Christmas Programs

It's been a fun week of Holiday Programs at the kids schools.

 First off was Leah's on Monday morning. I had Brandon and Carter with me so I brought my IPad thinking it would help keep Brandon happy while we waited for the show to start. Well, Carter started fussing for Brandon to let him see the IPad too, and since Brandon didn't want to share, a fight ensued. I took the IPad away from Brandon for not being willing to share and you would have thought I cut off his arm. He started kicking and screaming and causing such a commotion that I had to take him outside. He wouldn't calm down outside either so I left him on the corner outside and I tried to stand at the door to hear the last part of her program. I heard a tiny bit of it, and then it was over. Brandon sat in his room most of the morning while I calmed down from being so upset with him that I missed her show. And that was that! I guess I always have next years program, right? 

On Wednesday though I got a sitter and got to be at Leah's Class Christmas  Party. That was lots of fun. They made gingerbread houses, and had treats outside on the patio. The kids in the class are all so fun and Leah just lights up when I come in. I'm glad I'm able to go from time to time.

On Wednesday was Ashlyn's program. THIS TIME, I left the IPad at home and my morning went much smoother (although it might have had something to do with the major threat I gave Brandon before getting there telling him he'd sit in his room again all day if he threw another fit like he had on Monday). I'm so nice huh!

Her class sang three really good songs and I got to sit next to my friend Brooke who's son, Luke, is also in Ashlyn's class. 

Thursday was Brandon's turn. This is where he was while the rest of his class was......

...here. Acting out the story of the Nativity.

Oh well. At least he wasn't throwing a fit. 

He did perk up when Grandma K and Grandma B presented him with a stuffed Penquin (their class mascot). 

And even though he looks completely uninterested in sitting in Santa's lap in this picture, he was indeed excited to be there. Just nervous. Santa gave him a puzzle and a candy cane. But Brandon couldn't understand why he didn't get a Transformer from him, which is what he asked for. I told him he had to wait until Christmas Day to see if he has been good enough to get one. 

And this is why I never walk into Hallmark. Because I can't come out without some cute little treasure. I was so excited when I saw it, that it practically jumped into my hands. It had to be mine!

The candles were a gift to me from Leah's Kindergarten teacher. Nice huh! 

Some December Fun

It's been a busy, fun, overwhelming, exciting, exhausting, entertaining month so far. I'd be lying if I said it's all been bliss. It can be quite hectic getting Christmas ready for four little kids. So many expectations landing on "mom's" lap. But I'd also be lying if I said I haven't had a really great month so far either. Here are a few pictures from what we've done.

At the beginning of the month my friend Brooke put on a great "Homemade Christmas Party". This party seriously gets better and better every year. Some of the homemade gifts were just AMAZING! I can't believe the talent some people have. I made an etched candle/candy/potpourri holder. It's pictured below. It wasn't one of the amazing gifts by far, but I was proud of it. And it went to a good home. I got a really cute Jewelry holder that coincidentally matches my bedding set exactly, so I was happy.

Dreamworks hosts a "Holiday Bazaar" every year. I don't usually go but since Paul had a booth set up selling "Mugtuk" dolls, I decided to get a sitter and come check it out. There were so many booths with really cool things for sell. I got the girls some stocking stuffer type things. Mostly hair clips and bows, and a cute little "tooth fairy" pillow I'm excited for them to have (tired of trying to find something to stick that tiny little tooth in). Then I found a couple of really cute feather clips for me. 

A friend of ours, Brad, had a surprise Birthday party at a restaurant down in Burbank for his wife Jackie. We got to go. We missed the "surprise" part since I had a primary assignment at the Stake Baptism earlier that evening, but we got there in plenty of time for dinner and to hang out and chat for a while. It was lots of fun and the food was really good. 

We took the kids on our traditional outing to the "Wakefield Winter Wonderland" lights. This year I did the inviting of friends and before I knew it over 50 people were coming in our group (I can't say I'm not blessed with good friends that's for sure. I'm SO grateful for them). I was worried we would all just lose each other, but surprisingly enough we stayed together pretty well and it was a really fun night. 

But there were FAR too many people to get a decent group shot like we like to get. Here's our best attempt in panoramic view.

Got a cute photo of the Phillips Family. One of our besties, who just moved less than a mile from us. I'm so excited to have them closer that I could scream. I think I have a few times. 

Brandon is indeed IN this picture. You just have to play "Where's Waldo" to find him. Surprising? No, not really. He's so finicky when it comes to picture taking. It's just not worth the fight most of the time. Paul is still in his suit because he literally came screaching into the driveway minutes after all our other friends arrived ready to caravan over to the lights. Poor guy. He was at church late doing tithing (the day after tithing settlement). Of course, the nice wife I am, was totally bugged that he was late. I know.... I gotta work on that patience level from time to time. It's just tough sometimes having him gone ALL day Sunday and then expecting him home and then not having it happen. I was, at least, decent enough to make him some dinner that he could eat on the way there. Sorry honey! I will try to be better. 

We had our ward Christmas party the next weekend. I was suppose to be more helpful with this party but with Paul in charge of Activities also, it never quite works out that well. He's trying to run in one direction and I'm trying to go in another and there aren't enough of us to watch the kids. We brought Grace along with us because Ashlyn had been at a Girl Scout Holiday party RIGHT before this. It actually helped keep the girls happy and in one spot. It was the boys we were mostly chasing. But it all turned out well in the end. The Primary kids did a cute nativity re-inactment. I got barfed on by Carter right as it was starting and I was suppose to be directing the shepherds. Luckily Paul had that "little feeling/thought" (thank you Holy Ghost) to get up and see if he could help me RIGHT as Carter started throwing up, so he was able to rush him off to the bathroom to clean him up. I ran to the girls restroom to get as clean as I could and I was still able to get back to my "shepherds" in time to not mess up the program. As a side note: No, Carter was not sick. He just likes to throw up a lot. Ha...really he just gagged on a little tiny piece of leaf he had picked up off the ground and that's all it took to bring his dinner up. Lovely huh!

Paul was then in charge of the Nativity movie (done by the church), so he handed Carter back off to me and got to his duty. 

And despite the barfing incident, the night was really a lot of fun. I ate lots of yummy food and did get to sit and enjoy the night chatting with some friends at neighboring tables. 

Seriously??!!

Look who decided he was big enough to CLIMB up on the table. Never have I had a child climb on the table....or anywhere dangerous like that. And he was fast. I had my back to him while looking something up on the computer. My heart about dropped when I turned around. 

Paul turned 34!

Which means I'm next...which is quite depressing, so let's not talk about it. So now back to Paul since this is HIS post. This past Saturday Paul turned 34! Wow....like how did that even happen? That means I've known him for 13 years. More than a 1/3 of his life. But that is going back to me. Sorry honey! Haha...Okay now really... we had a fun birthday weekend with him. We decided to start celebrating on Friday night since we were going out on Saturday without the kids. As soon as I picked up Ashlyn and Leah from school I told them it was operation "Get ready for Daddy's party". They got all excited. I told them their duties were to clean up the house (pretty sneaky of me huh? But it TOTALLY worked. Wish I could use that excuse more often.) and make birthday posters. They got right on it. I started making the cake (thanks for the stick of butter Brooke) and cooking his usually requested birthday dinner of ....wait for it.....tacos. Yup, that's right. Tacos. He always requests them for his birthday. Works for me cuz they're easy. So it's a win win. Anyway, so we hung balloons from the ceiling (thanks for the idea pinterest), taped up posters all around and got organized. After the cake was done, I decided we needed some more Christmas lawn decorations (that goes with his party right? SURE), so we rushed over to Lowe's and bought a blow up nativity scene and some net lighting. That along with our snowflake stakes and soon to be put up icicles, and our front yard will FINALLY have some Christmas decorations. Okay, I keep getting side tracked. Back to Paul. So I had Paul text me right before he got home so the kids could hide and "surprise" him. Then we all sat down to dinner, ate some yummy food, had cake and ice cream and opened a few gifts. Hooray! It was a fun evening (except for Carter who was throwing fits but ya know....nothing's ever perfect right). The next day Paul and I went out to lunch at Rubios (his pick), where he ordered....wait for it....tacos. Yes, you heard me right. Tacos....again! But I guess in his defense, this time they were FISH tacos. I do not make those. So lunch was yummy and then we headed over to the theater to see "Hugo". Totally amazing movie. Go see it....you will love it! Here are some pictures from the weekend. I didn't take that many unfortunately.

Next year I will be sure to actually GET IN one of the pictures. 

These were all gifts from the "kids". He got a new stylus for his ipad, President Monson's biography, some body wash and smelly spray (for men), a new cover for his iphone, and an itunes gift card. 

Like my ghetto cake? Obviously I didn't have 34 candles, so I made a 3 out of candles and then stuck a number 4 candle I had left over from Leah's birthday a couple of years ago. Kind of pathetic I know. But it worked! 

I wonder what he wished for?

So proud of my Girl

Ashlyn got "Valiant Viking" for the week. I think her teacher picks her, but it's basically an award from the Principal for being an AWESOME student....which she is! When I drove through valet to pick her up yesterday and saw the sign with her name on it, my first thought was "YAY!" and then my second thought was, "oh no, she probably hated having to go up to the Principal's office to get her award". 

She got in the car and said to me, "I got the Valiant Viking award". I told her I saw it and was SO proud of her. To which she said, "yeah, but when they announced it I was thinking, please don't say my name, please don't say my name". I had to crack up. She's SO incredibly shy. I know she loves to get awards but dreads "receiving" them. She told me she had to walk up to the office by herself and that she was so embarrassed. Funny little thing! But we are SUPER happy for her so I made her pose in front of the sign to take her picture. Then I made her look excited about it (see the second picture). 

Thanksgiving Weekend

I will admit....this was a "weird" Thanksgiving weekend for us. I'm not entirely sure why. Paul had off from Wednesday through Sunday, so I had lots of help, but for some reason we all just seemed kind of off. I guess there have just been some weird stresses going on around here. Nothing major, but enough to tweak the mood a bit. Maybe it was because we were all at some stage of not feeling great. Or maybe it was the lack of sleep (because of not feeling great). Who knows. I really shouldn't complain though. Over all, it was fine!

Sometimes I like to take pictures of my kids sleeping. Brandon of course has swords and a light saber in bed with him. He has his own bed but doesn't like it and has adopted the guest bed (which is in his room) as his own. Whatever! I guess a toddler bed is too small for him. He likes the twin. 

Ashlyn doesn't usually sleep with this on her face, so I thought it was cute that she was this night. 

Leah's my rock solid sleeper. Likes to go to bed early and wake up early. She pops out of bed ready to go! Hope she stays that way come seminary.

We went to the park on Wednesday to let the kids run around. It was a nice day. Carter loves the swing and then mostly hung out in the wood chips after that.

For some reason this is the only picture I got on Thanksgiving. I guess we know where my priorities are....on the rolls!

Well, I take that back. At the end of the evening, two seconds before I walked out the door, I snapped a picture of Tyler and Heather. We spent the afternoon at their house eating and chatting and hanging out. Paul and I followed Carter around like a hawk (their house isn't exactly baby proof and he likes to get into EVERYTHING). It was quite exhausting. And despite the fact that at one point Paul and I were both less than two feet from the little guy, he still managed to knock over a ceramic decorative piece and smash it on one side. Sheesh! Last time he broke something over there, it was a family heirloom that I can't replace. Yeah, I pretty much felt like garbage!

Friday night was SUPER fun! I went to see Breaking Dawn with some of my favorite peeps ( I have lots of favorite peeps, so if you aren't in this picture, don't be offended. I'm a lucky girl in the friend department). It was SO fun and I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards, we went for ice cream at Cold Stone (since we didn't already eat enough with all the popcorn, soda and candy we had at the movies). Then we headed over (in the dark) to see Tina's new house that is totally awesome. I'm SO SO SO excited for her. A five bedroom with a big backyard. 

I want this Christmas tree from Sam's Club. It's nothing special. Just a slim 7 foot tree, but I like it. I'm still debating. Christmas time always has my money going to other things so we'll see.

And even though this kid was most of the reason for the "off" weekend, he's still super cute. He's just in a really difficult stage. Literally can't take my eyes off him or he's into something. It might be the end of me to see him through this next year. Hopefully I'll survive it. 

Paul is Super Dad (despite all the other things he has going on) and is always thinking of fun things to do with the kids. I swear I can't compete with him. He's too fun and creative. He built a block tower with the kids and then they all raced their cars to knock it down. He's so good at keeping them happy. I hope they realize how lucky they are!

On Saturday Paul took the kids to the Griffith Observatory. Ashlyn was SO excited that she could hardly sleep the night before. I was going to go also, but made a last minute decision to stay home with Carter since he was up for three hours the night before because he was so congested. Paul took some pictures there, but they are on his phone so I will have to get them later. They had lots of fun. I was sad to miss it, but I am sure I will go again some other time. 

On Sunday we went out to Agoura Hills to hear my cousin Chad's mission homecoming talk. It was great to see him and listen to him talk about his mission. He's the first in our family to serve a mission. We are all very proud of him!

This Saturday is Paul's big 34th Birthday. How did we get so old? I'm excited for our date night. I think we both need it! 

Well, my baby is crying and it's time to pick up the girls from school...so I'm off. Good timing!