Places you find kids and the things they do.

Rachel was napping in the same room as Gracie. It took awhile, but she finally did fall asleep.


Ryan was teaching the kids how to cross their eyes. Morgan was the only one that picked it up.


Here's Gracie where she finally fell asleep when sharing a room with Rachel.


Here's how Joshua finally fell asleep one night at bedtime.


Here's Joshua trying to climb up on the chair, but his head got stuck instead.

Brittney We Miss You!!!

Brittney was a big help the last few months, watching kids so I could run errands and get kids where they needed to be. The kids have asked a few times where she is and I have to tell them at school. Brittney we miss you.

Time out for Joshua

We are always trying different places for timeout. I tried making them stand in the corner, but they liked putting their noses in the corner. They thought it was funny. The other day, I turned around and Josh was standing in the corner. I guess Jaxen decided he needed a timeout and told him to go to the corner. So he did. Then Jaxen went to another corner and joined him. I couldn't help but smile.

MacPherson Seven 2008

Well, I didn't get a Christmas letter out this year. Mostly, because I wasn't sure what we were going to do about a family picture. Since I didn't get the letter out here is a synopsis of our year.

We had a great year. The kids are older and a little more independent which lets me be a little more active and leave the house for a little while. We are grateful for each other and are so happy to have such great friends and family that live nearby and far away.

Morgan (4): Is our little "Dennis the Menace." If there is trouble she will find it and the others will follow. Jaxen loves to follow her lead, but she doesn't always want him to. Morgan attends preschool 3 times a week in the afternoon and absolutely loves it. She is learning her letters and numbers and now likes to play find that letter/number on her dad's computer. She also takes a dance class one time a week with her good friend Elissa (Nikki, Elissa's mom, helps get Morgan back and forth to dance and preschool, without her I don't know what I would do). She loves to come home and show mom what she has learned. She also tells me if she has been good or not by letting me know if she wants chocolate milk that day.

Jaxen (2): Is our needy boy. He needs to have your food, your toys and your stuff. He loves his dad and wants to be with him as much as possible. He also loves to go "Bye, Bye" if he can, and has an infectious laugh. Jaxen gets the joy of hanging out with mommy (or Brittney) while the others are at their various activities. We must keep him busy at all times, or he can be our "Calvin and Hobbes."

Joshua (2): Is doing so well. He finally started to walk, around his 2nd birthday, and now is able to keep up with his siblings. He has a sweet smile and loves to cuddle and give hugs. Joshua attends a toddler group 2 times a week and physical/occupational therapy 1 time a week to work on issues that come up due to his Cerebral Palsy. He is a hard worker and always does what they ask. He is determined to be able to do what everyone else can do.

Gracie (2): Is our little sweet heart. She is most like her Mommy: Stubborn and Shy. When she is happy she is always talking quietly and smiling. When she's upset, she can scream like no other. We love her anyway. Gracie also attends a toddler group 2 times per week focusing on her speech. They are trying to build her vocabulary and to help her use the appropriate loudness level in given situations. She didn't like it at first, but now loves to play with the other kids.

Rachel (1): My best baby ever, now has found an opinion of her own. She is still content to do her own thing, but will let you know if she wants to do something else. She loves her coat and baby doll and is often seen carrying them both around. She also gets to spend time with me when running errands and taking kids to their various activities. We love her dearly and can't imagine life without her.

Ryan (37): Ryan continues to work at Heinz, Inc. and loves what he does. He is the Continuous Improvement Coordinator and travels slightly more than he used to. While I don't enjoy that part, I know he is providing for our family and the kids are all his when he gets back. He also is the Sunday School President for our church. While this calling is new, he will continue to teach Gospel Doctrine 1 or 2x per month. This is his true love.

Emily (??): I continue to be a stay at home mom, and pick up a weekend shift once or twice a month at the hospital. I love working and this allows me to get out of the house, do something I love and get some adult conversation. I also enjoy watching my brood grow, and now that they are all walking we get out of the house 1x per week to visit Deana's Playhouse (a big play area for kids 1-5 and a break for Mommy). I am also the Secretary in the Young Women's Presidency. I love working with the girls and this calling allows me to also focus on my family's needs at church.

Well, that's us. We hope all of you had a great year. We are continually grateful for all the blessings we have received and work to raise our family strong in the gospel. We love you all and hope you have a great 2009.

The MacPherson Family of Seven.

Morgan's Fourth Birthday

Yes for Morgan Christmas was a three day event this year. After opening gifts on Christmas Eve and Christmas, she got a few more for her birthday. Ryan and I have decided to have an half birthday for her next year to break if up a little bit (Maybe?).

Christmas Eve 2008

Our kids were a little more excited for Christmas this year than last. We also started our own Christmas tradition. Ryan's family open gifts on Christmas eve and mine wait until Christmas. So we made the holiday even longer. We open family and friends gifts on Christmas even, then Santa brings them one gift (the biggest and best) and stuffs their stockings to be opened on Christmas. This year Gotchall's came over to celebrate Christmas eve with us. We had Pan de Jamon and potatoe soup for dinner then the kids opened their gifts. Gracie was the funnest to watch open her gifts because she was excited even when she didn't know what it was.

The other kids had a great time too. They all got something that they wanted. Rachel wasn't sure what to do, so she just walked around and watched the others while they opened her gifts as well.

Snow Day

Okay, so it's a snow day today. This has it's plus side and it's negative side.

Plus:

1. We don't have to dress everyone up, put them in the car, drive in the snow and get them inside the church building.
2. Stuff that we were supposed to get done, but didn't because we were sick this week, can be put off for another day.
3. I can go into work earlier then planned today.
4. Naps will be taken at the right time.

Negative:

1. We are stuck inside another day, which makes number 5, due to illness and snow days this week.
2. We are all stuck inside, are grumpy and getting on each others nerves.
3. We are all stuck inside and making my house a mess.
4. We are all stuck inside. Do you get the point?

We love all you guys. Hope you have a great Sunday and may the Spirit be with you.
(Gotta love watching all the starwars movies because we aren't doing anything better on our day off with our time.)