"Tis Christmas Eve"

I had a hard time throwing myself into our Christmas Eve traditions, we had an eventful night the day before and I was exhausted. Anyway I finally did jump into baking but decided since I had wasted most of the day we would just make cinnamon rolls for a few of our neighbors and friends. Just before delivering the treats the kids opened their Christmas Jammies...

They were thrilled. I think it's great that even though they know they get jammies every year they are still super excited cause they don't know what they look like! Ryne was a little disappointed that I didn't make their jammies or dresses this year, I just didn't have the energy or motivation, but she was still happy with what she got. After the kids got decked out in their jammies we delivered our treats. I attempted to take a pic of the kids after we got home, but someone just wasn't having it, she screamed and cried until....
She got to jump on the bed and sing our traditional Christmas song "Tis Christmas Eve Dear Santa Claus"
Needless to say this is their favorite tradition!!
Dane really likes it too!!! :)
Ellie figured out it's easier to put the sock in your mouth then jump!
Once the kids were in bed the real fun began! Santa didn't leave till about 1:30, but his work was done and it all looked great!
Santa brought Ryne and Kaleb toy boxes he thought he would trick them by putting their toys inside the boxes then he closed the lids!
All the gifts under the tree, and Dane's Mrs. Claus's gift(in the far right corner).

Christmas 2010

Santa worked super hard to get everything looking awesome for the kids, it kinda seem unfair that in only took about 2 mins to tear it all apart! Oh well they had tons of fun!

The kids were up at 6 this morning, Ellie came out and joyfully woke us up saying "HI". The kids were so excited and a little disappointed when they went to the living room and saw that Santa had brought 2 giant wood boxes and no toys! I loved the confused look on their faces Kaleb was the first to speak up "what's with the boxes?there better be somethin in them!?" We told them to open them and see and boy were they presently surprised!!

"Woody!!!! It's bigger than Grandma's woody at her house!!"

"WOW!!! I got Jessie just what I asked for!? (Sorry bad picture by mommy)Ellie got a dolphin pillow pet and a Mr.Potato Head (Santa was all out of Mrs. Potato Head) she was thrilled!!Mrs. Clause brought Dana a blue ray dvd player and.....Despicable Me on blue ray!!! The kids were even more thrilled, it's there favorite movie of the year!
Even Tinkerbell wasn't forgotten! She loves this toy and has been playing with it all day needless to say she is dog tired!!And the after math....
Ellie quickly figure out that there was candy in the stockings and she found a good hiding spot to sneak off too!
The kids were eager to vegg and watch Despicable Me while Dane and I made Christmas breakfast.

We ended the day with a Ham dinner, with Au Gratin Potatoes and baked beans, it was yummy the kids enjoyed it and we can have ham with breakfast tomorrow!

We had a very Merry Christmas and we hope you did too!

:P

Just when Ellie was getting better everyone else is getting sick :P. As ya know from this post Ryne was sick on Friday, she was also sick Saturday, Sunday and Monday!! On top of that Kaleb came into my room at an unsightly hour, when I picked him up to carry him to bed I realized that he too was running a fever. I was up with him most of the night, he was complaining he was cold yet he was covered under 3 fleece blankets and I was snuggled next to him, it took him awhile to go back to sleep. Dane let me sleep in yesterday morning, when I got up Kaleb was running a 102.8 temp and Ryne was still running 101. I took them in and found out Kaleb has strep throat and an ear infection, Ryne has a double ear infection YIPPEE SKIPPY!!! They are both on some heavy antibiotics, and surprisingly Kaleb is taking his pretty well. Ellie is jealous that they get to take medicine and she doesn't, really I'm not kidding she cries every time they get some.

Dane stayed home Monday too, he started running a temp. He's stayed stayed home today as well, we think he might have strep too( which means no kissy kissy)! I really don't need to get sick right now, I'm the only one keeping things together and taking care of everyone. And really the last thing I need right now is the flu!! I really hope that by tomorrow Ryne will be able to go back to school and Dane can go back to work, cause it's really hard to get my normal chores done when I am waiting on everyone hand and foot all day!

I also forgot today that I had signed up to bring a pumpkin pie for the Relief Society thing tonight (and I don't even know what time it is at). I also had girl scout training today and it was actually nice getting out of the house. Anyway every one's temps are down so it looks like they will all be going back to school and work tomorrow *sigh* of relief, honestly I can't wait. Tomorrow Ryne has karate and girl scouts, Dane also has scouts hopefully everyone will be up to par. Alright so onto the rest of my day!

Yummy in my tummy!

Last Saturday night we invited our neighbor Doreen over to watch the Christmas specials, Kung Fu Panda Holiday special, and Merry Madagascar on t.v. . We popped some popcorn and Kaleb requested I make some more cinnamon rolls, and what's better then a cinnamon roll? A cinnamon roll with chocolate chips inside!!! They were so good, and yummy I made 25(yeah it was suppose to be 24, I can't count), and by the time we went to be there were only 4 left!

Doesn't that just look so perfect and yummy!?
I love with the frosting melts off the sides like that!
We all had a fun time with Doreen, Ellie really took a shining to her and sat on her lap the whole time, it could have been the fact that the popcorn was right next to them, but I think Ellie just really likes Doreen. She doesn't let just anyone hold her for that long!

Handsome

Kaleb announced at the dinner table that he needed a hair cut, "I want it like Uncle Ephans". Now that came as a shocker, cause last time I cut his hair he told me "just a little off the top, I like it long". He has worn his hair long for a long time now, and it's been his choice. Anyway I know how he likes the longer hair in the front so, I left some longer in the front then cut everything else short "like Uncle Ephans".

Check out all that hair!!!

He really likes it, he even cheered and so did I cause 1-he let me do it with no complaints and 2- I didn't screw it up!!! He looks so much older to me, and I really like the cleaner look.

He was sitting on the couch suckin his thumb and he reached up to twirl his hair, then looked at me and said "wow it's really different!".

Sick Day

Ryne came into my room about 3 this morning, she said she had a bad dream so I let her snuggle with me. I told her she could stay with me for a few minutes but then she needed to go to bed, then I brushed her hair back and realized she had a temperature! I didn't push her going back to her own bed, Dana was up anyway getting ready for work so I let her stay.

So we had a sick day. Kaleb went to school at 11, even though she was sick Ryne helped me get the house all cleaned up, then she lounged on the couch with Ellie before her nap time. Ellie LOVED having her big sister around.


After we laid Ellie down for a nap we popped some popcorn and got to work on a Christmas tree that Ryne was suppose to do for school. She had some much fun with the glitter paint, I found some old beads from a broken necklace, and some mini ornaments I let her use, it was fun working with her on it!
Ryne with the finished tree, she is so proud of it!


A week or so ago our neighbor brought over some little Christmas ornaments for the kids to paint, since I don't trust Kaleb with paints (yes even if I'm right there). So I decided that I would let Ryne do it, we each painted 4 ornaments..

This is Ryne's sock
my little snowman.
We hug them on the "post" in the kitchen. I love when the sun hits them they look awesome, I guess that's why they are called "sun catchers" :)After we were done with the ornaments, we watched a movie and enjoyed a cup of chocolate milk and some popcorn. Today I realized how much I miss spending some one on one time with Ryne, I get too with the other kids but not with her and boy oh boy do I miss it. We had so much fun, as much as I want her to get better I really enjoyed our sick day!

It's a new.....

Christmas came early for me, today I got a

SHINY...






NEW...






Faucet for my sink!

My other faucet was screamin for retirement! The pressure to the faucet was barely a dribble yet the sprayer had plenty of pressure cause it kept coming off and in the process spraying a stream of water straight into the air leaving a trail of water all over, creating an indoor slip and slide! Now on some occasions(4 out of 5 times) I have been lucky enough to get sprayed directly in the face and it's usually hot water, apparently the faucet thinks I need more then 1 shower in a day! Well we granted the faucets wish and we hope it has a grand time at the Dump Retirement Community! Anyhow I am very pleased and super happy with the new faucet and the fact that my hubby put it in with no complaints and no major plumbing issues!!

7 years

Yesterday Dane and I celebrated 7 years of not always wonderful but totally worth it years! Our neighbor Doreen came over and watched the kids for us so we could go out. Now typically we go out to dinner or to a movie that's how we have celebrated anniversary's past, but this year we didn't have the funds. We decided to go to the Mesa Temple to see the lights and listen to the music program they had, it was so wonderful especially since we didn't have the kids complaining about the cold, or needing to go to the bathroom or the "are we done yet" phrase, we were able to enjoy each others company with no interruptions! After the music was over we went into the Visitors center and looked at all the nativity scenes, here are a few of my favorites.




Once we got our fill of the cold we decided to go home for dessert ( no not that kind of dessert), we got some brownie mix and had hot brownies with a drizzle of chocolate and homemade whipped cream it was supper yummy!! I have to say it was the cheapest and most fun date ever!! Thank you Doreen for watching the kids for us, we really appreciate it.

OOOHHH Christmas Tree!!!

This morning after breakfast we rounded up the troops and cleaned up the house, in the process I managed to knock down our oh so beautiful 7 1/2 foot pre-lit Christmas! You read right it came a tumblin down while I was vacuuming. You see in years past we have never put the screws in the stand once the tree is in(I know dumb) until now we have never had a problem, I blame it on the vacuum! A few tears were shed by me and the kids, Ryne thought " oh man now Christmas is ruined", Kaleb just cried as did I and Dane reminded Ryne that it isn't even Christmas yet! So after I stopped crying, I rummaged through the box and found the screws, with the help of my wonderful husband we got the tree standing again, then I went to work sweeping up the glass YES glass, I had some little had blown snowman ornaments that my mom sent me a few years back, only 3 of them broke and just the bodies broke the heads were found intact so I kept them! Anyway we put the ornaments that fell off back on and all is well and right in the our world again!!
After I recovered from what will be known as "the tree incident of 2010", I decided to put up all my pics and other decor (I know FINALLY), and I have to say the house looks soooo much better!! It feels like home again. So here are some pics of that..

And this is the man who made it all possible! I love you hunny!!
And now for some close ups of the Christmas decor, our lovely Rudolf stockings.

And "Rudy" the reindeer wreath courtesy of Merlene who was getting rid of it and asked my mom if she knew anyone who wanted it!! Thanks Merlene I love it he is by far one of my favorite decorations!
Now my kitchen is no where near being done, but here is a sneak peak!