Streams of mercy, never ceasing

My weekend in pictures

My uncle got my parents cats some catnip for Christmas. Thomas (aka "Lord Tubbington" and "the fat one") stood at the bottom of the stairs for I-kid-you-not FIVE minutes, staring blankly. Merry Christmas, indeed.

   
 I got to complete my goal of doing something crazy and Christmassy with the kids. We made hot chocolate and peanut butter cookies with Hershey kisses. And according to some we made a "mess". Whatever. We let our haters be our motivators! 

 

My sister Erin sent our nieces Christmas dresses. I don't think my nieces really needed any further confirmation of their princesses status, but if they did, these dresses gave it to them. They LOVED them and twirled and twirled. They looked like Christmas angels. 

I watched A Christmas Story with my parents and Junior. It never ceases to make me laugh. 

Thanks to a certain blogger friend,(you know how you are), my Post Secret app addiction continues. This secret (if you can call it that) was my favorite today. 

I've been making Christmas trees. The one white is a bit avante-garde, eh? 

It's Christmas Week, people!! I hope you have the MERRIEST week ever!! 

Lori Ann

p.s.- On a strangely serious note-  I can't express how much joy it brings me to spend the holidays with my family. I feel closer to God when I am with them and I hope they know how much I appreciate their love and support. 

Tell Lori that I love her

I've told the story of my name countless times. How my parents didn't decide until I was born, and how they choose my name from a soap opera. 

Today,  for some reason, I was filled with an inexplicable curiosity about exactly WHO I was named after. 

I can't say for 100% sure, but the girl in the big picture on this Soap Opera Digest, she played a character named Lori Brooks, on the Young and the Restless in 1979.

So...there she is. The girl I was named after. 

Now..back to making these!! These are the most fun Christmas crafts I have made in years!!

Lori Ann

And so this is Christmas

I haven't gotten  very much accomplished on my Christmas "to do" list.

Work and life have just taken over, I guess.

But that changes as of tomorrow. 

Tomorrow I am throwing myself full tilt into the Christmas season and having a magical week before Christmas. 

Feliz Navidad, people!!

Lori Ann

Truly Random

I don't dedicate enough blog posts to my various injuries.

I am slightly prone to cuts, burns, etc. My dad would say it's because I don't pay attention to what I am doing. 

This is my latest injury. Pretty sweet, eh?

Anyway, back to reporting on the Christmas magic tomorrow!!

Lori Ann

Beautiful and Strange

I just got back from my weekend at home. Here's what went down...

1. I heard the two most epic talks in LDS church history. For reals.

2. And by "epic" I mean the following things were mentioned: infant sacrifice, the zombying effects of Ritalin, what kind of snow tires to get if you move to Vermont, the importance of trading your pain pill buzz for some excellent Motrin, and how pride is easily swapped for charity.

3. My baby James got baptized! It only took 2 dunkings:) It was not your run of the mill baptism, which was perfect, because James isn't your run of the mill kid. I can't believe he's 8!

4. I attempted my long dreamed of armoir tent at my sisters house. It was unsuccessful. But me, Junior, and 3 of the 4 Monrobie babies still watched Return of the Jedi on blu-ray:)

5. I watched the new fear factor at my parents. My dad always tells me that 'this crap is rotting your brain'. As if watching people eat live scorpions could be anything less than educational:)

It just got real in here. Oh Snap.

Lori Ann

But right from the start

My less blogged about niece and nephew (Erin's babies): Pumpkin and Buster

It's my sister Erin's birthday today!!!

You faithful readers of my blog know what that means..it's blog tribute time!!

Erin is a rescuer.

If she were a Harry Potter character, she would be a Healer.

She saves left behind animals and befriends left behind people.

She brings the fun to our family. When she is home, everything is better.

She is so funny. No one makes me laugh like my sisters.

She is strong and smart and beautiful. And I don't know how I got so lucky as to have her for my sister.

Happy Birthday, Eri.

I hope you have an amazing year.

Lor

I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas Tree

In the interest of full disclosure, and because I know y'all find the minutiae of my daily life unbearably interesting, I present to you...

My annual (well, two years in a row now, anyway)

Christmas To Do List!!

Let's do this thing!

1. See a choir concert

2. Bake cookies for someone

3. Have a fancy dinner, just me!

4. Do something crazy and Christmassy with the kids

5. Watch "A Christmas Story" with my family

6. Drink hot chocolate and watch Love Actually

7. Make a homemade snow globe

8. Complete at least one act of selfless service and do not tell anyone

9. Go the Office Party

10. Possibly host a Festivus Party..if people can make it.

11. Send out Christmas Cards! (I'm going to do it this year, I swear!)

Wish me luck, gente!!

Lori Ann