Like that it is Over

We had a lovely Christmas this year. It was complete with a visit from Santa that brought a bike and a fast scooter, making our little ones very happy.

Now that it is all over does anyone get the after Christmas blues? You know it's when we work so hard for this one day and then like that, it is over. You wake up in the 26th the house is still a mess from Christmas morning, every game and toy has been opened. And I'm not sure where all the new stuff will go. I feel like I want to declutter the whole house but I don't b/c I don't want to take on the project by myself. One of these years I'm going to stop beating myself up about all that I didn't get done and truly celebrate just being with family. So that is what I did today. It was game day with the kids. After running errands this morning we played games all afternoon, of course we took advantage of the beautiful weather and rode bikes outside. I think my blues are over and will tackle some things tomorrow. At least get the toys in a home.

A Nontraditional Christmas Eve

I just could bring myself to bake a ham this year. So we had hamburgers and hot dogs. It is what I wanted and I wasn't trying to impress anyone so that is what we did. We didn't have a talent show either. We played "minute to win it" it was a hit with the kids and a good laugh. I guess there were still some things that we had to do. We read the story of Christ's birth and he kids participated in the Nativity.

The kids all opened up new pajamas and quickly ran to get into them.

The best part of the night is when we all got ready to go to bed. We said family prayer by the light of the Christmas tree then my 3 beautiful children sat close next to me as I sang hymns of your Saviors birth.

Candy House

Today was the first day of Christmas break. We managed to keep the kids entertained with minimal fights because we did ginger bread houses with friends. I have always been afraid to try them because I was worried that the would just fall and the kids would get frustrated. I'm happy to say that they turned out well and the kids loved it. I found a good frosting recipe that was great for the glue. I think the kids will say The best part was eating all the candy.

I am a little behind with my 25 days of Christmas project but it is coming along. Now that I have a break from prechool I stay up late and enjoy a little photoshop time. (see side bar)

Moving Right Along

Among all ups and downs of last week. Our baby hit 5 months and was pretty much begging for food at the dinner table. He started cereal. HE loves it. I finally found a program on the computer that would resize video so I could post it on the blog.



IF any of you were wondering Kevin is really liking his new job. And health benefits kick in in 30 days, AWESOME:!!!

Job, No Job, Job

This week has been so many things, Scary, panic, hopeful, humbling, and wonderful. This is how it went. Kevin came home early on Monday morning while I was teaching preschool. My heart jumped into my throat. I didn't have to ask I knew what had happened he had been laid off from a job that he really liked. Back up to a few days before he had heard roomers of layoffs at the University of Phoenix but no one could confirm them of deny them. At that time both of us prayed for comfort and to shake this feeling that he could indeed be laid off. I got on overwhelming feeling that everything would be alright and whatever was to happen would be for our good. As we celebrated Thanksgiving I had peace, but still was uncertain about his job. Come Monday morning Kevin was looking for a new job along with 600 other people that also lost their jobs that day. He made phones calls to friends and family asking if they knew of any job openings. He then headed to the internet on a job search.

Thankfully we have some income with preschool and the Tortilla business but not enough. That day we took action we looked at the bank account and our bills. We had enough to last the month and then after that things would get scary. Against my pride I quickly started to fill out paper work for health care for the kids, and the free lunch program. I needed to make our dollars stretch as long as we could. I had made a plan for the things that could happen. I realized that we could loose the house, that we would need some help with food. Again I felt peace, fully accepting that what we were about to go through would not be easy. It would be humbling and for some reason knew it would be for our good.

On Friday when I was getting ready to send in all kinds of paper work, Kevin receives a phone call from a friend offering him a job. The news is too good to be true. This news was more shocking than loosing his job. We only went through a few days of uncertainty and I am so grateful. He will start on Tuesday. Now when I look at my unpainted walls, my older furniture, and my older shoes I no longer wish that had newer and better, I am just so grateful that I have a house, furniture, shoes and food.

I want to thank all our friends and family for their prayers in our behalf. I realize now more than ever to be more grateful, be more giving and to never judge.

Temple Lights

It is official Christmas time is here. This year I am determined to enjoy every moment and not get stressed out with all the "have to do's". If I'm not enjoying what I'm doing then I might as well not be doing them. Christmas is about kindness, giving and Christ. Not about a crazy woman yelling a her kids not to touch the tree, or the nativity.
We started off the season by going to the temple lights. Oh how I love Christmas lights.

The kids all like the lights. Max loves to run around, Lilly likes the nativities from around the world and Luke was so sweet snuggled up to me in my coat. We pulled out the Christmas decorations this weekend and put up everything except the outside Christmas lights and the tree. We will put those up for family home evening. We even watched ELF which is a must for Christmas time to begin.
"The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear". My plan is to sing loud this Christmas season.

Thanksgiving: That's a Wrap

We did it another lovely meal with wonderful family and friends. I was lucky to have all my parents and brothers here.

I have decided that I should really start wearing makeup. Here is us. Luke's first Thanksgiving. Yes Kevin still is sporting his stash click here for an explanation.

John and his cute fam.

Kevin's Mom and Brother Kyle

Pablo and Amber family

(Thanks for opening your eyes for this one Pablo)

Steph and Johnathan

I'm so glad that you could come.

Meg and her beau

Other thanksgiving moments.

Sweet Dreams

Oh how I love when the kids go to sleep. The house is quiet, I get some things done without interruption. Best of all I like to look at my little ones sleeping. This was last night.

We asked him before he fell asleep why he was wearing his sleeping bag backpack. He replied "so I'm ready to go camping"

4 Months

This cuddle bug is now 4 months old.

He had his check up the other day he is perfectly perfect!! Here are his stats...

weight 15 lbs 5 oz

length 25.25"

He is so happy and a great sleeper. He is happy for other people that is a new thing for me. For Family night we started our thankful tree. I have to put Luke on his own leaf because he is just so special and such a joy. I have heard that in some families the third child was the hardest to adjust to. Luke has made it so easy and it is so easy to love him.

Halloween, a few details

We celebrated Halloween a lot this year. It started on Thursday night. Lilly's school was having a Spectacular. It was fun, just too many people. I was asked to make 2 dozen cookies for the evening to sell. Talk about pressure, I had to make a 50 cent cookie. I was happy to help just nervous that they wouldn't be that great. All of us had a school party on Friday. I was in charge of Lilly's school party, and I had my preschool party as well. Friday night was our ward trunk or treat. Yeah candy!! Saturday more Halloween, we crashed Amber's ward festivities. By the time Halloween rolled around I was done and ready to move on.

Meet Super Man and Star Girl

and our adorable Dinosaur.

On Sunday we had family over for dinner. I made them work for their dessert by bobbing for apples and eating a doughnut on a string.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

My Boys and My Girl

Some days I just sit back and I am reminded how lucky I am to be a mother. I chose to do this mother thing and thankfully God blessed me with my children. Yes, there are some long days and every age there comes a new challenge. I am happy for the challenges. Because at he end of the day I have some pretty great kids. Here is Max loving his brother. The start of many years of mischief.

Lilly playing her heart out at her soccer game, she has made great progress.

Another year older

Yep it is my turn to have a birthday. I am so grateful for the amazing friends and family I have. They made me feel like rock star today. I think it is safe to say that my birthday week started on Tuesday. Kevin's parents took us out to dinner without kids. It was so nice and the pizookie was bliss. On Thursday my dear friend Mandy brought me lunch from Costa Vida, great food, wonderful company. Friday morning I was treated to Einsteins bagels and greeted with gifts form my lovely sister in law and mother in law. I highly recommend starting out your day like this at least once a year. I then headed out the door to take preschool to our farm field trip. That afternoon I had a visit from a friend with a birthday cookie. YUM-O. Oh and I can't forget the yummy cookies that I go on Wed. I ate them all myself. The fun didn't stop there, Kevin brought home beautiful flowers and took me out to dinner of my choice. This year my birthday dinner was Dairy Queen fries and a blizzard, pure happiness. To end the night my cute sister in law got me an adorable sweater and offered to watch the kids so we could go on a date.

(cute sweater not so cute tummy)

Being the cool, hip, young people we are we opted to stay in and go to bed. But before bed I had to document the day I turned 34 with a few photos. I was trying to get a least one cute picture. The result is a bunch of silly photos.

Then Kevin had his turn. I love digital cameras. We never had this much fun with a film camera. Oh I just dated myself.

A Few Things to Celebrate

My hubby dear turned one year older this week. He was lucky to have his whole family here to celebrate. Kevin is a simple guy, that is what I love about him. He keeps me grounded. So to celebrate in Kevin fashion his birthday dinner was nothing fancy. He requested a huge sandwich that he could make himself so he could make it just the way he likes. He chased it down with black cherry soda, a perfect combination. Kevin used to make sandwiches for a living, I think that is when I fell in love with him.

Another celebration is the weather. Last night at soccer practice we were cold. We opened up the house last night and this morning the thermostat read 70 degrees. Naturally the children were freezing and dressed like this for breakfast and drank hot chocolate. I love how we have a skewed view on the weather here.

Day 4,5 and the Weekend

I tried to pack a lot in on Thursday. We were going to the museum in the afternoon so there were a few things I wanted to get done in the morning. The bank, Target and Old Navy. I had to make some returns and get Kevin a birthday present. As I was driving I thought to myself AHHH this would be so much easier if I didn't have to drag out the stroller and the baby and then do it all over again every time I get out. But almost as soon as I thought that, another thought came into my head. Laura isn't awesome that you have a stroller that you can pop the car seat in without waking a sleeping baby. And Laura isn't so great that you have a baby that will be good for 3 stops. And Laura isn't it great that you have a car that will fit 3 kids and a stroller. So I learned that day to be a little more grateful for all that I have. I'm blessed and I'm happy that I could recognize it in that moment. It makes life easier that way.

The museum is always so much fun. I love it there b/c my kids love it there. It is always fun to meet up for some cousin time too. I have to mention that Luke is such a good baby. He just goes with the flow and is so happy to go anywhere.

Friday we had friends over. Lilly's friend had to change plans so Lilly go to go with her and go swimming. It all worked out. Everyone was happy.

Saturday we were busy, busy. I love when we work hard and play hard as a family. The lawn got trimmed and the garage got cleaned out. Then it was off to soccer games. We quickly hurried home showered and changed for family pictures. After that we headed back home to have dinner with Kevin's mom and brother followed by Blongo Ball and dessert.

Today we took it easy and went to church. We played some more Blongo Ball as a wholesome family activity. Mom it is a great present we love it.

Tomorrow is back to school for everyone, at the end of it all I must say that we had a nice fall break.

Day 3

Success on day 3, my sweet kids were just that today, sweet. They played all morning together nicely. It was cute to listen to their game. They were playing with the dinosaurs and named one of them Velman. I'm not sure what the story line was but they were taking care of Velman like he was their baby dino, feeding him and bathing him and taking turns oh just a sweet moment.

We then headed out for some errands. Max in a store never goes very well but he did okay. We bought shorting to make these lovelies.

The recipe made a ton so I will be giving most of them away and making Kevin take them to work.
Tomorrows event the Children's Museum.

A Break for Who?

I must admit I was not really looking forward to this fall break because that would give me 3 kids at home with nothing to do. It's not that they fight so much it's that they have learned to tease and get really really silly and that when things go bad. So together we planed some fun things to do.

Monday was Halloween day. We went to Wal Mart to pick out pumpkins. I know how can I let my kids miss out on the joy of picking a pumpkin in a pumpkin patch. I can't beat the price at Wal mart and they still get to choose their own pumpkin. So everyone is happy.

Then we came home and decorated them. I persuaded the kids to decorated them with paint and a stencil. If they want to carve them closer to Halloween I will probably let them. I think they turned out pretty cute and no pumpkin guts today. To continue the Halloween spirit Lilly made a spider and we made ghosts out of cheese cloth and glue. All around it was a pretty good day with minimal time outs.

Tuesday we made it movie day. We planned to see Toy Story 3 at the dollar theater. Little did I know that everyone in this town planed the same thing. I think it was so busy b/c on Tuesday the dollar movie is really a dollar and not 2 dollars like on other days. We didn't get to see Toy Story or Nanny McPhee (our second choice) but settled for Cats and Dogs. Let's just say that I'm glad I only paid $3 for us to go. Lilly and Max liked the movie so that is all that I really cared about. Luke was pretty good. I hoped that he would sleep during the movie but that didn't happen. I was able to stand in the back and hold him when he got fussy making movie day a success.

So far I have enjoyed the kids and I have discovered the beauty of Quiet time. I never used quite time before b/c we never really needed it, but now making them spend some time away from each other is really helpful and makes everyone happy.

Family Camping

We went camping this weekend thanks to my wonderful awesome brother. We were spoiled because he cooked all the yummy food. Thanks John we will be happy to go again any time. Here are some of the highlights of the weekend.

family camping picture

We went to Dead Horse Ranch. I will let you read about the place. Close by is Montezuma's castle. I was a little bummed to find out it was neither built my Montezuma or a castle. Now we know. The kids didn't mind too much. The weather was so lovely and we enjoyed the little walk.

Then we headed over to the strange town of Jerome. It was cool to see but not fun for the kids. Our saving grace was a park that was in the middle of the town.

Next up we are hanging out around camp.

Of course the boys have to get the fire started. And Max became an official pyro this weekend.

This is how our little man slept for 2 nights. The child is amazing he slept all night.

There was a fishing pond down the road lucky for us John's friend brought his fishing gear. The kids were so excited to go fishing. And then even caught a fish or two. I was glad to find out that they followed the fishing rule of catch and release.

On our last fishing trip we saw this guy.

Oh it is so scary how you could barely see him in the grass. Thankfully other people saw him first and were just letting us know that he was there. So of course we had to go over and take a look and take a picture.
We are glad to be home in clean beds and clean clothes but are already planing our next camping trip.