Christmas Eve

We had a fun Christmas, as usual. My mom was here for the holidays. It was great to have her here. She's always a good sport when it comes to playing games. A week earlier we went to a couples Christmas Party and played Shaving Santa. Matt and I thought the kids would have fun playing so we decided to do it on Christmas Eve with them. My mom, grandma, bro, and sis-in law played along as well. This is a video of Natalie shaving Remington.

The finished product- let's just not put a razor in her hand, ok?

We enjoyed Up on the Housetop played by Porter.

Natalie and Remington performed a poem as well. What amazes me here is they could pass for twins in this picture. I always knew they looked alike, but didn't realize how much until I looked at this photo.

It was definitely a fun and memorable Christmas Eve. Thanks, fam.

yummy recipe

I'm not really into cranberry, but this is a really good recipe. The cranberry gives it just the right amount of tart. Even my 7 yr old who claims to hate everything I make loved this. Perfect for the holiday.

Cranberry Cake
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 tsp. almond extract
2 cups flour
2 1/2 cups frozen or fresh cranberry's
2/3 cup chopped pecans
Beat eggs and sugar together. Add butter and almond extract. Stir in flour just until combined. Fold in cranberry's and pecans. Bake in a greased 13x9" pan at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Serve with whipped cream. This makes a great dessert or a special breakfast.

Tag, I'm it!

Ok, Kim tagged me so I thought I'd play along.

8 t.v shows I love to watch
1. the Office
2. Heroes
3. 24
4. Supernanny
5. Wife Swap
6,7, and 8 are up for discussion

8, no 9, Favorite places to eat
1. Costco- where else can you eat lunch for $1.50
2. McDonald's- exciting, I know.
3. Sizzler
4. a good pizza place
6. Portillos
7. Costa Vida
8. My house
9. Stephanie's house

8 things I did yesterday
1. Volunteered at Lowell Scott Book Fair
2. Ate Halloween Candy
3. Went to parent/teacher conferences
4. PTO meeting
5. Met with the school principal
6. Ate Papa Johns (the only reason to buy it is for that darn garlic butter!)
7. Mailed a CD
8. Watched Nancy Drew with the kids- and enjoyed it!

8 things I am looking forward to
1. Fewer kids games in January
2. Family at Thanksgiving
3. Christmas Season
4. Me and Matt going to Hawaii
5. Grant being potty trained
6. A raise in pay
7. Having little to do on my PTO agenda for the Xmas season
8. Next summer


8 things on my wish list
1. Lose weight
2. Get back into some sort of shape- preferably not a pear
3. Sell our truck
4. Grant potty training himself (soon)
5. People on the other team would like me after a basketball game (I have issues with this)
6. That I knew how to decorate
7. A house where Porter could have his own room (don't worry, it's not happening).
8. Go to Chicago next summer

8 people I tag
1. Mo
2. Phil and Courtney
3. Barbara
4. Heather
5,6,7,8 Anyone else who wants to be tagged

Halloween 2008

After 3 hours of trick or treating, the results are in: Remi wins with 4lbs 4oz, Nata 4 lbs 1 oz, Grant 3 lbs 4oz. I ate some of Grant's oz and I'm sure gained lbs. This is about the only time of the year where I'll let myself eat actual candy bars. I will never go out and just buy candy bars. I prefer cookies and brownies. That way I don't actually know the amount of what I've taken. I've started with the Kit Kat's. Then I'm thinking of moving onto either Snicker's or Reese's- ok, Snickers (Mmm, good choice.). Anyway, back to Halloween. Grant was a trooper! He walked or ran the whole time up until the last 15 min. It was so cute to see is bumblebee bottom bounce with each step. The last few houses we went to took a heroic effort just to get up the step. He even grunted to get up that step. As we trick or treated, he had his own set of rules he went by too: #1 I couldn't hold him if I was wearing the mask, and #2 I couldn't get closer than the sidewalk. I guess he just wanted to feel like a big kid.

I did a few things different this year. I bought the kids costumes from Savers which I don't know why I haven't done this sooner. So much cheaper and less hassle. Also, I dressed up. This was a last minute throw together. I was just going to wear the mask, but then decided a hat would look good with it and then planned the clothes with to go with it. This was a $1.00 costume- for the mask. So I'm pretty thrilled. Not to mention no one could recognize me. Also, when I see the pictures I don't have to see how much older I keep looking.

Natalie had a great costume. She was a deviled egg. It was funny to see how long it took for people to realize what she was. Some people just never got it.

Remi was a cute dinosaur. All big and puffy and ready for the cold weather. It was supposed to see 70* today so instead he was toasty.

Matt bought the guy's mask. I thought we were a cute couple. He just needed a cigar for his costume.

Porter was the King of Comeback. This was his idea and I thought it was pretty good. Atleast he found a costume for him. He did not go trick or treating. He doesn't like candy so he usually walks around with us or passes out candy. This year he went with a friend and their family to the field of screams- a haunted corn maze or something, I'm not really sure. Since 12 seems to be the age where people don't let their kids trick or treat he was able to go play. I think 12 is still too young to stop.

Tomorrow we will go to the Dillon's Haunted House- YEAH!

Digital TV

hulu.com/watch/36608/talkshow-with-spike-feresten-cable-psa

I don't know how to get video onto my blog yet so I put this address. Just copy and paste it and it should come right up. It's a 2 minute video about going digital. My mom forwarded this to me and I laughed pretty good. Sometimes it's a little bit of how I feel.

Sick

So I'm sick today. Well, really yesterday, but I'm taking it easy today. Usually when I'm sick I live life normally because your sickness will go away sooner. That's just my theory. So yesterdayI went on my walk and went visiting teaching, laid down, then went to help set up for a baby shower. By the time we were finished setting up I was beat. I came home and went straight to bed. I pretty much laid down the rest of the night and my feet and back were so achy (they ached- didn't know how to spell that). I was on the couch for a couple of hours, which there is absolutely nothing to watch on Tues. nights, and after walking up the stairs I got light headed and saw black and white fuzzies swirling around my head. I had to get to the sink in a flash in case I threw up. My face was so white I thought for sure I was going to hurl, but I didn't. I never do. Anyway, I'm doing tons better now. Matt thought I should blog this because I never get sick. And this is true. What really stinks though is that I have to wait another day to see my brand new niece. She's 9 lbs 21" and only 12 hours old.

Smelly Boys

What is it with 12 years olds? I love my 12 yr old. He has really shown a lot of responsibility. In fact, last Sunday he woke up me and Matt at 7:50 asking if there was church. I said yes and told him to get in the shower. Well, he had already taken one. Matt pinched me and I wasn't dreaming. Po did something he needed to do without me asking. It was so awesome! He was waking us up to get ready for church. He hasn't complained that he needs to be at church early to help with chairs and he can't wait to do temple baptisms again. He's enjoying scouts and playing basketball(we forced him to try out). I realize this may wear off, but for now I'm thrilled that he has had a good attitude about these things. However, I tend to lose sight of this and ride him pretty hard about other things. I have a hard time looking past his B.O. problem. I swear sometimes he's cultivating onions in his pores. I can't believe how bad he stinks! He showers and deodorizes daily! And it's not just his armpits, but his feet too. I feel sorry for these middle school teachers that are near these kids everyday. Someone with boys please tell me this is normal and he will figure it out. Lie if you have to or else give some really good advice.