Bah Humbug...

I have lost my Christmas spirit. In the midst of all the present shopping and crowd fighting and Christmas card writing and snow shoveling and kids whining and mom yelling...I've lost my Christmas spirit. I'm not exactly sure where I was when I lost it. I guess if I knew that I could find it. Anyway, it's gone and the chance of it coming back is partly cloudy with a 50% chance of "not likely"!

Yesterday, while shopping with the kids, I was standing at the 1 Hour Photo counter waiting for someone to help me. All three kids were in the shopping cart behind me and I was leaning on the counter as if I could no longer stand without assistance. This was only the 3rd stop on our long "TO DO" list. Behind me, "tsu" and "little dude" were playing a rousing game of "MOM, HE HIT ME" and "STOP COPYING ME" while "sassy" moaned in the back as if she were literally going to die RIGHT THERE! I turned to the ladies that were in line next to me and said, "I will pay you to take them right now!" They, of course, gave each other that knowing look...you know the one your mom gives you when inside she is laughing because it's you, not her, that has to take that child home. Anyway, they both said that they'd "been there" and "done that" and I realized that I would have to take the three terrors home with me after all.

When we got to the car, after threatening to leave them at Costco, I yelled and told them that if they didn't buckle their seat belts right away, WITHOUT MAKING A SOUND, I was going to cancel Christmas!! "tsu"piped up and asked if I could really do that. Of course, I answered "yes"! And we drove home in silence, with half of my "TO Do" list still not done.

So, as you are driving down the street, if you happen to find some Christmas spirit laying lifeless in the gutter, please return it to me.

"tsu" the artist...

I'm not quite sure where she got the "artist gene" but I think I'd like her to give it back until she learns to do her art on paper and not on her face...

She started small...just a few lines on her face. Then she took crayons to my carpet and blinds. Then it escalated to coloring her entire face and down her arms with markers. She finished it off with a lovely watercolored face. The craziest part is...three of these pictures were taken three different days of the same week! I'm about ready to cover the entire house and child with butcher paper. Maybe then she could sell her art and pay to have the carpets and blinds cleaned!

Thankful...

These are a few of the things I'm thankful for...
(not necessarily listed in order of importance)

1. a "mostly warm enough" home
2. a good book
3. rum vics from Mrs Cavanaugh's
4. slippers
5. health
6. sunsets
7. the Book of Mormon
8. extended family
9. the heater in my car
10. my car...that runs most of the time!
11. awesome friends
12. my magic bullet blender:)
13. my new deck
14. the sound of my children's laughter
15. mooches and loves from "little dude"
16. q-tips
17. hot chocolate
18. wonderful neighbors
19. great music
20. csi
21. staying home on black friday
22. raspberry concretes from Nielsen's
23. watching "sassy pants" as she is learning to read
24. off-roading with my family
25. playing at the park with my kids
26. band-aids and kisses
27. my laptop computer
28. reconnecting with dear friends
29. laughing until I cry
30. scotch tape
31. good examples all around me
32. my 91 year old grandma
33. easter candy
34. a long shower...with hot water the entire time
35. driving around with my family to see all the Christmas lights
36. the beautiful mountains behind my house
37. jumping on the trampoline with my children
38. watching my children learn to say, "I'm sorry"
39. repentance
40. my piano
41. my church calling
42. chocolate
43. fond memories
44. a really good dream
45. ear plugs
46. the smell of rain
47. date night
48. my honey ("big daddy")
49. 3 beautiful children
50. Christ and the Atonement

What are YOU thankful for?

"sassy" goes to school...

This week "sassy pants" started kindergarten. She will be attending the same school where I attended MANY years ago. She will actually be in the same classroom that I was in for kindergarten! I think that is pretty cool.

Her teacher's name is Mrs. Holbrook. I have heard from several people that she is the all time best kindergarten teacher ever! I am excited for my first child to be in her class. I think this is going to be a great year! "sassy" is also excited because she has 2 really good friends that will be in her class this year. I hope they are more focused than I was when I was in class with good friends. My guess is that she will be a lot like her mother...

Big "D" Comes Home...

I can't believe my baby brother is finally home from his mission. It's been all the kids have talked about for the past 2 months. I know the girls remember him but "little dude" was only a month old when he left 2 years ago. But he has learned his Uncle "D"s name and I think he's taken quite a liking to him.

We made a countdown chain when there was about a month left and the kids have taken turns taking a link off the chain each day. They were so excited about it that's what they wanted to do first thing in the morning each day. When we got down to the last link they could hardly contain themselves. So they put on their flag shirts and got the little flags to wave and off we went to the airport. Here are a few of the MANY pictures taken of the occasion...

We are all excited that he is home. It's been fun to hear him talk about his many wonderful missionary experiences. He is a great example to our children. I'm excited to get to know him all over again.

"tsu" FINALLY turns 4...

She has only been talking about this day since she turned 3!! She was so excited to have a birthday. And since the big day, she has been telling EVERYONE that she is 4!!

I actually can't believe she made it to 4!! She's definitely given us a run for our money. She showed up almost 6 weeks early, and she's been keeping us on our toes ever since. Here's a little trip down memory lane...

She really wanted to have a princess party. We were going to keep it really small, but at the last minute, we invited some good friends to share it with us...and it's not like we didn't have A LOT of cake to share! Here are some of my favorite pictures of the special day...

Outing to Kangaroo Zoo

My Li'l Princess

A few uninvited guests

It was an exciting and fun-filled day...one that she will not soon forget! It was a little crazy, but I think she enjoyed it. I don't know if you've ever read the book about the little pig that wears everybody out...well, at the end of the book, the little pig's mother says, "You wear me out, but I love you anyway"! That's how I feel EVERY night! "tsu" has endless amounts of energy and curiosity, but she also has endless amounts of sweetness and goodness. We sure feel lucky to have her in our family!

It's Back To Work...

We have made the decision to put the house projects on hold for awhile so we can focus our efforts on the backyard. We just felt that the kids really need to have a safe place to go play outside. So...a week or so ago we had some workers come to help us install a retaining wall and level our backyard. I am so happy with the results. It was a messy project...and we are in no way finished...but we've got a good start. Here are some pics...

I'm so excited to have the backyard finished. Now...all we have to do is install sprinklers, sod and build a deck (with a great big emphasis on "ALL"). No big woop! If you want to catch up on all our home improvement projects Click here.

And, if you really want a GREAT experience, you can come on over...don't forget your shovel!