Sephora

There’s an old saying that goes something like this…

Use it up, wear it out.

Make it do or do without.

I am pretty much the poster child for this saying.  Maybe not so much because that’s how I would choose to have things go.  It’s more so the fact that I have to live that way.  If you don’t have money, you can’t afford new things, right?  Well, that’s us. 

My wardrobe consists mostly of things that other people have bought for me or passed down to me.  I can’t really tell you what my style is because I don’t think I really have one.  It’s been years since I’ve been able to shop for myself.  My sister took me out for my birthday last year and bought me a few new outfits.  That was fun.  But seriously, I had no clue what to buy! 

Make up is another that I just do the best I can with what I have.  I hardly ever buy make up.  All that I have (or had) was at least 3 years old.  Some of it was much, much older.  Even the mascara… Scary, I know!  My make-up bag was pretty scary.

But Anthony surprised me with a gift card to Sephora for Christmas and proudly announced that it also came with a makeover!! 

I figured he was trying to tell me something though he swears that wasn’t the intent.  Hmm…

Leading up to Christmas, my sister kept telling me that she wanted to come with me… referring to Anthony’s gift.  For the life of me I couldn’t figure out what she was talking about.  Anthony had called her to find out the best place to get make-up.  He knows me well enough that a gift card to Target (for make-up) would end up being spent on other things… necessities!  Probably diapers or toilet paper. ;)  True story.

So New Year’s Day my sister, my mom, K, and I (and the baby) went to Sephora.

It was slightly overwhelming.  If you know me at all, you know that I don’t do well with choices.  Just give me two… maybe three things to choose from, MAX!  Beyond that I get anxiety.  Who am I kidding?  Sometimes just the two choices gives me hives!

But a cute girl that worked there approached us and helped us out.  My sister stayed right with me the whole time despite my telling her there was no need.  I wasn’t a princess.  But she assured me that I was that day.  And I found some fun things to buy after my makeover.

 

I couldn’t believe how much things were!  My mom and sister asked if I would ever go back to buy my make up.  I told them probably not.  However, I have changed my tune!  Kortney will be happy to hear it. 

After checking prices at the supermarket and Target I realize that these things are not THAT much more but the quality is far superior to anything I’ve ever used. 

Here’s a rundown of the things I bought and why I really like them. 

• Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm – I love that I can apply with just my fingers.  No applicator needed!  And it’s a sheer coverage which I also love.  I can’t stand the feeling of heavy makeup.
• Sephora Primal Instincts Eyeshadow Palette – The gal that made me over talked me into a much darker shade than I’ve ever used.  It’s been fun to experiment with all the darker shades.  Sometimes my concoctions work and sometimes… they are an epic fail!  But it’s fun.
• Sephora Microsmooth Blush Duo (Tea Rose Tickle) – It’s a really pretty color!  I know a lot of people really like bronzer but I’ve never really used it.  I’m a blush kind of person.
• Sephora Full Action Mascara – Mascara is a tricky thing.  It’s all about the applicator if you ask me.  I HATE curved applicators and I hate the ones with bristles that are either too close or too spread out.  This one is PERFECT!  And the mascara itself goes on smooth.  LOVE IT!  

**NO part of this post was sponsored in any way although I think I should get a free something or other from Sephora for all the nice things I said.  :)

I spent pretty much my whole gift card (all but $1.70) on this one trip to Sephora but it was totally worth it!  All the old makeup was thrown out immediately upon arriving home with the new stuff.  Out with the old, in with the new.

 

My next purchase will be an eye primer that the cute girl gave us a sample of.  A little bit goes a long way and I love that it keeps the eye shadow where it’s supposed to be and makes it last forever! 

Happy makeup-ing!

 

Tea Party

This past Thursday my girls were unable to attend their Liberty Girls and YASA meetings thanks to a rarity in our weather here in Utah.  An ICE STORM!! 

Only one other time have I ever seen the likes of such a storm.  We were living in South Carolina where it isn’t so uncommon. 

Ice storms are pretty cool to see and look at the effects of but not so much fun to drive in.  There were cars sliding off the roads all over and far too many accidents.  Anthony and I felt it best for myself and the kids to just stay put. 

However, the little girls were so looking forward to the Tea Party they were supposed to have at Liberty Girls.  K was to go sledding for YASA but I can’t imagine it would have been all that pleasant considering the weather conditions.  Besides, I don’t know if I would have trusted someone else driving with my child in their car in those conditions. 

I couldn’t do much about the sledding but we could do our best to have a makeshift tea party.  And so we did… A and H were the hosts, of course. 

The American Girl books they are reading this semester (Felicity… my favorite of the American Girls) has them all excited about tea parties, including the famous Boston Tea Party.  H even asked the other day, “Mom, can we have a Boston Tea Party one day?” 

Apparently she is tired of paying taxes to the King and wants to throw tea into the harbor.  Hopefully she’ll understand more about the actual Boston Tea Party as she reads a few more of the books. 

As the hosts, H and A explained to K and I the proper way to act… pinkies up, of course! 

I was in constant violation being that my posture was not superb, my elbows were constantly on the table, and I forgot to ask for things to be passed.  Like marshmallows sugar for my hot chocolate tea.  Or the goldfish crackers cookies to go with it.  I also wasn’t dressed up for such an occasion.  RUDE!

Whoops!!

I did remember to signal when I was done and didn’t wish for any more refills of my tea.  Go me!

Secrets

There are times, probably more often than not, that I doubt myself as a mom. 

Am I doing right by these precious souls that have been entrusted to me?  Am I teaching them the things that Heavenly Father would want me to teach them?  Am I doing enough to let them know how much they are worth in the sight of God?  Do they know how much I love them even when I mess up? 

I’m pretty hard on myself, especially when I feel like I’ve failed.  Being a mom is definitely not easy and I know I leave a lot to be desired in that department.  There are things I know I could do a whole lot better.  I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I yell when I know I shouldn’t, roll my eyes when I know it will hurt them, say something mean when I know I should stop because the point has already been made, and even make an effort to let them know when I am put out. 

These are all things that I am working on.  It’s one of my New Year’s Resolutions.  I am doing pretty well I think and do you know what?  It’s made me a happier person.  My kids have noticed, too.  They haven’t said anything but I can tell just by the way they act toward me now.  It’s different somehow.  More open.  Just happier in general. 

It’s not easy to admit that I’m not the perfect mom that so many people seem to think that I am.  In fact, it downright stinks to have to admit it.  But I know it’s the first step to changing what is wrong. 

There is so much to repent for.  So much forgiveness to ask for from both God and my kids.  Somehow it seems harder to ask for it from my kids.  I am supposed to be setting an example for them… can I just say that they are far better examples to me than that I am to them! 

From K I learn diligence, hard work, and forgiveness.

A teaches me to be persistent and to try new things.

Little H has taught me to be loving, positively minded, and to just let things roll off your back.

C is teaching me to be observant and to give everyone a chance.

B shows me how to be sweet and gentle.

And of course the baby teaches me to smile more and just be happy with the simple things in life.

Sometimes I have moments of feeling overconfident in my mothering.  I think I’m doing great and then one of my kids says or does something that puts me right back in my place. 

This past week it was A. 

She asked me something that kind of caught me off guard and has got me thinking.  As we were driving to gymnastics she said, “Mom, do you and Dad ever keep things from us?”

At first I wasn’t sure what she meant but I answered, “No.  Why?” 

Her reply was, “Sometimes I just feel like you and Dad are keeping secrets from me.”

I then explained to her that we would never keep a secret from her or any of the other kids but there are certain things that they just aren’t ready to know yet.  Not secrets… just things too complex and heavy for them to carry and that we would fill her in on those things when we felt it was appropriate for her (them) to know. 

I’m not really sure what sparked the question other than it could possibly be that we were watching a show, Family Feud, the other night and someone said the word condom.  I quickly changed the station because, ahem, I really didn’t want to have to explain what a condom was.  All the kids kept asking what word it was that I didn’t like.  Was it a bad word?  I explained that it was not a bad word but not something they needed to know right now. 

My little B-Boat (A’s nickname) is probably the one that I worry about the most.  I worry that she will stray.  She is the most stubborn, (and dare I say selfish) little thing and yet, she can be the sweetest, most delightful girl in the whole world.  Fire and ice!

I pray for her constantly.  I pray that she will know and understand her place in this world.  That she will seek for the light in the gospel.  That she will hold on to her testimony of the gospel.  It’s all there and it makes me so sad to see her question it sometimes. 

It hurt me, in a way I can’t quite figure out, that she would think that Anthony and I would keep a secret from her.  We’ve always told the kids that secrets are not allowed.  Surprises are fine, secrets are not. 

In some ways I feel that I have failed A more than the others.  Though I feel I’ve failed K and H in many ways as well.  They are all beautiful, talented, gifted, and special girls and I’ve failed them. 

Girls, please forgive me!  I love you all so very much!  This is the start of change!

What struggles have you faced as a parent?  Any advice?

Baby’s Blessing

Our little man received a name and a blessing a couple weeks ago.  January 6th to be exact. 

For those who may be unfamiliar with my faith, we have our babies blessed in order to give them an official name within the church.  They are not only receiving  a Father’s blessing along with having a priesthood ordinance performed, but they are also put upon the records of the church.  It’s really a neat thing. 

The blessing was beautiful, as they all have been.  I never remember anything that was said but I remember the feeling I get every time Anthony is able to perform this ordinance.  It’s a very special event to watch your husband or other priesthood holder walk up to the front of the chapel along with a whole slew of other invited priesthood holders, stand in a circle around your baby with all of their hands supporting the baby, and listen to the words of the blessing and it’s meaning.  One of my favorite things! 

I also love when Anthony gets up to bear his testimony.  He’s done it with each of the kids as they have always been blessed on Fast Sunday.  Always emotional and sentimental.  Love that man! 

My mother-in-law also bore her testimony which was really neat.  She expressed her pride in Anthony and the man that he has become.  She also thanked my parents for the way that they raised me.  Made me feel good.  :) 

It was a great day filled with lots of spirit and lots of food after church.  I had my dad snap a few pics of my family.  Apparently I forgot to remind him that he could zoom out or take a few steps backwards to make sure more of the kids in the front row would show… you know, more than just their shoulders and head.  :/  But whatever.  I had a friend fix one of the pics to make it somewhat usable.  Some of us are cut off in weird places but it works.  I’m just grateful to have pictures at all.  

H looks a little silly in this one.  She had just lost a tooth and was in the middle of laughing at my uncle.

  

After everyone left I tried to get a little mini session with Baby in his blessing outfit (my mom made it, she’s so talented!) but he was not cooperating.  So I tried again a few days later but no matter how hard I tried to get him to stay asleep after nursing him, he kept waking up every time I laid him down for a shot.  This was the best one.  We didn’t get any sleepy ones :(.  Hopefully it doesn’t have ‘the alien look’ my friend, Cari, warned me about.  Not sure what that looks like… 

Cheater Chili

Beans intimidate me.  Not because they cause gas, though that should scare me enough to keep them out of our meals considering a certain somebody that I live with.  I won’t mention names.  I’ll just say it’s one of my husbands ;).

But seriously, I have never soaked a bean in my life.  I prefer canned.  My mom tells me it’s not a big deal but for a Brooke like me, it is.  Soaking beans makes me nervous.  What if I mess up?  It’s part of the perfectionist in me.  Something I am working on in 2013.  Because I know that if I mess up it’s not the end of the world but somehow I can’t bring myself to try something that I think I will be horrible at.  Negative self-talk.  That’s all it is.  Bad!

So, I don’t make chili often.  In fact, I’ve only ever tried one other recipe (another cheater version) before this one.  And it was pretty good but after trying this one I’ll never turn back!  We all loved it!

Make it, you’ll like it…

• 2 large cans (28 oz.) chili beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 large can diced tomatoes
• 1 – 15 oz. can tomato sauce
• 28 oz. tomato juice
• 1 1/2 lbs ground beef
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped (I used green)
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 2 T. chili powder (I used heaping Tablespoons)
• 1 T. red pepper flakes (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Saute the onion and bell pepper in a little olive or vegetable oil until fragrant.  Add the ground beef and brown.  In a large pot combine all ingredients together and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for about an hour, uncovered.  Garnish with sour cream and cheese if desired. 

 

Family Mission Statement

And finally it’s done!  It’s something that we (read I) have always wanted for my family.  But my kids were too young, I didn’t know what it should say, I didn’t really know what a mission statement was, I was too lazy trying to ponder what it should say… yadda, yadda, yadda.  There are a thousand reasons that it hasn’t happened until now. 

 

Of course I really wanted my kids and Anthony to be a part of the whole process so one night for Family Home Evening we talked about some of the things that we, as a family, stand for and what we value.  That was a long time ago.

Like, beginning of Summer…

And then the list sat.  And sat some more. 

Then came the end of summer and I decided to throw it all together.  I was feeling inspired.  And it came together beautifully!  I showed it to Anthony, asked for feedback, and relished in my inner excitement when he told me it was perfect!  He loved it! 

Then it sat on my computer… and sat some more…

Until last night.  It’s a new year and that means new resolves and one of our family resolves is to have a mission statement!  I finally printed it out, found a frame that my mom gave us a looooong time ago, and stuck it in there.  And it now has a happy little home on my wall.  I don’t love the frame.  It’ll eventually get a makeover. 

It’s so neat to have something to remind us of what we stand for.  Something we believe in. 

We’ve challenged the kids (and ourselves) to memorize it.  I really hope it proves to be something that they will be able to turn to whenever there’s a moral dilemma or something they are facing.  Something that serves as a reminder of who they are. 

I love being a mom!  Anthony loves being a dad.  This world can be so scary and yet, it can be so wonderful.  We talk a lot about our dreams for our family, for our children.  One of our biggest dreams is to have each of our children contribute to the wonderful in this world!  It doesn’t have to be a big wonderful because ‘by small and simple things do great things come to pass’. 

If you don’t have a mission statement for your family yet I highly recommend that you do.  In fact, I challenge you to sit down with your family, figure out what you value as a family and put it down on paper. 

Our mission statement ended up being a little longer than I initially thought but none of us could bring ourselves to eliminate any of it.  Yours can be longer or shorter.  Just make it uniquely yours! 

Updates (because I’m way behind)

After this I should be able to start fresh and keep up.  There are just some things I would like to document.

Let’s take a look at the year 2012 for my sweet little family.  Can I still call us ‘little’?

Well, for starters… we, as a family, finally finished The Book of Mormon!!  Yay!!  That was the first time for most of us, including me.  You might remember that K read it on her own a while ago and Anthony has finished it several times… I think.  That was a great accomplishment for us. 

It only took three years.  Yes, three years.  We have little ones with short attention spans.  No judging!  We read just about every night but some night we didn’t even finish a whole chapter before the kids started running around and yelling.  Boys are nuts!

No one made it into the ER this past year, thankfully.  The closest we came to that was a couple of Instacare visits.  One for B who had stepped on a piece of glass from H’s snowglobe.  It broke when she was excitedly running upstairs with it to show my grandpa.  She tripped and it shattered on the tile in the entryway.  Poor B… we thought we got all the glass out but a few days later his poor foot was infected and he was walking funny. 

Not a fun trip to the Instacare.  It was late at night, he was tired, the doctor is poking, digging and prodding his foot with sharp tools.  But he got it!  A teeny, tiny sliver of glass.  Amazing that something that small and seemingly insignificant can cause such a big problem.

The other trip was for K.  She had been at my cousin’s house along with the other two girls.  When my cousin brought them home she had me look at K’s eye. 

FREAKIEST thing I’ve ever seen!!  The whites of one of her eyes was puffy and swollen… protruding!  The colored part was still in it’s correct position but the whites… EW!  Totally weird.  It looked as though you could poke it with a pin and it would pop.  Basically, a giant blister. 

K has horrible allergies in the spring and summer so I assumed it to be an allergic reaction to something she may have touched.  The nurse at the Instacare was surprised when I asked her what she thought it might be.  “Haven’t you ever seen pink eye?”  That was her response. 

Umm, yeah, I had five (at the time) kids…  of course I know what pink eye looks like.  This was NOT pink eye!  Sure, her eye was red but there was no way this was your typical conjunctivitis.  The nurse was convinced that it was.  She told me that’s what the doctor would tell me. 

Not to gloat or anything but…

I WON!  It was allergies.  She had never had a reaction like that but it was nothing that a Claritin couldn’t clear up.  Thank goodness for allergy medication!!

Speaking of K…

Here are a few of her accomplishments from 2012.

• Started clogging and love it!
• turned 11
• improving her dance technique
• drawing/doodling is also improving
• started YASA
• Math is really starting to click for her

Some of A’s accomplishments

• started gymnastics
• almost has her back handspring without a spotter
• moved up from Beginner level, level 1, level 2 all the way to level 3 gymnastics in less than a year, something that isn’t usually accomplished that quickly
• She’s had a few opportunities to sing and/or take part in various programs
• Being watched by the gym to move up into their competition team (she doesn’t know this)
• Ride a horse for the first time (for Liberty Girls)

H had a few accomplishments herself

• Performed for the first time on stage (ballet)
• Quit ballet in order to take gymnastics
• Moving up the ladder just as quickly as her sister did.  She’s already in level 2 and has only been there since June.
• Proving mom and dad wrong in thinking that she wouldn’t do as well at gymnastics.  We obviously don’t give her enough credit.  We both thought she was a bit too clumsy and daydream-ish to do it. 
• Losing teeth
• Also got to ride a horse for the first time. (LG) 

C is growing fast

• Loves his new little brother and can’t get enough of him
• Is very protective of the baby
• Says “I like you” if you’re really loved.  But you can’t say “I love you” back.  Oh no… you have to say, “I like you, too.”  That’s his version of love.
• Become more OCD about certain things than mom knew possible.
• Has recently started telling lies.  Mostly about B.  B is always the culprit… even when he’s napping or strapped into his car seat.
• Still idolizes his daddy and wants to go everywhere with him. 
• One day he asked me, “Mom, why do you have a big butt?” 
• Must ride in the cart at the grocery store with the car attached to the front. 
• Went to his first Utah football game and surprised Dad with how well he did.  In fact, he got to attend TWO games!!
• Also got to ride a horse for the first time.  (LG)

B is growing out of toddlerhood and into boyhood

• Loves the baby and, for the most part, is very good with him but now that he is here, B likes to try and see what he can get away with.
• Learning more words every day.  “Damstairs”-downstairs (that’s my favorite), “Flunch”-lunch,
• Beats his big brother up on a daily basis
• Yells “ANSWER ME” if someone is not paying attention
• Also idolizes his dad. 
• Loves to make people laugh
• Thinks he’s hilarious… even when he’s not (laughs hardest at himself when being naughty)

Baby is definitely growing faster than I would like.  His accomplishments for 2012 are as follows:

• Being conceived… and later born (that’s a biggie ;))
• Growing a larger than normal average head.  (In case you’re wondering, he IS proportioned)
• Smiling!  This little guy started smiling early.  He’s the only one of our kids that started smiling socially so quickly.  His first smile was for dad on Thanksgiving morning.  He smiled a few more times after that for me and a few more for Anthony but then it stopped for several weeks.  He would only smile in his sleep and when seemingly staring at nothing.  The smiling (and cooing) just started back up about a week and a half ago.  Unfortunately I haven’t been able to capture it on camera yet. 
• Nursing like a champ!  Sure, he is slightly tongue tied but he doesn’t let that stop him.  He nursed like a pro from day one.
• One of my favorite things when he was brand new was his little yelp.  He would let out a little yelp before starting to cry.  YELP… pause… CRY.  It was so darn cute!  He no longer does that :(

Anthony and I had a successful year, too.

• Anthony started a new job in January (2012) that he has a love/hate relationship with.  But you take what you can get these days.  We are just happy to have a job at all even if the pay is really crappy.
• Becoming a mom & dad for the 6th time.
• More marathons (I don’t even know how many anymore)
• I gave birth (almost naturally) to a baby with a ginormous head ;)
• I also made it through those first two weeks of excruciatingly painful nursing.  You know, the blisters, the chafing, the soreness, the don’t-let-the-shower-water-come-anywhere-near-my-nipples type of first two weeks…. OUCH!  After that we’re golden!
• Becoming a Liberty Girls leader. 
• Anthony successfully built an adorable little kitchen for H for Christmas.
• And now we’re back to nursing… I haven’t yet been able to find the nozzle… the one that slows the flow!  Poor little guy has a hard time keeping up with the avalanche of milk that flows into his throat when it lets down.  It’s been a problem for all my babies.  They choke, unlatch, and I’m left scrambling to stop it from spraying them in the face.  It’s lots of fun!   

There is so much more that I am not remembering right now.  I can always think of a gazillion things in my mind but when it comes to actually getting it down on paper or typing it up, it all seems to disappear. 

If you made it through all of that… thanks for reading.  From here on out we should be back to our regularly scheduled programming blogging.

 

Merry Christmas! {Oh, and Happy New Year}

**Most of the pics in this post are unedited due to… well, I have a baby.  I think that about sums it up ;)  Oh, and don’t judge the pics too harshly.  I used flash in many of them (big no no, I am well aware) but the lighting in my house SUCKS (excuse the French) and I knew Christmas Eve and Christmas would be filled with excitement and lots of movement which would result in blurry pics without Auto Mode.  Thank goodness for Auto Mode!

Some blogger I am, eh?  Sheesh!!  It’s been on my mind for weeks now but I just couldn’t seem to pull it together enough to get it done. 

So, here I am… weeks later.  2013 is my year!  I feel it!! 

Christmas around these here parts was wonderful.  I hope you had a great one, too.  It’s probably too late to blogging Christmas but I figure I’ve only missed ‘the window’ by a couple of days.  Let’s just pretend I got an extension. 

Our December didn’t quite turn out the way had planned.  There was talk of going downtown to see the lights at Temple Square, seeing the candy window displays at Macy’s (which I was quite excited about), building gingerbread houses (or graham cracker houses, same diff), driving around to see fancy lit houses and oh so much more.  None of it happened.

But let’s not dwell on the things that might have been.  We did have a pretty great holiday season even if we couldn’t jam everything into our busy schedule. 

To start us off, our ward held the annual Christmas party early in the month in hopes to get more people to attend.  I think it worked!  And wouldn’t you know it, Santa was there!  It probably wasn’t the best move on the part of the planning committee to have a couple from the ward play Santa and the Mrs. but I have to admit they made a pretty cute Claus couple.

 

On the lists:  K wanted a Digital Light Designer and an American Girl Doll (Caroline)

A wanted an American Girl Doll (McKenna) and a horse for her dolls

H wanted a kitchen set, a cabbage patch kid, and a snow globe

B wanted Toy Story Toys

Baby – he didn’t really have a list.  He’s got the largest wardrobe in the family and doesn’t really need anything other than diapers at this point.

Anthony wanted a Nike Sportswatch and heart rate monitor

Brooke (that’s me!) wanted a Kindle Fire and new lens for my camera (don’t laugh, I know I’m not a great photographer but I can dream ;))

And now for C’s list.  I saved it for last because it truly is the best!  He wanted a bike, a ‘cut toy’ (toy chainsaw) and… are you ready for it?… a port-a-potty!!!  That’s right, my friends, he wanted an OUTHOUSE! 

Driving home one day from K’s dance class we stopped at a red light next to a truck carrying 4 outhouses.  C excitedly tells me that truck “has lots of bathrooms on it.”  Then he says, “Maybe we can ask Santa Claus for one!”  I told him that I would rather not, to which he replied, “I do.  I will ask him for one!”  And he did!

In case you’re wondering, no he didn’t get one.  It just wouldn’t fit in Santa’s sleigh.  But he hasn’t complained so I think we’re good. ;)

We celebrated A’s birthday with a Birthday Breakfast for family and friends.  Never done a breakfast before for a birthday but it was pretty darn fun.  It might become a tradition.  Having a birthday in December with all the Christmas hoopla isn’t easy.  I’ve tried to convince A to celebrate in early November but she always objects… something about it “not feeling like [my] birthday”. 

Ok, that makes sense, I guess.  No pics to post right now.  Just know that it was a good time!

We also had a couple of family Christmas parties.  Lots of fun, food, and white elaphanting…. it’s a word, as of now!

Little C may have been disappointed with the squirrel feeder he got but lucky him, my uncle stole it from him (to be nice) and C ended up with a fairy coloring book.  Also a huge disappointment because “it’s for girls!”  Well, thank his lucky stars, there were lots of little girl cousins there and one of them stole the coloring book from him.  Finally, he ended up with a pocketknife. 

Good heavens!!  C and a pocketknife, what a combo.

He couldn’t have been more delighted!  In fact, he hugged it.  Then and there my uncle declared that if anyone hugs their gift it can not be stolen. 

Thanks Mark!  Thanks… a lot.  **Sigh**

So now, C is the proud new owner of a pocketknife that lives on the top of the bookshelf, unopened… for now, at least.  But fear not, C checks on it every day to make sure it’s still there and to ensure that we all know that it is HIS pocketknife. 

We know, little man, we know.

Moving on, K had a dance recital for clogging.  It was fun to watch her dance.  I haven’t been able to watch her at all other than practicing at home so it was fun to see how good she actually is.  And she even performed her routine for the talent show at Anthony’s family party. 

A was asked to do a small part in the Christmas program for Sacrament Meeting at church.  Just a short little poem.  There were lots of singing parts in the program and I, admittedly, wish that they would have asked her to sing something.  She really does have quite a beautiful voice. 

Then there was of course the traditional opening of PJ’s on Christmas Eve along with new ornaments for the kids from Grandma and Grandpa.  This year it was decorations bigger than the baby.  The kids all LOVE their new nutcrackers!!

 

Christmas morning came WAY too early for Anthony and me.  “Santa” didn’t get to bed until almost 4:30 in the morning!!  What a crazy guy.  Just when you think you’re almost done you realize that you have way more than thought.  And I’ll be darned if I could get the Toy Story gang to shut up!!  I thought for sure we were gonna be found out.  Little did I know that they react to movement… and each other! … so as I was trying to unpackage them so they would be ready for immediate play (because what kid wants to wait for you to cut and remove every stinkin’ twist tie, screw, and plastic packaging Christmas morning) they just wouldn’t be quiet!  And they are LOUD!

The big pic of B below is by far my favorite from Christmas this year.  You can’t tell me it’s not fabulous!  I laugh every time I see it.

In the end it was a fabulous Christmas and everyone got at least something that they really wanted.  I have to show off my husband’s (Uh, I mean the elves…) mad skills.  He (They) was able to turn this old desk that had sat in the girls’ room forever…

 … into this darling little kitchen for H. It cost so much less doing it himself than it would have to buy even a cheapie one from the store. And it is so much better! Plus, it doesn’t hit her at the knees like most of them. Didn’t he do a marvelous job? I couldn’t have asked for it to be any more perfect!

This was the first Christmas in YEARS that Anthony and I were able to get something for each other.  It felt so good and it was so much fun trying to sneak around and make sure he didn’t know what he was getting.  We were both pleasantly surprised.

For breakfast, my family has a tradition that I just couldn’t live without.  I can go without presents and I can go without snow (though I’d much rather have a fresh blanket of white) but it just isn’t Christmas without our traditional waffles with ice cream and strawberries with my entire extended family.  THAT is Christmas to me!  Has been as long as I can remember.

 

I hope your Christmas was just as perfect as ours turned out to be.