Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Now you know...





So this is what happens when you leave your Christmas decoration tupperwares on the back porch all month and one of them has a crack in the lid. It's the biggest ice cube ever- and so pretty with all the little extra frozen ornaments stuck inside. Fortunately they were mostly going to the DI anyway. But now you know, in case you were wondering!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas



We had a great Christmas! It was beautiful, white and spent with our wonderful families and lots of delicious food! We were all spoiled and the kids have been having fun with all their new things! It always takes a while to recover though, doesn't it? Our house looked like a tornado in every room the day after Christmas and we stayed in our PJ's ALL day long! I don't think we've eaten many "real" meals in the past week- just lots and lots of chocolate and goodies. I really do love Christmas, but right about now I am sooo ready to put it all away and get back to schedules and all that. Can't I send my kids back to school yet? Oh well. Hope everyone has a Happy New Year!



Landon and his King Aurthur Mega Bloks that has approximately 10,000 pieces that took about 4 hours to put together! (I couldn't get the picture in the right spot)
















Daniel got a ripstick but hasn't tested it out yet because of all the snow!
















Emma loved her Fancy Nancy and Tini Puppini. The mark on her face is a bruise from my hope chest. Ouch!
















Kate was as darling as could be on Christmas Eve- and smiling at Grandma McAllister.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Moments of Peace

Today while the boys were at school, Emma went to a friends house for a few hours and I was home with Kate. While she napped I tried to throw in a couple loads of laundry, make the beds and write a shopping list, all the while going over the many other things I needed to be doing and get done before Christmas. She woke up and I fed her on the couch in the front room. When she was done she fell into a deep slumber and just nestled right into my chest as I held her. For a minute I thought of laying her down, but then I decided to enjoy the moment instead. It was snowing heavily outside and the house was completely silent (which rarely happens). My eyes filled with tears as I snuggled with my sweet, precious baby, grateful to be in my warm, happy, quiet home and just sit in peace for a few moments. I thought of nothing else for those moments except for me and Kate. It might sound silly, but it was the best part of my day. Sometimes a little peace is priceless. Soon after, the house filled with sounds of the other kids and friends and TV and the piano. The counter filled with papers from school, presents from friends, goodies and pictures. The floor filled with snow pants, hats, coats, boots and gloves. The evening filled with whining, begging for sleep overs, finding something to eat and many attempts to fall asleep. And now it is late and I am tired, the house is mostly in disarray and Kate is crying upstairs. Thank heaven for that precious moment of peace!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Funny, Funny Mother

Having a new baby and trying to do all the Christmas "stuff" is proving to be a little more stressful than normal. This makes me laugh and is such a true to life illustration of the effort us, as mothers, put into making Christmas happen.

See Mother. See Mother laugh. Mother is happy.
It is the day after Thanksgiving. Mother is happy about Christmas.
Mother has many plans. Mother has many plans for Christmas.
Mother is organized. Mother smiles all the time.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother smile. Mother is happy.
The shopping is all finished. See the children watch TV.
Watch, children, watch.
See the children change their minds.
See them ask Santa for different toys.
Look, look, Mother is not smiling.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother sew.
Mother will make dresses. Mother will make robes.
Mother will make shirts. Look, Mother put the zipper in backwards.
See Mother sew dresses on the wrong side.
See Mother cut the dresses too short.
See Mother put the material away until January.
Look, look, see Mother take a tranquilizer.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother buy raisins and coconut.
See Mother buy candied pineapple and powdered sugar
and bananas and spices and vanilla.
Look, look, Mother is mixing everything together.
See the children press out cookies. See the flour on their elbows.
See the cookies burn. See the cake fall over.
See the children with taffy. See Mother pull her hair.
See Mother clean the kitchen with the garden hose.
Funny, funny Mother.
See Mother. See Mother wrap presents. See Mother look for the end
Of the scotch tape roll. See Mother bite her fingernails.
See Mother go. See Mother go to the store 12 times in one day.
Go, Mother, go. See Mother go faster. Run, Mother, Run.
See Mother trim the tree. See Mother have a party. See Mother make popcorn.
See Mother scrub the rug. See Mother tear up the organized plan.
See Mother forget the gift for Uncle Harold. See Mother get the hives.
Mother is disorganized. Mother is disoriented.
Funny, funny Mother.
It is finally Christmas morning. See the happy family.
See Father smile. Father is happy. Smile, Father, smile.
Father loves the fruit cake. Father loves the Christmas pudding. Father is
Happy the neighbors gave him some for Christmas. Father loves the neckties.
Look, look, see the happy children. The children will remember this Christmas.
See Mother. Mother is slumped in a chair. Mother is crying uncontrollably.
Mother does not look well. Mother had ugly dark circles under her eyes.
Everyone will help Mother to bed. Mother sleeps quietly under sedation.
See Mother smile.
Funny, funny Mother.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Harry Potter, how I love thee!



I just finished the whole Harry Potter series yesterday! I have to say, I never imagined that I would really get into it, but oh, how I have loved every minute. Landon brought home the first book a couple of years ago and wanted to read it. I had kindof watched the movies and kindof liked them. Well, I started reading the books to my boys every night (only about 20 minutes a night, which is why it has taken so long) and really started getting into it. And for the past two years it has just been a part of our bedtime routine. I have looked forward to it every night and have had to force myself to stop reading when the boys fall asleep. They have loved it as well. I'm a bit obsessed now. We have all the movies and I love them. When we started "The Deathly Hallows" (Book 7) I just couldn't wait to finish it and had to read on ahead of the boys. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book and I love all things Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling is really brilliant. I almost started crying as I finished the book last night. Not because of the ending, but because it is the end. I am done with all the books and now what? I feel like I just lost a friend or something. I still have to finish book 7 with the boys, but I already know what happens! And I can hardly wait to see the movie "The Half Blood Prince". I also just read that they have decided to split the 7th movie into TWO movies! (kindof like splitting your soul into horcruxes?!) Aaaah! I just can't wait for all this. Anyway, Thank you Harry Potter for all the good times. I will miss you. I think my next reading adventure will be Twilight. Although, I am pretty sure the Harry Potter series will remain my favorite with a special place in my heart.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Speaking of Christmas music...

I am a huge lover of Christmas music and can't wait each year to pull out all my Christmas piano music and play my favorites over and over again. However, I was disappointed in all the radio stations beginning their constant Christmas music the first of November. C'mon people! And it seems this year more than others (or maybe I just notice it more) that there is a whole lot of ugly Christmas music out there. Honestly, I heard "Hark! The Heral Angels Sing" today, sung by Niel Diamond, a pipe organ, and what sounded like our ward choir. I really detested it. So here are some that I really just cannot stand to listen to:
Neil Diamond- Specifically for the terrible song I heard today.
Amy Grant- I like her songs but hate her voice.
Gloria Estefan- Her Christmas songs just don't do it for me.
Most other singers that have made a Christmas CD because its the thing to do and they want to make money, but they really are nothing original, meaningful, or special. Its just noise.

On the other hand, there is plenty of Christmas music that makes me so happy to hear and really brings out the Christmas Spirit in me.
The Carpenters- You just can't go wrong with the Carpenters.
Bing Crosby- How can you not love him? Which reminds me, I need to watch "White Christmas" ASAP. It's one of my all time favorite shows.
Frank Sinatra- It's Frank!
Harry Connick Jr.- Love him!
Manheim Steamroller- It reminds me of when I was 12 and first heard them and loved it.
Voice Male- of course!
Any songs from Christmas Classic movies, like The Grinch, Rudolf and Frosty- all OK by me!

I'd love to know what songs and/or singers ya'll really love or really hate!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Traditions

So Richard was gone this weekend, but the kids and I still had a good time. Well, as good a time as we could have cleaning the house and trying keep busy enough to stay happy and not fight amongst ourselves. We made our favorite Christmas chocolate pretzels, watched the movie "Elf" (I forgot how funny that movie is)made countless picture, sticker, pipe cleaner and play-dough creations. We went to the Hague family Christmas party on Saturday night (of course I forgot my camera). Sunday night we had a progressive dinner, which has become a fun tradition. We celebrated my dads birthday (which is today) and got to see everyones fun Christmas decorations! We started at our house with appetizers consisting of bacon wrapped water chestnuts, Li'l Smokies in BBQ sauce, Denae's yummy dip with sourdough bread, grapes and chocolate pretzels. I love appetizers. Then on to Dave and Michelles for lasagna and salad. We finished off the night at my Mom and Dads for hot fudge pudding cake and vanilla ice cream. Lots of yummy food- I really like that tradition! I have just a few things to say about my darling kids.
LANDON- He is such a big helper! It is sooo nice to have a kid who just does everything he should. I rarely have to ask him to do his jobs and he quickly does anything I ask of him. In the car he always helps the other kids buckle in and puts Kates binky in her mouth. I really appreciate him- he's such a good boy!
DANIEL- (more Danielisms) So he peed his pants at a birthday party the other day and thought it was hilarious. He said he was just sooo excited about the pinata he couldn't stand it and he just peed. He wasn't at all embarrassed. He just thought it was funny. He also has decided to use the word "ain't" in his vocabulary, specifically because we told him it's not really a word. Only he uses it in place of "don't" instead of "isn't". So when asked a question, he'll respond, "I ain't know!" And, my personal favorite, he made a turkey for Thanksgiving at school and drew a mullet for his hair and wrote the turkeys name across the front: Chuck Norris (all because of you, Mike Bearden). He provides us with many laughs.
EMMA- She is my buddy. She and I paint eachothers nails when we don't have anything else to do. When Kate is awake Emma loves to hold her, rock her, burp her and lately wants to hold her standing up. She thinks she's so grown up. She loves preschool and sings and dances around the house all day. She is a joy.
KATELYN- I just can't kiss that little girl enough! She has started to smile at us and there is just nothing else like the sweet smile of a baby! She is doing well except for a fussy getting to bed routine every night that seems to be getting later and later. She is growing and getting nice and round! I do love squishy babies. She is a sweet, precious girl and she is smothered in love!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Love this!

Okay Jill, after seeing your awesome family dance number we just had to do one of our own! Thanks for the fun idea!
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/gSblmGwhYBq2OJNKE9F2