Making a List

Start using new camera: Check

Ears Pierced: Check

The girls have been begging for years and I had always said when they were 8. Well I caved because I originally said it could be their Christmas present but we didn't get it done in time for them to change out their earrings for Christmas. They were really scared but wanted earring bad enough that they wouldn't back out. They fought over who would go first. Kelsey even offered to pay Macy a dollar if she went first. I intervened and Macy volunteered to go first. She didn't cry but you could see the pain in her eyes. She is so stubborn that she will tell you it didn't hurt a bit. Kelsey had tears streaming down her face immediately after but no balling, maybe a few sniffles. We did this last Saturday.

 Gingerbread houses: Check
After 2 days we finally ran out of icing. I made the dough on Thursday. I rolled it out and baked it on Friday morning. After lunch I put them together. At 3 they went to town decorating and didn't stop until 5:40 when we left for dinner at the Gateway and movie at the Planetarium. They woke up this morning and said they weren't finished so it was back to work until the frosting was all gone.

 Mom's handy work. It is Santa's car (see him inside) when he isn't driving a sleigh. I had worked on Kelsey's house so Macy was mad and wanted some of my skill.

 More of my work. Braden wanted a train (his has the boy going for a ride) so then Kelsey wanted a train.

 Braden's house with the Santa's standing as sentinals.

 Kelsey's house. I made both of the girls a little large.

 The front door of Kelsey's.

 Macy's house. It has a marshmellow snow fort with a Santa throwing snowballs at the gingergirl sledder, more of my work. The kids actually did 95% of the decorating. I just didn't have my own house.

 The front door of Macy's.

 Put up Grandma Bonnie's Christmas Tree: Check

Kelsey's Birthday...

Was well over a month ago and I have wasted the little time I spend on the computer doing other things such as researching Christmas gifts. When I went to catch up I saw I missed documenting this precious little munchkin's birthday.

She had a grand week which started with getting the birthday pillowcase on her pillow. She got to go shopping with Grandma Carol one day and Grandma Wendy and Grandpa DeVon on another. I can't even remember what she picked out. From her family she received Mario Kart, a jumbo (ginormous) pillow pet (because we didn't have enough), and from Macy the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine. Braden thinks the Mystery Machine is his and has played with it more than her because he loves it so much.

This year we let her have another party because she was finally in an area long enough to have friends that lived nearby. We were able to move on from the Scooby Doo theme and she had a Teddy Bear Tea Party. She invited Jensen, Annie, Iris, Adyson, Kristina, Lauren and Macy. She got a ton more pillow pets, at least they were the baby ones. If anyone is keeping track of our families total, we have 1 jumbo, 7 regular and 4 pee wees. And Braden is still sleeping on 3 regular pillow pets.

I love my sweet Kelsey. I love to hear here giggle and play with Braden. She can be easygoing and lets most things slide. She lost 2 more teeth the same week and I even love her current goofy grin. The second tooth was hanging on by a thread until Macy's head knocked it out. I love that you wear skirts everyday. I hat that you have a drawer full of pants I bought you because you finally started wearing shorts this past summer. Love you babe.

Denver and Halloween

Did you know that "wx" is outside not "yz"? That is what Braden told me the other day. Just a tidbit of how cute that boy can be. But don't let him fool you. There are many days I am ready to rip my hair out. It is usually those days I have a lot to do and someone has decided napping is for the birds and that he should be up before the birds.

Anyways life has been continuing to move for us. Went to Denver over fall break to see my sister. We had a lot of fun and we have a lot more pictures and details than what is below but I will have to pray my memory will keep when I want to remember more about it in the future.

 Denver's State Capitol building and the 2 "one mile above sea level" markers. They had to make a second mark when they used GPS technology instead of the old by hand method. I guess you pick which one is right. Braden also is wearing his favorite coat (a handme down from a neighbor). That coat was a nightmare for pictures because of the reflective strips. He hardly ever took it off.

 Stopped by the Museum of Nature and Science and they have some neat, fun exhibits.

 The theme of this trip could have been trains. We saw lots and lots of trains which made one little boy really happy. The girls seemed to enjoy it to. This train was in Idaho Springs. We saw one in Eagle, CO and also in one in Spanish Fork Canyon.

 Star Fleet Academy, aka the Air Force Academy chapel in Colorado Springs.

 Cave exploring near Manitu Springs.

Saving mom from being crushed by Balancing Rock in the Garden of the Gods.  All in all a good trip.

So you want more (maybe not but it saves me an extra post). Here is Halloween fun.

 Free Scary face pancakes.

 Sharpay and Gabriella. The wigs lasted a whole 5 minutes. Macy's actually lasted longer amd she even wore hers for the school parade. Kelsey's got some use when I wore it to a neighborhood party.

Wanting to be like his sisters. How do you like Scooby sitting over his shoulder?

Multiplicity

I finally did it. I bought 20 lbs of chocolate to dip stuff in this Christmas. It was a huge expense so I better put it to good use. I have always wanted to try coating my caramels in chocolate. On Saturday while at a candy store in Springdale I was reminded of my dream. Then my dream led to visions of dipping other things like graham crackers, Ritz crackers and fudge (oh my!). So today I wiped up the continuous drool since Saturday and bought myself some chocolate as incentive to fulfill my dreams. I cross my fingers that time will be on my side this holiday season. I also hope that I hid the chocolate well enough that it is still there by then.

You may ask why 20 lbs. Well I like looovvve dark chocolate and Brian only eats it under extreme circumstances (that is when there is nothing sweet in the house for a couple of days). So I needed dark and milk chocolate to save my marriage. Well only the 10 lbs packages were on sale at the candy supply place so I purchased one of each to save money, not my rear end mind you.

After this purchase while driving home I got to thinking. I have way too many things I want to do or like to do. My bucket list might require me living until I am 150 (while maintaining perfect health) and coming into a whole butt load of money. Then I thought if there were a couple more of me's I could enjoy almost everything I want to right now, kind of like the movie Multiplicity with Micheal Keaton. There could be a me that would learn to make beautiful cakes with yummy fondant (yes I love fondant so get over it). There would be a me that would learn to sew everything I want. Someone to cook wonderful new meals, breads and desserts. Someone that would take painting classes. Someone else to go to the gym for all of us. Someone to play with the kids, read all the books on my 10 mile list, design and plant the most beautiful yard including a magnificent vegetable garden, and finally someone can and keep up on my food storage. There would be a traveling me to go all over and anywhere. I think I would also need someone to work outside the home because I know I would enjoy that too. And someone to take all the college classes I think sound interesting. After that line of thinking a wrench was thrown into my thoughts. Would the central me be able to experience the pleasure, learning, hard work and satisfaction that all the other me's would feel accomplishing their topic? Deep, I know. So I guess I will keep being the one and only me. Maybe I will get to them all eventually by changing hobbies every year. Maybe I should a bucket list post one day so I don't forget about all things I want to do.

Kelsey's Wish List

1. a real dog
2. a real gerbil
3. IPod touch, no the big one (aka an IPad)
4. a phone (Hannah on the bus supposedly has one)
5. a real working camera
6. an airplane that flies in the air that has a basket that can pick things up like popcorn (she says she saw it on a commercial)

Does anyone else see a problem with this list for a 6 year old? What am I to do?

I Never Said They Were Normal, Just Cute

I am sure my kids are normal in a kid normal way. But have you ever tried sleeping on 3 pillow pets night after night? It hurts my back just watching Braden climb up on them each nap time and bedtime. Some times they are closer together and other times they are farther apart. I really cringe when the pets are further apart and his body is contorted and concave. As long as he sleeps, right?

And by the way, I never realized "farther" and "further" until I typed these two words so close together. Spellcheck didn't catch one as wrong. So what is the difference and what is correct? I looked them up. I don't see a definition difference. So English majors is there a proper way to use these words or is it your own preference?

I never said I was normal either. Since I produced such cute kids then I must be cute too.

One more comment out of the blue. Mainly because the little man just came in and asked if we are going to get in the car and get bamatoes. He then told me he doesn't like bamatoes. And he doesn't. Do you have bamatoes at your house? They might also be called tomatoes.

The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round

This momma at home says hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray, hip hip hooray. All day long.

I love my kids but I am happy when they get to go to school. Don't get me wrong I am sad because my play time is over too. But I am also a get-it-done type of person and that doesn't seem to happen as much when everyone is around. I also get excited for the knowledge my kids get to learn. I love to hear Macy read and see her accomplish math problems. I love to see Kelsey grow in courage and point out her letters. I was elated when last year she was able to point out the word "in" as we read. As Kelsey and I walked down the school hall to meet her teacher I was overcome with joy and excitement to know that my girls will get an education and that my girls are growing up. I absolutely love it. I am so grateful to live in the "land of the free".

I do admit I hate helping them with homework. It gets in the way of my to-do list or our play time. I do my best to teach them good habits even if I am groaning with them.

 Macy's first day was a week before Kelsey's. She is my big 2nd grader.

 Waiting at the bus stop. I am also grateful for buses. It gives me an extra 40 minutes a day and saves me gas. It also saves me and the kids the embarrassment of bed head in the drop off lane.

 Kelsey's is my little kindergartner. She has really changed in two years. I was a little worried that she would get nervous and not want to go. She used to be a little shy and more of a home body. There was a time when we first moved up when she wouldn't go to her primary class (however a couple of weeks ago she made grandma stay with her in class when they slept over and went to church with grandma). Not any more. She couldn't wait for the bus to come. I followed the bus to school but there was probably no need. She didn't even look back to say good bye and if I hadn't yelled it first she wouldn't have said anything. Come to think of it she never even gave me a hug. That is my big girl. Now my problem is she doesn't understand why she can't go in the morning with Macy. She wants to go all day.

 Walking to the bus stop with her best friend, her best friend's dad, and her best friend's little sister.

Of course Braden would not let me forget him. Here he is with his trucks. He loves his trucks. He made me take a picture of him every time I took one of Kelsey.