Ho, Ho, Ho!

To start off my blog - Merry Christmas everyone! I didn't have an internet connection for the last week and it drove me crazy because I couldn't update my blog or check anyone else's! I didn't think that I would be THAT person who is addicted to blogs and the internet, but I was having withdrawls!

We had a great Christmas. We stayed the night up at my in-laws house. They were all alone and we like going there! The kids got some pretty sweet presents from Santa. One of which was a surprise to Mrs. Claus, it was another PS2 game for Ethan. I am not a video game mom and no judgement to those that are, but the past 3 years, Santa has snuck a new Lego video game at the last minute. What a clever old chap! And we also got Nerf guns. I personally LOVE them. We had an all-out war with Bucky's sister and family on Christmas day.

We also got dumped on with the snow! Ethan and Evie begged and begged to make a snow fort. it was a pitiful little fort, but it was great for them! They loved it.

Addresses!

Addresses! I need everyone's addresses for Christmas cards! Please, if you want one!

Has This Ever Happened to You?

Question: What does toilet paper look like in the bathtub?

Answer: Egg Drop Soup

This is what I found "Devilyn" doing yesterday in the tub! I was doing dishes in the kitchen, and I came back 5 minutes later to find her swishing her hair "LIKE A MERMAID MOM!" in egg drop soupy water. It was disgusting to say the least. I drained the bathtub and was running her hair under the faucet and this stupid toilet paper would not come out! So I finished washing it and got the blowdrier out. No such luck. I wish I had one of those lice combs because I used 2 brushes trying to get it out. In the end she had a beautiful blow out and still chunks of white toilet paper in there.

And to make the story funnier later on I had to attend Bucky's Christmas party for work and I accidently grabbed said infected brush. I ran it through my red hair and suddenly became a Pert Plus commercial. White bits everywhere. :) I felt a little like an episode of I Love Lucy or something. I had to laugh at myself because who does that????

The Angel...(insert laughter here)

Today we TRIED to take an angel picture of Evie for Bucky's mom. Here are the results. If you know Evie you will understand the magnitude of the attitude in the pictures! They turned out cute, but in the end, the devil horns seemed more appropriate and she was the one who picked them out!

To Those Who Commented...

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last blog. It took a few days and one day of actually succumbing to the need to lay in bed with my head under the covers no less, to help me feel better. Thanks for all the good advice!

Yesterday we also did our Christmas decorations. I don't know what it is about this ritual every year, I guess I have high expectations, but somehow I end up pissed off. I think I have memories of my dad getting upset trying to put up the decorations on the tree. Is that right Massey siblings? Or am I repressing a memory that doesn't exist?

We tried to talk about the nativity when we put it up, the kids weren't interested, put up Christmas lights, which didn't reach the length of where we wanted them to go, BUT, it was fun in the end. Everything is done now. It's actually quite easy to decorate a teeny apartment. :) I love it. I actually enjoy living in a small space because it makes us closer. Bucky doesn't like it, but I like to hear my kids laughing in the next room. Or smelling the dinner you had the night before lingering in the living room the next day! :)

HELP!!!

Fellow bloggers,

To whom it may concern, I am officially in a slump. It is one of those barely hanging on slumps. The kind where you feel like curling up in bed and pulling the covers over your head. I am asking for advice. Any little tidbits! I am not looking for pity, but rather empathy. Have you been there? How did you deal?

Deep in the Heart of Texas...

The stars are bright...in TEXAS! We are here! The kids and I flew down on the the Monday before Thanksgiving and Bucky was able to come down after, on Wednesday. My sister Amy and her family down in Tyler Texas. It is Thursday night and I am sitting with a full belly watching Hairspray - could life get better? I don't think so. I'll post pictures when i get back home. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

A Storms a Comin'

I don't know what is going on in Utah. It is beautiful! It's almost like the calm before the storm. I think a cold front is going to come because no one should have to endure this kind of weather in November. The end of November even!

Just kidding.

I lived in Alaska too long not to take advantage of the weather. If we could just do something about the inversion...

For those of you who don't know(and be glad you don't) the inversion is a term that Salt Lake came up with instead of saying smog or pollution. It's really only in the winter when there isn't a lot of movement in the weather pattern. All the pollution gets trapped in the Salt Lake Valley and form this really sweet haze. The weathermen tell everyone to stay inside and not to exercise outside and those with asthma to stay inside as well. It's pretty fun.

So...it's beautiful today with the one exception that is the inversion. I guess I could be glad because it makes all my pictures seem like they were taken in a long ago era...

Busy, Busy, Busy, and Sick

So this last week has been REALLY busy. And let me just preface that statement by saying that I don't like to be REALLY busy. I don't like to have a packed schedule. I haven't started the kids in soccer or anything yet, because I don't like to be busy!

2 weeks ago Bucky's brother asked if we would babysit his daughter while he and his step-daughter tried out for a play at the local theater. Buck had this brilliant idea that he and Ethan should try out too. Well, guess what? They got cast. It's the Wizard of Oz. Bucky is a Guard and Ethan is in the Lollipop Guild. They are excited, although Buck got a little nervous last night reading through the script to see that he has a few solos! Ha that's serves him right.

1. Play practice is a couple of times a week.

My calling in our ward is Enrichment Committee and also the Sports Specialist for the YW. Enrichment is fun and not that big of a deal and neither is being the Sports Specialist.
We got lucky and had a forfeit the first game and won the next 2! Tonight they have a game, and if they win that, they have a game Saturday morning.

3. Of course Visiting Teaching was supposed to be last night, didn't get to it because of the games.




4. Last but certainly not least, I've been sick for 2 weeks. Off and on with a hacking cough at night thus giving me no voice the next day.

I am tired, anyone ever feel like they've had the week from hell?! Natalie I'm sure this griping has got you rolling your eyes!!!

Once Upon a Time...

A long, long time ago there was a rock star. He decided to go to massage school while pursuing his rock dream. There was a semi-crazed wild Alaskan just off the boat in Salt Lake City. She was also starting a new career in massage therapy.

The first day of school she noticed this rock star who sitting a few rows back. He didn't seem to realize that he was in the wrong classroom and so this girl politely informed him that he was. It seemed like forever to the first break and when the girl walked out she was immediately walking next to him. Butterflies ensued and that was the beginning of the rest of their blissful life together...

Flash forward 8 years, 2 c-sections, and 1 reunion show later the girl was still in love with her rock star husband. He rocked so hard it hurt. Literally, he was dying the next day, what can I say, he's an old man. :)

Getting ready for Halloween!

We went to Gardner Village 2 weekends ago and had a great time. We wanted to weather to be fall(ish) and chilly, but unfortunately it wasn't. It was 70! Not that I'm complaining, because I grew up in Alaska and I know what it's like to not see 70 the whole year, but I was not dressed for it! And running around with 8 kids and 3 adults, the odds were not in our favor.

Well...

This is my husband's heart in cheesecloth. I just get so fed up with him that I decided to make him into a nice jelly and you are all getting a tiny jar for Christmas!

Nahhh!!!!!!!! I have a great husband! A little lacking in the punctuality department, but he makes up for it in foot rubs! I am sorry to brag but he rocks!


I made grape jelly! I hope it sets up well. It was really fun to learn to do. Have a great day everyone! Recipe follows...

1. Wash about 3 1/2 lbs. of Concord grapes. Like so...


2. Blend the grapes in two batches in blender.


3. Wash the jars in hot soapy water. Wash lids as well. Keep the jars in hot water until just before pouring. Make sure you dry out jars so as not to mess with jelly.


4. Line a bowl with about 4 layers of cheesecloth. And I would recommend using a pair of latex gloves so you don't stain your hands, nails, etc. when you squeeze the juice through the cheesecloth.


5. Pour the juice from the blender into the cheescloth, this step is a little tricky. Looking back, I think I would have put a large rubberband around the bowl to hold it in place while I poured the juice. Pull the sides up and squeeze the juice out. Be careful not to squeeze to hard because I ripped through a few layers of cheesecloth from over-zealous squeezing!



6. You should have about 4 1/2 c. worth of juice. Pour into pot with 7 c. of sugar. Bring to a hard boil. Add one package of pectin. Stir for another 5 minutes.

7. Dry out jars now and ladle jelly to a 1/4 in. from the lip of jar. Put on lid and screw on top.

8. If you have a canning pot that's great, if you don't you can use a big pot with a grate on the bottom. You need to have water in the pot at a boil and enough to cover the jars by about 2 inches. Boil for 5 minutes. take jars out and let cool at room temp overnight. It will take about 2-3 weeks for it to set up properly. Good luck and email if you have questions!

Guess What?

Two things! Can you guess what this picture is? And the kids were being silly in the video clip.

Schoolyard Antics...

Since being tagged is the newest thing to me about having a blog I have decided to officially end my blog. There will be no more posts.

Just kidding. It sounds like a fun idea, you tell 5 quirky things about yourself and then tag 5 other people.

1. I have to agree with Kari on the British actors. Although, I am not a fan of them being old. I draw the line at 40 or so. I, unlike the rest of the country, have not fallen for the current Office on NBC, I enjoy the British Office much better. Which I might add came first and the Tim (Jim) character is much cuter on the British show. I'd like to also throw a shout out to Ricky Gervais' series Extras. It's a bit crass, but I love it. So, there you have it. I love Harry Potter movies and I love anything by Ricky Gervais.

2. Okay, number two and I feel very blank in the brain. Ahh, I have discovered a love for things domestic. It's strange because growing up my mother was very good at being a mother, she was always sewing things and cooking and helping us with our homework. And I find, that the more I try to do different things around the house, whether it's sewing (poorly), or canning jam, or making bread, I find I enjoy it. Which is satisfying to feel self-sufficient.

3. I am a bit compulsive about changing my hair. Almost to the point where if you haven't seen my in awhile, you might not recognize me. I am also not very scared to cut my own hair. But every time I do the back of my hair I inevitably end up asking Bucky to help me and he freaks out. He is not down with that.

4. I think I'm on a roll now, okay, I am not very scared to try new things. I don't mind flopping as long as it doesn't cost alot of money. I don't mind trying a home project. I'm just ignorant about my abililties I suppose. :)

5. I find I like the country better than the city. I thought that I wanted to get out of Alaska when I left at 18, but the longer I'm gone, the more I miss it.

I want to tag Tyra, Natalie, Amy, Angela, and Sadie. Have fun, don't hate!

Veggie Art

Just for kicks check out this blog with the kids. Mine cracked up the whole time!

http;//veg-art.blogspot.com

Free Handbag Giveaway

Enter to win a free hand bag at Handbag Planet!

go to handbagplanet.com

Early Mornings and Late Nights

We had a fun/crazy weekend. My Aunt Corky got sealed in the temple on Friday and luckily my mom was able to come down from Alaska for the wedding. She came Thursday morning and left Saturday morning. It was quick and crazy but we got to do alot. I'm posting pics of helping my aunt do her hair and makeup before the wedding. We also spend Friday night with my Johnson Grandparents playing games. It was a fun weekend with Grandma Massey. We love having her here!

Check out the Attitude!

Today's sewing pretty much a success/failure. Success because I finished. Failure because I had to improvise the pattern for Evie because she's much smaller than Ethan and I managed to make the pants upside down. LUCKILY, the distance from her crotch to her waist is the same distance as from her crotch to her shins. Thus making a very sporty looking pair of capris! But, as you can see from the picture she didn't want to wear the shirt that I put on her. It wasn't pink to match her pink pants. Anyone else have that problem with their kids?!

Trying Something New

Well, here's a bit of background before I start this post. My mother is an AWESOME seamstress. Just amazing. And possessing this talent, she tried more than a few times to pass this talent on to her 5 daughters. I believe Beth possesses that talent and has nurtured it a bit, and it didn't hurt that she worked at an amazing fabric store for a bit. I on the other hand, managed to go on a crazy spree of making hair scrunchies (hey it was the 90's) but that was it.

Needless to say, if you've ever tried to sew something yourself without someone else there to help you, it can be, to say the least infuriating! I found a remnant piece of fabric for like$2 at Walmart and decided to attempt to make a pair of pajama pants for Ethan and Evie. Well, lets just say what would have taken my mom, no joke, 30 minutes from start to finish, took me the better part of the afternoon. BUT! Wait for it, I finished them. At the last minute I decided that they looked to long for Ethan's skinny little legs, which I should have known was a bad mistake, because I took off about 2 inches. Now he has to low-ride them to make them look right. Oh well! I will attempt Evie's today and I'll let you know.

WARNING: CONTAINS ANATOMICAL LANGUAGE!

So no picture today, just a funny little story about kids and anatomy. If you've ever been in this situation let me know so I don't think that my kids are weird. Okay, so the other night I was getting the kids ready for a bath and was having them use the bathroom beforehand. Ethan, of course, was standing to go and Evie was standing there next to him making the peeing sound like she was going as well.

She says, "Ethan look I have a wenis!"

Ethan, so kindly ;) says, "Evie you can't pee like that because you don't have a wee-were."
(Yes, sometimes that's what I call it)

I seized the opportunity to teach a little anatomy (my first mistake) and said, " Evie, Ethan has a penis and your have a girl bum called a vagina." (my second mistake).

They both kind of stared at me and Ethan says, " That sounds like a Japanese dish." Then they both jumped in the tub and left me nearly in tears trying not to laugh. I mean it was like a perfectly executed Seinfeld joke. Anyway, if you have any funny stories let me know. ;)

Which One?

Tutu's and Hair Thingie's

Here's the picture of the tutu. I worked on it all night and Ev was so excited to try it out that she's wearing it with her pajamas. And I found this big bag of flowers at Wal-Mart for 50 cents and decided to make, you guessed it, more hair things.

So, I've been slowly becoming obsessed with this bow-making website. The link on my page hasn't been working right but it shows you how to make girls bows and they are free! So, if you've ever bought bows at a boutique or shop they are expensive! So, I have been obessed with making bows.


And I also saw a thing online about making these tutu's. They are super easy. And you guessed it, CHEAP. You just take a yard of two different colors of tulle and cut them into 2-3 inch strips. Then you sew together a thin bit of elastic for the waist. I used a 1/4 in. elastic and measured it around Evie's waist and sewed it together. Then you tie the strips of colored tulle in an alternating fashion. Then I went even further and glued some rhinestones on the end. I'm telling you. I feel like I've lost it.

I also colored my hair. I'll post pictures and you'll have to tell me what color you like better.

Busy Week!

We have had a busy week so far and it isn't even over! Keith came to visit on Sunday and stayed until Tuesday afternoon. He was on his way to Mexico. It was great to see him. Also on Tuesday Ethan started his first official day of school! I can't believe it. It's great. He loves school and as you can imagine, if you know Ethan at all, you will pity the teacher because Ethan loves to talk! He hasn't gotten a pink slip yet so he must mind himself. Thirdly, Ethan's birthday was yesterday and we are having a pirate party tonight! I can't wait. I love parties! I love planning them. I just wish that we were able to afford them more often! I'll post pictures of the party later. But here's pictures of Ethan's first day of school and Uncle Keith.

Beach Bums

I am still posting things from my trip to the East Coast. Sorry! There are a lot. This is Ocean City, New Jersey. The kids had a good time, but were reluctant to jump in the ocean with me. So, being the good mother that I am, I dragged them in! Like wet cats both of them.

Philadelphia

This is Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This is where the

Declaration of Independence was signed. It was cool. And the Liberty Bell. This was also cool as you can imagine. The last picture is outside the home of Betsy Ross, who never actually owned a home, just rented her whole life.

Here is a hodge-podge of our trip. We did so many
cool things and had such a great time with my mom!
Thanks mom! We love you! This is the Washington Monument and behind the kids is the Lincoln Memorial.

This is Evelyn's haircut before and after. She decided to cut her hair the day before we left on our trip to the east coast. Isn't it adorable when little girls cut their own hair!

Act II

Scene: Monterville (sweet, middle of nowhere road of a town) West Virginia. The past few days have been a schizophrenic weather anomaly of rain and sunshine. Taking into account the size of bugs and foliage akin to the rain forest. Don't mistake these specifics to mean anything negative. It's quite beautiful, and a little daunting for someone who doesn't know what poison oak or ivy looks like. :) Moving on. 12th day of vacation. Scheduled to go home in two days. I can't remember the last time I had such a good time, but today things were different. This morning I woke feeling achy. I thought to myself;

Self: hmmm. Did I run ten miles yesterday?

Alter-ego: No. never in your life have you run ten miles.

Self: Well, I feel like it.

The day continues with a pig roasting. Yes, pig roasting. Everyone that is coming for the Bun-Anna Massey reunion is there. There is a lot of laughing and teasing going on. Sarcasm running free. Typical Massey style. I start feeling flu-like symptoms around 9pm and head back to the cabin with Amy and Jerry. I spend the entire night having false alarm throw up sessions in the bathroom. Until the following morning, it comes at 6am. Not pretty nor fun.

So by now I'm genuinely worried because I have to leave Monday morning at 9am to drive the rental car 5 hours to Washington DC. After which I fly from there to Denver (a 4 hour flight) sit in the airport for a couple hours then fly to SLC. Even in top shape it's taxing with two unrelenting toddlers.

SO...Thankfully I spent Sunday in bed feeling like death, while my parents and Amy watched the kids. All day I ate a few bites of apple. It was one of those days. Sunday night I asked my dad for a blessing. My Uncle Brent was prepared enough to have some oil and so I was able to get a blessing. The next morning I woke up at 6am to see Amy and Jerry and my parents off. I was a little nervous because I still didn't feel all that well. But the most amazing thing happened. The minute I got in the car to drive home I felt good. Not completely healed, but good enough to handle everything. That is the power of the priesthood, and I couldn't have had the strength if it wasn't for Heavenly Father. Thank you Uncle Brent, Uncle Rick, Jerry, and my Dad for the blessing.

We are back home in Zion (laugh it's a joke). Things are going well. Ethan starts school on Monday and I haven't decided whether I'm going to be one of those moms that bawl or that is happy. Probably a little of both. :)

Act 1:

One mother and two toddlers in tow flying the not-so-friendly skies of Frontier Airlines from SLC to Denver. Family looks outside and notes that hail the size of marbles is mixing with sleet pelting the ground. Mother wonders if they will make it out of Denver alive, and if so would they die en route to Washington DC, from storm?

Evie: I'm starving, I think I'm going to die, and I'm cold. I think I'm going to die.

Anna: You aren't going to die. Lets see what we have in the carry-on.

Mother rummages to no avail. There are various toddler clothes, make-up, and crackers.

Anna: This is what we're going to do. We are going to get hamburgers from the over-priced McDonalds and then we're going to cover you in clothes! Won't that be fun!

Ethan and Evie: (combined whine) NO!

As most of you are parents and have had the pleasure of traveling by yourselves with children you will understand the law of parenting karma. YOU WILL NEVER PACK WHAT YOU NEED. NEVER! And of you do you will have forgotten all about it when you need it. And all of it will be compounded by the fact that kids pick up on your stress and then have a monster melt-down in front of complete strangers that give you the stink-eye.

Baaaaaaaaaaa!

Joining the crowd was so easy to do. I never thought that I would post a blog. I thought that only really nerdy people or parents who love their children just a little too much had blogs. Or really pretty people who liked the thought of seeing themselves sent through cyberspace to millions of viewers. I was wrong. You see, I have to say that because if I didn't I would get a huge tongue lashing from my family and friends. And I guess a part of me just wants to say...hey my kids are cuter than yours.