Cousins & Photos

All the cousins that were home for christmas with their new teddy bears from G & G Salisbury.

These are just pictures I took while driving home from the Post Office. I love the look of the trees, all frosted from the snow. Despite the cold I think it's so beautiful. And I was actually stopped right in the middle of the road while taking these photos. The road didn't look much different than the snow covered fields.


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The snow has started to melt the last couple of days and everything is turning to ice. Not so pretty anymore.
We got together at my Grandparents in Oregon Saturday and had a good time.

Gifts from Great Grandpa & Grandma. Kaden's didn't make the picture I guess, but was thrilled about his dog figurine. Carson was asleep during this photo, but calls his dog "Tucker", the name of our dog.

And last but not least, Marissa lost another tooth. Whitney was quite distressed that her sister was the first to loose 2 teeth. (Whitney lost a tooth first, and couldn't understand why Marissa was in tears) If you ever need drama in your life come visit our home. We're full of it and very good at it.

Fun in the Snow

I finally let my kids go play in the snow. My parents have a 4-wheeler so we pulled the kids on the sled.


The girls loved every minute of it and Kaden not so much. In fact I got him dressed up to go and he started to cry and told me he didn't want to go anymore. Well, I'm a mean mom and made him go. I didn't get him ready for nothing. And besides he didn't know what he was missing. My mom was going to take pictures of him so she was outside with us. He was throwing a fit so I told her to sit him on the sled and I'd take off. Well, we did just that and he cryed and cryed. I only pulled him for a couple minutes realizing that he wasn't going to stop crying and even if he was enjoying it, he wasn't going to let me know he was. So, I stopped and he told me, "that wasn't nice!" I told him I was sorry, but I wanted him to see how fun it really was. He never did admit that he had fun, even after the fact. I had fun anyways.

Merry Christmas!

This post is mainly for family in Idaho. It's hard being away from family so hopefully these pictures will do for now. Just a few shots with the kids and their gifts from Santa and G & G Lloyd. Thank you family for gifts sent our way. We are very grateful and love you much!

Carson--silly boy! The Pooh Bear he is holding isn't a gift, but couldn't be left out for the picture. Notice all the "pooh" gifts. The sweatshirt he is wearing is even a "pooh bear" sweatshirt. He was in heaven.

Kaden really was so excited for his gifts. This is just the way he smiles for pictures and I can't seem to get him to show teeth or even look a little more excited. His words while playing with his new things were, "This is the best christmas ever!"

Whitney--can hardly wait to try out her new tetherball.

Marissa already dressed in her ballet attire.

Our new little ballerina!

Reading to Pooh his new pooh book.

Christmas eve we read the story of the birth of Jesus. This was the cast acting it out. They did great!

Whitney and Kyla were Angels.

Marissa was Mary and Hunter--Baby Jesus

Kaden was a Sheperd

Christmas Eve Day Activity

The girls cut out paper ornaments the other day and have been begging to decorate them. We decided we would do it today and that's just what we've been doing. I was in charge of the gluing and they sprinkled the glitter. I think I had as much fun as them doing it. I've been dreading the mess, but it turned out to not be so bad. When they dry they plan to add them to our already decorated tree.

Parties and Snow

I realize some of you experience snow all winter long, but for us we don't. And that's just fine with me because I don't love to drive in it and it's just too cold. It is fun to have a WHITE CHRISTMAS though.

We've gotten quite a bit (for here) and I had to leave bright and early yesterday morning to make it to dentist appointments for the 3 oldest by 8:10 (remind you it takes me a good 40-45 minutes to get there on good roads). So we left in plenty of time (hour early) and it's a good thing because I'm not sure the snow plows cared about the country roads. I felt like I was driving through a massive field covered with snow. So we took it nice a slow (max 40 mph), and arrived just a few minutes late (pet peeve of mine). After appointments (no cavities), we hit the stores. I was hoping that the snow would slow the shoppers down a bit, but I was way wrong. We finished up last minute shopping, went to goodwill to find some cheap snow boots (no luck), but ended up coming home with these. I love the fact that I get rid of junk only to go buy junk back. We had a successful day and finished all the finishing touches for christmas day. We came home and got ready for a family party. We got together with the Salisbury side and enjoyed a variety of soups. A choice of beef stew, taco soup, or homemade chicken noodle. MMM! Lots of rolls, salads, and desserts as well. Most the grandkids played a piano piece and then gifts were exchanged. Most of my pictures didn't turn out for some crazy reason.

Cousin Kenzie, Marissa, & Whitney with new coloring books from their great-grandpa & grandma.
Kaden with his coloring book and his find at Goodwill that he wouldn't pass up, Scooby Doo (don't worry--we put it through a hot wash cycle).

Carson just being Carson!

I'm so grateful for family and the good times we enjoy together. For family that is distant, please know that we think of you often and wish so badly to be with you as well during such a joyous time of year. WE LOVE YOU!

911 Emergency!

Sunday evening our family went around to several homes to deliver a goodie plate of homemade candies/goodies and to sing a little christmas carol. We were at our last stop and the kids were freezing so we told them to go ahead and stay in the truck and to not get out of their seats, that we'd just be a minute. Well our minute turned into a little longer than a minute and when we came out the flashers were on and Brian said, "Oh great," while walking back to the truck. We get in to hear someone on the truck phone speaking to the kids. The kids had pushed the On-Star button and got connected with them. When the lady on the line asked if there was an adult in the vehicle, Whitney informed her, "they went into a friends house, but they will be right back!" When the lady found out there wasn't an adult in the vehicle she called 911 and all were connected talking to our 4 screaming, fighting children (I'm sure). They asked their names, ages, everything apparently. So when we get into the truck, Brian explains we'd been out caroling, our kids were cold, and that we left them to keep warm, but that EVERYTHING was fine. She took all his information, location and asked several times if he was sure EVERYTHING WAS FINE! I was rolling my eyes (I'm sure) wanting to yell at the lady--YES EVERYTHING IS FINE and then hang up on her. She informs us that a sherriff was already headed to our location, but since we have reassured her that there was nothing to worry about, she would let the sherriff know and turn him around. So our telephone conversation ends and Brian starts to go off--WHO WAS PUSHING THESE BUTTONS? I told him to relax and that he couldn' just start going off on them--they didn't have a clue what the buttons were or what they'd even done. And according to the 3 oldest it was Carson! Go figure! He was the one who crawled over the seat and it wouldn't surprise me a bit if he was the culprit. Anyhow, we had a discussion on the way home, but for all those who have the On-Star feature in your vehicle I'd advise you to not leave your little ones unsupervised.
Here's a sample of the treats we've been busy making and delivering . Most of them are gone now (including rocky road not pictured), but here's what's left.
Hope everyone enjoys their week and have a Merry Christmas!

Conversation with the Hubby

Here's a little background before I inform you of a conversation between my husband and I. Brian's only day off work this week was Sunday and Wednesday (he signed up for extra shifts), which leaves Wednesday my only option to go to town without kids to finish up Christmas shopping, items for class parties, etc. Brian had an eye appointment that same day at 9 a.m. so he goes to his appointment while I get the girls off to school and the boys and I ready for town. The girls are off and the boys and I head to town and stop at a couple stops before we meet up with Brian to swap kids. We meet up with Brian and he heads home with the boys, while I'm off to shop. By the time he gets home it's near 11 a.m. and I get home later that evening around 6:30 p.m. So technically he's only having to take care of the kids for 7 1/2 hours, which didn't consist of running around trying to get kids breakfast, dressed, off to school, and out the door, basically just home making sure no one kills themselves or each other and to be fed. I walk in the door to find him doing the dishes (remember we don't have a dishwasher), and the first thing he says to me is, "I can't wait to get back to work tomorrow!"
I ask, "Why's that?"
He reply's, "Because these kids are a hand full!"
I didn't really know what to say. I just said, "and you wonder why I go crazy sometimes."
The only thing I could do was chuckle while a million thoughts were running through my mind. Did he think my role as a mommy was easy?? I think he has to be reminded every so often, and the only time that ever happens is when he's home alone with them. Anyhow, I did feel kind of guilty that his day off was spent caring for the kids, but when I really thought about it, he got a little taste of what it's like for me to not get any day off. I can't even consider the Sabbath a day off. Not all things in life are easy, but I feel some of my greatest challenges are my greatest blessings. Thanks Brian for taking care of the kids!

Marissa Lost her 1st Tooth

Saturday night Marissa had dental floss playing with her loose tooth. More like trying to make it looser. She came to me and said she'd made it looser, so I took a look and it was ready. She started out brave, but got a little teary eyed and started to cry because she was scared it was going to hurt. It only took a little jerk and it was out. Piece of Cake! She was excited about losing her 1st tooth. The high for tonight is supposed to be 3 degrees. Ouch!

Freezing

I just have to record that for the past 2 nights I've slept out on my couch where the wood stove is nice and toasty. I just can't handle the cold. Back in our rooms it's only 60 degrees. The wood stove just can't keep it warm in the back of the house (we don't have the proper fan to exchange the heat to the back, it's on my list to find) and it doesn't help that our windows are so old that you can practically feel the wind through them. My kitchen window is totally ice on the inside. The joys of renting and not wanting to put money into a home you don't own. The wind is brutal, which makes it feel extremely worse. My girls are getting ready for school and I have one in tears not wanting to go to school because she's freezing. I'm just not use to this kind of cold, and I really don't like it. A cup of hot chocolate seemed to make everyone a little more happy this morning!

Christmas Fun

All the supplies.

The kids and I decorated gingerbread houses. I actually just frosted and they did all the decorating. I initially had printed off templates to make the houses myself, but decided to buy the kits. And it was worth the $8 a house, let me tell you (much more convenient). The kids loved doing them. In the middle of decorating, Marissa said, "this is the best day of my life." She was very meticulous about her decorating. Carson fell asleep right before we started so he missed out on the fun. I was actually o.k. with that because I'm afraid it would have been a disaster trying to keep him from devouring the candy.

Whitney's House


Marissa's House--her whole roof was nearly all candy. She was having me add frosting all over the place so she could keep sticking on the candy. But it was very well done.

Kaden's House

My New Do

My girls were my photographer for a little photo shoot of my new hair do. I just got a little trim and a little shape with some dark color and highlights. I wanted to try to go all dark, but because my hair is so blonde I didn't want it to be too drastic when it grows out. The girl (Sonja) that does my hair always does a fabulous job,(I think). My grow out is never very noticeable, which is great because I'm not one of those that goes to get my hair done every 6 weeks. I'm more like every 6 months. Anyhow, I was happy with the results. Something a little different every once in a while is nice.


Carson and I were having fun taking pictures of ourselves. (That's the only way I ever get a picture with me and the kids, when I take them myself) He was really hammin' it up. Notice the water spilt all down the front of him. Marissa snuck in for a picture too!

Girls' Pictures

A friend (Sabrina) came to take the girls' pictures awhile ago and I thought they turned out so cute! She did a great job! Thanks Sabrina! Their clothes aren't really coordinating because unfortunately my girls don't like to dress alike, EVER! Which is o.k. most the time, but sometimes (like when I want their picture together), I wish they'd cooperate. And this is what they wanted to wear so I wasn't going to fight with them this time. I also thought for sure, with all the shirts they have between the two of them surely I would be able to find something for pictures without having to buy them anything new. Well, the night before I realized their shirts were all a little worn and dingy for pictures, but oh well. We'll plan better next time I guess.