So Elf'n Funny!!!

We got Elfed Too!!!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1140517903

Hey Ho

Fun Times. Today was early release which normally I hate but today wasn't too bad. I just hate the schedule being off and they still give homework. Today Cade had a recital at the State Capitol so I had to ditch all my duties (Sorry, Jill, I'll make it up!:)and it was good that I got to go because it was almost the same stuff that they did last week at the one I missed, except he and my dad didn't sing, but I can hear that anytime. It was cute one guy who obviously worked there thanked Cade for "livening up the normally dead silent Capitol building". Cade and I also took a mini tour of the museum, it was quite interesting. There was a bunch of treasure (like silver plates, goblets, etc) that was retrieved from the USS Arizona, and some cool things. It was a fun little Mom/Cade time out. Then on the way home I realized that we were one of the few schools on half day and I hadn't been to the NEW outdoor mall, so I fed the kids and took them over to see Santa at the NEW mall. It was perfect, there was NO LINE, Santa looked pretty bored. I have been having major camera issues (sorry, mom!!!!! I'ts still under Kodak warranty so hopefully Target will help me out!) and in my final frustration (after missing any pics of Cade playing at the Capitol, then the Santa experience) I broke down and bought a damn 15 dollar crappy picture of the kids with Santa. Its too frustrating to rehash it, but lets just say I went to heroic efforts to take pictures of all of this important once in a lifetime stuff (like most likely Cades last Santa pic) to little avail. Not only that, but with the overcast day the lighting was PERFECT for some awesome shots. And I have only a few random ones.






I have to post this picture, it is so freakin funny. Cooper is soooo obedient, he is forcing his entire face to smile! LOL and Yes, it was overcast but it was still like 70 degrees, but they insisted on wearing gloves, and Dayton had been wearing his beanie all day, the little nerd! Nice hat hair LOL!!! Ahhhhh, I love the little scrubs.


The other morning the kids were assigning themselves (and each other) peanuts characters. It was cracking me up. Cade is Shroeder (DUH) Cooper volunteered to be Linus (perfect!!) Sadie is Sally of course, Wyatt is Pigpen, and Dayton is Woodstock. I just love these little pooters!!!

In full swing!!

Even though it isn't even that close to December yet, Its the holidays for sure! Tomorrow I am planning on getting the main shopping DONE for the kiddos. Mark actually has the day off tomorrow (knock on wood) so we are going to go while Dayton is at school. FUN! Then I have to get the tree finished (ahem...started). Hey, at least I have all the other stuff up already. I was so excited to find a bunch of lights that I forgot about in my light bucket so mabye I'll even get the house done. Different lights this year, YAY! Then the big debate...picture in the cards, or no picture?? I like a picture, but that involves more so I haven't decided.

Tonight we took the kids to see Bee Movie. It was good, lots of funny parts. Well, of course, its Jerry! The funniest man alive! Well, mabye not, but top 5 for sure. On Friday we saw Enchanted, I really loved it, SUCH a girl movie. Cade and his friend hated it of course, but they are stinky boys, so who cares :D I'll be getting that one on DVD for sure.

On Saturday My friend Kristi and I took the older kids (Wyatt and Dayton went to grandmas) and we hiked Camelback mountain, the Echo canyon trail. It was the most gorgeous day, but man that is a tough climb. Kristi and the girls wimped on me about 1/4 of the way through, so I took the boys all the way up. I have pics but my camera cord is not working I think so its not leting me get the pics off my camera. I have SO many pics, from the hike and Thanksgiving that I'd like to put on, dang cord!! Anyway, it is very high, I think it goes to 1,200 feet or something. You can see the entire valley, it is breathtaking! Its a 1.25 mile climb up there, it took us about an hour or more to get up. That was strenuous, but the climb down about killed my poor old lady knees! They are still stiff and swollen!! I'm sure I burned over 1,000 calories, it was very tough and I was breathing deep almost the whole way up and back. I like taking the kids to do that stuff though, its so good for them. I am really going to have to get in shape to keep up though, Cade and his friend beat me to the top by like 20 minutes!! LOL Well, I was helping the littler guys, but still. The big boys were like a couple of goats, it was so funny. It was a really nice weekend!

Uhhhhhhhhh...........

For all family members reading this (Bri;) What goes on the blog, stays on the blog!!





So Tired. So Tired. Every year the same. Does anyone understand what putting a Thanksgiving dinner for 21 people together ALL ALONE and then cleaning it up ALL ALONE is like????? I have to say, Marks mom was the only help I had. She did one of the turkeys and helped with dishes. My dad carved. My mom made gravy. Thats it. Every year I seriously doubt whether this torture is worth it. Technically it wasn't even pot luck, because the stuff people were supposed to bring (except my MIL's turkey) they bailed on and either just didnt bring it or called and asked me to just "get it" for them. They day itself was nice. My tables looked good, my house looked good, the food was great, everyone loved it, we watched football, lalala it was all pretty much perfect. Its in the evening when everyone leaves that it sinks in, I get really tired, then crabby, then pissed, etc. Then Mark gets mad because "dont' do it anymore if it sucks so bad, just stop doing everything" when I'd rather he didn't give me advice like that, it dosen't help after the fact, because every year it seems like it will be different and then I end up in the same situation. Seriously, look up the blog archives for the last 2 Thanksgivings, its quite pathetic! waaa waaa, right??


BUT THEN...............I have to just shut up because seriously, what the heck am I complaining about??? I just gorged myself and 20 other people on a delicious, top of the line feast, washed all my dishes that I own with top of the line dish soap in my dishwasher, plopped on comfy, clean-ish couches in front of a new (inexpensive, yet sufficient) flat screen TV, Sent my hubby off to a secure job that supports us and allows me to be a stay at home mom, Tucked my healthy children into their own individual warm beds, now I am going to go drink a ginormous glass of cold filtered water and snuggle in my own amazingly comfy bed and watch whatever the heck I want until I fall asleep. Everyone had a great time today, My cousin who has been banned from his own home/family activities for heinous drunken behavior( which he has also displayed at my house at past family gatherings..yikes) he was able to come today (sober, thank goodness) and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with family, and I could tell he appreciated us having enough courage to have him over so he wouldn't be alone today. My uncle Paul was brought from the nursing home that he may or may not live another year in, and although he is a miserable crab I think he enjoyed it,so that was good.
It hit me tonight when I was saying prayers with the kids, that there are a lot of people out there tonight in need (hopefully less tonight that normal, but they are out there, kids included)and I should be pretty ashamed if someone like me is having a pity party. Was it worth all the work?? Mabye not to me personally, but I don't celebrate Thanksgiving for me, I like it because it is the calm before the Christmas storm, I have as much family around as possible, and it helps us all (especially the kids) take a minute and be grateful to our Heavenly Father for the ENORMOUSLY blessed life we all have.

So I guess what I'm saying is that if all I have to complain about that I had to work too hard, I need my head examined. And next Saturday, we are having Turkey day #2 at my parents, and you know what they say.....turnabout is fair play. :D