3 days until Santa...I am ready...

NOT!!!!!!!!!

I sat down last night with Dave and actually made the lists up of each child and what they are getting.

Now I pride myself in saying that I started shopping in Oct of this year because I didn't want to be frantically trying to find the hottest toy with everyone else! But as I was making my lists I realized I still had alot to get. Mostly small things but still, they can add up.

I won't lie, I'm a little worried. Now that my father in-law is living with us I need to have some stuff under the tree for him as well, and Dave has no time to shop for him.

And if that wasn't enough for me, my washing machine broke over the weekend, and I can't find the warranty papers. So I get to go find a laundromat and shop for the rest of Christmas in the next 3 days!!!!!

Just writing this post is stressing me out.

I hope you all have a great Christmas and be safe!!!!

Love to you all!!!!

Day 2 & 3 of training...

Well as you can see the training thing is OVER!!!!!

I really think that I will pay Kenzy to train him over break, only because he will go for her anytime, but not for me!!!!

They will have that special bond that siblings have. I have 2 such bonds with sisters of mine.

Lori- Taught be my multiplication facts by almost drowning me in the spa, and My first word was not mommy or daddy, but Lori. Ah...good times, good times.

Kathy- Has always been my second mom, I think of her that way to this day. I will always be "Osha" to her and will always need her. And I don't let her kids call me Aunt, because I grew up with them like sisters.

Makenzy has always had a special bond with Ben from the moment he came home from the hospital. She is his second mom. She lets him sleep with her, she plays with him and takes him for walks.

I hope they always have that bond.

As for me, I will be going to buy ANOTHER pack of diapers,(hopefully my last) and will endure for a few more days until after Christmas.

By the way, how much is the going rate for potty training??? If she does well, I might hire her out ;0)

Day 1 of training...

I was still driving carpool when Ben woke up, so by the time I got to him he had already done his business in the diaper.

I left him bottomless after that, and a little bit later he actually went to the bathroom. I'm thinking to myself, hey it might just be this easy!!!!

HA!

I went in the living room later and found a couple presents on the carpet, and they were not from the dog!

I decided I needed to keep a closer eye on him.

I stayed in the same room as him for the rest of the morning, which meant I did not get much accomplished.

To make a long story short. After many puddles on the floor I decided we were done for the day.

My father in-law is living with us again recouping from his latest surgery, and I am the nurse for him. I have to pack his wound every 6 hours. Between him and Ben's little surprises, I had about all I can handle yesterday.

We'll try again tomorrow.



Maybe I need to wait until Christmas break and pay Makenzy to do it...there's an idea ;0)

My Job This Week...

So I have to tell you what happened Sat. at my house while I was gone.

Dave and I went to the Temple to escort his sister and her hubby through so we were gone from about 1:30pm until late that night.

Sam was at a tournament, and Maddi was at a friends, so Makenzy was left with the boys.

We got done in the Temple about 6:30pm and I was walking to my locker when I hear my phone vibrating. I got it, noticed it was from home and silenced it and started to get dressed when 2 seconds later it started to vibrate AGAIN. It continued to do this 4 more times, and finally I said to my sister in-law, "Someone better be dying!" Makenzy was going to keep calling, so I answered my phone in the Temple (I know, I'm going to Hell). I was whispering when I answered, and asked what was so important that I had to answer my phone in the Temple of all places!

Makenzy proceeded to tell me (rather enthusiastically I might add) "I potty-trained Ben!" I smiled and told her I would call her in 15 min when I was outside.

So I quickly got dressed and headed outside, I was rather excited to hear this.

She told me how she took off his diaper and he actually went on the toilet! Then she left him bottomless and told him to tell her when he needed to go again. So while she was cleaning up the kitchen he came up to her tugged on her shirt and pointed to the bathroom (because he STILL WON'T talk) and she took him in and he pooped. She was sooooo excited, as was I.

I thought to myself, "Bonus, I get a clean kitchen and a potty trained kid when I get home!" I need to leave her in charge more often ;0)

I asked Makenzy why she decided to take on such and undertaking by herself. She answered, "I'm sick of changing Ben for you!" She does change Ben alot for us, and I don't blame her for getting sick of it. I should have made her change him more often and maybe this would have been done sooner! lol

So, aside from doing last minute shopping and decorating for Christmas my job this week is to finish the potty-training process. I only hope it goes as smoothly for me as it did for Makenzy.

Wish me luck!!!!

Favorite things...

My favorite Holiday Movies...

















What can I say, I love the classics. I especially love the song the Heat Miser and Snow Miser sing. I don't know why, it just brings a smile to my face, and it just isn't Christmas without seeing these movie a few times.

Christmas ornaments in general. Mine on my tree are mostly homemade from my Mother in-law. She would give each of us a new ornament every year. I plan on carrying out this tradition with Dave's family now that Bonnie is gone.




The very first icy morning of winter. I know it doesn't snow here, but we do have cold icy mornings. I love going outside and seeing my breath and breathing in the cold air, that is Christmas time to me.



I'm not much of a baker, but we love making these. We were sick last year so these were never made, so we ended up eating the candy later. Wasn't quite as fun but sure was yummy!


Yes, I make my family do this to our neighbors EVERY year!!! I have such fond memories of caroling with my family every year to friends houses. I have started this tradition with my little family, much to Dave's protesting. And every year we love it (well most of us).


I LOVE laying down under the tree and looking up at all the lights through the branches. After we are done decorating it, my kids say "OK, lets look up" and we all find a place and lay down and look up into the tree. It is magical my kids say.



It wouldn't be Christmas without visiting the Mouse. We love Disneyland this time of year. We miss Dave not working there anymore (the perks) My kids hate this ride, but I make them go on it every visit. They don't mind it at Christmas though. It jut adds to the holiday spirit. It just isn't a trip to Disneyland without going on Small World!


Well there you have it, a few of my favs this time of year. Hope you all are getting into the holiday spirit, I am :)

Thank you Melissa P!!!!!!!!

Thank you Melissa P, for this wonderful award!

I have been given this award by a dear friend with whom I've never met. She lives on the east coast and I can't wait to meet her in February when she visits! (Pinkberry here we come)

It's really weird that I feel as close as I do to someone haven't met, maybe in a previous life...
We met in this wonderful blogging world through a mutual blogger and have stayed in touch for about a year now. WOW, a year!!

When I went through tough times earlier this year her kind and inspiring words helped me through, made me smile, and kept me going. I will be forever grateful to you for those words of encouragement. I hope to someday return the favor, and be there for you.
Thank you!!!!

According to the rules: I get to {heart} seven other blogs that I love reading. If your blog makes my list, you get to post your award, thank the person who gave it to you (that's me!) and then choose seven other blogs that you feel deserve this awesome award. It was definitely hard to choose just seven since I ADORE way more than seven, but those are the rules.

And the awards go to...
Klare
Kristi
Wendi
Bobbi
Shauna
Lisa
Casey

Have fun ladies, and can't wait to see who you pick!!

Happy Birthday Jake!!!!!

My first born son is 5 today!

I don't have a picture of him to post because this computer does not have a photo program to download it into. :( Just look above at our family pix and he is the toe head blond!

He wanted Donuts for breakfast, Ice cream for lunch and lots of cake for dinner. What did we do...

He got Fruit Loops for breakfast, I think we might do Pinkberry for lunch and for dinner...He gets to pick his fav restaurant. I don't even think he knows what a restaurant is. With our luck he will choose McDonalds. What can I say, he's a cheap date!

I remember when i was pregnant with you and we had the ultra sound. A friend did it on her lunch hour for us so that your sisters could be there for it. She video taped it, and you could hear our reactions to the news. Dad of course wanted a boy, the girls were torn. I just wanted a healthy baby. When she told us it was a boy, I cried, the girls were sooooooo excited and Dave got a little choked up.

You were born on December 1st via c-section. You weighed 7lbs 8oz, my biggest baby. I remember looking at you in the hospital bed and seeing my mother looking right back at me. You are the only baby that has kept the blond hair, and it is curly. When we blessed you, the entire family was there. You looked just like my brother Jaren. Infact he held you most of the day and called you "Mini Me". To this day you still look alot like him.

Jake, you are my sweet sensitive boy. You try so hard to be brave and strong. You are just like your dad in that you LOVE cars. Anytime dad works on one you have to be right there with him tinkering.

Jake I hope you have a great day!!!

I love you 20 fingers and 20 toes!!!!