Bah-Humbug!

So I'm almost to the point of "scrooge-ing" gift giving. My reasons are, too much to do and not enough time to do it. I usually have everything ready by Thanksgiving, but this year, not so. Bringing one extra child into the mix definitely makes things harder. I don't like feeling so rushed and frantic, I like to enjoy the season, I love to give, but for some reason this year, I'm having a hard time with it. I am over my head. I have very little time to myself, and that time is spent trying to catch up. Hopefully all will turn out, it may not be as planned but, it Will get done and sent out to everyone, but it may get to you after Christmas.

(my impromptu holiday poem)

I need to make a list, yes and check it twice!

There is so much to do, and I can't "put it on ice".

There's cards to send out, and gifts to make,

My house to clean, and treats to take.

To parties we go, babysitters to find,

Kinda getting hectic, it's time to unwind!

What's the reason for giving? I need to remember,

Is it that day? The 25th of December?

No, it's more than a day, it's a season of giving.

It's how we remember the Lord is still living.

From His humble birth, to His humble end.

He gave His life, to us, my friend.

So, I will continue, not just for a day,

To keep on giving, I will find a way.

I'll get my list done, but I won't hurry,

I want to remember, and to not scurry.

It is a season for giving, and a season is long.

So, what I'm saying is, and don't get me wrong,

You'll get your gifts, and cards, and treats,

But you might not get them until the spring bird tweets!

Merry Christmas!

Kaleb's Party

So on the 1st we threw a "boo"-day party for Kaleb's 3rd birthday. I am not the best party thrower/organizer, so aside from a bit of dissarray, I think it went pretty well. Kaleb, most of all had a lot of fun. We invited families to come dressed up in their halloween garb and come and ride the lingering wave of the sugar high. We had pizza, cupcakes, and watched the b-day boy open his presents. We made masks and enjoyed eachothers company. Thanks to all who came and made this day great for Kaleb.

The Guests

The b-day boy and the cupcake tower

Opening the gifts

Your Vote

I've been thinking alot lately about the candidates and their running mates, and I'd like to hear your views as well. So who are you voting for and why?

Photo Tag

This is the fourth photo in the fourth folder

This pic was taken in December before Christmas of 2007. Looks like I'm peeling potatoes and there is an embarrassing mess on the counter top. Anyway, I tag Carla, Alisha, Brianne, Candace, and Nadine. Just post the fourth photo in your fourth folder (in your "my photos" folder) and give us a little background on it.

Picture time!

Well here they are!

They turned out okay, considering the craziness the photographer had to deal with, but she seemed well equipped. These are some I was able to download from their site so they may be hard to see clearly, they are low resolution. They are good enough for me!

Here are the boys in the autumn themed background, aren't they cute!

I love this one of all three.

This shows a little of their playfulness.

(Zach is stepping on Kaleb's foot)

We have to go back again for Raeleigh, she didn't want to cooperate. She really had had enough by the time we got to her individual pics. So hopefully soon I'll have some cute pics of her to post.

Enjoy!

FHE Night at the Park

Here we Gooooooooo!!!

I just Love the looks on their faces as they go down the slide!

Pure Exhilaration!

I also love that we were able to get all three to look at the camera all at the same time. The boys just love, love, love the park, any chance they get to go is sweet happiness. Unfortunately for them their mom is unsure how to handle two super active boys and a cranky teething baby girl, all by herself. In the heat. The solution, we go when its cooler, when daddy gets home. That's why it's so dark.

one of the favorite things to do is go up the slide and then back down. I'm not quite sure what the things in the middle are but they had fun on them anyway.

Zach climbing up the slide.

I am glad it's cooling off, I love the freedom of going outside to play instead of being cooped up inside all day. We just need to get our back yard in good order now.

I've been Tagged

Here goes nuttin'


8 T.V. Shows I Love To Watch

1. Heroes
2. The Biggest Loser
3. Supernanny
4. Ace of Cakes
5. Glenn Beck
6. Dancing with the Stars
7. America's Got Talent
8. American Idol

8 Things that Happened Yesterday

1. Watched Conference
2. Went to In-Laws
3. Ate roast and potatoes
4. Visited with Family
5. Came home
6. Watched Pocahantes
7. Ate popcorn
8. Rocked my daughter to sleep (twice)

8 Favorite Places to Eat

1. Ramano's Macaroni Grill
2. Chili's
3. Gardunios
4. Wildflower Bread Company
5. El Paso BBQ Co.
6. Panda Express
7. Chipoltle
8. Claim Jumper

8 Things I Look Forward To:

1. Spending time with my family
2. Going to Luna
3. Having my Hubby home
4. Having our house paid off
5. Bedtime
6. Going to the temple (and having one just a little closer!)
7. Girls' night out
8. Getting our Family Pictures taken

8 Things on My Wish List

1. A sink in my laundry room
2. A soft water system
3. A weekly massage
4. To loose my baby fat
5. To have zero debt
6. To take the whole family to Disney Land
7. To help my parents make-over their house
8. To be a "have-it-together mom"

8 People I tag (in case you don't know what "tagged" means it indicates that you will post a blog with your own list of all these '8 things':

1. Carla
2. Candace
3. Brianne
4. Alisha
5. Nadine
6. Koe
7. Stephanie
8. Carolyn

Thank You

Thank you, everyone for all the tips and advice you've given. It means a lot to me to know I have a support group out there, near and far. I'll keep you posted on the progress. John and I agree that it probably stems from not enough individual attention, of the good sort. He usually is the one that is getting into trouble, i.e. my couch. Just calling out for attention in anyway he can get it. Sometimes it takes others observations to help see the root of the problem.

So Thank You.

HELP!

Please help! I need advice. Kaleb is biting. Not just little nibbles, but almost blood drawing bites. It seems to happen when there's a struggle over a toy or something, and moms are out of the room. This is not good. He is a strong willed kid, very active, and a bit possesive(maybe cause he is now the middle child). Anyway, I don't know how to deal with it and any advise would be helpful. So thank you.

Right under our noses!

It happened AGAIN!!




My poor couch is getting some miles on it and it has been in our family for only a short time.
If you are wondering, or can't see in the picture, child #2 stuck again! This time it was with a pen! Right under our noses!

So let me break it down for you:

Husband comes home to wonderful wife (cooking dinner) and beautiful, but mischievous, children.

Gives love all around.

Comes to tell me about his day and all about the financial crisis that our nation is in. While doing so decides to record the Presidents address to the Nation on such crisis. Upon doing so, looks over to discover previous offender (Kaleb) between the couches scribbling on the couch WITH A PEN!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

What happened, we were right there the whole time! How did we not see him?!

At first all we saw was a tiny mark, no biggie, we can hide that, right?

I know my son better than that. I continue to look at the couches.

John asks: "what are you doing?"

Me: "looking for more, I'm sure there's more."

Sure enough, same couch as last time, blue ink scribbles ALL OVER the couch!

WHY?!?

Oh never mind, why, how do we get it out. Go get "my new best friend", it's at Alisha's.

So while John was out fetching the little green, and Kaleb was in time out, I felt a little tug to Google "how to get ink out of furniture." The first site that popped up was Ink on Microfiber Furniture at http://www.thriftyfun.com.

AWESOME!

So what did it say?

Rubbing Alcohol.

So I find our rubbing alcohol, stored neatly above the stove, and a wash cloth, and go at it.

IT WORKS!!!

It was so easy, it came right up.

Thank you for the prompting, and thank you Internet, without you I would be questioning our purchase of the mess-resistant microfiber furniture. Which certainly is being put to the test, as well as my patience.

Another note:

Thankfully, I was done cooking dinner and didn't forget to turn it off, or we may have had a "strike two" to add to my blog.

Oh and we finally let Kaleb out of time out, much to his relief, I'm sure. I tell ya I was prepared to leave him there all night.