"Car"versation #2

Why do my kids fight every time they get in the car? I don't know, they just do. Today, from the back seat-
Abby-(crying)"Mom, Gracie hit me"
Gracie-"Abby started it."
Bryce-(in Abby's defence)"Ya, well Gracie middled it and ended it"

Happy home made Christmas Eve

I had lots of plans for home made Christmas stuff and didn't follow through on most of it. I did finish the peanut butter balls for the neighbors but not the cute little bags I was going to put them in. Maybe the gifts I started for the kids will be done by their birthdays and the home made tree decorations just got scrapped all together. The one thing that we did follow through on was the home made family gift exchange.

McKay made Bryce a book to write his stories in.

Bryce made Gracie puppets.

Gracie made Daddy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Daddy made Nate a Coupon Book with lots of fun things to do together.

Nate made Abby a Makeup box.

Abby made Mommy a basket with flowers and chocolate and snowflakes in it.

Mommy made McKay a sign for his room.

Going home made didn't make the gifts less expensive and it was a lot more work (mostly for mom), but we had a great time and started a new tradition. It was awesome to see the kids so exited about doing something for each other.

Oh hiss.miss.chee, Oh hiss. miss. chee

McKay was talking in his sleep last night and said "Hiss. miss. chee." Which is K.K. talk for Christmas Tree. Sweet dreams baby.

A Long List

Things I've done
Things I haven't done
Things I plan on doing

Started your own blog
Slept under the stars
Played in a band (Bass Clarinet in fifth grade)
Visited Hawaii
Watched a meteor shower
Given more than you can afford to charity
Been to Disneyland
Climbed a mountain
Held a praying mantis
Sang a solo
Bungee jumped
Visited Paris
Watched a lightning storm at sea
Taught yourself an art from scratch
Adopted a child
Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
Grown your own vegetables
Seen the Mona Lisa in France
Slept on an overnight train
Had a pillow fight
Hitchhiked (In Rexburg with Jenn, Scary guy picked us up... lucky to be alive)
Taken a sick day when you're not ill (Who hasn't)
Built a snow fort
Held a lamb
Gone skinny dipping
Run a marathon
Ridden in a gondola in Venice
Seen a total eclipse
Watched a sunrise or sunset
Hit a home run
Been on a cruise
Seen Niagara Falls in person
Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Seen an Amish community
Taught yourself a new language
Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
Gone rock climbing
Seen Michelangelo's David
Sung karaoke
Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
Visited Africa
Walked on a beach by moonlight
Been transported in an ambulance
Had your portrait painted
Gone deep sea fishing
Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
Kissed in the rain
Played in the mud
Gone to a drive-in theater
Been in a movie
Visited the Great Wall of China
Started a business
Taken a martial arts class
Visited Russia
Served at a soup kitchen
Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Gone whale watching
Got flowers for no reason
Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
Gone sky diving
Visited a Nazi concentration camp
Bounced a check
Flown in a helicopter
Saved a favorite childhood toy (Susie)
Visited the Lincoln Memorial
Eaten caviar
Pieced a quilt
Stood in Times Square
Toured the Everglades
Been fired from a job
Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
Broken a bone
Been on a speeding motorcycle
Seen the Grand Canyon in person
Published a book
Visited the Vatican
Bought a brand new car
Walked in Jerusalem
Had your picture in the newspaper
Read the entire Bible
Visited the White House
Killed and prepared an animal for eating (fish)
Had chicken pox
Saved someone's life
Sat on a jury
Met someone famous
Joined a book club
Lost a loved one
Had a baby (or 5)
Seen the Alamo in person
Swam in the Great Salt Lake
Been involved in a lawsuit
Owned a cell phone
Been stung by a bee

Gracie goes to preschool at a Lutheran church. When we walked into the church today for school she noticed the Christmas tree and said, "Look mom, God put up his Christmas tree." Too Cute!

Someday he's going to hate me for this

We are in the pre-pottie training stages. He likes to sit on the pottie but it only works if I catch him about to do his business and then ask him if he wants to sit on the pottie, at which point he points to his bum and says "poooop, poooop, poooop". So I sit him on his pottie seat and we wait. While we wait we sing... songs like "You have to fight for your right to pooottie" and other little know ditties, most of which I make up on the spot. Today I sang a nice rap song that he seemed to like. It went something like, "Yo, yo poopn' in the pottie is fun". Good times!

Before and After

I gave in to peer pressure. I think McKay's hair looked good but really he's super cute no matter what his hair looks like. So at the requeat of his dad and grand parents and some friends we went ahead and got it cut.

Look at him now!
Still sooo handsome.

There's no place like home for the Holidays

Just a little bit of holiday cheer from our home to yours.

Little Wonders

Just a little something for Rey and Summer and Eve.

Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your special day.

I can't tell how much it meant to me just to be there in

the temple with you as your family was sealed.

The whole experience made me think of this song.

I hope you like it

let it go,

let it roll right off you shoulder,

don't you know the hardest part is over

let it in,

let your clarity define you

in the end

we will only just remember how it feels

our lives are made

in these small hours

these little wonders,

these twists & turns of fate

time falls away,

but these small hours,

these small hours still remain

let it slide,

let your troubles fall behind you

let it shine

until you feel it all around you

and i don't mind

if it's me you need to turn to

we'll get by,

it's the heart that really matters in the end

our lives are made

in these small hours

these little wonders,

these twists & turns of fate

time falls away,

but these small hours,

these small hours

still remain

all of my regret

will wash away some how

but i can not forget

the way i feel right now

in these small hours

these little wonders

these twists & turns of fate

these twists & turns of fate

time falls away

but these small hours

these small hours,

still remain,

still remain

these little wonders

these twists & turns of fate

time falls away but these small hours

these little wonders still remain.

It was one of the most special moments

that I have ever gotten to witness.

Thank you.

It's all about the turkey

It's all about the Turkey...

and the mashed potatoes... and the pies...
and playing games...
and Sam doing dishes!!!

I am thankful for an awesome family and amazing food and I'm very thankful that dinner was not at my house (o: !!!

Photo Fun

Literary Crack

That's what the lady at the pool last summer called it, and she is so right. As far a great Literature goes Twilight is pretty juvenile. That's not an insult considering who the target audience is. And no matter how old you are, its good be a little juvenile at heart. Which is why women of all ages (and any men who give it a chance), are in love with Twilight. "In love" is too mild a term for some of us. Dare I say, "obsessed" or perhaps even "addicted". At first I was a tad embarrassed about my addiction, but I've decided to come clean and embrace it. I have read the first 3 books twice. I was present at the mid-night release of "Breaking Dawn". We even wore shirts and hats proclaiming our team of choice. I even experience a minor case of PTD, Post Twilight Depression, when I was done with book 4. I've been watching trailers for the movie over and over on line for the past... I don't know how many months, And finally I went to the mid-night premiere of the movie. We got there 2 hrs. early to insure optimum viewing. I went to see it again last night with Sam, and I can't wait to go see it again tonight with my mom, and anyone else who wants to come. Karen?... Andrea?... Anyone?
It's only been the past couple of years that I have discovered the joys of reading just for fun and I'm so glad I did. Being able to escape into a book every once and awhile has saved my sanity on on more than one occasion. I can't get enough of books like "Harry Potter" and now "Twilight", but I also have read some more grown-up books that I love too. Most recently, "The Kite Runner". It was fabulous, in a heart breaking, reminding me what a charmed life I have, sort of way.
After re-reading this post I feel the need to express the fact that I really do have a life, really.

To all of my "All because two people fell in love" kind of friends. I still love you, and the fact is I don't really think that it's as bad as I make it sound (I just really like saying "gag me with a spoon"). But really I think it's nice, (for you). I've just never been very romantic that way. Did you see the movie or even the previews for the movie, Nights in Rodanthe? Remember the scene where Diane Lane is showing Richard Gere the wooden box she made? She tells him "it's to keep special things safe". He looks at her (you know the look) and says "Who keeps you safe?". All I can say is if some guy, I don't care how wonderful or hot he was, said that to me I would crack up laughing. I'm not sure what that says about me. Maybe I'm emotionally immature or maybe I didn't receive enough love as a child (just kidding mom) or maybe I'm just too sarcastic to appreciate romantic gestures and expressions of love. If my man will do the dishes and clean a bathroom every now and then, that's all the romance I need.

Words of Wisdom

I love vinyl lettering. I use it a lot in my home. In the kitchen I have a sign that says "I kiss better than I cook". I tell people,"It's true... and I'm a verrry good cook." Okay, so I'm not that good of a cook but it's a nice conversation piece. Over the dinning table I have a quote by Ronald Reagan "All great change in America begins at the dinner table", most people really like that one, but when Sam's super liberal Democrat aunt saw it she made a point of telling me what a horrible family man Ronald Reagan was. Oh well. "Bless this home with love and laughter" is on the fire place mantel, "Welcome" on the front door, and many others.
Have you seen this quote? It's usually hanging over a family picture or pictures of people's kids, "All because two people fell in love". Maybe you have this quote in your house. If so please don't be offended but every time I see it, it makes me think of another quote, "Gag me with a spoon". You could argue that I'm just not as "in loooove" with my spouse as you are, but really I think it's just because I'm more realistic. Over my shelf of family pictures I'm thinking I'll put "All because two people had no idea what they were getting themselves into".

Routan Babymaker

Okay, just for fun go here , upload your photos and make a baby. Here are a few of mine and Sam's babies. Luckly we make cuter babies in real life.

Oh what a night!

So I'm thinkin' that if I can't get a nap at some point today, tonight will have to be a "take-out" night. If you know me, you know that somewhere very close to the top of my list of favorite things to do is the word SLEEP. I really really like sleep, I like a lot of sleep, and last night I did not get a lot of sleep and the sleep that I got... not so good.
At 1 in the morning McKay woke up crying, no big deal, it happens. Usually we don't even get up. All we have to do is yell from our room, "K.K. go back to sleep." Really, it usually works. Not last night. So eventually I get up and go to his room. In the dark I can see him sitting up in his crib and all of his blankets on the floor. He loves his blankets and must have all three of them when he goes to bed. He only throws them out of bed in preparation for getting out of bed himself. I get a little closer and notice first the smell and then that he is naked from the waist down. Let's try to look on the bright side. The smell I smelled was only pee. It could have been much worse. I then head down stairs to get a diaper. The diapers are in the laundry room. Also in the laundry room is our dog, that's where he sleeps. Of course then the dog wakes up too. Back upstairs I put on a new diaper and then I have a decision to make. Do I take the time to change all of McKay's bedding or do I put him in bed with me? Well, now I know, but at 1 in the morning and very very tired I made the wrong decision. I put him in bed with me. At first it was very sweet. He snuggled up close and put his arm around me and I couldn't help but think how lucky I was and how he is growing up so fast and how I wish this could last forever. That feeling wore off pretty quick when 2 o'clock rolled around and he was tossing and turning and I was still not back to sleep. With only about two feet on my side of the bed I decided to get another blanket and try curling up at the bottom of the bed. I did finally go back to sleep but woke up with a kink in my neck.
Lessons learned
1. No more two piece pjs for McKay.
2. Keep extra diapers upstairs.
3. Always, always choose changing the bedding in the middle of the night over putting the kid in bed with me.

We Love Our Troops

I wanted to post this link to my cousin Mandy's blog because I was very touched by her post. I know that we all love and support our troops but we don't always know what we can do to let them know that. Please read Mandy's post and consider sending a package or a card during this holiday season.

Right in my own backyard.

Today when McKay went down for his nap I took Max, the dog, for a walk. I'm not crazy about Max in general but I love taking him for walks. We headed down the paved walking trail by Castle Wood Canyon. I've never left the paved trail before, but today I decided we would go exploring. I had no idea that there was a path all the way back through the canyon. It was beautiful. We were the only ones there so I let Max off of his leash and he ran and chased birds and had a great time. It was so quiet and peaceful and exactly what I needed today to refuel. There are awesome "climbin' rocks" and I can't wait to take the kids with me next time. Rumor has it that we are expecting snow tomorrow, so I so glad that I got to enjoy the great outdoors today. Castle Wood Canyon is officially one of my favorite places. Next time I'm bringing my camera.

Thoughts on the Election

I feel like at this momentous time in our country's history I should say something to record my thoughts and feeling about the outcome of this election. The problem is I don't know exactly what to think or to feel. I have to say that I saw this coming, so on one hand it is nice to have it decided and over with. Clearly there are many members of this great country that are thrilled with the out come of the election and for the rest of us we need to continue to stand up for the things that are important to us and pray that our new president, and all of those who are leading this nation, will seek the guidance of our loving Heavenly Father every step of the way. Other than that no one knows exactly what the future will bring and exactly what effect our new president will have on that future. I don't think that we should be afraid for the future of the United States, but hold to our faith and continue to stand up for what is right and good. Having said all of that, as the next president of the United States of America, a country that I am still VERY proud to be a citizen of, Mr. Barrack Obama has my respect. God Bless America!!!

And before I move on...

...just a few more Halloween Pics.

K.K. the little stinker. He almost became road kill later that night.

Bryce, the glow in the dark skeleton.


Abby, a very scary Witch.

Gracie, "Meeeeooow"

Nate, The Grim Reaper

More Reasons to Love Grandma and Grandpa's House.

A Super Fun Halloween Party!!

Bobbing for Apples

Ballon Races

And a Pizza Snake!

Reasons to Love Grandma and Grandpa's House

Climbing Trees

Riding 4 Wheelers




Playing in the Wood Pile

Climbing Hay Stacks

Taking Hay Rides

Throwing Rocks in the River

Lots and Lots of Hugs...

...and Kisses.

A super big Thank You to Grandma Mary for the Awesome weekend. I know it's a lot of work and you do a great job. We had a great time.

And Thank you to Grandpa Hal for displaying patience most of the time. I know how you felt about the wasting of the toilet paper in the mummy wrapping game but you held it together pretty well.

We Love You Both Lots!!!