The most wonderful time of the year

Lately, Pj has been waking up so early in the morning, I have been making him watch Disney channel in my room while I stay in bed trying to sleep.  This morning I did fall asleep and woke up with no PJ in sight.  I found him at the computer naked as a jaybird.  Is this what we would call the butt crack of dawn?

 We went to the mall for a winter photo.  Kiddie Kandids is back in business and I got a coupon for a free 11x14 so I said "Let's do it"

 Here is their pic.  They no longer give the pictures the same day.  It won't be done until Dec 20th.

 Carlene and her gang also did pictures.  My mom came along as well to try and get grand kids to cooperate.
This is what the girls did to entertain themselves while waiting.

 Then my kids went to see Santa again.  PJ loves Santa and ran to him, hopped right on his lap and started talking to him

 We saw Judy at the mall and she went on the train with us.

 We also went to the Christmas store.  My kids loved it!  But it is definitely not a store for 6 little terrors.

 For family night we went with my mom and dad to see festival of the lights and the lights and Salem Pond.  Addie loved being able to stick her head out of the moon roof.  She waved to all the people.  She felt like miss America

My boys loved the lights!  They oohed and awed and grunted at all of the neat lights.  It was a fun night.

I am making sure that this year we do as many Christmas activities as possible.  In years past, I feel like it sneaks up on me and we miss out on doing a lot of fun things.

the fun never ends

We are definitely staying busy around our place. 

 We took the kids to see the lights at temple square for the first time.  It was a beautiful night.  Trey asked me what princess lived in the castle.  I had no idea he wouldn't know that was the temple.  However, he did think Provo town center was a temple.

 We have also recently been to the childrens museum.  We got our tickets from living social.  We were able to all go for 20 bucks.  My kids love this place more and more each time we go.

My parents took Landan and I to Texas roadhouse for my birthday. 

We went to the Santaquin light parade.

The kids were making Christmas pictures and  after leaving them unsupervised for a few minutes this is what we saw.  I don't know what everyone is supposed to be except that Addie said Trey is Rudolph.

this was fun scrubbing off in the tub!

more happenings

Before I forget to mention it again... We had a great Thanksgiving.  We had Thanksgiving with the Huff Clan.  We had a fun time visiting and eating and then going to see "Tangled"

Thanksgiving morning, Carlene and I ran the Earn your Turkey 4 miler in 7 degrees.  It was as terrible as it sounds.

This week I took my kids shopping to buy their friends christmas gifts.   It is fun to see what they think their friends will enjoy.

We had a fun time at the Heelis Christmas party.  My kids won prizes and got to visit with Santa for the second time this season. 

 This is us before heading out to the party

 Peyton wanted to show Santa is Thomas the train shirt.

 Trey wants to make sure Santa knows to bring him Rosie the train and candy.

Santa reminded Addie she was on naughty watch and said she needs to help out at home.  He was really nice about it .. BUT... Addie still burst into tears after getting off of his lap... made me feel bad for a moment.  I am just hoping she will learn something from all of this.

first visit to santa

We went to the mall to see Santa. Not one kid cried this year.  However, Addie was nervous because Santa sent her a message through PNP (portable north pole) and said she was on naughty watch.  She thought Santa might mention something to her while she was sitting on his lap. She was really relieved he didn't say anything.  But Man she has been helpful the last couple of days.  She has mopped my floors, cleaned the bathrooms, tended the boys.... 

We also went on a train ride.  Trey and PJ were in heaven.  The train went around the entire main floor of the mall.  Good Times!

After the train ride, we bought some cotton candy.  It was a fun day!  I wonder how many more times we will see Santa in the next month.

WOOT WOOT

Addie had  a great day at school.  They had a few assemblies and a thanksgiving party.  At the Reflections assembly she found out she won the dance category.  She was very excited to receive 5 bucks.  They also had the Ken Garff reading assembly where she was awarded " Most improved reader"  She also got to get checked out a half an hour early since I was at the class party and everything was done by that point.  Now hooray for Thanksgiving break.  I hope the blizzard isn't going to be as bad as everyone is saying. 

when you've only got a 100 years to live

As long as I can remember I have always wanted to be older.  That is until I turned 28..Suddenly I realized that many years had escaped me.  Now I am getting older way too fast.  My kids are growing up too fast.  My life is passing before my eyes and I am not ready.  I haven't accomplished anything yet.  "15 there's still time for you".. where was five for fighting when I was wishing those years away.

2010  has not been a good year.  In fact it probably goes down as one of the worst years of my life so far.  But it has been a year of growth(not physically, I hope) in fact I may have aged 3 or 4 years this year in knowledge and understanding.  However, amongst all the hard times I still feel blessed.  I still have great family and friends and everything we need to survive as a family. 

List of good and fun things this year

went to Disneyland
Landan got hired at FedEx
Addie turned 7
Trey turned 4
Celebrated 12th anniversary by going to Vegas
ran a lot of races with one of my favorite sisters
Both boys gave up the diapers. (super good thing)
got to go to 5 birthday dinners of my closest friends since High school.  I am so happy since graduating 15 years ago that we still get together for each others birthdays.  I have the best friends.
expanded my dinner menu.  thanks to a favorite cousin with an awesome food blog.
Had a girls trip with my mom and sisters
Had a girls trip with Addie, Carlene and Hallie
Had a boys trip with Trey, Carlene and Waylon.
Peyton turned 3
We have all been fairly healthy and that is a great thing

 I believe we are the masters of our fate.  We can't control some things but we can control how we get through them.  In about 24 hours I turn 34. This year is about having no regrets, moving on, and making the best of things  cause "every day's a new day"

                                Photos were taken by Jared Heelis

halloween and such

 October was a very busy month.  It seems like we had an overload of fun activities and not so fun activities.

Halloween adventures took up a lot of our time.  We went  to a family Halloween party with an awesome haunted house.  Trey had a school trunk or treat and Addie had a Halloween party at her school.
 We had SEP conferences.  For the most part Addie is doing great!  She told me before the SEP that her teacher would say she needs to work on her handwriting, quit talking so much and stay in her seat better.  Guess What?  Addie was exactly right.  Next time why bother hearing it from the teacher.  I will just ask Addie and save me a trip. Ha ha!

On Halloween (utah halloween) I ran a Halloween 5k and managed to be the top female finisher.  I was awarded with 2 Jazz tickets.  The seats are right behind the Players bench.  I wish I cared.  We also went trick or treating.  Trey and Peyton loved it.  Addie complained about being cold the whole time.

 We also went to pirates pizza this month.

 Trey's preshool class

 Addie and her besties at her school

 Addie with cousin Gracie and cousin chad

 My kids on Halloween

Trick or treating wagon style.