Monday Morning Musings

We went to the First Presidency Christmas devotional at the Conference Center last night. My father so graciously shared his tickets and my mother so graciously babysat Aubrey and Addy. It was wonderful except for the guy sitting behind me who talked through the whole thing. Except for the times when he felt it necessary to sing along with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and if he didn't know the song he hummed his own little melody. I wanted to turn around and say, "You know, we all know this song but do you hear any of the rest of us singing it???? NO! There is a reason for that!" Then the guy sitting behind Zac gave him and Emily a pack of smarties. Hello! First of all they were sitting very quietly, it's not like they needed something to keep them quiet and entertained. Second, you are a stranger giving out candy to kids. And third, do you know how loud a smartie wrapper is when 21,000 people are being silent (minus the guy behind me) so they can hear the Prophet? Anyway, it really was a neat experience and I am glad we were able to take Zac and Emily.

Why is it that I hate onions but love onion rings?



I have been freaking out since Thanksgiving because I wasn't ready for Christmas yet. Then last week I realized that it wasn't even December yet.



Steve made fun of me because I want to buy Zac a CD for Christmas and I had to ask my neighbor across the street what kind of music boys his age listen to.



I got a little sad the other day because I realized this is the last time we will spend Christmas in this house. Now that I realized that, everything I do makes me nostalgic. Sniff, sniff.



My sister Kristy made a big announcement today. If you missed it, click here.



I had to explain to my kids this morning what man boobs are. Zac apparently heard someone talking about it and he was so using it in the wrong context.



You know how I always complain about not having spell check on the comment page? I discovered a quick easy way to spell check. I just type the word in my Google tool box like I am doing a search and it gives me a handy little drop down of words. Nifty.



Emily and Zac were fighting this morning and Zac hit her leg with his backpack. Oh my. I was in my room and from the sound that was coming out of her mouth I was sure we were going to have to make an early morning visit to the hospital. She was hysterical and screaming and crying saying she couldn't go to school. I calmed her down and put her in bed to rest before school (there was no way I was letting her stay home, especially if she was going to keep screaming like that) then I went to check Zac's backpack to see what he had in there. He is always carrying his encyclopedias around so I was sure he had 3 or 4 in there or his big huge marble that is bigger than my fist and would probably kill an animal or small child if you hit them with it the right way. What was in his backpack that hurt Emily so bad? A very small book and 2 pieces of paper.

Baby It's Cold Outside

I guess it finally decided to be winter. I am thankful for the extended warm weather we have been having. As sad as I am to see the warm weather go, I love how beautiful everything is covered in snow.

Flashback Friday - Could Those Glasses Be Any Bigger?

Camping In St. George With The Maldonado's

Allyson and Farrah

Steve, Zac & Allyson

Farrah and Bart

Bart and Farrah were living in Provo going to BYU. We went to St. George one weekend and went camping. Guessing by the size of Zac it was probably in 1998. I really think y'all should move back up here. We used to have so much fun. You can't possibly be having that much fun now.

If The Shoe Fits

Apparently you just have to find the right shoes.

Remember the little problem I was having with Addison and her shoes? Well I am here to say PROBLEM SOLVED! She got these shoes for her birthday and she LOVES LOVES LOVES them. She has been wearing them ALL day long and she hasn't taken them off once. If you say to her, "Addy, you have such pretty shoes on", she will look at them and smile and touch them, but she will not take them off.

Birthday Baby

It is hard to believe that a whole year has gone by. On the other hand it seems like Addison has always been a part of our family. She turned one today. We had a little family party for her. I took full advantage of the whole first birthday, don't know what's goin' on thing, and bought her a new high chair that she can't climb out of. I just put the hyper little thing in bed a few minutes ago. She was still on her sugar high. I am sure she is in her bed right now doing flips. You should have seen her. It was pretty funny.

Y'all Better Sit Down For This One

If you have been to my house anytime in the last, oh - 5 years or so, you know that my fireplace has pretty much looked like this:

Only the first 4 years it was minus the hearth. Sometimes there was a sheet hanging over it's ugliness. Sometimes the sheet came down because the fireplace was being "worked on". But now, ladies and gentlemen, hold on to your socks because I am about to unveil my brand new most fabulous, beautiful, complete (except for caulking)(let's not get carried away now) FIREPLACE:

TA DA!

Thank you to Scott and my dear, sweet, wonderful, loving, and very busy, providing, house building husband.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

OK. So here are the promised pictures. Sorry if anyone lost any sleep waiting. Please ignore the fact that some of my children look like orphans. And please ignore the blue painters tape near the ceiling. There is a good reason it is there. We are all decorated and I even got the lights on the bushes outside right before it started snowing. I guess it decided to be winter after all. Just 2 weeks ago I was wearing capris and flip flops. I had to drive to the store this morning in the snow and I remembered how much I do not like it. It made me very grateful that we have been having such nice weather for so long.

Over The Shoulder Boulder Holder

So last night as I was getting ready for bed, I had a great realization. Addison, my sweet little baby would be turning one the next day. That is the day I have been waiting for. I said I was going to nurse her until she was one and then I was done. WOO HOO! She's one and I'm done. I was so excited. I get to wear a normal bra! I started making plans for my nursing bra burning ceremony, after which I would scatter the ashes into the four winds and be free at last. As I was thinking of all the new freedoms I would be enjoying, I realized one luxury I would be giving up. All my shows I record on my DVR, when will I watch them? I watch them when I am feeding Addison. That is the only time I get to sit down and do nothing (kind of) and watch TV. Then this morning in the shower as I was doing my deep thinking (that is the only place that happens because it is the only time I am alone and it is quiet, except for the occasional bursting out into song) and it hit me like a chunk of chewy chocolate brownie that when I stop nursing Addison I lose 10 points. I'm not so excited anymore.

Mini Me X 3

Yesterday before the kids left for school:


Emily: (singing) You say it's your birthday, It's my birthday too yeah. You say it's your birthday, It's my birthday too yeah.


Zac: (singing) You say it's your birthday, It's my birthday too yeah.


Yesterday after school:


Emily & Zac: (singing) You say it's your birthday, It's my birthday too yeah.


Emily: ARRGHHHH! That song is making me crazy I have been singing it all day. And I only know this one part. Someone please tell me the rest of the words!


Zac: Me too. I can't get it out of my head.


Allyson: Do you know who sings that song?


Zac & Emily: (shoulder shrug) No.


Aubrey: It's the Beatles!!!


Score! One point for Aubrey!

Monday Morning Musings

Current Song Stuck In My Head:

WHY??? Why, you wanna know, is that song stuck in my head? This morning when I woke up to feed Addy, Emily woke up too and we watched the Oprah from last week with Hannah Montana and her daddy Billy Ray and they played this song. Heaven help me before I lose my mind. MAKE IT STOP! PLEASE!

My kids wanted to know if they had school today. Heck yes they have school. I can see where they would be confused. It having been so long since we have had a normal week of school and all.

We finally decorated for Christmas for real this time and I was going to post pictures of the kids decorating the tree but someone took my camera with them today. I also have another picture to post of something totally unbelievable and completely mind blowing but you will have to wait for that too. How are you going to make it through the day now?

We cleaned the play room on Friday. You couldn't even walk through it before. It is so nice. For the first few days it really confused me. I would walk out of my craft room/office and think I was in the wrong house.

Steve watched Transformers last night. I watched 1/2 and then naturally fell asleep for the rest. I don't know if I will finish it or not. You know what it's like when something gets built up in your mind and you expect something fabulous and it is just ok? Everyone I know told me how good it was and so I was expecting greatness. I think everyone that told me that was just shocked that it was a watchable movie??? Maybe? I dunno.

I was really bugged by the movie last night because it was like they just threw in all this trash that was so totally unnecessary for the plot and they didn't even do it smoothly, it was very obvious. And it wasn't even funny. I hate that when people do that to books and movies. If your gonna fill my mind with filth I want it to be done casually, not blatantly. OK, I was just kidding. But seriously, that movie was made for teenagers and I think they have enough to deal with they don't need more crap piled on their plate. I just worry because I have a son who will be a teenager soon and I freak out daily about the things he will have to deal with.

Check back later for pictures. I know you are going to be on the edge of your seat all day.