Almost a NEW YEAR...

After Christmas there is always this huge let down for me. All the glitz and glamour of the holiday season are over and everyone is so quick to take down decorations and trees ( like seriously the day after!!) and return to the normal mundane day to day routines. It makes me depressed. All I can think about is the freezing, bleak, January that awaits me. So this week I have been trying to snap out of it and have been deep cleaning areas of the house to try and lift my spirits and keep my brain busy and all the while doing that I have been stuffing my face with loads and loads of chocolate!! I am out of control. A light shone in my tunnel when Megan Shaw called and asked me to run a relay race with her and the other sisters in St. George at the beginning of March. Heck ya I will! Gives me motivation to run and not just to run but for a purpose. It made me really happy and Megan may have just saved my winter.

Today is New Year's Eve and it has been a productive day. I woke up and cleaned the house and then went running (it was just too windy and cold this morning). We all went to Home Depot to get wood and materials to rebuild the bench we had had made for our new kitchen table. I really hated the way the bench turned out, in every aspect, the color, the grain of wood, the style, the legs. So I convinced TJ to take it apart and rebuild it the way I wanted it and he did a great job (even though he was convinced he couldn't). For dinner we went to the same Chinese hole in the wall restaurant that we always go to on New Year's Eve (not really sure how this tradition started) but we all love it and there is never a wait and it's quaint and quiet. We played the game "Don't Eat Pete!" for the first time (I think it is a Utah game) and it was hilarious and I'm sure the kids will want to play it everyday!! TJ just home with a movie from Red Box and that is how we will end the night. I know, we are so crazy! And I know for sure I will be sound asleep before midnight...like every year. No matter.

As I sit here and think about this past year I think it was such a great one. Lots of changes and accomplished goals and growth for our family. TJ got a new job and it has done wonders for our family and I love it so much. I have proved to myself that I can do things I never thought I could ever do AKA run a marathon. We saw a lot of our family this year even though we had no family reunions planned. Tallie is doing great in kindergarten and is finally starting to grasp the whole reading concept. Chloe is in preschool and coming out of her shell and just says the most random hilarious things that seriously make my day. Lexi is potty trained and letting her full personality shine. She is talking a lot and will pretty much say any word you tell her to, correctly. We have done a lot of projects around the house and yard and hopefully will add a finished basement to the list in 2012.

A few facts about 2011:

Obama is President of the United States, President Thomas S. Monson is the President of the Church, gas is $2.95, Justin Bieber is the favorite in our house, 10 year anniversary of September 11, Harry Potter and the Twilight Saga were big hits at the box office, the iPhone 4 is HUGE, books are going out of style thanks to the Kindle Fire, Steve Jobs died, Twitter and Facebook have taken over the world, I still have my blog (obviously), X Factor is our favorite show, huge tsunami in Japan, Provo Tabernacle burned down and announced to be restored to a temple, Osama Bin Laden was killed, we planted our very first garden and Bob and Mona are going on a mission to Hawaii, and "Good Luck Charlie" is the girls favorite TV show (mine too).

We had Sofie Garrett over for a sleepover.

Everyone was super excited (since cousins are the exception to sleepovers).

They went to bed way to late and got up way too early.

McDonald's for dinner was a hit.

Once summer rolls around Chloe and Tallie want to sleep at Sophie's.

Maybe I can work Lexi into that equation....

Christmas at Bob and Mona's!

This Christmas was great (there never is a bad Christmas). TJ got time off from work for a few days and we were able to do some fun family stuff. On Christmas Eve we went to TJ's parents house to spend the night. The Shaw's, the Fredrickson's, and the Garrett's were all there too (Jamie and her family didn't sleep over). We had our "Target" $10 gift exchange which was not as fun as last year due to the fact that I had nothing of Chelsea's to give away. We played some MarioKart and Just Dance and had our big Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve so that we wouldn't have to cook it with church being on Christmas. Chelsea and Thomas put on a great program for us and the kids really listened and we all felt the Spirit. We put our cookies out for Santa and sent the kids to bed. We stayed up late talking and laughing with everyone which is probably my favorite part. And of course I am the party pooper and am always the first to say I am going to bed. The kids didn't wake up too early on Christmas and they were so excited to go see what Santa brought them. I can see how EASY it is to spoil your kids and buy them everything just to see their faces light up. However they don't need too much and I think less is more. Santa brought each girl 3 things and TJ and I gave 4 gifts to each girl and that is it. I even told my mom and TJ's mom to keep it to ONE gift per child. My mom tried and got 2 per kid and Mona gave 3 each. It just makes TOO many toys when you add it all up and it's easy for them to expect more. Maybe next year they will stick to just one.

Lexi got a bike from Grandma and Grandpa Lee

Tallie got Legos from Santa (huge hit)

For both TJ and Tallie

Tallie made and wrapped TJ like 5 gifts. She must love him more than me...I got one. This is a paper belt and crown made out of a napkin. Very creative.

Lexi got a bunny pillow pet from mom and dad.

This is ALL Chloe wanted!!! Her dreams came true when Santa brought her a Doodle Bear. And let me just say I have not seen little Chloe so happy and carefree for a long time as she was at Grandma's house. She hardly cried and was just so happy. And not even about the toys and stuff. When everyone else left and it was just us she begged to stay one more night. We did and I am so glad she convinced us.

Tallie got a Scooter from Santa so she can stop borrowing Chloe's.

Chloe just LOVES grandpa! She loves to sit with him and cuddle and be whereever he is.

TJ got me way too many things (as usual) and as usual always does a great job. The one thing I LOVE LOVE LOVE is the picture of my 3 beautiful girls blown up huge on a canvas! Totally had no idea about this one and I got a tear in my eye when I opened it. Mad props to Teej for that one.

I reached my goal of reading the Doctrine and Covenants before Christmas. It feels really good to have set that goal and accomplish it. I need to set more goals all throughout the year but especially during Christmas time because it really helped me to focus on the real reason we celebrate and to not get too caught up in the world's view of Christmas.

I forgot to mention that TJ's parents gave each of their kids $1000.

HOLY MOLY I KNOW!

They did say it would be nice to have visitors visit them in Hawaii but that the money is ours to do with what we choose. Depending on how pregnant I am or if I have a new born we may or may not go. Until then the money will sit in our basement fund. So very grateful for Bob and Mona and their love and generosity.

So every now and then I have these crazy, monster mom, really bad days. I was beyond tired because the girls had me up every 30 min ALL night (no joke!) I was bummed because Tallie was sick and so sad because of it and missed a lot of the Christmas stuff we had planned. Chloe is in her phase (need I say more) and Lexi just screams my name all day. I was just grumpy and could not stop myself from yelling all day at everything. It didn't even feel like Christmas was coming in a few days. So of course I had a melt down and just let it all out (my kids probably think I am a little coo-coo) and then somehow I made a conscious decision to turn my frown upside down and choose to be in a better mood and to stop making the day miserable for everyone else. And of course I needed help so I said a little prayer and then I turned off the TV (which I hate by the way and want to shut it off completely). I put Lexi down for a nap and I decided we all needed a little pick me up from being sick and stuck inside for too long. We played Fancy Nancy and had foot baths with lotion and nail painting, snacks and makeup and I curled the girls hair. Now we felt good about ourselves. We then went outside for some MUCH needed fresh air and sunshine (HUGE believer that going outside even if for 5 min rain or shine, can totally boost your mood) and It made everyone happier. We rode around in the bus, rode our bikes and played in the backyard. It lasted 15 min because it was so cold. When TJ got home I took Tallie on an errand with me and she was soooo happy to get out with just me. She called it our date. We decorated our gingerbread men when we got home and read "The Little Match Girl" by the Christmas tree (my favorite book that my mom read to me) and then it was bed time and everyone went to bed happy with good memories of the day instead of terrible ones. It was awesome and I'm so glad my prayer was answered.

Today we went bowling because Tallie won a free game at school. We then went to lunch at Tallie's favorite spot, Subway, and then home for a nap. After it was to Walmart to buy our $10 dolloar white elephant gifts for Christmas Eve and we ended the night at Tessa's house watching the Elf. A great day and I can't wait for tomorrow.

So I don't like taking the kids to the Doctor. It bugs me when people take their kids to the doc for every tiny little thing and most times the doc will say the same thing.

I had to take Tallie yesterday because I knew that she has strep throat and we are getting together with family for Christmas and I need her to be feeling better and NOT contagious.

So for the first time in 3 years Tallie is on antibiotics.

She is still pretty miserable and pretty much cried every half hour last night (along with the other two). It was a bad, sleepless night for all.

And somehow this sickness has sucked all of the Christmas cheer out of our house.

I hope she feels better soon and I PRAY that no one else gets it.

In the meantime I need to work on getting our house back into the Christmas Spirit.

Tonight was Tallies school Christmas program. She was really excited and practiced her part over and over. I was just as excited to see her up there singing.

She woke up this morning and threw up.

I kept her home from school and hoped that she would feel better and that she could still make it tonight.

She cried when she couldn't go to school. She wanted to be there for the final practice.

Well she threw up all throughout the day and the worst part was that she didn't make it to the toilet and threw up in the hall, the bathroom floor, the clothes all over the floor, the wall, the shower curtain, the bathroom rugs, all over the toilet and herself.

She had just gotten out of the bath, no joke, was still in her towel.

She went right back in and I started cleaning, again. I actually had just cleaned that bathroom this morning, like really really really cleaned it.

She is still sick and its so sad to see her so miserable.

Hopefully she is better tomorrow and that the rest of us don't catch it.

But we proboly will, just in time for Christmas.

It never fails.

On a different note this year I was kind of a grinch and decided not to spend days and days in my kitchen baking and baking (food that Chloe can't even eat) for like 30 neighbors. I know that no one wants to and they always talk about not doing it. We are all tight on money. So I said no. But lo and behold every day my doorbell rings with endless goodies (that I REALLY don't want to even eat) and now I look like I don't care. I kind of just feel like it has become a competition with who can come up with the most creative and unique gift that doesn't break the bank. I have no ideas and it hurts my brain to think about it. But I have been thinking about a select few who I know I SHOULD give something to to let them know they are loved and thought about. I made a small list of about 5 people and started baking. Maybe next year I can think about something besides baking. I don't like baking. Anyways this is a time for giving and even though I am not giving to everyone in my neighborhood, I'd like to think they just know that I appreciate their friendship, I feel the need to give so I am.

There is a lady who has been coming to my house for the past few years selling egg rolls and I am a sucker and have always bought them. Her name is Angelita and I have come to know a lot about her. She really needs a friend and she opens up to me. She let me know the other day how much she appreciates our friendship. We usually have hour long conversations when she comes. She has a hard life and I'm glad that my $10 helps her out. We decided this year to secret Santa her. I made her a loaf of bread, some goodies , a bracelet, some oranges and a $50 gift card to Walmart. I appreciate her friendship too.

At the mall they had this "Princess Festival" and since it was free with our pass of all passes we took the girls. I really wanted so bad to take the kids to "Disney on Ice" like we had done a couple of years ago but it didn't quite fit in the budget this year. I just feel like Tallie is growing out of the dress up and princess phase and it makes me sad. It's such an innocent age and I hate to see them leave it. Kids were supposed to dress up in princess dresses but Tallie bluntly said she would not be dressing up.

Ouch, that hurt my heart.

Anyways it was pretty lame and Chloe cried through most of the whole thing. She has been so super sensitive lately and will burst into tears over just about anything. Mostly about crumpled socks and "ill" fitting clothes. She is very particular and is very emotional and I don't know how to deal with her. She is so sweet at times and others a crazy lady. Most of the times she cries and I ask her what is wrong or what is making her sad she never has an answer for me and just says she doesn't know.

She tells me a lot that she is "just sad".

It worries me and I hope that it's just her age and it's not something more like depression.

Yes I have googled "childhood depression".

We had our annual family Christmas sleepover and set up the tent in the living room and popped popcorn, drank hot chocolate (which Lexi spilled all over the carpet) and we watched "The Polar Express". We didn't end up sleeping in the tent because the girls just wanted their beds after awhile. I love this pic of the three of them. They all now have the same haircut just in different lengths (I just chopped off Tallies and I totally regret it now).

For FHE we watched the 2 min Nativity (the one with no words that makes you cry every time) and then we acted out the scene ourselves. Chloe had to be Mary EVERY TIME and Lexi was loving being the baby. TJ is ALWAYS the donkey. He is really good at it.

It's almost Christmas and I am ready for it. I am not ready for the round of sickness that is about to take over our house though. Tallie threw up this morning and is missing her last day of school and come to find out that TJ threw up this morning as soon as he got to work.

Bob and Mona entered the MTC yesterday which is exciting and sad all at once.

There is probably nothing more frustrating than spending time coloring someone's hair and in the end not getting paid for it because YOU GOT COLOR ON THE COLLAR OF THEIR SHIRT! ARG! What am I like 3 years old??? $70 down the drain... money I really needed and was counting on. I feel so dumb. I kind of hate this week. I had 2 colors today and one tomorrow and the next and so on and so on till the end of the week. But good news is that next week I have NO appointments or any until January 2nd. Ya that's right. A holiday vacation for me and my family. Family comes first.

Bob and Mona's Farewell

Today we went to Bob and Mona's ward to hear them give their Farewell talks. I can't believe that they will be leaving so soon. I am seriously sooooo sad! I got to thinking today that I don't think things will ever be the same when they get back. Megan and Tyler Shaw and Chelsea and Thomas I know will be moving out of Utah at one point or another for their husbands to attend different schools and that could even happen while Bob and Mona are on their mission. It will be sad to see family spread out and have distance between us...just as we were all finally living close to one another. I am excited for them and for this opportunity they have to serve a mission and I know it will be a great experience for all. Doesn't take the sadness away though. We spent the day together today and ate A LOT of food, no surprise and we played some Just Dance and enjoyed each others company.

On Friday night Chloe and Tallie spent the night at Grandmas with Sophie Garrett and they had so much fun. Mona really wanted to have a last hurrah with the girls before she left. They had a tea party and watched movies with popcorn. They decorated cookies and went to Santa's workshop (aka candy store) and they got to pick out HUGE gumballs and come home and make gumball necklaces. They went to McDonald's for dinner. Chloe and Sam snuggled for the movie and slept together in the same bed HOW CUTE! I wish I had a picture. The next day they went to see "Arthur's Christmas" at the theater. Have I ever mentioned how much I love TJ's mom?! I hope I can be an awesome and fun Grandma.

When we got home we went to Roberts Craft Store to look for some scrapbook paper since they were going out of business and everything was on sale and we happen to see some awesome rustic 7 ft long tables and they were for sale too! Real solid wood and it was only $400! We both looked at each other and instantly knew we had to have it. We totally did an impulse buy and came right home and listed our current table on KSL in hopes we can get enough out of that to cover the new one. The new more is just more practical for us. For one its not counter height and is more kid friendly. Its more stable and is already worn and rustic which is perfect for little hands that destroy everything anyways. I want to get a bench for one side and 2 upholstered modern chairs for the ends and some mismatched chairs for the other side. I am SO excited!

Ugly sweater winners!!

Rob and Becky Clayton

Every year we are invited to our neighbors, the Wilkins house, to have soup and make gingerbread houses. I think we are going on 4 years now. Kristi is such a Monica on the show "Friends". She love to be the host! She makes all of the gingerbread from scratch and invites like 4 other couples over. It's pretty much chaos in a tight space but we love it and the girls love it and lets be honest WE ALWAYS MAKE THE BEST HOUSE! This year we didn't pull out the blueprints and build our usual masterpiece because we were on a time crunch because we had an ugly sweater party to get to as well. For the first time ever I feel like we are not losers and that we actually have FRIENDS! People are inviting us over and we are going out! Just a few weeks ago we went to see the new TWILIGHT movie with like 6 other couples. And a around Halloween time we got invited to a murder mystery party. Isn't it funny how we are grown up almost in our thirties (poor Tj is already 32) and sometimes I still feel like we are in highschool just trying to fit in and make friends. Anyways for the the ugly sweater party my friend Becky and I went to DI to try and find some sweet sweaters and we were like 2 out of 20 peeps there looking for the same thing. We had to think outside of the box and so we picked up plain red sweatshirts and found ugly stuffed animals and stockings and sewed them onto the sweatshirts. Oh MAN were they ugly and we won the prize for the most ugly sweaters!

It was so fun to be with friends and laugh until we almost cried.

We got lucky that night and won a Justin Beiber singing toothbrush.

The girls are in Heaven and it has been playing non-stop.

Tallie actually told me the other day that she wished she was Selena Gomez (who is currently dating Justin Beiber) so that she could be with Justin.

Chloe was funny and thought quick to hurry and brush her teeth first with it to dub it hers.

It worked.

The other night we also went to TJ's work Christmas dinner and there we won a new Kindle Fire and 100$ to Costco.

Merry Christmas to us!

(Matt Brinkerhoff really wanting to take 1st place)

Getting the TREE!

I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!

There is so much faith, magic and love in the air.

A desire to do more, be more and give more.

A time to be with our families and ENJOY them and the love they bring into our lives.

Each year we go and find the "perfect" tree and it seems that each year the price of that perfect tree goes up up up....to the point I think that maybe we just suck it up and get a fake one and pay it off in a year.

But where is the fun in that?

All of the decorations are up and the gifts bought and wrapped under the tree. I hate to wrap presents only to have them unwrapped the next day. I like to look at them and yes I actually like to wrap them and have them look nice.

I am so excited this year. I have made some goals and some new traditions that I hope to bring our family together and let us celebrate the true meaning of Christmas... Christ.

I have set a goal to read the Doctrine and Covenants before the 25th to personally have the Spirit more in my life at this time of year. I chose the Doctrine and Covenants because just recently a girl in my ward/neighbor has just denounced the church and no longer believes in the Book of Mormon and does not think Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. It has been a hard hit to me and such a huge eye opener. Just a few months ago she bore her testimony about the Book Of Mormon and I remember thinking "Wow! She is strong!". Her husband has been reading Anti-mormon literature and has introduced her to it. Once you go searching is when Satan steps in. Anyone is suseptable to the advocate and anyone can fall at anytime. No mater who your parents are or how you were raised or who your friends are. We are all at risk if we are not actively engaged in strengthening our testimonies. Our testimonies can not stand still. Either we are moving forward and progressing or we are moving backwards (ever so slowly sometimes that we don't even realize we are). We can't be ignorant to think that Satan is not just sitting by watching us waiting for us to let him in just a tiny bit and if we do he will charge in and take over. I can't stop thinking about this girl and I am saddened that she has lost her way. I hope that one day she finds her way back. The day I heard the news I made the choice to move forward and I'm starting by reading my scriptures (especially about Joseph Smith BECAUSE he is a true Prophet of God).

We had Family Home Evening the other night and I am so happy because it actually went really well. The girls listened as we talked about the symbols of Christmas and I think they learned something.

It was a good night and today was a good day as well.

We made some Christmas crafts, I pushed the kids around in the street in the yellow bus that Grandpa gave us. We played soccer, basketball and jumped on the trampoline.

It was awesome because it wasn't too freezing to go outside today.

I missed the backyard...it sure had been awhile.