Crafts To Give!

There was so much preparation that went into the Christmas craft day this year, but it was well worth it!  This year we decided to do something different, since Christmas is about giving gifts we decided to make homemade gifts for others instead of ourselves. This was the first year to do this, but I'm sure that we will be doing this from now on; it just makes sense.

Ethan listening to the Christmas Hat told by Mr. Kelly

Enthralled by the story

Miss Patti with Addysen and Aidan

Ethan and Mommy with some Christmas goodies

Miss Terri helping Mikyla make one of her many bracelets

Everyone was in a frenzy once the story by Mr. Kelly was over to get going on their projects, and surprising enough it wasn't too overwhelming.  What was overwhelming to me was going around following the three of you and helping out where ever I was needed.  Aidan was so cute in the excitement of getting a present wrapped for each person in his life and writing a name tag for each one, you even made something for Mommy and Daddy.  I loved my cookie mix and Daddy's coffee warmer was perfect for him.  Mikyla on the other hand made two or three bracelets for different people as well a scarf and cookie jar mix but she was really into the bracelets; such a girly girl I have.  And for a three year old Ethan was a champ getting three presents made, such a big boy!

By the time the day was over we all let a big breath of relief out.  It's funny that every year so much prep for the day and then it's over in a flash and it seems to rush by in a frenzy of activity.  It was a truly uplifting day for everyone involved and a great start to the holiday season to come!

Daddy helping Mikyla with her cookie mix jar

Jenna and Mikyla enjoying the fun

Miss Lisa and the wrapping frenzy.

Mommy and Ethan making cookies in a jar.

Thank You For Thanksgiving!

I love the holidays and everything that comes with them, especially spending time with the family.  I have many memories of Thanksgiving mornings gone by, and they all involve that wonderful parade that commences the holiday season.  I can remember how much I wanted to be a Radio City Rockett when I was little. And now I love that my kids are glued to the television squeeling as they see the giant balloons and broadway singers...and of course those magnificent Rocketts!

It was a quiet day at Nono and Grandma's house and a great time with Zia Lauri!  So much food and then a surprise from Grandma.  She got us our very own Christmas Elf.  We first read the story of the elf on the shelf and then we had to name him...otherwise he wouldn't get his magic!  Then topped off by a classic holiday tradition or should I say obbsession with The Polar Express.  Grandma said that Aidan has been asking to watch it since Halloween.  Love, love, love the holdiays, so let them begin.


Reading Elf on the Shelf to you guys!



Zia had to have a picture showing that you are almost as tall as her!

An Early Thanksgiving

We were blessed to get to enjoy our family from Idaho for an early Thanksgiving.  Mikyla, Aidan, and Ethan were so excited to see their cousins; we've been skyping but it's just not the same as playing in person, and oh did they play!  Mikyla was glued to Aubrey and Courtney's side and Cora was glued to Mikyla's side...oh the love for the older cousin, it was so sweet.  And the boys, they were busy outside having walnut fights, jumping in and out of the walnut trailers; and getting a little banged up in the process. 

Then there was the food, lots of food, and the kids table was once again full!  It filled my heart to once again here the loud cries of everyone talking around the table.  And after dinner we were entertained by the play of all plays about none other than Santa Claus himself.  Directed by Clayton, and staring Aidan as Santa Claus.  Everyone was happy, except Mikyla and Cooper who didn't have a job or not the job they wanted!  Mikyla, with no nap, got pretty upset and almost missed the show all together; but was saved by her boosem buddy Aubrey.  Aubrey let Mikyla play the riendeer after she had a turn for a while, and all was right with the world once more.

Loved being with all the family even for a few days, now the countdown is on for Christmas and the next arrival from Idaho.

The Turkey Dance

Aidan was so excited for his Thanksgiving program and couldn't wait for me to do the "Turkey Dance".  He showed me the motions and I was afraid that this Turkey Dance seemed awefully similar to the chicken dance which I can say isn't my favorite; but for Aidan I adore every motion.  There was turkeys, pilgrims and indians and Aidan was what else but a little indian.  He was so exicited to see me in the audience and it made my smile even bigger.  There he was standing in the back smile on durring every poem and song and then there came the turkey dance!  Aidan had such fun up there and then all the kids lit up as Mrs. Sanchez invited us parents to join in the fun.  I have to say that it was one of the only times I've enjoyed that dance, and now I'll think of my favorite little indian every time I hear the song!  The program ended and then came the feast, which was disquised as a healthy food group banquet, I helped serve and then snuck over to see Aidan and his friends before I left...such fun!

Hayrides, a Bounce House and Bonfires

The smell of fall is in the air, finally, and I adore everything that comes with that delicious smell.  The last couple of years the annual hayride at Grammy and Pappa's house has been not so annual, canceled due to weather, but this year was different.  We got there before everyone else, because the kids couldn't wait to get their feet a bouncing in the bounce house.  Just the smell of the bonfires burning and seeing the hayride got even me excited for the season.  You see the hayride means it's almost Thanksgiving and then the holidays have begun for our family and we set flight on the world wind of activities that follows. 

Of course Mikyla couldn't wait for Aubrey to get there, and once she was they were thick as thieves, two peas in a pod.  I don't think I saw one seperated from the other all night.  It warms my heart that she has someone so close to her.  I didn't see Aidan much, he spent most of the night in the bounce house with the other boys wrestling.  He did make it out for the hayride, of course and he cracked me up because he was determined to roast his own hotdog for dinner.  It took much longer than I thought to accomplish this task, I don't know if any hotdogs fell in the fire in the process, (he's not telling); but he did it himself and was very proud!  Ethan bounced his little heart out and when he wasn't in the bounce house he stuck pretty close to my side, which is fine with me.  And At the end of the night who were the last people in the bounce house?  Ethan and Aidan, bouncing as high as they could, my only thought was that they were going to sleep well that night.

Amanda and John came to visit and got to experience their first hayride.  It was a good time and filled me up with gooshiness because I knew the memories that my kids were making with all our friends and family.  And so...now let the holidays begin!  Bring on the food, the family and cousins, the fun...and did I mention food?!

Another Tooth Comes Out!

I can't believe but the front tooth that has been loose for a couple months now, (but just stayed that way because Aidan was too afraid of pain to wiggle it), finally came out today.  I looked at his mouth and saw that the tooth was a little crooked so I asked if I could see how wiggly it was, and of course Aidan clenched his mouth, knowing exactly what I wanted to do.  You see, I am a picker, wiggler, etc. and am physically unable to leave something alone that needs taking care of.  As a child I couldn't leave a tooth alone until it came out, it didn't matter how much it hurt, I could deal with the pain for the ultimate outcome of a tooth for the tooth fairy!  Aidan kept saying that he wanted to do it and so I was letting him, but he couldn't because he said he was scared.  I asked what he was scared of and he said that he was scared that it was going to hurt.  Finally after blood was starting to show around the gum I asked if I could look one more time and all it took was a little push and POP, out came the tooth! At dinner tonight he said, "Mommy how am I going to eat my dinner with only one tooth?"  I told him that he had a lot more teeth to chew with and not to worry about it too much. He was so excited and said he couldn't wait to show his friends.  As soon as we got to church he ran over to Garrett Hixson and opened his mouth to show the excitement and thrill of the tooth that was no more, it was really cute seeing the smile and joy on his face.

Right before the tooth came out!

After much fear, it's out!

The first front tooth to come out!

Is That a Light at the End of the Tunnel?

I don't want to jinx anything but I am too excited not to celebrate something.  In two days it will have been one month since I started potty training Ethan, and if going off of how long it took me to train Aidan I am half way there.  Ethan hasn't had an accident in his pants in two whole days, and he has gone "big poo poo" in the potty three times.  To some people this may be a simple feet but to a mom who has potty trained two and is hopefully soon to be done with diapers in her house this is MAJOR!  So as a desperate potty training mother, who will resort to just about anything to get the end result accomplished, I bribed; and oh how I bribed.  I told Ethan that I would by him any toy if he was a big boy and went big poo poo in the potty and not his pants.  And oh to my surprise, the bribing finally worked!  We went to Target last night to pick out his special toy for being a big boy, a toy airplane!  He LOVES it and can't stop playing with it.  So here's to keeping this ball rolling and here's keeping my fingers crossed that this IS the light at the end of the tunnel that I'm hoping for.  Go Ethan, in the potty of course!

Sept 7, 2011

The first time that Ethan went poo poo in the potty!

Ya for Ethan!

The new Airplane for being a Big Boy!

Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

Picking the perfect pumpkin can be difficult with all the choices that there are at the pumpkin patch, but we were up for the challenge! I informed the kids on the ride out to the Bear Creek Pumpkin Patch, which we visit annually, that Mommy was going to be taking lots of pictures and that they needed to be good and smile.  I told them this was because Mommy loved pictures of them so that when they were old and mommies and daddies someday I could look back and remember when they were little.  This must have worked because they were wonderful!  We looked at all the wonderful pumpkins and around at the wild flowers, we even spotted a butterfly perched on a sunflower.  Then there was the indian tee-pee and the indian corn and cool gords.  And what trip to the pumpkin patch would be complete without the perfect family shot, which as the kids are getting older is getting much easier to accomplish.  Everyone got their pumpkin, perfect for them, you have to be able to carry your own pumpkin (that's the rules).  Aidan wanted to pick everyone's pumpkin for them, he was so concerned with what would be best for Ethan and Mikyla; plus he had to climb to the top and back of the pile to get them.  Mikyla on the other hand just wanted me to take her picture in different locations, totally into it, which hasn't been her mantra in the past.  And Ethan was only concerned with the Red Rider wagon we had to put the pumpkins in and being in charge of pulling it, (or sitting in it).  All in all a great morning with my lovely munchkins and hubby!