Getting excited for Christmas!

We went to the public library to do their yearly Gingerbread house. Avery and Emily had such a great time decorating their own houses and eating the candy.

What a  cheese ball!

We went to Madisen's school this last week also for a Christmas party and of course it wouldn't be a party without the man himself...Santa Claus. We had a great time with Madisen at her class party. 

The girls waiting in line to sit upon his lap.

Avery was funny, she sat on his lap for a good 3 minutes, just telling him very seriously what she wanted for Christmas. She rattled off every princess barbie doll there is!

Emily sat there without screaming this time. I don't know if that was because she saw so many other kids sitting on his lap, or that her sisters were there sitting with her, but whatever the reason she did great and they looked so cute...if I do say so myself!

December 6, 1982

Today, 29 years ago at 6:04 am, I came screaming into this world weighing a whopping 8 pound 9 3/4 ounces. I was bald and beautiful (at least that's what my mom says. I beg to differ). My mother also said I was a very CHUBBY baby. So chubby in fact, that ladies in her ward at the time had a hard time holding me for long as I weighed as much as a toddler. And pictures don't lie. (sorry these pictures are not in order)

Me at 2 months old. So plump that my cheeks and arms look tight.

Awww..aren't I adorable!?  8 months old

3-4 months? It wasn't labeled. 

I was biggie size. 

My parents super sized me. Here I am at 9 months old looking swollen and....hungry.

Me at almost 7 months old. I had have a lot of junk in the trunk. It slowed slows me down. 

Only a day old. 

See what I mean? CHUBBY. 

My mom also said I was her best nurser out of all my siblings (Gee...that's great Mom. Not the best title to win in my opinion) and would get done nursing in 5-10 minutes flat, no playing around. (Some things never change). At my one year check up I had gained a remarkable 23 pounds and the doctor said, and I quote, "She must be getting all the cream." (Eww...I know). So do the math and that put me at a Newman record of 31 pounds at a year old. That's biggie size. Sumo wrestler you say? No. But I could have been. I could have also been a plus size baby model. Just check me out in these glamour shots...

Ohhhh yeah. Nice, huh? 

Not exactly sure how old I was in these nude photos, probably 7-8 months old?

And I am not sure if I ever thanked my mom for these either....someday I will get around to it.

My mom also said I was one of her best babies, as in; slept good, ate good and didn't cry a lot compared to my BIG(more like small) brother Adam. 

Adam was just jealous...

In this picture it may look like he is being really sweet and "petting me" but what wasn't captured  2 seconds later was his finger poking my eye!

And in this one...Sure, my brother is looking all cute and innocent but I can almost guarantee he was the one who pushed me off the couch, not that I fell from belly fat. 

Ok, so I fibbed. None of that is true about my brother, except for the part that I was a better behaved baby. And my mom would tell you that. 

But my brother and I were best friends growing up... 

See in this picture my brother is running ahead of me. But what you don't see is when he reached out for my hand to help me along. 

And that funny man there running...that's my dad. The best dad in the world. You know how I know that? Because he had a shirt that said that "Best Dad in the World" growing up, and I knew it was true. My dad is hilarious. He is smart, generous and kind. And loved playing tricks on us!

My parents and Adam and me

Adam and Miss Piggy holding hands.

I have several pictures just like this one where my dad is rocking us. I look like I am drowning in "cheek" fat.

And this is Adam and me jumping into our pool. I was born in Mesa Arizona if I hadn't mentioned that before. I learned to swim before I was two. My mom says Adam and I were born fish. (hmm, I wonder if that has a double meaning?)

Guess I did do enjoy the water. 

Maybe not as much now, as bathing suits freak me out.

And just for the fun of sharing my baby pictures here are a few more:

I was 18 months old. Glad my mom was a safe driver as car seats were not enforced.

My 5th birthday. I loved my peach dress. It was my absolute favorite dress growing up. I could do some mad twirls in that thing.

My second birthday. I was a happy kid. That cake was ALL mine.

My late grandma Newman and I snuggling. 

Me in second grade.

Adam, me, April, and Randy

All 5 of us...Adam, me, April, Randy and Celeste

 And because Christmas is just around the corner, and because I shared the picture last week of Emily on Santa's lap...here's the one my mom took of me...

And if you look closely, Adam is hold cold hard cash in his fingers. NO wonder he is enjoying sitting with Santa. I would be too, if I got paid!  :)

Thanks again everyone for the birthday wishes! It's been a great 29 years! Last year in my twenties, kind of have mixed feeling about that, but what I am going to do? Count backwards? ....Hey! That's a great idea. Next year, 28!

Our gifts to Him.

I really love this time of year. I love decorating the house with Christmas decor and putting up the tree. I love listening to Christmas music and making hot chocolate. I love how excited my girls get, even the endless, "Is it Christmas today?" I love driving down the street seeing houses lit up. I love giving gifts, and of course I love to get a few too!  :)

But mostly I love this time of year to be able to teach my kids about the Savior and his birth. Last weekend we had fun decorating but we also took time to talk about the meaning of Christmas and we took turns talking about how we can give a present to Jesus. We started this tradition a few years ago and have loved doing it. We put our gifts in a stocking for Him, that we hang on the tree to help us always remember our gifts to Him.

Madisen's gifts to Jesus:  "She will say her prayers at night, be good, clean her room, and be nice."

Avery's gift: "Read scriptures every night, and listen to my mommy and daddy."

Emily's gift: We asked her, Will you be nice? She said, No. We asked her, Will you say your prayers with us? She said, No. And when we asked her if she will be good? She said, No. 

Hmm....Coal for Emily this year??

We were all laughing so hard, Madisen and Avery just thought Emily's answers were so funny. 

I am sure she was just joking...? She is quite stubborn at times, but such a cuddle bug too and can be the sweetest thing ever! Always giving everyone multiple hugs in a row.

Here's our mantle and tree this year! 

Santa Claus came to OUR neighborhood!

We took the girls downtown Thursday night to Greenville's City Police/Court house for the yearly tradition of hot cocoa, choirs singing, carriage rides and of course Santa Claus! Santa Claus  made his grand entrance on a white carriage that was deck out in lights and Christmas decor. Our girls were second in line anxiously awaiting a turn to sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. 

Avery was first. She was most excited to share with Santa that she wants a Princess barbie doll, with a rainbow dress and pink shoes with a bow in her hair. (That's our Avery.)

 Then came Madisen hopping over and onto Santa's lap to tell him she wanted Roller Skates.

Then it was Emily's turn. 

She took about 3 steps, looked at his face and frantically ran the opposite direction. Of course me, being the mean mom that I am, grabbed her and said, "Oh no you don't!" ....I have waited far too long in line to not get a picture of her with Santa Claus. (I am sure Santa Claus was most grateful). So I picked her up and put her on Santa's lap long enough to capture this priceless picture. I have one like this when I was a kid, (most kids do) and it didn't traumatize me forever...(just until I was about 17 is all). 

 Poor Bu-bahs! 

It was a fun night out on the town with the kids, and they said on the way home, "That was fun!"

So all the waiting in lines, crowds, camera dying, and chilly 50 degree evening was all worth it. :)

One Fine Day

I will tell you why today has been one fine day since the minute I woke up...

1. Got tackled and hugs from all my girls this morning.

2. Got on the scale this morning and lost another pound. (Yippee!)

3. Emily has only peed in her underwear once... so far. She is so proud of hew new Dora underwear.

4. My little sister, April is at the hospital in Labor and Delivery and I will be an Aunt for the second time!!

5. My kids will FINALLY have another cousin! :)

6. I caught 11:11 on the clock this morning, which I have missed for over a week! I love catching that number on any of the digital clock in my home as it is my minute to think of Ethan and the memories I had with him.

7.  Had a toasted turkey sandwich with tomato! (my favorite)

8. Both Avery and Emily went down for a nap today (which is rare).

9. Cleaned the whole house this morning- so had time to blog and do a project that I wanted to do this afternoon!

10. Got to talk to one of my best friends on the phone.

11. I found my diamond (not real diamonds) studded earring...AGAIN!  These are the luckiest earrings ever made. The reason: I have lost one of these earrings I don't know how many times, at least 5-6 times and I have always found it-hours or days later. I lost it last night and my husband said, Again?!  I think I lost it when I pulled off my sweatshirt and found it this morning folding the basket full of clothes. Awesome!

12. It's FRIDAY!  Which means time/dateline with my hubby tonight!

"Making a List...and Checking it Twice..."

That last post was a bit of a stretch I realize, however, I am determined to do better at blogging. (So I don't have to write another one of these. A sorry note).

I love keeping a record of things.  I am a list-making, goal setting, financial planning, picture taking, scrap book fanatic, note taking-doodling kind of person. I am always writing up "plans", and then a week later revising, altering, and improving those plans. Plans for the future. Plans for the weekend. Plans for meal time. Plans for chores, Plans for cleaning the house. Plans for weight loss. Plans for projects. Plans for Holidays. Plans for saving money and how much we can save in *blank* amount of time for *blank* purchase. If there is a way to plan for it, I 've done it. I am a visual learning and have to see it on paper. I have around 5-6 full journals from high school, 14 scrapbooks and 2 binders full of notes, pictures and memories from high school, college and of course marriage and family life.

I KNOW my husband thinks I am weird. After making a list of something and showing him, he usually says, "Honey, you are cute."  But what he REALLY means to say is... "Honey, you are seriously ridiculous and insane with all your non-stop notes and list all around the house.... and you are cute" (because of course he thinks I'm cute!(sarcasm)).

Who doesn't love looking back on family memories? Like you, I have spent hours and hours writing/typing many cute, funny and down right silly things my kids, my husband or I have done. And even the not-so-pretty, gross, awful things we have done. I love going back and reading them from time to time. I am a forgetful person too, so maybe that's another reason I like to write things down, because reading them helps me recall many of those memories like they just happened yesterday! And THAT is priceless. Like this time. Or perhaps this little gem. And especially moments like this.

Does it seem like blogging isn't as popular anymore? Anyone feel that way?  When blogging made it's entrance into the internet world, everyone, even their dogs were blogging.... Everyday! Sometimes twice or more a day. Clearly there are far more blogs, millions more, on the internet today then 5 years ago. But blogging in my small circle of friends seems to have slowed down drastically. (Not blaming YOU). It just doesn't seem such a trend/craze to post every day anymore. Most of us post just a few times a month now. If that even. Which is still great don't get me wrong. I just remember the first week/month I started blogging. I was addicted to it more than I care to admit. Posting about everything and anything even if it had little to no purpose to anyone. I remember searching for blogs of friends and family everywhere, if they had one. Every Facebook friend, friend's on my email account; asking them if they had a blog. And if they didn't telling them to get one!  If they had a blog I wouldn't waste anytime adding to them to my LIST of friends. Then I would search their LIST of friends to see if there was anyone I knew on it that I could add to mine too.

How silly huh?

Admit it. You did it too, right?

Right??

Now four years later, I have deleted a few blogs here and there from so-called friends that I never heard back from. Ever. haha! Funny how life is like that.

Don't worry. I don't plan on making a list to delete anyone.

I have already checked twice.