Friday Picture Book: Wonderland

Hey there!

I saw Em off to the airport today and now my house is officially way too quiet and empty! :( Anyway, it was Emma's turn to head up today's picture book, but since she's on an airplane and Lulu and Lissie are still traveling, I told her I'd edit some individual shots of us from our sisters photoshoot the other day. :)

XOXO, Marie

Sisters Movie Still Shot

Hey guys,

Nearly everyone is leaving tomorrow. :(

It's been an amazing Christmas that I'll never forget. We made Christmas jammies for all the little monkeys, we played games that required every muscle in my body to tense from laughing so hard, we wrote a Christmas song together that I'm sure Lissie will sing for you soon, and on and on...

Oh, and breakfast every morning was smothered in Nutella!

Yeah, I can't stand the thought of tomorrow, so I'm going to sign off quick so I can enjoy a few more hours with them tonight. In the meantime, here's a still shot from the little sisters video we made this afternoon. I can't wait to share it with you!

xoxo{marie}

Look Who's Here!

My Germany family arrived this weekend! (Mom, Dad, Christian, Lissie and Bryant), and Emma and fam got here today! We're just missing Lu and my brother, Matthew, and then the Christmas games can begin!



In between airport runs we hung out at H&M...what do you think of our jackets?



I caught a wink from Lissie in the mirror...



And of course we stayed up way too late tonight getting our gangster on. :)



I love having a full house!

{xoxo}marie

Friday Picture Book: Innocent

Hey there! The word I picked for this week is... innocent!

Marie:



Lauren:



Emma:



And Lissie (I don't know... what do you guys think? Does she look innocent in this picture?? haha/jk):

Gonna Find Out Who's...

Hey Girls,

Well, we all know who made the naughty list today. Yes, yours truly. You'd think after last week's post I'd be a little more punctual with today's post. Not so.

To sum things up, I've been feeling like Dori from "Finding Nemo" lately. I'm behind. I'm forgetful. And I'm a little dramatic about it. But I am really happy to "just keep swimming, swimming, swimming" through this crazy life of mine.

So, late I am, but with a great story to share about how Isabella is at the top of Santa's nice list!

While I was making dinner the other night, she was sitting at the island talking to me about what I thought was going to be a pretty random story, and I honestly wasn't as attentive as I should've been.

"Mommy, remember when we were at The Dollar Store a really long time ago?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"And I found that little bear?"

I didn't exactly remember, but I gave another "Uh-huh."

"Remember how you told me to put it back where I found it?" she sobs.

Wait, what? What did I miss? She's crying! Why is she crying?

"Why are you crying, sweetheart? Are you okay??" I asked as I dropped what I was doing.

"I put it back, but I didn't put it back where I really found it," she said. "I lied. I'm so sorry!"

More crying.

I don't know that this story is going to touch anyone else quite like it did me, but anyway, I went over there, and I hugged her even though I had to have her explain herself a few more times--did she steal the bear? I was so confused about what she was apologizing for. I couldn't believe that she was so torn up about this little white lie--so torn up that she told me that the bear belonged in isle two when it really belonged in isle four. It was just so, so sweet to me that this was weighing on her and that she apologized and told the truth, not because she was caught or because what she did wrong was anything huge, but because she knew what she did was wrong.

If there's one thing I'll remember about this December so far, it's the gift of having a little six-year-old girl with integrity. Yes, to the top of Santa's nice list she goes!

xoxo{marie}

I Should be Punished!

Hi there,

I can't believe I'm posting at 10pm. That is just unacceptable, and I am so sorry!

I remember when us sisters started this blog, Husband had the idea that there should be a public punishment for anytime someone missed posting on their day. And he even wanted to leave the choice of punishment up to the readers and then have us vlog whatever the punishment was. He thought that would be so funny and we were like, uhhh, I think not! And besides, it is still Monday, even if nobody will read this post until Tuesday! Okay, okay, I might entertain the idea of a punishment for posting so late.

But you all have to agree, that for a last-minute Notes She Wrote poster like myself, Mondays are a tough day to post on! Mondays are just so busy, and my house is a wreck from the weekend, and my to-do list is thiiiiiiis big. Sometimes just before midnight is the best I can do. But no worries, I will try to be better. :)

Yesterday we had a lovely, lovely Sunday that really got me into the true spirit of Christmas. First, we went to church like usual and heard some wonderful testimonies about Christ. Next I came home and skyped with Mom and Dad. The best part of that conversation was teasing my kindergartener about a boy at school that I overheard "she wants to marry!" What? Kids think of these things in kindergarten? Anyway, while she was blushing and giggling because I had brought this boy up, I slyly spelled out that she wanted to m-a-r-r-y that boy. I didn't want to remind her, of course, that's why I spelled it out. And then she sat right up and said, "I know what you just spelled."

"You do?! What?"

"Marry."

Insert more giggles and a surprised me! I guess that nifty little spelling trick won't work so well on my little schoolgirl anymore. And I guess that little story wasn't at all Christmasy!

Anyway, after a nice chat with them, we went back to the church and saw a display of over 500 nativities! It was incredible and I have no pictures because my arms were full! So much for lugging the camera in there.

Our last and final stop was Grandma Rise's house. We had a scrumptious dinner and then watched the wonderful annual Christmas Devotional given by the First Presidency of our church. Lastly, we opened up some early Christmas gifts from Great Grandma (the fancy holiday outfits my kids are wearing in the pictures) and helped decorate the Christmas tree.

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

{xoxo}marie