Fun Video of my kiddos

Wonderful Christmas Moments

Dad and Cole made a Christmas snowman.

Isabel, Elizabeth, Taylor and Ruthie, all American Girls

It's hard to get a picture of this one, he is always on the go

The Sparkly Pink Purse, later I was told it was the wrong one.....a Santa oops

Becoming my father

An interesting thing happened this Christmas Eve. I remember several "Eve" parties at my uncle Chris' home, in fact, I have tried to duplicate this same tradition. It was always a highlight of Christmas to gather as friends and family at their home. Without fail (at least in my memory) my dad would disappear and I would find him in some back bedroom holding a sleeping baby and rocking and singing or humming a little tune. I thought it strange to find him like that, don't know why, but it seemed out of character. Well, tonight an infant was at my home and it wasn't long before I had little Spencer and held him for awhile, then he went to sleep on me. Naturally, I went to a quiet corner, sat in a rocking chair, and sang and hummed to this little one for a bit. After a few minutes, the thought that I had unintentionally duplicated my dads actions on the same night, a tradition if you will, came to my head. It was a wonderful moment filled with love and memories. Thank you Spencer and thank you dad. I love and miss you. Be careful!

Do you babysit?

OK, the snow is awesome and I love it, and I hope it keeps coming!

HOWEVER!

Buses can put chains on and if not, I'll volunteer my husband to shuttle kids up the hill to school. I'm guessing most mothers would put their kids in a sled and pull them uphill (both ways if necessary) to get them to school. School is good, kids need this institution, if only to keep them in good standing with their mothers. It keeps the peace and harmony. We say Peace on Earth every Christmas Season but that only works if the kids can stay on the "good list." Let's face it, absence makes the heart grow fonder!

I mustn't complain too much. My kids have been remarkably good. Our biggest drama has been putting on all the snow gear to go out for 5-minutes then drive me nuts complaining they want to come in cuz it's too cold. Plus, dads been home a lot and he just doesn't understand that wearing tights under a short skirt in the sub-zero temperatures is considered dressing for the weather. Made perfect sense to me, but was a little dramatic where the head-o-household is concerned.

Well it's been three snow days now-will they make it FOUR?

S-N-O-W D-A-Y

Our Winter Wonderland Sunday......And it's still snowing! Church was cancelled and Isabel's concert tonight, we're 90% sure school will be tomorrow and I'm guessing Tuesday as well, unless we get some serious warm weather. The world pretty much shuts down when it snows here. It's too funny being from Utah, and I remember the one-day school was cancelled due to something like 4-feet of snow overnight. No freezing rain yet, but the night is still young.

We had a ton of fun outside this morning, we were out before breakfast, then the kids were back inside before mom got her snow pants on. "It's so cold" "Boo-hoo"

Dad got to play Hero!

He loves it! The first call came about 8:30 "I'm stuck, can you get me up the hill?" Ryan was out the door 2-minutes later, giddy as a school boy. It makes me smile to watch him go.

Christmas is Coming...La la la la la

The SEASON is upon us and all its Tra-la-la-ing along with it! We even have snow flurries as I write, what fun. Don't forget our annual Christmas Eve Bru-ha-ha. Come and go as you please, but please come. We'll start around 6-o'clock and go until you leave. Bring something if you want, if not, I always have Cocktail Weenies and Diet Coke. And this year I'm making Pumpkin Cake, different than Pie and SOOOO much better. I ate an entire one over Thanksgiving. Note, my over-sized calves in the picture above. Be safe, everyone this Christmas Season, LOVE!

Twilight vs. The BCS

This entry (and blinkies) is dedicated to all my Twilight girls that have joined me on my journey into Vampire land. It's been a fun journey hasn't it? And to those who may be judging, don't lie, I know you're out there and I know who you are (watch it, I may sneak into your room at night), give me a break. Exactly how many hours did you and or your husband spend listening to the constant rants of the commentators this weekend continuously droning on about the BCS standings? Just consider Edward, ok and Jacob, numbers 1 and 2 in any and all rankings and know that they could twist the necks of all those stupid Heisman hopefulls. Plus, I've heard you burn more calories reading than watching TV, so I win and the BCS (BeCause we are Stupid) football fans lose!

Can you even define "Nocturnal"

I even looked the word up to make sure it didn't have some sneaky letter in it.
So........
After an hour of re-putting and sending little missy back to bed, I was a bit exasperated, (we go through this every night) and I say

"Girl, you have got to learn how to go to bed"

and she replies, without missing a beat

"Mom, I'm nocturnal now, I sleep in the day so I can stay up all night!"
I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard, and I'm not sure, exactly, what I was laughing at. It may have been sheer exasperation or the fact that 6-year-old Isabel used "nocturnal" in such a complete and logical way. However, this does worry me for the teenage years!
I love you Missy!

Ode to Mothers

I was watching The View today and they were discussing President Elect Barack Obama's moving into the White House and should the First Lady Elects mother move-in to help take care of the girls or not. At least I think that's the gist of the discussion, I myself was "mothering" at the time. The red-headed gal, (sorry gal, I'm not a regular enough to know your name) made this comment or something to the effect. "They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I say it takes your mother!"

So! Here's to my mother. Thank you for being my village! You listen to my complaints, my tears, my laughter, my issues (yes I do have them), and all my woes. You listen to any little thing I may want to share about my children, even their interesting poops, and you do it all because I know you love me. My hope in life is to be the same person to my children.

Thanks mom!

Girls............call your mom, and if you're not blessed to still have her, give a shout out.

She's listening!

Halloween Night

What a great Halloween night! Dad took the girls out and mom and Cole sat on the front porch eating candy. When there are not many trick-or-treaters, by law, the person handing out candy is required to eat the candy. The girls made out great with a super stash for mom and dad to pilfer from. We happen to know Isabel got 41 pieces of candy. How do we know that? Well, now-a-days, on Halloween, you get homework. This is the second year in a row, candy homework has been assigned. One must sort, count, and then pattern their candy. This seems blasphemous to me. Not that I didn't do it as a kid, but on assignment? That takes all the fun out of sorting, counting and patterning your candy.

Tinker Bell, Rosetta and Peter Pan

As you can see Disney had quite the effect on us this year. To be specific the "Disney Fairies" got to us. We love them! No longer is it just Tinkerbell, now it's an entire world to explore. Rosetta is a Garden Talent Fairy and Tink is a Pots and Pans Talent Fairy. And, NO, Cole is not Robin Hood! Keep up people. Peter Pan, Duh!

Now, if you ask me, Isabel is actually a Cuddle Talent Fairy and Taylor is an Organizing Talent Fairy, but they wouldn't go for that. Isabel maybe, but Taylor is not thrilled with what her mother sees as her talent. Would you be? We're not sure on Cole's talent yet, but for now we'll lovingly refer to him as the Disaster-Making Talent Sparrow Man, (boys are not fairies!)

My Dad's Cooler Than Your Dad

Really! What could be more fun? Dad had the keys to Don's Backhoe and we rearranged the job site! Then we chased mom with the Backhoe and now her knee is a pretty purple color!

Who are mine?

I have three angels and one overgrown man-angel. Can't believe little ol' me is so blessed!

Taylor and Isabel

Poor guy, he just doesn't have a chance!
We won the kayak race then a parrot tried to eat my earing, I think Ry was in on it!
And "the boy," Cole, makes us all smile

Who am I?

So this is me. Some friends talked me into this and I love how I look like I am genuinely having fun. Hmmmmmmmm. The best part was wearing the clothes. That jacket you can't see draped over my arm, over a thousand dollars. We won't even discuss the dress. But I got to dress up, have my make-up done (swell up the next day due to make-up allergies) and wear heals without a child on my hip like at church.

The First

Well, OK, everyone else is doing it, so I can to. Right? Don't tell my kids that was my justification. It's all independent thinking here at our household. Luckily the rules don't apply to mom.