Welcome Kai!

We have a new nephew in the family. Jason's step sister and her hubby just adopted a little guy from Ethiopia and he's home now with his new family. His new name is Kai Nuredin (Nuredin is his birth name)



Welcome Kai!

8 Things tag

I'm bored and Camille unofficially tagged me because I read her blog LOL So here it goes

TV Shows that I Watch

1. House
2. Bones
3. Biggest Loser
   
4. Jon and Kate Plus 8
5. Dancing with the Stars
   
6. American Idol
   
7. So you think you can Dance
   
8. Dog the Bounty Hunter
   

Books I Recommend

1. Twilight
2. Anything Mary Higgins Clark
   
3. New Moon
   
4. Eclipse
5. Breaking Dawn
   
6. The Host
   
7. Pelican Brief (although the movie is better lol)
   
8. Series of Unfortunate Events series
   

Things that Happened Yesterday

1. Finished almost all my Xmas orders
   
2. Went to the dollar store
3. Went to the DI
   
4. Made my boys sad (I feel like crap for it too!)
   
5. Hung out with my sick son
   
6. Started reading a new book
   
7. Put gas in the truck
   
8. Nearly got stranded 2 ft from the gas pupm because the truck was on fumes
   

Things I Look Forward To

1. Christmas
2. Christmas being over LOL
   
3. TooeleMommies site bday party
   
4. Paying off bills
   
5. tax returns!
   
6. The next scrapbook expo
   
7. preschool next month with more kiddos!
   
8. Coffee break with the girls tonight!
   

Things on My Wish List

1. For my eletrical in my house to be upgraded
   
2. For my house to be warmer
   
3. a serger sewing machine.
4. A clean house that STAYS clean
   
5. Less bills (or more money either way)
   
6. Griffin to talk more clearly
   
7. To lose 50-100lbs (over time)
   
8. Get my scrapbooks caught up (hahahaha)
   

Things I Love about Winter

1. It ends.
2. My boys playing in the snow
   
3. warm cozy blankets
   
4. not sweating to death cause it's 90 degrees in my house
   
5. pretty untouched snow in the morning.
6. hot cocoa
   
7. Christmas is during it
   
8. Only 3 more months til spring (I hope!)
   

People I Tag

Ummm anyone that actually reads my blog? LOL

Cutting down the tree

I believe!

Weds was our Kids Christmas party for TooeleMommies. We had crafts, games and cookies and milk and Santa! He was THE Santa!! I believe!!!

Tristan is still scared of him so he wouldn't go near him but I finally got Griffin up there.

Happy Hanukkah!

Yes.. I know I'm not Jewish but I decided that my preschoolers needed to learn about more than just Christmas so we did a week dedicated to Kwanzaa and Hanukkah! My friend the Fode is Jewish and suggested we have latkes (aka potato pancakes) for snack. So we did! The kids INHALED them. They even had them traditionally dipped in applesauce and jelly.. you can do ice cream too ;)

Here's our latkes frying and draining!








After snack we enjoyed playing with the driedle too! Happy Hannukah (later this month) to my Jewish friends!

In my completely unbiased opinion

My son is beautiful!

Cause I'm bored

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? umm wrapping paper cause it's fun to open
   
2. Real tree or Artificial? prefer real but have a fake until I have dogs that won't pee on it *sigh*
   
3. When do you put up the tree? Whenever I get around to it.
   
4. When do you take the tree down? When I remember LOL
   
5. Do you like eggnog? super yummy!!
   
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Umm can't think of anything right now
   
7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad and Griffin
   
8. Easiest person to buy for? Tristan
   
9. Do you have a nativity scene? nope
   
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? ummm neither usually I am horrible at remembering!
    
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Clothes that were 3 sizes too big :(
    
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Umm polar express
    
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually Dec 15th when jason gets his xmas bonus. Sad but true!
    
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? yes
    
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Mashed potatoes LOL
    
16. Lights on the tree? ummmm people don't put lights on their tree?
    
17. Favorite Christmas song? Umm must go find it but it's by Kurt Bestor I think it's called Prayers of the children such a sweet song.. not sure it's Christmas but I love it! Oh youtube you must all listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si4-gOqqlB8 and anything by Mannheim Steamroller!
    
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? we just go to my mom's house
    
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? possibly
    
20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning
    
21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? greedy people
    
22. Favorite ornament theme or color? uhhh blue and white is pretty. We have no theme ever.
    
23. What do you want for Christmas this year? a serger sewing machine and a cricut... or some bills paid off by someone other than me :D
    

We are thankful!!

I know it's just that time of year but the last few weeks have made me more thankful than ever.

I am thankful that Jason has a job still and that it mostly allows me to stay home with my boys.

I am thankful for:
my children, even on the days they drive me nuts!
my husband, even when he drives me nuts too LOL
my husband's employer... they are awesome even if times suck right now
my parents
that we have a roof over our head and food in our kitchen
2 working vehicles that are paid in full
for my friends who are always there for me
for TooeleMommies that allowed me to make the wonderful friends I have
for The Mommies Network for creating an organization that brings amazing moms together and supports them!

I'm sure there are many more things I am thankful for but I can't name them all. I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday with or without your families. Eat lots of potatoes and turkey and pie... and be thankful it's there! Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been awhile

We've been really busy lately with the holidays, preschool and family. Preschool is going great but I'm sad to lose Xander next month as he goes to a new school. I have lots of interest for the next session that starts in January so I hope to have a full "class room" by then!

The boys are getting big as ever and keep getting random colds thank to the lovely time of year. I still can't get over that I have a 5 and 3 yr old!

Jason had a nice scare at work last week. They laid off 8 people. Thankfully he still has a job... and hopefully he can ride this out and keep his job until the economy gets better again! If not... we'll make things work. Just means i may have to get a part time job at night to make up some money.

Had Thanksgiving dinner with Jason's family yesterday. Good food and the boys had fun! This week is Turkey day with my family, thanksgiving friday with my dad's family and then we're going to pick up the Christmas tree on Saturday. It's a busy busy weekend and I can't believe it's almost Dec!

I saw Twilight with my friends this weekend and totally loved it! The book was of course WAY better but I thought they did a great job on the movie and I can't wait until New Moon will be released... not soon enough!

TooeleMommies Halloween Party!

Today was my mommies group Halloween party. Last year we had about 20 show up. This year.... nearly 100!! It was crazy but lots of fun!

Here's a slideshow of our pics.

Tristan's last soccer game

His season has been over for almost 2 wks but I've been too busy to update. This is how Tristan spent his entire last game...




And here I thought he was over it. *sigh* Not even that lofthouse cookie bribe would get him to play or not cry. Hopefully spring goes better!

Griffin had a good time though LOL

Pumpkin Walk

Every year I have a craft booth at the Pumpkin walk. The boys love it and there's lots of free things for them to do. Here's some pics from this year.

Griffin got his face painted



The cutest snake you'll ever see

Notice the legs? LOL

Another Birthday Party

This past Sunday (yes I'm way behind) was Tristan's 5th Birthday Party. He decided on dinosaurs for the theme and the kids had a blast!

Autumn and Colby coloring dinos


Griffin and Jordan stamping dinos


Digging for dinos


Autumn found the purple one!


Singing


Blowing out the candles on his cookie cake

Things I've done

Stole this from the lovely Marcie... to participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Happy discoveries!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee


Apparently I need to get out more LOL

Griffin's 3rd birthday party

That's right... my baby is turning 3! I can't believe it :( :) We had his party this weekend. It was a pirate theme. Here are a few pics.

Nearly 3 yr old pirate Griffin


Cupcakes


Pirate treasure boxes


Playing trains


Callista coloring pirate pages


Opening presents





Jason's family will be in california during Tristan's party so he got his gifts from them early and showed them off sitting on Kyle's lap


Playing with the new toys

Ring Slings

I started making a new product since I get requests for them often and my friend jayme stopped making them.. ring slings!
Here's a picture of one

Soccer pics

Tristan only has a few games left (one being tonight). These pics are from last Saturday. They lost by 1 pt 4-5. It was very confusing as both teams were blue... and only a few shades different! So much for stressing not stealing the ball from your team mate LOL They did great at that but were hardly playing in the process.

Preschool pics

Just wanted to share some new pics from preschool. We're having a great time and the boys are doing so well! It amazes me all the time the things they pick up so quickly!

Working on writing their letters A-D (big and small)



Griffin coloring farm animals (Jordan is too above... they're not quite to letter writing)

Our learning wall

Coloring "BLUE" Books

Sharks, stingrays and Octopus' oh my!

Last Friday my mom had off of work and took us to the Aquarium for the day. The boys had a blast! We didn't get many pics cause there's no flash photography but here's a few I did get of the animals.








The boys loved the octopus and the sting rays. Tristan refused to touch the rays but Griffin touched them a few times with his knuckles.Here's some of the boys hamming it up after we saw all the animals.