See it all~

Okay (since Natalie wishes I would post more)--I just posted a couple of new blogs with LOTS of pictures! Scroll down and enjoy the show!

Time out...

So this is Tessa's "time out" spot! (I know, we can do an entire post on her hair later...she gets it from her dad.) But as she has been getting older, we have been trying to teach her and when she hits, she goes to time out. I write goes--but really she marches--all I have to say, is "Tessa, go to time out"...and she marches with her one arm swinging and sits herself down. I tell her to stay there until she can be nice...and when she comes out I ask her if she's ready. She nods yes and then smiles--I hope I never forget the little pouty faces she pulls--for as much as I should be disciplining her, I find that it tugs on my heartstrings more than I'd like to admit. What a little toot!

All aboard...the Polar Express!!

"THIS IS THE POLAR EXPRESS....."What a fun way to feel the Christmas Spirit! It was pure magic for the kids--and as it goes with 4 young kids, a miracle that we all survived! :) Thanks Dad--for a FUN get-away!

Here comes Santa...a real beard and everything! Carter is always so animated--is this the picture of pure joy or what?

"Happy" to see Santa! Tessa's favorite part was the cookie--can you tell??? Our "Cocoa Chef" on the Polar Express--super attentive and way off key! Getting ready for the train to leave the station in Williams--and transport us to the North Pole!

Waiting for the Polar Express! It was cold...but lots of fun!

Here we are in front of an old steam engine!

I guess it's tradition to wear PJ's to ride on the Polar Express--so we ordered the famed PJ Pals from Disney--and we were off to see the train!

Here are the kids playing in the dirty snow in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn--where we stayed in Williams, Arizona. We decided to take the kids to see the Polar Express this year. We
knew we wouldn't be traveling to see family for Christmas this year and thought it would be a fun get-away! It was fun to see them playing in the snow--the boys didn't remember ever seeing it before--and they even ate some (which makes me cringe)--but oh well, the trip would have been worth it just to watch them playing in the snow. That is one thing that I will always miss at Christmas time...I LOVE snow (for a few days at least)...I'll admit, it was nice to get back to the valley...we spent that afternoon vacuuming out the van in our t-shirts! You gotta love winter in AZ!

Updates....

Here are a few updates of the past few months! Things at our house have been a little crazy and I am hoping with this new year, to be a little more dedicated to my blog...but these pics should let you catch a glimpse of the happs at our house!

Happy Thanksgiving 2009! We just celebrated with our own little clan...and here you see the 5 things I am most grateful for in the whole world! It was a nice day of just being together...and eating cheesecake!

We had to "Tessa-proof" this year! I asked Kelly to build me a box to put the tree on so that I wouldn't spend the month of December telling Tessa "don't touch"--and redecorating the tree. He thinks it is daggy--but I think it is innovative and is worth the semi-ghetto look that it adds to our Christmas! :)

The kids and I worked on decorating the inside of the house and it was so fun for Tess...yes, by fun for her, I mean emptying all of the decorations on to the floor and me running to rescue anything that was glass...but we ended the evening with cocoa and toast...a fun family tradition!

Kelly and Carter spent some time the day after Thanksgiving hanging our Christmas lights...we even decorated a few trees this year! It is so weird to hang Christmas lights and wear shorts....shouldn't there be snow?

Christopher is a dance maniac! Kelly was listening to some Metallica while working in the garage and hanging Christmas lights--and this picture was taken of Chris--rocking out in all his glory!

Tessa has learned the word apple...and LOVES to snack! I love hearing her talk and she is so sweet...I hope it lasts, but I am seeing the "terrible twos" looming on the horizon :) FINALLY....Carter has learned to ride a bike!!! I don't know why he has resisted for so long--but he has preferred his big wheel...until just a month ago! Kelly held on to the seat once and then Carter was off on his own--and LOVES it!

Christopher called in to me the other day--I was in the kitchen and he started yelling, "Mom-I'm stuck in here!" This is where I found him! Oh--the wonders of childhood! He is such a character and keeps me on my toes!

Phrases of the week....

"Mom, Tessa stinks!"
"Stop licking me....I said, stop licking me!"
"Mooooooooooom--I'm done!"
"What are we having for dinner?--ew yuck!"
"Tessa stinks!"
"Stop throwing toys at the Christmas tree!"
"Hep me mom" (tessa)
"Tessa stinks!"
"This looks disgusting!"
"Walk"
"I'm too tired to go to school."
"Can I play Sonic?"
"Tessa stinks!"
"Get off me!"
"Mom--I'm stuck in here..."
"Yuck, Tessa sneezed!"
"You do it if you're so smart!"
"Tessa stinks!"
"I AM hurrying!"
"Love you, mom"

What was I born to do?

I've been attending a scripture study class that our Stake offers and this year we have been studying the New Testament and Jesus the Christ. I think this class has become my life line. This week we discussed Mary, the mother of Christ and how she was predestined--or chosen before she was born, to be the mother of Jesus. Our teacher then posed the question, "What were you born to do?"
She paused for a bit and really let the question sink in--and since that morning I have been haunted by that thought--what have I been born to do? It has made me think about how I spend my time and where my focus lies--what do I aim for each day?
Our teacher told us that she felt she was truly born to be a mother--that she really loved being a mother. Let's just say that usually I don't have the best attitude about motherhood and kids--it stresses me out--but the way she said that she felt it was what she born to do started me thinking.
Why not me? Why wouldn't that be what I was born to do? Just because I'm a little rough around the edges doesn't mean that I wasn't meant for this. I have started looking at my kids a little differently and since that afternoon I have felt a special love for my kids that wasn't there before.
Maybe it's because I was getting in my own way...it's hard to see and really love others when you are only looking at yourself.

Cream cheese...

Why does everything that tastes good this time of year have to be made with cream cheese?

Seriously...it's on sale everywhere I go--so I buy it at 10 bricks a trip and before I know it, it's back on my shopping list again. Tis the season of cheeseballs, dips, cheesecakes, spreads, dips, dips and more dips...has there ever been a dip that can't be improved by adding cream cheese?

You like chips and salsa? Add cream cheese and you're in for a treat! You like shrimp with marinara sauce? Add a brick of cream cheese, serve with Ritz and you are set. You like fruit? Why not a big bowl of cream cheese, marshmellow fluff, and brown sugar to top it off? I can't get away from it and wish I had the will power to resist, but I just don't. You may wonder why I am even posting about this! Is it an obession? Maybe...all I know is that today I was getting ready for a party with the girls in our ward and used 3 bricks of cream cheese...I am planning to use 4 more on Friday for another party we are attending...7 in one week! Whew....

But, indulge I will and I'll enjoy every minute of it--up until the time I start running again to burn it all off! Oh well...you gotta live.