Temple Square Lights

I think I've put this off long enough.  I just need to get it done.  So here it goes.

During the month of December, we went to Temple Square to see the lights for FHE.  We met the Fuller Family and my parents in Ogden and rode Front Runner down to SLC.  The kids were really excited that they got to ride a train.  Tanner was so cute when we pulled up to the station and saw the train.  He got a huge smile on his face and Ellie started clapping her hands and squealing.

 Lindsay, Tanner, Ellie, Grandpa

 Brennen, Aimee, Kaylee, Meagan, Grandma

We packed snacks and drinks for the ride down.  I'm hoping this is a tradition that we do every year.  We did it last year too, but this year the weather was soooooo much warmer!

 Brad and Ellie

 This picture is one of my favorite memories of the night.  My Dad playing Go Fish with Lindsay and Tanner......without cards. Tanner absolutely loved it! 

 Grandma and Ellie

 Brad and Tanner

 A highlight for Ellie: riding the escalator

 Getting a little restless waiting for TRAX to take us back to the FrontRunner station.

LOL!  I just had to put this pic in.  My fam is awesome!

Deep Thoughts by Ellie aka Jack Handey

Oh my 2 year old and her imagination.  ha ha.

A little background: Ellie is really into Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty and watches these movies often. Her conversations (this one included) usually end up with a mixture of all 3 stories.

This afternoon while eating her yogurt at the table:

Ellie: "Mom, the bad guy comes up and gets in the door, and she locks it."

Me: feigning surprise and great interest, "OH NO!" "REALLY!"

Ellie: "Yes!  And the bad guy has a sword (sounds like the word 'so' with a 'd' on the end) and he fights the dragon.  Seriously Mom!"  (yes, she actually said the word 'seriously'...and has a look of total sincerity and seriousness on her face)

Me: "Oh my goodness!"

Ellie: "Jesus doesn't like it when he (the bad guy, I'm guessing) kills in the face."

Me: "Probably not.  Does the bad guy kill in the face?" trying to get some clarity on the story now.

Ellie: "Yes he does.  He kills in the face.  Jesus says that's not nice."

Me: "You're right.  We need to be nice."

Ellie: "Yes, Jesus wants us to be nice."

So there you have it guys.  Jesus says be nice!  And no killing in the face.

figured out

Ellie's had a "quirk" of late that has left me a bit frustrated and exhausted. 

She changes her clothes on average.....5 times a day!

Not a big deal?

Not at first.

But after a few weeks of cleaning up a million pairs of pants, shirts, and panties, I was getting annoyed with the whole thing.

Today I found out why she does this.

Our conversation went like this:

Ellie:  Mom, can I change my clothes?

Me:  No.

Ellie:  Mom, can I change my clothes?

Me:  No Ellie.  You are already dressed.

Ellie: But they're dying.

Me: What?

Ellie:  My clothes are dying and I need to get them out.

What do you say to that?

Have a happy 1-11-11!

holiday tips to live by...

I got this in an email today and haven't stopped laughing since.  I thought I'd share and brighten your day too.  Enjoy!!!  Seriously, you're gonna love it.

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

#1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving chocolate.

#2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

#3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

#4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

#5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

#6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.  This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog..

#7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

#8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

#9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

#10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand and cake in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Merry Christmas and Happy Eating!!!

(Thanks for the email Uncle Brent)

change

Big changes at our house.  We FINALLY got bunk beds for the girls.  They have been waiting for almost 2 months but it was worth the wait.  They were sooooo excited as we set them up.  

We took the crib down this afternoon and Ellie will get the double bed the girls were sleeping in.  She looks so tiny in that big bed!  When I told her we were going to get her a big girl bed, her whole face lit up.  Big eyes, big smile and she started jumping up and down.  I guess she was ready?!

Good change for Ellie, but a little harder for the girls.  Let me explain.  About 20 minutes after they'd gone to bed, Lindsay and Meagan came up to our room.  Lindsay spoke up and said, "Mom, Meagan is crying because she misses having me in the bed with her."  Ahhhh.  They really do love one another.  I gave Meagan a big hug and told her that I knew how she felt......change is hard for me too. 

And to think we were going to give Ellie and Lindsay the bunk beds and Meagan her own room?!

festive

I like seeing what other people's homes look like all decorated.  Whether it's all fancied up for Christmas or just the regular everyday stuff, I like to sneek a peek. 

This is the first year I've had my own tree.  At least I feel like it's all mine. :)  I wish I had about triple the amount of ornaments and a ton more ribbon, but oh well, that's what the day-after-Christmas sales are for, right?

 I sewed the Nativity pillows a couple of years ago at a Super Saturday, and they're still one of my favorite decorations to put out.

 I love my stockings too.  I love how the sequins twinkle in the light of the Christmas tree when its nighttime and the tree lights are the only lights on.

 And I couldn't forget my growing collection of Christmas books and adorable snowmen.

 My rod iron decoration makes a perfect Christmas card holder.  By the end of the month it looks so fun with cards and pictures from our loved ones and friends.  And the cute snowmen dishes that I bought a couple of years ago.

And I couldn't leave out the family tree.  This tree has no theme to it, just random decorations that we've collected as the years have passed.  I couldn't get my camera to focus on it, and not the mess behind it.  This tree is freshly cut down from up in Bear Lake.  This year Brad had to hike through hip deep...and sometimes waist deep snow, and FREEZING cold temps, to bring us back this beauty.  We thought at first it was going to be a bit on the "charlie brown" side, but it turned out really pretty and full.  Not to mention it makes the basement smell so delicious!

Happy Holidays to you all!

Cherry Pie

Not the Cherry Pie you were thinking....am I right?

This morning I was taking Tanner to preschool and turned on the radio.  Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" was on so we listened to it and I sang along.  I like a little Bon Jovi now and again, but it certainly isn't our usual listening repertoire (and yes, I had to look that word up in the dictionary).  By the time we arrived at school, the song was still playing but I got out to walk Tanner in.  When I came back to the car Bon Jovi was over and Poison's "She's My Cherry Pie" was on.  A bit too much "rock" for my taste, so I turned the station.  Next thing I know Ellie is telling me from the back, "other song Mom, turn it back!"  So I turned it back and we listened until the song was over.  Ellie then said, "That's a good song Mom."

Oh dear.  Should I worry?

She's my Cherry Pie