We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. - Walt Disney

The more you like yourself, the less you are unlike anyone else, which makes you unique. - Walt Disney

At the close of this year and also decade, I can't stop thinking about where my life has gone. 10 years ago I was 19 and no where near the person I wanted to be. I was learning.



Now at 29, I'm the wife I wanted to become, a mom (wasn't too sure about that one at 19) and much more confident. No where near where I should be. But with each passing year I feel myself becoming more secure in my own skin. I'm able to stand up for myself (more), take care of myself and family more, do an accomplish things that I didn't think I ever could. It's kind of an empowering feeling.



There it is, my quote for the year, "Keep moving forward!" Bring on 2010!

A Merry Little Christmas

Actually, the only thing little about our Christmas was Tommy... Everyone in the McIntosh home was BEYOND spoiled... there are no words to describe it. I'm still in a state of shock. I'll let you know more later.

(yeah I know.... he's ridiculously adorable!)

I've just had two amazing days filled with family I adore, 3 amazing kids, a sweet husband and gratitude for the Saviour. I'm blessed beyond measure. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Well done!

Well done thou good and faithful servant!

It's a really exciting day for us! My nephew Nate should be walking through customs at LAX anytime now. He's just completed his 2-year full time mission for the church. He served in Sapporo Japan, a dream come true for him.
I'm so proud!!!

5 years ago today...

5 years ago today the love of my life and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Redlands California Temple. It was the happiest day of my life, I'm so happy to be his wife and I told him this morning, I feel it's the day my life truly began.
To celebrate, he's working (last day of the program before break and he couldn't get out of it) and everyone else has an awesome cold. Just got everyone back to sleep... nice.
BUT, we are going out to dinner at an AMAAAAAAAZING place.

2 months

My baby is two months old already.

He makes me this happy... He makes cute faces all the time...

He wonders what the heck his sisters are doing...

"They did what?!!!"

He hates the flash on the camera.

He always smiles at me (yes me, his mommy, his absolute favorite person ever!)

We spend a lot of time together.

With a face this cute, how could you not?

Tommy is now 23 1/2 inches and 11 lbs 4 oz. He is truly a dream baby. So low maintenance, happy, cuddly, adorable and if you haven't noticed I'm completely wrapped around his little finger!

'O Holy Night

For the last 2 months, I have been going down to Redlands on Sunday nights to practice in a choir with my mom. This was a tradition we always did as a family. My dad LOOOOOVED to sing and so does my mom. I just love music. (I don't sing well, at all, and I don't pretend to either) I believe music can provoke feeling and emotions for the good (or the bad) and bring people together. Anyway, this choir has not met for 5 years, so I was excited that they started it back up. We are performing some beautiful carols/hymns... and some weird ones. Our director is very eclectic. There is one that only women sing, it's called 'Lullaby'. It's from Mary's point of view, wondering if she will ever be able to give her Son enough. All she has to give is love and her song. It's beautiful.

Another one that I love is called 'Baby, What You Going to Be?'... I love standing in the middle of this large group of people singing this song. It's a 4 part song, and there is this beautiful build up, and you just get chills. But the song that always moves me the most is 'O Holy Night.' I have yet to make it through it with out crying. We are performing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir version, so there is a soloist backed by us. The words of this song are beautiful. They are powerful. They are so touching. They are the truth.

The words and lyrics to 'O Holy Night' were written by Placide Coppeau de Roquemaure, a wine seller, in 1847. Coppaeu was asked by a local Parrish Priest to write a poem for Christmas. He obliged and wrote the beautiful words. When his poem was finished, he realized his words had become a masterpiece and they needed music to accompany them. He took his words to his friend and composer, Adolphe Charles Adams. And together they created the most beautiful carol/hymn.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,

it is the night of the dear Saviors birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices.

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices.

O night divine, O night when Christ was born!

O night, Oh holy night, O night divine.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,

with glowing hearts by his cradle we stand;

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming

here came the wise men from Orient land.

The king of kings lay thus in lowly manger,

in all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger.

Behold your King, before Him lowly bend.

Behold your King, before Him lowly bend.

Truly he taught us to love one another,

His law is love, and his gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother.

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we.

Let all within us praise His holy name;

Christ is the Lord.

Oh praise His name forever.

His power and glory ever more proclaim.

His power and glory ever more proclaim.

If you are free next Sunday, at 7pm we'll be at the Redlands Stake Center.

Enjoy the beauty of this season. I sure am.

It's begining to look alot like Christmas!

For FHE we made peppermint hot chocolate. Sophie hated it, Lia wasn't sure at first, but eventually loved it! Oh yeah, she kind of had the flu.

My happy girl.

Billy thinks I'm the decoration Nazi... and I am. We have so many beautiful things and I want them all to be shown. And I have to make sure little girls can't get to certain things, like this:

Lia helped me put the snowflakes in the garland.

(Funny story, I hate most garland. It has to be full and lit a certain way, so I make my own. I wind 3 strands of garland together the wrap 100 lights around it. It's beautiful!)

My very talented friend made this ornament for me, it's a domino and pictures could never do it justice.

I finally have a big enough tree to hang my (large) collection of Mark Roberts fairies on.

And our newest tradition, the family tree! Here is the tree everyone can decorate and have mis matched/ hodge podge ornaments, colored lights, whatever they want... heck we can even get those ugly icicle things, I don't care. The girls love it and it is nice having the smell of a real tree in our home.

The girls made these ornaments with their grandma's on Thanksgiving. They had so much fun doing it. And Matt and Melissa came over for a second family night and we made popcorn and cranberry chains to hang. Although Dewey and Sapphire thought it was a late night snack... dumb dogs.

Lia, Melissa and Judelliott made "real" popcorn, on the stove, in a whirly pop... the girls had no idea that you could do it that way. When we told them it was ready they both went running to the microwave.

BTW- popcorn tastes MUCH better when you don't microwave it.

We are taking the time to enjoy everything this season has to offer. Like 3 years olds who love to decorate!

Sophie joined us for a little while. Poor girl, has not felt good all week.

I was so bummed to miss the First Presidencies Christmas Devotional, it's usually when I think the Christmas Season
becomes official. So I have an idea, my family is going to LOOOOOVE me for it, but it's a surprise.

I hope everyone has a wonderful, fun and spirit filled holiday season!

Santa grocery shops in town!

Today I went to Wal Mart to pick up the new Harry Potter movie and I decided to pick up a few more things while I was there. Everytime we go Lia has me walk by the iPods so she can show my the pretty hot pink one she's just dying to have! And as she turned around something caught her eye. So I turned to see what the big deal was... it was Santa and Mrs. Claus. He was scootin' right by us, she smiled and waved at him (he did the same) and said "Mommy, it's him" and Mrs. Claus told Santa "Honey, you need to turn around and talk to her." So he turned his electric scooter around and came over to her, told her Merry Christmas, asked her what she wanted (the pink iPod of course and a pink my little pony) and he promised her that if she was good, he'd bring it to her. She shook his hand, he smiled and winked at her and he went on his merry way.

I just want to thank this sweet man who looks just like Santa, with the kindest face, the best beard and the prettiest Santa hat I've ever seen who goes around making every child smile. Seeing my baby girl smile like that was the best present I could receive this Christmas!

I just love this time of year!!!

The Season to Celebrate!

I'm not sure how to even begin to put into words how I feel right now. I keep telling people "My cup runneth over!" I am overcome with gratitude. Gratitude, for my Savior, my husband, my sweet girls, my wonderful son, our extended families, our home, our lot in life and the Gospel.
Today Billy blessed Tommy, and it was amazing. I'm so grateful for the preparation he puts into this. He always gives the sweetest blessings and I am grateful to have the Priesthood in our home.
I'm grateful for this wonderful CHRISTmas season. I was telling Billy that it is so nice to be celebrating the birth of a baby boy during Christmas. During my late nights with Tommy I think about Mary, and what must have been going through her mind. I'm so fortunate to experience being a mother. To hold these beautiful babies, to love and to teach them. It's truly an amazing thing.
In our ward we've had a total baby frenzy over the last few months, I'm not sure what the count is, but it's alot. So there have been many blessings, and sometimes there are quite a few that go on in one day. When we told the Bishop when we wanted to bless Tommy, he told us that there would probably be 5 babies blessed that day. But when we got to church today, it was only one other baby. It was our good friends. And I was so happy we could share this day together. The dad and I grew up together, in fact he's the person in the ward I've known the longest. We met during Middle School, then to High School, hung out for a few years, lived in the same apartment complex, got married about a year apart then ended up here. And it warmed my heart to think about how far we'd come and now our boys could experience the same thing.
It's just been a wonderful day. It was a great way to start this special time of year. And a special thanks to all of those who came, it was perfect!

Here is his cute little outfit.

Tommy and Julie.

Baby J and Jenn.

All of the excitement wore my girls out!!!

How cute is this?!!!

My beautiful sisters. I wish I could tell you how special our bond is, but there are no words... we're just sisters!

She came all the way from Utah, thanks Tam!!

And she brought my Aunt from Utah also. What a great day!!!

the MAGIC is back!

I was telling my mom a few weeks ago how much I missed Disneyland during the holidays. She was sweet enough to invite us (as our gift) to go for the day. We had a TOTAL blast. For those of you who know how funny Sophie is, you cannot even imagine how much fun she was yesterday. When she saw the castle and recognized it from her movies, she smiled a smile I have never seen and kept saying "Look mommy, look, magic castle!" and when Minnie kissed her... Oh my gosh, the most adorable thing ever!
Another favorite of the girls... Dumbo. My mom said this was her favorite moment of the day!
Tommy and I at our first Jedi Training together!

People kept asking where they could buy one of these... And here we are.
Today I am suffering from a HUGE DL-Hangover... poor mom and Billy for having to leave for work. The girls are already down for a nap and I'm blogging and making a list of things that won't get done today. Which is not good because I'm going to have a house full this weekend for Tommy's blessing!!!

We missed you!!!

Ok, Ok, I just have to share!

So I was trying to keep these a surprise, but I can't. Melissa did an amazing job, I could never thank her enough, these are exactly what I wanted.

Enjoy our kids:

I think this is the sweetest shot. And it looks great hanging on my wall.

This was my dads hat. I love his little foot wrapped around it.

I absolutely adore this one.

This is the announcement picture (that have not been sent out), aside from the gorgeous baby, isn't that a fine looking thumb?!

"why, helloooooooooo Tommy!"

Our cheeseball!

Just perfect!

Thanks again Melissa, I love them!!!!