Happy Birthday to Kyle...Part 2!!!

From December 2008

So, I'm having a little bit of an emotional breakdown as I'm typing, so forgive me. Yesterday night, we had Kyle's family birthday party. It was the first time in a really long time that EVERYONE was able to come (it's a busy time of year). Our family room/kitchen, which is perfect sized for us, and even a small gathering, was PACKED with our wonderful families.

From December 2008

It was really chaotic, but fun. Just in the nick of time, I managed to nag my husband into getting the rest of our living room "stuff" up on the walls...meaning a picture and my shelves. I'm so happy with how they look....

From December 2008

I made mom's homemade cake and frosting, and although I'm not Mindy in the cake decorating department, I think it turned out ok.

From December 2008

It was delicious though, and that's all that matters.

I also finished the Birthday Countdown on Saturday...just in the nick of time. I planned to have it done BEFORE he started putting his pieces on the days, but I didn't have any paper(in the massive amounts of paper that I own) that matched well enough...I found the rainbow paper at Michaels, and was excited about how it looked.

From December 2008

SO, a little flashback of my own...10 years ago tonight, I was grumpy. I had just taken my last final the day before, and the night of the 21st my mom(she was the choir director for her school at that point) had a choir concert. I went to see her kids perform, and after, Mom made sure that my Dad walked me to the car. She didn't want me slipping on the ice. My dad was teasing me, telling me, "you could slip on the ice, it still wouldn't put you into labor. Your mom went way over with you, and we tried everything. Your doctor will be inducing you when he gets home from his vacation." My Due date was January 1st, my Doctor was in Hawaii for Christmas, and was coming home on January 2nd. So, back to the 22nd...I was grumpy. I was craving KFC, and nothing seemed to come together so I could get it..it was back in the days where they were trialing a delivery service, but they couldn't deliver to us that night. Finally, since nothing else sounded good, we drove down and got it. We ate, and went to bed, because Cole had to be up at 4. It was his last day of work before his plant shut down for the Holidays. We joked...it'd be great if I went into labor, and he'd get to miss work. Well, he got up and left for work..he kissed me goodbye(he always did in those days...those wonderful days when I was still able to fall back asleep after he kissed me goodbye), and I got up to go to the bathroom. I went back to bed, got comfortable, and was just starting to fall asleep again...when I felt a little wetness. I got up to go back to the bathroom, and I felt the GUSH of fluid pouring out of me...I ran for the bathroom, and managed not to get any of the amniotic fluid on our carpet...it all collected on the bath towel Cole had left on the bathroom floor. (He doesn't leave his towel on the floor very often...it was odd that it just happened to be there.). So, of course, I called him at work. I had never done that before...the company he was working for at the time was really strict about phone calls. So, when he got on the phone, I told him my water had broken. He said (I kid you not)"It's ok, I'm already at work, I'll just finish out the day." "No, I'm not kidding, it really did break, you have to come home!". It took him a few minutes to truly believe me. He came home, and took me to the hospital. We got there around 6, we called our families around 7:30...and My Parents, sister, Grandparents, and MIL came to join us. The female members of my family spent most of my labor trying to convince me that we needed to name our baby Christian, because he was a Christmas baby. But he was always my Kyle. At 12:03pm, after 1 1/2 hours of pushing, and the vacuum popping off his head because he had sooooo much hair...out face up came my First Son. 7lbs, 1 oz, 19 1/2 inches. Lots of black hair. Perfect. Each baby born is special, but there's something about becoming a mother for that first time. Having my husband lay our son in my arms. Knowing that your life has significantly changed, mostly for the better, but also knowing that there will be trials and heartaches that come along with it. Happy Birthday to my precious Firstborn.

If you're in need of encouragement of any kind, check out TiGi's Windfalls for writers, linked in the "Interesting reading" section of my blog. We all need encouragment sometimes....

Happy Birthday to Kyle....Part 1

Yesterday was Kyle's friend birthday party at Classic Fun Center in Layton. I have never been so glad that I decided to have someone else do the birthday for me...it was SUCH a good experience. I bought the unlimited package, which was a per person charge for unlimited access to most the activities(they only got one game of Laser tag, and the rock wall was extra). They had so much fun...we arrived shortly before 2, went in, and right away the "party coordinator" connected with me...they already had our "birthday tables" all set up, with tablecloth, balloons, place settings, etc all set up. We got our wristbands, and the kids went to play. As additional kids showed up, I just hooked them up with a wristband, and sent them to find their friends. I sat at the table, read a book, kept an eye out (another nice thing was that because it was a weekday, we almost had the place all to ourselves. It was great). The kids all got about 20 tokens to spend, and most of them tried to win tickets to spend. Classic provided us with 2 choices of soda with unlimited refills, and ice cream cups. I brought cupcakes (the only outside food or drink they allow is you bring your own cake). It was really relaxed for me, until the craziness of closing and watching for everyone's parents. 2 kids actually left without me seeing, and I looked everywhere to make sure they weren't still there before I left. All the kids seemed to have a great time.




Kyle spins the "Birthday Wheel"


I did drink my 16 oz Sugarfree Redbull right before the party. The energy lasted the entire party...but as I was fighting Layton traffic on my way home, I felt the energy leaking out of me...and by the time I got home, I was exhausted and starving. My wonderful husband took over the rest of the night. It was great to be able to provide such a great birthday experience for my son. I HIGHLY recommend Classic for parties. They were highly organized, and made my life extremely easy.

A side note on mammograms...I had my first one yesterday morning. I've heard many things..ranging from "just a bit of discomfort" to "extremely, extremely painful."
From my perspective, if you can get over the "gentle manhandling" technique that is necessary to posistion you on the machine, it's really just mildly annoying, and a bit pinching at times. It really only lasts for a second, and then it's done. Don't put off getting one if you need one...it can save your life.

P.S. Thanks for delivering my prize Mindy...sorry I didn't have a chance to call last night and thank you...they're so Cute!!!!

Chaos...

That's what my life is. Starting yesterday, my life is one big chaotic event after another. If I can just last til Christmas without going crazy or collapsing from exhaustion, I will be so incredibly grateful.

Yesterday (Monday), started early. I got up and made cinnamon twists for Kyle and Talia, and PB toast for Alec's breakfast. I got the boys off to school, and Talia and I hurried and got ready. We were out the door by 9:30, to finish our Christmas shopping. It took us 3 hours, she ate lunch and snacks in the car, and whined at me the entire last hour, but IT'S DONE!!!!! I've been worried about finishing, so it's a relief. We went home, I put Tali down for her nap, and I......

FINALLY!!!!! got to play with my new cricut. I cut out a bunch of vinyl, played with a few of the creative features, and it was very, very fun. Most of what I cut out is for gifts for some very important people in my life, so I'm not going to post the pics until after I've delivered them. However, I did make this cute gift bag just to see how it would work. I can't wait to find some 12x24 paper and try some longer cuts....and of course Cole wants to know how he can manipulate my new machine into making Halloween cr**...I mean stuff....(I did tell him I would be nice and share).

From December 2008

Last night was Kyle's first choir concert. It was so fun, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I even got the...opportunity...to go up on stage and dance the hula. Kyle did a great job, I'm really proud of him.

From December 2008

(front row, just to the right of the microphone)
Tuesday started early...like 4 am. I didn't sleep well last night, was restless after Cole got up, and was out of bed at 7. I drove the boys to school, and Talia and I headed to Albertsons to get cupcakes and a fruit plate. I had a lunch party today with a group of friends, picked up the boys from school, left the kids and headed to work. It's been slow, but I'm tired and it's only 10:30. I usually take a nap before work, but I couldn't miss a chance to connect with the girls.

Tomorrow, I have my mammogram/ultrasound in the morning(and thanks again, Grandma and Grandpa for watching Talia), and then Kyle's birthday party at Classic Fun Center right after school. I'm really excited about the party...but since I'll be on 3 hours of sleep, I'll be running on adrenaline (and caffeine, I've already got my 16 oz Sugarfree Red Bull all ready). Classic is great, they take care of everything for you, so I'll be able to take pictures and watch the boys have a good time. (and thanks to Aunt Brenda for watching Talia and Alec during this event).

Thursday and Friday are work....Saturday starts the prep for Kyle's Family party. He's also supposed to have an indoor soccer game, but we haven't heard back from his coach.....
Sunday is church and the family party. Monday I have to get everthing ready for Christmas Eve that I possibly can get done ahead of time.

Tuesday my oldest baby turns 10 for real. It's their last day of school before the break, and I have to work. I'm hoping to be called off though...the Chapel of Flowers is doing luminaries on the graves, and Cole wants to take the kids.

This Year, Cole is hosting a Christmas Eve breakfast for his family at our house, then I'm getting my hair done, and then we're hosting my family's Christmas Eve party. I'm excited to host, we're all wearing jammies and probably eating on my fine china that I don't get to break out often...I can't wait.

I don't know how much blog posting I'll get done in the next week (Dad..sorry :))
Since you won't get to read a daily update, at least let me brag about your amazing abilities with Christmas lights...MY Dad's Christmas Light Display ROCKS!!!!!

From December 2008

If I go insane, and they take me away, I promise to think of you all while bouncing around my padded cell....

Milestones and Indulgences....

So, yesterday, my daughter learned one of the MOST important words for a woman to know. That word is.....CHOCOLATE! She now knows the difference between regular candy and chocolate. As a chocoholic myself, it was a very proud moment. It all started with these....



I've really been dying to try these, but they are a little on the expensive side. I had a pretty good coupon for them, so I decided to try them. These are the triple chocolate ones, and I must say...they are AMAZING!!!!! We were driving home from Target, and I was trying to keep her awake, so I gave her one, specifically telling her it was chocolate. It was like it clicked...all of a sudden, she was asking me for more chocolate, and when we asked her later if she wanted candy, she said "Cawcat"? It's really cute. She also started saying "Beautiful" in the correct context. It's so fun, she's saying new things all the time. She wants "colors" (crayons) all the time, and she just likes to pull them out of the box, look at their "beautiful" colors, and put them back in. Simple joys....

As for indulgences...I found a new/old one this week. I really wanted Hot Chocolate Monday morning when it snowed. I am out of my fav, Stephen's Belgian Dark Chocolate flavor, and I haven't been able to find it in stock anywhere. I took the boys to school, and had to run up to my Gran's house, so I stopped at Starbucks. I got their "Signature" Hot Chocolate, and honestly, it was heaven in a cup. It was so rich and smooth, it was almost like drinking melted really good quality chocolate. So many Calories....between 600 and 700 depending...but it's soooooooooo good.

We're busy at our house...Cole's into his Christmas Cooking insanity, and I'm working. Next week, we have Kyle's choir concert and Kyle's friend birthday party, I finally scheduled my baseline mammogram that I was supposed to get last year, plus a christmas party and working thrown in....If I can make it through this week, and get everything done that I need to, I will be very grateful.

Christmas Pictures!

Merry Christmas!

Our weekend was really good...Cole and I got all the christmas shopping for the children done. Talia is feeling much better..her ear infection and cold have mostly cleared up. I got to go to relief society for the first time in 4 years this week, and really enjoyed it. We had to have the "We believe in Santa in our house" talk with Kyle. I (finally) played with the software that came with my camera, and was able to edit the Christmas pics so that there wasn't any red-eye. I know, I can't believe I've never used it, it was really easy. I wish it had been as easy to actually take the picture...it took us probably 20 shots to get one where they're all smiling and looking at the right place. Kids....

I want in...

On the Christmas questions!!!

So, here goes....

Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? Definitely Hot Chocolate...Steven's Dark Chocolate flavor, with Whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream!

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa AND Mrs Claus wrap most everything, unless something is too big to wrap.

Colored lights on tree/house or white? Well, I prefer white. However, Alec specifically asked for colored lights outside last year, so now the outside has colored lights and the tree has white lights with Gold and Silver decorations.

Do you hang mistletoe? No...I don't have anywhere to hang it. Besides, I don't need an excuse to kiss my honey, and I hope he feels the same!

When do you put up your decorations? It depends on when I'm working. Cole usually gets the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. If I'm not working, we decorate the tree over the weekend sometime. This year, I worked the entire weekend, so I put up the house decorations on the 1st while the boys were in school, and we decorated the tree that night.

What is your favorite holiday dish? Mashed Potatoes and Gravy.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Hmm...there are so many good ones. The first one to come to mind was the year my Dad bought my Mom a new diamond ring..and hid it in the slippers he had wrapped for her. He encouraged her to try them on, and so did I (not knowing what was in them). Her face was priceless...so surprised and pleased and a little bit guilty. It taught me a great lesson though...sometimes giving is better than receiving. My Dad's enjoyment of surprising my Mom is etched in my memory.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? When I became responsible for continuing the tradition with my own kids? Seriously, though, Santa is still real to me, because of the spirit of giving that Santa embraces.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We've always opened a gift from Santa at our family Christmas Eve party(courtesy of Santa doing a ring and run, and leaving a sack of presents on the doorstep), but last year I wanted to start the "opening PJ's on Christmas Eve" tradition with my kids. They don't have to match, but I try to at least get them to coordinate.

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Since I already covered the colors, I'll go through the process...we start with the small gold balls that we've had since before our children were born. I start at the top, and once I get enough on the high branches, the kids get to start putting them on lower branches. After all the gold balls are on the tree, Cole just hands us ornaments, and we let the boys do what they will...gently helping them if they put things too close together.
It's been hard for me to let them help as they've gotten older...but I'm always glad that I do.

Can you ice skate? Yes, but I don't often have the opportunity.

Do you remember your favorite gift? Yes...as a child, it was a Cabbage Patch Doll, the year they were almost impossible to get. I wanted one, but I didn't think I would get one...but somehow, my Granny managed to get one for each of her female grandkids. I still have it...
As a teenager, it was the year I got a TV...it was completely unexpected, and that made it that much more sweet.

What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? It's all about family, and making sure there's a balance between the commercial and spiritual meanings of Christmas.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Homemade Mudpie. YUM!

What is your favorite holiday tradition? I love that Santa does a Ring and Run, leaving a sack of presents on the doorstep at our Christmas Eve party. He's done it every year since I was a toddler, and I love to see the reactions my children have. The wonder never stops.

What tops your tree? Nothing...I've never found anything I love enough to put up there.

Which do you prefer giving or receiving? I have to choose?

What is your favorite Christmas Song? Carol of the Bells, when performed by the TranSiberian Orchestra, or O Holy Night when performed by almost anyone.

Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Yes. I really wish the commercial part of the season didn't start so soon....and that the spiritual side lasted the whole year through.