This Is It

ten on tuesday

1. friday morning i was dreading having to clean up the after-christmas-party mess. old toys spread all over the house. new toys spread all over the house. food on every counter top. but i got to it. and it helped when darric took the kids with him to his mom's for a bit. i turned on my new t.i cd and got a bunch done. later that day... the tree came down and the decorations were boxed back up. i'm ready to get back to normal life.

2. our favorite's baskets (boxes actually). mine had the following in it: a photo album, pack of orbit gum - spearmint flavor, the movie 13 going on 30, a $10 starbucks card, a black picture frame with our family photo in it and bath & body works cinnamint mentha lip shine. darric and dave went shopping together for most of their stuff, so it's no surprise they wanted each other's boxes. darric had in his: a craftsman bottle opener, kill bill volume I and II, mets baseball helmet decals, 10-in-1 screwdriver and targets. all of the baskets were very good. i picked dani's because it was covered in red cellophane and you couldn't see what was in it. she had... jillian's 30-minute shred, 3 pound weights, lipstick, neutrogena age-reverse lotion, the book mommy dearest and madonna's cd - the immaculate collection (which i traded jan for, because i already have it). darric got dave's box. surprise, surprise.

3. my new bedspread or comforter, whatever it's called. i can't wait to pick a color to paint the walls in our bedroom now...

4. crystal and i had a lunch date scheduled at jason's deli monday. we ended up with a whole party there. her mom and not-yet-sister-in-law were coming. so i invited my mom and jodie. and of course all of our kiddos. (who were all pretty well behaved and were able to end their lunches with some ice-cream) after we got home, i got comfy on the couch and watched the women. (while i finished off my black tea and a couple mini candy bars)

5. after looking in the kids' rooms way too many times and seeing way too much crapstuff laying on their floors, i decided it was time to get rid of a few things. so sunday, i spent at least half of the day stuffing garbage bags full of unplayed with toys. i was planning on getting rid of most of their build-a-bears, but i just couldn't do it. (so they are now sitting in the top of the closet) i had a hard time in max's room. up in his closet, was a basket full of baby toys. i bagged most of it up and got all teary-eyed while i did it. i kept a few things. :)

6. the first half of our sunday, we took a ride to pet kingdom 2000. (pet store) no, we did not get a pet. we were just looking. something for us to do. when we first walked in by the snakes and other gross things, mackenzie started freaking out. she froze and cried for me. which was kind of funny, because in the car she was bragging about how she wasn't scared of snakes. after i walked mackenzie over to the puppies, she was all better. then her and madi started begging for a chihuahua, the one that was begging for them to take it home. it's a good thing darric was there, or we probably would have left with one. they were so cute.besides, darric had his eye on the white and orange manx.

7. grandma becky cut way down on her presents for the grandkids this year. they each got something on christmas and then she had plans to take them all somewhere together. (i hope this is a new tradition) they took a vote... and chuck e. cheese won. so that's where we all went today. all of the kids had a blast. max and beckam loved riding in the big truck that moves up and down and side to side. mackenzie and mason combined their tokens/tickets (that's so mackenzie). and madison's favorite... the skee-ball.

  

8. sunday i threw out all of the christmas goodies. cookies, candy, moose munch, spinach dip and everything else that i stuffed myself with the night before so i wouldn't have to waste very much. later, i opened up the freezer, and there's a bag of mini snickers and a bag of peppermint patties. i figured it was better to just save those... in case of an emergency, you know. 

9. another good reason to have a boy... you can buy him the little shaving kit for the bath.

 

after his dad showed him how to do it, he took several swipes all by himself. and he took the whole shaving foam soap off of his face with a squishy razor... very seriously. i think he even got some soap in his mouth, but he didn't let it bother him.

and while we're on the subject of bathroom-going-ons...

10. darric was taking a shower the other day and had the bathroom door locked (like usual). max knocked on the door. i let him know that his dad was in the shower. he knocks again and tries to yell to his dad "i won't laugh at your naked."

December 29, 2008

laundry room

max had my camera and snapped a picture while i was working on the laundry. see... i enjoy doing laundry. haha

we must've been nice

let's see...

 

madison got...
from santa:

• baby care center

in her stocking:

• bath & body works foam soap and lotion
• high school musical brush
• horton hears a who
• life savers gummies
• fingernail polish
• avon chapstick and bath paint
• plate, bowl and cup

from mom & dad:

• black boots
• light sketcher
• barbie cash register
• generations doll
• hangman game board
• 2 pairs jeans and a skirt
• 2 shirts and a pair of tights

from everyone else:

• fancy nightie
• wii pom poms
• cadoo game (for her and mackenzie)
• pillow and two pairs of pjs (one pair with her name on them)
• clothes for webkins
• 3 new webkins
• a charm necklace (the charm's coming)
• $10
• books

 

mackenzie got...
from santa:

• rockband

in her stocking:

• jonas brothers cd
• bath & body works foam soap and lotion
• avon chapstick and bath paint
• lifesavers gummies
• fingernail polish
• plate, bowl and cup

from mom & dad:

• mall madness game
• guiness book of world records
• generations doll
• high school musical barbie dolls
• 2 shirts and 2 pairs of jeans
• brown boots (she wanted uggs - they were close enough)

from everyone else:

• fancy nightie
• cadoo game (for her and madison)
• we cheer wii game
• pillow and 2 pairs of pjs (one pair with her name on them)
• clothes for webkins
• littlest pet shop pet store
• a bunch of littlest pet shop pets
• $10
• books

 

max got...
from santa:

• walking talking lightning mcqueen
• and banshee (he eats the mini cars)

in his stocking:

• cars book
• lifesavers gummies
• little etch-a-sketch
• crayons
• plate, bowl and cup

from mom & dad:

• my first skates
• baking set (darric had one when he was little)
• hungry, hungry hippos
• mickey mouse clubhouse camera
• pixar "action figures"
• kung fu panda sword
• cars minis (that get picked up by banshee)
• unders and boxer briefs
• mini g.i. joe guys
• batman bath stuff (the shaver)
• cars puzzle
• pair of black converse 
• inflatable football target guy

from everyone else:

• walking dinosaur
• buzz lightyear slippers
• ben ten watch
• ben ten action figure
• pjs
• towel (with his name on it) and washcloth
• giant helicopter
• shotgun (with bullets that pop out when it opens)
• $10
• books
• rc car

darric got...
in his stocking:

• axe body wash
• axe scrubber
• kanye west cd

from me:

• how to cook everything vegetarian cookbook
• beer mugs
• his gun (which he opened a long time ago)
• fishing game for the wii
• unders and t-shirts

from everyone else:

• air tool kit
• beef jerky
• ticket to unlv/byu game
• and gift card for outback steakhouse
• (all the guys got that from my mom)

i got...
in my stocking:

• beyonce cd
• the women movie
• screamfree parenting book
• bath & body works lip stuff

from darric and the kids:

• bedspread, sheets, bedskirt, pillow shams
• bras and unders

from everyone else:

• 12-cup food processor
• under the counter radio/cd player
• t.i cd

family gifts...

• family game night for wii
• and wii controller chargers

 

let's not forget

• on christmas eve this year we went to the sedillo's
• we had mexican food
• we worried about chris when we heard he was in an accident, but were happy when he showed up later just a little bruised and sore
• the kids performed a talent show for us
• then some of the adults joined in: jen did the splits, grandma started a headstand and i did a couple tap steps for my dad
• we watched a couple of their old home movies
• then headed home to put the kids to bed
• i cut out the jello jigglers, then made pw's candy cookies and a chocolate trifle
• while darric was locked in the bedroom putting together a gift
• we went to sleep at about one in the morning

• the girls knew the rules about waiting until six before we could see what santa brought
• they thought they would try coming in a little early, but got denied
• at six o'clock, they went and got max up and we all went out into the front room

  

    

• santa brought max the walking, talking lightning mcqueen and banshee (from cars)
• he brought madison a baby care center
• and mackenzie got rockband (max said "see, i told you we bought you rockband")
• this year, instead of writing the kids' names on their presents, they each got a reindeer name (so they had no idea which ones were theirs until this morning)

 

• i got darric a couple gifts he wasn't expecting
• and he and the kids were nice enough to get me a new bedspread set and unders
• we were supposed to be to grandma & grandpa's by eight, but we were a little late
• we had breakfast first this year
• it was yummy... french toast, waffles, biscuits & gravy, bacon (all of which i ate) and there was sausage and eggs too

 

• and then the moment the kids were waiting for... again... more presents
• but not too many more, we cut back this year

 
 
  

• each of the girls got a new fancy nightie

 

• we stopped for a diet coke (for me)
• and came home to start cooking for the carter side get-together
• i made a veggie tray, fruit tray, stuffed mushrooms, funeral potatoes, spinach dip and chili dip
• dani and bill brought a meat and cheese tray and rolls
• (because, unfortunately, jude's oven broke while her rolls were cooking) :(
• the kids opened their gift exchange gifts

 
 
 

• when the kids were done... the adults had their favorite's basket exchange
• we played it just like the white elephant
• i think it went well

 

• mackenzie had been preparing for a talent show for weeks now
• she sent everyone text messages to find out their talents
• and had the introductions all ready
• not everyone performed a talent, but those that did were amazing :)
• the adults played partini afterwards

 
 

• and i am happy to say, i was on the winning team
• thanks to my teammates, bill and dani!!
• by 7:30 (it felt like 9:30) everyone was heading home
• i went and helped mackenzie and madi put together the mall madness game
• and by the time we were done with that, we were ready for bed

December 27, 2008

living room

there's something about see's suckers. they help put this boy to sleep.

december 26, 2008

at approximately 7:30 this morning

several shots were heard

as darric and i were lying in bed.

shortly after,

we heard yelling from a ten year old girl...

   

"MAX! STOP SHOOTING YOUR GUN AT MY LITTLEST PET SHOP!!"

tonight's the big night

so far this week we have...

• gone to target three times (with all three kids)
• spent too much time in barnes and nobles (the kids had money and wanted to find themselves something - they say, "you bought yourself something for christmas")
• drove through the starbucks drive-thru for drinks and gift cards
• eaten way too many treats
• walked our freezing butts through the winding ethel m lights with grandma and grandpa, jen and her kids, jodie and her kids and teara. max thought it was "awesome." i'm just glad it was free.

 

• had jacob spend the night
• got max's fingers slammed in the bedroom door and it almost broke my heart - he kept saying "mom, it hurts so bad." (we're not exactly sure who did it, they were all playing around)
• grocery shopped at the super wal-mart at eight in the morning with madi and max - we left kenzie and jacob at home
• taken all four of these kids to costco for a few more groceries (we were there ten minutes before it opened and the line outside was like the lines at disneyland, not too bad once we got inside)
• dropped jacob off to his mom at the mall
• bought the kids mcdonalds for lunch
• received a box of goodies from harry & david. the kids and i are trying to not be total pigs. and darric is just staying away from it all. :) thanks guys!!
• cuddled up into our bed last night to watch the grinch who stole christmas. ten minutes in, half our crew was out
• moved while sleeping and knocked max off the edge of our bed. he hit his nose on my nightstand on the way down and cried just a little bit. (he's supposed to get in between me and darric) 
• cleaned the house and got caught back up with the laundry
• all the presents wrapped and our favorite's baskets filled

now i need to shower (yes, it's 11:00) and make a 7-layer dip for tonight. the kids will continue watching christmas shows and skating around the house. who knows, maybe we'll even make some more pretzel hugs. hopefully darric gets home early and doesn't have to run any calls in the next couple days. (fingers crossed)

hope everyone has a very merry christmas!!
 

the gift & this year's x-mas card

my aunt sandy gave me, my mom and sisters each a little gift on our baking day. she said when she saw these it brought back one of her favorite memories. this is how i remember it...

probably 20 years ago... at the old las vegas high school... our families were sitting in their seats in the large auditorium. as debbie gibson's "we could be together" started to play, jennifer came out and did her solo part of the dance. then she danced right over to the side of the stage where i followed her back out. we did a little bit of dancing together. ending up on the side of the stage where we picked up our little sister. :) and us three girls danced. and just when everyone thought we were all out... we went and picked up our cute little curly haired cousin, calie.

the dance practices leading up to this performance were not very much fun (for the three sisters anyways). and we had to touch each other too. but as grown ups big girls, we can look back and see that it was all worth it.

and now that we have our little tap dancing christmas characters, we can always be reminded of this dance that brought our parents and grandparents to tears. (and it wasn't just because the recitals were two entire hours long)

 

i got the reindeer and there was also a snowman, santa and elf. each of them does a little dance on it's own and when you hook them all up to each other, they dance together. they are so stinkin' cute. thanks again aunt sandy. :)

* * * * * * * * *

and this year's card...

 

thanks again to jen for taking our pics.

oh... goodies

saturday was our annual family baking day.

this year we had grandma dee, mom, sandy, calie, jennifer, jodie, me, kenzie, madison, max, mason, grace and quincy to help with the baking.

before we got started... my aunt sandy gave us each a little gift. (i will share a picture and the reason for the gift in my next post. then i can make sure to get all the details - let's just say it made us all tear up... again)

the candy cane kiss unwrapper-ers came in shifts. they had the rule that if one fell on the floor they had to eat it. the second shift must have dropped a lot, because they always had something in their mouths.

 
 

we made the gingerbread dough at home and after it chilled in the fridge at jen's for a little while, we cut them out, baked them and let the little kids decorate them.

   

the taste testers...

 

this year the goodies included:

• gingerbread cookies (me & the kids)
• snowballs (jodie)
• grandma dee's rocky road (me, jodie & grandma - we now have the recipe for this)
• no-bake cookies (sandy & grandma)
• coconut macaroons (mom & kenzie)
• cinnamon & sugar almonds (mom & kenzie)
• sugar cookies (mom with a little help from the kids)
• bundt-cake-sized rice krispy treats (calie & sandy)
• pretzel hugs (jen & the kids)
• fudge - with nuts (mom)
• popcorn balls (steve sent them. thanks steve!)
  
         

for lunch, jen made us chicken salad croissant sandwiches and three different cheeseballs (one was a dessert).

it was another successful baking day. we filled two boxes full of yummy goodies and when we got home, we delivered one to the guys next door.

2 days later and 6 days left

two days later and we still have patches of snow all throughout our neighborhood. there's one eighth of our backyard that's covered in snow and yesterday the kids emptied the cooler to play with the snow they packed up. they had a little snack too. when i walked out back, they were each holding a snowball that they were taking bites out of. they spit it back out when i reminded them of the bugs that had been floating in the bottom of the cooler. :)

       
(photos from thursday afternoon - snow day)

* * * * * * * * * *

with 6 days leftuntil christmas... i can proudly say "i'm done buying gifts for everyone on my list." but that doesn't mean i'm done shopping. i can always find another excuse to go shopping. but it's only fun late at night, when there's hardly any crowds, like last night.

jodie and i went on a 5.5 hour, kid-free shopping spree. starting at 6:30pm. i had dinner all ready and as soon as darric got home from the gym, i was off.

our schedule went as follows:

• costco
• joanns
• starbucks (for hot chocolates and gift cards)
• target (we ran into mom and dad here)
• toys r us (got some killer deals here)
• wal-mart (including a little break for cokes and fries at mcd's)

i got home at midnight and stayed up until 1:00 wrapping presents. that's late for me. and this morning i was up at 5:44 am. the girls went back to school, bearing gifts for their teachers. (starbucks cards and a box of chocolate dipped peppermint sticks) and max and i headed to target. i found a gift i couldn't find last night, so then i returned the other gift i got in place of that one to walmart. 

came home and made some more pretzel hugs to take to madison's class party.

at 1:00 pm... max and i went to the school for the class party. when we arrived, all the students were just finishing up a sing-a-long in the multi-purpose room. then we followed the line of second graders into the class room where the kids participated in three different activities... making gingerbread picture frames with anaii and her mom (they even had photos of all the kids), making edible driedels (with the teacher) and making fudgy buddies (the chocolately peanut butter chex mix) with autumn.