Friday, December 30, 2011

Christmas Eve Smile

Abe's latest is to throw his head back and give me
a huge smile when I get the camera out.

This is both adorable and impossible to get a
 good picture of because his head is in constant motion.

An excellent example is when Abe tried on his new
wolf hat from Grandma Dedee on Christmas Eve.


Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Twas the night before Christmas Eve

The girls were counting down the days.  Christmas Eve Eve we watched a movie slept under the tree. And by "we" I mean Macy and Polly.  I made a good effort.  Kind of.

Abe was super excited to join in.




I think this set up lasted 5 minutes before Abe was crawling all over the blankets and was sent to bed.

Was I the only one who was super obnoxious about counting as many Christmas Eves as you could?  TODAY is Christmas eve, eve, eve, eve, eve...

Monday, December 26, 2011

Friday, December 23, 2011

Almost There!





Grandma Dedee and Grandpa Bill hosted the grandkids for a gingerbread man party.




We took our decorating seriously.





Smiling with food in her mouth.




Abe took eating cookies and candy with equal dedication.



Wednesday, December 21, 2011

I Can't Keep Up

There's always next year*

We filled our Saturday with friends and snowflakes.

Even though the quality is terrible, there are 2 things I love about this picture.  

1. All my kids have severe bed head.
2. Abe is too busy texting (LOL) to make a snowflake.





*12 posts of Christmas: FAIL

Monday, December 19, 2011

7th Post of Christmas?

I failed by missing the 5th and 6th post.  Moving on.


They look like complete angels, don't they?  Snuggled in the same bed, Macy's hand resting under her chin...Don't let them fool you.

The power of Santa and Jolly The Elf are not working with my kids this year. They must know they are getting presents no matter what.  

This should be the one month a year that I can get good behavior out of them whenever I want.  It is the best Christmas gift a parent could ask for. 

 It's all I want.  Any ideas?

Friday, December 16, 2011

The 4th Post of Christmas

These days, when my kids wake up in the morning they don't know which way to turn.  Look for Jolly?  Get the chocolates out of the Christmas countdown?  Unwrap one of the 12 gifts Grandma Janet sent over?  

Usually all 3 within 2 minutes.



Abe thinks wherever Jolly ends up is funny.  Especially when he was hanging from the girls chandelier.  Several times a day, he would point and laugh.  Not before he screamed "MOM!!"  over and over to get my attention.  And over and over. That boy is LOUD.

This really is the best time of year.


Thursday, December 15, 2011

The 3rd Post of Christmas

I'm too cheap to buy an Elf on the Shelf.
But I know it is a new tradition in this world and who am I if I don't follow the world?

I made my own and named him Jolly.
Santa sent a letter in the mail and the next day Jolly showed up.


Polly said, "Hey I saw you making that!" (oops)

Macy said, "I bet the real Jolly is at the North Pole and he sent the doll down with a camera."
  
This girl knows Santa, North Poles, and elves on the shelves aren't real, yet she continues to pretend with conviction.  It's confusing.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Second Post of Christmas

We stole a tradition  from my sisty, Annie.  "'Tis the Season" is what they do the first Monday of the Christmas season to kick off the holiday.

Ours included fancy-ish dinner, decorating the tree, a small present (Christmas pillowcases) and reading from Luke 2

The girls didn't know we were doing it, so they were super excited to see a candle-lit dinner and presents!


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

On the 1st Post of Christmas

I think I'll do the 12 Posts of Christmas again. 
12 Christmasy posts to maximize Christmas spirit.
I know you've been holding your breath.


Our Christmas list. 
Some things are repeats, some are new.
If we cross everything off it will be a Christmas miracle.

2011 Christmas list

Have a 'Tis the Season night
Watch Home Alone
Make Gingerbread men
Make Christmas pillowcases
Listen to Christmas music every day
Make these awesome houses into a Christmas village
Make homemade gifts for friends
Have dinner by the Christmas tree
Sleep under the Christmas tree (maybe the 23rd)
Send Christmas Cards
Make homemade peppermint marshmallows
Cover the front windows in paper snowflakes
Make gingerbread houses




Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Narcissist

I just heard Abe laughing and I found him at the computer desk.  He had managed to turn on the camera and he was laughing at this picture.

I hadn't seen it before.  It's the classic baby-in-dad's-boots.  

  If it doesn't make you smile then you are probably dead inside.  Or you don't love him quite as much as we do.  This could be very possible.  But hard to believe.  But possible.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Magic

We decorated the Christmas tree last night.  It practically killed the girls to wait ALL the way until Monday.  It may have actually been legitimate child torture.  I'm looking into it.

Abe seemed mildy interested.  Mostly he wanted to put the tiny silver ball ornaments into his mouth.  I don't want to care for that injury...

However, this morning as soon as he woke up, we took him to the tree and he was mesmerized.  It was the best thing I have seen in a while.



Sunday, November 20, 2011

This is Major


She did it!  After years of failed attempts. 

No prayers or scriptures in primary. No talks in primary. No to saying a prayer in front of extended family.  No to practicing her part for the program or saying it last year.  No practicing this year. 

But then... She said her part into the microphone during the actual Primary Program!  It took probably two full minutes standing at the microphone to build up the courage. 

She was so proud of herself.

I might have cried.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Abe Happenings


Is it not every little boy's rite of passage to be dressed up like a girl? 

This was Abe's first time.  The ladies thought it was HIL-arious.  It was pretty funny because A) He's wearing Build-a-Bear sandals and B) He thought it was just as funny as the ladies and was more than happy to get his picture taken.

Abe loves to climb onto chairs and such.  He is often sitting on the dining room chairs finishing off the girls drinks, or art projects like he owns the place. His favorite spot in the house is the toilet.  He climbs on it to get toothbrushes and toothpaste and to turn on the water in the sink.

  YESTERDAY, he climbed on the toilet, BUT the lid was up...AND there was pee in it.  There was Abe standing in his socks in a toilet bowl full of pee.  Dripping...wet...pee socks.

Abe is finally interested in books.  But it has to have animals in it and you have to zoom through the pages (no pausing, get on with it) and say peek-a-boo after you turn every page.  Or if you are Abe you say it peek-boo-boo.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

How Haloween cost us $0.00

We got some good use out of our costumes this year!  Friend party, ward party, grandma Janet's party, and the main event.

Macy switched the day before our first party from Annie to a witch after she found my old costume at my mom's house.  This was a divine intervention/ tender mercy/ lucky break.  I was planning on spending the day using my  inept sewing skills on an Annie dress, which may have worked out well if she were going for more orphan and less orphan-turned-billionaire Daddy Warbuck's daughter.  

Vintage witch costume, worn by me at least 3 years in a row.


Polly decided to be a glittery black cat that Macy wore when she was 3.  Turns out a tank dress for the body was a wise choice I didn't know I was making.  Works for age 3, works for age 5!


Abe was destined to wear this most excellent goat costume, made by my sister, Holly 11 years ago.  Conversely she can sew well. (Did I just use that word right?) 

Abe thought the hat to be much too constricting.  Once I showed him to himself in the mirror, he agreed that it was an important part of the ensemble, and laughed.  Our efforts to get a "maaaa" out of him, were rewarded every time with a "hahaha".


Witch costume=$0
Cat costume=$0
Goat costume=$0
Not carving pumpkins because I'm a bad mother=$0

Halloween total=$0
(plus the $8 I spent on candy)


When did I get so wordy?

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Lasting Love

Abe and his cousin Piper have a love /hate relationship.
At this moment it was love.

They just decided to sit real close to eachother.
It propbably didn't last long.  I don't remember, but I'm sure someone got mad at someone soon after their love-fest.


Tuesday, October 11, 2011

It's Great To Be 8!

This sweet girl turned 8!


Then she went and got baptized.
How I got old enough for that, I don't know.
 For serious.
These things have a way of sneaking up on you, am I right?


She was so excited and felt very special
 in her beautiful dress made by her Auntie Erin.


It was an awesome day filled with lots of people who love her.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Too Cool For School

My kids DID go back to school.
They were both very excited,
and still loving it!


Macy likes second grade and is always sweet to Polly when they see eachother on the playground or in the hall.  I'm glad to hear this.
It could have gone either way.

She's still posing.



Polly likes to report after school who got in trouble that day.
She makes sure to tell me it has NEVER been her.
I beleive her. 


While Abe isn't in school, he's still learning.  He mastred the light switch the other day and we spent 15 minutes turning my bathroom fan on and off.  And on.  And off.  It was  super exciting and hilarious every single time.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

The Stuff I Left Out

Before we talk back-to-school time (how? really?), I need to post all the stuff I left out this summer.

Kittysitting little Warrior





Yard work




Camping with headlamps




Bear Lake
Last time we went gave us one of my fav pictures




Polly rides on two wheels like a champ
She is still asking, "Am I like a pro?"
Yes.




Abe loves bikes 


It's been a wonderfully relaxing summer.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Driving Lessons

After Abe's first driving lesson,
he was ready for a follow up,
and an advancement to the truck.
His new favorite place.
Not kidding.


Everyone buckled up back there?
(He's so saftey concious!)


Let me just pop my beverage... 


I amuse myself.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Fun to the Run

We mixed things up a little bit this year.
Our primary usually puts on a Pioneer Parade on the 24th of July.
This year we had the first annual Pioneer Haul.
One mile walk/run.
This is serious.





Not to boast, but Abe totally took 1st in the stroller division!
I was at the Start/Finish Line, but Scott tells me the ladies ran the whole way.  Other than the much needed rest at the "Aid Station".  Naturally.
I'm officially calling it a success!