Report

Oh my what a fun day we had... Christmas time rocks... Our family has some of the neatest and fun traditions.(I am a little bias) Christmas Eve is spent with my side. We have a super yummy dinner which we eat picnic style in the family room on the floor in front of a huge,warm fire. This year we did a Danish dinner, complete with Ableskaoivors (k- I have no idea how to spell that) a roasted pork, which my brother had to drive to Tooella to purchase since no other butcher could do it the authentic way, we had two kinds of potatoes and yummy gravy and cabbage, although the most different was the fish on Rye bread. My mom made slush and stuffed mushrooms, we of course brought the smokies. We ate and waited for the Elves to bring our jammies. Our Christmas jammies have been dropped off on the doorstep by the elves since; forever. I try every year to catch the elusive elves and have never been successful. Then we do a puppet show of the Nativity. This is important because it helps my children to remember the real meaning of "Christ"mas before we tear into gifts. As always we ask to keep it simple and every year we are totally spoiled. Ry received Fancy Nancy (If you haven't read her books you MUST) A dress to change her into and The Posh Puppy "Frenchy"(another part of the Fancy Nancy collection) Gator got a fantastic music set, this incredible little race car track, and a super cool dump truck, complete with some very nice boulders. Jeff got some sweet gift cards and I got games (woohoo) and gift cards... Very personal in our books as we can happily find something we love. Whew! that was only the EVE.
Christmas day the kids each found the gift Santa left them. Ry asked for the Baby Alive who learns to potty, and Gator a Jr. Quad.(battery powered kids four wheeler)
Then we headed over very slowly because of the lizard, blizzard to daddies family minus the "fried Homies" but missed them like crazy. We had Brunch... More yummy food, kiesh(again I don't know how to spell this and the spell check didn't help), tea ring and slush. Then we opened more presents.. Ry got a darling Cabbage patch doll with black and blue hair(blue part glows in the dark), tons of outfits that are soooo cute and hand made, and the tinkerbell movie, a very beautiful heart necklace with a real diamond (I got a twinner one, I love it) Clothes okay the list goes on... Gator got balls and brummm brumms (cars) clothes and the list goes on. Daddy got his binoculars(he might be spying on you soon), I got tons...see we did get spoiled like crazy. Then we went to a movie. Bedtime Stories. I loved it. My kids did great. Ry watched the whole thing and Papa got Gator to sleep. So I got to watch the whole thing. We crashed at the end of the day. And the next day and now we are battling a bug. So I haven't been so good about blogging. I only have pictures of Eve. I was caught up in it all and forgot. OOOOOPSIE! We wish you had a great day too! I love holidays. I might just mooch off of everyone's cool holidays. There is Hanuka, Ramadan, Kwanzaa and tons more. I think my kids would love it too.

Almost time

It is almost Christmas and I am very excited. The kids, especially Ry, are very aware of the excitement in the air. She keeps asking if it is almost Christmas and can she open presents? I am finding a few minutes here and there to finish things up. We did our very last shopping today. Enough, no more. I am going to enjoy the rest of the clean up and then the day. I hope that no one was offended that we didn't do neighborhood gifts. This year we decided to forgo the usual letter, photo, card, treats, and such. It makes me a little nervous when others stop by with there bounty for us. I just wanted you all to know that instead, we donated it to those who have struggled this year. We were able to give. We are extremely blessed.

So fun to have live dolls!

I pretty much love having kids!!! One of the best things about it is finding cute things to dress them in. I know you are thinking you have to spend a bunch to do this, but I am here to tell you that it really isn't true. I love doing everything fancy-shamcy. Ry's hair went in rollers and she sat under the dryer in the salon. It was really fun to have Gator, I wanted the old man effect again, hence his vest. I am going to have to try and find him a sports jacket with elbow patches and some suspenders for Easter. I can't wait. I am also getting excited for the petty skirts. I want to find one of those for Ry for Easter... So much fun. (Hello, momma, focus on Christmas) We had a great time and although I was sad that my Christmas shirt did not fit over my blessings and there was a massive hole is my stockings, AND I had to resign myself to wearing things I already owned I was very happy to have made it to church.. It was a very nice sabbath day. We couldn't take pictures with the whole little fam, because the hubs had calling stuff to attend to and the kids and I had to get out of those fancy clothes so that we didn't end up with any messes. I even posted the grumpy faces, the kids do pretty good. Not everyone smiles all the time... I tried having Gator hold an ornament so he would hold still, yeah, he thought it was a ball and kept chucking it at me. I then tried handing him a present. He did okay, out of about fifty shots these were the best.

Fun things

Pearson's taught us this... Yummy...
If you thought your life was tough, the Hubs and I get kicked outta our bed most mornings for these two little bed warmers.
We thought it would be fun to go sleigh-ing as Ry calls it. She looked forward to it all day and didn't want to come in. But, Gator had had enough after about three minutes. He reminds me of the boy on the Christmas Story. Those little Rosy cheeks where the only thing showing. Daddy bought the kids boots and mittens this morning and they where so happy to have dry warm toesies and fingers. The little snow suit Gator has on Jen and Nate gave us. I was with Jen when she bought it for Jackson three years ago. Soooooo cute! Thanks guys.

I also wanted to share that Ry tries really hard to say chimney but it comes out jimney.... So good luck Santa.

Found

We found original Didi and a new didi arrived in the mail. I want to thank Prestige Toy Corp. once again. I also want to thank the "weekend janitor" who locked up the old one for safe keeping. This little boy is in heaven.
He loves new Didi and he looks just like old didi, he just has a rattle inside.
Ry tried to share; that was not happening.
Together.... And no he is not keeping his O's on without taking them out. He just has on clear tape.

Hurray!!!! You five ladies are now going to receive something I am making... I know where two of you live so the other three need to email me your address so that I can mail yours when it is done.... homerz218@yahoo.com

Here's a little hint of what you will be getting....

I love (am slightly addicted) to doing this....

Be looking for it... I will try my darnedest to get them done quick....

Don't forget to pass this game along....

This and thats

So I am really excited because I could potentially win a hoodie from Seriously so Blessed and all I had to do was link back to my blog... So here it is http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com of course I hope you win something too, just not before me.

Also; I was picked to play a pass along game from our little heart friend Ethan's mom ethanjamescurtis.blogspot.com .... Check out her cute ornament... She is bringing me something back from Africa!!!!! SQUEEEEEEELLLLL!!!!

Do YOu want to play too?????

Heres How!

THE RULES: The focus of this is to do an act of kindness without expecting anything in return other than the recipient will, in their turn, pass the kindness along and "pay it forward."I will send a small gift to the first 3 bloggers who post a comment on this entry. In turn, those three will post this information and the game will continue!! The little something you send can be something you made, bought, were given or found, anything you want!! Just a gift that will make the person's day!!
If you are interested in participating, simply be one of the first 3 bloggers to leave a comment!! You have to promise that you will then post about this on your blog, link back to me, and then send something to the first three people who sign up to play along through your blog. Doesn't this sound like fun!!??
Don't be shy. In fact, here is a special invitation to all of you lurkers who never comment. Now is your chance to make yourself known and say hello! :)
Anyway, let the games begin!
Come on!!!! it will be fun, think of what I might send you! If I get a bunch of comments then I will do more pass alongs... See you could still get to play.

Christmas Spirit!!

We thought we would get a little hat crazy. There are only two of Ry because she wouldn't really participate.. She wanted to be DONE!

Goes a long way!

So one of our angels came through for us yesterday. I was in a serious panic trying to find Gator's didi. G-ma D had emailed Prestige Toy Corp. months ago when didi started to get frazzled looking, trying to purchase another one to replace him when he eventually fell apart. You see he is not supposed to be washed in the washing machine per manufactures instructions to extend his life... But, when there is bodily fluids involved, we must wash him very well... Amazingly he has held up very well. Anyway, she sent me the emails which she had exchanged with Randi (The Vp of sales) and I wrote one telling her the predicament we were in and a link to this blog so that she could see pictures.... This amazing women, from a company clear in NY, took the time to help us.. she said that unfortunately they don't even make that little plush doggy anymore and she had searched their inventory for one.... But, that she would send us something similar to his didi and a couple of other doggy's to see if he likes one of those... WOW!!! can you believe that she would be so generous. I am absolutely floored by her kindness. So, I am plugging the HECK out of this company for doing this for us.... If you need a neat, snugly, cute, darling, fun, lovable, soft toy... You should check them out... (sadly they don't sell to the public, but if you know someone who knows someone.... Then there you go)

Calling all Angels!!!!

I guess I knew this would happen at some point, we LOST DIDI- Repeat- WE LOST DIDI.... I have made phone calls, we are going to show up with pictures... We are going to try the retailer.... Man this is sad...

Week in review

You would think the energizer bunny lived at our house the way we have been going and going...... Gator had his first Synigis shot this week... Truly not fun, but really important.

We had our primary Christmas party, This is Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.. Jeff was a Shepherd and I did the music. It went amazing and I am so proud of all the children.

Friday we went to the Festival of trees and saw all the beautiful trees that people had decorated for purchase, all proceeds are donated to Primary Children's hospital. It was amazing. We saw many trees done by friends to honor their loved ones. This tree was done by Melissa and Becky "heart" moms who added all the heart kids this year... Gator is actually in this picture from the fun run. If you can see the bottom... IT SOLD!!!!! I am so thankful to these ladies for all their hard work and sweet thoughts for all of us. You would be amazed at the talent of these amazing donors. One group of artist.. all family.. did a blown glass tree, truly the hit of the show, it sold for 26,000.00 dollars...Whew!

Saturday was Ry's dance recital... Way to go little girlie... She was really nervous at first. The old "deer in the head lights" because this was her first performance ever; on a big stage, with all those people watching... But after a few minutes she was into it and dancing like crazy.... She was really looking forward to dressing up, putting on make up and wearing rollers in her hair. (of all things)

Today has been the same with Jeff doing a fantastic job at the pulpit conducting and then doing sharing time with the bishopric... And tithing settlement and such that keeps him busy...

we won't be slowing for a while...

Ry-isms

Driving in the car last night- checking out lights on houses.. Ry says to me in a frantic voice...

"Mom, where the heck is our chimney"

I guess she is a little worried the big guy won't make it down ours...

At dinner we are finishing up and I can tell Gator is finished.. He must not have liked Shepherds Pie, cause there was still a bunch on his plate that he was happily smooshing around with his hands... Then he placed his hands one over the top of the other, in an X pattern and placed his hands on top of the mess. I said to him "ahhhh what are you doing you little mess maker?" Ry didn't miss a beat and said...

"Mom he is just giving his food a blessing, cause he wanted it to be better!"

Haaaaa, baaaaaaah.....

She makes me laugh so hard...

Gator sounds

We have been working with different sounds.. He is so funny... most everything is Roar... but he says hohoho for all the lights we drive by, all the Christmas decor and everything even slightly related to Christmas/Santa.

Check out this amazing puzzle....

Puzzlekins... are super cute... I really want to win one so, go to this site and check them out....http://jakeandvickilewis.blogspot.com you can win one too...