I'm sorry that I haven't written for so long. It seems that we have been so busy, but I couldn't tell you with what. Tis the season, I guess. I can tell you that I am pretty much done shopping. Christmas cards have been sent. Neighbor gifts have all been made and delivered. So, I think I can kind of relax now. Yeah, right! Anyway...

I was reading a friend's blog and she had this cute questionaire on there. I learned a lot about her and I thought I would share some of our likes/dislikes, traditions, etc. Merry Christmas!!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper and, this sounds a little odd, but between my family members we wrap and exchange gifts in fabric gift bags that my aunt made. They are neat because we give them back and forth to each other and we don't have to throw anything away or take the time (and paper and tape) to wrap anything.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Fake. Last year we finally broke down and bought a beautiful 9 ft. pre-lit tree. Love it. I especially love the pre-lit part. It seems in years past that I Always had to do the lights on the tree. Granted, I am kind of a Nazi about how the lights should go, but I still got sick of doing it alone. I also like that we don't have to water it, which could have been kind of interesting with our dog this year. I will admit that I miss the smell of a real tree, though. I guess that's what candles are for.

3. When do you put up the tree? We don't really have a set time. Somewhere between Thanksgiving and, um, Christmas?

4. When do you take the tree down? Again, no set time. I love to put up the Christmas decorations. But, around the first part of January I start to feel a little clostr0phobic (I'm sure I didn't spell that right) and I have to put everything away. Our house seems to gain square footage when all the Christmas stuff is down.

5. Do you like egg nog? Yes!! Which is probably not a good thing. I try not drink too much of it. I do, though, thanks to my parents, dilute it with a little milk. My kids love it too. All of them when they were young, and Avery now, call it Neg Nog Juice.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I really don't know. That's a tough question. I had a great Christmas every year. I loved the Barbie furniture and clothes my sister and I got one year. I got a cool new bike another year. And, I'll never forget the year my family got it's first computer.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I have lots. I kind of collect them. I have some from different countries like the Czech Republic and Mexico. I have some that are antique and some that are handmade. I take out all the glass in my China Hutch and put all my nativities in there.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Um, probably Ryan's parents. Although, I think we did pretty good this year...

9. Easiest person to buy for? Definitely Zack and Maycee. Every commercial they see, they yell, "I want that, I want that!" I have so many choices!! Maycee is escpecially obsessed with "Qick Gems, by Conair". Her dad is a sucker and called and ordered them. Don't tell!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely mail. I hate to admit that my technological skills seem to be dwindling each year I stay home with our kids.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I think I am not going to answer this question. :)

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Definitely, Christmas Vacation, hands down.
"Eddie, I wouldn't be more surprised if I woke tomorrow morning with my head sewn to the carpet."
"Aunt Bethany, would you say grace?" "Grace...she died 30 years ago!"

Love it!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually around October.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Again, I am not going to answer this question. No, just kidding. I never have, unless it was a white elephant gift.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Oh my goodness. "It's the most wonderful time of the year..." I love when the doorbell rings at night and it's a neighbor delivering some kind of goody. But, my all-time favorite treats at Christmas is the candy my Grandma used to make: peanut brittle, pecan logs, fudge, chocolate covered cherries. Oh my goodness.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Probably Silent Night. Sinead O'Conner sings a great version of this.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Both, kind of. I don't know if driving to either my parents or Ryan's parents is considered "traveling", but we split the time between them.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph. I think that's all of them, right?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. Although, when we were younger we woke up so early we could almost consider it Christmas eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Lines. Lines. Lines. At the post office, at the store, everywhere.

23. Um, somehow I lost #23 question in translation.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Christmas eve dinner: clam chowder and rolls. Christmas morning: yummy breakfast at the Normans, and before I got married, my mom's Breakfast casserole. Christmas dinner: Turkey or ham and mashed potatoes and all the trimmings. It's like Thanksgiving all over again!

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I don't know. I really was spoiled for my birthday. But, I'll tell you what I really want even though I know it's never going to happen. I want a dog that doesn't pee or poop on the carpet. I want new carpet. I'd like a finished, organized basement with a CLEAN toy room in it. (that's more unlikely than the dog that doesn't pee on the carpet) But, I got my new car, so really, I'm good.

My Movie Review

Last night Ryan and I, because it was my choice, went and saw August Rush. It's a movie about an orphan boy trying to find his parents, who actually don't know he exists. The mother, Keri Russell (thought the baby died at birth) and the father, Jonathon Rhys Meyers, HELLO!, both are musicians, aren't together anymore and live on either sides of the country. The boy is a music prodigy and tries to find his parents through music. I loved this movie. It was romantic and a little suspenseful. It was kind of a chick flick, but Ryan liked it. I cried, and I don't usually cry in movies. I think I liked it even more because of the music and the message it sends that music is truly Felt and can touch a person in a way that nothing else can. I think I've felt the Spirit more through music than anything else. Anyway, it was a good show. No more cheesiness. So, girls, I've found the guy to play Edward in the movie. Jonathon Rhys Meyers, sorry Ryan, is one Hot boy. He would be perfect for the part. Seriously. Check him out. www.jrmfansite.org

The Rest of the Story...

Finally, after four weeks and a really dirty, smelly little cast, Maycee got to go to the Doctor and get her cast off. She was a little nervous when I told earlier that they were going to cut it off with a little saw. Her eyes got really wide and she said, "They are going to cut my arm off with a saw?" After I quickly explained that they were only going to cut the cast off, she seemed a bit better. But, I was nervous that she would not let the nurse near her when we finally got to the office. However, I underestimated one of my children again. She was a perfect Angel. They zipped that cast off real fast and now Maycee is back to normal once again. P.S. The paint on Maycee's face is from Indian Day at preschool. Cute, huh!

Emily is 30! Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Em. I can't believe that you are 30. She was lucky enough to get a new Pilot (earlier post), ugly BYU parafenellia and Tommy Girl. Just so everyone knows, Emily is a great Mother, wife and most important Best Friend. It doesn't take anyone long to see all the wonderful attributes and traits that she exibits. I feel so lucky to have such a Hot Momma to call my wife. She is the best most caring mother out there. Good luck to all those women-folk who want this same title.
I love you Emily.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Yesterday we bought ourselves a new SUV. We were done cramming our poor kids into the back seat of our car. They looked like sardines packed in the back seat, although Avery was not complaining with her big car seat-it is nice and roomy.
I finally convinced Ryan that it was time to get a new car and boy am I happy!! It is a 2005 Honda Pilot. It seats 8 people but you can fold down the seats if you want to. It is a cool blue color with a hint of green/gray.
It will be great for road trips and carpools. Yahhooo!

7 Random things about me...(Heather did this and told me I had to also, but it was fun!)

1. I hate candy corns. Not sure why, but yuck! Ryan always tries to get me to eat a couple, but I can't do it.

2. The other day on Oprah, it was a Utube special and there was a couple on that danced the last dance of Dirty Dancing at their wedding as their wedding dance. They had it down to every move. Isn't that a nice husband to learn that? It was her dream to dance this dance. So, anyway, Oprah had them on to show everyone and as they were dancing she surprised them by having Patrick Swayze pop out and start dancing with her. I started crying!!! Is that ridiculous or what! But, who has not dreamed of dancing THAT dance with Patrcik Swayze?

3. I have been to Hell and back. Seriuosly, there is a town in Norway called Hell. I went there about 12 years ago, even have it stamped in my passport. Pretty little town, you never would have guessed...

4. I LOVE Mexican food. Love it.

5. I have this thing about white dressy shoes, like heels or sandaly shoes. I think they shouldn't exist. And don't even get me started on white shoes with panty hose of any color!!

6. I am a "preppy" at heart. I love Polo shirts. I am drawn to them at the store. I used to wear them all the time in high school. I have some in my closet right now that are at least ten years old. I can't get rid of them. And, every spring I buy one or two more to add to my collection.

7. I used to have an all black cat growing up name Panther Bill. She was a girl.

Guess who went poop in the toilet...(unless you have young children, you may not want to read on...)

Yes, Avery has been very excited to go to the bathroom in the toilet for a week or so now. She just goes when it is convenient, like when she's about to get in the tub, or when I'm changing her diaper anyway, but yahoo!! She has gone poop the last two days in the toilet!! She gets on and then off and then on and then off. She would do this all day if she could. She screams at me and tries to kick when I try to put her diaper back on, so I usually let her run around with a nudie booty for a little while. I'm sorry to anyone reading this that does not have young kids. Yes, I am a bit of a freak, but that comes with being a mom. Maybe you have to be a mom to realize the shear joy that this little act by my 18 month old has brought me. This could be the end of diapers for us!! (I said could be.) My mom said that I was potty trained at about 18 months, so it is possible. Wish us luck!!