bbrrrrr!!!

So we are all snuggled up in our nice Hotel room in Provo, Utah right now. We are enjoying the heater and our blankets! Yes, we are totally "Phoenicianized" for sure! Temperatures in the 30's and our thin blood do not mix!! Why do we always come up to Utah in the winter?? I guess it keeps us from every getting the crazy idea that we should move here. I'm sure if we came in the summer, we would be thinking differently, knowing we had temperatures in the 110's to go back to. This time, before we came, we hit Sport's Chalet and bought some nice snow coats, bibs, gloves, etc. We also picked up some sweet sleds, and sled/snowboards at the Walmart here. So we are hoping for a great sledding experience!! That is what's on our schedule for tomorrow.
Yesterday we left our house at 12:30 for a long 10 hour drive to Utah. We were supposed to leave Sunday, but our suspension on our car went bad Saturday night, so we had to get it fixed on Monday. Luckily they quickly fixed the car, so we were able to leave and get here before Midnight! The trip went well. Sophia hardly cried. She mainly cried because she had an awful cough that kept waking her up. I think we are finally past that awful "traveling with baby" stage, or maybe she was so sick it just took the fight out of her. She coughed all last night, and she was in my room, so I didn't get much sleep. Luckily she was doing better today!!
Today we filled our day with as much stuff as possible! We started off visiting Ben's Grandparents, who are probably the greatest people I know! Unfortunately, the kids had colds so we made our visit very short, and the kids only came in for a quick "hi"! We then visited Ben's Aunt for about 30 minutes, and then headed to pick up a few essential items at Walmart...including snow boots! We were able to get the boys boots there, and they were really good ones!! Only at the Walmart in Utah do you find quality boots! They didn't have anything for Ben, so he went to Sports Authority in the mall. He came out with boots for me and him! Mine are cute, but I really didn't need them. He is in the spoiling mood lately, so I guess I should just learn to enjoy it! I'm now styling in my new fur boots/coat! Funny I'm only going sledding....not skiing or anything!! I then ran in the mall, and was able to FINALLY find some boots for Sophia...so now we are all ready for tomorrow!
After our boot purchases, we met the Hellewells (great friends from the College Days) at Cafe Rio! Yep, Cafe Rio is within walking distance (not that I would walk in this weather) from our Hotel. I would eat there for lunch and dinner the whole time I was here, but I don't think my kids would like me very much if I did that! After lunch we all headed to the BYU bookstore. Eight kids (our friends have 4) running around in the bookstore wouldn't be my number one choice of activities. They all were running around, and bouncing the basketballs around the clothing department. I'm not one for cramped spaces either, so I was ready to get out of there. Boston used his money to buy a BYU basketball, so the kids took that to the Commons area by the Cougareat and played keep away for about 20 minutes while Kristen waited in the long line to purchase some things. I'm sure the college student's were ready for us to leave!
We all went downstairs to go bowling, to find out that everyone else must have had the same idea. It was packed! It was about a 45 minute wait, which we spent playing air hockey, pinball, Galaga/Ms. Packman, and any other thing we could waste quarters on. Amber had some free time, so she met us and got to bowl with us. The kids had a fun time bowling and Ethan scored better than me, even. Of course, I was a little out of sorts after I took a fall. Sophia started running down the lane and I RAN after her. Apparently they WAX the lanes, which I wasn't thinking about. So running and waxed floors really don't' go together. I wish I had the fall on video. Apparently my legs went over my head, and Ben said the whole place was watching. The ironic thing is that Ben had the video camera out only a few minutes prior! Too bad, or we could have made some good money from America's Funniest Home Video! I'm sure I'll be feeling my fall tomorrow! It hurt so bad when it happened, Ben had to come get Sophia from me and I was crawling off the bowling lane! It was pretty funny though.
After we left BYU, we headed towards Salt Lake, after having dinner at Wingers. The kids did well...even Sophia. Sophia actually has done very well on this trip. She has accommodated for naps, etc. Of course, she always wants Ben, but that's nothing different. All my kids do that at this age, and then it changes when they are about 3 years old! After dinner, we went to the Salt Lake temple to see the lights! It was so cold, we all had to bundle up in our snow jackets and gloves. We discovered that EThan's jacket is about 2 sizes to small. Apparently Boston was much smaller when he was 4! Ethan loved it though, and insisted it was perfect! The lights at the temple were beautiful! I LOVE going to temple square. It reminds me of my wedding day, and how much better our lives have become with each year. I think of how little we really knew each other then, and how we now finish each others sentences and read each others thoughts! Marriage is definitely not a one day event, but a life time event, which becomes sweeter with each year!
Ok...sappiness over...after the lights, and a quick stop at Krispie Kreme, we came back to the Hotel so Sophia could finally go to bed. She was so tired she didn't' even take a bottle! (No comments on the fact that my 20 month old takes a bottle!) Ben took the kids swimming, while I cleaned up the hotel room! (Yes, I have to be organized or I go crazy!). Now we are watching Jumanji at 11:00 at night...we are definitely on vacation. Hopefully Sophia sleeps better tonight!

"Fa ra, ra, ra ra!"

This Christmas will definitely will be an unforgettable one, for many reasons! Part of our Christmas Eve wasn't the most pleasant experience for our family, so I was determined to set the tone for Christmas morning. We still had a chance to do a few of our normal traditions which included putting out Reindeer food, and leaving out a plate for Santa!!!

Aubrie putting out Reindeer food! Boston getting the plate ready!

The kids woke up very early this year, and we made them go back to bed for a few more hours. When we finally did get up, we gathered the kids in the loft and had a quick Family Home "Morning", which included singing Christmas hymns, prayer, and reading the book "A Christmas Dress for Ellen" retold by President Monson. The book was about a family who received a Christmas miracle and the joy that service can bring to both the giver and recipient. It really set the tone for the rest of the day!! Especially when the next thing to do was to open gifts! The kids were much more appreciative, thanking us for every gift they opened. Also, because we decided that we would no longer be rushing over to Ben's parents in the morning, to open their gifts, we were able to casually open our gifts and just relax the whole day. It was so nice!! The kids hung out and played with their gifts, watched their new movies, etc.
The kids had a good Christmas and got what they wanted, except EThan (who asked for a DS the last minute). We told him that Santa doesn't give DS's to kids under 5! Hee Hee! Boston asked for the Hulk DS game, so that was easy. He also got some new Callaway golf clubs, a lego set (that Joe ended up putting together), and a some clothes. Aubrie got 4 little kinz and tonz of clothes!!! Ethan got a new bike, a shuffle (it's so cute watching him walk around with that thing), Indiana Jones and Iron man dress up, and some other random clothes and toys. I got Ben a new video camera, and clothes! I had no clue what Ben got me this year. I suspected he got me a new purse, a vacation, or some new "bling". I was totally wrong! He got me some random things, like boots, running clothes, a year of free car washes, and he saved one particular box for last. Inside was an apple. I immediately thought and said it has something to do with TWILIGHT!!! He said to go look in the butlers pantry where I keep the cream of chicken soup. I thought for sure it was tickets to Washington, since I have been hinting that I would love to go to Forks! When I opened the cabinet I was shocked to see a new Macbook! I never asked for a computer, and I have always said I wouldn't want an Apple, so I was seriously shocked to see that he got me one. It is loaded with tonz of software, including all the photoshop and stuff. Stuff I don't seem to have the time for. Lately all I need my computer for is blogging, email, and Facebook! I'm am starting to like my knew computer though, and I'm sure when I find time to be "creative" will appreciate it even more.
So the morning was great....full of the spirit, kids being thankful and loving, all happy with their gifts. Their was a point in the day when the Christmas Story was on TV and it was the part where they were eating in the Chinese Restaurant listening to the Chinese waiters trying to sing Deck the Halls!!! I was laughing, and said, "Even though things didn't work out as planned, I bet that was one of their most memorable Christmas'!" (Like that family is even real or anything!) Well Heavenly FAther must have heard me!!! Our dinner plans didn't go "as planned" last night, and we all hopped in the car looking for a place to eat. The first place we saw open was McDonalds , and there was no way we were going to eat there! As we were driving around we realized that only Chinese restaurants were open. We were all laughing as we were pulling up there to eat, and the kids were asking if the waiters would be singing to us! I knew that this was going to be a Christmas we would never forget. We didn't get a Christmas song, but the kids had fun looking at the Chinese Year calendar and seeing what they are "supposed" to be like. Ethan wasn't feeling well, so he practically fell asleep in the booth, and Sophia was tired and cranky, so much so that someone asked to move as soon as they were seated by us. As I was walking around the restaurant with her, I realized that it was full of Jewish people! They were with their families having a great time, like it was just another day on the calendar. I realized they probably love Christmas night because they have restaurants all to themselves. I'm surprised they didn't start all singing Hanukkah songs! It would have topped off our experience for sure! They were all very friendly to us, except the ones who moved! Definitely a memorable night! When we came home, we put Sophia down for a bed, and the kids and Ben watched Kung Fu Panda while I talked to my Dad for an hour.
What I learned this Christmas is this....First, the best way to make sure you have a wonderful Christmas is to serve someone who couldn't have a "Christmas" without you. Secondly, if you simplify Christmas it will actually Magnify it. Lastly; no matter what Christmas day, or Eve dishes out, you have control to make it into something memorable rather than miserable! Christmas is about Love, giving, and most importantly our Savior. If we aren't focused on him, how can we feel the spirit of HIS day...his birthday!!

All I want for Christmas is HER two front teeth!

First of all, I would like to thank all those who commented on my last entry. It really helped to know that my kids weren't abnormal, and that they wouldn't be ending up in Juevie! With that said, I might have Social Services at my door because of poor little Sophia.
On Sunday, Ben took her out by the pool and she was climbing on the lounge chair and fell. She scraped her forehead pretty good; definitely makes for great Christmas pictures--NOT! Then today, after my 3 mile+ run (yes..a little props for me!) , I walked in the house and Ben had Sophia in his arms. He asked if she took a fall yesterday. I told him, not that I knew of, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen. He got her to open her mouth and showed me that her two front teeth were chipped. Her top lip was also a little busted up. I was so shocked and so sad! I instantly started thinking about all her pictures, especially her kindergarten. Isn't that superficial?! Now she is my cute little girl, with busted up Chiclets!
When Aubrie woke up, I asked her if she remembered Sophia falling. Apparently Aubrie had her in the stroller and tilted it forward and lost grip of the handles. I tried not to make Aubrie feel bad about it, but inside I was thinking, "Haven't I told you a MILLION times to be careful with her when she is in the stroller!" (Definitely progress on my part!...not yelling and blaming!) Aubrie started saying she made her sister ugly, etc. I told her she would be fine, and if it looked that bad when she got a little older we could have them capped. What is up with my kids and their teeth?? Each one of them has some cosmetic issue! Luckily they're not their permanents!
I would post a picture...but I have to hold her down and lift up her lip to get a look at them! BTW...the "shipping the presents to Santa" has worked wonders in this house!! It comes highly recommended!

I've gotta know!

Here is a recent family photo! Everyone seems so happy, loving, etc....right! If only it was always the case...but life isn't "picture" perfect!

So here's the deal....I'm kind of like an only child in the fact that my brother is 12 years older than me and my younger brothers are 7 years younger. We really weren't close enough on either end to have any type of sibling rivalry, kick down dirty fights, or problem's using each other stuff. Maybe my parents were on to something? Anyway, so as I try to understand my kids and their relationships with one another, I'm constantly bewildered at how they treat each other with such kindness and love one minute and then with such disgust another. Is this normal? Is the term "sibling rivalry" a common one because it's just a fact of life? Anyone out there fight nonstop with their siblings as children and drive their parents crazy? Ben said he did, but I need more proof! How about your kids? I've gotta know! I'm just wondering if I'm raising a bunch of hoodlums who are never going to grasp the term, "love your brother as yourself"!
What has spurred this outpouring of feelings onto the pages of this lovely blog!? Well here it goes.
Thursday night was supposed to be a great night with our friends the Lorenzana's. Our plans were a nice Ham dinner, movies, a gift exchange and some gingerbread cookie making! Sounds like a great night, huh? Something they should be so grateful for and on their best behavior for.....NO! NO! Before we even got there, the boys earned themselves 10 minutes of time out on their couch! Luckily the kids behaved themselves through dinner, gifts, the movie, etc. It was quite the enjoyable evening...the babies asleep upstairs and the kids and adults enjoying each others company! Then the Wii came out! Of course there was bickering about who was going to play, and complaining that it was their turn, etc.....then while the adults were getting ready to play a game in the kitchen, there was a huge blow out, that turned into Aubrie full on punching Boston in the face! REallY??? Who does that??? Kicking, pushing, hitting....I've seen that plenty of times, especially in my days of Nursery leader...put punching!
I hate when punishing my kids punishes me. But that's what I had to do! I packed up everything and told the kids we had to leave. Aubrie was screaming and freaking out, and Boston did his pitiful, sorrowful cry! When we got home I started taking Aubrie and Bostons presents out from under the tree, telling them I was going to give them to kids who deserved them. (The crazy Mom was totally surfacing!) Boston, being the sweet boy that he is, was whimpering saying, "Mom, please don't' take Aubrie's presents". Aubrie was in hysterics, screaming that her Christmas was being ruined, and was going to be the worst Christmas EVER!!! As I was packing the presents in the back of my trunk, she started to walk away from the house, pretending she was going to run away? We finally rallied everyone into our living room for a family council.
Ben was very good about doing this. I was so livid I just wanted to go lock myself in my room! Ben and I had a good talk about the meaning of Christmas, and how we needed to treat each other with love and respect. Ben gave the kids blessings, while Ethan tried to stay awake! I told the kids that I was going to mail their gifts to Santa, and on Christmas Eve would give him a call to tell him, A: To bring the gift back and put them under the tree, or B: Give their gifts to other children. I dropped them off at the Lorenzana's for "hiding" the next morning!
So....the results...They have been ANGELS these past two days.
Yesterday Boston was sick and Aubrie was taking care of him. Getting cold wash clothes for his head, making get well cards, etc. Today was the same....them trying hard to get along. These past two days have been so peaceful.....I'm just wondering how long it will last!
Oh wait, I take the two full days of peace back. I did have 20 minutes of panic yesterday. The kids (Aubrie and Ethan) asked if they could ride their bikes. After 10 minutes of not seeing or hearing them out front, I went looking for them. I couldn't find them on our street or neighboring streets. I thought they may have tried going the back way to the Lorenzana's. As I was pulling on our street, after I went looking for them the second time, I saw them scootering up to the house with get well cards for Boston and cookies in their hands! It was hard to be mad at them. We just had a good talk about the fact that not only do they have to be able to see our house from where they are at, but that I have to be able to see THEM from our house, too!

Christmas is coming...therefore my blogging is lacking!

I seriously don't remember where I left off, and I'm too lazy right now to check (I know... it's just a few clicks to find out....remember I said LAZY). I think a part of me doesn't want to see how far behind I really am, because I don't have the time to play catch up! So I'll start with last weekend, briefly. Last weekend was our Ward Christmas party. Thirty minutes before the party, we quickly met with Erin for some quick shots of the family for a Christmas Card. (BTW Olivers what's your address?)

Snap shots Ben took before we took our pictures! After our pictures, we raced to the church and had the kids change into their PJ's in the car (the "dress code" for the kiddos). The party was fun. We made gingerbread houses, and wrote letters to the missionaries. Santa was there, also. The "Santa room" was decorated so cute, and the whole process of visiting him was way more organized than any other party I have been to. He was much better than the Santa we saw earlier that day, at Walmart! He seriously didn't say a word to the kids and never smiled. They just talked, and he would nod his head once in awhile. If I didn't know better, I would have thought he was drunk! Afterwards the kids said, "that must have been one of Santa's helpers". I was laughing so hard inside! I'm so glad that "Santa" was redeemed at the Ward Party. Even Sophia sat on his lap!

Aubrie on Santa's lap asking for Webkinz. Boston asking for a video game he had never mentioned before (hate when they throw us a curve ball like that!) Ethan asking for a DS game (yeah right! He's getting a bike!) Ben asking for some more money to buy it all!Boston still didn't buy he was the real Santa. I guess the kids at school have been telling him that there is no such thing. He came home the other day, telling me that he knows we drink the milk and cookies and that we listen to what they want when they sit on Santa's lap and then we buy the presents. Luckily, a few years ago, the kids saw a guy at Sams who looked like Santa. The kids went up to talk to him, and we mouthed their names and ages behind their backs so he could call them by name, etc. They really thought he was the real thing. I brought that up to Boston and it made him think a little. It's funny how Boston stopped believing before Aubrie. He is just too smart and logical! I'm still hoping that he won't be in complete denial for another few years!! Ok...sorry for that tangent...back to the week that has flown by! So, since we don't' already have enough going on with the Christmas season, the kids both had a field trip over the past week. Aubrie went to the Nutcracker, and enjoyed a nice lunch there. Boston went to see the Polar Express at the IMAX theatre, and they wore their PJ's. It was weird sending him to school in them. I realized he didn't have PJ's that weren't mix matched, or high waters, so I broke open him Christmas PJ's and let him wear them. He was excited for that. They both had a great time!

This weekend we had our annual Christmas Party. Ben was in charge of the invites this year, and he accidentally made it for the wrong day. When he corrected it, the e-vite said Friday- Saturday. It became a joke that it was a sleepover. He mixed things up this year, and we had several new couples. It was a great mix of the "oldie but goodies" and the newcomers! We had a great time! It's always fun to have an "adult only" party. No distractions!!! We catered Olive Garden and did the White Elephant gift exchange, again. The playboy PJ's were a hot item, and there were 3 Batman DVD's that made it around until they were "closed"! After the gift exchange, a few stuck around for some Rock Band and socializing. We had such a great time, we forgot to take pictures! Oh, I forgot to mention that he kids had a cousin sleep over at Ben's parents that night....it worked out quite nice. So the only one here was Sophia, and she slept through it all!

The following morning, I woke up for an early run/hike. Several girls met at my house and we ran to the hiking trail (about a mile) and hiked the mountain by my house. We than ran back home (another mile) and did some sit ups! Even though I hate getting up, I'm actually starting to feel a little addicted to the running. I never thought I would say that. So if there is anything you think you would never do, all I have to say is "never say never!" I have to thank my friend Susan for pushing me into it! ( I should say forcing since she convinced my hiking partner to run instead)

Saturday night Aubrie had her Glendale Glitters performance. Her team finally got all their jewelry that they are supposed to wear at their competitions. Aubrie was so excited to put all of it on. She looked so old with all the make up, costume jewelery, and done up hair. I'm so not ready for when she does that on a consistent basis! (12....at least!:)

Here is a picture of her performance. It turned out really dark, but I had to give her some props. She had a type of "mini solo" part. She did a leap through the middle and did this cool rolling thing and popped up from the ground. She is the one in the middle:) We are so proud of her hard work and enthusiasm for dance!

The boys at Aubries performance!

After the performance, Ben surprised Aubrie and took us to her favorite restaurant, Ah-So! The Kids enjoyed watching the "cooking show" and Ethan finally tried and loved the rice! yeah! Boston said he liked the Japanese Steak house better by Disneyland. I asked him if it was because we celebrated his birthday there and he said, "No because I like Mario better." I was confused to who and what he was talking about. He told me Mario was the cook! How in the world did her remember that? Kids have room for so much of that type of information, while mine is filled with, what's on my grocery list, whose birthday is coming up, and if I'm caught up on my blogging and facebook!

Today Church was a little crazy. The kids kept going back and forth to Ben's parents during Sacrament meeting. I decided I'm going to have to nip that in the bud. It's too distracting. Sophia fought the nursery the whole time, and so I missed Ben's awesome lesson. I love his class, whenever I get the chance to go. The spirit is always so strong in there. There is so also so much unity in that class.

After church we had tithing settlement, and we played games with the kids. We then took our left over Olive Garden to the Lorenzana's and had dinner there, and they shared their yummy left over ice cream cake from Devyn's birthday. The kids had a fun and we sat around and talked. Ben had to pull me out of there, cause I was getting ultra comfortable on their over sized chair! Sooooo comfy.

I can't believe that there is only one more week of school before Christmas break. I'm actually feeling pretty good. My stress level is amazingly low this season, due to my little epiphany! I am loving feeling this way! Of course, the fact that all my Christmas shopping is done, minus a gift I have to pick up for my Mom and Aubrie's teacher, and I'm not hosting Christmas, might be helping. Hopefully the lack of stress will aid in a sick free Christmas...my only wish for the season!

I have Epiphanies, too!

This week was a great week! I didn't have a lot going on, at least so it seemed! Maybe I did, but I felt a lot less stressed! I'm trying to cut fear out of my life...every kind! It's actually been very therapeutic. If I'm stressing about something I ask myself, "why am I stressing?", and it always seems to funnel back to some type of fear. Fear that my house won't be clean, fear that "so and so" will be mad at me/or not like me, fear that "such and such" wont be just perfect! Who really cares? By doing this I have been able to concentrate a lot more on whats important, and be able to enjoy life a little more..especially the kids!
Again, I was thinking how I only have such a short time with them, and I started to appreciate every little thing they do...especially Sophia and Ethan. I can't imagine how lonely the house will be next year when he is in Kindergarten! Even though he can entertain himself all day, it will be weird not to have him here! This week I have focused a lot more on the things I will miss when he isn't here!
Today I was playing with Sophia in the toy room! She got really involved in one of her toys, and I nodded off while she was playing with it! She hit me to "wake" me up! I grabbed her hand and said "no" (with my eye's still closed:). The next thing she did took me by surprise. She crawled over to my face and then kissed me to try and wake me up! It was so darn cute! We then made a game of it. I would pretend to sleep again and then she would kiss me, again. I thought about how much I'm going to miss those sweet tender moments that will fade too quickly! I'm so thankful for my little epiphanies that keep me in the moment!