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!