Merry Stinkin' Christmas...

Oh, I really do love the holidays, in fact I leave the lights to our Christmas tree on 24 hours a day until the tree is so dead it has to be drug out because it is sagging to the floor and the ornaments can't stay on...

HOWEVER the title to this post IS fitting for this Christmas...

Every Christmas Eve we all open one present which is...SURPRISE...Christmas jammies, we all change into them, and then go over to Brian's Parents for games and Pizza.  Once we are done there we are off to see Christmas lights, and then home to wrap for hours because we are NEVER ready....

THIS year...we actually had all of the kids stuff wrapped early, so we thought to ourselves...what will we do Christmas Eve after we get home....??

Well, I had read a story for a lesson in church which brought meaning to all of the material things of christmas...like the tree, lights, presents, etc....so this year, we all sat around the tree, and started our first year of interacting this story.  If I knew how to put it on here...I would, because I really love it!!  We had gotten home pretty darn late, so the kids didn't get to bed until after 11PM.    We couldn't work on Stocking stuff until we knew for sure they were sleeping, so Brian and I worked on our presents for each other.  Mine happened to be at the neighbor's house, so I called over there and he helped me lug the thing in so I could wrap it...all the while Brian had to hide out and keep watch of any potentially wandering children. 

Once I finished, Brian had to wrap mine, and I decided to go ahead and get all the stockings ready...NEEDLESS TO SAY...by the time we went to bed...it was 2AM anyways...UGH....So much for the "what will we do when we get home" theory...

Our children are SOOOO patient on Chistmas.  We tell them that when EVERYONE is up, we will go see if Santa came.  We finally decided to get Blazer going at around 9:30...  The kids were just so cute Christmas morning...as always...!!

Sitting in front of the tree...taking it all in and waiting for that first present...

I think this is the FIRST year that both Brian and I had NO IDEA what each other was getting...so it was really fun to watch each other open our presents...

BAND HERO!!!! 

This is something that I really wanted, but NEVER expected.  He had secretly been saving money for it...WOW!!!

A TOILET!!!

Okay, I can explain...First of all see how his face goes from silly to SHEER HAPPINESS??  hahaha!!  He is the hardest darn guy to shop for.  Every time I ask him what he wants....I get an "I dont know"...THANKS...well, when you don't know...YOU GET A TOILET!!!  No really, he is always cursing our hubble home toilets, because even the kids clog them half the time...he had even made a comment at one point that he just wanted to get all new toilets....I guess he didn't realize I was listening...!!!

This must be his "practicing" face...ew babe...

We had planned a Christmas breakfast with our Friends/Family next door.  It was SUPER yummy....Just when we were finishing up eating...Christmas Round 2 began.  Brian's parents came with gifts galore...

Just when we thought Christmas was going to be "wrapped" up...(yes, I do know how hilarious I am) my dad came with presents in hand...!!  We sure have lucky kids!!!! 

After all was said and done...it really wasn't...we had planned a Christmas dinner with the same neighbors/family next door, and their brother's family.  We cooked ham, fruit salad, green salad, and they all brought food, and we all ate and were SO FULL!!  I wish I had taken pictures...it was such a nice dinner!!

Once we got the kids to bed...the Petersons (aka neighbors/family) came over so that we could try out my AWESOMELY FUN Christmas present....

It really was a great "stinkin" Christmas!!!

A moment in time...

It happened...My son turned 8!!  I really never thought the day would come...I lived in a dilusional fantasy world I guess...cause those events were just things that "would happen someday"  but not REALLY...!!  I guess I panick because I feel like before I know it he will be going off on a mission...can't time slow down...just a little??

We had a really great week.  Carter had so many people that were supporting him.  His cousins and grandparents even came all the way up from AZ to witness this awesome occation.  It was almost like Christmas before Christmas having family around so much!

The day of his baptism was full of family, preparation, and happiness.  I wasn't so happy that I was called the night before to give a talk...I have a great fear of getting up in front of the masses and sharing "wisdom."  Ask me to get up and dance or make a fool of myself...I AM ON IT...but say something "meaningful" or "smart"...sigh...I regret to say that I am not a professional!!  Well, with the help of some prayers and my sister, I was able to come up with one, and I was surprised that standing up there in front of my son and husband all dressed in white...I didn't lose it.  Then I sat down, and the beautiful viola music started.  I was overwhelmed with joy and the spirit, and I was so proud of my son in that moment.  He REALLY understood the choice he was making.  He knew more than I did as a child...It was such a surreal moment in time to see him be baptized by my husband...one that I hope is engrained in my memory forever!!

We waited for what seemed like FOREVER for the confirmation to take place.  There was a little girl baptized by her grandfather AFTER Carter, and she came out BEFORE the boys did...THEN, the grandfather came out.  What the heck took them so long??  We had a couple people go check in on them, and all I had to say was that now everyone knows the REAL reason that we are late all the time...!!   Anyways, they did finally make it out, and he was confirmed a member of the church.  Yay Carter!!!  Now...I am left feeling really satisfied but also REALLY old!! 

And the Winner is...

You didn't REALLY think I would just blurt it out did you???  WELL, no, not at all!!  I have an order of operations here people...Firstly, I started this blog as a journal, and though it is still 96.7% that, the other 3.3% loves the fact that other people relate to, comment, and compliment my blog...it makes me feel like my bloglife is worthwhile!!  Everyone loves to feel "needed" right??  Second of all congrats to Kristi M...in a completely annonymous drawing format, known only to be my writing everyone's name on little pieces of papers, in the appropriate amount allotted, and then holding and shaking the container vigorously in the air as my husband drew out the name....

YOU ARE THE WINNER!!!

I really wish I could just give everyone who commented on my post a prize...but obviously, I can't...BUT, I love every single one of your comments, and I love reading all of your blogs as well!!


Okay...here's to the next 100 posts!!!

Birthday Express...

Well, if Christmas isn't hectic enough...we have a little birthday boy a little over a week before it!!  It hasn't been too hard making it special as he has been so young, but I am sure as he gets older, our creativity will have to get wiser!!!

This year, we lucked out and were able to go on the Polar Express train ride.  Brian got up at 7am to stand in line for two hours at a bank in another city, but we got the tickets for a fraction of the cost, and were able to do something really cool for Parker's birthday!!  The ride is a three hour tour consisting of riding on the train to the "North Pole", meeting Santa, singing some carols, and then riding back.  This would be one of those "fun for the kids...not so much for the parents" type of events.  I don't mean to sound all "bah humbug" or anything, but the "idea" of a train ride sounds magical...but essentially we drove for an hour and a half to get on a trian that really just felt like you were just sitting on a bus for an hour, while your kids are wrestless wanting to see Santa...then you get there, and it turns out to be the middle of the forest with some picnic tables, and Santa is sitting at the end.  You wait for 45 minutes in the FREEZING COLD to see the guy, and then re-board the train where you get to sit for another hour, but now said children are tired and cold...and when the train ride is over...you then drive the hour and a half home...

So...who wants to go next year??  Okay, so maybe I didn't paint the prettiest picture, and the good news is that even though our kids realized that it was DEFINATELY NOT the North Pole...they did really enjoy the experience and asked if we would continue to do it every year...("yippee"  she exclaimed sarcastically...)

It really does LOOK fun...see??

The kids on the train...

They all sat on Santa's lap...

The only way to keep a tired baby occupied on a bu....train...

When we got home, I made Parker a cake, and we had a mini party.  I didn't finish the cake until the next day because there was just not time in the day, but he blew out candles and opened presents REGARDLESS!!

We had our family over the day after his birthday, and Papa made him his R4 cake that he requested...what would we do without PAPA??!!  Well, he would just be stuck with his snowman cake that I talked him into...cause I think they are cute...!!!

Well, the moral of the story is...sometimes life is not all about you, it's about your kids...and watch out...if you tell Santa it's your birthday, you may end up with questionable photos....!!!!

100th Post...!!!

Holy Moly, I can't believe I have made it to the "100 post" mark!  What started as a journal, is turning into a book!!  Me thinks it's time to CELEBRATE!!!!  SOOOOOOO....here's what I am gonna do....

a GIVE-AWAY!!!  Cause isn't that what you do on your 100th post?? 

Well, I thought about it, and decided I am gonna give away is a baby sling!!  These are great people!  They work from newborn up to 3 years old!!  It's the fashion accessory that you actually NEED!!!  Here's a peek at a few:

Okay, so here is what YOU have to do to get in on the action!

1. Leave a comment here - 1 entry

2. Follow me - 1 entry

3. Blog about my give-away (link it back through comments)- 1 entry

4. Read one of "My Favorite Posts" and type the 8th sentence into the comments on THIS post - 1 entry

Okay everyone...GOOD LUCK!!!  You have until Saturday the 19th!!! 

Here are my THREE FAVORITE POSTS...there really are so many more...I just HAD to narrow it down....!!

What The??!!

The Lords Humor...

 

My Fabulous Day...

Baby, It's cold outside...

One of the things Brian and I try ALWAYS to get done once a year is a family photo...We generally do this in the early fall, but this year do to a "camping accident"  I was barfing for three months straight and missed out on that "great fall weather".  By the time we could even think about it, it was already November!!  WELL...long story short...one of Brian's high school friends happened to be a photographer, and offered to do our pictures...he was a generous friend, and did it for next to nothing!!  WHOA!!  Here are some of the cool shots we got...it was SO cold, and the poor kiddos just had puffy vests to keep warm, so with that said, I think we got some great shots anyways...take a look-see...

Make sure you click on them so you can see them "Life-sized"...I love them, and I am glad we got some great shots in the cold weather!  If ya wanna check out our photographer Jed Davis...go HERE

P.S.  I added all of the text to the pictures...in case you wanted to know...;)

Ruffle Bums are so cute...!!!

What could...

All This....

Mean??!!!!

Okay...you probably already know!!  We are expecting a GIRL!!!  WHOOO HOOO!!!  We had our ultrasound yesterday, and I have really felt like this baby was another boy...my cravings, the morning sickness, just everything felt like boy...We have even been referring to her (squeals) as "HIM"!!  Now I feel a litttle bad for that, cause she is DEFINATELY a HER!!!!!  We are super excited, and so is Oakley!!  We let her leave school early to come with us to the appointment.  We have been talking with her, and she had decided that she would love the baby even if it was a boy...as long as he came out "SMALL"...so cute...luckily, I could at least guarantee her that!!!  She was definately happy to know that she would have a baby sister after all!!  She has always felt sad becuase "Everyone has a room to share except me...I have to sleep alone..."  I hope she still feels the same way five years from now, when that cute little sister is getting into all of her stuff!!!!!

Yay for ruffles, flowers, and PINK...!!