Christmas 2009

I love Christmas. I love being surrounded by tons of family and being together. This was our first Christmas without Vaughn and Ann as they are in Ethiopia on a mission. We did call and talk to them on Christmas day, but it was definitely weird with them gone. Thank goodness we still have plenty of family around...my Mom made a fabulous, huge breakfast for us, it was so sweet of her to do and it tasted so yummy! It snowed Christmas Eve and the roads were awful. Brad handled the Odyssey like a champ and we made it home safely form his Aunt's.
This year we celebrated Christmas Eve at Aunt Susan's house. On the very first Christmas Brad and I spent together we flew to Texas. We had been shopping at DI a few days before and Brad found some XXXL Santa pants and a red winter vest. He surprised everyone that Christmas Eve and dressed up as Santa, it was a huge hit that year. Grandma Porter said that was the yer we all found out Brad was funny. This year for the 10 year anniversary we thought (who am I kidding, I thought) Santa should make an appearance, our kids had never even seen this performance! Brad is such a good sport. Betty rented a Santa suit and he did the whole production, it was great. I just love him. Our family also did a dance number to Jingle Bell Rock, we practiced for days and it turned out great. Not many guys would dress up as Santa and do a dance with their family, we love you Daddy. We enjoyed many acts in the family talent show, ate ALOT of fajitas and shrimp and had fun enjoying family.
Christmas Day the boys woke up at 5:00...luckily they let us sleep until 7, but I could hear them chatting it up out in the living room. We got the boys golf clubs this year, they loved them and are very anxious to play. They also LOVED the Snuggies I won at the White Elephant party. Seriously you would have thought they opened a million bucks. They went berserk and have been wearing them ever since they got them, Dallin sleeps in his. Brad got me a new Blackberry! I guess he figured my days of writing appointments in my little paper book are over. . I must admit, I love it. What a fun holiday we have spent together. I am so grateful for all the many blessings I have, but most importantly my family. They make me laugh, smile, cry and happy to be a part of it!

Happy Birthday Big D!

Wow. I can't believe it has already been 9 years since Dallin was born. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Dallin was due on December 26, but that day came and went. My Mom had flown in from Philly (she didn't even stay with us our apartment was so small). We saw just about every new movie in the theatre to keep my mind off the fact that he was overdue. The Family Man was out that year, it is still one of my favorites. On December 28 we went to Chili's and I still remember what I ate-in fact I even tried eating it when I was overdue with Blake because I was convinced it had started my labor. I started having contractions that night. Brad and Cameron were painting the apartment. I will never forget the comment Cameron made that night (to this day he will always say he was kidding, but he was dead SERIOUS.) I said I was having having contractions

He said: "are you sure they're not Paul's Hiccups?"
I said: "what are you talking about?"
He said: "You know those false contractions?" ( Anne was pregnant too and it was obvious he had done some reading in What to Expect when you're Expecting)
I Said : " You mean Braxton Hicks?"
Classic.

After 29 LONG hours of labor Dallin was finally born. He was born on Grandma and Papa's Anniversary-I can remember them calling the minute after we had him. My Mom and sister were both there and it was fabulous.
Dallin was the worst baby ever. We used to have to drive him around in the middle of the night to get him to sleep. He finally decided he liked to sleep in the swing. We could have bought stock in size D batteries. He liked it so much the motor burnt out and Graco had to send us a new one. After the first year, he has been a DREAM. Seriously, I could not have asked for a better kid. He is a people pleaser, a rule follower, funny, athletic, adorable, smart and talented. The list could go on and on, I just love this kid, he makes me want to be a better mommy. I LOVE YOU BIG D!!!

Notice the pictures start when he is about 2...back in the old days we had what was called film cameras...I need to get all my old photos on digital...so enjoy from age 2 on....

















Dallin with Sydney (the same little girl from the flamingo picture above) We are really hoping this works out...

I'll take this over a White Christmas any day!

Somebody pinch me. Was it really December 21 yesterday? We woke up to the sun shining and took full advantage of it. One of Dallin's friends invited him to the zoo so I was down to two kids. We picked up my Mom and headed to Sonic and then to eat at the park. It was a gorgeous day and we loved every minute of it. Blake spent most of his time conquering the monkey bars that make your hands bleed...Kali opted for the swings and slide. We went to a wooden playground so she also just liked to walk around pretending it was her castle. After that we headed to Tarjay to pick up a few things. As we were finishing up we were walking down an aisle and from farther away I heard glass break. I thought oh no, poor person, that stinks. Poor me. I turned around and saw Blake with an broken snow globe at his feet...and I thought going to the store with 2 kids would be easier...that's Blake for you.

4 Crazy boys and a shopping cart

Dallin had a party to go to on Friday so I told Blake he could have a friend over. One friend turned into 3 (almost 4)...but I was ready for the challenge. Blake has the best boys in his class. They are all so good and they all get along really well. Luckily it was a nice day out and they ran around everywhere. They entertained themselves with a shopping cart for a bit, then down through the woods to the lake. We wrote their teacher's name in the sand (they love her). They played basketball, football and wii and did it all in 2 hours! I will have these boys over any day!

Meet the newest member of our family...

Julie. Julie is now a part of our family because she goes everywhere with us now. My mom wanted to buy Kali an American Girl Doll for Christmas. Luckily we have an AG store and Bistro here so we woke Kali up early on a Saturday morning and headed there. All 3 of us were so giddy and excited. I had read these books growing up, I was so excited for Kali to have a doll. It was all my mom's idea and it was fabulous. Kali was overwhelmed by everything there. She kept running from one doll to the next, looking at every outfit and knick knack in there. After we walked around for an hour she finally narrowed down her doll to Julie. She just loved her hair. She also picked out a cowgirl outfit, complete with boots and changed her immediately. We headed upstairs to the bistro for brunch. This place was just fabulous. We ate mini pink muffins, waffles, french toast and an omelette for my mom. After we went to the mall and ran into Santa, she was so excited. Next she was completed fascinated by the giant tree in the middle of the mall. It was a great day spending it with Kali and my mom. As Kali says it was a day with , " just the girls". It was perfect.

Check out my craftiness

Every year I do the same thing with my Christmas cards. I tape them up to some door in my hallway (by the way finding tape in this household is nearly impossible, tape is great for hours of entertaining kids). I hated the way it looked and it was sometimes a pain. My solution this year? Make something great to hang them on. I have had this open frame in my garage for years, I got it from my mother in law with some great plans for it, but that never happened. Until now. I wanted to put corkboard in the giant frame but no store sells corkboard..weird. My solution? Foam insulation from Home Depot. Since I didn't want shiny silver displayed in my living room I covered it with fabric. Now every time I get one of your beautiful cards I just grab a pushpin (not a great children's toy so very easy to find here). I am in love with my new decoration, what do you think?

Dropping like flies.

It was like the scene from a bad movie. You couldn't have scripted it better. I was having some serious flashbacks of Chunk in the Goonies, if you know the Goonies then you'll know exactly the scene I am about to describe.

If you have a weak stomach this post may not be for you.

The day started out just fine. I was in the cafeteria and Dallin came in and told me two kids from his class had just thrown up. On their desk. On the floor. gross.

The third grade has been practicing the polar express play for over a month now, of course the performance is tonight. They were going to put on the show for the whole school today at 2:00. Dallin was so proud to be a candy cane dancer.

At about 1:30 down go Rachel and Katie. Down to the nurse's office, 2 more from Dallin's class. Sick.

It is now time for the performance, the whole third grade (what's left of them) are up on the stage. The show begins and so does the puking. The kids are singing and running off the stage all throwing up. Some made it to the trash can, others didn't. Luckily they all made it to the hallway. They finished the show and we are now waiting to hear if they are going to cancel the show for tonight. Apparently some of the Kindergartner's had to run out too. Sick.

The final count for Dallin's class? SEVEN. Seven kids gone and sick. The final count for third grade was getting close to 15. Dallin seems great and ready to go give a toe tapping candy can performance, we'll see. Apparently it hits suddenly and drastically. Wish me luck. I hate sick kids.