The Christmas Sing

Oh how I love, and hate, the Christmas sing at the kids' elementary school.  I love hearing all of the cute songs and watching kids from 5 - 12 be cute and silly for their parents.  I hate how there is no parking and that is when they have three different showings of the performance.  I hate how I couldn't see Annabelle at all.  A great friend of mine even tried standing on a chair and holding the camcorder up as high as possible (not very comfortable for her and I REALLY appreciate her doing it since Callie wasn't too keen on my walking away from her) and still only getting the top of sweet Annie's head on film. 

 

I would rather come to the school 3 times if it meant getting a closer seat and not having to walk a mile to get to the school in the freezing cute.  Oh well, Callie and I survived.  We heard all their cute songs.  Nathan and Ryan were front and center and even though my camera doesn't love to focus in the gym, I have proof that I was there.  Ryan saw me and was all smiles.  Nathan saw me and he is in a phase where he is embarrassed by singing.  He would sometimes look at me and then look away all silly-like.  Annabelle was REALLY sad that she didn't see me.  She was crying when she got to the car that afternoon.  Then, this morning when they did it again she later told me she was a row higher and still couldn't see me.  I felt bad telling her that I wasn't there.  She seemed shocked!  I would never brave that twice, just for a picture.  Besides, the ones I got of her at home were much cuter.

 

 

Potty Training

 Thanks to this fabulous book and its fun musical sounds AND this awesome 3 Little Pig prize on the line, Callie is now potty trained and in underwear.  I am just as happy as she is:)  Potty training is not my favorite task.  It has been a different process with each of my 4 kids and not only is it great to not pay for diapers anymore, I am just glad I will never have to train another little one to use the toilet.

Life

How can I take a picture about life.  Life is always happening.  Always changing and always worth mentioning so that some day we can look back and remember the crazy times, the happy times and the not so happy times. 
A couple weeks ago we were taking the kids down to Grandma's house so they could have a big cookie party with her and a bunch of other cousins.  Greg and I were REALLY looking forward to 4 hours of fun, shopping and kid-free moments.  When we turned off the freeway the car made a not so great sound and continued to make the sound as we drove the rest of the way to Grandma's.  Once there I took the kids in and Greg looked at the car.  While looking he noticed that my front tires were COMPLETELY bald.  He was shocked that I hadn't noticed.  So for the first hour of our date we got 2 new tires and found out our car needed a lot more work done (Merry Christmas), but it was okay to drive.  We made the most of our detour and ran over to Wal-Mart in the FREEZING wind and gathered a few gifts we needed.  I have to admit, it was fun to be a little spontaneous with Greg, as parents we don't get to do that much.  We made it through the afternoon and finished most of our shopping and ate a wonderful lunch at Ruby River.  We still haven't fixed our car, but after Christmas we will probably get to that.
Sickness.  We had been so healthy for so long that it finally caught up to us.  Last Monday after the piano recital Nathan was not feeling good.  He had a fever, headache, and a sore throat.  We took him to the doc on Tuesday to find out he wasn't sick enough for meds.  I hate that.  He stayed home the rest of the week from school.  I don't think he has ever been that sick.  He didn't complain much, just laid around with a fever and headache.  Thankfully by Friday evening he was feeling better but then that night Callie decided to get sick.  I didn't even try to take her to the doctor's since I knew the answer- "virus, just tough it out."  She, unlike Nathan, has complained a ton, and whined a ton and cried a ton.  It takes a lot of energy to be a happy, smiley mom amidst that kind of torture.  Miss Callie is very independent right now and so she doesn't want much help, but you kind of need extra help when your not feeling great.  Today is the first day she has been more happy than sad.  It has been wonderful!!  But unfortunately she fell asleep and I have to wake her up in 1/2 hour so I can go help in Annabelle's class Christmas party.  I think she'll be fine once we get there, but the waking up part is NOT fun!  Annabelle would be devastated if I missed her party.  She has been looking forward to it for a long time.
Family life isn't easy.  Sometimes Greg and I are so pleased as we watch our kids play together and do things together.  Other times we wonder why we can't get through a game of Simon Says without fighting.  We want things to be fun for our kids, but sometimes they can't seem to get past the fairness issue or someone looked at them in a wrong way at the wrong time.  I cherish moments like last night when we read scriptures and, said Family prayer and then we just sat around laughing and helping Nathan figure out how many words he could make using the word "mistletoe".  I think he left the house today with over 105!  Those are the times I want to remember.  Those are the times that I hold on to when there is sadness or contention or sickness.  I am so blessed that my little ones ONLY got a fever and a cold.  They aren't in the hospital, they don't have a serious, life-threatening illness.  They will get better and be back to the happy and energetic and fun kids that I know them to be.  I look forward to that time and it helps me put things in perspective.  Especially when I am up late singing a song to Ryan in the middle of the night and he asks me to pray for him to feel better in the morning, and then he does.
I am so grateful to my Savior who hears and answers my pleas in the night.  I am so grateful that He knows what I am going through and gives me the strength and energy to get through these small trials (that seem oh so big to me).  I am REALLY looking forward to Christmas this year.  My parents arrive on Saturday and while the last thing I want is to have a sick child while they are here, I know that what is important is that we are all together and that we give thanks for the birth of the Savior and all that He has done and continues to do for us.

Super Achiever

 Nathan also had a special night.  He has completed all 20 of the activity badges in Webelos and earned the Super Achiever Award.  This may not seem too special, but it is quite the accomplishment.  In den meetings they earn maybe 12 all year.  So, on his own, with me, and with the help of camps, he finished the other 8!  When he first became a Webelos and I told him that there was a chance he could earn all 20, and that no other scout in our ward had, Nathan jumped on the idea.  That is the kind of kid he is.  Give him a goal and he goes for it full force.  Austin decided he wanted to be cool like Nathan and so he started working on extra ones as well.  They both don't turn 11 until February, but they have exhausted their Webelos book.  I can't believe Nathan is almost a boy scout.  I know NOTHING about boy scouts.  Luckily I know he has some great leaders, and a dad who know about scouts, that will help him through.

Ryan is a Wolf

 Ryan has earned his wolf.   He was SO excited!!  He sometimes doesn't love being behind Nathan and living in his shadow, so I tried to make a big deal about his accomplishment. 

 Ryan is currently our denner (den president) and was really excited to lead the flag ceremony.  He wanted us to video it, but was okay with us just taking a picture.

Piano Recital

 We had our Piano Christmas Recital last night and it was Annabelle's first.  And the boys' first duet.  It has been a long couple months [practicing and practicing these hard songs.  Their teacher, Tomie, always gives them a very challenging piece to master.  I am so proud of my kids and their hard work and dedication.  Annabelle was up first since she is the youngest.  When practicing at home she would always sing her two songs.  I wish she would have done it at the concert, but I did video her saying them silently to herself while she played.  Ryan and Nathan did great on their individual pieces and fabulous on their duet.  It was a new experience to have them working together on the piano.  Some days they got along great and stopped when the other needed stopping and just worked things out.  It was weird and cool to hear them say things like, "Can we stop and go back to measure 23?"  Other days there were tears and mean words about going to fast.  Some kids had to do a duet with a neighbor of the opposite sex.  When I mentioned that to the boys they were much better and grateful that they had each other.  I hope we get to do more of these in the future. 

 Isn't Ryan a goofball!?

Macbeth

 I love my kids going to school.  Not for the reasons you may be thinking.  I love hearing about all the cool things they get to do.  Ryan learned how to write using Indian symbols, Annabelle has become a fabulous writer and Nathan is learning about Shakespeare.  He has been working on a play for awhile and every time he would mention it I would ask when I could come see it.  Finally it was time.  Not all the kids told their parents they could come, but I am so grateful that Nathan invited me.  I loved watching the 5th graders step out of their comfort zone, their were even a couple kissing scenes in some of the plays.  Nathan played Macbeth in his play.  He killed and was killed.  The pictures aren't the greatest since I was trying to video at the same time.  But, I was there, it was great and I wanted to remember. 

Festival of Trees

 Friday morning a friend invited me to go to the Festival of Trees with her and her girls.  I don't get to see this friend very much and we hadn't been in years so I thought it would be fun.  Don't get me wrong, it was fun, but it was A LOT of work making it not as fun as I would have liked.  The Festival of Trees is put on by Primary Children's hospital.  All the profits go to the hospital.  People decorate trees, gingerbread houses, make quilts and sell things all for the hospital.  The trees go for thousands of dollars!
After a 20 minute calm drive to Sandy we drove around the parking lot for awhile before we found someone leaving, from the furthest spot away possible (at least it seemed), and got the spot.  I didn't bring the stroller because I don't love having it in crowds but looking back, I should have brought it.  Callie got tired and she is really heavy to hold.

First off we did some kid activities.  We painted ornaments, got elf wands and did a fishing type game to win a prize.  My kids were a lot quicker than my friends' so we went and looked at the gingerbread houses.  They were amazing!  Here is Rapunzel's tower and the Shire.

 

 We met back up with our friends and walked around the trees.  There were at least 100, maybe 2 or 300.  Here are a couple of pictures of ones the girls' really liked. 

 Winnie the Pooh

 Rapunzel

 

Mickey Mouse

My kids got really tired and were much happier when I put a snack in their hands. By the end though Callie was a monster.  She wouldn't walk and she screamed when I picked her up.  We left our friends (Their dad had showed up and they only have 2 kids so it was MUCH more manageable) and headed to our car.  Remember how it was really far out there?  So we walked and walked and walked all the way out there.  When I got to the car we got to maneuver through traffic of people coming into the parking lot and then rush hour on the freeway.  Needless to say we were all a bit cranky when we got home.  I should have picked something up for dinner but instead I had Greg cook mini potpies.  I thought everyone would like them, but they didn't.  It wasn't the greatest of nights.  Kids were tired and hungry.  Mom was tired and hungry.  The girls were crying and I wasn't using my kindest voice.  Once they were all in bed I went back up to the girls and apologized and sang some songs.  I knew I wouldn't sleep well if I were so upset.  So, was it a good idea to go to the Festival of Trees?  I am saying no.  If I knew what the night would have been like, I would have opted to stay at home and relax.  But we went, and had some fun.  We saw some cool trees and supported a great cause.  I doubt we will all go again though for a very long time.

Extra Tidbits

 The weekend after Thanksgiving we went to a nativity play near our home.  It was very interesting and educational.  There was a little "city of Bethlehem" set up so the kids could learn how to makes baskets, bread, write in Hebrew, throw pots and play a dreidel game.  There were lots of people in costume singing songs and doing things from the time period when Jesus Christ was born.  After spending some time in the city we went to the stable to watch the play.  Callie LOVES baby Jesus and wants me to tell her the story over and over each day making our little nativity people move and act it out.  She LOVED seeing it live and keeps asking to do it again. 

 Grocery shopping is one of those necessary evils.  You have to do it and it takes forever.  First you have to make a list.  Then go to the store and try to keep to the list, while seeing things that are either fun and yummy or probably should have been on your list to start with and so you wonder what else you missed.  Then you get to take a cart full of stuff up to the front and wait it line to take it out of your cart and find out how much you spend.  Then it is bagged and you put it back in your cart.  Next up is walking outside to take it out of the cart and put it in your car.  Sometimes you forget to take your stroller out of your car and so the groceries are a tight fit.  Finally you drive home thinking you are done, only to remember that you next have to take all the bags from your car to the house and no, your not done yet, the last step is putting it all away.  Fitting things into the fridge or pantry or freezer.  You wonder why you have so much food and then you remember that you forgot a couple things and so you write it down on your list for next week to do it all over again.

 Callie loves being the little sister.  She has learned how to manipulate all of us into doing what she wants and when she wants it.  For example on Sunday she was a crying loudly in church and so I took her out in the foyer.  She didn't want to go back into the chapel, but I did so in we went.  After a couple minutes she started crying again.  But as soon as I stood up to take her out, she smiled.  Needless to say, we did go outside but we just stood there and didn't walk around or get a drink.  I have a smart one on my hands!

This is our Thankful Tree that we added to all November long.  The kids got to think of at least one thing everyday and while there are a couple of the same things up there, there are a lot of different things.  The kids loved writing things they were thankful for.  It would probably be a great year-long tradition so they are always having a grateful attitude.

Decorating the Tree

 As soon as Thanksgiving Day is in the past my children are ready to start decorating for Christmas.  They love this time of year and I love getting in the spirit and getting ready for all the funtivities that happen.  The last many years we have had a fake tree and I have disliked it VERY much.  It was too small and fake and scrawny and fake.  I sold it last year and was SO excited to get a real tree.  I had heard great things about Costco's trees so we thought the $45 was worth a try.  I LOVE our tree.  It was all bundled up when I bought it, but we were all very pleasantly surprised when we opened it.  Our only complaint is that the trunk was a wee too wide for the holder, but Greg worked throught that, physically:).  I am not sure what the future hold for us and fake versus real trees, but this year I love the small and the size of our gorgeous tree. 
The kids were really excited to decorate the tree.  They love looking at their ornaments, year after year.  Looking at the ones they have had since they were babies and then the ones they got just the year before.  Both my parents and Greg's mom give the kids new ornaments for Christmas and so they are always excited to see ones from just the year before.  I love watching them.  It reminds me of my Christmases as a child.  I still have many of my ornaments from my childhood and while I don't hang them up due to the amount the kids have, I do take a peek at them every year.  I tried to take a cute picture of Greg and I but he kept making goofy faces.  That is one of the many reasons I love that man!

Thanksgiving

 Thanksgiving this year was smaller than I can ever remember.  That isn't a bad thing, just stating a fact.  We had 16 people and went to a church building so we could run around.  We found out right before dinner that other people also reserved the church so for the most part we couldn't let the kids run crazy in the gym like we had wanted to.  Oh well.  My four and 2 other cousins were the only kids so it wasn't that bad thanks to primary and nursery rooms.  The kids and I made little cornucopias with ice cream cones and M&Ms.  We then tied a name to each one so people knew where to sit.  I remember making name plates for big dinners at my Grandma's house.  I originally had Annabelle place them all around but then I had to go back and put spouses next to each other.  We actually had Thanksgiving lunch and it was fabulous!  I love all those trimmings and the turkey and the pies...YUM!  I look forward to making a turkey dinner when my parents come out so I can do everything my way.  We played a rousing game of "Samurai" that Grandpa taught us, so great PIG games when the gym became available and some other board games while the kids played.  Jeff and Bri came over and we played Munchkin with the boys and then watched "The Hunger Games" when the kids were in bed.  It was a long day but lots of fun hanging with family.

Planet Play

 Planet Play opened up to Pass of All Pass holders so we can come here anytime!  We got there right when it opened and were able to do everything we wanted right away.  We all loved the race cars and I love that Callie was even allowed to go with me.  For laser tag we split up.  The boys and Annabelle were on one team and Callie and I were on another (plus other people).  They loved shooting at me and Callie since we were mostly sitting ducks.  I got them a bunch too:).  We also did miniature golf, miniature bowling and a play area.  We will definitely come back again!

Chess

Greg took turns playing chess and checkers with each of the kids today.  I didn't think to go and grab my camera until I saw this:

Yes, Callie played chess.  For about one minute and then she wanted to hold all the "horseys."

Snow Day

 While we didn't get a ton of snow, it was enough to make the kids happy.  I even suited up in snow pants and boots and was ready to go out before the kids were.  It was wet and cold and we had yummy hot chocolate and cider when we came back in.  I am glad it came and I am glad it didn't stay.  Yeah for snow, for now.