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.

Nothing but Stuff-ing.

I have done it again.


Neglected this poor blog. I am sure if IT really had feelings and a mind of it's own, it would be telling me to stick it (something) where the sun don't shine. Or, IT would be telling me to "buzz off", and IT won't be posting any more posts of mine, since I obviously don't care about IT. 


The thing is, I have nothing to say.  And I have had nothing to say for WAY too long. Which never happens. Really.  I always have STUFF to say, even if that STUFF is really nothing.


Does that make sense?


Of course it does. 

To me.

And I am sure it would to my blog...if it indeed had feelings of it's own.

I used to be able to find a MILLION things to write/talk about...why can't I anymore??  (Is it possible for a person turn even MORE boring than they were before?) 


I say it is.


I am proof.


However, I am going to try again to revive this THING if it's the last thing I do!  Otherwise, I will have to deal with neglecting IT again and the guilt which accompanies that. 

So in honor of Thanks-giving tomorrow I want to post about things that I am Thankful for. But first I want to GIVE you a THANKS. 

THANKS!

...Thank you for reading /following our blog, even, the most down-right, awfully boring posts of mine.  Thank you for being there for us in the good times and through the hard times. Thank you for your friendships and support through the years. We are so grateful for loving friends and family who stand by us, encourage us and love us. 

I am extremely grateful for the blessings in my life. I have been given so much. I can't thank my Heavenly Father enough sometimes for the blessings I have. And sometimes I get so emotional about the things I have been given that I  literally feel like I am being overstuffed with love and tears. Many times my husband has looked over to see me crying. And then I get THE look (you know, the one that says, "you're crazy") because I am all teary-eyed... and he asks, "What's wrong?"

And I say, "Nothing."

Because that's exactly what's wrong. Nothing is wrong. Everything is RIGHT.

I feel so blessed. I don't deserve half the STUFF I have. And with "stuff" I mean....my rock star husband, our three beautiful girls, our perfect celestial baby boy waiting for us, the gospel , my parents and my siblings, my nephew and soon to arrive baby niece, Ryan's parents and siblings and their spouses, our dear friends, the gospel, the atonement, being able to take the sacrament and renew my covenants every week, our beloved Prophet, temples, The Book of Mormon, Ryan's good job and steady income, our good health,  my eternal marriage, my Primary calling, this house we have to live in, our backyard, being able to buy food for my family, and have nice clothes, working cars, shoes on our feet, health insurance, being able to have my own craft room, scrap booking, my circuit, cell phones, internet, my camera, pictures of my kids, a good school for Madisen, books to read, movies, holidays, Reeses Peanut Butter cups, pickles, Egg Nog, Red peppers, Cucumbers, Turkey and chicken sandwiches, Taco Bell, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, Chips A' Hoy cookies,  cookies and milk, (I did mention cookies right?), P90X(too kick my butt and burn off all those cookies), pajamas, toothbrushes, teeth whitening kits, mascara (can't live without that!)....the list of blessings is endless.

I am so so SO grateful and my heart is always full of thanks, especially this time of year. 

I hope everyone has a safe and fun Thanksgiving! 

Guess Who?

 This picture that I took of Avery the other day reminds me of a character on a movie.... Any Guesses??

Did you guess Edith from the movie Despicable Me?

We love this movie, because all the girls on the movie totally remind us of our own girls and their different personalities. 

pictures!

The girls were looking so cute on Sunday so a snapped a few pictures of them. Nothing more than that. Here's to the grandparents! :)

October Festivities...

This month has been a busy one! It's been really fun too! To celebrate Halloween, each Monday of the month we did a fun spiritual lesson but following it we did something to do with Halloween...we made Halloween decorations to hang in the window and on this Monday we made Halloween sugar cookies! They turned out great so we decided since they turned out so good (which normally they don't) we wanted to share with our neighbors.

On another Monday night we painted and carved pumpkins....

Ryan barfing...

For our ward party this is what the girls dressed up as....

Madisen wanted to be a cheerleader...

Avery of course wanted to be a Princess...

 She is a beautiful princess!

 And our little Emily was a fairy....however, I don't think she like it at all. I could not get her to smile. She seemed irritated with the outfit...but she survived the night anyway.

And Ryan and I were Napoleon and Deb. We had so much fun and got a lot of good laughs from others in the ward. 

Doesn't Ryan make the best Napoleon! 

 We had a great time at the ward party and the girls got MORE candy than they could eat...so Daddy and Mommy helped them out with it. Isn't that nice of us?

The girls went around the neighborhood to get even MORE candy....Emily refused to put the fairy outfit back on, instead she was thrilled when I pulled out the bee outfit we had from a few years ago. See? Now she is smiling. And Madisen decided to be a triceratops again from last year.

So many pictures, not a lot of words, but it's a post, AND it's up the day after Halloween. Hope everyone had a great Halloween!!

Future Cheerleaders?

They were having a Cheer-leading camp at the Greenville High School for girls of all ages. I thought it would be a fun thing for Avery and Madisen to do. To meet other girls and learn a little bit about cheer leading. I was never into cheer leading. I was more into tennis and volleyball growing up, but I always thought it looked fun. I don't think I was confident enough nor do I like getting up in front of large crowds. Avery and Madisen are both shy in their own ways, but I thought maybe if I got them into something like this it would help them be less shy and come out of their shells a bit more. They are both not ones to take center-stage, and that's just fine. I don't know if they will be future cheerleaders, ballerina's or maybe tennis stars, just as long as they are having fun and learn a few things along the way is all that matters!

Dancing at the Nursing Home

Avery started ballet class again this year, and Madisen wanted to do it with her this time. (I think Madisen realized how fun it could be to learn to dance and be with other girls). This month they have been practicing a dance and were able to perform it for the local nursing home. I think Madisen was just excited to be able to get out of school for the day.... as we had a very sad Funeral for a young mother in our ward, who died suddenly a week ago and she left behind her husband and four young kids. It was devastating and shocking to say the least. Makes me really take a look at life and remember how important each day is, each moment is with my kids and my hubby, because it could be the last. Sorry to get on a sad note, but it's so surreal that she is gone and her kids are left without a mom. (Prayers for the Ponnada family please!)

Anyway, the girls got the chance to perform for the elderly folks and had a good time. 

p.s. Happy Birthday to my brother ADAM today!!

Savings!

I am still plugging along with couponing. This last week I scored BIG! (This is just one of the many things I bought, the other transactions I didn't take pictures of). I got ALL this for 11 bucks! The diapers alone are usually around that price.I also had two extra bucks to spend on anything for my next shopping trip.

We now have enough shampoo and conditioner/ hair spray, deodorant and many other things to last us till our kids are in college! haha! But when I am only paying 50 cents for an item or getting it for FREE, why not stock up?! It's great to be able to donate it too.