Baby Blues

Tyson has almost arrived at the age that Jordan and Kya were when they each became a big sister. Well I am not pregnant, nor do I plan to become pregnant in the near (or distant) future, so I am feeling a little baby hungry. To make matters worse, Tyson is no longer "attached" to his baby blanky AND believe it or not--he has gone to bed without his pacifier the past TWO times. So, my baby really isn't a baby anymore (sniff, sniff) AND how can we deprive the world of another adorable "Mike and Anita" baby?! Maybe we should reconsider...

Christmas Surprises

We had a wonderful Christmas with the usual festivities, but this year we DID have a few surprises as well.

The kids loved ALL their presents

The turkey looked flawless

Jordan lost her front tooth

Mom lost her voice

Tyson transitioned from his "baby" blanket to his "big boy" blanket with no problems

Jordan got TWO pair of Christmas Eve jammies

Tyson got into mischeif (okay that wasn't really a surprise)

The "Cars" toy was everyone's favorite

My Artists

Jordan and Kya each drew me a picture of a Christmas tree. I hung them up on the fridge side-by-side because I love seeing them together. How fun is it to compare a 6-year old's tree with a 4-year old's tree?! So sweet and so original.

Christmas Sunday

I have dreams every Christmas Sunday to get adorable pictures of the kids in their church clothes. Well with the craziness that comes with getting the entire family ready and out the door by 8:40am, the pictures never quite turn out the way I plan. Here are this years "Christmas Sunday" pictures (notice Jordan recovering from an enormous crying fit because she didn't want her pictures taken):

The church program was nice. I love that it is always full of music. The highlight of church for me today was Relief Society (as usual). We had a lesson where the teacher talked about each member of the nativity story and what they really must have felt during the Christmas story. It made the whole story more real to me than ever before. What a magnificent event--the birth of our Savior.

Eight Years

It's official, Mike and I have been married for 8 years!! We celebrated our anniversary on Monday. Unfortunately, it was the same day as Jordan's school Christmas concert so we couldn't go out. We did have our traditional cheesecake and sparkling cider though AND this Saturday we are going for a "sweetheart massage"--side-by-side massages, a sauna, and 1/2 hour hot tub. Sounds divine! Here's a couple pictures (is it just me, or do we look happier in the first one? Ahh, newlyweds):

December 1999

(Our Wedding Day)

December 2007

I LOVE this song!!

I couldn't figure out how to copy this onto my blog, so I will just put in the link. I heard this song on Y&R the other day and I am just IN LOVE with it. Take a listen (I hope it works):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIxxATvIcus

It wasn't Chris Daughtry or Carrie Underwood but...

Mike and I saw two American Idol contestants in a Christmas concert last night. One local Presbyterian church holds a concert every year called "Christmas on Main Street". They have George Huff and Mandisa preform Christmas and religious songs along with the church singers. It was a great night. The church's pastor also sat down with George and Mandisa and talked to them about their experiences from American Idol. It was really neat to hear some insights into the show. Before the night was through, we got to hear some inspiring words from the pastor and not to mention, some great singing. I wasn't a huge fan of either of the two American Idol alums during the seasons they were on, but boy can they sing--they put on a great show. We got to sit on the third row, so it was really neat to be so close. It really felt like we were at one of the American Idol shows.

Ballerina Girl

Parents were invited to watch Jordan's last ballet class of the year this past week. I went--and I took the camera. She really is getting to be a good little dancer (although she is in a bit of a roudy class). Her teacher is great and I really like the way she runs things. The only problem I have with the school is that it is SO expensive. I really want to put her in twice a week, but we just can't afford it. I guess California can't be cheap in any aspect!! Here's some pictures of our little ballerina girl (I think you can figure out which one is Jordan):

O Christmas Tree

On Saturday we finally picked out our Christmas tree. I just love going down to the tree lot and picking out a tree--it is just so festive (although I think they raised the prices this year--yikes). We managed to bring it home, set it up and decorate it without any challenges.

The kids decorated the whole thing by themselves this year and it actually looks really nice (usually all the ornaments are in the front and center). The only thing I would have done different is move Jordan's kindergarten ornament--she wanted it front and center and now that is all I see when I look at the tree.

We had such a nice time and I love the colored lights we are using this year--I think it reminds me of when I was a kid. I just love this time of year! (notice the picture below is WITHOUT the kindergarten ornament)

Santa Picture

Yesterday I took the kids to the mall to get their picture taken with Santa. By the time we got to the line to see Santa, the girls both informed me that they did NOT want to get their picture taken with Santa. Well, after a long talk and an ice cream bribe the kids were full of smiles and sitting on Santa's knee. I must admit, I was REALLY disappointed in the Santa. He didn't even talk to the kids or ask them what they wanted for Christmas. Don't you think "friendliness" would be a prerequisite for the job of Santa? Then they didn't even hand out candy canes! And, for $10 you would think they could at least give you a paper frame for your picture. Oh well, the picture's cute--I guess these days that is the most I can ask for. I think next year I will put the kid's in their Christmas best--they look kind of sloppy.

Just Like Mom

Most of you probably don't remember the Canadian TV show called "Just Like Mom." In this show, kids and their moms were asked a bunch of questions to see how well they knew each other. One part of the show, the kids were left alone with a table full of ingredients to make cookies. The kids could put anything in the cookies they wanted that was on the table (including stuff like mustard and ketchup). At the end of the show, the Mom would taste all the cookies and guess which ones her son or daughter made. I sometimes feel like the kids on this show. My mom is a great cook and although I have most of her recipes, my final product rarely tastes as good as hers (or looks as good).

Yesterday I made naniamo bars and I think I called my Mom about 4 times in the process. My Christmas stuffing is still never right, my pancakes need serious help, and it wasn't until I watched my Mom make waffles that mine actually started turning out right. So is it the experience or just the God-given talent--hopefully just the experience. If that is the case, maybe in a few years my Mom won't be flooded with calls every day around dinner time (my sisters call too--it's not just me).

(Last year's Christmas dinner)

Opposition In All Things

I could write a blog every day about how sweet and adorable Tyson is; on the other hand, I could write just as often about how difficult he is. So, since there must be opposition in all things, I will write a little bit of both.

The Sweet (Good) Boy--Today

-helped Mom carry in the groceries

-followed Kya around the house acting like a robot (so cute)

-layed down nicely and let Mom change his diaper

-sat in the cart the entire time at the grocery store (without complaining)

-gave Mom lots of hugs and kisses

The Difficult (Bad) Boy--Today

-kicked and screamed while Mom was trying to get him dressed (it took about 30 min)

-clogged the toilet with half a roll of toilet paper

-refused to get into his carseat when we were leaving the store

-while Mom was upstairs, he took his bowl of cereal from the table into the living room and spilled the entire thing all over the carpet and couch

-pushed Kya off the stool and scribbled all over her workbook

-peed on the bathroom floor

-emptied my basket of Christmas decorations and threw them all over the floor

-ate his pudding with his hands instead of his spoon

Okay, so maybe there was more bad than good today--or is that every day?!

Goodbye Thanksgiving...Hello Christmas

We had a great Thanksgiving. I ended up cooking a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey thinking I would save some work, but it really seemed like just as much work as Christmas dinner. The food turned out really well, yummy! My friend Erin gave me the idea of making a "thankful" jar. Every night before we went to bed, we would write something we were thankful for and throw it in the jar. After our turkey dinner, we read all the things that we were thankful for from the jar. The kids were really excited about it and I think it made everyone feel special. I think that will be a new tradition for our family--thanks Erin.

Today I decided to pack away the fall decorations and haul out our Christmas things. I was feeling so festive. The kids got right into decorating this year. We got everything up except our tree. Christmas here we come!

(Don't mind Tyson's Supergirl costume--he insisted)

I've Been Tagged

My friend Jessica tagged me, so here are six things about me that you may not know:

1) I am a stress case. I always thought of myself as an easy-going person. I now realize that my life was just easy. Going to college and dealing with roommates was nothing compared to being a wife, mother and homemaker (although I do love my life--it just stresses me out).

2) I am on a serious, calorie-couting diet. It is time to lose all that baby weight once and for all. Wish me luck!

3) I LOVE The Young and The Restless! I know I should be embarrassed to admit this, but I'm not. I started watching "Y&R" right after I hit adulthood (since my parents didn't approve of Soap Operas) and although I have taken breaks from watching (ie. my entire college career), I am still the biggest fan.

4) I am a big chicken. I am the most unadventurous person. I refuse to try any new foods. I am terrified of anything remotely scary (I got freaked out at ghost stories told at a young women sleepover--when I was the leader). I cannot tolerate scary movies--Lord of the Rings was even a bit much for me. I get freaked out everytime I fly...

5) I am a shopaholic. I absolutely love to shop. I could shop all day ever day. I love malls, department stores, drug stores--anything but the grocery store. I do restrain myself so that I don't spend all our money (and I do search for good deals).

6) I am a horrible speller. I seriously would die without spell check. I have always had a problem spelling. I remember in fourth grade when spelling was a subject in school, I got my only ever c-! My teacher had it right though; spelling is definately not my thing.

Look Familiar??

When I saw this picture on someone else's blog, I couldn't resist. If one or both of these guys don't look familiar, it's time to go to the temple.

I invite you...

...to our home:

The News

Since I have been going to my new gym, I've been watching some shows that I wouldn't normally watch. My favorite "gym shows" are The Ellen Show (when I go in the mornings) and The Big Idea (when I go in the evenings). Since I am usually there for a while, I have to pick from other stuff too. There are 5 TVs and this is usually what is on them: 1-The News, 2-CNBC, 3-More News, 4-Sports, 5-CNN. So, there are my choices. If Larry King is on, that is my first choice, if not then I go with the news. Just a little about me; I am NOT a news watcher and now I remember why. The news is never a pleasant thing to watch, but since I have had kids it just stresses me out--and freaks me out. Tonight I watched three stories about missing children, one story about a missing wife (which is thought to be a murder), a story about a college athlete that got shot in the head...It is just SO awful. I can't believe what kind of a world we live in. Who kidnaps these kids and who takes someone's life? Just horrible. So, before you turn on your tv, make sure there is something to watch other than the news.

Thanksgiving Turmoil

(Gobble Gobble)

I have major issues with the Thanksgiving holiday. I seriously LOVE that we have an opportunity to show "thanks" and celebrate the harvest etc. I just don't know what we can actually "do" on the whole holiday weekend.

Dinner: I never want to make a turkey for Thankgiving because it is so close to Christmas (and I WILL NOT cook anything other than a turkey for Christmas--I like the way in Canada we have Thanksgiving in October). One year we tried buying a pre-cooked turkey dinner from Albertson's and yuck--we'll never do that again. Last year I think I roasted a chicken, but I do that during the year too, so it's seems like nothing special. I could do a ham, but I save that for Easter. I just don't know what to do to make Thanksgiving dinnner special. Any suggestions??

Activities/Celebrations: How the heck do you "celebrate" Thanksgiving. We do the traditional "say what you are thankful for", but that takes all of three minutes. Sometimes we'll tell the story of the pilgrims, but how exciting is that? Any help would be great!! What do you all do?

I guess I am just trying to figure out what to do with my family for a whole four day weekend that is meaningful. I am very THANKFUL, so what can we do to celebrate it? And what can I make for dinner?

I Just Can't Help Myself

(This is Jordan Christmas 2003--with too many presents)

Well, it's that time of year again. The time when I buy all my Christmas presents in November and then have nothing left to shop for in December. Ever since Halloween I have had the itch to Christmas shop. This year I am trying to do things a little different. I am making lists instead of buying (for the kids at least). So, whenever I see something I want to buy one of them, I just come home and write it on my list. Then once Thanksgiving is over, I can go through my lists and pick the best gifts for each child. I have already bought Mike a few things. He is the one I usually have no ideas for. I think I have done pretty well so far. I am also allowing myself to shop for those who live far away (the family names we drew and Mom & Dad). I use the excuse that we need to have extra time to "mail" them. Any excuse to shop is okay with me. I LOVE this time of year!!

"Everything's Changing"

Jordan made her Christmas list yesterday, and I am happy to report that she is officially out of her "Disney Princess" phase. Just about everything on her list is "High School Musical". After I mentioned that she didn't like princesses anymore, Jordan said "Mom, everything's changing. I don't like princesses anymore, my favorite color is blue instead of pink..."

"I Do"

There is something about going to a wedding that really reminds you of how much you love your spouse. We were at a wedding tonight, and I got that feeling. Watching Amanda (the one getting married) dance with her hubby for the first time, and then her Dad. It's enough to make anyone cry, right? Well any girl anyways! It just brought me back to those times when we were carefree newlyweds. What a special time that is (sleeping on an airmattress because we couldn't afford a bed, fighting over which towels you are "supposed" to use, "sleeping in" and missing my early morning classes, playing frisbee at the park, going out to the grocery store at midnight without having to get a babysitter...)!

Our 8-year anniversary is coming up in December and I can't believe it. We are still happy, still making memories--it is still a special time (late-night talks/laughs, going on dates, rough-housing with the kids, family walks, watching our favorite shows together...). I really am lucky.

Trick-or-Treat

Trick-or-treating was a lot of fun this year.

Tyson refused to let us carry him or his heavy pumpkin. He wanted to knock on every door, but sometimes the girls were too fast. He learned to say "wait" and he did manage to say "trick-or-treat" once or twice. He was adorable at the doors though. He would hold out his pumpkin and if he didn't see a treat go in there, he would hold out his hand for more candy. One lady just held the bucket out to him and he just took handful after handful--we finally took him away. By the end of our street Tyson was ready to go home and eat his candy.

Kya was so grown up this year. She ran to each door and was the first to say "trick-or-treat" and "thank you". She eventually did get tired of carrying her pumpkin around and was ready to go home around the same time as Tyson was (better than last year when she only lasted 3 or 4 doors).

Jordan was the trick-or-treating master. She helped Tyson at each door. She could have trick-or-treated all night if we would have let her, but she went home when the rest of us were tired. When she went to bed tonight she was very concerned about what was going to happen to her candy.

The kids got quite a lot of candy this year--what are we going to do with it all?!

I had a dream...

I woke up this morning 10 minutes before Jordan was supposed to leave for school. This is very unusual since the kids usually wake me up long before I NEED to be up. Anyways, I was happy to be awake after the awful dream I had:

Everything was dark--it was night time. I was going out with some friends when all of a sudden we saw meteros flying through the sky and toward us ( I know, it sounds corny, but it was so real and terrifying). We managed to avoid them, but I was so scared. I remember thinking--"Is this the way I am going to die?" My only goal was to get home to be with my kids. I just kept imagining how scared them must be without Mom.

I don't know about any of you, but this isn't the first time I've had a "the world is coming to an end" kind of dream (I have been in terrorist attacks, earthquakes, tornados...). As much as I hate having these kinds of dreams, I love the feeling I get when I wake up and realize that it was "just a dream". For so many, these types of things are a part of their lives. We are blessed.

Does anyone else scream???

Oh my gosh, what a frustrating evening I had. At 6:15pm I found myself standing in the kitchen screaming at the top of my lungs. When I came back to my senses and realized what a loser I was, I wondered "am I the only one who gets so frustrated by the end of the day that I have to let it all out with a scream?"

I can't complain; my life really is great--but I'll complain anyways. Today was just one of those ones that put me over the edge--just one thing after another. I spent my morning searching for the final touches for our Halloween costumes. Tyson was less than impressed when I had to keep buckling and unbuckling him in his carseat. He showed this by screaming and arching his back, making it almost impossible for me to buckle his seatbelt (about three or four times). Then, of course, no stores had what I was looking for. I ending up buying something that wasn't quite right, only to find something a little better at another store (tomorrow will be a day of returning things that I bought today). Then I spent more time driving out to Salinas, not being able to find a Halloween store that was right in front of my face. By the time I realized it was there, Tyson had fallen asleep. I didn't drive all that way for nothing, so once again I dragged Tyson out of his carseat.

After his nap, Tyson spent the rest of the day pulling at my legs and whining. I couldn't figure out what he wanted, and it was so frustrating. I tried a new recipe for dinner that boiled over in my oven. When it was dinner time, all the kids refused to try it. I forced a bite down each of them which resulted in Kya spitting it out all over the kitchen floor.

Mike told me he was going to be home by 5:15pm. At 5:30pm he called and said he'd be home by 6:00pm. Well at 6:10pm all the kids were crying, I was wondering where the heck Mike was (especially since he was supposed to leave for volleyball at 6:30pm) and the day just got the best of me. I screamed and ran up to my room. Jordan followed me up--not to see what was wrong, but to ask if she could watch High School Musical. I said she could, then she said "I want you to watch it with me". That was enough to soften my heart and get me out of my frustration.

By the time Mike got home I was painting the girl's nails and we were pretty much happy (well all except Tyson who was still whining and wanting something). Mike stayed home a while longer to play with the kids and give me a little break. Now I have had the evening to read books with the kids, watch Y&R, and just relax. I hope there will be no needs for screams tomorrow.

Fall in Canada

We're back from another visit to Abbotsford! I love BC in the fall--it is so beautiful that the rain doesn't even bother me. I had a great visit with family and friends. I am so lucky. I love all of you so much and wish I lived closer. It is nice to be home and with Mike, but we miss all of you already.

Fishing

Mike managed to go fishing with Dad two out of the three days he was in Canada. They caught a few fish that Mom cooked up to make a delicious "fish and chip" dinner.

Pumpkin Patch

Lisa, Tina, and I took the kids to Alder Acres in Langley. We went on a hayride out to the pumpkin patch, fed the animals at the petting zoo, held bunnies in the barn, and even got to play in the mud a little.

Apple Picking

Since apple picking season was mostly over, Grandpa had saved Jordan and Kya some apples to pick during our visit. The girls had fun climbing the latter and filling their baskets of apples. Tyson had fun chucking the apples around after the girls brought them in.

We also had fun at the drop in preschool (with Ginny and Vienna), the indoor playplace, Go Bannas, playing at Sheri's, Lisa's and Tina's houses, girls night @ Collett's house, dinner out with the girls...Can't wait 'til next time.