Smith Family Christmas

After we left the party at the Mullin's we headed out to the Smith Family Christmas Party. We were a little bit late, but still ate way too much and had a great time.

Amy & Tyler's kids started off the party by singing Holy Night. Then Grandma Vietta played the piano and everyone sang Christmas songs.

Then it was time to pass out gifts.The littlest kids got to open theirs first.I went in the other room to get a couple of pictures of the older kids doing their gift card exchange......And here is what I came back to. Love it!

Santa Claus

Here are the pictures of the Santa party at the Mullin's house last weekend.

Waiting for Santa.This is story time with Brigid. (at least they put their hands up before they interrupt :0))And finally the man in red is here!! Hailey was up first, and did great!Then it was Talon's turn...also nothing but smiles!!Lacy wasn't quite as sure, but didn't cry. I thought it was cute how she just looked at him.Talon got a Ben Ten watch and has taken it with him everywhere since.Hailey got a BARBIE!!Lacy got a toy that hangs on her car seat. I didn't take a picture of that, but isn't she adorable?

Hair Hair Hair

Since I can't find my camera I thought I would post some photos that I already had downloaded. So, here are a couple of hairdo's that I didn't post yet.

This is the front view of the fountain

(she was still into her supergirl pose here)

A view from the back
Posing with Lacy

I don't remember where I saw this one but it's two really simple french twists - pulled back into a pony.

A view from the back

And the top

A great weekend

Friday night we went to Jason's Deli and the temple lights with my mom, Joe's parents, Jono & his kids, and Erica & Tyler. My kids both said that their favorite part was watching the movie.

Saturday we had the Santa party at the Mullin's. I have always gotten my kids all decked out in their Christmas clothes for this in the past, and then I get all ticked off when they won't sit on Santa's lap. I decided to take them as they were this year and it worked. All three of my kids took their turns on his lap without crying. Yay!! I'll download my pictures as soon as I can find my camera. Grrr!

We were only there for about an hour and headed out the Kyle and Kristy's house for the Smith family Christmas party. Another great one! The kids had a blast! In fact, we were there for about 2 hours and Hailey was REALLY upset when it was time to leave. She told me that she wasn't finished playing with her friends. I took a TON of pictures while we where there, so as soon as I find the camera...

Sunday we got the kids up, gave them all baths, went to breakfast and to the park. (Mental note: Don't bathe your kids before you take them to the park...DUH!!) The kids were all worn out by the time we got home and they ALL FELL ASLEEP!! I don't think I have ever gotten our kids to take naps at the same time. They were all sleeping for at least an hour AT THE SAME TIME. I was laying on the couch when it happened and I jumped up, "I need to be doing something!" So, I started the girl's Christmas bows, and they're going to be cute when they are done! ☺ It had the opposite affect on Joe. He said, "I'm not going to do anything." He watched some football and then told me that he liked the bows I was making. I ♥ him!!

We had to wake the kids up at 5:00 to get them in the car. I had one more Christmas gift I wanted to pick up on our way to my parent's house for my birthday dinner. We usually go out on my birthday (Christmas Eve), but mom was feeling a little bit stressed out this year getting ready for dinner at her house on Christmas Day. We opted to have it a few days early...and at her house instead of going out. She made Chicken Cordon Blue at my request and it was YUMMY! Thanks mom!! Dad said it was the best he'd ever had. Apparently it was the first time mom ever made it, and the first time he'd ever had it. He said it was a great idea to put ham inside your chicken...he cracks me up.

Over the weekend Talon was asking Joe for something and he said, "pretty please, I mean handsome please?"

Even though we did a ton of things this weekend it was actually pretty relaxing. Oh, I forgot to mention the most important part. On Saturday afternoon I went shopping for new jeans and I wear a size 8 now! I haven't worn that size since, well let's just say it was before I remember buying clothes for myself - YEAH!! Joe said it was weird that I went shopping for clothes and didn't come home all ticked off. That was HUGE for me!!

Happy Holidays??

I started this post yesterday afternoon and didn't post it because I wanted to add some pictures to it.

What a stressful time! I can't believe Christmas is one week away!!

Our Christmas shopping is not nearly completed, our wrapping is not even started. I think I need about a month to get it all done. Since we have three kids, we had to draw three names in each gift exchange. I don't know how Laurie does it with NINE!

We bought our tree and decorated it. It was crazy! The tree I picked out was not in stock, and the one that was in stock was not displayed. I was desperate, so I bought it anyway. It spins! All the way around! Normally the front gets the bulk of the decorations, but not this time. The whole tree needed to be covered evenly. We need more bulbs, and a topper that is...um...3D...not an angel...does not have a backside?? Maybe one of those cool 3D stars??

The kitchen is decorated with ribbons and bows. I think it looks really cute, but Joe said that my ribbon looked a little like Valentine's Day.Hmmm, I guess he's right! I went and bought the towels and rug to go with them to PROVE to myself that this looked like Christmas. :-)

None of the manger scenes are out of their boxes. I was a little worried about where to put them so that they wouldn't get broken, and now I feel like it's too late.

We are going to dinner and to see the temple lights with my mom and Charlotte, Dennis, Jono, Gavin & Ava on Friday.

Santa Clause comes to the Mullin's (the family I coach with at Seton) every year. It's happening this Saturday. It's great because we all bring pre-wrapped gifts for our kids and secretly stuff them in a garbage bag out front, so that when he comes in he has gifts for everyone. As he pulls them out his bag he calls that kid up to sit on his lap and get a gift. I have been looking forward to it this year because I think, for the first time, my kids aren't going to be too scared to sit on his lap. I thought we had the whole night open, but then found out we have the Smith's Christmas celebration in Queen Creek the same time on the same day. Grrr. I suck. We're going to see Santa first, make sure my kids are up first, hopefully get a couple of good pictures, and then head from Mesa to Queen Creek in time for that gift exchange. We're going to miss dinner with them, but I know they'll understand.

That means I need to have 6 gifts purchased and wrapped before Saturday. As of now I have 4 purchased and 0 wrapped.

We are having dinner at my parent's house on Sunday to celebrate my birthday a little bit early.

I am also working on the 2009 family calendar so that I can pass it out on Christmas. That is always a lot more work that I intend it to be. Next year I will start the stupid calendar in June.

I really love Christmastime, but it sure is a whole lot of work. Next year I will do better, and get started a whole lot earlier. :-)

Today:

We met Donna and Brandon for dinner last night and Donna offered to come help me wrap gifts. Yay!! Joe took the kids to the gym with him, and Donna picked up Joy and they came over to help me. Joe had to drive the kids around looking at Christmas lights after they left the gym, but we got all of our kids presents wrapped. Joy set up one of my manger scenes. I feel so much better about everything now. :0) You can even see some of the presents we wrapped behind the tree in the picture I took last night.

After Donna and Joy left, I got the brownies made for Talon's Christmas party. I also attempted to finish wrapping the exchange gifts, but ran out of tape.

I went upstairs and worked on the calendar some more...endless!

I didn't climb in bed until 12:45 and didn't even watch any TV!

Joe is at Target right now picking up what we still need for Talon and the last gift exchange present. Joe is awesome! Donna and Joy are awesome!! Even Brandon is awesome for picking up the cellophane we needed on his way from the gym last night.

This is what it should feel like...ahhhh!

Keyboard for blondes

Click on the picture to enlarge it.

I won I won I won!!

I always enter these giveaways and I actually won one!! YEAH!!

Here is a picture of what I won for baby Lacy: and of course here's a link to the awesome blog where I won it! http://hair4myprincess.blogspot.com/2008/12/winner-of-cute-crocheted-hat.html

and the boutique that sponsered the giveaway
http://poshbabybowtique.com/

Nine Words Women Use

I got this from Molly, and even though none of it applies to me (can you hear the sarcasm?) I thought it was pretty funny.

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE
(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
(2) Five Minutes:If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
(3) Nothing:This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
(4) Go Ahead:This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
(5) Loud Sigh:This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
(6) That's Okay:This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
(7) Thanks:A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').
(8) Whatever:Is a woman's way of saying F--YOU!
(9) Don't worry about it, I got it:Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Merry Christmas!!

Updates

I just wanted to take a minute to write down a few things that are going on with our family these these days. If you are the kind of person who hates those "journal" blogs, you can skip this one. :-) Here's a family picture we took on Thanksgiving at Aunt Susan and Uncle Mark's house...yep that was the best one.Lacy turned 8 months old yesterday. She is eating stage 2 foods at least three times a day now. I think she is spitting up less, but Joe thinks more. She hasn't had SUCH a hard time pooping as she used to, but it is EVERYWHERE...and often. She laughs a lot and loves it when her brother and sister play with her. P.S. Aunt Kate, her eyes are STILL blue! ;P

She is still not sleeping through the night, and does NOT put herself back to sleep when she wakes up. Joe and I have tried to let her cry it out, but she is in our room, and it is much easier to give her back her pacifier and then go back to sleep than to hear her cry. We are weak...and tired, and she is just too cute to let cry...right??

Hailey's speech has improved. I think more people understand what she is saying. Now, when I have a conversation on the phone with her, I don't have to completely fake that I know what she is saying. She still has problems with saying "I" instead of "me", but that will come with time. What I am more worried about is that she still can't make the G (ghu) sound or the K (khu) sound AT ALL.

Every morning when she wakes up she says, "Where is me doneen". On Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays she goes to Leah's house, and on Tuesdays & Thursdays she gets to go to preschool and then to Grandma Horihan's house. She likes those days much better, so every morning she wants to know where she's doneen, so she can say, "me no want to dou to Leah's."

She is also getting more used to getting her hair done. :-) We have started fixing her hair in the mornings instead of at night now. That's why I haven't posted any pictures lately. There just isn't the same amount of time in the mornings...usually daddy is waiting in the car with the others while I'm finishing up. :-)

Talon is growing up so fast, but still has his moments. He has become very independent with his clothes. I remember when we couldn't get him to dress himself because he would get frustrated and cry. He dresses himself just about every morning.In the evenings, right when we get home he says, "I know, I know, upstairs, pull-up, pajamas, couch." Yep, he still wears a pull-up. I'm not sure he will EVER not need one. That kid sleeps so hard he never wakes up to go...not sure what to do about that. Maybe if he is dehydrated when he goes to sleep? Seriously, the number of times he has overflowed the pull-up is ridiculous. Here's a shot of him completely asleep sitting up (well sort of).

He has also been having a pretty hard time leaving places lately. It doesn't matter where we are, or where we are going - he doesn't ever want to leave. He has made mommy and daddy pretty upset with that lately, but since we're just figuring things out as we go, we haven't been able to change it yet.

Talon has really been fun this Christmas season. He is still very upset that we don't have a tree up yet, and keeps telling us everyone else who has a tree already. He got to help Mrs. Rogers decorate the tree at preschool and can't stop thinking about it. He thinks we are never going to get one, and makes us keep promising we will.

Joe and I decided to get a nice pre-lit tree this year, instead of paying a bunch of money every year to throw one away, but then we saw the prices!! Wow!! I had no idea they were that much money. Maybe we'll need to get a real one again this year and get a deal on one after Christmas to use for years to come. Will we save enough money to make that plan worth it? I think we have a small fake one in one of the attics...maybe that will do this year.

Crazy, Crazy, Crazy

**Update** Thanks to Courtney, we are no longer searching for this VERY important gift. :-)

This is what Talon asked Santa for, only "Santa" can't seem to find it. We've been to three different Target locations and couldn't find it. So, if you happen to be out and about getting goodies for your own kiddos and you happen to see one of these on the Target shelf please think of me and pick it up. I REALLY don't want to pay the prices they are asking on ebay. Then, call my cellphone (602) 292-1273 so I can call off the dogs. Thanks!! The stores I've already checked are Gilbert & Southern, Power & McDowell, & Power & Southern.

P.S. The quiz below can be really fun - if you can get past all of the extra lines in the post. :-)

P.P.S. If you take the quiz you need to answer that Tina lives in Idaho. I know I screwed that up, but it's too late to change it.

My Quiz from QuizYourFriends.com

How well do you know me? 1) Where did I go to high school? Dobson Mesa Gilbert McClintock

Powered By: QUIZYOURFRIENDS.com Make A Quiz - Take This Quiz - View Scoreboard

A Boutique and Christmas Shopping...Finally!

Saturday afternoon an friend from high school, Stephanie Wanberg Petersen, had a boutique. I took Hailey and she took this picture of us with Hailey's new baking hat, and we bought a bunch of goodies for Adelina's birthday...which she told me were wonderful. :-)

We asked Donna and Branden if they would watch our kids Saturday night so that we could go to Adelina's birthday party. They decided to take Talon and Hailey overnight so they could take them to church the next day too. Brave souls! My sister took Lacy for the evening.

Since we hadn't even started shopping for the kids yet the ox was at Target and Toys-R-Us on Sunday. If you don't get that, you must not be (or be married to) a Mormon. ;-P

Anyway, we did not get ANY shopping done for ANYONE else on our list, but I think we are done with Hailey. We are almost done with Talon too, except for one thing. We couldn't find the thing that Talon asked Santa for...yep he sat on his lap AND got a picture with him when Grandpa Dairman took Talon and Ava to the mall last week. I have a picture, but haven't scanned it, so I'll have to add it later.

All in all we had a pretty good weekend and were able to get a LOT done. I'll have to take a picture of the Christmas lights Joe put up too...maybe next weekend we can get a tree and decorate the inside of our house.

Birthday/Christmas List

**I had to update my list because a lot of the items from Gap were not there anymore. :-( But, as promised I will keep adding things to the list as I think of/find them.**

Holy Cow!! I LOVE etsy.com!! It's just like Ebay...only WAY better!! Everything on there is hand made. MAN there are A LOT of really talented people out there! I was lOOking around and found these bags and I fell in love with them, but Joe would probably be jealous if I bought one, so I had an idea.

I ALWAYS have a TERRIBLE time coming up with a list in December. I NEVER know what to tell anyone. I decided to keep a list here and add to it as I find things that I feel like I CANNOT live WITHOUT. Every once in a while I'll bring this post back up to the top.

I would like to invite those of you who are on my Birthday/Christmas list to do the same on your blog...

1. THIS awesome bag from PinkLemonadeBags (or pretty much any other bag there :-))

2. Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel (16.9 oz pump), Dermal Clay Cleanser (16.9 oz pump) and Skin Prep Scrub. The cheapest place I could find them online is at http://www.whatgreatskin.com/. Apparently you can get these at Ulta Cosmetics too, but I don't know what the prices are like there.

3. Mary Kay Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover. (Joe you can order it from Mrs. Dodaro @ Seton) She usually answers the phone.

OLD NAVY.COM - All sizes Large (and Tall if available) unless otherwise noted.
4-11. This in fawn, this (8 1/2, Stainless Steel), this (dove white), because maybe it'll be cheaper around Christmas time, and it's really cute! Also these tank tops...in every. single. color. Yay! This shirt in whatever color you like best because I like them all. This in earl gray, this in grey and this skirt in white or brown.

More OLD NAVY.COM - Clearance items
12-14. These shirts - I would love any color that is still there (except the green and orange ones). These - I like all the colors except that bright yellow one. :o) These are also on clearance - my favorite colors are hollyhock, charcoal, dark chocolate, khaki, pacifica or black - but ONLY if they are available in Tall.

P.S. Joe - this list is not for you...as we are not getting eachother Christmas gifts this year, and I know you already got my Birthday present. ;0)