My 2 favorite moments

Here are some of my favorite pictures of our big day. I think Bob must have taken about 200 pictures! (but, I'll spare you) I totally love making kids happy and this Christmas was a winner!! ohh...and as an added bonus...The kids were still willing to wear the semi-tacky Christmas Pajamas that I buy each year...they just look so dang cute!...NEVER SAY GROW UP!!

Sooo.....Here's the play-by-play of 2 of my favorite Christmas morning moments.

moment #1

Santa left these little critters to deliver a message to the kids.

They open the notes and intently read (I love Derrick's concentration in this picture)

Amanda is thinking....hmmm....she "gets" it...asks me if it's real.

IT'S REAL....they're going to DISNEYLAND and LEGOLAND!! Derrick was absolutely BLOWN away (look at that face...and Amanda is a crack up too). Derrick didn't stop talking about it all day!! I seriously just loved the expressions on the kids faces.

moment #2

When Derrick was making out his Santa Letter, he told us that he asks for an Ipod, a laptop and a Nintendo DS every year but NEVER gets it...he laughed...and then said, "Not even a CD player". Then he concluded, "But, that's OK". Well, Bob and I figured there is no way in heaven he's getting a laptop...still too young for an Ipod....so we opted for a Nintendo DS....here's the reaction play by play.

He opens it....Oh my Gosh...could it be?!?!

Just look at that face...it totally tells the story :)

He falls back (body is overcome) hugging the box in "excitement shock"!

The rest of the presents are put on hold as he lovingly examins the system and runs to plug it in to charge. Ohhh...I just LOVED it :)

I can't believe that Christmas is over. We had a WONDERFUL Day. Everyone stayed in their PJ's and played all day. I did, however, manage to take a shower and brush my teeth...but then I got right back into my PJ's. :) The snow is still on the ground but the roads are clear and the airport has emptied out. Even though it was a tad bit obnoxious...I LOVED having snow for Christmas!! It turns out that we broke snow records from way back in the 1960's (did I just say "way" back...ouch...I was born in the 60's-golly lady!) Anyway, compared to other areas of the country our snow is whimpy...but, we'll take it :) We also had a super fun Christmas Eve at Danny and Holly's. Good food...fantastic re-enactment of Christ's birth...amazing bell playing and caroling...and best of all...sitting around laughing, reminising of funny "growing up" times, listening to loud kids, and just enjoying family. I LOVE this time of year!! And most of all....I LOVE my Savior and family!!

Everything NICE and Everything SHAZAAMM BAD DUDE!

If anyone still refuses to believe there is a DEFINITE difference between boys and girls...they need to come and live with us for a while. Here's our proof in pictures.

Here's Panda Bear going off a jump on the sledding hill. She smiled the entire time, held onto the handles and let out a little squeel every once in a while. Plus, she only did it twice and quit when she realized that it hurt and was a pretty idiotic thing to do.

And then you have the BUG MAN!!!

Totally TIGHT Dude!

And again....Phat!

And again........


And this is a boys way of landing....just what his mother's heart needs.

Then you have the idolizing little brother

Little Dr. D never did get quite enough umph to get any air....but he sure tried. The funny part was at the end when he would do a "crash" stop....just like his idol (you guessed it)the BUG!

I better not die this week!!

Yep....church was cancelled today...AGAIN!! I better not die this week....because I have two weeks worth of sins piled up...got to get in there to partake of the sacrament!!! :) I don't think I've missed 2 weeks of church since my bugman came into this world. Well...at least I was playing Morman Tabernacle Choir Christmas music all day....does that count?

It was pretty bad today. Yesterday snowed and snowed and snowed (the most I've seen since I've moved here). Then, this morning there was a 1/4" sheet of ice on top of the snow. I guess freezing rain came in during the night. Crazy stuff!! Here's some good ole pictures of our day. I've kind of ran out of activity ideas.....ANY HELPFUL IDEAS of what to do now????

A sheet of ICE on top of snow. I seriously think it's AWESOME! :)

Here's the Dr. holding a HUGE sheet of ice....straight off the top of the snow!

One more ice shot....I'm just so amazed with it!!! Plus just look at that STRONG cutie!!

Okay....one more....I just couldn't control myself. That thing is just AWESOME!

From ice to snow....boring...(I know)...but, I just HAD to get a shot of Bob shoveling the snow. We had to borrow the shovel from a neighbor because we don't even own a snow shovel! When we moved from Indiana we left all that stuff BEHIND!!

Our little doggie Toby became seriously constipated. He was up to his neck in snow and couldn't figure out a place to go potty. He also HATED the snow. We would take him out and he would turn to BOLT right back into the house.

So Bob to the rescue....shovel Toby a path to his outhouse! I'll spare you the picture of yellow snow that Bob took.

day 5 update

UPDATE.....Yep....we are onto day 5 of school being cancelled because of snow/ice. We are definitely getting a little weird in our house. We've done 2 puzzles, watched 9 movies, played hours of xbox and wii, decorated gingerbread houses, and watched news channel 8 continual winter storm coverage (with snow tracker doplar)..... I have no idea what is happening anywhere else in the world because they won't get off the TV....the snow is like a natural disaster or something....hmmm. There's another storm that is suppose to be rolling through this weekend...will church be cancelled for a 2nd Sunday??.....stay tuned

How much more can I take?

It's day 3 of NO school. And we just found out that school's canceled tomorrow....that will make 4. My goodness...inconceivable! Today it actually snowed a semi-decent amount. It wasn't frigid cold either so I got out for some "Toby the dog" walking and picture taking. It felt good to get out of my slippers and into some boots....you know....these boots are made for walking...and that's just what they'll do.....singing song....uhummm..sorry got carried away!
Here's my picture recap of today's "exciting" events....warning a few more than my last post :) I definitely came out of my attempt of mamma bear hibernation.

Why is Bob so happily putting on chains for our van tires????

Oh my goodness....is that Panda Bear in the driver's seat??

Yep, It's snow driving 101 for our happy Panda. A couple of nights ago Bob let her drive in our neighborhood to experience the thrill of ice....now, we had a few errands to run...so we put on the chains and she got to experience a more extensive snow driving. I stayed home to fervently pray!!!!

But....Before I could attempt my moment of prayer....I turned around to see these two partners in crime attempting their own death-defying feat.......

The boys were working on a jump for their little sleigh run (believe me it was little....just down the little slope of our front yard)

Ohhh YEAH Baby.....we did it....NOW LET'S TEST IT OUT!!!

(Oh my goodness...I just love watching these two and their simple enthusiasm..it's like they JUST know that this jump has GOT to be the most AWESOME in the entire universe!!.)

Bug Man's off.......

He hits the jump.........

ARRRRGGGGHHHH.....Houston we may have a problem!!

The grand slam......

Oh yeah dude....that was AWESOME!!!


Dr D take his shot at it.....can he do any better??

The Dr. is pretty smart....he manages to avoid the jump all together.

Yep...that's the way to do it. Bug Man thinks he's wimpy....but Dr. D knows he's just smart :)

Weather cancellations!

Yesterday school was cancelled because of the weather. Today it's cancelled AGAIN!! I love it because everything else is cancelled also. I've gotten email notifications and phone calls all day about different things on my calendar that are cancelled...hooray!! Here's my cross-off the calendar list from yesterday and today....no church, no BYC, no Deacon's quorum presidency meeting, no school, no teaching seminary, no jazz band practice, no basketball, no RS activity, no making soup for Salvation Army volunteers, no band concert, no lacrosse practice...nice! This week was suppose to be the "cram everything in before Christmas break" week....but instead I am just loving the snow and blogging :)

The kids have had a blast meeting up with their friends and playing outside in the snow. They left the house yesterday with their cell phones tucked away in their coats....called a couple of times for permission...came back for a quick lunch...headed back out.....came back (when it started getting dark) with a few friends to have hot chocolate and watch the Grinch. Bob was even working from home so it was fun wandering in to talk to him a bit. I LOVED the no-responsibility feeling. I even took a little nap with my doggy :)

This is all the snow we got...and everything is cancelled!! After living in the midwest for 2 years and Utah for 20....I am still in awe of this.....the "WHY and Whimps" creep into my thinking

Yet, even though the snow is small....the ICE is great! We don't get enough snow in these parts to warrant the purchase of that many snowplows....so the city just focuses on the freeways and the rest of us are left with ice....until it melts. Good luck!

The snow deprived children....they MUST go sledding

I must admit that this is about the extent of the picture taking for me.....it was COLD outside and I didn't want to get out of my slippers. I'll try and get some better ones of the kids.

The gingerbread man lives on

HOORAY!!!! My neighbor gifts are done (well...not all delivered yet). I was a little worried about when we'd get them done because our calendar is packed....but....Sunday morning we woke up to snow and then we got a call saying that church was canceled (crazy up here when it snows just an inch...everything goes into lockdown). Oh, well...I like it TONS when we HAVE to stay inside.

So, we got to stay home all day in our nice warm house and spend time TOGETHER!! We decided, "Hey!! It's a perfect time to work on our gifts....whada ya know?!?" It was super fun and they turned out great. I got the poem called "Gingerbread Man Wisdom" from my life-line sugardoodle.net and then I did my own little arranging. We made gingerbread dough to go along with the poem and wrapped it up with red hots and a gingerbread man cookie cutter. We love doing these fun home-made gifts. I wonder how many people are offended because they are so simple....oh well...bah-humbug to them :) I'll write out the poem at the end of this post.....feel free to use the idea if you want.

The assembly line......Amanda and Derrick make the dough, Bob takes out dough and divides it, Julie gets the plastic wrap ready, Nathan is sorting red hots....soon to take over the plastic wrap department.

The gingerbread dough with the red hots

The Poem Tag

The finished product

The finished product assembly....ready for delivery (hint: the dough and redhots are inside the bag)

Here's the poem

Running and hurrying as fast as we can.—

Sometimes we live like the Gingerbread Man!
During the holidays there’s so much to be done.

It’s all we can do to keep up
So we RUN, RUN, and RUN!

Parties, programs, decorations and baking.
Shopping for presents and Christmas plans making.
We have so little time to stop and think
Our lists seem unending—yet it’s over in a wink.

So we send you this gift to remind you the reason.
There is so much giving and loving this season.
We hope you will make your own Gingerbread Man.
And pause to reflect on your own Christmas plans

We hope you’ll remember the Gingerbread Man’s story.
How running and running brought him no glory.
Then maybe you’ll have the courage to cross off your list.
The little things that won’t really be missed.

As you take time to reflect on this beautiful season,
We know your life will be touched by the heart of it’s reason.
For of all things that make Christmas,

it’s important to remember just one -
The reason we have Christmas

is because God sent His Son.

My Christmas Present

OF COURSE I've been extremely good this year!! IS there any doubt? So, for Christmas, Santa took pity on me and gave me a wonderful pre-Christmas present...Here's the background....My front room has this obnoxiously vaulted ceiling...and I have a wall by the stairs that needed SOMETHING....so, I asked Santa to help out. Well, I got an amazing gift...what do you think?? (Maybe Santa is hit with the economic crunch also??...hmmm...but, I'm grateful)

The artistic styling is amazing! The way the colors blend is extrodinary! I am also amazed with how the colors even highlight the rich, deep colors of my wall paint. WOW!!

So, do you think I need to add anything else...maybe some vinyl wall letters?...hmmm

NAAAAHHH..... Here's what I really got!

Oh my goodness....I LOVE THEM!!!!! We went a month or so ago to have family pictures taken by Reversed Lens photography. They captured my kid's personalities just perfectly. I absolutely love them!

And...another shot....Man....I just love them still!!

Here's a close-up of my "carefree, the sky's the limit" Panda Bear. I think they captured that little happy twinkle in her eyes.

Here's my more "serious, shy and reserved (and a little moody)" Bug Man.....with a hint of his "mischievous and humor" poking through.

Here's my "kind-hearted and sensitive" Dr. D.....yet..I think his eyes show a little of his "questioning and cautious-ness"

Sorry about the glare in these pictures.....I know there was a setting I should have had the camera at...oh well...it's just for my blog :)

Easy to FORGET

My life has been going full force since Thanksgiving. Heck, the morning after I'm out shopping the stores!! Then there were the lights to put up on the house, the Christmas tree to put up, the storage boxes to get down, the rearranging of furniture and nick-nacks in order to put up the decorations, the parties to start putting on my calendar, the Christmas letter to make, the decision of what picture to use for our cards, the decision of what to make for neighbors and friends, the never ending shopping list......it's just been one BUSY week!!! During this time I've been having fun and blasting my Christmas songs....but....I was also totally feeling STRESSED!!

But this weekend was different. On Saturday, our stake put on the play "The Forgotten Carols". We decided to go to the matinee.....I ALMOST talked myself out of it....thinking we were just too busy and had too much to do. Thank goodness I went! It refocused me and as I sat there I could literally feel my body relaxing as I listened to the beautiful music. My perspective was completely changed. Then, on Sunday Night as I listened to the First Presidency message and listened to the beautiful songs of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I was touched even deeper of the true meaning of Christmas. After the broadcast, I spent the next 4 hours preparing my seminary lesson. We are studying the New Testament and the place we are in our studies is the last supper. The night before Christ was to be crucified....His last night with his beloved apostles and his earthly experience and ministry. I found myself sitting back in my chair a few times pondering what I was learning (hence the 4 hours). I loved looking at the little white lights on the Christmas tree. I loved feeling the spirit.

I'v now taken out of the CD player my "fun and traditional" Christmas CD's and found my Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas CD's. That's what is playing right now. I LOVE the feeling I have this week. It is sooooooo different from last week. I feel peace and grattitude. How quickly I can forget. There's just so much to do and so many people to help. I'm going to take whatever moment I can and reflect...play a more spiritual CD, read an uplifting story, share my testimony with a friend, read the scriptures....whatever! I LOVE this feeling much more!!