Who Needs Traditions?!

For the past six Christmases we have caroled our neighbors and friends and delivered a homemade treat. Now, I am not a baker, but once a year I do get out the measuring cups, spices and a new bag of flour (it usually goes bad before I ever use it). This year was no different. I made thirty mini-loaves of yummy lemon bread. (Kari M's recipe, of course!) This took me about five hours of mixing, pouring, cleaning, cooling, wrapping, repeat. They really did look cute with their homemade tags and ribbon. Now, why do I do this, you might ask. I am asking myself the exact same thing. I really want my kids to have memories of visiting our friends and sharing the Christmas spirit as they grow up. Instead, I think they will have memories of this:

"Get back into the car, sing next time, I know I can't stay on tune, get off your brother, don't say bad words, get back into the car, the quicker you go the quicker this will be over, sing!, get off the floor, put your shoes back on, get your feet out of your hat, quit hitting your sister, get back into the car, just a few more people, why are we doing this?, get out of the car, do you know how long I baked?, get back into the car!!!!, we will NOT do this next year!"

I even told Sawyer , "You are going to be so sad and will be missing this when you are on your mission." Who am I fooling? I wish I was on my mission! The few good parts were how cute Jackson was singing and giving out the bread and how happy our sweet friends and neighbors were to see us and hear our "harmonies". One really funny part was when Sarah started complaining that Drew had a heater vent on his side of the car and she didn't. Matt burst out, "Well, why don't you call Honda about that?!" We all just stopped and started to laugh. Even Sarah had to laugh. We'll probably be going out again next year. I do have 365 days to forget the majority of the experience. Traditions.....

Last Minute Christmas Photo

We didn't get a great picture at Thanksgiving, so I made the family take a picture on Saturday. We didn't coordinate anything, but at least everyone was clean! I turned it black and white to disguise the mismatches. The funniest part is that we just need someone to take the picture, so I called and had a 12 year old neighbor boy come and push the button. He had on his coat and a ski mask the entire time!? At least he wasn't shocked by all the screaming, yelling, and pulling that went on during the fantastic photo session (and that was just Matt!). Whatever. At least we have it done!!! Here are a few of the outtakes. Don't you wish you were there?

Thanksgiving People

Yes, we did have people over for Thanksgiving! They included: my mom (Terri), my brother (Beau), my sister-in-law (Lee Ann), their kids (Shelby, Trey, Sydney), my in-laws (Mavis and Elman), and Bob Lowe, a dear friend and neighbor. Grand total--Fifteen! Note: My sister and I aren't fighting! It was her turn to go to her in-laws. Here a few photos of the extravaganza!

Beautiful girls--Best friends and Best Cousins!

True Love! (But do we trust him with the knife?)

No one really wants Jackson's help!!

The "Guys"

An attempt at the family photo....

What a couple of babes!

Working Hard!

My Beautiful Table

We always have Thanksgiving Dinner at our house for both sides of our family. My Mom does most of the cooking, thank goodness, but I am the table decorator. Who cares what the food tastes like if everything looks beautiful, right?! Actually, the food was delicious! I used this awesome table cloth that I got at The Pottery Barn Outlet and I broke out my Depression Glass collection. Also, Sarah helped me make this "Thankful Tree". We stuck some twigs in a glass of split peas and punched out tags of various fall colors. Sarah stamped cute Thanksgiving leaves, etc... on one side and we wrote things we are thankful for on the other. It was a huge success!

Twilight at Twilight

We met at Starbucks for a Steamer then journeyed over to Tinsletown for our 12:01 am showing. We all dressed warmly because we thought we would have to stand in line for 2 hours, but alas they opened six theaters for Twilight (how many crazy teenagers/looney moms are there?) and we walked right to our seats. Since we had two hours until the movie started, we had plenty of time to visit and sweat due to our various layers of warm clothing. The movie was good, especially if you have read the books (and why would you be there at 12:01 am if you hadn't?), but it will not win any Oscars. The beginning was really slow, but the second half picked up. My favorite part was when all the girls would scream or yell when Edward came on, when Edward touched his hair, when Edward stood up, when Edward blah, blah, blah...and my friend Dani, who was sitting next to me, got so disgusted she would yell out, "Oh, come on!" She was funnier than the movie. Look how cute all my friends are! I love these girls!!

The Rest of Halloween

I finally uploaded more of my pictures so I needed to post some photos of my older two or there could be claims of favoritism in our family. Sarah was the Bride of Frankenstein and Sawyer was some zombie thing. They both had fun roaming the neighborhood with the walkie talkies. Sarah and the little boys rode around on a wagon getting their candy.

This last picture is of Drew's favorite webkinz, Rexie. He was dressed up as a superhero with a washrag cape and a tiny pumpkin trick-or-treat bag. Drew set him in the window when he left so that Rexie could watch everything that was going on outside! Drew is so cute! (Ignore the peeling paint on our window sill. Our window leaked and Matt has caulked so all is well, but I still need to sand and repaint. Add it to my list...)

Sarah, the Super Singer

Sarah made All-State Middle School Chorus!! Yeah! She obviously gets her superior singing skills from her Mom and her grandmother Mavis! Congratulations Sarah. We can't wait to go your concert in the Spring!

Twilight Tonight!

12:01 am. Tonight is the night. I am not one to go to the first showing of some teeny-bopper movie opening, but my fanatical buddies are determined. I mean I loved the books, but 12:01 am! Peer pressure is so strong, even when you get old like me! I'll tell you all the fabulous details of our adventures tomorrow. If I can stay awake! Did I mention I was too old, and too momish, to be doing this!?

School Halloween Bash

Jackson insisted that all cowboys pose like this!

The kids enjoyed dressing up for their school's Halloween Bash. Drew designed his costume all by himself using things he already had around the house. Apparently he was a Spy/Secret Agent. Our neighbor is a real FBI Agent and he did comment that he dresses exactly like Drew when he goes to work. Drew also dressed Jackson up for us as well using stuff from our dress-up box. This is only one of the three costumes Jackson wore--none of which was the Ninja Turtle costume I actually purchased for him!

Sawyer and his "posse" are too cool to go to school in their costumes. They had lots of fun, in fact they had almost too much fun at the Bash. (We thought we might have to bail them out of jail by the end of the night). Just the type of situation that calls for some more candy, right?!

I'm Tagged, Again!

My sister-in-law, Melanie, just tagged me to post my fourth picture in my fourth folder on my computer. This picture makes me both happy and sad. It was taken a couple of years ago at my Mom's surprise 60th Birthday Party. It is of my parents, brother, sister, and me. I feel happy because we had a fun time and my mom was completely surprised. She had no idea! It is sad because it shows my dad, Bowen, who passed away a year and a half ago. He was so excited about the surprise party. He was really just one big kid! A few days before the party my dad called me and asked my opinion on what to get for Mom for her big day. He could barely drive and hardly walk, but he had managed to get himself up to his favorite jewelry store--Sam's Club! (What a hoot!) He was trying to pick out something over the phone with me and he said, "Well, her birthstone is an opal. They have an opal set here." What? How did he know her birthstone? I didn't! He got her the jewelry and was very proud of himself! I really miss him. He was such a character, but a Great Dad! Oh, and he has this big black eye in the photo because he had fallen a few days before.

O.K. I tag Erin L., Amy B., Amie C., and Freddie. (If you've already done this, sorry!)

Does Anyone Know What I Look Like?

I went to add a photo of me to my blog identity, although the highlighted outline did actually resemble me, even flatter me if the truth be told. However, I was unable to find a photo of only myself. The few pictures of me are with one or more of my children hanging off of me. There were a few of Matt and I but none of me alone. Finally, I found a picture Matt took of me at the Grand Canyon from a few years ago...Oh well. At least I didn't have as many wrinkles then! I am determined to start today taking some pictures of me. Well, I'll actually ask someone to take the pictures.... Maybe Jackson?

Here is my "Blog Identity" Photo!

Blog Editor: Andrew Thomas

Drew was reading our blog today and apparently I had completely misrepresented his story about Ralph S. Mouse. He helped me correct all misinformation. Thank goodness for this smart little seven year old. We wouldn't want to let people think the mouse pants were not webkinz or that he did not receive the motorcycle for his birthday as well! I will have him proof every entry from now on....Have I ever mentioned that Drew is a 65 year old grandpa in a little boy's body?!

Girls Weekend 2008

Every fall the girls in our family go away for the weekend. My mom, my sister Misty, and my sister-in-law Lee Ann, and I all met up at my sister's house early one Friday for a fun filled fall girls' time. We spent a few hours shopping at this awesome thrift store and then went out for a yummy dinner. Then it was my sister's Ward Fabulous Friday.

We're having fun crafting!

Spencer before he has his meltdown! Misty is still happy!

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Lee Ann and I had a wonderful time! We made these cute blocks and a star picture (I'll post pictures of them later), but Misty and Mom had the challenge of my newest nephew, cute little Spencer! He was tired and crying most of the time. Lee Ann and I shared a moment of relief that our kids are all getting bigger--the one blessing of being old! After a good nights sleep, we were off the next morning to the new IKEA store.

IKEA! The Swedish are amazing!

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Wow! What a neat place! We had lunch there and bought several neat things we just had to have! I even almost finished my Christmas shopping. Finally, we finished out the day shopping, again, at the Gap Outlet! Phew! I can say I was truly shopped out! I didn't get home until 11:45 pm, but I had a great time. Girls Weekend rocks!

The shopping continues.......

The only boy allowed--Spencer Thomas!