Christmas Morning

Christmas Day at Aunt Deb's house

"Santa is real! Santa is real!"

Several days ago Alexis and Logan wrote letters to Santa.

Today they got a letter back from the big man himself!

Rump Shaker

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

My Silly Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The Wondrous Gift

Christmastime is a glorious time of happy friendliness and unselfish sacrifice; a time of increased hospitality, devotion and love; a time of the subduing of selfish impulses; a time of renewing friendships, cementing loosening ties and the swelling of the heart. It transcends the individual, the family, the community, the nation; it approaches the universal, crosses borders, and touches many nations of the earth. Our caroling voices sing the sweet songs of Christmas reminiscent somewhat of the host of heavenly angelic voices in the long ago, praising God and saying: "Glory to god in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

We set up the evergreen tree with its gleaming, brightly colored lights; we hang the wreaths and bells; and we light candles- all to remind us of that wondrous gift, the coming of our Lord into the world of mortality.

We send Christmas cards to numerous friends and relatives, pulling back into happy memories the loved ones who have moved out of our immediate association. Like the wise men who opened their treasury and presented to Jesus gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh, we present to our loved ones things to eat and wear and enjoy.

Though we make an effort to follow the pattern of gift giving, sometimes our program becomes an exchange-gift given for gift expected. Never did the Saviour give in expectation. I know of no case in his life in which there was an exchange. He was always the giver, seldom the recipient. Never did he give shoes, hose or a vehicle; never did he give perfume, a shirt, or a fur wrap. His gifts were of such a nature that the recipient could hardly exchange or return the value. His gifts were rare ones: eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, and legs to the lame; cleanliness to the unclean, wholeness to the infirm, and breath to the lifeless. His gifts were opportunity to the down-trodden, freedom to the oppressed, light in the darkness, forgiveness to the repentant, hope to the despairing. His friends gave him shelter, food and love. He gave them of himself, his love, his service, his life. The wise men brought him gold and frankincense. He gave them all their fellow mortals resurrection, salvation, and eternal life.

We should strive to give as he gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift.

~~Spencer W. Kimball

Sick girl =(

Brooklyn has had a fever for a couple of days, just off and on. Yesterday she was feeling pretty good, then took a nap. While she was asleep on my bed, I heard her moaning from the living room. I went in to see what was happening and she was acting very strange. She had her eyes half open and was looking up towards the ceiling and occasionally she would let out a strange moaning or groaning sound. When I said her name she wouldn't respond. She was burning up. I got the thermometer out and took her temp under her arm (usually she screams thru this, but it didn't phase her). Her temp was 102. I called the doctor and he said bring her right in.

Turns out she had a raging ear infection and a rash on her belly. He seemed to think that the strange behavior may have been a febrile seizure. These aren't the kind where they convulse, but rather stare straight thru you. I have seen my niece have them before. I know a fever of 102 is high but I didn't think it was high enough to cause a seizure! She didn't have a noticeable fever when she fell asleep for her nap. I talked to my sister and she said that they do make a groaning noise when they have those seizures.

The doctor thought that the fever may be caused by a virus but because of her ear infection he treated her with antibiotics anyway. The rash may have been a result of the fever as well. My poor girl!! I knew she didn't feel well but I had no idea of the severity. She never gave any indication of a sore ear and I never thought that her fever would have caused a seizure!!! Very scary!!

Today she is feeling much better. No fever and no more seizures! But she is fighting me tooth and nail to take her antibiotic. If she continues to be this difficult about taking it she's going to have to get a shot of Rocephin. Good to see the sickness didn't have any affect on her stubbornness!

Night Owl

For the last couple of weeks, Brooklyn has decided that she doesn't need to sleep in her own bed, but rather in the living room with Beast. It is kinda cute, but it gives her the ability to roam around the house at her leisure.

Last night I put her to bed on the recliner and went to bed. Everyone else was asleep. After about 20 minutes, I went to the living room to check on her. I walked in to see her digging in the tube of my favorite lip stick with one of my make up brushes. Beast was asleep on the pillow next to her with a bib on and a binki next to him and covered neatly with a kitchen towel. (I laughed so hard). I then noticed the refrigerator door wide open, water spilled on the kitchen floor and a cup of water over-flowing with water on the bottom shelf of the fridge.

I walked into the sunroom and she had turned the Christmas tree lights on and tried to log onto Bryan's game on the computer. She opened up the game to the log-on page and had typed "56656666". I don't even know where to go to find his game on the computer.

She was a very busy little girl. All of this in about a 20 minute span. It was so hilarious I couldn't get mad at her. I just took Beast's bib off (lmao), put what was left of my lipstick away, closed the fridge and turned the tree back off. She went to sleep after that. =D She had to have been exhausted!

Shoes

My first pair of shoes! Do you like em?

Dear St. Nick,

(The "Love, Alexis" part got cut off...)

Accessorized!

You can't leave the house without all of your stuff!!!

In case we got stranded between our house and the school (3 blocks away) she came prepared! Note the 3 binkis. Her left foot may get a little chilly tho!

2 Generations of Friends

My friend, JaNae and I have been friends for as long as I can remember.

And now, just a few years later =D

....our kids are friends too


JaNae's husband was transferred to Washington with the Army. She and the kids have been living here for several months. Things finally worked out for them and they are going to be able to move to Washington to be together in just a few days. While I am REALLY going to miss seeing JaNae and her wonderful kids, I am so happy that they will be able to be together because I can't begin to imagine how difficult it has been on all of them to be apart.

Well.....sometimes kids don't quite get all that. They just know that their friend is moving far, far away and they won't get to see each other for a long time.

(Don't ask me why JaNae is so happy...lol)

This is the first time Alexis has had a good friend move away, and boy did she take it tough!! She cried for literally hours. It was so sad to see them say goodbye. I started to tear up with them (because unlike JaNae, I have a heart, hahaha). It was so hard to see her so upset.

I wish the Hendrix's all the best, and I, like my daughter will miss you!!

(Alexis is going to kill me if she ever sees this post!)

On the 1st Day of Christmas....

Thank you, everyone for your ideas!

Tonight is the first night of our 12 Days of Christmas we have planned for our neighbor.

I was going back and forth trying to decide whether or not I had the energy to get gifts together for 12 different nights. Christmas shopping had me worn down and I had all but decided not to do it when I was awakened by my 7 year old first thing this morning and she was so excited to get the 12 Days started.

I had to do it.

My mom did similar gifts for all of her grand kids this year and so she volunteered to help me.

Needless to say we have some pretty cool stuff planned for this single mom and her 3 children.

Tonight we are starting it off with a can of popcorn and some window clings with a little note.

The next 11 days have all sorts of goodies in store like a fuzzy blanket and a bowl of popcorn balls, and markers and ornaments to color, a kids cookbook and cooking utensils, a candle, stuffed snowman, coloring books and crayons, cookies, candies, notebooks and lotions for mom and much, much more. (That was possibly the longest sentence ever! I hope my English teacher doesn't read this!)

I am so excited to do this. It is going to be so much fun. I have already geared Alexis up for being sneaky and knocking and running fast.

It truly is about the giving. The thought of how excited the kids will be when an anonymous gift arrives for them every night is what has encouraged me to do this. I hope they enjoy receiving it as much as I have enjoyed preparing it for them.

And thank you, mom, for your help!!!

HELP ME!

Ok, so I am planning on doing the 12 days of Christmas for a super sweet single mom that lives near us. I have thought about doing the 12 days of Christmas for a few years but never quite followed through, but this lady totally deserves it and I am excited to do it.

Here's where you come in. I need some thoughts or ideas for things to do. I've been looking through ideas on the internet and haven't come up with anything too great. So if you can think of anything fun PLEASE let me know! I would love your input!

A conversation with Alexis

Me: Alexis do you miss Mrs. Smurthwaite? (her 1st grade teacher that she despised)

Alexis: NO!!

Logan: I hope I get Mrs. Carlson. (Lexy's 2nd grade teacher)

Alexis: No, you want to get Mrs. Morris.

Me: Why? I thought you liked Mrs. Carlson.

Alexis: I do, it's just that Mrs. Morris doesn't go on and on and on about her personal life in class.

Me: Is that what Mrs. Carlson does?

Alexis: YES!! I can't hear any more about her kids and how much she "loves Eric!" Blah, blah, blah, blah!!! Like I give a crap that you got a new truck. I don't need to be hearing all of this, just get on with class!!!!

Me: (laughing out loud now) So she talks a lot about that stuff in class?

Alexis: YES!!! I just sit there and roll my eyes the whole time. Who cares?!? (and I'm sure she does, she has mastered the eye-rolling!)

My precious little angel. (big sigh)

Cookie Monster

Last night Bryan gave Mady her first Oreo.

She loved it!!!

Today Mady saw Brooklyn walk past her with an Oreo and she dropped her toy and started whining, and grunting and arching her back. So what else was I supposed to do?

That's right, I gave her another Oreo....

Needless to say, I believe she enjoyed the cookies. For all of you who are shaking your head at my choice of diet for my 6 month old, I followed the cookie up with carrots and green beans. Although I think she's going to be like her aunt Angie and prefer dessert first!

(why can't my children keep their eyes open for a picture?!)

The Preschool Christmas tree

While unpacking the Christmas decorations, Logan discovered that the Christmas tree Alexis made in preschool didn't survive the storage tote too well.

"Logan, why do you close your eyes every time I take a picture?"



"Is that better, mom?"

Logan now has a new, fluffed-up tree to display in his room this year.
That's much better, Logan, ya cheese ball!

Cousins

My cousin Annie and I were born 2 weeks apart, 31 years ago.

Our daughters were born 3 weeks apart, 6 months ago.

Codee (left) was born 3 weeks before Mady and weighed just over 5 pounds.

Mady (right) weighed a whopping 10 lbs 7 ozs.

6 months later they are the same size.

Mady was so excited to see her cousin!!!

So precious!!!

Thankful

These are just a few of the things that I can't imagine my life without this Thanksgiving:

My sweet, caring, supportive, funny husband and best friend.

My crazy, adorable, naughty children. Regardless of my threats, I love you too much to sell you.

My DVR! This little gem works all day to record the trashy reality shows and sitcoms that I love so that I can watch them all night long after the kids are in bed. This is probably the best invention to date.

Caffeine! Where would I find my energy, if not for this little gem?! And where would my body get the water it needs to survive without Pepsi?

Ahhhhhh.....CHOCOLATE!! It's always there for me when I need it. Whether I'm happy, sad, depressed, or angry.....chocolate always seems to make the day a little brighter.

I don't know what my sisters and brother and my husband would do all day if they weren't answering my texts. My cell phone is my life line with the outside world and is much needed, especially when there is no chocolate in the house to turn to!

The next best thing to a maid, I suppose. I didn't believe my mom when she told me my old washer and dryer were "shitty" until I invested in these guys. Boy was she right. I love my washer and dryer, it is great at getting chocolate out of everything! (see next blog)

The binki. Sweet, sweet binki. And yes, it is also a mute button. This thing has saved a few little children's lives before. They are comforting for the child, and the parent.

There are soooo many things I am thankful for this year, and these just scratch the surface.

From my family to yours, have a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Caught! Brown-handed!

My little Brookie seems to like chocolate nearly as much as her mother.

The other morning when she was being suspiciously quiet, this is what I found miss Brooklyn doing.

Apparently nothing goes better with Elmo in the morning than a can of chocolate frosting!

She is nice enough to share with her baby sister though!

My Man

1. What's your husband's name?

Bryan

2. How long have you been married?

10 wonderful years!

3. How long did you date?

2 years

4. How old is he?

34

5. Who eats more sweets?

Definitely me!

6. Who is the better singer?

Definitely him!

7. Who is smarter?

He is. Those closest to him (me) call him "The King of useless knowledge"

He knows it all. "It's a little known fact there, Sammy...."

8. Who does the laundry?

Totally me.

9. Who pays the bills?

He makes the money, I write the checks (well, I make some of the money too...)

10. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?

Bryan. I let him have a tiny corner against the wall.

11. Who mows the lawn?

Bryan

12. Who drives?

mostly Bryan. He tends to get white knuckles when I drive.

13. Who asked who out first?

;) I believe that was Bryan

14. Who kissed who first?

I think Bryan made the first move, but it was a joint effort.

I have (as I am often reminded) THE best husband in the world!!

I love you, babe!

Sara, Shana, and Heather......you have just been TAGGED!