"WHITE CHRISTMAS"

One of our favorite family traditions is decorating the Christmas Tree, having hot chocolate and watching "White Christmas." The movie is a classic starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Not only is it a part of our Christmas but it's part of the Holt family experience too. I love it when Bryan's sisters sing it! In fact, Bry's sisters & brothers lip synced it at his sister Sue's wedding years ago.

So this year, Griffin and Isaac decided to perform the classic "Sisters" by Bing Crosby - Danny Kaye version at our Ward Christmas Party! It brought down the house! It was the hit of night!

I hope the Holt Family especially enjoys the boys' rendition!

Both the original and our version are linked!
Merry Christmas!

MaD MeN DDB Party

The Annual DDB Christmas Theme Party!!
Once again...... we tore it up at the DDB Christmas Party! We love the them parties and have such a great time dressing up, going into San Francisco and partying with everyone! This year's theme was from the show on AMC called MAD MEN. The show is set in the early 60's and focuses on the workings of an advertising firm. The clothes, hairstyles and sets are fabulous!

http://www.amctv.com/originals/madmen/

Merry Christmas Mad Men Style!
(these are my all time favorite photos!)

Converting to Judaism

When your first grader comes home insisting that he is Jewish.............that's calls for some fun conversation!! Noah learned all about Hanukkah in school today. They played spin the Dreidel too which is a fun fun game!

"I have a little Dreidel.
I made it out of clay.
And when it's dry and ready
Dreidel I will play.
Oh, Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel.
I made it out of clay.
And when it's dry and ready
Dreidel I will play."

But Noah's real conversion to Judaism came when he learned that during Hanukkah the children receive eight days of gifts. Most of the 30 minutes of conversation was filled with tears as I explained to Noah that we really weren't Jewish. I told him we could still play Dreidel and that we could open our gifts on Christmas. But, rrreeeaaalllyyy, how can one day of gifts compete with eight? The tears kept pouring but he soon settled with being a Christian kid from English heritage....

Kid Quote of The Day

Griff - "Isaac you gotta try this salsa and these blue chips! They are sooooo good!"
Isaac - "No! I don't like salsa! I don't want to try it."
Griff - "Just try it! Even Kashi (our dog) likes it!"
Isaac - "That doesn't mean anything! Kashi eats her own poo! I'm not eating that!"

Blogger Laziness

Yep, that's me...the Lazy Blogger! I have so many things to Blog about but just haven't been that motivated lately! I'm laying out some great photos from Thanksgiving with the promise to post very soon about my last two AMAZING book club dates with my Lafayette Ladies!!

Last Saturday I ran the Turkey Trot in Davis, CA with some of my close girlfriends! We had a blast chatting-running-eating-chatting.... In that order!! I had a pretty good race time averaging a 9 minute 10 second mile. That is including the first slow mile when you can't get a pace because there are so many people in the race... Anyway, I ran next to Robin the entire time and loved every step! We set a good pace together and ran happily the entire 6.3 miles. My only problem was that I grabbed the wrong socks at 6:15am. So, the socks rubbed against my arches and my orthodic shoe inserts creating small blisters on the arches of both feet. Ouch!! Immediately following the run I had a 4 hour dance rehearsal! As long as I kept moving, my body was fun but once I stopped - I stiffened up. About midnight I woke up with a lot of pain in my joints. Bryan gave me a great massage (I love him!!) and I woke the next morning feelin' fabulous! See - I'm not old! 38 is great!!

Monday-Wednesday
The boys were out of school this week so we filled it with some playtime with friends and a trip into San Francisco too! Oh yeah - Bryan and I have 2 weeks to finish our bathroom - a time set by the appraiser for our loan refinance! So, Bry's been up late working on it and I've been doing clean up for him and priming the bedroom and bathroom! Yikes! But it'll be done!! YAY!!


Thursday

Thanksgiving was beautiful and relaxing this year. The morning started out with Bryan, Griff and Isaac playing in the Turkey Bowl at Acalances. It was the Lafayette Ward vs. the Walnut Creek II Ward. They all had a great time! I love to see my boys' excitement over football. It's my favorite sport to watch and I'm glad they are catchin' the football fever!!

I stayed home with Noah and we prepared our portion of the Twitchell Family Thanksgiving dinner! My favorite yams - with brown sugar and pecan topping! Yums! I also fulfilled the green bean/cream of mushroom soup/pearl onions/fried onion casserole requirement this year. Oh yeah - we prepped Noah's meals for the day and made sack lunches for our little family as well. Due to the Turkey Bowl, we missed the Twitchell brunch, so I needed something to tide my family's tummies over until the Feast at 5pm!

We had a relatively easy drive to Dad & Linnie's. Gorgeous weather too! I love California! (I don't think I say this enough....but I really really love California!!) We arrived to a warm house filled with most of my siblings. Dave & Emily, Candy, Scott, Dad & Linnie, Gramy & Grandpa! So fun to sit and laugh, watch football, the boys played football, set the table and fix the meal. The turkey was wonderful as ALWAYS! I don't remember a time that my Dad and Linnie didn't have an amazing Turkey! They are absolute geniuses when it comes to roasting a turkey! Emily made a fabulous green salad - Yums! rolls, mashed potatoes, turkey, yams, stuffing , beans, green salad, cranberry-orange salad on the turkey, cranberries, martinelli's, wine for the rest of the fam, pumpkin cheesecake (Emily's Mom made it! yummy!), pumpkin pie and apple pie! Wow! I'm stuffed just typing it all out! It was a Feast!!!

The family time was the most special part! We really missed Heidi & Dan and Stacie & Jaiden! I'm looking forward to seeing them for Christmas!

HaPpY hAlLoWeEn!!!

Happy Halloween from the Holts!
Griff - The Mad Hatter
Isaac- An Oompa Loompa
Noah - A Karate Dude
Cathy & Bryan - A Cougar with her College Boyfriend

Let's face it - Bry & I have been accused of this one so many times! It was an easy costume to figure out!

We had a blast hanging out with our friends, enjoying yummy food and watching trick-or-treaters come and go. Thanks to Chris & Steve for hosting the party! I thought the "Vampire" Wine was hilarious! The Chili and the Cajun Shrimp soup was awesome!! I loved just hanging out with our friends, watching the games & trick-or-treating with our kids.

It was our first year that Griff asked to go with his pals. Isaac ended up trick-or-treating with his pals too. They both had a blast! Bryan and I took Noah out and about through the Baywood community as well. Fabulous neighborhood! Sorry to any kiddos that dropped by our house to see our bowl of candy sitting out on the porch but no one home!

Noah was hilarious....running from house to house. Kids and families everywhere!!! One of our friends that lives in Baywood was giving out full sized candy bars. As of 8pm, they had handed out 250 candy bars and the night was still young! We were walking in the dark, passing tons of people and suddenly we would here some kids yell - "Hey, there's Noah!" Suddenly and very randomly, groups of kids would come over to greet Noah. One group of girls said - "Hey Noah, it's us, your "Super Girls!" Apparently Noah plays at recess with a group of 2nd and 3rd grade girls. He has titled them his Super girls and they love it! So funny!

Isaac made a great Oompa Loompa! He walked just like the characters in the movie. He came back to the house with a boat load of candy! I'm not sure how he will eat it all - but I'm sure he'll manage. He loved trading candy later with Griff's friends.

Griff won the "Best Costume" at his middle school in the Fanatasy Category. That's fabulous since it was a trip to the Goodwill during which I slapped it together. I can't stand the Goodwill, so I'm glad the struggle paid off! Yay!

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN everybody! Hope it was fun and safe!

My Griff Turns 12!!!

(click the pictures to make them larger;>)

What a fabulous day!! Griff turned 12 today! We let him sluff school too!! Okay - we let him sluff for a good reason.........We took him to the Temple to do some baptisms for the dead with Bryan and me. It was really an amazing experience and we loved being with Griffin in the Oakland Temple.

Once we finished in Oakland, I hurried him back to school. Apparently throughout the day, Griff's friends sang Happy Birthday many times, yelled to him in the hallways and gave him small funny gifts. One of those gifts included a free coupon to NOT have his lunchbox stolen. Ha ha ha!!

The day came to a close with a raging birthday party at our home! Nine of Griff's closest pals, known as The Fellowship met at our home for a Middle Earth Feast, a fire and smores at the Pit of Smordor and a big screen viewing of the first movie in the Trilogy. The feast was awesome!! KFC, baked red potatoes, leafy green salad with veges, Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, goblets filled with Sprite or Rootbeer, and a beautiful Chocolate/raspberry cake from Lunardi's!!

It's now 10pm and the movie is still going!! I'm still hearing laughs and giggles!! The best part was sitting around the firepit listening to them sing songs from their 5th grade camp experience last year! They've been laughing and chilling all night! I love these boys! I love Griff and I'm so very very proud of the Young Man he has become!

Bry and I have had a great day going through memories of Griff's birth! He was a special boy the day he was born! A miracle in our lives! We love him and adore him to pieces! Sunday Griff will be ordained to the office of a Deacon at church, receive the Aaronic Priesthood, graduate from Primary and join the Young Men's group.

I can't believe he is 12 already!
I love him!

Noah Cracks Me Up

Bry convinced me to post this conversation that Noah and I had yesterday. I'm still laughing about it today, so.....hopefully you won't be too sicked out to laugh and smile too!

Noah:(from the bathroom in which he has been doing his thing for about 15 minutes)
Mom Mom Mom - I need your help with my bum!

Mom: Wipe it yourself.

Noah: No Mom!!! I really need you!

Mom: Wipe it yourself. You are 6 1/2. Wipe it yourself.

Noah: Mom! I think I lost the toilet paper. I think it got sucked up my bum.

Mom: What??? How did you get toilet paper up your bum?

Noah: I was pretending I had a tail. I think I lost the paper up my bum.

Mom: We don't pretend that. Wash your hand.

Noah: Smell my finger Mom. It doesn't smell like poo.

Mom: Noah. Yuck! Wash your hands.

A Spooky Halloween Story

Today was Cub Scout Den Meeting Day!! We had a blast! I especially loved hearing the boys laughing! They were completely engaged in writing their Halloween Story! So...........without further ado...........The Tellatubby Zombie Bunny!


The Tellatubby Zombie Bunny

There once was a tellatubby zombie bunny cereal killer!! The tellatubby's name was Pinky. One day, Pinky went out of his cave. He found some little teeny miniature dots. The dots looked like rings. The dots were called the horrible stinky smelly poisonous Cherrios!

The next night, around midnight, Pink began smashing the stinky smelly poisonous Cherrios. Pinky's nose was long, purple, pointy and full of boogers. He smashed those Cherrios with his mighty pointy nose!! He quickly fell asleep. While he was sleeping, the Cheerios came to life. They began haunting not only Pinky's world but the entire Tellatubby Universe! In Pinky's dream, the crunchy Cheerios became mud and then quicksand. Pinky began to sink into the Cheerio quicksand. Pinky summoned a thingabob thingy otherwise known as the Arrow Point Wolf Bear Bobcat Webelos Loyal Scout Exit Sign. He followed the Exit Sign right out of his dream.

When he woke up, Pinky had grown horns and his long pointy nose had dissappeared. His booger problems were solved. Pinky turned dark blue and began to go insanely looney. Suddenly, he grew wings! He charged into the sky with axes in both hands and became stupid. Then, he melted into a big pile of greenish brown Cheerio crumbs. It began to rain dynamite! In less than one second, he blew his firey breath into the falling dynamite rain. BAM!! BOOM! BANG! He blew up and it was a great fireworks show on Halloween Night!

Happy Halloween From the Den 4 Bear Den!!!

Ladies & Luncheons & Laughter

Yesterday and today were filled with close friends, yummy food, laughter. Staci, Bushra, Kris, Vicky, Kathy, Beth & Sonia. We spent the afternoon celebrating Bushra's birthday (no I won't post which one as I didn't ask her permission before writing this blog post)! Staci and Kris put together a beautiful luncheon. Bushra loves Asian food and we all made our favorite Asian dishes to share with her! Every bit of the luncheon was beautiful - flowers, table settings, food, drinks, tea, conversations, and girlfriends. There is nothing like the laughter and support of close girlfriends! It heals any sadness or stress that I might be enduring when I walk in the room, lifting and re-energizing me. It prepares me for whatever is waiting in the world when I walk out the door.

We quickly discovered that hardly any of us had seen "Julie & Julia" in the theater. AND hardly any of our spouses wanted to see it! Go figure! So............ some of us cut out on our lives today and met at the movie theater to see the chick flick of the summer! We laughed out loud from the start of the previews through the end of the movie and cried together during the sad parts! It was THE BEST afternoon! We laughed sooooo loud! I think we laughed at ourselves laughing so loud! We ate popcorn, sodas and candy too! What a day!

Thank you my sweetest girlfriends - Staci, Bushra, Kris, & Vicky! Thank you for adding your spice to my life's recipe! Thank you for adding zest and flavor! Thank you for your smiles and tears. Thank you for listening to me during difficult times, laughing at the dumb things I say and for hugging me at each greeting! Thank you for inspiring me to do better as a woman, a mother, a wife and a friend. Thank you for trusting me and sharing your lives with me! Thank you for being comfortable with conversation or with silence or with the loudest laughter in the theater! Lobster Killers!

I can only hope to possess even an ounce of the grace, elegance, kindness and strength of these women in my life......

You are the butter to my bread!

Flag Football

One of the other flag football moms, owns a fabulous camera. She sent me these football photos of Isaac! Just thought I would share!

Cath

Cub Scouts!

Cub Scouts started again today! I am the Bear Den 4 - Den Mom! I've had this calling for a year now and I love it! When the Bishop asked me to be the Den Mom, I was really relieved to see Isaac respond with excitement! I was worried he would think it was a drag to have your Mom be your Den Mom. But Isaac is happy and that makes me happy!

Could my Bears be any cuter? GO BEARS! Our theme for the month is "Cub Scout Pockets." What kind of stuff is found in a Cub Scout's pocket?It ties in with the Collection Belt Loop. We painted Collection Jars today. The goal is to get the boys excited about earning the Belt Loop!

In a couple of weeks we'll learn how to play marbles too! The Marble Belt Loop and Pin are within the boys' reach!

Something silly about me as a leader........... I love the Poster that tracks the boys Progress! So fun organizing it all!

This last photo is our Wolf & Bear Dens Combined! Greatest Kids! I love Heather & Katie too! They are great leaders and great examples to me!

Cub Scouts Rocks!

This Past Week......

We had a fantastic week! Here is a brief play-by-play run down:

• Bryan began teaching Early Morning Seminary! He's did a great job! We love the Seminary kids!
  
• The family picked our first crop of Concord Grapes.
  
• Cathy made 9 Quarts of Grape Juice (In memory of Grandma Passey)
  
• Bryan & Cathy picked tomatoes from our garden
• Cathy made 15 Pints of Chili Sauce (Bry's recipe adjusted from Grandma Holt's)
• Griffin & Isaac had their first Preseason Football Games
• Isaac on the Wildcats Team
• Griff on the Packers
• Cathy began rehearsing with the "Behold The Light" Ensemble (and will now be sucking down Ibuprofen like they are candy until the performance during the first week of Dec 09)

First Day of School!!!

The first day of school was a great day! All three boys had a hard time sleeping the night before. Griff was awake at 5 am and did his best to go back to sleep. I heard him in the shower at 6:30 am for 20 minutes. Later - he ironed his shirt! Ahhh middle school!

Both the older boys were pleased with their Nike backpacks. I stitched "Holt" onto their packs in matching colors. Very cool! Noah chose a super hero backpack. What a shocker! He he!

We were out the door on time and off to take Noah and Isaac to school first.. Both boys ran to see their friends! Isaac was nervous to be in his new class. He was unsure about his teacher too - didn't get the teacher that he wanted. By the end of the day - she had won him over! I'm sure the "no homework" policy in her class helped a ton.

Noah had a great time just seeing his classmates. He was excited to see that his teacher had purchased a pencil box for him, found his own cubby, his own desk. I purchased a small book to help Noah's classmates understand epilepsy. His teacher read it to the class today and they came up with a "Noah Emergency Plan!"

Once both boys were in school, we headed off to Stanley Middle to drop off Griff. He only knew that his first class was Math with Mr. Raddo. Once there, Mr. Raddo gave them their remaining schedules for the day. He had a great time and loves Jr. High.

It's amazing how different the 6th graders are compared to the 8th graders. It was a crazy morning. I swear middle school girls don't go through that "awkward" phase that we went through in middle school. Let's just say - Griff noticed them and so did Bryan and I.

At the end of the day, the boys were full of great stories. They loved their classes and teachers. All three are excited to go back tomorrow!

And me..... I will enjoy the time in my home and yard with my music cranked up, getting my "jobs" done, running and working out for my full hour every day, working on the house, getting my emails answered, etc.

Looking forward to a great year!

Job Sticks

Just thought I would post about my Job Stick system for the boys. Sometime I will print and bind my blog posts and I wanted my kiddos to remember the "job sticks." Ha ha ha!

Every morning I set out a small jar. In the jar are each child's job sticks for the day. The sticks are color coded - Isaac (brown), Griff (blue) and Noah (red). I give the boys a time limit -"Jobs need to be done by noon." The boys pull their sticks out of the jar, organize them and get it done.

I'm not great at completely leaving them alone while they are working on their jobs. But, I'm really trying. I want them to learn organization, prioritizing and hard work. I'm surprised at how much they love these job sticks. We've used them for a year now and they are still lovin' them.

I found the photos on the internet. Bought the ice cream spoons at Michael's and printed the pictures from my computer. The pictures were easily found on the Internet. So easy!

A's vs. Yankees

We had a great night at the A's vs. Yankees game tonight! We hurried home from golf, grabbed sweatshirts, hats and pants, jumped into the van and headed to Oakland. Just as we are heading through the Caldecott Tunnel, I realize that I still had my cutest flip flops on! Oops. 83 degrees in Lafayette, with the fog rolling over the Oakland Hills translates to a cool 63 degrees at the game. Oh well! Who cares - I have cute toes. So, I wasn't worried! Hahaha!

We parked in the Bart parking lot and walked the Bridge from the Colliseum Bart stop over to the Colliseum. My kids were a little freaked as usual by all of the interesting people scalping tickets, others playing saxophones for money and some just plain old beggin'. Always interesting in Oakland!

The game was great even though the A's lost. $1 hot dogs, great friends and the kiddos yellen for the A's. It wasn't hard on the eyes to watch Johnny Damon (sp?) either! So sweet!

Love the Bay Area! How do I get 49ers tickets? Will they even have any Monday Night games this season??? I have a small crush on Mike Nolan! So sad he isn't with the 49ers anymore. But, hey - we need to win a few more games. Still - I wouldn't kick him out of bed for having stinky feet! Ha ha ha!

Book Club Summer

A fun summer night's book club with my girlfriends. I've been with this group for two years through thick and thin. Smiles! We take turns choosing books, reviewing them and hosting. Tonight's club was a great time. Thanks to Bushra for the yummy homemade Pakistani dinner and hot tubbing! It was phenomenal. Thanks girls for the heart-to-heart talks, laughter and great book discussions! Looking forward to many more.

With All My Love,
Cath

Skiing Again!