CRASH

My computer isn't working right now so I have stolen Neil's everyday so that I can have an outlet with the outside world. I wasn't aware of how much I am addicted to the computer and how much I rely on just it being there. It doesn't even have to be on neccesarily ... just knowing that I CAN turn it on gives me the solace I need. So, hopefully the hard drive isn't ruined completely. I am proud to announce though that my pictures are all backed up and that is what I am attached to the most. So prayers...that my computer can turn on again soon...because we can't afford a new computer right now.

So I think that it is about time that I started writing again. For right now, the house is quiet and I am hoping that I will have a little bit of time to write. The fact that it is a new year is exciting to me and I am looking forward to all of the fun times that we are going to be able to have.

Christmas was a fun time for the family. The children really made Christmas come alive. It was fun to see their faces as they opened new presents and the joy that they felt in giving presents to each other. I can't believe that Brendan will be a Sunbeam tomorrow. We talked about it on the way home from Utah and he is really excited to go to his Primary Class. It will be fun to watch him in Primary as he is learning the new songs and participating in Sharing Time. I feel really lucky to be able to be in there with him.

Neil and I were talking about how Eliza will be in Nursery still when he is done with school. That really seems like a long time to me and it will be compared with Brendan's time in Nursery. They didn't have one in New Castle until he was 26 months old I think. But then Eliza has a February birthday and so that means she will be one of the oldest in her Sunbeam class once she enters Primary. It will be interesting how she will do without Brendan in there. Her teachers say that she really doesn't talk much in there right now....which is just so odd to us. Here at home, we can't ever get her to stop talking. She is the cutest little girl and I love her. My only gripe right now is that she has been getting up so early! I need to be a better mom and get up with her, but then I feel like I am not very kind the rest of the day to all of my children. It really is a toss up, but I can't get her to go back to sleep and end up letting the TV babysit her while I try and pry my eyes open. I think that one of my New Year Resolutions is to go to bed earlier so that I can get up earlier with her is going to be the hardest one to keep. But I am going to try.

Lincoln is looking more and more like a baby to me instead of a newborn. I can't believe how fast he is growing! He is already wearing 6 month old clothes. They are a little bit big on him, but he doesn't seem to fit in the clothes he was wearing when he was born...imagine that! When we were in Utah we were able to bless him. I was glad that we were able to have family around us. I have to apologize to all of my family in Utah with letting them know of the blessing only 2 hours before. I will have to remember to let all of them know ahead of time with the next baby blessing.

But I am not even thinking of the next baby yet until Neil is out of school and Lincoln is sleeping through the night. I am envious of all of those moms whose babies are sleeping through the night already. I really do think this is my permanent trial in life.

Life is really good right now and I hope that I can keep a positive outlook on life for awhile. We do have so many blessings to be thankful for.

Merry Christmas

We hope that everyone had a great Christmas. We know that we were blessed to have the spirit of Christmas the whole season long. We hope that it stays with us through this next year! Love, the Ericksons