The Christmas Analysis

Yesterday I finally did it: the pile test. I set Abby's Christmas presents in one little pile and Katie's in another to see if they were even. And I came to some conclusions:

1. My girls are toddlers. It's not like they're going to notice! (Abby will be totally caught up in her toys, and Katie will be busy munching on the wrapping paper.)

2. I've actually done a pretty darn good job of making it even and of not going too overboard on gifts, despite all my stressing. (Phew!)

3. This is one of those MANY parenting moments when I wonder, How did my parents ever pull this off with 8 kids? They're amazing!

Pizza, anyone?

Maybe the saying is true that parenting erodes your brain cells. The other night we ordered a Papa Murphy's pizza. I confidently told Luke, "I know where Papa Murphy's is! I pass it almost every day." Then I drove straight to . . . Papa John's. I called Luke to get the Papa Murphy's address, and as I drove there, I realized something: Papa Murphy's is three doors down from Great Harvest, where I go all the time. And not only do I go there all the time, but I had gone there that morning. In fact, while Abby and I were eating our cookies, I had looked out the window and watched a lady coming out of Papa Murphy's pizza. She had two small children with her, so the Papa Murphy's employee was following her, carrying her pizza. I thought, That is so nice! I hope they will do that for me if I ever go to Papa Murphy's. What happened to that brain wave over the next eight hours? I'll never know. But this I do know: those little munchkins are sure worth it, even if they do lower your IQ a few points each year.

Manito Park Conservatory

OK, now that I'm catching up on blogging, hopefully I'm not going overboard! But when Luke's sister, Lara, visited us from California in November, we went to the conservatory at nearby Manito Park and got some pictures with the beautiful plants and flowers. Although it was cold and rainy outside, it was warm and blooming inside this greenhouse!

Max the Bear

Here is Abby with "Max the Bear," who lives at the hospital and always has a fun collection of books in his basket. While Luke has been working 24-hour shifts every third day on his O.B. rotation, our little family tradition has been going to eat lunch or dinner with him in the cafeteria, then going upstairs to read books with Max. Abby loves it! She's quite a bookworm anyway, which I hope will continue!

There's Christmas in the Air!

Christmas is definitely in the air at the Linscott home! Here are Abby and Katie festively dressed to match, with our HUGE tree in the background! (Seeing the havoc that Katie wreaks every hour with this little tree, I scarcely dare to think what would happen with a full-size one!) And here I am with Abby, proudly displaying our delicious gingerbread house.

My friend Brooke recently described herself as being M.I.A. from the blogging world for a few weeks, but she had computer problems to blame . . . I don't know what my excuse is! Life with two little munchkins, I guess. But since I last posted, some highlights have been: a fun visit from Luke's sister, Lara; a memorable Thanksgiving dinner in the hospital cafeteria; visiting our stake's "creche exhibit," with 600 nativity sets on display; Abby's complete fascination with Christmas; and Katie's new tricks: waving, throwing things in the toilet, and spitting out anything that comes to her on a spoon from a little glass jar.

In a nutshell, life is good!