Merry Christmas 2011

This year was a very fun Christmas. As the kids get older, they are grasping it more. Kadence even understood ( for the most part) this year. The kids had specific things they were really hoping for. Christmas Eve we spent the evening with My family. It was the smallest one weve had yet. Wendy and Crystals Family are far away :( and Sheree and her family werent there because Adam had family staying at his house that he hasnt seem for a long time. We still enojyed ourselves. We kept the family tradition of NOT Christams food (since we have so often for thnksgiving and both side of family and extended family,ect.)..I love it. We did yummy taco bowls. We had Wendy, Crystal and Uncle Dale on Skype. Wendy had drawn our name for Christmas and wanted to watch us open our present. Wendy made snowballs made from stuffed socks and a cute bag to hold it in. When we opened the box the note read to hand them to Pete and tell everyone to run. The family had a blast thorwing snowballs and we even got the carter family through the skype ;).  I wasnt going to post this but since Crystal did on facebook I guess I can too :) Shes PREGNANT!! We are sooo extremely happy for them, although it really stinks I wont hold that baby when its one day old :( Well all just have to skype from the hospital :) HOw awesome is technology. Grandma and Grandpa got the kids all new shoes. The boys got matching sweaters and the girls matching tops (in different colors..but we didnt put on for a picture). Anyways. That evening the kids crashed before we made it home. The boys woke up to open and put on their pjs but Kadence had to be dressed.  The boys we so excited getting in bed.. They did realize Christmas was THE NEXT MORNING. Jaiden woke up at 4am.. but we kicked him back to bed. We all got up at 6:45a. We spent the early morning playing with presents and me getting our food ready to take. We got showered and ready and headed to Petes moms house. We ate homemade cinnamon rolls and tamales, bacon and fruit. Then onto the gifts. We spent the day relaxing and playing. That night we did a kid. Rylan went with Jacob to his hotel and I took Grey and Kaelyn home with us (just like last year). The next day we ate Red Rock Buffet for Breakfast. Went to Target and took the Kids Ice Skating. I was worried Kadence wouldnt be able to go but they had 1 size too big..It worked. They have plastic things to help you from falling and she held on and had a Blast. The boys both did it without and she didnt want to stop. The boys both got blisters and finished up. Kadence ran from us when we took her off the rink so Pete took her around a few more times. Well definately be going back!!  That night we ate The Boiling Crab!! Amazing is all I gotta say. It was my first time. In LOVE. Pete doesnt eat sea food so he didnt like. I may just have to use my Birthday card to go back. Or ditch him next time. The kids loved it too.. plus, they got to draw on the walls with markers :)


We had a Fabulous Christmas, got Fabulous News and spent Fabulous quality time with the family.

Merry Christmas!

Keeping up with a Social Life

This Christmas season I did some fun stuff with my girlfriends that I want to remember. I have my friend Tara to thank for keeping me social ;) She plans fun stuff that I never plan. Pete always laughs at me because Im always so busy and exhausted that sometime I wonder if I should go. Then he laughs because once I out the door I dont come back till midnight and I always have a BLAST!!

Tara planned a Christmas Pajama baking night at her house a few weeks ago...

 

Last weekend Amber was down from Ely... A night out with these girls is soo much FUN!!

We started with Dinner @ Tivoli Village @ the greek resturant. It was different then my style of eating so I stuck with a soup and fries :) Both we really yummy. It was a cute small resturaunt that had a dj.. we got up and dances.. all 5 people... We did the cupid shuffle!

 
Then we headed to The Belagio to see the Botanical Gardens. Beautiful , but packed.

 We also saw the Foundant made grinch... 2 months worht of work from a entire team!! Sooo crazy!!

After Amber wanted some Cheesecake and we werent saying no!! Soo yummy!! We ended the night back at Ambers parents meeting Ryans girlfriend.

Great way to add on those extra HOliday pounds dont ya think!!

Live Nativity

Friday night my parents invited us to go to The Live Nativity. I invited Rose to come also. We bundled up of kids and brought hot chocolate. The kids were surprisingly (mostly Kadence) really good for the 30 min wait before and the 30 min show. Jaiden had to pee at the very end and started buncing (probably the whole half of our stadium seats haha). Other than that it was fabulous. Im glad we could enjoy it and have to kids be reminded why we celebrate Christmas. After the kids got to pet the animals for a minute and then we headed indoors to see and the manager displays. Fun Night out with the Family!

Saturday morning we started the day with Cleaning the church. I was impressed with my little hard working babes ;) We then went to Rose's house to set up Christmas. She watched the kids for HOURS (Literally, from about 2:30-8:30) while Pete and I enjoyed christmas shopping. We were one week from Christmas and had only about 10% of the kids gifts.)  It was fun..kinda like a date night!! Thanks Rose. Christmas can now come!!

Having "Joy in the Journey"

Sunday at Church was just what I needed to here (I love when that happens). Im pretty sure I caught what I needed to here….having “ Joy in the Journey” and a “House of Order”. I feel as though those a both things I need to really focus on improving.




Joy in the Journey..



I catch myself constantly think “ When”

When the kids get older..

When the kids aren’t in daycare

When summer is here, and we have no homework

When Christmas is over

When things slow down



I have a hard time focusing on the here and now.. and enjoying it!! I love to her that country song that say “ Your gunna miss this” ….because its soo true. I need to enjoy the craziness of our lives RIGHT NOW. One day well be bored with our lives and Ill regret not enjoying it as much as I could have. I say that because I do stop and enjoy my kids.. but not like I should. Last night I was switching loads of laundry, Pete was watching basketball and my 3 sweet babies were playing. They had 3 empty laundry basketballs lined up and were running and leaping over them. They were encouraging each other to try harder and cheering to each other when the hurdled over them all. The boys even tried to help lift Kadence over and we all laughed as she jumped and landed on the first basket and yelled with joy : I did it” !! What simple pleasure that was last night. I stopped my dang cleaning and “important” things for something much more important. Watching my children be the best of friends.



I sometimes think I stuggle with combining the two “Joy in the journey” and “A House of order”…some days I feel like I balance very well. Others not so much.

Im very grateful for the stange my life is in right now. I wish I could slow it down and not let my kids grow older. I wish I had more time at home with them but I know I must enjoy what stage of life we are in and enjoy these simple pleasures.

~SEVEN~

We have a SEVEN year old. I cant believe Ive been a mom to this sweet, stubborn (do they go toghether??haha) boy for SEVEN whole years. I am so unbeleivebly happy that you came into our lives Jaiden Jesse. You are such a wonderful spirit to have in our home. I cant image my life without you!
You are an enormous help to me and dad.
 You are an EXTREMELY hard worker.
You are smart a can be and dont struggle with homework
You still love Ramen and hot wings over any other food
You love playing video games and start off most morning that way...even before the rest of the family is awake
You still enjoy you weekend naps..probably because that early rising catches up
You are all boy ..You love to climb and jump and arent scared of getting hurt. ** During thanksgiving while riding garndpas fourwheeler I caught you trying to jump it, and thats not all.. You jump you bike and you just got a skateboard.. before you got the basics down very well you out trying to jump and flip. I expect you'll love extreme sports as you get older.
You still preffer milk over most any drink...maybe not Mtn Dew when you can sneek it ;)
This year Im noticing a little more flirting with the girls ;)
You favorite way to be spoiled is having me tickle your back or tumming while watching tv and ask every chance you get



Wed dec. 14th you didnt have school due to parent teacher conference. Marian offered to let you come to your house but I knew you'd have a fun day with mom and dad. Dad had a install that ended up getting put off so I was able to watch you through the survalence camera playing ball and riding your bike and skateboarding.
 I LOVED it. Dad took you with him in his work van (which you love) to one of the supply houses to warranty some parts.
Then you two snuck of to do a little mini golf just one on one.
Later that night we ate a Red Robin..your biggest concern was that you would be sung to when they brought your ice cream sundae... they did.
That night we made reaindeer cookies to share with you class the next day for your birthday!



Happy Birthday to a VERY SPECIAL seven year old. I love you more than you know!!
Love Mom


BTW> If your wondering why your hair if a wreck on your birthday..its because when I tried to do it in the morning you told me since its your birthday you shouldnt have to do it if you dont want to , and since almost every other day of the year thats one of your least favorite things to do.. I figured you were right.  Of course It drove me nuts all day long ;)

Snow Day Mountains Edge

Last Weekend Mountains Edge Park hosted a "Snow Day". We almost missed it because we dont get the notices. Thankfully we heard about it a few days before. Celestial and Brandon came with us. Brandon decided to match me too... I need to get the picture from Celestial ..haha too funny!!

Anyways.. They brought in a huge mound of snow. Have a section for sledding/Tubing and a section for just playing and throwing snowballs :)

Also there:

Carolers

Reindeer to pet

Santa .. we didnt wait to see him

Writting letters to santa

Few booths selling things

Music and hot chocolate

Not to shabby for a completely free afternoon of LOTS OF FUN ;)

Brandon went down standing one time. The boys snuck in one time too before they got caught and were told not to do anymore.. I did cathc Rylan though.. he made it down the whole hill...maybe hell be fab at snowboarding ;)

Jaiden bumped into his buddy there and literally sledded the whole time we were there..we walked around while he stayed with his friend. What a big boy!

 Rylan..My kids aboslutely LOVEd this and I cant wait to take them to the mountains.

 These to were precious.. Daddys got them going at the top... at the bottom and teenage boy was helping them off and would grab Kadences tube and hand and help her over the hay barrals.. too cute. He even had a buddy trying to disctract him talking about girls and he ignored him and kept helping.. Impressive.

Pump It Up Soccer Party

Last Thursday night we had the Boys End of The Season Soccer Party. We all voted ausing trophy money to get into Pump It Up instead. I checked with the boys and the were more than happy with that. They had a blast with all there friends. I had fun hanging out with the moms and my hubby. :)

 Kadence....holding up the line because she didnt ever want help. She did awesome.

 Pure joy!!

 Autumn, Whitney, Quinn, Jaiden, Rylan

 The gang... This is the team along with siblings and some cousins :)

A little Ditchin!! :/

Ok.. so call me a bad mom if you want but Ive was born I ditcher. For real. I ditched school on my birthdays.. when I had year round school. I Ditch a little more than I should had in High School just cause ;) and I now get my kids to ditch a little. But ... I feel it a good thing at times. Like times when I need a little mom and kids time. Weeknights involve homework and dinner and baths and ........ ya knw what I mean. Weekends involve running errands and catching up on cleaning half the time. Soo... Its important to just slow down.. or Ditch. In my point of view. Soo Tuesday I called in work and let the kids stay home. We did nothing but enjoy each other. Big breakfast. Making a Chirstmas Countdown Chain. Taking a LONG walk and playing hide and seek. Playing Hot Lava through the house. Reading books and playing games. COMPLETE attention on all my babies. Soo.. Call me a bad mom that I let my kids ditch sometimes... but its the little things in life that are important. Life flies by too fast to not slow down every now and again.

Let it Rip

Rylan is pretty much obsessed with "BEYBLADE :  Let it rip" 

It kinda happened overnight really. I mean.. I dont really even know what ti is. Hes been into watching Netflix from my phone and he obviously came across it. It kinda reminds me of dragon ball z. Well.. for as much as I ve payed attention.   He spent ALL weekend being creative. He turned it all and drew, colored, cut and glued for hours. He even went out running errands with the white strip glued to his nose. He so creative I just LOVE it. I own 1 scraf.. thats it. Its grey. He came downstairs wearing it and asked were my white one is. I told him I dont have it and that scarves are more girly (I know.. some guys wear them but no many 5 yr old boys in Vegas). Soo.. We impovised. Paper towels make OK scarves ;)

 All he talks about these days is BeyBlade and Ninjago.

 Kadence has been harder to get to sleep latey. Since we ditched the crib have to lay with her till she falls most the way to sleep.. thankfully only about 50% of the time. Saturday.. I was crabby and needed my nap. Pete sent me upstairs with the boys as he dealt with her. I woke up from my nap to see her sleeping sitting up on the couch. Oh Dad!! He didnt dare move her. haha

These 2 both LOVE to color together. Soo.. they do it together a bunch :) I LOVE it.   Jaiden has been big into drawing to, but he mostly did at daycare in a notebook. When he is home he rarely takes the time to do it.

 One morning Pete got Kadence out of bed. She came right next to me in the bathroom and tried to go back to sleep ;) haha.. She normallt comes to give me morning kisses then into the loft for Cartoons before it time to get dresses. I guess it was not a good morning!!