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

Halloween weekend

It's no big secret at our house that Halloween is NOT my favorite holiday.  The costume dilema alone is enough to call it quits for me.  Call me Scrooge (or the halloween equivalent) but it's never been my favorite.  Even when I was younger, I didn't really like dressing up and walking around outside in the dark. Sure, I loved getting candy, but it was usually freezing, and I don't like having people jump out of nowhere just to scare me and see my reaction.  

I make weird faces when someone jumps out and scares me.......have I mentioned I'm a bit vain? 

In the neighborhood that I grew up in our neighbor would dress up as the Headless Horseman every year.  We're talking real, authentic looking costume here. Every Halloween night, he would ride his horse around the neighborhood streets. IT WAS TERRIFYING!  Seriously so so soooooo scary!!!!  I always wanted to be done trick-or-treating, home, safe and sound by the time he started doing that. 

So anyway, I'm a bit of a debbie-downer when it comes to Halloween.

BUT, my dear, sweet mom has saved just about all the dance costumes from me and my 3 sisters years of dance!  That's like 15 years worth of costumes!  It is "dress-up heaven" at her house!  The kids inevitably find something amazing to dress up in, and wwwhala! ...instant costumes!  Easy for me and the kids are happy.  2 birds. 1 stone.  This year we have:

Meagan: Joker

Lindsay: Pocahontas

Tanner: Pirate

Ellie: Cheerleader

Kaylee, my niece: Ladybug

 It was rough getting everyone to look and smile at the same time!

My sister Aimee and her family have come up to Morgan the last couple of years to do the Business Trick-or-Treat with my kids.  Its kinda tradition now.  We love having them up!  That was Friday afternoon.  The weather was perfect!  Not even a jacket needed.

Saturday was the 3A State Volleyball Tournament in Orem.  We love our Lady Trojans!  So we went to cheer and support and came home the State Champions!!  Yahoo!  The game got over about 7ish, so we took the kids trick-or-treating to a random neighborhood in Orem.  What nice people we met!  I kind of felt silly going to people's houses that we didn't know, but we promised the kids that if they'd come to the volleyball game, we'd take them trick-or-treating.  So that's what we did. 

Later that night, we met the Volleyball team as they were coming in to town.  Firetrucks, police cars, and a HUGE line of cars paraded into town with horns honking and lights flashing!  It was so much fun!  I love our small town spirit and commraderie!!!

Sunday morning came a bit early, but we did make it to church on time. :)  And after church......yum, our traditional Halloween dinner!  Pizza dip in a Pumpkin with breadsticks and Orange Halloween drink!  I started doing this about 6 or 7 years ago, and we love it!  The picture isn't the greatest, but trust me, its delicious!

Just in case you want the recipes:
Pizza Dip in a Pumpkin
1 small pumpkin (about 2 1/2 lbs.)
1/2 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup green pepper, diced
1 TBSP butter
2 1/2 cups pizza sauce (or marinara sauce)
1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 cup ham or pepperoni (chopped)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
*Breadsticks

Scoop out pumpkin; put lid on; place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 350 for 20-25 minutes.

In saucepan saute onion and green pepper in butter.  Stir in pizza sauce, mozarella cheese, ham or pepperoni, parmesan cheese, and Italian Seasoning.  Heat through until cheese is melted.  Pour into hot pumpkin.  (The pumpkin doesn't change the flavor of the sauce, it just keeps it warm and looks really cute).

Orange Halloween Drink
1 can (46 oz) pineapple juice, chilled
3 cups Sprite
3 cups orange drink (I usually use Koolaid)
2 Liters GingerAle, chilled
1/2 gallon Orange Sherbet
*Mix the liquids together and serve with Orange Sherbet.....rootbeer float style!

Hope your Halloween was fun.

More fun than scary! :)

Things I've learned...in the last week or two

Throw up STINKS!  At all hours of the night and day.

Technically I didn't just learn this....my knowledge of it was greatly reinforced.
Ran into the grocery story to grab 7-Up and a DVD rental for my sick boy....and didn't realize that I'd left the car running in the parking lot.
Nice going.  I should have left a note saying....Free Car for the taking!
I love soup.  All kinds.  It's comfort food.

Yesterday Brad reached into the trunk of the car to get something and the lid came down and bumped his head.  ouch.  Then he slammed the trunk in retalliation....but shut his finger in it.  double ouch, but kinda funny.

Carving pumpkins is NOT an appropriate child's activity.

Who thought that giving a kid a knife and telling them to cut away on something where they could slit their wrists was ever a good idea.

No injuries at our house, just a basket-case mom and dad.

The jack-o-lanterns turned out cute.....and scary.  Tanner definitely wanted scary.
It's time to vacuum out the couch in the basement again.
A couple days ago Ellie came up from the basement saying, "Marshmallows.  Yummy."
.....I haven't given her marshmallows for about a week.
Gross.
We've been listening to Christmas music for over 2 weeks now. 

Super excited for the holidays.

The snow can stay until Christmas, but come January, I'M DONE!

I usually don't like surprises, but I make a BIG exception when that surprise includes my sister and neice visiting from Hawaii.

The Witches at Gardner Village are adorable.

Speaking of "adorable", Tanner randomly said the other day, "Mom, when I was a baby I was 'dorable.'" That made me smile.

I haven't been very good at using my camera lately.  I don't have one picture of my sister when she was visiting.

Fall soccer is over, and I'm kinda bummed. 

Glad to have my Saturday mornings back, but sad because I really enjoyed watching the kids.
Tanner and Ellie have control issues with one another.
Everything is a competition for them....who gets up the stairs first, who finishes lunch first, etc.
They are always nagging at one another.
Today, in settling an argument, Tanner tells Ellie, "No you can't, because you're not the bus."
He meant "the boss"

Lindsay (8 years old) is gaga over Justin Beiber.

Like really really gaga!

My kids have good friends.

That's a relief.

I have awesome neighbors.

I love my husband.

And he loves me back.

High school basketball season is just around the corner, and I can't wait!

I'm not reading anything good right now.  I need to go to the library.
Apparently sandwiches have genders.
Tanner asked for "girl (grilled) cheese" today for lunch.
Ellie promptly responded, "I want boy cheese."

I'm rambling.  A lot.

Have a great Halloween!

 Kaylee, Rian, Ellie, Tanner

Time flies by

I'm having a "moment" this afternoon.  We all have them from time to time....when you just can't believe how your kids grew up right before your eyes.  I don't recall giving them permission to do that.  Why can't they stay my babies forever?

I got these pictures developed on Saturday and was so excited and pleased to see that they turned out so well.  After church today I went downstairs to do the annual "changing of the pictures" routine.  I usually just stick the new picture in and leave the older pictures in as well.

So I sat and looked through them.

From tiny newborn babies, to toddlers with pudgy cheeks, to grade schoolers who've left all their baby fat behind and blossomed into beautiful individuals.  

What?! 

Oh my.

I can't take it.

My throat formed a big lump and tears gathered in my eyes as I sat and looked at my beautiful children.  I think of who they've become and how proud I am of each of them.  They are all so different and unique. What a blessing it is to be their mother!

 Meagan, 4th grade, 10 years old (in 2 days)

 Lindsay, 3rd grade, 8 years old

 Tanner, preschool, 4 1/2 years old

Ellie, 2 years old

 Enjoy your Sunday afternoon.....and give your babies a kiss!

preschool, soccer, and a kitty

My handsome boy is going to school!  Tanner loves his Teacher Nancy!

It's not very often that we get a rainbow in the morning before school starts.  It was only there for a few minutes, and we were lucky to capture it.

* * *

My sister Aimee and her husband Brennen stayed over in SLC last weekend and we got to watch Kaylee!  The kids had so much fun and Kaylee was sooo good!  She'd get so excited with each new toy the kids brought her. When she walked into Tanner's room, she started walking in one direction towards a toy, then stop and look somewhere else, and then walk in that direction.....too many things to choose from!  It was funny.  I think her favorite was the kitchen.

Funny little Kaylee and her sweet attatchment to her toys.......bath toys are no exception.  She held onto those the entire time we were in the bath!

Bath buddies....kinda.  Two very different personalities.  Ellie: very noisy and a splash king!  Kaylee: dainty and content to sit and hold her toys.  After a few minutes Ellie said (in a very grown up way), "I not sit by Kay-yee."   oh dear. :)

* * *

Tanner's first soccer game!

He has been anxiously awaiting this day.  He had his uniform, shin guards, and shoes set out the night before.  In the morning he was a little upset when I put his socks OVER his shin guards.....until the girls told him that's the way they were supposed to be.  (Am I already old enough to have my opinion not matter?!)

He had a huge perma-grin plastered across his face the entire game.  And he giggled up and down the field with pure happiness!

And apparently at this age, it's every man for himself.....there is no teamwork.....just boys wanting to kick the ball.  Brad and I laughed so hard!

Kaylee was with us and between the early morning soccer game and bright sunshine; she just couldn't last.  At first she used the baby doll to shade her face......then she just gave in:

* * *

This morning I came outside to check on the kids and this is what I found:

Tanner grinning, and Ellie trying to hide...

then deciding it's not worth it to hide.....just be honest about the fact that they're playing in Daddy's car.....with the neighbors kitty!

oh, those two!!!!