Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

P.S. Hillary, thanks for making a super fun Christmas card for us!

BOOOO! HISSSSS!

Gets it at 6

We asked Elliott what we should buy his teacher for Christmas...

Elliott: "We should buy her flowers, because, well, girls like flowers."

Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That...

Some of the things that have been happening at our house:

You have to watch the dinosaurs. I think the one on the left may have waited a little to long to eat.

Bailey thought she was burning, wait that is the TV.

Creepy dolls took over.

Guess everything is business and usual.

P.S.

tried the Arby's shake ... not my fav.

Chocolate Mint Swirl Shake

Arby's said they will send you a email for a free mint chocolate swirl shake if you sign up here:
https://arbysextras.fishbowl.com/forms/arbys/join.asp
Let's see!

Happy Thanksgiving

2 delicious dinners

lots of good company

endless things we are thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving

One Down...A Few More To Go

E lost his 1st tooth today.

Rule of Society

There are times when I would love to be a police officer. I went to McDonald's to return a redbox movie. It was Saturday night and McDonald's was busy. There was a small line so I had to wait. The person at the machine got his movie and returned to his car parked in the handicap spot. Now, his car was clearly not sporting a handicap license plate nor a tag hanging in the window. He left. I wished I could have given him a ticket.

Then a new black whatever pulls into the spot, again no tag or license plate. When the guy got out it I wanted so badly to turn to him, with all the fake sympathy I could lay on, and tell him how sorry I was that his wife was handicapped. Then the wife jumps out and comes up to the machine. I glanced down and saw her ridiculous high heel boots, the sight of which made me want to say something about how it must be because of her boots that they had had to park in the handicap spot because she wasn't able to walk across the parking lot from one of the many open parking spots. I wanted to tell him to move his dumb car and leave the spot for someone who may actually need it. I wanted to tell them how selfish, lazy, and jerky they are. That my step mom in-law is in a wheelchair, and if she wanted to come to McDonalds she should have a place to park. Or that our Grandma needs to have those spots too. I also wanted to ask what makes them so much better than anyone else that they can break that law. However, I am not that kind of a person, so instead I go home fuming all the way wishing that I am. Stupid jerks!

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart. We love you lots and lots.

The Cookie Snatcher

Today a cookie snatcher came to my house. So what is the best Aunt in the world to do?

Make cookies for him to snatch.

One More Halloween Picture

Iguana Ink just sent this. They all look so cute I couldn't resist posting one more Halloween picture.

Happy Birthday DJ

Happy Birthday - We hope you have a great day!

The Force Was With Us

The phone conversation went something like this:

Hillary: You know what would be really cool this year?
Me: What?
Hillary: We should have the boys be Jedi for Halloween. Owen could be Yoda.
Me: That would be awesome. Hey boys do you want to be Jedi for Halloween?
Boys: YES!
Me: You hear that?
Hillary: I did. Sweet.
Me: Sweet.

I'm not sure at what point it was decided that I would MAKE the costumes. I'm not even sure Hillary asked me to make them for her boys. I may have just taken over, I do that sometimes. Not sure what I was thinking because I don't even sew. So what do we end up with?

Apparently, I ROCK!

The costumes turned out SO much better than I could have ever imagined. Even Dan asked me to make a costume for him. Will I attempt something on this scale again? Ask me later -I need some time to recover.

Thank goodness Bailey decided to do something simple this time. She was a princess -not a perfect princess a more modern princess and definitely not leia. She looked very pretty. Tenneil asked me to make a robe for Hannah to play in because she felt left out. It just happened that the color she picked worked with Hannah's costume.

The kids had a great time at the traditional downtown trick or treat. Then we went to Mom and Dad's for soup.
.

3 Jedi (maybe 4), 1 Yoda, 1 Princess, and part of a Witch

Yes Hillary, crazy is alive and well at our house.

Weekend at the Cabin

We spent last weekend at a cabin up Weber canyon with the whole family. We passed the time playing games, watching movies, carving pumpkins, and enjoying the outdoors - including watching a moose from the deck. Bailey and her friend Courtney played tricks like leaving fake rats on the kitchen floor and spiders in the butter. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful weekend. We all had a great time. Here are just a few of our favorite photos - okay a lot!

Life with the boys - swearing and awful smells

On our way to Reams to pick up this year's pumpkins:

E: "Mom, when can I swear?"
Me: "When you are a grown up."
E: "AWESOME!"

Not long after that:

E: "Smell that horrible smell?" - said in a completely disgusted voice
Alex: "Yeah, you farted didn't you." - equally disgusted
E: "Yes" - hehehe

Bless his heart.

Oh, Thank you!

Last night was Bailey's first choir concert. She wanted to send out a thanks to all the family that came to watch. She hopes everyone enjoyed the performance and maybe got a little giggle. "Meow"

Think Happy Thoughts, Happy Thoughts

Our Niece Hannah likes Yo Gaba Gaba. She comes to our house in the mornings and likes to watch it. I secretly like it, and like that I have an excuse to watch. Why do I like a kid show you might ask. What's not to like? Silly characters, silly songs, and priceless lessons for everyone.

I love the interchangeable lyrics. The topic of the day is food - snacky snack snack, snack snack snack. Oh, the topic is dance - dancey dance dance, dance dance dance. I love that "Party in my Tummy" can get a kid to eat almost anything, and "Clean it up" gets them to jump up and help clean. I dare you to sing "Happy Thoughts" without thinking some. Click here to go to NickJr radio.

It just seems nice that in a time of presidential elections, economic crisis, and general yuck. Something so simple can lift spirits and make me smile. Thanks Gaba gang!

Let the hunt begin!

It is the time of year when here comes the camo and there goes my husband to participate in the muzzleloader hunt. Bailey was able to go with him this year, she went opening day and then she was finished. For more of the story http://youmissedwhat.blogspot.com/2008/09/good-job-boys-good-job.html

Happy Birthday Mom!

To celebrate Mom's birthday this year we decided to give her a surprise party. We called Dad, set up secret meetings, and made arrangements for the party. Dad was told to delete calls from caller ID, and we barely spoke with Mom for a week. We were afraid we would blow it.

Her actual birthday was Friday. We went to Lagoon. We gave her a small package of cheesecake, (the birthday dessert of her choice), and told her we would do her traditional family dinner on Monday.

Saturday came and Dad managed to get Mom out of the house, they went to a movie. We got to their house and set up everything. The boys drove the cars down the street and we locked the door. Inside we waited, and waited - Dad kept her out a little too well. Finally they got home, came through the door to find 60 colorful balloons and family jumping out to say surprise.

She had no idea, laughing she asked Dad if he he was in on it, Aunt Ann and Grandma if they were in on it. We all told her yes and she couldn't believe none us spilled it. We enjoyed her dinner (taco salad - what's not to enjoy) and more cheesecake.

Happy 60th Mom! We love you.

a side note

E just woke up, walked into the kitchen, dropped his jammies, opened the dishwasher... luckily I stopped him before he used it as a toilet. That was close!

Shadow Cowboys

Today I was at the school to pick up the boys. I had them loaded in and some boy asks if I know a kid named Alex. I asked if he meant my Alex and he confirmed that yes, that was who he was looking for. Then he wants to know if Alex can come to his house for a Star Wars 52nd anniversary party. After snickering quietly with Hillary over the 52 anniversary - we don't think it is really that old, I get a little more info from this kid. He gives me his name, address, and phone number, and description of his house, (there might be a grey truck out front). We drive down the road to find his house, see a grey truck, and as we pull up to the house Hillary sees it... the shadow cowboy.

I hate shadow cowboys. I should apologize to those who have them but, I can't. Not even sure why I don't like them - just don't. I see them around some even have bandannas around their necks to "liven" them up a little. It seems that they only pop up when I don't have the camera - not this time shadow cowboy man! So we pull over take a picture because I needed to have something to show anyone not sure of what a shadow cowboy is what it is that I am writing about.

We are laughing and photoging, we finish and realize it isn't the kids house, (that's next door), and I was half way out in the road. Not sure if I blocked the road or not but there were several cars that drove past when I pulled fully off the road. Great I was just trying to get pictures for my blog. Now I am the stupid girl taking pictures and blocking the road that they are all blogging about, figures!

That's what we get?

Labor day - the last great warm say goodbye to summer weekend. Not this year, a sample of what we experienced.

This is where a photo of Dan finishing the 5k should go. After it rained all night and then confessing to me that the doctor told him not to run for a month, he decided to pass this time.

yay! The weather cleared let's go the park/parade!

boo! It's really raining again, back to the van.

hoe hum - Let's go to Beauty and the Beast, (at least Bailey can get school credit for that) The boys can go see Star Wars Clone Wars, (that saves me from having to go).

yay! Weather is okay, let's go back to the park.

Rides, snow cones, and cotton candy now we can let summer go.

Wanted: Repair Person

I need a repair guy (or gal) to come to my house. Dan is broken. Maybe not broken so much as malfunctioning. His "put away" is on the fritz - has been for some time. Not always, mostly in the kitchen. Three times this week this:

has been left on the counter. Let me know if you know anybody that specializes in this type of repair. There might be some fruit pizza in it for you. Bless his heart!

Life with the boys - That's Farticus on the left

A life with 2 sisters never prepared me for life with 3 boys -yes that includes the husband. I am not sure if I should thank Dad for shielding us from this territory or criticize his parenting choice. As I read through other blogs I know that I am not alone in this battle, yet this doesn't always make it easier to head out into the field everyday.

The latest:

We are enjoying a visit with Dan's Dad and Step mom. Shortly after dinner, out of nowhere, Elliott announces his name is Farticus. Farticus?!

sad mommy

The kids are all back in school. Bailey in 7th grade, ran off to ride the bus with her friend, with barely a wave. Alex in 4th ran off once he realized which of his friends are in his class. Even Elliott in 1st only seemed slightly nervous. What's a mom to do - cry. Then when Hannah came to spend the day, I opened the door and said, "At least someone wants to spend the day with me!" Tenneil smiled and said, "She just told me she doesn't want to come to Aunt Monca's today." Are you trying to kill me?

Last Minute Girls Night Out

On Monday we decided at the last minute to do a final girls night out before school starts next week. Remember the photo booths? We found them and took advantage. Bye Bye Summer.

Flat tires suck!

Thanks to my super awesome brother in law and sister, Nick and Hillary, who saved us during the awful flat tire trama today. We couldn't have done it without you. You ROCK!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

to a great Husband & Dad. We love you very much!