This was Josh and Ashlie duking it out with our aforementioned Homer Simpson figure in our yard. I think they won...I wish I had video of this--it was so funny how intense Josh was! Poor Homer!
To Every Love a Season
6 years ago
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Go Homer...
This was Josh and Ashlie duking it out with our aforementioned Homer Simpson figure in our yard. I think they won...I wish I had video of this--it was so funny how intense Josh was! Poor Homer!
Monday, December 8, 2008
My Christmas Angel...
Today, I dropped Ashlie off at school, and took Jack to K-Mart so I could purchase the rest of the lights I needed to finally get our lights up on our house...(right now all we have is a jumbo Homer Simpson Santa figure that we received for a white elephant gift last year--can you say white trash...Todd is loving the attention from that one--I, am not!). He was very tired, but I thought he would make it at least the hour that I needed to get some shopping done.
It wasn't 15 minutes before he fell asleep--(sitting up, I told you this boy can sleep anywhere)--which would have been okay, if I had brought his car seat in, but I left it in the car thinking he would be awake, and happier sitting in the cart. So I took him out and held him, pushing my cart around, trying to get a little more Christmas shopping done--we only have 15 days you know! After another half hour, my arms were throbbing, both the one I was holding him with, and the one I was using to push my now heavy, overflowing cart with. I headed to the checkout, only to see two HUGE lines (the reason I hate K-Mart)! I got into a line, and the thought crossed my mind to just leave my cart there, and try another day, as I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold this boy without my arm falling off. Then, I saw my angel!
Her name was Dee, and she was a K-Mart employee. She told me to follow her to a lane where a lady was almost ready to leave, and had begun to close her register. She instructed her to open it back up, and help me get out of there. I told her thank you, and started to load my things onto the belt. She said, "No, let me get those things for you, you just hold on to that baby, I'm sure he's getting heavy!" I was so thankful, it was like she had read my mind. I proceeded to pay and then Dee told me, "I'll push the cart out to your car for you." It was such a relief, because I had parked pretty far away, and it would have been a long walk to push that thing with one hand. She not only pushed my cart out to the car for me, but she loaded my things into the back while I put Jack into his car seat and got the car started. I told her, "Thank you so much! Today YOU were my Christmas angel!" She said it was no problem, and for me to have a Merry Christmas.
It was a simple thing, that this lady did for me today--but to this tired mom, she was an angel! Thank you Dee! Today you made a difference in someone's life--and I am so grateful! I have also linked this story on Real Angels Real Life--check it out!
It wasn't 15 minutes before he fell asleep--(sitting up, I told you this boy can sleep anywhere)--which would have been okay, if I had brought his car seat in, but I left it in the car thinking he would be awake, and happier sitting in the cart. So I took him out and held him, pushing my cart around, trying to get a little more Christmas shopping done--we only have 15 days you know! After another half hour, my arms were throbbing, both the one I was holding him with, and the one I was using to push my now heavy, overflowing cart with. I headed to the checkout, only to see two HUGE lines (the reason I hate K-Mart)! I got into a line, and the thought crossed my mind to just leave my cart there, and try another day, as I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold this boy without my arm falling off. Then, I saw my angel!
Her name was Dee, and she was a K-Mart employee. She told me to follow her to a lane where a lady was almost ready to leave, and had begun to close her register. She instructed her to open it back up, and help me get out of there. I told her thank you, and started to load my things onto the belt. She said, "No, let me get those things for you, you just hold on to that baby, I'm sure he's getting heavy!" I was so thankful, it was like she had read my mind. I proceeded to pay and then Dee told me, "I'll push the cart out to your car for you." It was such a relief, because I had parked pretty far away, and it would have been a long walk to push that thing with one hand. She not only pushed my cart out to the car for me, but she loaded my things into the back while I put Jack into his car seat and got the car started. I told her, "Thank you so much! Today YOU were my Christmas angel!" She said it was no problem, and for me to have a Merry Christmas.
It was a simple thing, that this lady did for me today--but to this tired mom, she was an angel! Thank you Dee! Today you made a difference in someone's life--and I am so grateful! I have also linked this story on Real Angels Real Life--check it out!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Polar Express...
The little girls were going around the neighborhood the other day playing Polar Express and I thought it was cute, so I sent Erin out with the camera to video them. They even had little bells to ring--so cute!
Sickening...
This video, called Prop. 8, the Musical, was on Drudge earlier in the week--it makes me sick to my stomach. Talk about mocking God. Seriously--uuugh. And I used to like Jack Black--YUCK! What a loser. Watch it--if you can stomach it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrM2UPoWFtE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrM2UPoWFtE
Jack's First Sucker...
Emie gave Jack this sucker and he was SOOO happy! I couldn't have pried that thing away from him for anything. I know he's a little young for candy--but c'mon, he's #6 kid! If you saw my earlier post about the toilet you pretty much know that! So dang cute--I love this boy!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Putting Christ in Christmas...
Tonight was our ward Christmas party, and the theme was "Putting Christ in Christmas". It was such an amazing program. They had people bring their nativities, and pictures of Christ and displayed them in three of the rooms. We had a small program and then very reverently walked through the rooms to look at the nativities. I was surprised that my children were so interested in all of the nativities, they were fascinated by them. It was very hard for some of them to not touch, however (I won't mention any names...JOSHUA)! I put a picture of my favorite one--a little nativity village set--I thought this was SO cool, it is like the whole little town of Bethlehem, I loved it. There were sets there from Vietnam, Germany, China, Jerusalem, Laos, Sri Lanka, it was amazing. Then we went back into the cultural hall where they had a live nativity with some of the primary children as the actors. I just love when you have children act out the nativity, we do this every year with whatever cousins we are with at Christmas time, and it is always such a sweet spirit. The children are so cute in their costumes, and there was such a reverent, sweet spirit there. This was just what I needed after my meltdown earlier in the week. A sweet reminder that this IS the reason for the season! That Jesus Christ was born in a stable, that he lived--that he LIVES! I am so grateful to have this knowledge in my life, and for the way that this knowledge blesses me and blesses my family! I love my Savior so much, I am so grateful for his example, for the life that he lived. When I asked a few posts ago how to be able to relax and enjoy the season--I have my answer. Just focus on Christ, and my heart can be at peace. I'm not saying that we won't still be busy--but if I focus on Him, everything else will fall into place. I am grateful for this night, and this reminder!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Toilet Adventures...
It's time to start keeping the bathroom doors shut--Jack has discovered the TOILET! Too bad it will be a few years before he uses it for something other than splashing in! We go through way too much toilet paper as it is without this happening! I know some of these pictures will make you cringe--but if it makes you feel better--today was the day my cleaning ladies came and my toilet and bathroom were sparkling clean! Any other day I would have been too grossed out to get these pictures! Oh, and yes, I did still thoroughly disinfect him when we were done with this little photo session! :)
Uh, Oh~fun's over!
Uh, Oh~fun's over!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tis the Season--(of Anxiety that is!)
Am I the only one that starts feeling the anxiety on about Dec. 1st, that doesn't go away until around noon on Dec. 25th??? Seriously, when I think of all the things that I need to get done in these short 21 days, I feel like curling up in the fetal position in my closet for a few weeks and letting it all pass by! How sad huh? I feel like such a scrooge this year, but it seems that every year, as we have added more and more kids, we have also added more and more STRESS to the holiday season. I feel like I can't even enjoy it anymore because we are so busy! Do you all have any ideas on how to remove the stress and the busyness and that oh so familiar overwhelming feeling in the pit of your stomach--and just RELAX?? (Ideas that don't include Zoloft??) I have been trying all day to get the laundry done, and put away, and my house clean to a point where I can even think about getting my Christmas decorations out--so that I can destroy the house all over again and take a few more days to clean it all up. We had our big family Christmas party last nite, which was a blast--but we have the ward party on Friday, then parties on Saturday, and so it begins...and it seems like we will have something every night until Christmas Eve!! Not to mention that I have to fit in shopping somewhere, and in the next week or so get gifts sent off to those who live far away! That is not to mention baking, Christmas cards, pictures, concerts, etc., etc., etc! For those of you who manage to not let it stress you out--how the heck do you do it? Seriously--I want to be able to enjoy the season--tell me your secrets?!?!? I am begging here...(Okay, so excuse the little meltdown--I am just having a hard day--but I thought I would share--surely I'm not the only one who feels this way...am I???).
Disney for Thanksgiving!
So Disneyland was a total BLAST--even though there were more people skipping out on Thanksgiving than we thought there would be! It certainly was busy, but tons of fun as always! My sister and her husband came with their 4 kids, who have never been there--so it was fun to see them having fun on all the rides. My parents were also there, and willing to help so much with the kids which is always SO great! It certainly is a magical place, especially at this time of year, all decorated for Christmas! The castle is all lit up, and the huge tree is just beautiful with all the decorations! They even had real snow after the awesome fireworks--(okay, so it was bubbles, but it looked like snow)! It was truly a magical night!
Funny story--on the second day we tried to smuggle a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter and jelly in after spending some $70 on lunch the first day. Todd thought he could be all sneaky, and put it on the bottom of the stroller covered with all the jackets and they wouldn't notice. Well--of course we get the Nazi lady who has to completely inspect EVERYTHING! So she pulls out our bag and finds our contraband--and you would've thought we were trying to smuggle a BOMB into Disneyland! She's like--you can't have that here, it has to be already prepared food--and you have to keep it in the lockers and come back and eat in the picnic area. So she wanted us to go back out to the CAR and prepare the sandwiches (which would've taken forever), so my mom just goes out to a table and starts to make the sandwiches. Then another lady comes over and is like--what are you doing? So my mom tells her what the other lady said--and she told her to just go in and not worry about it. I mean really--is it a capital offense to try to save a little money on lunch? Seriously--it would be easier to smuggle a handgun into Disney than a little peanut butter and jelly! We did save some money on lunch--but look what we had for dinner--this is what $50 worth of CORN DOGS looks like! I could just feel my thighs get fatter as I ate that thing! YUM! 
Our favorite ride at California Adventure--California Screamin!
That thing is so much fun! We managed to snap a few pics of the screen before they yelled at us! The kids are so funny with the faces they make on the roller coaster cam!
The third day we went to Knotts Berry Farm. I haven't been there in like 10 years, and the last time we went I had 3 children under 5 years old--so all I remembered about that place was Camp Snoopy for the little ones. I really missed out on some good rides! We had a lot of fun on those roller coasters! Thanks to my Mom and Dad who got to camp out in Camp Snoopy this time! We appreciate you guys! The kids went with the Dads on this huge water slide--they got SOAKED--but it was a hot day luckily!
The funnest ride of the day--Xcelerator--it shoots you out like a slingshot going 85 mph, then straight up and down. It was a huge rush--there's nothing like a good roller coaster!
Thanks Wendy and Owen--Mom and Dad--for a great Thanksgiving weekend. We had such a fun time, and it was so fun for the kids to spend some time with their "Utah cousins", who we never see! We miss you guys already!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
We're Off to DISNEYLAND!
So we decided to spend time this year with my sister and her family, and my parents at Disneyland instead of pigging out on turkey and all the fixins'. We're not quite sure what we'll get to eat for Thanksgiving dinner--but sure it will be more fun than sitting around feeling way too full and watching football all day! Of course, we might throw up whatever we do eat when we ride Tower of Terror the 10 times the kids always want to ride that dumb ride! (Not my favorite---Uuugh~)!
Actually, we had our turkey dinner on Sunday--I didn't want to miss out on all the awesome turkey leftovers that come with Thanksgiving. Some of my favorites: Turkey sandwiches--with mayo, lettuce, and here's the secret--jellied cranberry sauce. If you want to be really naughty, try it with whipped cream cheese too--YUM~! Stuffing is awesome smothered in gravy! Todd's mom's pumpkin pies--(I tried--but it's just not the same without her homemade crust! Oh, and I overcooked it too)! She uses the Libby's pumpkin recipe--but substitutes brown sugar for the white. My all time favorite Thanksgiving recipe--sweet potato casserole--this is a recipe that even the kids will eat. I thought I'd share:
Sweet Potato Casserole
6 large sweet potatoes
1/4 C. butter
3/4 C. light or heavy cream
1/2 C. dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla (I always use more)
12 large marshmallows, halved (optional)
Cook sweet potatoes until tender--(or use 2 or 3 large cans of cooked sweet potatoes). Drain and place in bowl. Mash until smooth. Add butter, cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Transfer to a 13x9x2 in. baking dish and bake at 350* for 35-40 min., covered with foil. Uncover and put marshmallows on top (if desired). Bake for an additional 5-8 minutes or until marshmallows are toasted. Serves 8-10.
I have so many things to be grateful for! I love the Thanksgiving season, and that it makes us remember how blessed we truly are. I am truly blessed, and so grateful to my Heavenly Father for his hand in my life. I am grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel, and how it blesses my life. Most of all I am grateful for my family, and extended family, and love them so much. Thank you to all of our family and friends, who make our life so full of joy and love! We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Actually, we had our turkey dinner on Sunday--I didn't want to miss out on all the awesome turkey leftovers that come with Thanksgiving. Some of my favorites: Turkey sandwiches--with mayo, lettuce, and here's the secret--jellied cranberry sauce. If you want to be really naughty, try it with whipped cream cheese too--YUM~! Stuffing is awesome smothered in gravy! Todd's mom's pumpkin pies--(I tried--but it's just not the same without her homemade crust! Oh, and I overcooked it too)! She uses the Libby's pumpkin recipe--but substitutes brown sugar for the white. My all time favorite Thanksgiving recipe--sweet potato casserole--this is a recipe that even the kids will eat. I thought I'd share:
Sweet Potato Casserole
6 large sweet potatoes
1/4 C. butter
3/4 C. light or heavy cream
1/2 C. dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla (I always use more)
12 large marshmallows, halved (optional)
Cook sweet potatoes until tender--(or use 2 or 3 large cans of cooked sweet potatoes). Drain and place in bowl. Mash until smooth. Add butter, cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Transfer to a 13x9x2 in. baking dish and bake at 350* for 35-40 min., covered with foil. Uncover and put marshmallows on top (if desired). Bake for an additional 5-8 minutes or until marshmallows are toasted. Serves 8-10.
I have so many things to be grateful for! I love the Thanksgiving season, and that it makes us remember how blessed we truly are. I am truly blessed, and so grateful to my Heavenly Father for his hand in my life. I am grateful for the knowledge of the Gospel, and how it blesses my life. Most of all I am grateful for my family, and extended family, and love them so much. Thank you to all of our family and friends, who make our life so full of joy and love! We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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