This Is It

randomness

01.  at albertsons awhile ago with max... the baker dude walks by and says "there's a cookie over in the bakery with your name on it." so we follow him over there. the baker dude gets the albertsons cookie bag and holds it out to max. then he makes some small talk about max's chin and how his boys used to always bite through their lips when they were little. when we walk away... max is looking all over his cookie, looks up to me and asks... "where's my name?"

02.  max wanted to know... "why can't we get surgery for duke to stop biting?"

03.  he likes to play x's and o's (tic-tac-toe). and is getting a little better at it.

04. one of the first christmas presents i bought this year was from kmart. madi's ipod dock. i saw it on sale in the ad and took max with me to get it. i never shop at kmart. on our way out he sees the little kiddie ride thing. i search in my purse for some quarters. nothing. i promise him we'll come back. so ever since then, he's been asking if i need to go to kmart. yesterday... i have to go to trader joe's for a couple things... it's right next door to kmart. he was so excited to hear this. he even stole 2 quarters out of my purse to make sure he'd have the money.

 
(he was so happy. then he got on the horsey merry-go-round and was a little disappointed. "do they go up and down?" nope. just around and around.)

05. mackenzie was so excited about the iron chef america - super chef battle on sunday night. she even made signs for her team. (emeril lagasse and mario batali) she watched all two hours of it and around ten o'clock, she came into our room very upset. her team lost. 

06. mackenzie couldn't wait to tell us that she got to do the announcements at school yesterday. she had forgotten all about it while she was on track break. she said she was nervous but LOVED doing it. i guess she'll be doing it for the rest of the week too. her and manuela. today she'll read what's for lunch. (she used to practice this all the time at home)

07. madison will be moving from monday's at 4pm to wednesday's at 5pm for dance. it's the same class but i guess there are more older girls in the other class. a few weeks ago, madi earned a ribbon in class for learning/doing 8 new tricks too.

08. one of the things on my to-do list for january is to get teaching max the basics for kindergarten. i have been such a slacker (the girls were so easy). while at jodie's house on sunday, i noticed a kindergarten book in her kitchen. i was going to flip through it to see if it was any good and when i opened the first page there was "max carter" written in grandma dee's handwriting. i was so excited. it was a gift from her to max for christmas. thanks grandma.

 

 

 

monday ----> sunday

28 MONDAY - max and i go grocery shopping at albertsons... come home to drop off groceries and pick up girls... go drop off library books... they're just a couple days late... that night, i take madi to dance... the studio is closed... guess i should have read their holiday hours... we come home... clean... have spaghetti for dinner

29 TUESDAY - jacob, mason + grace came over while grandma went in to work for a little bit (she's watching the kids while jen + dave are in new mexico. dave's dad passed away xmas eve morning)... we run to jodie's to get some envelopes and take her a coke... we meet grandma at town square to see alvin + the chipmunks... drop madi + max off at grandma's for a sleepover... take jacob with us... go by costco to pick up some invites... get starbucks... come home... take down christmas decorations... have tacos for dinner

30 WEDNESDAY - darian + jayce come over to play for the day... jacob gets up and we all go pick up madi + max... (kenzie stays home in bed not feeling well)... come back home... make pizzas for lunch... dana picked up the boys... we had goulash for dinner

31 THURSDAY - max + i headed out to get donuts for our new year's eve day tradition... winchells had a very sad assortment... dunkin' donuts #1, nothing... dunkin' donuts #2, nothing... so we had to go to krispy kreme... not my favorite... but they had lots of donuts...

 

darric got home early... i made caramel popcorn... we left for the dayton's around 4:30... had rosatti's pizza... and welcomed the new year with them, jan + the boys

01 FRIDAY - got up at 8:30... gathered up our stuff... came home... darric stopped at starbucks... i got a white chocolate mocha... the kids got chocolate milks... we showered and got ready... i took the girls to target... i needed a few things and the girls had money they were dying to spend... kenzie got your shape for the wii... she wanted to get mario kart but they didn't have it... i tried to make her wait... madi just got an lps and tic tacs... we went to bath + body works next... they both bought some shampoo + conditioner... and me and madi got some lotion... that night our lamp went out in the tv... :( ... we ordered steve-o's for dinner... then played scrabble slam (card game)

02 SATURDAY - darric got up and went for a haircut... i took the girls to old navy to get max some new jeans... we picked up a small lunch from burger king... then we went over to the ausman's at 3:00 for a bbq... there were others from darric's work there too... it was a good time

03 SUNDAY - went over to matt + jodie's for lunch... tacos... they were yummy... piper was blessed today... jen + dave made it home safely... just that morning... didn't do a whole lot the rest of the day... tried to clean up and get laundry done

 

who knew??

  

who knew i would ever be a diet coke drinker? now i get mad when the drive thru accidentally gives me regular coke.

who knew i would keep up with a blog for 3 years now? and still not have any of those years printed into a blurb book. (i'm working on my first year... again)

who knew having an 11, 8 and 4 year old would come so soon? way too soon.

who knew i would start scrapbooking again (digitally)? and then stop again? i have my moments.

who knew i would run four 5k’s?

who knew i would give in and read the entire twilight series? 

who knew all five of us would go to hawaii? and see bill + dani get married? haha.

who knew i would get on an airplane for longer than 45 minutes? i've come to the conclusion that i have a fear of heights.

who knew i would ever get a pedicure? and be told that i need to get some tea tree oil? embarrassing. 

who knew we would ever bring another animal into our home? (duke... we love him... now)

who knew texting would be my main form of communicating? and i still do it the old fashioned way. i don't have a full keyboard.

who knew i would switch from caramel frappucinos to black teas from starbucks? and take a little break from the tea to enjoy some holiday caramel brulee lattes?

who knew my husband could get any hotter?

who knew madison would be our most talkative child?

who knew i would use google so much? if darric's not home or doesn't know the answer... i google it.

who knew darric would cave in and let us go to disneyland again AND get season passes? i think he was just as excited as the rest of us were.

who knew i would finally get a laundry routine down? - two loads every morning (sometimes three after the weekend)

who knew i could cook dinner for five nights straight?

who knew i wouldn't be looking for the newest short hairstyles magazine for my next hair do?

who knew we would camp in the rain?

who knew i would become a list writer? i love getting to check things off.

who knew i would lose 30 pounds and gain back 9? time to get the goodies out of the house + get my butt back to the gym. (ok... those last two trips to disneyland didn't help much either)

who knew i would be so excited for a new year? welcome 2010.

HAPPY TWENTY-TEN

 

we rang in the new year with the daytons + bertrands (-dana).
and new york.
this picture was taken right at 9:00 pm when the ball dropped.
the party didn't end then...
the little guys watched aliens in the attic,
the big kids played mario kart on the wii
and the adults played some what's yours like
and watched a little jersey shores.

we all stayed the night at hotel dayton
and were out right after midnight.
(except dani, she got a burst of energy and cleaned up after all of us)
(and bill and the boys, they fell asleep at least an hour earlier)

 

the last day of the decade

10. because it's that time of year.... my random list is a countdown.

09.  i took down the tree + put away all christmas decorations tuesday. it probably would have come down the day after christmas, but i was on the couch sick instead.

08. me + my mom took my kids + jen's kids to town square tuesday to see alvin and the chipmunks the squeakquel. the kids loved it. i laughed and heard my mom laugh a couple times. afterward, grandma got them all yogurtland. they were told not to go crazy. grace wasn't exactly sure what that meant. :)

 

07. next week the girls go back to school. after, what seemed like, the longest break ever. it's been nice though. we've all enjoyed sleeping in until 7:30 - 8:00. sometimes later for the kids. and i've really enjoyed not ironing their clothes every morning. (maybe their clothes aren't THAT wrinkled)

06. i finally finished posting about our first vacation in california. way back in november. it feels like forever ago. i had over 650 pictures from that trip and i don't have the patience to upload all of the pictures to the blog, just yet.

05. jacob spent the night tuesday night. him + mackenzie were going to "pull an all-nighter". they attempt this at every sleepover. i don't think they even made it half way. around three in the morning, i heard some weird noises. i sat up in my bed and saw kenzie on the floor moaning. she had just thrown up (in the bathroom) and was about to throw up again. she was in bed all day yesterday getting better for the new year's eve party tonight.

04. my pizza cutter is missing. it's been missing for a few months now. maybe it's hiding in the same spot max's other pair of jeans are hiding (oh and that library book too).

03. darric + i have started watching pawn stars on the history channel. i really like it. it's like a little history lesson in almost every episode. i can do without the one guy's laugh though.

02. apparently, darric doesn't like the candy cane lofthouse sugar cookies as much as the regular ones. there are only 2 cookies missing from the package and we got them before christmas. (as many of you know, darric can usually eat an entire package by himself) ;)

01. my cell phone broke before christmas. so, i'm back to using the lovely phone that i was using before when my last phone broke. there is no way i'm paying full price for a new one... so i will wait. oh, how i miss my calendar and alarm and fanciness.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE!!

 

i guess i should blog about thanksgiving

which happened to land on mackenzie's birthday this year.
lucky her.

we celebrated at grandma dee's house, like we do every year.
i brought green bean casserole again.
because it takes a lot to mess that up.
i also brought my mini pumpkin pies.
we were missing my dad this year.
he was in italy. he was missed.
the daytons joined our large family.
the kids played on the swingset.

  

(quincy did not like to be pushed very high) 

 
mackenzie tried to organize some kind of performance.
she started out by splitting the kids into age groups.

  

  

 
cade was really into it and felt bad that it wasn't a better performance.

 

i liked it.
there was some playing in the dirt too.

 

and we ate. and ate and ate like usual (maybe that's just me that keeps eating).
i was so excited there was a kid's table this year.
i used to have to sit at a kid's table. it's only fair.
sandy + grandma dee surprised kenzie with a cake while we all sang happy birthday to her.
 

 

 

i got her a pin and a hat to wear today.
at least the pin stayed on.
we met new baby sophie.

 

filled out jen's thankful book.
we all have a lot to be thankful for. mostly family.
and had dessert. there was SO much to choose from.
when we left that night, my mom took madi and some of the cousins home with her while jacob slept over at our house.
it was a good time.

the gift list

  

mackenzie's gift list 

from santa... scarf, earrings, bracelets, gummi savers book, $15 itunes card, 2 littlest pet shop pets, m+m's, lip gloss, mummy things (that sant picked out himself and was so very proud of) from mom + dad... mad gab game, toy story mania for wii, large wipe board, markers + magnetic eraser, scentbug + oil from bath + body works, 2 tank top/short sets to exercise in, glee cd from just dad... dell laptop. (i don't think he's giving credit to anyone else. this is one of the reasons he was up early this year.) from gma + gpa steward... money to help buy our disneyland season passes. and a bag full of goodies for our recent california trip. from mason... cute purple purse, lip glosses and lotions from billy... peppermint tea. oh and some computer games to play on her laptop. (she had tried the tea at the dayton's house before and loved it. so, they got her two boxes of it for christmas. and that's all they gave her at first. she was totally happy with it. but even happier when she saw the rest of the stuff.) from gma + gpa carter... 2 pairs of pajama pants, curly sue movie and project runway fashion designer  from aunt jesse... cooking mama for wii 

 

   

madison's gift list

from santa... scarf, earrings, bracelets, m+m's, mummy thing, lip gloss, gummy savers book, 3 new littlest pet shop pets (there were 2 in one of the packages) from mom + dad... ipod dock, $15 itunes card, ipod case (she didn't get this stuff until after she got her ipod), gap watch, grey shirt with a bling necklace + argyle tights that were way too small, 2 tank top/short sets, a different glee cd, sorry sliders game, alvin + the chipmunks the squeakquel soundtrack from just dad... ipod touch (i'll let him take credit for this too, even though i'm the one that had to go to costco to get it. and i only had ten minutes to do it in. see a few posts ago) from gma + gpa steward... money to help buy our disneyland season passes. and a bag full of goodies for our recent california trip. from quincy... gap charm bracelet, charms and a hair bow (that jodie made) from gma + gpa carter... zubber bracelet maker, 2 pairs pajama pants and corinna, corinna movie from aunt jesse...   from jayce or darian... two cute purses

 
 
 

max's gift list

from santa... car's card games, gummy saver's book, 2 tech decks, m+m's, sunglasses from mom + dad... large pixar wipe board book, nerf gun (not sure if this was the best idea), v-smile cyber pocket + 2 games, spongebob media player so he can listen to music too (now i need to get him some big earphones, the little ones drive him crazy), toy story puzzle, mellissa + doug blocks (which i was excited about. i hope they last forever), giant's nerf football, chuck liddell action figure (finally, an action figure i won't mind picking up. haha) yahtzee jr toy story game, 2 wood puzzles from gma + gpa steward... money to help buy our disneyland passes. and a bag full of goodies for our recent california trip. from piper or beckam... big buzz lightyear from gma + gpa carter... superman pajamas, rock 'em sock 'em robots from aunt jesse... police helmet from jayce or darian... big bakugan ball + bakugans to go in it

darric's gift list

new sonicare toothbrush, pocket knife, waffle maker (from his family white elephant gift exchange), matt's favorite basket (bell water bottle, stars wars legos, men's health magazine, the book how to win friends + influence people, some naan bread, pear, simpsons movie, chick-fil-a + gyro time gift cards, curry sauce and coke zero), money that was used towards disneyland season passes, mets coffee mug + the original willy wonka movie

my gift list

new hard drive and memory for the computer, 20 lb. kettlebell + gloves (from darric's family white elephant gift exchange, awburn's favorite basket (metal basket, brownie mix, what's yours like game, farkle game that i traded for some candy apple lotion, candy that jacob ate, a sonic gift card) money that was used towards disneyland season passes, starbucks coffee mug + gift card + cd

on the TWENTY-FIFTH of december

merry christmas.
we woke up this morning just after 6am
to the christmas music blaring on the tv in the living room.
i woke max up and walked out slowly.
there was darric on the couch waiting for all of us.
he was ready for the christmas excitement to begin.
madi and kenzie came out too.
and we all walked out into the front room around the christmas tree.
santa stuffed the stockings full and left stuff next to them too.
one by one, the kids opened their presents.
kenzie opened ones with jingle jangle written on them.
madi was rudolph and max was frosty.
(kenzie had it all figured out already)
the kids had opened everything that was under the tree
and darric couldn't take it any longer.
he disappeared into the bedroom and came out with the "big" gifts
the gifts he was going to surprise the girls with
after we had showered and gotten ready for the day. 
kenzie's laptop and madi's ipod touch.

             

we got ready then arrived at grandma + grandpa steward's house at 9:00

   

ate a delicious breakfast and then let the kids open their gift.
madi got a gap charm bracelet, charms and a hair bow.
mackenzie got a purse filled with lotions and lip glosses
max got a big buzz lightyear. (he wanted one so bad to go with woody)

  

the adults had their "favorite baskets" gift exchange.
there was some stealing going on
and i think everyone was somewhat pleased with what they got.
jen took a family photo of us all and it was time to come home.
within an hour and a half, darric and i had...
peeled and quartered potatoes, made spinach dip, put together a veggie tray (kenzie did that), cleaned up the house, baked brownies, made the chili + cream cheese dip, poured corn in a pan, poured turkey gravy in another pan, stuffed some mushrooms, cut up bread and welcomed everyone to the party.
the bertrands, the daytons and grandma + grandpa carter.
we ate, the kids opened their gifts and the adults had their "white elephant" gift exchange.

  
 

 
grandma + grandpa had to leave.
the rest of the adults played "what's yours like"
while the kids played together all night.
we ate, laughed and had a great time.  
 

on the TWENTY-FOURTH of december

we woke up to darric singing,
WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE...
max and i were still trying to sleep in my bed.
and madi was sleeping on the floor in our room.
i spent the morning cleaning the house.
then i got ready and made my seven layer dip.
and some peanut butter blossoms too.
darric was on his way home from work around 2:00.
he had to call and tell me about his day.
the boy in their warehouse was acting really weird today...
left work hitting someone's car.
darric and his boss went to his house to check on him.
then darric got to meet him for a drug test.
the boy tampered with the test which was an automatic positive.
darric had to fire him. on christmas eve.
as soon as darric had showered, we were on our way to jen + dave's.
the daytons joined us this year.
and the meltons were able to come for a little while.
again, we had yummy mexican food.
steve's enchiladas, chicken enchiladas and sour cream enchiladas.
i brought my seven layer dip and jen made salsa.
we ate. and then had a talent show.
grace and mason sang 3 songs they learned at school. 
madi hula hooped... with her arm in the hula hoop too.
kenzie juggled.
max threw the football to his dad.
cade showed us his double-jointed thumb.
he was going to sing, but grace + mason stole his songs.
billy sang a christmas song that no one else knew all the words to.
coda did a scrunched up face.
mason then showed us how he could suck his nose in and hold it.
cade got up to tell a joke and instead told mason...
"if you steal mine, i steal yours."
and he showed us how he could suck his nose in and hold it.
it was the funniest thing ever.
tauni sang us a beautiful song, i did the moonwalk, jen did the splits, bill juggled,
madi + mason did headstands, billy performed michael jackson, my dad said the alphabet backwards.
we are one talented family. :)
the kids got to open a present. pj's.
they were all excited to change into them.

 

 

 
grandma dee brought her brownies and some cinnamon rolls.
dani baked a bunch of cookies.
me + my mom made caramel popcorn.
and we visited for a little bit while we enjoyed it all.
we came home and madi and her dad set out treats for santa.
and they all fell fast asleep.

on the TWENTY-THIRD of december

max + i ran to smart n final.
then jodie came over to sit with the kids while i ran to albertsons.
i got back and she ran to walmart while i sat with the kids. 
that night i made taco soup. 
max says it's his favorite. 
we rode to the store with darric.
he had spotted some money in the parking lot.
while he ran in, madi jumped out and picked it up.
we sat and waited for darric and madi was so nervous.
i think she felt like she had stolen someone's money. 
it was $6. and nobody came out looking for it.