Our Tree

As soon as the turkey was put away on Thanksgiving, we quickly made plans to cut down our family's Christmas tree. There is nothing like the smell of a fresh cut tree to get you in the spirit of the season, and our kids love this tradition almost as much as they love Christmas it's self! Last year we did a coin toss, and the kids won and chose a big round tree that took up half of my living room. I wanted a tall narrow tree, and this year I got my wish! We found the most symmetrical, tall beautiful tree, it almost looked fake! This was possibly our most favorite tree yet!

The day was bright and sunny, and not too cold yet (at least by Minnesota standards). After we cut down the tree, it was off for some cider, a hay ride, and a visit with the animals. Ava was squealing with delight and excitement at all of the animals! She was even getting smiles and laughs, and "oh she is so cute" comments from all of the other visitors! I love seeing her discover and experience things for the first time. Who knew farm animals could be so funny?!

After a long weekend of decorating, the tree and the house were ready for Christmas! (I neglected to take pictures of the rest of the house, and since I'm two month behind on this post, you'll just have to take my word for it that it looked good:) The girls redecorated the bottom half of the tree daily, which I suppose added to it's charm. I often heard Ava say, "ook Mom, pitty!", and it was!

She Did It!

I told Callie that once she was five, she could get her ears pierced if she wanted to. I figured that by that age, she would be able to fully understand that it would hurt a little bit, and that the piercings needed to be carefully taken care of everyday for six weeks. Her birthday came and went, and she talked about it some, but went back and forth with her decision, so we waited. In mid December she talked about it again, and really felt like she was ready, so off we went to Claire's! With teddy bear in hand for added comfort, she did it!

Before...
During...(I'm so glad that they did both ears at once!)
After... Admiring her new earrings!

You can tell by the face she is making, that she was hurting, but she was so brave, and didn't shed a single tear! Beauty hurts sister, get used to it!

Grant came with us, and was quite impressed with how great she did! I think having a bit of an audience helped her gather the courage she needed! We're proud of you sis! You're such a girlie girl, now you have the pink flower earrings to prove it!

Channeling Kate Gosselin

Ava work up with some pretty sweet bed head yesterday.

I'm thinking she is channeling Kate Gosselin with that hair, what do you think? At least Ava is just cute, and not crazy!

I love that my kids make me smile and laugh everyday, and this made me laugh out loud!

So this is what 32 looks like.

I turned 32 this past Saturday, and I have to admit I feel a bit old. I have started to notice the past few months that my face is starting to change, especially my eyes. I'm getting some wrinkles, and it makes me sad! I know I will get old eventually, I just didn't know eventually was starting now! Oh well.

I did get woken up with breakfast in bed, and the kids sang to me as they delivered my eggs, Canadian bacon, English muffin, and diet coke with a giant lemon wedge (my kids know me so well!). It was very sweet! In fact, Ava has been singing her version of Happy Birthday ever since. She just says "happy you you, happy you you" over and over! I LOVE her version!

It was Saturday business as usual with dance class, birthday parties, and house cleaning, but it was still a great day. Chuck and I went out to dinner, which is always a treat, then off to a company party for one of his clients, and then we ended my birthday date by seeing "The Blind Side". It was such a great movie, and I can't wait to see it again!

Chuck and I outside the restaurant after dinner

I have so much to be thankful for. I love my life. I love my amazing, hard working, funny husband who is always making me laugh (I am often rolling my eyes at the same time too, but that's okay)! I love my four children. In all my life I've never wanted anything more than to be a mother. They keep me on my toes, they keep me humble, they keep me laughing, they keep me prayerful, they are forever mine, and I love that.

So if this is what 32 looks like, then I'm okay with that. I've accomplished a lot for my age, and I have lots more I plan to do. All these plans are gonna take time, which means I'll get older and have more wrinkles, but so be it!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year, we didn't have a huge crowd. We had my parents, my 91 year old grandmother, and my 94 year old grandfather, some friends from church, their son, and our family. That's 13 total, 8 adults, and 5 kids, but you would have thought we were having 35 people with he amount of food my mom and I prepared! Then again, I can't seem to recall a Thanksgiving in my lifetime where we have run out of food, and well, that is something to be thankful for! All week long Callie asked if we were going to have a "feast" for Thanksgiving. I told her yes, and she wanted to know how big, and for how many days! She said our blessing before we ate, and thanked Heavenly Father for our yummy feast, and bless our big feast, it was very sweet! And feast we did, and it lasted all weekend long (if you count the eating of leftovers!).

To be honest, I was so tired from all of the prep and cooking, and cleaning, that I pretty much failed to get good pictures that day, but the food was delish if I do say so myself! Even Chuck commented at how great everything was, and that when we were first married how I used to worry that I would never be that good of a cook, and look at me now! That was a very sweet compliment!

I did get a few good pictures of my Mom with the girls, and this one of her and Ava, made me stop and really be grateful for her not only as my mom, but for her as the grandmother of my children.

My mom's mom died when I was 3 1/2. I have two memories of her. One was the Christmas before she died, and one was her funeral. She died of lung cancer. Smoking not only robbed her of her life, but it robbed me of a chance to know and love my grandma Ruth. I do love her, and know that someday I will get the chance to be with her again. I am so deeply grateful for all of the amazing people in my life. Not only do I have an amazing husband, and four healthy beautiful children, but we have an awesome extended family that gives us so much love and support! I do feel sad that we can't live near everyone, we especially miss Chucks parents in Utah and Oregon. They are such a source of strength and love to us and our family. Our kids miss them so much, and so do we.

I have a quote that hangs over my kitchen sink, it says," The love of a family is life's greatest blessing". I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the love of my family, both near and far, and even those who have gone before us. I am so blessed! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends, and that you took a few moments to count your blessing!

This is Why....

I LOVE my job! I have four beautiful, amazing, fun, and vibrant children! I have been so blessed. As long as I can remember, I wanted to be a mom. Somedays are easier than others, but I know that I am learning things as a mother that I could not have learned any other way. I am grateful that I have a husband who works so hard, and supports me staying home with our children.

Yesterday, I picked up my camera and snapped some pictures of a few moments that brought me joy. It made me stop, slow down, and be grateful for my life.

Callie was holding Ava on her lap in the kitchen, and playing with her. She is such a little mama.

Kisses, so sweet.

Ava saying "aside", looking out the back window!

Ava saying, "pleeeeease", pointing outside!

Letting Mom steal a kiss.

Tickles when they can't escape are the best!

My big girl! Man, has she grown.

Nose tickles with my girl.

Real kisses with my girl!

Grant scooping up Ava and giving her an after school tickle!

Dallin, refusing to smile for a picture, because his is too busy stuffing his face with lunch meat!

He was "starving" I might add.

I tell you, this boy is growing before my very eyes. No wonder my grocery bill is so dang high!!

Stop. Stop growing up so fast my babies I tell you, stop!

Everyday there is joy. It's the little things. I don't need to look very far to find it. Being their mom is one of my greatest joys!

I love you Dallin,

Grant,

Callie,

& Ava.

Mom

Two Minutes, that's all I ask!

WARNING:

The following may be a bit too honest and blunt for some of my readers. Continue reading at your own risk!

I feel like I can count on my two hands the number of times I have been able to go to the bathroom alone in the past 10 years!!! Am I the only mother who seems to have a fan club follow her everywhere? Today for instance, I needed to use the bathroom, as we all do everyday, unless there is something seriously medically WRONG with you! Today I chose to leave the door open, so that my #1 fan (Ava) could follow me in. If I choose to close the door, and heaven forbid have my two minutes in peace, I get to either hear her scream and cry, or knock continuously saying "mom", knock-knock, "mom", knock-knock, "mooooooooom"! So like I said I chose to leave the door open today!

The whole time I'm in there (the whole two minutes, cause I don't need to read a novel or anything), she is picking little small pieces of toilet paper off the roll, or pulling half of the roll out the door with her, and then she is trying to shove the toilet paper into the toilet, because that is where toilet paper goes! Well, that is kinda hard when my big old bum is blocking her target, so I got a push and shove from her, as she tried to dethrone me, and then a forceful handful of T.P. scraps thrown on my lap in her defeat when she realized she wasn't going to be able to push me off the toilet! I'm thinking to myself, so you're the reason we seem to be going through toilet paper in record amounts, and sure you are cute and adorable and you applaud all my "accomplishments", but seriously, when can I have two minutes alone, and WHEN CAN I POO IN PEACE!!!

I have to say I think this is one of those little things of motherhood I am NOT going to miss when they are all grown! So there you go. Hopefully you are not too scarred. This blog is therapy for me at times.