A Christmas Story by Brent

Every great story starts with a great setting:





Is there anything better than a child's smile at Christmas?...







...or an adult's? This is a "New Moon" tote that Lisa is holding up with cult-like enthusiasm.



Hannah always has a focus. Can you guess what it is in this picture?



Mia is not only putting this puzzle together. She is hypothesizing as to how long it will take her to finish it.



At times it becomes necessary to orient your toys to your lifestyle. Here Charlotte is teaching her new doll about her love of cheese.



Hannah & Mia got "FurReal" animals that make life-like sounds and move their heads and front legs around. Lisa had a hard time interrupting her playtime with them long enough to wrap them.




Hannah is reading so well now. This is her new book "Ladybug Girl, Bumblebee Boy." She gets so excited when she can read a book all by herself. As Hannah realizes the treasures of literacy, Mia searches for treasures of CANDY in other people's stockings.



You talkin' da me? You talkin' da me? You must be. I'm the only baby in pink monkey pajamas in the room.









Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Let Him Drive

Have you ever just watched in awe as pieces of your life fall together more perfectly than you could have ever put them together? Like you're standing on the outside for a minute just watching the Lord work His wonders? I've felt like that a lot lately. I believe that we really have no idea the beauties and blessings the Lord has in store for us if we just let Him work in our hearts, in our lives. Sometimes, though, the process requires us to let go of our tight grip on the steering wheel and let Him take a turn driving. Those few moments when we think no one is at the wheel can be terrifying. But, when we finally find the courage look up at the road ahead, we realize His able hands were there all along, gently coaxing us to let Him steer - gently reminding us that He knows the way when we don't. And, when we just don't find the courage to go His way, He let's us repent, He stands by us as we attempt to change. He let's us try again, and again, and again. He even sent his beloved Son to save us from our own foolish pride. I cannot image a Being any more worthy of our love and worship, and any more capable of showing us the way Home.

A favorite quote:
"Yes, men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace" (Ezra Taft Benson, “Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” Ensign, Dec 1988, 2).

A favorite scripture:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."(Proverbs 3:5-6)

This Christmas season maybe our gift to Him could be to let Him drive.

Merry Christmas Season!!

Hello to all who thought we had fallen off the face of the earth. I took a not-so- brief haiatus from the blogging world, but now wish to rejoin it. We took family pics in August, which I have yet to post, so let's start there:




This is a little sampling. Our friend Jill took these amazing photos. She's so talented. Check out her work at www.daytewdayphotography.blogspot.com.

Veggie Eden

Remember my babies?



And this little garden plot?



Well, my babies have grown...



Behold, our little veggie eden! Our raspberry plants are providing us a little bowlful of sweet raspberries every other day or so. We have a couple hundred green cherry tomatoes just waiting to get red and delicious. We also have a couple yellow tomatoes on the vine. I neglected my yellow tomato seedlings until they were almost dead (I know, BAD parenting). At the last minute I decided to save a few and see if I could revive them and get them to grow. They have just taken off over the past month or so. It is so exciting to watch a garden grow. It's amazing to think these plants (a couple of which are almost as tall as me now) were tiny seeds in my hand just a few month ago! There are little miracles all around us every day. Do we take time to notice?

Our Little Graduate

Hannah graduated from preschool in May. She and her classmates put on an adorable program.


They sang songs and recited their alphabet and number rhymes with all the motions. My favorite song was "Days of the Week" sung to the "Adam's Family" theme song.


Hannah had a blast in preschool and loved the friends she made.



One special friend was the boy she will someday marry (according to her). His name is Conner and he is "so strong."



Congratulations to all the graduates!

I Know, I Know. I'm a Slacker.

OK, so it's been ohhhh 2 months since I've blogged. I'm ready to turn a new leaf. I'm ready for MAJOR catch up...are you? Here we GO!!!!!!

Let me start with a CLASSIC photo of the girls:


Hannah is ready for her close-up, Mia is escaping, and Charlotte is warily taking in all the antics while trying to stay upright. Yep, that pretty much sums up a typical day at the Frosts.

Next, the individual updates:

Charly Pants AKA Twister Sister:

Charlotte is 8 1/2 months old. She is sitting up, army crawling, and getting into everything she can reach. She is the apple of her sisters' eyes. She is the ultimate mommy's girl. This week she started bopping up and down to music. It's SO cute.




She melts our hearts with her love pats and contagious giggles.




Mia Solenner AKA Rascaly Rascal

Mia is 20 months old, but she may as well be 2. She learns new words every day. Among her favorites are "thank you," "I love you," and "bath." She loves Charlotte, shoes, numnums, brushing her teeth (by herself only) and her "Ba" (blanket). She is exercising her "toddler independence" daily by challenging Mom on the rules, running the other way when she is called, and seeing just how far she can push her boundaries. Like I said, typical 2-year-old behavior - it's like seeing Hannah at this age again. She is Hannah's sidekick and friend, especially now that they share a bunk bed. Mia is thrilled to be in the big-girl bottom bunk instead of her crib. And, despite her "terrible 2s" mischief, she is uncommonly sweet and nurturing. Every morning she greets us with the sincerest "Hiii Mama!" "Hiii Dada!" - the sweet tone to her voice is like she hasn't seen us in a long time and she couldn't be happier that the separation is over.





I just had to include this next photo. This is so classic. The more "off limits" something is, the more appealing it is to Mia (hence the reason she tries to play in the toilet whenever she gets the opportunity). Mia is not allowed to run off with my phone and is not supposed to swipe her sister's pacifiers and put them in her mouth. I found her in the entry hallway hiding out with her spoils:



At this point, I just have to laugh.

Hannah Banana Fi Fye Fo Fannah:

Hannah turns 5 on Sunday. She is one month away from kindergarten and can't wait to start! She has her training wheels off of her bike and can ride for a few seconds without any help! She is an amazing big sister - sometimes I am caught off guard by her concern for her sisters. She is very competitive and will excel in sports. She attended dance camp a few hours a day for a week in June and absolutely loved it. Her favorite part was the tumbling. I think we have a future cheer leader on our hands. Hannah continues to amaze me with her insight, her love for the Savior and her love for her family. The other evening just before I left to go to rehearsal she threw her arms around my neck and whispered in my ear, "you are SO important to me." I just about cried.

Once On This Island There Was This Mama Euralie Character...

And she was ME!!!!!!! I got the role of Mama Euralie!!! I am SO excited - like jumping-out-of-my-skin EXCITED!!! We start rehearsing in a little over a week and I get to pick up the script and music this Tuesday. Performances will be August 6-8, 10, and 13-15. I can hardly believe I get to live my dream of performing in a musical this summer! Also, the cast and production/direction crew are all really great people. Our director is so stoked about the show, he is a really high-energy positive person who is coming from a background of children's theatre in the area. I look forward to getting to know everybody and having a blast getting the show ready. I'll keep you posted, and, of course, would LOVE to have everyone come out to see the show!!

Audition Update

I got the call back email last night at 11:30 and....I got called back for 2 awesome roles - Asaka, the Goddess of the Earth and Mama Euralie, the lead character's mother!!! The call backs were this morning. I think they went really well. We got to learn some dances for the call backs - so fun! The show has a Carribean islandy feel and AMAZING music. And now I wait to find out later today if I got one of those roles!! I can't wait to find out! I'll keep you posted!!!

Audition, Anyone??

In an attempt to keep my brain from continuing to deteriorate at an alarming rate and just because it is high time I did something new to develop my musical parts I auditioned for a musical tonight!!!!!!! Lehi City Arts Council is putting on a production of "Once On This Island." Looks like SUCH a fun show and has AWESOME music. I am waiting to receive an email telling me whether or not I will be invited to call backs. I'll keep you posted!

Long Time No Blog

Hello all. Wow it's been over a month since I've added a post. Shame on me! Well, let's get to it then. First, current pics of the girls:

Hannah Our Shining Star



Mia Solenne Our Loving Brainiac



Charlotte Roslyn Our Precious Sweetie



Second, a little update on us. We are loving spring in our new home and getting excited about each little shoot that pops up, each flowering tree branch, each chance we have to enjoy our little backyard "eden." We bought a grill and are officially inviting everyone we know to a BBQ. Oh, and we need some folks to come for the maiden s'moreganza as we use our firepit for the first time. Any takers??

Hannah is starting Kindergarten in 3 months. She recently survived her "K-Day" at the pediatrician where she received 4 shots, 1 finger poke, cookies, a goodie bag, and a challenge from the doctor to learn to like meat this year. We drive past what will be her new school in the fall almost every day and she yells, "There's my new school!" She is a little nervous about this new "big girl" step in her life, but mostly she is so proud to be an almost kindergartener.

Mia passes the time trying to kiss her little sister as much as possible, speed sliding backwards down the stairs, and trying to do what her big sister does. She also loves working in the garden with mom. She gets so excited to see the flowers and the grass and the water. She has such a tender little heart. She surprises me with her mothering and concern for all the members of our family.

Charlotte turns 6 months tomorrow. She tried peas for the first time yesterday and LOVED them. I think she's just happy to have something other than bland rice cereal. She gets a kick out of her older sisters - their antics and cooing at her. Who could ask for more than constant entertainment? We love her smiles.

As for Brent and me, we are just trying to stay awake and enjoy ourselves in the process. It is a challenge to be so tired all the time and still give each other the quality parts of ourselves. But, we love the kids so much and we know these years will go by so fast. So, we are making an effort as a couple to show even more appreciation for each other and enjoy the journey. Plus, along with the fatigue comes so much joy. We marvel each day that we are so blessed.

Totally Tubular!

Yesterday we went tubing at Gorgoza Park in Park City. It was a BLAST!! Hannah, Brent, and I went with our friend Sarah, her friend Johnny, and Sarah's niece and nephew. I told Hannah this was a special "big girl mommy date" day because her sisters were too young to go. It's nice to have special things just for big girls sometimes. Grandma and Doug graciously agreed at the last minute to watch the babies. I am so grateful for them - their friendship, their help with the girls, the way they love them (and Grandpa, I'm so thankful for you, too!). I hope they know how much it means to me to have time to myself/time with just one of the girls. Sometimes Brent and I feel like we don't have the individual time with each of the girls that we would like to have. We hope they know they are individually precious to us and that even with the busy pace of life in our young family, they are certain that they are special.

OK, back to tubing. Holy Cow, what a RUSH! Highly recommend it. Hannah, of course, loved the big runs - the kiddie runs were boring for her. She's our little daredevil. I love how brave she is.





One of the coolest parts of the tubing is riding the lift up the mountain. They just hook your tether to the lift and up you go! If the tubes had been longer, I seriously would have taken micro naps on the way up the mountain every time. Not only was it a comfy ride, but it provided a perfect opportunity for Brent to throw snowballs.






Afterwards we were all tuckered out and went into the cozy yurt to warm up with some hot chocolate.



We will definitely go back next year!