I would share it anyway. I'm thrilled at the thought of playing in freshly fallen snow with the kids all weekend.

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Your favorite Christmas book

Args wrote such a great blog entry today on her personal blog (allhale-amy.blogspot.com) I thought I would paste it here. I love the little things with the kids that happen each day. Sometimes I wish I was around to experience them first hand - other times I empathize with Amy as it's not all fun and games.


"My parents gave each family a new Christmas book this year. I was thrilled with their choice -- The Sweet Smell of Christmas. It's a scratch and sniff book! We received this book as a family gift when we were little, and it was always a favorite to pull out and enjoy during December - it's been read so many times, I think all the scent has been scratched off! Here's the book jacket description: "Little Bear delights in the many wonderful smells of Christmas. From the hot apple pie his mother is baking to the pine branches of the Christmas tree to his candy canes and hot chocolate. Little Bear celebrates the season with six scratch-and-sniff scents.

It's a cute little story*, but but the fun is in getting to scratch and "experience" what the Little Bear smells in the events leading up the Christmas Day.

Boo just asked me to reach down her "favorite book" from the book shelf. Curious which one she was referring to, I picked her up to let her get it herself.
Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. Oh, of course...every child's favorite book to "read" during the Christmas season! Haha."

What Boo's getting for Christmas

Our neighbor came over yesterday to drop off a christmas gift. While she was there she asked Boo, 'what is santa going to bring you for Christmas?' Boo's response was accurate although I'm sure it sounded strange to our neighbor, 'fruit snacks and popcorn.' These were the two items that santa brought to each of the grandchildren at our extended family Christmas party. Little does Boo know that santa has more in store for her than munchies.

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Picture of ben shoveling his gingerbread house.

Ben shoveling food. Cell phone shot - sorry for the poor quality.

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Gingerbread Houses at Nannas.

It was gingerbread house time at nannas. we were thrilled to have adrienne and mike's family home for the holidays. everything was going well until boo and yaks gingerbread house collapsed under the weight of all the candy (picture attached). after the collapse yaks figured the game was over and began to shovel candy into his mouth with both hands.

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Christmas Photoshoot

PICT4268
Originally uploaded by joshuapaulsen

Args really wanted a formal Christmas photo taken this year for our Christmas Card, which if the planets align, will go out tomorrow in the mail. (look for your copy Saturday, Monday, or worst case scenario, after Christmas). The shoot didn't quite go as expected. We don't exactly have the right equipment and Jane and Ben were a little rambunctious. You can check out the edited gallery here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22003077@N07/sets/72157603499229780

Yes, those are the best photos that we got. Thanks TIm for bring a champ.

I am a Son/Daughter of God

Last night the bishop assigned me to teach the fifth Sunday lesson to the young men and young women in January. I was pleased at his confidence in me to address this group and came home focused on discovering what the Lord would have the youth know at this time. What ensued was a two hour scripture study and contemplation on my own teenage years - the good times i had and the challenges I faced. At the conclusion of my stud i think i had determined what would be most beneficial to the youth at this time. I'm impressed that both the young womens theme and the young mens purpose state at the very beginning 'we are daughters of our heavenly father' or 'I am a son of God.' Too often as a teenager (primarily Junior High) i felt outcast, rejected, alone, or insecure. If only i had known then what i know now - that i am a son of God and that carried with it divine nature and powerful blessings. It's hard for ones actions
to be in contrary with church teachings if one really knows who he or she is.

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