Christmas

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!! We had a wonderful Christmas. Christmas Eve we went to our candlelite service at church, and after we got together with some friends for food and drinks.

The kids slept until 8 on Christmas morning, we are keeping it a secret that lots of kids around the world wake up before the sun. I always woke up as a kid and opened presents very early, but my Dad had to work on Christmas most of the time, and he had to be there by 6am so we would open everything before he left for work, but this tradition is not moving to the next generation. The kids got the things on their wish list, Desi wanted pixo's and crafts, Ariana a castle and Devin just wanted trucks. This Christmas we decided to relax and let the kids play with their toys until it was time to go to the family party. We are usually running around visiting family to see what Santa brought, but this year we wanted the kids to play. The kids played with their toys, I always amazed at the mess Christmas brings with the boxes, instruction's, and little parts. The kids also played in the snow while daddy shoveled.

We had are family party at my Aunt Stella's house, we usually have about 35 people but this year I think I only counted 26. I have lots of cousins that moved out of state, and my sister is in Canada, it was kind of quiet this year. We usually have 2 hams, 2 turkeys and lots of trimming, but we decided to relax this year and had ham and a baked potato bar, it was great, yummy and easy, and the clean up was a breeze. We ate, played apples to apples, then we played the gift game, it's always lots of fun, some of us look all year for the perfect game gift. This year it seemed like lots of people ended up with the gift that they brought, Jim said next year we should just bring the gift game and open it and show each other what we bought ourselves, LOL!!

Hope you have a wonderful New Year!!

Merry Christmas

Wishing all our family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Ariana didn't want to sit on Santa lap, she just waved and said hi

Church Sing

Here' s a video of the kids singing at church on Sunday. I couldn't get Ari in the video she was standing right behind someone. You can see her hair though

Family Photo

The Adams Family
The Keller family, my parents sitting and Kathy and baby Kyla(Kathy's hubby and son Tommy couldn't make this trip)

Mom's wishes for Santa

Dear Santa ,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have), and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy. If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like fingerprint-resistant windows, and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone. On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy!' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools. I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, 'Don't eat in the living room,' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog. If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a styrofoam container. If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family. Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM... > P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

Santa is real!!

I received this story in a forward this morning and I just had to share it. I don't know who wrote it or where it's from but I really love it. I realize that this is probably Desi's last Santa Christmas, and I want the magic to continue. There is magic in the story of Christmas, Christ came with the most unbelievable gift, a gift of Grace for all people.
"I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit my grandma on the day my big sister dropped the bomb."There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me."No Santa Claus!?" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad - PLAIN MAD! Now, put on your coat and let's go.""Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked."Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through the doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days."Take this money and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car."Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's. I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping.For a few minutes I just stood there, wondering what to buy, and who to buy it for. Suddenly I thought of Bobbie Decker. He sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade two class. Bobbie Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobbie Decker a coat. I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood. It looked real warm, and he would like that.That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons, and write, "To Bobbie, From Santa Claus" on it - Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobbie Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers.Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie's house, then she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk.Then Grandma gave me a nudge."All right Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going.'I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pressed his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. From there we watched Bobbie come to the door and pick up his present from Santa.Forty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobbie Decker's bushes.That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: "Ridiculous."Santa is alive and well, and we were on his team. "

What not to wear

Does anyone want to nominate my child to the show, What not to wear. I had her all ready for bed in her blanket sleeper Jammie's, and we decided to make a quick trip to wal-mart. She threw on her snow boots and jacket and out the door we went. Yes my child was seen in public like this.

Let It Snow

The weather channel has been reporting for weeks that we were going to have a big storm, but every time it seems to miss us and we would just get a trace. Today we woke up to a lot of snow, funny thing, I don't remember the news mentioning snow today. Weather channels are as predicable as toddlers. I promised the babies I would take them out as soon as a stopped, Ari was yelling out the window, "Stop, stop snowing, stop falling down, I want to come outside snow."

Ari was so cute she found a dust pan in the garage and starting helping me clean the driveway. Our neighbors always clear of the sidewalks with their 4 wheeler, they are so nice.

Hooray for Snow!!

Devin is such a boy, first thing he did was kick the snow than he started throwing it.

Here is a video of them attacking me with snow

High Maintenance

Our Mops group had a mom's afternoon out yesterday, we went to the afternoon Christmas tea at the Grand America Hotel. I've never been to anything like this and didn't really know what to expect, but I knew this was a really nice hotel. I really wanted to look the part, I tried on outfits and found the one I wanted to wear. I'm so not a high maintenance girl, but I became one yesterday. I was terrified the kids would get me dirty, or slobber, or put some other foreign substance on me, and I couldn't just go home and change. Ariana and Devin got a candy cane at church and they came running up to me with sticky fingers and I stood back worried and said," Jim take those sticky people and fix them." After Church we went to Jim's grandparents house in Salt Lake to visit until I needed to be to the tea. Jim pulled up and almost parked me into a snow bank, usually no problem for me. I said,"stop the car, I'll just walk from here!" I also took all my makeup and hair supplies for touch ups just in case. Jim looked at me like I was some kind of alien.
With three kids I find it hard to find time to fix my hair perfect, let alone keeping it that way, so most of the time I don't go to much trouble. Devin thinks earrings and necklaces are play toys and almost chocked me twice yesterday. I really should dress up more often, I feel very out of touch with trends, so I find it had to put a outfit together. My favorite outfit is jeans and a hoody, I'm just a simple girl.

I had fun doing something out of my comfort zone, and Jim had fun seeing me act like a crazy person. The tea was very relaxing with Christmas music in the background and nice conversation. The tea was great they had these dainty little sandwiches(I'm not sure you could call them sandwiches) they had really yummy desserts too. The Christmas experience was great and after, I went shopping and got some good ole' Stick to you food at Rib City.

My Grandma Hoggan

I find that this time of year I reflect on family, I think of traditions from my childhood and ones I'm starting with my own family. I also think of family that has passed on. My Grandma Hoggan gave me this glass sleigh, with dove chocolates in it. She brought it to the hospital after I had Desi, She wanted me to have something to offer guests as they were coming to see me and the baby. I thought it was so thoughtful, I still fill it with dove chocolates every Christmas, in memory of her, she passed away just two months later unexpectedly of old age.
My Grandma loved chocolate and she would always have hidden candy bars in her room that she would sometimes share with us, her favorite were uno bars. We would visit my Grandparents every summer in California, we would go to the beach, Swimming at the local pool, Disneyland, but most of all I just enjoyed hanging out at the House and playing. Grandma would always give us to much candy, and would spoil us with bacon and eggs in the morning, my Grandma loved to cook, Yummy!! My Grandparents yard was a childhood dream, with lots of hiding places, there yard sloped up like a hill with lots of trees and little trails, we would pretend we were in a forest.
In my teen years my Grandparents moved to Utah, they lived close enough that we could walk to visit them. We were able to start sharing the holidays with them, which was so much fun. Lots of my family moved to Utah after my Grandparents moved, I finally had lots of family close by. We would go on lots of day trips together, we would load up our cars and head out for the day exploring different places in Utah. We would go hiking, picnicking, we would go to local fairs. We spent lots of time in Ogden since my Grandparents grew up there, we would drive around and they would show us where they went on their first date, or their house where they grew up, my favorite was visiting the the local ice cream parlor, farr better ice cream. I love you Grandma!!

My favorite dove chocolates

Christmas Time

My Christmas decorations up finally up, this year I added the snow to our tree, Jim likes it, I'm still not sure. I love to add stuff and tweak my tree each year, I'm thinking of going silver and blue next year. My mom gets very serious about tree decorating, it's the one thing for her that must be perfect for the holidays, it's kind of funny because she not into decorating at all, except for the holidays.

I put garland and wrapped presents with other things that are breakable above my cabinets, it keeps it away from the kids reach and I still get to enjoy it.

My favorite store is For every body, It's a candle warehouse I can get big jar candles for $5, scents make the holidays for me, it helps me to relax, and it helps rid my house of that I have 3 kids smell. They also have a for every home side of the store, i always find cheap decor. I got this snowman advent calender(in the picture above) it was $6, It has pockets for each day. I have been putting love notes, fun activity's that we are going to do that day, candy. The kids have had lots of fun finding out the surprise for that day. Sometimes it just something simple like me reading them a Christmas story.

I also got this cute Santa for $6, the numbers are blocks with each number on a different side, the kids change it first thing in the morning each day.

I got this last year, at of course my favorite store, for every home. I got it at the end of the season sale. Since we don't have a fireplace, I thought this would be a great way to hang our stockings. I know it has a extra peg, there is no meaning or hints behind this, it was all they had left. Maybe we will get a stocking for the kitty.

The Nutcracker

This year was so much fun, the girls loved it. Desi really had fun with her mouse part, she enjoyed the acting that she got to do with dancing. She really understood the story of the Nutcracker this year. I had lots of fun listening to her tell me about each part and how she needed to act for that specific part. She had to dance with a angry face when the soldiers were trying to kill their mouse king, and she had to cry when he died. It was hilarious to see all these little girls try to drag off the mouse king.

Ariana was so excited to dance on stage, she would come off stage and ask if she could do it again. She loved dressing up and getting her makeup on, she kept checking it in the mirror. She says she loves dancing with all of her friends.

We got them these cute nutcrackers, a mouse king for Desi of course. I posted a sample video of Desi doing her mouse part. I can't post the whole thing it's to long. I will try to post Ariana part but it sideways to I need to figure out how to fix it.

Devin Allergy Test

We took Devin to see a allergist on Wednesday, they did a skin test to find out what he is allergic to. I was shocked to find out he is allergic to NOTHING. He has a small allergy to dogs and dust mites. I'm thrilled he doesn't have a food allergy, but I just wish I had some answers. I can't help but think something is wrong with him. He gets bouts of diarrhea at the same time he gets really rashy. My next step is to filler all the drinking and bath water, are water seems highly chlorinated, some days I can smell it coming out of the tap. So I'll keep slathering him in lotion and praying that he gets better.