Ashley and "Little Momma"

Okay so this is not anything new, in fact it happened when Ashley turned about 11 years old, I think, but I was looking through some pics that we took together around Christmas time and it is soooo depressing!!! I mean don't get me wrong, I am proud to have such a young, fun, and beautiful daughter...but when did I start looking so old, feable, and just plain tired. Where's all my youth and beauty, my spunk and gorgeousness??? I used to have it, I PROMISE!!! That's it, from now on I will ONLY take pictures next to short wrinkly old women in there 90's--know any, I really need a pick me up! :) I guess a little makeup would help right?
Young, beautiful, and STRONG!

I used to carry this little girl around EVERYWHERE on my hip...um, sorry Ash, but I don't think that's happening!

I did it! But somehow it just doesn't seem as "Motherly"

Gotta love the teenagers!!!

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, I get it! YES, I am a RUNT! Even my "little" sister is bigger than me! You know what, paybacks are...well, you know. And one day you two will be old and married, with kids draining the life out of you...your daughters will make fun, not acknowledging that you too were once young and a sight to behold....

Anyone ever seen CATS the musical??? Grizabella "The Glamour Cat" comes to mind! :)

It has been a lot of fun though, watching Ashley morph from a little, cute as a button, tiny tot, that used to snuggle up with me for hours. I remember her watching, eyes wide, as I would dress and put on my make-up and she would copy everything I did, tell me she thought I was beautiful, and she wanted to be just like me...

To a beautiful young woman! She doesn't need make-up tips or fashion advice, in fact now she feels she needs to give ME the advice--"are you really going to wear that?" "Mom, what do you have going on with your hair?". But I love who she has become, and now I get to step down, let her take the stage, and watch from the sidelines as she takes to the runway of life! I watch and applause, and wait for those few special moments when she still snuggles up with me and I know she'll always be my little girl no matter how BIG she gets!

Feeling Good

I wanted to update my blog, but I don't have any pictures to post because my camera is outside in the Durango and it is stinking cold outside so I refuse to go out and get it!!! Besides I am happily cuddled up on the couch, the kids all tucked in their beds, and Eric is at church playing volleyball, not due back until who knows when. So, I have been checking out all of my friends blogs and seeing their cute families and fun escapades and I was just thinking "you know what, life is pretty darn fun!" I have a great family, great friends, and a warm blanket...a far cry from my thoughts just an hour earlier when I got home from grocery shopping (two different stores) with all four little ones tired and hungry--had to do the shopping tonight (grocery game--don't laugh I saved $100), I usually try to do it monday day. Eric came too, but the kids were not happy and it was cold and drizzly--I'll probably spend more than $100 at the doctor when my kids all get sick for having them out in this nasty weather. Anyway, we get home, too late to take baths, it'll have to wait for the morning, I LOVE rushing around trying to get baths in before school!!! And, throw pj's on, read scriptures and say prayers as the children continue their "meltdowns". Can it get any worse??? Then the phone rings!!! Thanks JEREMY, reminind Eric he is late for Volleyball, so out the door he goes while I put the kids to bed HYSTERICAL that Dad is leaving...I get Mister down! Yeah, a victory, then Kyla trips over a toy in the hall and must have cut her foot off because the wailing is now unconsoleable! Finally I get the girls in bed, and proceed to take Durham to his bed...I open the door and a wonderous ODOR knocks me over--Marshall has pooped in his pants, aauuugh! I had to wake him up to change the not solid poop, and while I was trying to roll up the NASTY diaper he PEED ALL OVER HIS BED!!! Pillow, sheets, blanket, teddy, it all got it. So as I am cursing Eric's name, I pull Marshall out of bed, set on the bed with Durham, change bedding, and watch as he, now fully awake, jumps on top of Durham's head just to hear him SCREAM!!!

I did finally get everyone to bed, and escaped into my world of blogging...So I guess this is a THANK YOU to all of my friends that let me escape into their worlds of happy blogging bliss when I can't handle my world another second. And help me realize we all go through and survive the maddness, and the good times far outweigh the bad! Eric thanks you too, he won't get his head bitten off when he wlks through the door, and I might even let him snuggle up with me on the couch in my cozy blanket, and chat about how much we LOVE our little sleeping babies!

Heating up the kitchen

I was really excited when I opened my Christmas gift from Eric and the kids...a KitchenAid Mixer!!! For years I have wanted one, but could not justify the expense with my sad lack of cooking skills, but skills or not my sweet husband appeased my wants. I love my family!!! We were so excited to try it out, the other day Eric and I decided to put it into action and a bake some HOMEMADE BREAD! I have never made bread before--I stick to chocolate chip cookies, cakes, and brownies...it was sooo much fun, and YES I was using my shirt as a hand towel!
We began our "adventure" at about 6:30pm with visions of soft, warm, mouth-watering bread to accompany dinner...um, so now I see why we just run to the grocery store and pick up a loaf or two. I was a little apprehensive, but I had the trusty Bernard's New and Complete Book of Breads--Revised and Expanded. The book is about 4 INCHES THICK! so I figured it was thorough enough for even me. I found the "Beginner's Loaf" recipe--THAT'S IT! THAT'S ME! We read and mixed and watched, read and mixed and watched, then FINALLY at 9:25pm we heard the final oven beep gloriously announcing the pecious loaves finished...

Eric says, "NICE LOAVES"
Two beautifully golden, hot, and perfectly browned loaves!
A MASTERPIECE
BUT, would it be edible???

Kyla and Durham, the only two kids still awake, volunteered to be taste testers, and...TWO THUMBS UP!!! WE DID IT! But, wholly cow, someone could have told me it takes FOREVER!!!

I love my mixer, and today I made a nice QUICK batch of chocolate chip cookies. My visions of never buying bread again, and always having nice warm homemade slices at every meal were quickly clouded, but perhaps once a month?!?

New Year's Eve

Happy New Year!

What a great 2008, hope you all had fun ringing in the new year!

We celebrated the New Year at Rainforest Cafe! They have a New Year's party from 6-8pm that is lots of fun and AWESOME for the kids... BUT, we didn't exactly plan ahead, and because it was "reservation only" and we didn't have a reservation we had to wait 30 minutes until the reservations were all filled, but they had an extra table for us and we were EXCITED! Face painting, cookie decorating, balloon drop, and New Year's goodie bags with all sorts of fun things, it was worth the wait, but next year I'll be sure to call ahead.

The kids loved the aquariums

Kyla with her balloon hat

a balloon clown made the kids swords and hats...

Cami was very proud,

Marshall wasn't too sure about Mr. Clown

Mom and Kyla

Mom & Mister

Daddy & Camers

what a cute couple

The cookie decorating station that was very yummy!

Party! Party! Party!

Even Daddy got into the celebrating spirit!

Durham decided to take on the boys at the next table in a balloon sword fight

At the end of the night the servers passed around sparkling cider in plastic champagne glasses that the kids all thought were very cool--Camden even brought her glass home with her. At 8pm they had a balloon drop and a TOAST to the New Year!

And we still made it home for bedtime!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009

Merry Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas this year! The kids all worked hard for weeks writing, decorating, and adding to a giant poster size letter/wish list for Santa. Christmas Eve night we set the list by the fireplace, so Santa would be sure to see it when he came down the chimney, along with Oreos and a big glass of milk! Normally the cookies would have been homemade chocolate chip, but we got in late, I'm sure Santa didn't mind...

and WOW what a wonderful sight Chrismas morning! To our delight ALL the kids made the
"nice" list, some we were holding our breath for :)
Santa brought each one a beautifully wrapped pile of presents sure to impress--those elves must have really stayed up late!
Although Ashley had CLEARLY stated on Santa's wish list that she wanted a "million dollars all for herself," she was happy with the clothes, digital camera and digital camera frame he brought instead--see, even Santa is an AGGIE! WHOOP!
Kyla just KNEW Santa had brought her the coveted Nintendo DS this year, last year Santa had decided she was probably still too young. As she stared at the shiny pile she picked a large present and said "I'm sure this is my DS"--a more experienced older sister Ashley pointed out a much smaller one to try, and to Kyla's delight it WAS a NINTENDO DS!!! "See Mom, I knew it!" To add to her spoils were Littlest Pet Shop toys, and HELLO KITTY rubber boots. What a lucky girl.

Now, Durham, the one we held our breath for the most, was the first to wake up. With Mom and Dad sleeping soundly in their room, exhausted from the night before, Durham decided to take it upon himself to dump everyone's stockings into one large pile in the middle of the living room! Imagine Mom's horror as she awoke to the sounds of a beautifully displayed christmas being destroyed--Aaagh, boys! But Santa knows, that under all the destructive tendencies is a very sweet boy, and Durham was excited to tear into his presents and find STAR WARS figures, a light saber, and Lightening McQueen rubber boots!

Santa brought our sweet Cami just what she wanted, "and I didn't even tell him!" She was AMAZED that even though she REFUSED to sit on Santa's lap both times we saw him this year, and would not even smile at him much less tell him what she wanted, she got it! Her Mariposa Barbie doll!!! Such a good girl, he even gave her a Nintendo DS and Hello Kitty boots too.

Kyla posing with her new pj's. They had little deer on them, so she told dad she can wear them when they go hunting!

Mister had fun just climbing over everything and playing with the paper. He loved the HUGE bucket of playdough Santa brought, although I don't think mom is going to let him play with it for a while...he also got Lincoln Logs that Durham was more than happy to "show" him how to play with.

yeah, more movies, and...

a KNIGHT'S ARMOUR!!! Can we say DESTRUCTION!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and we wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gingerbread House Heaven

Christmas is our favorite time of the year, and one of the things we all look forward to is...

THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE!!!
it takes much concentration...

and much taste testing...

Camden says YUMMY!

Kyla approves...

Mister wants MORE!

"A Masterpiece"

And ta-da, a beautifully delicious gingerbread house, albeit half eaten, that would make Santa himself proud, and keep the kids up on a sugar high for the next three hours!!! Yeah sweets!