Leaving 2008 with a BANG!!!

What is a good way to wrap up 2008? Yesterday started out just like any other day of the week, Gwen and Harrison played and we did the regular old house hold stuff.
Gwen has a band-aid on her arm but there is nothing wrong with it. She did keep saying that London wears a band-aid. I guess it is a new accessory. Later that night we had a real accident with her arm (see previous post) and what the night boiled down to was:

One really sad girl with a hurt arm

One trip to the ER with her dad

One really worried mom

One new stuffed animal for doing what the Doctor said to do while she was there ( the most expensive stuffed animal we will ever pay for)
One hour after being in the ER a trip to McDonalds for an ice cream cone

One case of Nursemaid Elbow

One hospital giant hospital bill

And some piece of mind that she is alright, thank goodness.
This morning she woke up like nothing had happened, but she did tell me " we saw the doctor and he made my arm feel better." over and over. She does like the little animal she got there and I feel pretty good that we are not dealing with a cast today. Talk about a way to end the year.

sick to my stomach

About 10 minutes ago I sent my baby girl off to the ER with James, to check out her arm that I think is broken. I am sick about it, seeing as I was the one playing with her when I heard the -pop! I really hope that it is not broken, but the way she was babying it and crying I am pretty sure that it is. I guess all I am going to be doing tonight is thinking about what a terrible mom I am and waiting to hear what happens when James gets back. Ugh I think it is going to be a long night.

mostly for the folks

Christmas morning was a pretty fun one around here, due to a little red vacuum that lights up and makes sounds, and chocolate. Yep it is barely 7 am and Gwen is digging into the treats found in her stocking. How do you like that for parenting. Harrison and Gwen played their classic parts and didn't pose for the camera. Who taught them that dirty trick?
I can't tell if Harrison was about to smile or go into a babble about "no touch" for the presents.
Gwen LOVES horses, so this and some of the other pony treasures she got were pretty exciting.
Harrison was kind enough to show me the little farm animals that came with his little people barn set, that has now been claimed by Gwen.
Guest appearances by Eve and Wall-E. She carries them around, and if she wants to watch the movie, well they are seated by her side, and she tells them when they are about to come on.
Baby Harrison and the sleepy sheep. We are getting close to his morning nap time.
Gwen is not so pleased that I am struggling to get the horses out of the packages. Who came up with all the twist ties, and tricky packaging anyway? Obviously it wasn't someone with kids waiting by their side. Poor thing, she is waiting so patiently.
And the little people house, ahhh what a treat. She is all about the house, and barn. Every time she walks into the room and they are there she is so excited it is like she was opening them for the first time. I love that.
One of my favorite things is when they play together, it is kind of rare that they are on the same page, but once in a while they can use the same toy and everything is lovely. Note the vacuum that probably hasn't left Harrison's hands since he woke up and found it with the presents. Pretty much a great Christmas morning all around, now who wants some cookies?

Jingle bells and a couch full of A.D.H.D.

Our attempt at family photos didn't work so James and his brother took matters into their own hands. It's kind of long, but be sure to watch it through to the end, it's worth it.

its all about YOU!!

So Tannie (click on her name to see her blog) had this on her blog, and basically I wanted to know what she really thought of me, but part of the deal is that you have to post this to your blog thereby obligating you to do the same for others, So if you really want to know what I think of you, or are just wondering what animal you make me think of then leave a little comment with your name and I will tell you.
Now post your name and remember you asked for it just like I did.


Post your name and I will do each of the following:
1. I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll tell you which song or movie you remind me of.
3. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.
4. I'll tell you my first memory of you.
5. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
6. I'll ask you something I've always wondered about you.
7. I'll tell you my favorite thing about you.
8. I'll tell you my least favorite thing about you.
9. If you play, you MUST post this on yours.

What do you like about Christmas?

Mt friend Kelly tagged me with this fun little thing about what I like Christmas style. The funny thing is that James' family does these little getting to know you emails and this was one of them, but I am happy to do it again for the blog world. If you want to play along just copy to your blog...and don't be a SCROOGE!

WRAPPING PAPER OR GIFT BAGS? wrapping paper ALL the way!!! I love to wrap gifts.
REAL OR ARTIFICIAL TREE? Artificial - I love the pre-lit and making the branches go where I want them to.
WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? Usually right after Thanksgiving, but there have been a few times when I got just a little excited and did it before.
WHEN DO YOU TAKE THE TREE DOWN? Usually before the New Year.
DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG? Yep. and James loves it frozen, like ice cream.
FAVORITE GIFT RECEIVED AS A CHILD? I got this little kitchen and I LOVED it.
WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVERY RECEIVED? I know there has been one, but I just don't remember.
HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? James is by far the hardest person for me to shop for!
EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? My kids, they are into everything and anything, and that works for me.
DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? Yes - and it is the best thing that I have purchased all year!
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? Hmmm...The Holiday.
WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING? That depends, but usually I start in December, I am not so great at getting it done early.
HAVE YOU EVER RE-GIFTED A GIFT? I think maybe I have.
FAVORITE THING TO EAT AT CHRISTMAS? Well today I have to say my moms homemade chocolates, because she just sent us some last week, and they are already gone they were SOOO good. ( mom I think that this year the cherry ones were the best I have ever had.)
COLOR OF LIGHTS ON THE TREE? White
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? "Santa Clause is coming to town" by the Jackson 5. I just love it.
TRAVEL AT CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? I love to see our family during this time, but this year I am excited to stay home.
CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen & Rudolph
ANGEL OR STAR ON TOP OF THE TREE? Neither this year.
WHEN DO YOU OPEN PRESENTS - CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS DAY? Both - we open Christmas PJ's on Christmas Eve, and everything else in the morning.
MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR? The lines for everything are pretty annoying, even if you are just at a drive through they are super long. Just ask my kids.
FAVORITE ORNAMENT ON THE TREE? Nope. I don't have a favorite one.
WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS? Well some nice family photos to actually work out would be great, but since that all hangs in the balance of the kids moods, I will just go for some world peace.

Watch your mouth

This past weekend we took a little adventure to the outlet mall in Round Rock and shopped around and played on the coin rides, and on the way home stopped to grab a bite to eat at steak n' shake. Now normally we are all about burger places, but not this one, we had such a bad experience I am pretty sure that we won't be eating there again. Things may look quite in these pictures but the kids were not the problem. It really was the restaurant.
Harrison on the airplane ride, he tried the horses but couldn't stay on.
riding the kids on the coin rides at the outdoor outlets, one of our favorite places. Gwen was riding the horses and I am pretty sure that she rode this one at least four times, and would have gone on to ride it all night if it were up to her and a load of quarters.
James and I have discovered a way of discovering which kid is the center of the mayhem, a kind of finger printing without the fingers...




Ahhh the bite mark. This one is classic Harrison.
Gwen has found some new and useful phrases as she becomes more and more aware of what we say and do. She adds clever and witty remarks throughout her daily routine. For example I had wrapped some Christmas presents from Toys R Us and they had been bagged in the giant plastic bags for me to carry them in. Well I had no need for the bags after I had them home and individually wrapped, so I crumpled up the bags and had them in a box of wrapping stuff. Gwen found the box and the bags and as I was folding the laundry in that same room she pulled them out and was standing in one of them, and she pretty much fit in it, and I heard her exclaim "what the devil is this?" I have no idea where she got that one...

Then last night she was playing with the nativity and she dropped one of the people on the ground and turned to me and said "mom we are in a situation." Yes Gwen we are in a situation. I am just hoping that James and I are aware enough to watch our mouths around her so that she doesn't end up saying something bad. I have a feeling that it would take place in church, that is just the way our luck works.

Harry had a little lamb, and Gwen brakes a tree

Harrison has this little lamb and he LOVES it. We keep it in his bed, and every time he wakes up he holds it like a little baby, and carries it around with him for awhile. Here he brought it to breakfast and he is giving it some loves.
This is the classic do do do do do face that Harrison makes when he is telling you something.

And a little more love for the sheep.

Last night I was super excited because James and Ryan took all of the kids and let Leslie and I finish up some shopping, for ourselves!!! Nice. I had big plans to capture more of the hands free moments, but I was kind of distracted, but I did get a shot of these really cute shoes that Leslie got.
Then after a few hours of shopping and some crazy driving weather we headed back to Leslie's to see if everyone was still alive, you know two men outnumbered by 5, yes 5 children, well this is what we found.
destruction to poor Ryan and Leslie's Christmas tree, courtesy of Gwen. We blocked it off before we left but Gwen was so in love with all of the fun ornaments that I guess nothing could stop her from "looking" at them. She climbed over the barrier and went around the tree and pushed it over! Totally broke it, and some ornaments too. I feel so bad. Of course it was my kids reeking the havoc.
Here are a few of the wounded treasures. I think that I am going to need to make it up to them in a big way. I did a bit of wrapping when we got home and I just keep telling myself that I will be ready before Christmas, I will be ready before Christmas...

a glimpse from my moms point of view

The other night I was picking up the house after everyone else had gone to bed, and I couldn't help but laugh to myself that I was doing the same things that my mom did...not just doing the same things but picking up the same things. By the time I had cleared the living room alone my arms were full of:

Random socks some from the kids others from James, one Sunday shoe of Gwen's and a jacket too,

Plates and water bottles, sippy cups, and broken little pretzels,

My little ponies and matching brushes, puzzle pieces, and some building blocks that appeared out of nowhere.

A book I had finished reading, headphones, small pieces to the nativity and a whisk from the kitchen drawer. Strange.

What an odd mix of things to be strewn about the living room and in the funniest places too. Oh what a joy it is to be the one that finds all the treasures...and you know that I mean all the treasures. Why is it that when I am at other peoples homes I don't see these kinds of things out and about, and especially I don't see their kids playing with them in the living rooms. Maybe I will need to move the kitchen tools drawer so the kids won't get into that one anymore. Or maybe I need to move around a whole lot more than that.

Burnet or Bust

As the end of the year holidays grow closer we seem to get more and more busy on the weekends. This past Saturday was a circus. We started out at a ward Christmas breakfast, and moved on to a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese where I learned a few new things about my kids.
Gwen wants to play on all the toys that she can drive. Even if that means that she is riding with a stranger. She is not afraid of the mouse mascot (some of our friends refer to him as the rat) Nope she wanted to do a dance with him.
She is willing to let Harrison ride with her...if she is driving.
This massive monster truck was on these crazy booster shocks, and the ride was bumping up and down but Gwen just held on to the steering wheel and wanted more when it was over. There was a huge line for this one so we only went once.
Then we found the highlight of the day, and the breakdown point as well. Here is Gwen playing a little racing game that has a stick shift and she is really into the driving mode as you can see, well I tried to get her to let other kids have a chance and she went into hysterics, so I made her take some time out while Harrison ate lunch and calm down.
It was a joint ride so that two player could use it together or one at a time, here is Harrison giving it a try and Gwen on the other side. We did get Gwen off the ride for....
CAKE! This was a really cool cake that was made just for this little boy (Joseph). Chocolate cake in the shape of R2-D2.
I forgot to get a picture of it before the kids were already eating it, but you can get a good idea of what it looked like whole from here, just missing the dome head. (which Gwen is eating)
This is funny seeing as we went with the Hoopes but didn't see much of anyone since I was trapped at the driving rides. Jen is in the background with her boys which I didn't see more than a blur of as well. Little Austin is such a dream in front of the camera, I think that he will be Gwen's new photo coach on smiling.
Later that day we found ourselves at the mall doing a little shopping, and where do you think that I am with the kids? Yep the coin rides. Gwen and Harrison are in a bus...Gwen is driving.
Then later that night we stopped by a friends concert/party where the kids were sent upstairs to play so the adults could mingle...James and I had to take shifts with the kids. During all of this Harrison decided that he liked the drums. And we have a little listen for you too.



Now as for the title of this really long post, on Sunday I wanted so badly to go to the live nativity in Burnet , Texas. We went when Gwen was not quite a year and it was so cold, but this year it was a nice 68º outside so we packed up the kids and snacks and made the hour drive, only to find that the line was over two hours to get in...and it was already 7pm so we turned around and came home. My big mistake of the evening was telling Gwen that we were going to see donkeys and camels. She was asking to see them the rest of the night, I felt really bad. Oh well I think that if we ever go again we will go on a day that is not so popular, like Saturday, or Friday.

As for today it is onto another week, and more things on the check list to do. Bring on the holidays. I can take it.

cowgirl Gwen and sidekick

I really should be getting ready to go visiting teaching, but instead I am blogging. Typical. Here are some fun things that we have found to keep busy around here the last few days. Harrison wore his holiday vest for church on Sunday. Naturally he doesn't care what he is wearing, or even if he is wearing anything, but since I am the mom I get to choose, so he wears what I like. Love a little argyle on a sweater vest.
Yesterday morning we woke up to snow, and although I was not too pleased with how cold it was, Gwen was excited to see the snow, and wanted so badly to build a snowman. Not near enough for that kind of business.
This morning she found a cowboy hat that James received from work, and she was loving it.
Here are a few little video clips, but one of them loaded wrong and I don't have time to fix it right this second, like I said I should be doing something else, but here is a little giddy up Gwen for your morning.

bring on the birthdays

Saturday was a crazy kind of day around here. In the morning we attended a birthday party for Liliana (James' cousins daughter). She turned two and had a party at this inflatable place, extreme fun. Gwen and Harrison ran around like crazy, and that was just fine with me.
Here is the foam pit that they had fun playing in. (the dark haired girl is a random, we don't know her, bu she seemed to think that Gwen was her best friend)
Gwen was driving the police car...well maybe just jumping around in it.
After a whole lot of fun with cousins, it was time to leave, that meant that Gwen had a melt down, seriously out of control I have no idea where it came from. James and I have never seen her cry like that. Oh well, after some good naps it was out for some shopping. Just a side note if you are going to take your kids shopping, don't plan on actually getting to shop.

James and I would enter a store and browse around then if there was something that we liked or wanted to try on the other would take both the kids and try not to demolish the store. So I spent a lot of time out and around the outdoor toys.
Gwen loved the horses of course.

As you can see we were shopping for awhile and so it was getting pretty dark, but we still found time to see more toys. Firetrucks are a big deal around our house....
And so are airplanes. On to other news Saturday was also James' 30th birthday. Where does the time go? Well this post is already long, but I just wanted to list a few things that I really like about ol' James.

1. James is a great dad, the kids hear him start to open the door and they are screaming and yelling for the dad. (pretty sure that never happens to me) He loves to play with the kids, and watch movies with them. Taking the kids to jump on our bed is one of the kids favorite things to do with him. He is also a softy, when the kids fall or something and they are crying hard he feels so bad, and will do whatever it takes to make them feel better. I love that.

2. James is a really hard worker. He is constantly pushing himself to do new things, in life and in his design abilities. Since he started working out he has only missed a couple of days (because he got sick, probably due to me and the kids being sick) That is some real dedication. I would skip all the time, maybe that is why I don't go to the gym. I like that he is a hard worker and so motivated to trying new things.

3. James is a really great support for me. Sometimes I get too worked up in the little day to day things and he is there to tell me to go out, and have fun, or to ask me what he can do to help, or see if I just want to go get a treat. It is funny that in our short married life he knows me so well, what are we going to figure out about each other in the years to come?

Oiga thanks for letting us celebrate your birthday with you. We had a lot of fun, and I am sure that Gwen wouldn't mind if you let her open all of your presents from here on out. You are pretty wonderful and I love you. Welcome to the 30's.

Playmobil celebrates the season

As we were out and about yesterday we popped in to Target for some shopping and lunch. Gwen got this go-gurt (yogurt) with her lunch and she was so thrilled to squish and squeeze the yogurt out. I didn't think that she was ever going to put it down. Can you see the grip she has on that?

Harrison was enjoying some goldfish. Waiting for a little pizza. While we were there I took the chance to pick up a little playmobil Nativity set for the kids. My friend Jackie told me about the one she got for her kids, and I thought it was such a great idea. My plan is to tell the manger story each night with the kids before they go to bed. Gwen carried around the three kings all afternoon still in the bag, because I told her that we would open them with dad that night.

Well I had enrichment last night, and funny enough James was helping out with the kids class so he had our kids at the church, and after all the cleaning up and getting home really late, Gwen was still holding the bag with the "kids". Finally when we got home and in jammies James opened the Nativity set with her.
She LOVED the animals, and the baby Jesus. She wanted to take them to bed with her.
So here is the whole set, almost...umm the cow is in Gwen's hand in her bed. All of the little people are really cute. Gwen is calling them by their names she totes around Joseph and the sheep and she drinks her pretend drinks out of the golden goblet that one of the three wise men carries. So I guess that we will see if the story sticks or if we lose all the parts in less than 24 hours and the whole thing was just a waste. Here is to trying to spin Christmas my way.