The Nativity

We took our kids to the Annual Nativity (Creche Festival). It's been a few years since we've visited. It always reminds me of all the nativity displays we had at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor Center. I always miss my fellow missionary sisters & couples this time of year.

Student of the Month

We are proud of James for his dedication to his school work. His teacher had very kind things to say at Parent/Teacher Conference. He makes life easier on his mom because he is so responsible.

I made it through the pouring rain, across the puddles, and NOT under an umbrella like Jessica just in time to miss the award presentation. I was able to get a picture of him with the school banner. Luckily his dad had gone early and was there to witness the event.

Give Thanks for Family Time

Since the kids were out of school for Thanksgiving and since we will not be traveling for Christmas, we decided to plan a little family trip in November. Jon has traveled a bunch this year and saved up his points at the Marriott, so we were able to reserve a hotel without a lot of cash. We stayed in Buena Park and commuted in to Disneyland. Our season passes expire soon & I love the park decked out for Christmas.

The kids enjoyed just being at a hotel (Jessica started to cry when we returned & drove up our street because she wanted to live at the hotel). They like the breakfast with lots of choices, the pool, & the sport court.

We rode rides, visited Santa, ate out, watched fireworks, played board games & video games, and went to bed early.

Our last day we went to the LA Zoo. The gorillas have FINALLY returned after 4 years. Then we got stuck in Thanksgiving traffic and sat on the freeway for a couple of hours. Overall, it was a nice mini getaway.

Princesses Don't Wear Bows

James LOVES to read. He reads in between class assignments, during recess, and before bed each night. It's great when he gets involved in a series because then I know of another 20 books he can read. He's read the majority of the Baily School Kids by Debbie Dadey & Marcia Thornton Jones. They have the same type of catchy titles like: "Mummies Don't Coach Softball," "Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots," & "Goblins Don't Play Video Games." He recently found a couple titles in the Bookmobile that he hadn't read yet and was rather excited.

Jessica has decided that she doesn't like wearing hair clips or ponytail holders. She came to me a couple weeks ago and said, "Princesses don't wear bows." I think it makes a good title for a future book. We've purchased extra detangling spray and leave in conditioner to help with the "tangle monsters" that live under her long locks. Her hair actually is very pretty when it is long and smooth. I wanted to snap a picture before it turned into it's usually ratty state.

These are the days

Nothing exciting today. The day was still full, busy, and exhausting, but more of a filler day. Aren't most days more like this one?

My morning started with Jessica screaming outside my bedroom door around 6:35 a.m. Groggy-eyed I walked out to see what the trouble was. She started shoving me back into my bedroom and slammed my door. I dragged her to her room and threatened to tuck her inside until she could stop screaming. She decided to let me re-dress her in Belle pajamas and bring her to my room to cuddle. Thankfully and unpredictably she fell back to sleep. I pushed the snooze three times.

Next job - get the boys to school. I signed logs, did backpack checks, read Jacob's book to him so he'd be prepared for the test, had prayers, and then loaded the minivan. Boys actually made it to school early.

Jessica still slumbers in my bed. I lie back down with her for a few minutes before showering. I can't eat - I'm supposed to fast for my glucose test. Why did Jessica choose today to sleep in? Why did Jon decide to make french toast? It smells delicious! I'm hungry.

Eventually Jessica gets up and snail-like she cooperates to get ready to go to the lab. Oh the waiting!!! Wait to get signed in and insurance info taken. Wait to be called back for blood draw. Drink orange flavored glucose (how is THAT helping my weight gain). Wait another hour with toddler before next blood draw. Boring morning!!!

Get treats for being good. Run to Target to get pants for son who has "nothing to wear." Stop by grocery store to get milk & legumes. Time to pick up kids from school.

Start homework. Remind kids to clean up messes. Deal with headache. Change another diaper (for a child who SHOULD be potty trained). Ignore fighting. Switch laundry. Remain calm through 30 minute three-year-old irrational tantrum. Leave late for Parent/Teacher Conference.

Visit with teachers - beam with pride. Discover book fair ended already. Have son hate me because it's all my fault we missed the book fair. Hug son and make plans to visit book fair tomorrow. Make dinner that kids will complain about later. Make Jacob read aloud in the kitchen. Sign school paperwork. Send boys to soccer practice with dad. Enjoy my dinner in peace. Pick up books, toys, laundry, and yogurt cups. Sweep up grated cheese. Blog a little.

Make the alternate dinner so boys don't starve. Try to ignore headache. Try to talk to husband about teacher's remarks. Think about how nice it will be when kids are asleep. Remember to watch "Hairspray" since it needs to be returned before midnight tonight. Wonder if I've taken headache medicine yet. Nobody should start their day by drinking concentrated dextrose.

Gotta go get those kids in bed. They should be sleeping by now.

Behold

Remember how I told you that I sang on Victoria Loveland's new CD - "One Truth - He Lives." You can now purchase the album or individual tracks on iTunes. I sing "Behold," but if you'd rather sing it yourself you can also purchase the instrumental version :)

Click HERE to go to iTunes

Are You Sick of Princess Photos Yet?

I'm not thrilled with the quality of the mini slide show online, so I'm posting a few princess snapshots.

When I got the mailing from the El Capitan Theatre, I knew I wanted to go to the princess experience. I was happy that I had a daughter to take. I offered the idea to my sister. They were planning a family trip to California as a surprise for my niece's 7th birthday. We did this on Saturday and then they bought Disney Hopper tickets for Mon & Tues. We were able to meet up Tuesday evening for rides, Christmas parade, & fireworks. We miss them already.

Enchanting Experience

My sister & family came to stay with us for the weekend. We left the men and boys home and took off as sisters & cousins for the perfect princess experience. We traveled to Hollywood and had the El Capitan Theatre's royal experience. We saw the movie Enchanted and then enjoyed a couple hours in the princess ballroom mingling with our favorites. The girls selected gowns from the bureau and were crowned for their photos. They visited the Enchanted Make-Up booth and were all dolled up with glitter and glowing cheeks. They made crowns, jumped in the bounce house, and danced with the princesses. I had SO much fun with the girls!!!

The video features photos of day. It runs just over 3 minutes. ENJOY!!!

Turkey Day

In all 9 years that we've been in California, we've only gone to Utah to be with family once. It was a wonderful memory because it was the last time that Grandma & Grandpa had the extended family feast at LuAyne Heights. But it was a travel disaster for us because of Vegas traffic on the way home (it took 6 1/2 hours from Vegas instead of 3 1/4 hours - that's HUGE with screaming boys in the car).

We've decided that CA weather is perfect over Thanksgiving with clear skies and cool air - why leave? We've gone to the LA zoo several times on Thanksgiving Day and enjoyed the Christmas lights in Griffith Park.

But for the last 3 years we've been invited to be part of the Jonas Family Tradition. It's been nice to have turkey dinner with lots of family - even if they aren't our own. This year I got an easy food assignment, which I immediately made more complicated but cute if I say so myself. I bought the apple pie & ice cream which was all I was asked to bring. But I didn't stop there. I altered Adri's recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies subbing in half the flour with home ground soft white wheat. The turkey sugar cookies were inspired by the coupon section of the paper - not my original idea.

Projects

My ought-to-do list is ever so lengthy. It still includes unchecked projects like: clear the scrapbook stacks off of the office desk, downsize my unused craft supplies, dust on a regular basis, clean laundry room, put folded clothes away, call the dentist and straighten out the bill, & get Christmas cards designed, printed, and sent - just to name a few.

But I must say that I'm pleased with a few projects that I have completed recently. I've purged all the closets and baby clothes boxes and donated a loot to the DI - still there are clothes all over the closet floors and piling up in my laundry room. I borrowed a friends sewing machine for about 10 days. I sewed curtains for the family room, made James' Halloween costume, & crafted two tote bags. I haven't sewn in nearly 10 years. It was actually quite relaxing. I selected drapery rods and fabric for the front room and now we have a warm welcoming entry - new curtains and new furniture. Eventually I will have pictures, but that is another project on the ought-to-do list.