December Part II

 One night while talking to Aubree in this hallway I could tell she was more preoccupied with posing than what I was talking to her about. After a few seconds, she interrupts me and says, "I look pretty". So, I took a picture of her pretty self. :)

 Ellise lost her first tooth! She was very excited to finally lose a tooth - I think most of the kids in her class had already lost a tooth (or more).

 Aubree and I volunteered to help the second graders do gingerbread houses (lucky for Aubree, they had some extra supplies).

 Carly and Sarah. Sarah is also one of the oldest in the second grade and she loves to read and she is very mature for her age - her and Carly are BFFs.

 Aubree hid the buzzer for our Taboo game behind her back and would make her nose honk whenever someone would pinch it.

 Christmas Eve pajamas - but this time we did robes since we have plenty of pajamas at our house. Aaron gave me my robe last year for Christmas and the girls have wanted their own ever since.

 Our sweet neighbor, Bernie, gave each of the girls a little Christmas gift - so nice and thoughtful!

Can you believe I didn't take any more pictures of Christmas day?!  I think this is partly because I really don't like my camera very much. 

We had a wonderful Christmas even though we would have really loved to see our families. The weekend before Christmas we had a book club party with spouses (no kids) at the West's. On Christmas Eve several families in our ward got together for dinner and festivities at the Olson's. And for Christmas dinner we went to the Kirkpatrick's house for a delicious steak dinner. We're so grateful to have friends here who helped us not feel so homesick for Christmas.

Each year I have such wonderful plans for making our Christmas so Christ-centered and full of service and just perfect. But I think I'm realizing that it has to start with me and I need to plan ahead. I just get so busy and preoccupied.... I'll do better next year. (And I'll try to remember that these things are never perfect until looking back on them five years later.) But really, we did have a wonderful Christmas. 

Oh yeah, and I got something that I've been wanting for a LONG time...

One of my friends posted this deal on Facebook so I got this brand new beauty for $200 (that included the shipping)!!! I'm in love.

Moving on...

 Ellie is quite the hairdresser - she did this french braid in Aubree's hair.

Carly working on drawing with Daddy. This is a picture of Mr. Smith.

Aaron had the whole week off which was so nice! We watched a lot of movies, went to the gym a few times, the library, and ice skating. The girls have a new appreciation for figure skaters - it's harder than in looks!! Aubree was kind of like Bob ("I sail!") - her trick was to lean on a crate and let Mom or Dad do the work.

My Orbit

This is a quote from Elder Neal a Maxwell I've run across a few times and it always gives me a lot to think about:

"The same God that placed that star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Babe has given at least equal attention to placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives, so that our light may not only lead others but warm them as well."

First off, I had never thought of the Star of David being placed in orbit long before the birth of the Savior. But of course it would have been - it wasn't an afterthought! Then, I think of how my Heavenly Father put at least as much thought (and probably more) into when and where I would come to earth and the people who would come into my orbit. What kind of influence do I have on those around me and what influence do they have on me? It's a little overwhelming sometimes. And I think of these words - illuminate, lead, warm - and wonder if they are words I can use to describe myself.

December, Part I

Something we've really enjoyed since moving out here is having the missionaries over for dinner each month. They are such awesome young men! You can just feel the spirit that they bring into your home - we love it!

 December's dinner was a little different than usual. First off, they had their zone leaders with them (the ones in the front) and so the girls were even more hyper than usual. (Our girls get super hyper and show-offy when ever guests come over.) And instead of a regular dinner, we had breakfast for dinner. The type of breakfast you never have time to make in the morning - waffles, pancakes, eggs, sausage, hash browns, juice... mmm mmm!

I remember one time having the sister missionaries over at our house when I was a little girl. My mom forgot they were coming over and we were having pancakes for dinner that evening. My mom was pretty embarrassed because she usually goes all out for those sort of things. But the sister missionaries said how much they loved it, so 20 years later, I thought I would give it a try!

Ellie, Elder Young (front), Wekesser (back), Woodruff (front), Nordin (back), Carly, me, and Aaron.
Sadly, Elder Nordin is being transferred soon - he is a great missionary!

Don't these two girls look so sweet and innocent and lovey?!

 Don't let it fool you! For a couple weeks it seemed they were fighting non-stop! Seriously, I was going crazy (still am going crazy some days).

So, I decided to try out this idea I saw on Facebook - zipped them up in my coat. Aside from Ellie peeing her pants, it worked! They started getting along and thought it was so fun to be zipped up together.

(Aubree, what are you doing in thin cotton shorts and t-shirt in December?! Silly girl!)

 Aubree and some friends ate lunch at our house last week and afterwards Aubree lined them up to wash their hands in the bathroom. Well, I kinda' forgot about them and went about doing other things until a few minutes later when the little boy told me they were washing their hair in the sink with soap! Sure enough, they had bubbles all over in their hair (and had a great time in the process).

 Ellie in front of our advent calendar. Angela gave us this beautiful quilted advent calendar about 6 years ago and I love it ....  and kind of hate it. I hate it only because my girls expect either candy or some super-awesome activity to be in one of those pockets EVERY day! We put candy or a ticket for some fun activity in there occasionally, but my girls are always (overly and dramatically) disappointed when it's just our Christmas scripture for the day in there.

And last but not least, (and I'm really kind of embarrassed about this even though I shouldn't be) - Ellie got lice a couple weeks ago! We were getting ready to go to a friend's house for dinner last Sunday and Ellie wanted me to redo her hair. So, I do the part and see something in her hair - maybe lint or a fuzzy or something - but it MOVED! So, long story short (even though Aaron doesn't think I'm capable of making any story short), we spent three hours in her hair alone and quite a bit of time in everyone elses and did lots and LOTS of laundry, and we are now lice-free! (Luckily and miraculously no one else in our family had any.)

Here the girls are with coconut oil in their hair to aid in the lice-combing process.

Mommy Spa

Back in October Carly checked out a Fancy Nancy spa book and decided to try it out on me (with her sisters' help). Aaron took them to the store to get all the supplies they needed.

 The headband is made with pipe cleaners shaped to say "MOM"

What Sweetie Hearts! (with our neighbors dog, Missy)

p.s. Thanks Fancy Nancy for such a great idea!

Mom's Fun Weekend

Sometimes a mom needs some fun.

Since our anniversary was on Thursday we decided to go to a Ella's Fine Food on Friday. I will give that restaurant 6 out of 5 stars - it was so good and sooo fancy (coming from people who never go anywhere fancier than Texas Roadhouse). The host even pulled out our chairs and put our napkins on our laps for us. I had to use some major self-discipline to not burst out laughing - we are not used to such fine dining. I had roasted duck (with some side dishes I don't know how to pronounce that were so yummy) and Aaron had gnocchi with lobster mac and cheese. We had tuna tacos on won tons for an appetizer and an apple turnover for dessert. It tasted way better than it even sounds! We could barely walk out of there we were so full!

Here we are ten extra pounds later (and me mid-blink), but don't we look happy?!

The next part of my fun weekend was a trip to NYC to see a show on Broadway with a friend (and her friends). They had been planning this trip for awhile and just a few days before one of the friends had to cancel, but her ticket was already paid for. So, they invited me to come and use her paid for ticket! Heck yes! Sweet!!! So, we took the train in to the city and had a marvelous time and here are the pictures to prove it.

 Tiffani, Kim, Erica, Melissa, me, Annie

I had been to NYC twice before (as a teenager with my family). But, it was like being there for the first time. I love that city. We went out to eat and got lost a few times and window shopped.

 Grand Central Station

I was a total tourist, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. (I don't think it's right to not enjoy a wonderful place when you're in it and just rush around ignoring the beauty - whether nature or man-made - around you.) I had never been to Grand Central, and was blown away by the architecture and detail - it is a beautiful building!

We went to "Peter and the Starchatchers" on Broadway. It was in a very small, but very awesome theater and we were really close to the stage. As for the production.... it was good, but not comparable to the bigger broadways like Les Mis or Phantom. I had actually read the book a few years ago, but couldn't really remember much about it, except that I liked it.

I had a wonderful time in NYC - but it was a long day!
Sometimes a mom can have too much fun.

fridge quotes

Aubree: Daddy was in her room trying to get a fly and she asked him what he was doing. He told her he was trying to get a fly, and she replied (a little bit annoyed): "I know. You told me that yestowday." She's always telling me "I know that" whenever I try to answer a question she asks me. She's only 3 but already acts like a teenager - she knows everything! 

Ellie: "I have to hold it in all day at school, so I just fart the whole way home on the bus."

Thanksgiving with the Souths

Franci and Josh and kids came to our home for Thanksgiving! It was a 13 hour drive for them and we are so grateful they made the trip! All the girls (minus Lucy) shared a room, it was pretty squishy but they were so excited to have a sleep-over together. 

 We took them to the Stonington Borough. We got to the beach just in time to see this beautiful sunset...

so Franci made us kiss for a romantic picture  ;)

 Ellise, Carly, Kaylie and Anna collecting sea glass, rocks and seashells

 On Friday instead of joining in on Black Friday madness, Franci and I went to get a massage in East Greenwich. Afterward we went to Main St. to try and find a quaint little restaurant. We accidentally found Besos Tea House. It was exactly what we were hoping to find - so quaint and pretty! We even had high tea. I'm not big into herbal tea, but it was so yummy and relaxing and the finger foods and desserts were delicious. We were giggling and just so happy to have found this perfect little place.

Anniversary month

Nine years ago this month Aaron and I were married in the Idaho Falls Temple. November 29th to be exact.

Ten years ago Aaron and I broke up - really we just decided to take a break for a month. It just so happened that I took on a challenge from a roommate to go a whole month without sweets this same month. Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm kind of addicted to sugar. Seriously, I don't think a day goes by that I don't have a sweet treat of some kind or another. I start to go through withdrawals if evening comes around and I still haven't had some sugar. If I'm desperate I'll even just eat a spoonful of peanut butter with chocolate chips on top.

Well during that month of no sweets and no Aaron, I was so consumed with thoughts of Aaron and missing him so much that I didn't really miss the sweets. Pretty amazing, huh?!

(Dating pictures. circa fall of 2002)

Aaron, I love you even more than I love sugar (and that's a lot)!

Happy Anniversary to us!

Hurricane Sandy:

Another New England Adventure

So, Hurricane Sandy found its way to the east coast Monday. We got the worst of it in Connecticut on Monday afternoon and into the night. We stocked up on batteries, canned food, water, and candy bars (the essentials). Our power went out Monday afternoon and isn't expected to come back for several more days. (I'm at the library right now which is why I can post this.) Luckily we have natural gas, so we have hot water and can cook on our stove. (At first I had this sentence reading "Luckily we have gas..." Aaron thought I should be more specific. lol.) We have a block of ice in our freezer so that is our ice chest for now. The girls have been out of school all week and won't go back until Monday. Halloween has been post-poned here and our town is designating Nov. 16th as Halloween this year (now that's something to remember)! Here's some pictures:

 Frolicking around in the hurricane winds with a friend from school (before it got too bad)

 Flashlight dinners with our ghost guests. I think this might be a fun Halloween tradition from now on - Candlelight Halloween dinner with our ghost friends.

Because it's been cloudy it's been getting dark even earlier than normal. We've been eating dinner early and going to bed early (last night the girls were asleep around 7:30).

 Random picture with our neighbors dog, Missy. She loves the girls and the girls love her.

 A fallen branch from the hurricane makes a perfect halloween tree for our ghosts.

 Sand on the streets from Misquamicut Beach (the beach we generally go to)

 Streets of the Stonington Borough (where Aaron works). Luckily Aaron's office was not flooded, but is still without power.

Trees on power lines all over the place.

p.s. Happy Halloween (to everyone not in Stonington)!!!