Dress up

Nicole came over last week (before The Plague hit our house) and she and my kids enjoyed dressing up like princesses. Even Alex joined the fun though it's not shown in this picture. He is a very pretty princess!!

Nasty

I've decided one of my least favorite things about being married is...........

Cleaning a toilet that a man uses.

'NUFF SAID!!!!

Broccoli

My herbivore of a son just had steamed broccoli as a snack. He came in the kitchen and told Andy and I that he was hungry (again!!! kid must be growing) and so Andy replied that he could have some broccoli. I'm quite certain that he was joking but Alex thought that was a great idea. So I steamed up some fresh broccoli and Alex happily ate it for a snack at 10:30 am. He even asked for seconds. I love this kid!!!!!

Sickies

At least the kids aren't sick! But Andy and I sure are feeling it! I am going on day 3 now which is about a day and a half longer than I am usually sick but I still have body aches, runny nose, slight cough and I feel SO weak. I almost passed out in the kitchen this morning. Andy was gone from Monday through Wednesday so my sweet mom came over Wednesday afternoon to help me with the kids and laundry (which, by the way, still isn't put away even though my mom washed and folded everything perfectly!). I was so happy that Andy was coming home and would be able to help me but he got home and was so pale that I knew I'd have to step up and finish with the chores and kids myself. He looked AWFUL! He went up to bed at 5 pm and took a pretty good nap and woke up just in time for me to come to bed and pass out! Andy has taken the last 2 days off of work for himself and to help me which I appreciate very much!! Right now I am mostly praying that the kids don't get sick and that Andy and I get better soon!! Or, as Samantha puts it "Bless that Mommy's cold will go to someone else.".

SERENITY NOW!!!!!

SERENITY NOW! SERENITY NOW!!!!

Draper Temple

Yesterday afternoon we took the kids to the open house for the new Draper Temple. We thought it was important for the kids to have the chance to see inside the temple so it wouldn't be such a mystery to them. The temple was BEAUTIFUL!!! Like pretty much everything the church does it was classy and gorgeous. The woodwork was amazing and the stained glass work was even more amazing. I loved it because it reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright who I adore!! They also had a great display of temples in the reception afterward with yummy cookies and water. I loved all the pictures of the temples and of Christ. I wish that we would have had a non-member friend to take with us like we did when we went to the open house for the Manhattan temple. We were lucky enough to live in New Jersey when the Manhattan temple had its open house and our friends Ashly and Jesse and Ashly's sister were in town as well. Ashly's sister brought along a co-worker who isn't LDS. It was kind of fun and strange to see it through his eyes. I am not sure the impression it made on him, but I hope that he enjoyed it.

The kids were really good through the whole thing and Alex exclaimed, "I love this temple, I want to come back!". I thought that was a really cute thing for him to say! Samantha made all the people on the bus laugh when she saw Moroni on the top of the temple and she said, "There's Moroni with his telescope!". When we asked Samantha her favorite part of the temple she said, "The cookies.". Well, right there is further proof that she is a Higham!!!

The ever mysterious accent of Kristi

Many times throughout my life I have been asked by strangers if I am from either Minnesota or Wisconsin because of my accent. The lady at the spa in California thought I was from the South. Yesterday at Target the checkout girl asked if I was from England. Really?? Do I really sound that strange? I guess it must just be a "Utah" accent which is just a combination of hick and California. I would blame it on being from Payson but I don't use the word "ain't" often enough.

California - January 2009

Saturday
* We left for the airport around 9 am for our 11 am flight. We even got out the door a few minutes early!! Shocking!
* Arrived at the airport and checked in with no problems. We were at the airport at the beginning of the Sundance Film Festival and we saw lots of paparazzi and caught a glimpse of Susan Sarandon. She is short.
*Kids were great on the flight and we had plenty of room since the plane was more than half empty (or half full if you're an optimist like me!!!).
* My favorite part of the flight was Alex patting on his legs at take-off like they do in Little Einsteins to help Rocket fly. Too cute!!!
* Arrived in Santa Ana, got rental car and drove to the condo.
* Stripped off clothes and ran naked in the warmth.
* Went to the grocery store to stock up on supplies for the kitchen and got some lunch.
* We drove around to look for an Old Navy to buy some shorts (it was hot!) but the kids were being rotten so we went back to the condo, had a small dinner and put the kids to bed.
* You don't want to hear about the rest of Andy's and my night (wink, wink!!).

Sunday
*We woke up early - courtesy of the time change and the children! - and got ready for the hour and a half drive to Sea World
* We got to Sea World just before 10 am and went straight in to the whale training area and had Breakfast with Shamu.
* We sat in the sun and ate a yummy buffet breakfast and watched the whales swim and train and learned a little bit about them.
* I'm certain I enjoyed the breakfast more than anyone else since I love marine life. Well, not so much marine life as just whales and dolphins and the cute, smart ones. The ugly, gross ones not so much!
* Sea World was a big hit for everyone and we had a great day. We went to all the shows we could fit in, I got a HUGE yummy Pepsi in a hideous cup that I brought home, the kids were great and the Sesame Street area was a great thing for the kids to be able to run around and get some energy out.
* On the way home we stopped at the Chart House for dinner which was delicious. We caught the sunset and were lucky enough to see a pod of dolphins swimming in the ocean and playing around. It's quite different to see them in the wild as opposed to jumping and clapping for an audience.
* Both kids passed out in the car on the drive home and for the first time in their little lives we were able to carry them from the car and into bed without a fuss and they slept the night!!! If you know my kids at all, you know how amazing that is!!

Monday
* We woke up a little later on Monday and had a leisurely morning in the condo watching cartoons and playing around.
* Finally around 10 am we headed to the beach.
* California beaches suck. There is washed up stinky marine life and the water is FRIGID! I prefer soft, white sandy beaches, but I'm from Utah.....I can't afford to be picky!
* The sun hid behind the clouds but it was still warm for us and we dug in the sand and made sand castles and just played around for an hour.
* We went and picked up some lunch and took it back to the condo and ate, cleaned up and tried to get the kids to nap.
* Alex took a great nap and Samantha rested for a little while.
* Once Alex woke up we went to the pool but the water wasn't very warm and the sun was on it's way to setting, so we didn't stay long there either.
* We went to a grocery store to pick up some BBQ fixins since the condo had a grill outside. But upon our return the grill was occupied so we cooked our food inside, which, was not too pleasant for Andy since he didn't have all the necessary equipment. But it was edible.
* Bathtime and bedtime

Tuesday
* Disneyland!!!
* We arrived at Disneyland an hour before the park opened like we were instructed to do. It turned out to be a good thing because our friends the Fausts were there and got us in early with their passes.
* It was so great to see our friends and their adorable family. Little Adam is 7 months old and so squishable!!
* The kids had a rough start and were so confused by the whole concept of Disneyland (their faces were like "what the hell??" But really, who's face wouldn't be like that? Most of the rides are dark and creepy and make no sense unless you're on drugs! Even the puny Winnie the Pooh ride. INSANE!!! But I digress.) . We rode Dumbo and the Teacups which they both loved and that kind of got them into the swing of things. We went to Pixie Hollow and Samantha got to meet Tinkerbell and another Fairy which she loved. Alex couldn't have cared less! That's my boy!!
* We rode rides. Kids cried. Samantha drew blood on Andy's arm. Samantha screamed. Andy and I laughed. We spent money. Lots of money.
* We ate lunch at the Blue Bayou which is attached to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and Andy and I clogged our arteries with Monte Cristo sandwiches. Greasy and tasty!
* Andy told Alex he would buy him pirate junk if he went on the Pirate ride. So he did. He cried, but said he wanted to go on it again as he was wearing his Pirate Mickey ears (adorable!).
* Took both kids on Splash Mountain. I have never seen anyone as scared as Samantha was. Slightly sad, slightly funny. She was tough though.
* Ate ice cream, went on more rides, spent more money.
* When we decided we were done with Disneyland we left the park and found a yummy taco place where we all shoved chips and guacamole in our mouths. Especially Samantha. Guacamole whore.
* We weren't even out of the parking lot before Samantha was fast asleep clutching her baby Minnie Mouse doll. Alex was too pumped up to fall asleep in the car, but slept well at night.

Wednesday
* Kind of a waste of a day. No real plans except to swim and shop but Samantha was an angry little elf so we put her down for an early nap.
* We thought she'd wake up happy and ready to conquer the day. We were wrong.
* We took the kids to lunch at a mall but had to go right back home since Samantha was feeling under the weather and very cranky.
* Andy watched the kids at the condo while I drove to Huntington Beach and got a lovely spa treatment courtesy of my dear husband!
* I relaxed in the sauna. Dipped in the hot tub. Tried the steam room and almost passed out! Received a volcanic body scrub and facial and fell asleep during the whole process! Lovely!
* I got home, we ordered pizza and had an early night.

Thursday
* We flew home. Kids were great on the airplane again and we got home early enough to do some laundry and clean up the house.

I would love to take the kids to Disneyland again and next time I think 2 days would be better. I also hope Samantha will get a little more brave and will enjoy more rides next time. Lessons learned!!

California Trip (FINALLY)

So, I'm not a huge fan of these sideshows, but there were so many pictures I wanted to include that this was the easiest way. If you want to look picture by picture you can click on the sideshow which will take you to their website and you can look through each picture. I find that to be easier.
I will post later all the details of the trip because I KNOW that you have been biting your nails just waiting to hear all about the Higham's vacation!! We sure do know how to party!!

Prayer

Samantha just said the breakfast prayer and our favorite line in it this morning was.....

"Please bless Mommy's cold to go away and go to someone else."

Andy just explained to her that it doesn't really need to work that way and that the cold could just go away on it's own without getting anyone else sick. Although, if it takes someone else being sick for mine to go away, then so be it!!!! I am not a fan of clowns so I'll go find a clown and lick his face to pass the cold along! HA!

Sprinkles

I've heard about Sprinkles. I thought it was just hype. You know, a cool place to buy a treat even though the cupcakes aren't very good. I was wrong. Oh so very wrong. YUMMY!!!

Merry Christmas!

Total tally for goods bought at Disneyland yesterday.....except I think I am missing a couple of receipts so I think the actually number is a bit higher........

$270

That was just on toys and stuffed animals and hats and junk. Not including food. Or admission to the park. But the kids raked in the goods!! It was like Christmas all over again especially because they had a ton of money from Grandma for Christmas that they were able to use to buy anything they wanted. It took a lot of pressure off of me because I didn't have to say no to everything they wanted. I really enjoyed buying them everything they wanted. I have pictures of the loot I will put up when I get home tomorrow. Let's just say Disneyland is not a cheap trip!

Never want to leave!

I really like the weather here in Southern California. Who wouldn't?? We even got sunburns yesterday! Sunburns......in January!! So great! We spent the whole day yesterday at Sea World and it was lovely and hot and great. The kids have been pretty good except in the car where they fight like 2 wet cats! They are just in booster seats and we just have a Honda Accord so they can touch each other which, as we have found, is a very bad thing. They haven't napped or gotten much sleep either so that has been a challenge. Today we are just chilling on the beach and swimming at the hotel pool so I am hoping that the relaxed day today will recharge them and get them ready for our Disneyland day tomorrow! We found out that our friends, the Fausts, are in town and at Disneyland as well so we are hoping to hook up with them tomorrow. They live in Virginia so we don't get to see them too often so we are glad that our paths are crossing.

Well, I'm off to get ready for the beach!! Wahoo!

Sillies

Yesterday I had my nephews Cameron and Spencer in the car with me. Here is how our conversation went.....

Cameron: Kristi, are you allergic to cats?
Me: No, I'm not buddy.
Cameron: Oh, I thought you were cuz my mom and Shell-Bell are.
Me: Nope, I'm not, but I think I might be allergic to my birdie!!
Cameron: How come?
Me: I don't know, I just sneeze a lot when I'm around him.
Spencer: Hey, I have an idea!!!!
Me: What's your idea Spencer?
Spencer: I think we could FIX the bird!


Also, just now we were telling the kids that our fish, Merrie, is sick. He hasn't been moving much or eating much so we thought we'd prepare them for us being gone and maybe coming home to a fish belly up. Samantha piped up and said, "Well, maybe if Merrie is sick we could turn on a show, or some music and he could just take a little rest!!!!". You can tell what we do for our kids when they are sick! Sweet little girl!!

Joys of Parenting

The great thing about going on a trip - especially a trip for the kids - is that you get it hang it over their heads for so long. We are taking the kids to Disneyland next week and just now Samantha was throwing quite the tantrum. I picked up the phone and "dialed" Mickey Mouse. I wish you could have seen her face!!! She totally thought it was serious and immediately tried to calm down. I was talking to Mickey telling him that Samantha was having trouble and needs a big nap before we come visit him. In the end I got her to tell the phone that she was going to take a nap before we visit Mickey. Alex also promised Mickey he would take a good nap tomorrow. For real though, the trip will be so much more fun, for everyone, if both kids are napped before we go. I doubt there will be much napping or resting going on while we're gone, so I'm trying to get it done before we leave. Wish me luck!!!!!

Oh, we just found out my sister Richele is having a baby boy!! Yipppeee!! It didn't even take me 24 hours before I went to Janie and Jack and bought him a little outfit! I'm the best aunt! We can't wait for the little guy.

If it takes him 3 times to pass the first grade, we'll know why!

Take a lesson from Alex.....this is what will happen if you don't listen to your mommy and you run in the bathroom on a slippery floor!! DUH!!! I told them to stop but since no one listens to me Alex crashed and hit his head right on the tub. Poor little guy! This kid has had some major head bumps in his life but this is the worst I've seen. After a little tylenol and some ice it looked better. Let's just hope he can sleep the night without a headache.

My fav

One of my favorite presents this year - and probably my favorite present ever from Andy - was this.......
This is the poem that Andy wrote me when we were first dating written in hand calligraphy and framed. I thought it was beautiful!! I have always wanted something special done with this poem since the only copy I have is on a printed out email sitting in a drawer! I guess Andy has been looking around for a long time to get this done and finally found the perfect place (at the perfect price). The vines and flowers are even hand drawn. I was so happy when I opened this present and even though it might embarrass Andy I bet you could click on the picture and read the poem!! We had only been dating a few weeks when Andy wrote this poem for me and when I read it I thought, "Oh my....he really likes me!!!". Turns out I was right! If you know Andy very well you know this is a very uncharacteristic thing for him to do, but what can I say?!? I bring out the poet in him!!! Love you Andy!

Little diddy

I'm not sure who said this but I heard it in church on Sunday and really liked it:

Little by little time goes by,
Short if you sing, long if you sigh.

Where does she get this stuff from??

Today at lunch Samantha started growling and then loudly explained, "I'm a hyena. A hyena in the PRIDE LAND!!". Really, I don't know where she got that from. All I know is it made me laugh!

Middle Name

You all know how it is.....when you're mad at your kids - or when your parents were mad at you - you use the middle name. When I was little and got in trouble with my mom it was always "Kristi Janell!!!!!!!". Now, when I am mad at Samantha she gets a "Samantha Janell!!!!!!" and Alex, "Alexander Christopher!!!!!!!". Well, Alex pays quite close attention and now when he is angry with me or just trying to make a point I get a "Mommy Janell!!!!". I should get angry at him for using that tone of voice with me, but I think it's quite clever so I usually let it go. Smarty pants kid!!

The mean, scary dentist!!!!

Ha ha, just kidding! We are lucky to have sweet Aunt Kami as our dentist so the kids have no problem with getting their teeth cleaned. Their PERFECT teeth, by the way!!! Both Samantha and Alex have lovely teeth with plenty of space between each tooth for their growing mouth. They let Kami clean and check out their teeth and then the dentist came in and they let him take a peek as well. Little angels! No one had any cavities which was the best part of the visit! Thanks Kami for taking such good care of us!

Awwwwww

Now they are the same height, but look how much shorter he was!

He still looks the same when he cries....only with a less round face and more teeth!

She is still as beautiful only she now looks more like a little girl than a baby! I DON'T miss the drool, however!

Samantha's haircut

A couple of weeks ago I cut Samantha's hair short and I just love it! It is so much easier to manage and when she doesn't let me put a clip in it still looks cute. The curls aren't as noticeable but brushing her hair has become much less of a battle and that is ALWAYS a good thing. I think she is the most beautiful little girl ever! This isn't her real smile but look at those eyes! I've always wanted to be exotic looking like she is instead of being the plain-jane white-bread looker that I am, but oh well! That's life!

Just to make you hungry and jealous you don't live with me!!!!

These are some scrumptious cookies I made this week. I know you're jealous. And you should be! They were homemade, gooey, rich, buttery and perfection!! Not that I'm bragging or anything. Everyone loved them so much that I'm trying to find a baking contest to enter them in. Yes, they were THAT good, and NO, you may not have the recipe! ;-)

The close of 2008

I've never really been a big fan of New Years and I really don't get all that sentimental about the close of a year either. I am, however, grateful for the little things that have happened this year. Like the fact Andy still has a job. And we still have a house. And we still only have 2 kids. We didn't have any major catastrophes happen to us or our immediate family. We enjoyed time with our families and friends. As I look back on the year I can't think of one thing big or major that happened. And I think I like it that way.

It sounds like 2009 will bring in at least 1 baby to the Loveridge family (courtesy of Richele!) and if Kami makes my wish come true then we'll have 2 babies. 2009 will put Samantha in Kindergarten and Alex in Preschool and me in HEAVEN!!! 2009 will have Andy graduating from MBA school!! Yippee!! 2009 will have us paying off a lot of student loans! We are still holding out hope that 2009 will bring us closer to the possibility of moving to London.....but if not, that's okay. Instead maybe we'll be closer to buying a bigger house.

2008 got me in touch with a lot of old friends courtesy of this blog and Facebook. Proof that the internet CAN be used for good!! Thanks to everyone who reads and comments on my blog and keeps in touch with me and my family. See you in 2009!

I'm off to have a candlelight dinner with my husband in the comfort of our own home and then a prompt pre-midnight bedtime! Just the way I like it!!

Sledding videos

We took the kids sledding today up Hobblecreek Canyon with my sisters. We also ran into a whole bunch of other friends and people we knew along with the Hall family so it was a ton of fun. We didn't take any still pictures but we got some videos that are very fun to watch (at least for their momma!) Alex LOVED every minute and after only going down one time with me declared that he wanted to go down alone! He was very brave. Samantha was a little hesitant but after Daddy worked with her for a while she went down a few times. Still though, she preferred the tiny hill that she had to herself. So here they are!!! You will get very familiar with my kids noses!

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Christmas. We had a great day. Alex woke up at 6.30 so we brought him into bed with us to wait until Samantha woke up. The poor kid wanted to go downstairs so badly and Samantha didn't wake up until 7.20, so he had a while to wait. Once everyone was up we went downstairs and enjoyed opening presents and eating cinnamon rolls. The kids seemed very happy with what Santa brought and the candy in their stockings. I think they would have been just as happy with only those presents since we had to coax them into opening the rest of the presents!! They were ready just to eat and play with what toys they had been given already! Cute little bugs!

We went to my parents house at 10.00 to have our traditional Christmas breakfast and it was outstanding! My mom put together quite the feast. After our bellies were full we let the kids rip into their presents and play. The four oldest kids got digital cameras so they proceeded to take blurry picture after blurry picture! Nicole felt a little left out I think but I got her a fake princess camera so that seemed to help a little. Have I mentioned lately how in love I am with that little Nicole?? Anyways, I am! After the kids finished their presents the adults dug in and opened their gifts. We sat around munching on leftover food and played with the kids and their toys until it was time to go home and put the kids to rest. We were hoping for a nap from Alex since he sorely needed it, but all we got was a little rest. Oh well, better than nothing probably!

After the kids little rest we went to Andy's parent's house and enjoyed presents and prime rib dinner there. Andy's family hooked us up with money and gift cards and matching sweaters for our Disneyland trip in 3 weeks!! I can't believe we go in 3 weeks! But now we have plenty of money to have fun with in California, so thank you to the Highams!!! We got the kids home around 5.00 and had them in bed shortly thereafter. They needed the sleep!! All in all it was a great day and we are so grateful that we were able to spend it with both families!
Dear sweet Grandpa went downstairs and played dress up with my kids!! What a champ!

Samantha and the 100m dash

Here is Samantha playing the Olympics game on the Wii.

Possibly the weirdest question EVER!

Tonight Alex asked me....."Mom, do gophers eat bananas??".

Today the kids FINALLY took a nap so we took them to The Mayan restaurant (which they love) and they had a Santa there. Alex was a little scared which is why I am in the picture but he was more than happy to take the candy cane afterward! Samantha wasn't shy at all! After dinner we drove to Thanksgiving Point to look at the Christmas lights. I think the kids like sitting in Andy's lap and steering the car more than they liked looking at the lights. Oh well, whatever keeps them happy (and quiet) is good by me!

Growing

In the car on the way home from preschool today Samantha announced that when she grows up she wants to be a babysitter. She then asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I told her that I'm already grown up and that I am a mommy. She responded, "Well, I want you to be a dentist.". A little late for that kiddo!

Too angry to post a title.

I wonder how many calories you burn by yelling?!? I could really burn A LOT of calories being the mother to these 2 kids. I've probably burned at least 1000 calories today just in yelling and disciplining. Hopefully that will help make up for the 10 or so sugar cookies I've eaten today. I'm an emotional eater when it comes to my kids. I eat when I'm stressed over them. No other stresser can get me pounding the mint M&M's like bad kids. Boy am I glad they're going to bed in less than 3 hours!!!!
I've added a couple of pictures to remind me of how cute they are and the fun that we have.

No.......for now.

Well, we finally got our answer about moving to London. They have given us a no for right now. We aren't too surprised given the state of the economy and most businesses. They just don't feel like they are ready to put a lot of time and money into going international at the moment. They said they will revisit the idea again in 2009 and we will just take it from there. We have known for a while that the chances were slim that they would give us the go-ahead right now, but I was still disappointed when Andy called to tell me. I don't think I'm really ready to go anytime soon though, so it's okay. I am really looking forward to another summer here swimming and going boating and going on vacations with my family. Also, my sister is pregnant and due the end of May and if we were gone for that I would have to cry!!! We do think that we will eventually end up going to London for a few years, but it looks like the time isn't now. Oh well!!! I'm sure you will all enjoy having our company in Utah for a little longer! I think my parents are going to do a happy dance tonight and celebrate.

Do NOT mess with us!

We were brave this year. Not only did we put our Christmas tree INSIDE this year instead of our normal outside-on-the-porch tree, but I wrapped presents early and stuck them under the tree. My fear was the kids would trash the tree and the presents. They do hang around the tree a little more than I would like and everyday I have to rearrange ornaments, but I can handle that. Alex has also rearranged presents, but again, I am okay with that. Today, however, Alex went too far!! I was upstairs showering after my morning workout when I heard paper crumpling. I came downstairs to find Alex has ripped open 4 presents. One present was his. A Transformer Megatron toy that we knew he had wanted. Well, like the title of this post states, you don't mess with us!! When Andy got home from work we had him unwrap the rest of the toy, then we drove him to Walmart where we made him put it in the Toys for Tots bin!!! He will not be getting a Megatron toy this year. I felt a little bad about it, but holy crap, we told him at least 100 times since the tree has been up, "Don't touch the tree or presents!!!!!! They will go away!!!!". Well, he learned the hard way this year. He was tough and didn't cry and was actually pretty proud to "help the poor kids", so I think it was a good lesson for him.

Lesson #1 - Mommy and Daddy mean business.
Lesson #2 - It feels good to help other people.

Let's hope he remembers these lessons for a long, long, long time!

Samantha the matchmaker

The other day Andy was home with the kids feeding them dinner. They were talking about who they were going to marry (why do they feel like they need to grow up so fast??). Alex kept saying he wanted to marry mama (flattering, isn't it?). Andy was explaining that he is married to me and Alex can't marry me. So Samantha said, "Daddy, are there any good girls in town that are nice for Alex?". Who would have thought she would start so early in trying to hook Alex up?? These kids crack me up!

Brain block

I feel like I've had a major brain block these days making it impossible to write a coherent blog post. So, I'll just write about what I did last night.

I went over to my sister Kami's house to finish a project and she was kind enough to invite me to go to dinner and see Christmas lights with her family. My parents showed up at Kami's house and we all piled into Chad's mammoth truck and drove over to Spanish Fork for yummy Mexican dinner. I got to sit by Cameron and bug him all night by smothering him with aunt kisses which he was trying to avoid.....but deep down I know he loved them!! After dinner we drove to the Spanish Fork lights and I think we all enjoyed listening to the kids making comments on the pretty lights. Half of what Spencer said was jibberish but he said it with such enthusiasm and excitement that we couldn't help but listen and laugh. My nephews are too cute!! On the way home Cameron was very chatty with me asking me all sorts of questions about which Star Wars bad guy is my favorite and if I like carnivores or herbivores better (as they relate to dinosaurs, of course). But my favorite question was, "So, Kristi, how was your anniversary?". So very random and hilarious!!

Thanks to Kami and her family for including me last night! I had a great time!!!

Decorating our Christmas tree!

This year I wanted to reuse our decorations for last year (cuz I'm cheap) but I wanted to do something a little different. I got our red and white decorations last year at IKEA and this year I found some orange and red decorations. I only had to buy half the amount of orange and red and then I reused the red ones from last year. I know orange and red aren't traditional Christmas colors, but look how great it turned out!!!!
And of course, a picture of my 3 weird-o's!
Friday Samantha went to see Santa with her preschool class. We were going to take Alex but he had just woken up super cranky from a nap so he didn't want to go. I had to stay home with him while Andy took Samantha and apparently Andy couldn't remember how to use our camera! ;-) So the picture is a little washed out. Oh well, you get the idea.

Things kids say that make you want to keep them!!

The other day when I picked up Samantha from preschool she was just finishing a cookie that the class had baked together. As I was strapping her in the car I asked what kind of cookie she ate. She told me it was a chocolate cookie with mint chips. I told her that sounded yummy and it was mommy's favorite kind of cookie. She responded, "Oh, I should have saved you some of my cookie. Sorry!". She really is a terribly sweet little girl!

I was making some lemon cookies a couple of days ago when Alex peeked into the oven and said, "Mom, you're an awesome cooker!!". Then I started to talk to myself wondering why one tray was cooking so much faster than the other. Alex could tell I was getting a little annoyed so he stood up for me by kicking the oven and saying, "Shape up cookies!!!". What a brave little boy to stand up to cookies for his mommy!!

Shocking Behavior!!

Andy will be shocked when he gets home from Canada tonight!! He ordered me a Christmas present from Victoria's Secret (don't go getting horrible flabby images in your mind....I think he bought flannel PJs) and the package arrived today. Here is the shocker though.......I didn't open the package!!!! I know!! It's so unlike me! I usually open everything early because I can't stand to wait for presents! Today I just picked it up off the front porch and stuck it in the pantry with the rest of the presents! I guess come Christmas I'll at least have one surprise......even if it is just the pattern of my pajamas!

Alex

This morning I was getting Alex dressed and he was talking weird and being silly so I said to him, "Alex, you're weird!". To which he replied, "Yeah, but I'm an awesome dude!". Good point little man!

Disturbing

I am disturbed. I was just on www.drugstore.com and came across something called......wait for it......Chicken Poop!!!! It is described as "Free Range Chicken Poop Lip Balm". I kid you not!! It's just a goof and there is no poop in the product, but seriously, that is a really bad name for a product!

Going out of Business

Does anyone else feel bad when they see a business going under? I always do. Especially one that has only been in business for a few months. You know that someone thought they had a good idea, spent a lot of time and money into starting the business and then held on and hoped for the best! With every new little restaurant that opens I always want to go and give them a try and try to bring in some business. Unfortunately, I usually don't make it before they close. I don't know that I would ever have the guts to start a business. I would be so afraid of failure. I guess I just don't have the entrepreneurial kind of personality. But I admire those who do have that kind of personality and who do try. Even if they fail.

WEAK!

I don't know who saw the DD&D episode but they barely even showed us! Well, actually, they only showed me! They showed a whole bunch of ugly people but not my adorable kids! I take offense to that! All of the shots done outside were obviously done on a different day or just earlier than when we were there. Guy wasn't there for those shots either but I guess they liked them better since they got the most air time. Oh well! I got shown a few times but I really wanted to see the kids on the TV. I am banning DD&D in my house now! Okay, not really.

TONIGHT!!!

Our episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives is on tonight!!! It is airing at 8 pm and 11 pm. We're not sure if they'll show us talking but I'm sure we'll at least be seen eating our food. Cross your fingers that we don't look like idiots!!!! Woo hoo!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a fun, albeit, hectic Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving morning was relaxed and we just chilled at home until around 1.30 when we headed to my parents house. We ate a very delicious meal there and had fun talking with family and friends. After dinner we even pulled out some crafts and the girls sat around painting while poor Grammy and Grampy were left chasing after grandkids! I don't know why they want any more because the 5 we have keeps all of us running!!! But they are cute!!
After dinner at my parent's house we headed to Andy's parent's house to have dessert. Andy's brother, Dave and his family were in town so it was good to catch up with them. We are lucky to see them once or twice a year so we always have a good time talking when we get together. Dessert was delicious and the kids played nicely with their older cousins until it was bedtime.

Friday morning we headed back to Andy's parent's house for a yummy breakfast and then we spent the whole morning there chatting. Again, the kids played surprisingly well and let the grown-ups enjoy talking with each other. Finally, Alex came up to me to say he was ready to go home so we headed back for nap time.
Friday night we again met with Andy's family for dinner at Spark. I can't say that it was as delicious as I remember it being but I still have this cold that makes everything taste bland, so it was my fault. The kids behaved quite well but didn't eat much and everyone else seemed to enjoy their meal. Most of the family was leaving Saturday so this was our last chance to get together. We had an enjoyable time but now we get back to reality and Andy traveling this week to Toronto! It's okay though.....I'm planning to have him bring back some good codeine medicine for me!
I hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving break!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!
This year I am thankful for many things. I am thankful that I have a wonderful family. A husband who loves and takes care of me and 2 great kids who are my life. I am thankful to have a home to live in, cars to drive, food to eat and clothes to wear. I am thankful Andy has a job that provides those things for us and for Andy for working hard to ensure that he keeps that job! ;-)
I am thankful to live in America. It really is the greatest country even though many around the world don't believe that and try to destroy it. I am thankful I know about (and believe in) the gospel of Jesus Christ and am thankful for the peace it brings to my life. I am thankful for my health and the health of my family and friends.
I am a very blessed person and for that I feel like I need to give thanks. So, thank you to my Heavenly Father who has given me these blessings as well as many others. I am grateful!

Big girl

This really doesn't happen too often in our family. Our kids have never been good car sleepers but today while Andy took Samantha out for errands she snuggled up with her lamb and took a little snooze. Andy took this picture with his phone and sent it to me and as I looked at it I realized how BIG she looks!!! She's huge in her car seat and looks so grown-up! She even has her little leg crossed over the other one. Too cute if you ask me!

For real???

Seriously??? I'm STILL sick?? You've got to be kidding me??!!! I was down all day Saturday and Sunday. Thought I was making a comeback yesterday only to be SLAMMED with an earache Monday night. And then today the sinuses are clogged to the max and I sound like a frickin' cartoon!! Call me if you don't believe me! You'll laugh, I promise. Every word has a "b" tacked on the end. I hope to get better by Thursday or I'll be spending Turkey Day alone in bed! Although......I could think of worse things....

Just a few things

I think before anyone gets married they should have to be sick and have their partner take care of them. It's a really good indicator of how much they love you and care for you. I was sick all weekend and Andy was a dear as I laid on the couch all weekend and moaned and sneezed and napped. He took care of the kids, the house and me. He even braved the germs every now and again to come and kiss my sick forehead! I'm sure he was praying for me to get better and the weekend to be over, but he was sweet the whole time. I done did good in choosing a husband!!

We thought for a while there my dad might have cancer, but he doesn't!!!! Woo hoo!!!

I just want to know FOR SURE if we're moving to London or not. We thought we'd know by now, but with the yucky state the economy is in (I'm sure that's how they describe the economy on CNN - yucky!), I think JP Morgan is having a hard time figuring out their budget for next year. Not that I blame them! We are hoping moving us to London is in their budget, but I'm not quite sure it is anymore. Oh well, we are happy here! Time will tell!

I am SO close to having all of my Christmas shopping done! I'll probably take my sisters to the mall and have them choose something for me to buy them and I WILL BE DONE!!! What a good feeling!

My parakeet is loud. But cute. And he makes my eyes itch.

Spark the Spectacular!! (wow, that was cheesy)

Andy and I and our friends went to a new restaurant last night, Spark. Actually, Andy has been there before for lunch but the dinner menu was new to all of us. Our friend's husband is the sous chef there and made us a tasting menu. Andy took pictures of everything and I am sure he will write a big long post on our experience but I just wanted to add that it was the best food I've ever had!!!! And a lot of fun!! Check out their Facebook page here. And PLEASE, go eat there so we can talk about it together!! Check back later to see Andy's full post, including pictures, on the incredible food.

Bird : Take 2

Since my last little parakeet lasted only 2 weeks (RIP Pip!) we decided to get another bird. The breeder that I got Pip from had another parakeet available and gave him to me because she felt so badly about Pip. Samantha was wanting another bird and so was I. Saturday we drove back up to Ogden and picked up this little guy.

His name? Oh, you want to know his name?? I'm afraid I don't want to say. We wanted the kids to be involved in the naming process so all 4 of us got to pick a name and then we pulled the chosen name out of hat. Here were the choices:

1. PJ (For Pip Junior. This was my choice)
2. Strawberry Shortcake (I'm sure you can guess who's choice this was)
3. Spiderman (Another easy guess)
4.

Number 4 was Andy's choice. He was going to choose Spiderman just to stack the odds but decided to go a different direction. I'll give you a hint:

That's right, Chewbacca. And guess which name magically got pulled out of the hat??? Yup, Chewbacca (aka, Chewy). Sooooooo, this sweet little parakeet got stuck with the name Chewy which, I don't think, fits him at all!! I can't even call him that. He goes by Dude, and Baby to me. Or sometimes, You Little Terd.
He is a funny little bird! He LOVES to sit on heads....especially mine since I think it resembles a fancy little nest for him.
He loves to fly even though his wings are clipped and he flies like he just had a pint. He runs into everything and although I was planning to have his wings grow out I am now reconsidering since he likes to fly into very dangerous, high places.

He loves to have his head rubbed. He won't eat his bird seed out of the container hanging on the cage, but has to eat it off the floor. So I found him this cute little gerbil treat bowl that is now sitting on the floor filled with his seed. He seems happy with it. I'll just have to make sure it stays poop-free. Today was the first day he was very vocal and chipped his little head off this morning. It was very cute and I loved the sound of it in my house. The fact is, this bird has more personality than some adult humans I have met!!!! I really didn't think this house needed any more personality, but I guess he is still less maintenence than a kid.....or a puppy.....or a kitty. So I'll take that.

The night to myself!!

It's not even 6 pm yet and I got both of my kids in bed already!!! Does that make me a cruel mother, or just the MOST AWESOME, LUCKIEST LADY EVER??????

New Pictures

Some of you may have noticed the new pictures on the side of my blog. My talented sister Richele took these new pictures for us for our Christmas cards. So here's your sneak preview to that! Also, I wanted a couples picture taken of Andy and I since we haven't had a good couples picture taken since our wedding! I think it turned out great! Thanks for the nice pictures Shell!

Taking the kids to jail.....where they belong!!! ;-)

Samantha's preschool group went to the Utah County Jail for a field trip on Friday. Her preschool teacher's father is the County Sheriff so she knew everyone there and got the tour organized. It was a VERY fun trip! It was my turn to take Samantha and our neighbor and since I couldn't get a babysitter for Alex he tagged along.
The first thing we saw was the laundry area and the kids even got to try on some (clean) clothes.

All along the way the officer was telling us lots of fun and interesting information about the jail. Well, fun and interesting for the adults. The kids were just kind of skipping around and playing. Alex was a little hesitant as was our neighbor EJ, but Samantha was running around like she owned the place!! That is one thing about that little girl.....she can make herself at home anywhere! When she goes to Andy's work she walks around like she is the CEO! Funny girl. Anyways, after the laundry we went into the kitchen where they offered the kids some "jailhouse cookies" that were cooked by the inmates the day before. In this picture you can see some of the inmates in the background.

When we were done with the kitchen we went to the control center where they control all the doors and the security systems. They showed us on the security monitor what the inside of the housing units looked like. They were A LOT nicer than I expected and quite modern. It was a very interesting look at how they live. They are given TV and access to games and the officer explained that they give them these things so that they have something to take away for bad behavior. Sounds a lot like raising kids if you ask me!!!

We then went to the 911 dispatch center and talked to a very nice lady about important things for kids to know when calling 911. I doubt many kids were paying much attention since they were consuming their second lollipop for the day!!

Our last stop was outside to play with a Sheriff's truck. Each kid got to push the siren button and honk the horn. Of course, this was a huge hit!! You can tell the officer is a grandpa because he was so patient and sweet with every kid.

Afterward we got to try on some handcuffs. I really hope this is everyones last time wearing them!!!

My little carnivores!

Today we met Andy at work so we could run over to Costco and get flu shots. The kids already got theirs so it was Andy's and my turn. After the shots we did our Costco shopping and decided to go to dinner. We chose Tucanos and I was amazed at the quantity of meat my kids can consume when they want. Samantha was asking for everything and tried it all. I was so proud. Alex was a little less enthusiastic but ate a ton of my pork and beef brisket. The meat was all very good but the beans and rice and cheese bread were CRAP compared to what you eat in Brazil. I think the trip to Brazil ruined me for eating that stuff in the states. It's just not the same!

And another random thought......when did it become okay to get excited about gas falling under $2.00 a gallon? That is just sad, but so typical of these days. I remember when I was a kid my dad RUNNING out to get gas before it went all the way up to a dollar!!! Heaven forbid!! I miss the good ol' days.

Alex's ABCs

Alex is doing so well with his ABCs. Of course he can sing the song because we sing it to him every night before bed, but he is also getting so good at recognizing the letters in words. I got out some flash cards the other day and was quizzing him on the letters and he only missed 6 or 7! Pretty good for a 3 year old I think. He is definitely doing better than Samantha did at this age but that is probably because we work on them a lot more for her with school. They love to eat their cereal with the cereal boxes in front of them and point out all of the letters they can recognize. I love to see them learn and apply their learning. Smarty pants kids!!

Ruth's Diner and Triple D!

Do you remember how this past spring we were invited to Ruth's Diner to sit and eat while they filmed a Food Network episode of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives?? WELL, we have been waiting patiently for that episode to air and it looks like it will be coming on December 1st! It has taken so long that we thought maybe they decided not to air the show but we just got an email from Ruth's saying that the episode will be coming on. It's very exciting! We were ALL over that episode and can't wait to see the cute kids on there. I got a little sassy too and we'll see if that made it in or if they cut the sass out. I will remind everyone again as the day gets closer and I'll post the time as well.

Lizard?

Tonight for family home evening we pulled out the picture of Brigham Young to teach the kids. Samantha saw his picture and said, "He looks like a wizard!!!". Which I thought was funny enough, but Andy heard, "He looks like a lizard!!!". Either way, we both got a good chuckle out of our funny girl.

1 Year and Counting!

A year ago today I had my back surgery. It's hard to believe it has been a year......it really doesn't feel like that much time has passed. This surgery was the first time that I had ever been in the hospital and my whole experience was quite pleasant. I had complete confidence in my surgeon and his team and all of the hospital staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I was lucky enough to have my own room and it even had a nice view out the window of the Salt Lake valley. I was only supposed to be in the hospital for one night but the surgeon decided since I had 2 small kids at home I better stay an extra night and get all the rest I could. My mom was very sweet and stayed with the kids a lot so that Andy could be with me. He even stayed with me the first night and slept on a broken recliner. Neither of us got much sleep that first night! I never experienced much pain after the surgery but I was terribly uncomfortable. It took 2 male nurses to flip me on my side and prop me up so I could be off of my back for a while. They were pretty strong too....it didn't make me feel very good about myself!! The physical therapist came by only hours after I was out of surgery to get me out of bed and trying to walk. It was very difficult to change everything about the way I moved. I had to roll out of bed a certain way, I couldn't twist my back and I certainly couldn't bend. I was given a back brace (more like a corset) that was very helpful and made standing much more comfortable. I was also given something to help me put socks on since I couldn't bend (never used) and a gripper, reacher, picker-upper stick that I used ALL the time......and still do some days when I'm sore.

After 2 nights in the hospital I came home and Andy was able to stay home from work for a week and a half and take care of me and the kids. He did a wonderful job of juggling everything and took such amazing care of me. Honestly, those 2 weeks rocked!!! I loved being in bed, watching TV, reading magazines and taking naps. I got to see and kiss the kids a few times a day without having to take care of them. I got every little whim of mine taken care of by Andy and the sleep was grand!! The only drawback to sleeping all day was that I wasn't sleeping too well at night but I was happy to have my Ipod to keep my company.

This year has been rough. According to the literature given to me by the doctor I was supposed to "take 3 months off of work". HA! Yeah, that doesn't really work with a 2 and 3 year-old. I was lucky to get my 2 weeks and so recovery has been slower than I would have liked. Normal I think, but slow when you have 2 kids and a house to take care of. Andy has been great and has always helped with whatever I needed and has understood all the days when I have needed to lay on the couch for a while. Thank goodness! The worst part has been the chronic pain related depression. That wasn't something I had expected to happen but it hit, and it hit hard! I've never dealt with depression before. Or chronic pain. I had seen pharmaceutical commercials about the relationship but never thought it was true. I never understood how you could be depressed! I thought you could just snap out of it! I thought you could just decide to be happy! It really is not that simple. The worse my pain was, the worse the depression was. The worse the depression was, the worse the pain was. It was a vicious cycle! I finally got to my breaking point after Andy had been on a few business trips in a row and I was fed up with the kids, the house, Andy, depression, pain, all of it! I went to the doctor and he prescribed Zoloft for me which has been HEAVEN SENT!! Not only has my mood and outlook on life gotten better, my pain has been so much more manageable. I have been on the medicine since July and I plan on staying on it for at least another 6 or 7 months. Maybe longer if I need it! I know depression can be one of those taboo topics but it can happen to anyone for any reason and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I believe it is a real chemical imbalance in your body and if you need to take a little pill everyday to enjoy life and your children, it is worth it! I have far more patience with my kids and that is all the excuse I need! I just wish that the doctor would have warned me of the possibility of getting depression following the surgery. I think maybe it could have saved me a few months of hating life. Oh well, it's taken care of now!

Overall I am glad that I did the surgery. I am no longer afraid of falling and causing more damage to my spine. Although I still think I'll avoid my sister's house in the winter!
And.....in case you didn't see this in my previous post, here is my titanium back.

Officially ready for the snow!

Today we officially got ready for the snow! I know it's going to be coming.....it's lurking somewhere in the sky ready to drop on my house and ruin my day. So today we went out early and cleaned up the whole backyard. We pulled plants, put away kids toys, cleaned up and stored the sand box and put away the outdoor furniture. It took us a couple of hours but the yard looks great and the best part was I now have clean windows!!! Our downstairs windows get wet everyday in the summer when we water our lawn so the water buildup is horrible! I pulled out my trusty Lime-A-Way and sprayed the tar out of the windows and now I can see the sun pouring through my windows!! It really is amazing how nasty they were and how it clouded my view of the outside world! Now everything looks so clear and sparkly! The clean windows just might be my favorite part of fall!!

The kids napped today so we were able to stay out a bit later tonight and enjoy being with our kids. We went to my sister Kami's house and my other sister Richele took our family picture. It's been about a year since our last one so I figured it was a good time to get one. I think they turned out good and I also had Richele take couple pictures of Andy and I....which hasn't been done since our wedding!!! Those I think turned out great as well. I'll post some when Richele gets them back to me. After pictures we took the kids to dinner and they were sweet and well-behaved. Amazing what a little nap can do! Well, it's 8.30pm and I'm exhausted, so I'm going to bed. I washed the sheets so they are clean and soft and smell nummy! They are calling to me!!

Maybe I'll start calling him Spot.

I'm going to start laying down newspaper for Alex to sleep on if he can't get his bowels under control!!! If I put him in a diaper at night he gets lazy and pees and poops in it.....even in the morning when he is awake!! In which case he's usually kneeling in bed at some funky angle and the diaper leaks everywhere. That's even in the super heavy duty Nighttime diapers! If I put him in underwear he still sometimes lets loose and pees all over. Either way I have washed his sheets pretty much everyday for the past few weeks. I'm tired of it. Maybe a catheter is a good idea!! When I was in the hospital for my back surgery that catheter saved my life!! Anybody know how to insert a catheter in a 3 year-old? Ew, that's gross. Maybe I will have to find some other solution.

Health or Money??

Does anyone else ever feel like you have to choose between good health and saving money?? I would love to be able to buy all organic and all natural products, but they are SO expensive. I would love to buy the healthiest food but sometimes feel it is too expensive to buy on a regular basis. Same with other products like all natural toothpaste and skin care. In a perfect world we'd all be using the most natural, most "green" products. But not many of us have the money to sustain that kind of lifestyle. I suppose I could rearrange our budget to accommodate for these kinds of expenditures. I just really wish that I could buy healthier things for my family at the same price as everything else. Are the products priced higher just because they can? Because they know people will spend that kind of money? It's kind of how I feel about cleaner cars. Natural gas, hybrid and electric cars are far better for the environment (thus, far better for us) but they are priced higher. I wish car companies would stop putting money into making "cooler" cars that all look the same and start working on making engines that run cleaner and cost less. Most of you know me and know that I am no environmentalist. I'm not a fanatic when it comes to this kind of a thing, but I do care about our earth and mostly I care about my families health. It sure would be nice if companies cared a little less about making huge profits and cared a little more about making good products accessible to everyone. I guess the world just doesn't work that way. Like my mom always told me, "If wishes were fishes we'd all have a fry.".
I'll climb off my soap box now.

I Voted!

I went a voted today. I waited a total of about 1 minute for an open booth and it only took me about 3 minutes to complete my voting. THAT is a successful voting experience in my opinion. Apparently 3 o'clock is the time to go vote. It's been such a long campaign and I am tired of it all but I have to admit that I am nervous to see who wins. I think both candidates have good qualities and both have bad qualities. I feel like I just voted for the lesser of the two evils! It's going to be an interesting morning seeing who wins......
I do feel blessed that we get the opportunity to vote.....even though I know my vote really didn't count for much. I think the voting system is wrong and needs some tweaking. But I digress. I am grateful to live in the country that I live in and be an American.

I believe I can fly!!!

I believe in a lot of things.

I believe my kids are the best kids in the world.
I believe my husband is the sweetest and best man ever.
I believe I belong to the only true church on the earth.
I believe I will be very excited when the elections are over.
I believe NO ONE should EVER wear a tube top.

But this weekend I became a believer in something else. I now believe in the POWER of..........


THE KSL.COM CLASSIFIEDS!!!

I sold our double stroller on ksl.com a couple of months ago and it sold FAST. Andy came across some old speakers and a few other things that we decided to sell on ksl.com. A couple of things weren't even listed 12 hours before I had numerous calls and emails and eventually $50 in my hot little hands!! I have a guy coming from Layton tonight to buy a speaker for $85 and look at some other speakers we have. I have a guy in Las Vegas that wants me to ship $75 worth of speakers to him. The phone is ringing off the hook for these things!!!!! The point is, if you need to sell something fast, go to ksl.com. AND, listing is FREE!!!
I sure wish KSL were paying me for this advertisement!