SANTA! We know him! December 5, 2009

     Our ward broke from tradition this year and had a “Breakfast with Santa” instead of the usual evening dinner.  I have to say, I wouldn’t be at all sorry if we ditched the sit-down meal for the casual brunch.

     In a word:  YUM.

     After we gorged ourselves on eggs, ham, hash browns and waffles, we had our picture taken with the Big Man himself, who introduced my kids to the idea of skateboards AND longboards (to which I ask, there’s a difference?) (Please don’t enlighten me.  I am completely uninterested.) and caused about 3o new wrinkles and twice that many gray hairs in their poor mother, who immediately envisioned broken arms and severe cases of road rash.

     Thanks, Santa.

     So here we are, in all our holiday glory.  Kendra’s hair is…  unfortunate.  In spite of that (or because of it?), this picture makes me smile.

 

    Merry Christmas!  May Santa bring you (most of) what’s on your Christmas list.

Happy Birthday, Kenny! April 6, 2009

All morning, Abbie referred to Kenny as "Daddy". Yesterday, she couldn't stop running to his lap for hugs.

 

     It is my beloved’s birthday today.  He is something that rhymes with “shirty-fine”.

 

     (To read last year’s birthday post, click here.)

 

     This will be the fourteenth birthday of his we’ve celebrated together.  In his family, birthdays were no big deal.  (Rather, HIS birthdays were no big deal.)  There were even a few years where his birthday was completely forgotten, or hurriedly thrown together after dinner, and for the most part, there were no gifts.  I promised him that I’d never forget his birthday, and I’ve tried to make up for 24 years of neglect.  It was easy when we were first married.  His birthday was in the spring, and mine was in the fall.  Six months apart meant lots of time to plan. 

 

     Then we had two kids with birthdays at the end of March, and Easter gets thrown in the mix, so by the time I’ve celebrated three birthdays and a holiday, I’m pretty wiped out.

 

     (Somewhat guiltily, I’ve started referring to it as “Hell Week”.) 

 

     We celebrated Kenny’s birthday with my family last night, which is always a highlight of spring General Conference, and ate ourselves sick on tacos and seven-layer bean dip.  My mom did this really cool jello/pudding poke cake, and he got his birthday “loot”, which included “Heroes”- seasons 1 and 2, another Wii controller, some Swedish Fish and a (very!) generous gift card to Lowe’s.  (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

 

     To keep in the theme of making each birthday-day a big deal, the kids and I will be taking cupcakes into his work (and I hope embarrassing the heck out of him, because payback is a nasty thing!) and making a(nother) birthday dinner.  Then we’ll end our night by having Family Home Evening and working to implement this weekend’s prophetic counsel.  Probably not the most exciting birthday ever, and certainly not as fun as a big party with friends, but I am hopeful that he’ll enjoy it.

 

     Probably not as much as he enjoyed this, however:

 

This was taken at Souper Salad on Alex's birthday. He was telling the kids those stupid jokes about Ethiopians and Helen Keller, and he pulled some muscles from laughing so hard. He was trying to muffle his laughter with napkins, but with no success. We were EASILY the loudest people in the restaurant. *sigh*

 

    

     I love you, honey!  You  make my life better.  Your support and encouragement keep me going on my hardest days, and your sense of humor never fails to cheer me up.  (Okay, USUALLY never fails…)      You work so hard for our family, and we’re grateful to have you as a husband and father.

 

     Here’s to another “shirty-fine” years, at least. 

 

     Mwah!

Nine March 29, 2009

     Today, Kendra is nine.  My beautiful girl, growing up so fast (too fast for my liking!), who is gracious and kind and loving, is nine.

 

     Where did the time go?

 

     I remember holding her in my arms for the first time, about an hour after she was born.  I spent my time in recovery while she was cleaned up and bathed in the nursery, and a nurse brought her to my room.  When they put her in my arms, I could hardly believe I was the mother of such a beautiful baby girl.

 

     I used to love to watch her sleep.  It was one of the rare times she let me cuddle her.  I’d pick her up out of the bassinet and cradle her in my arms, and work in all the kisses and snuggles I could get away with.

 

     Now I don’t even have to ask.  She’s always ready with a hug or a kiss.  She is such a patient big sister, and so good to her siblings.  She also has a sense of peace and calm about her that makes her mature beyond her nine years.  (If she were a Twilight vampire, she’d be Jasper!  And she’ll LOVE the comparison when she sees it.)

 

     She is growing so quickly into a beautiful young woman.  Her compassion for others is remarkable.  She is such a sweet and special girl!

 

     I love you, Kendra!  Happy Birthday!

 

Leapin’ Leprechauns! What a day! March 17, 2009

    

Today was a really great day.

 

     I’m not sure if the holiday had something (extra) to do with it, or it was just a really great day in general, but I have smiled most of the day, and I was sorry to put my kids to bed.  That NEVER RARELY happens.

 

     It started with waking up in a panic this morning, because I didn’t get up with my alarm.  (I blame Kenny.  It got stuffy last night, and he opened all the windows.  The fresh air and sound of birds in the early morning was lovely!  So lovely I kept hitting snooze.)  I was supposed to be at the school with Alex and Kendra at 8:55, and I opened my eyes at 8:02. 

How did I spend thee, Valentine’s Day? Let me count the ways… February 14, 2009

1. I slept in until 8:24. 
2. I shoveled the snow that fell last night– in my pajamas.
3. I hosted a custody exchange.
4. I fed my kids donuts for breakfast.   (Chocolate ones, left over from yesterday’s class party.)
5. I took all four kids to the Primary party at the church.  (This is the first time they’ve all been old enough to go.  Yesssss!)
6. I reveled in the peace and quiet at home.
7. Caught up on e-mails.
8. Sorted laundry and started a batch.
9. Cleaned up the downstairs bath, where the dogs sleep.  Reeses had some…  uh…  gastrointestinal issues last night.  (Just thinking about the smell makes me gag.)
10. Showered.
11. Got Kenny up for work at noon.
12. Picked the kids up from the party.
13. Fed them lunch.  (Bacon & Cheese Penne Pasta)
14. Gave both dogs a bath.
15. Washed the dog bedding.
16. Looked through 15 days of newspapers and recycled them.
17. Read a little in my newest library book, Another Mother’s Life
18. Spent a little time on Facebook, chatting with Jennifer.
19. Helped Kendra sew pillows and a sleeping bag for her Tinkerbell doll.  (I did not hand-sew that well at 16…  let alone eight.)
20. Made chocolate pretzel buttons with my kids.
21. Hosted another custody exchange.
22. Had a fun, quick drop-in visit with my dad.
23. Made homemade pizza crust for individual pizzas.
24. Helped kids assemble pizzas (Happy Valentine’s Day, kids!) and said nothing about the amount of cheese atop each one.
25. Wrote blog post.

 

     It’s just after 8:00 PM, and in the next hour I will put my kids to bed and wait for Kenny to get off of work.  He’s going to pick up some sushi on the way home, and I’m going to try it for the first time.  (I’m going the safe route– it’s a roll combo with California, tuna and salmon.)

 

     It hasn’t been the most romantic Valentine’s Day I’ve ever experienced, but I am very happy with what we accomplished today.  (It was the two hours of quiet this morning.  It set the whole tone of my day!)  

 

     I hope you had an enjoyable Valentine’s Day as well.

Valentine Party Squared February 13, 2009

 

     When I was a teacher, one of the things I SWORE I’d do was volunteer to help out in my kids’ classes.  I knew what it was like to teach a group of unruly 10-year-olds with no room parent, no weekly volunteers, and no party-planning help.  It was awful, and I vowed to never put a teacher in that position.

 

     Because of that determination (or sheer stupidity– take your pick), I have been the head room parent for one or both of my kids every year so far. 

 

     I’m not complaining.  I really love it.  As I walked out of Alex’s fourth-grade classroom today, I had one boy (BOY!) say,

I Want… you to check out The Crafty Crow February 7, 2009

     I’m not sure how I linked to this website (probably from Twitter), but it’s been building up in my Google reader and I decided today would be the day I conquered the 40+ posts that were waiting for me.

 

     I LOVE THIS WEBSITE!

 

     It takes craft posts from all over the internet and puts them into one giant archive.  What projects I’ve seen so far are inexpensive, easy and fun for all ages.  Plus, they have great giveaways and links to other fantastic sites.

 

     We are going to make newspaper roses for my kids’ teachers, and I think we’ll do the pretzel buttons for a fun Valentine’s treat.  And hello?  I could totally eat a package of these all by myself.

 

     If you have kids, you have GOT to visit The Crafty Crow.  I don’t think you’ll be sorry.

 

Quick, someone throw me a rope! Or a Hoover! A shovel? December 29, 2008

     I just wanted to check in quickly and say that YES, I am alive, and NO, I have not stopped blogging for good. 

 

     Right now I’m buried up to my neck in wrapping paper, food storage (thanks, Mom and Dad!), bristle blocks, stockings, coats, boots, gloves and mittens, race cars, DVDs, Littlest Pet Shops, and laundry.  (And more laundry.  And MORE laundry.  Always, with the laundry…)  It doesn’t seem to matter how well I think I’ve cleaned up a room– I have a two three-year-old who can’t leave a surface clean for more than ten seconds, and the minute I turn my back, he’s “decorated” it again.  

 

     I tend to be a little claustrophobic  (I just noticed the first FIVE letters of that word— how fitting!), and I can’t say enough that the mess is driving me crazy.  I think there might even be hives.

 

     And so I press on, recycling here and sorting there, carrying loads up and down the stairs, pausing every 24 hours to do my body test and training on the Wii Fit.  (Thanks, Grandma Claus!  That has been our FAVORITE present.  In four days, I am already down 2 1/2 pounds.  Over the holidays!)

 

     Rest assured, I will be back soon, after I’ve regained some sense of normalcy.  (This is OUR house we’re talking about, so normal is relative.)  Thanks for stopping by each day.  I am amazed at my site counter, and how it continues to climb, even when I have nothing interesting to say, and haven’t for a week.

 

     Oh, and as I near my 1st Blog-o-versary, keep your eyes peeled for a giveaway or two. 

 

     Number one on the list?  ANTHONY.      

 

     Number two?  A bag of recycled Christmas paper.

 

     I kid, I kid. 

 

     About the paper. 

    

     Okay, and the three-year-old. 

 

*****

 

     Here, while I’m digging out, check out our Christmas morning pictures:

 

 

     Santa brought the family a Wii and two games.  (Very luckily, Santa purchased said Wii early in the season, before car sales went into the toilet.)  Kenny was completely shocked, as were the kids.  Notice how, in the last picture, he’s reading a book, and the Wii is sitting on his lap?  Niiiiiice.

Christmas Checklist (revised) December 15, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Tree up.          check

Outside lights up.          check    

(Last year I discovered I only *thought* I was married to Kenny…  in reality, I share a bed with Clark W. Griswold.  We only put up half the lights this year- thanks, snow!- , and our house STILL stands out.)

Shopping done.          check

Wrapping done.          In progress.  Not worried.

Christmas books put out.          check

Christmas cards visualized.          check

Materials purchased.          check

Nutcracker stamps purchased.          check

Christmas cards cut, stamped, assembled.          Holyfreakingcrap, I’ve run out of time!  

Panic setting in.          check

Christmas baking done.          In stages.  New treat every few days.  Gooooood.  

Teacher gifts selected.          No, and I’m drawing a blank. 

(This should be easy for me, but I’m stuck.  I have until Thursday.  Yikes!)

Holiday cold caught.          check

Feeling miserable.          in progress

We heart Andy Williams December 3, 2008

 

     It’s official!  I have the COOLEST kids on the planet.

 

     Last Thursday they were watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade on television when, just at the end, a “grandpa” (their words) started singing “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.  They’ve been hearing this song daily for almost a month, so of course they were excited.  (Plus, it’s a really great song, especially when Andy Williams sings it.  The man exudes Christmas.  Seriously.)  I explained who Andy Williams was, and how he used to have a variety show on television, and he gave the Osmonds their big break.

 

     *blink, blink*  (variety show)

 

     *blink, blink*  (Osmonds)