Holiday Fish Wrap

In no particular order, here is the lowdown on our little family's holiday season. From the time we moved, it feels like we haven't stopped. We continue to look for our new family home, but have truely enjoyed these two months in our cozy little apartment. It started with Thanksgiving at my sister's home and these little turkeys for the kids. We played white elephant bingo with my sister's inlaws and my parents, the kids loved it! We also had appetizers with Brian's brothers inlaws and played a great day of Settlers. We are thankful for family.

Christmas morning at Denia's house. The kids had a blast opening presents from Grandma and Papa and their cousins. Among the favorites were walkies and Lukey's new skateboard.Santa came through with Legos and Leapsters and everyone was happy. It was so fun to wake up with just our boys.

Santa had quite a time finding, I mean "making" this doggy lego set! The boys got me a dress, pants and lotions, it is fun to be the mom. Brian and I opted out of stuff and instead bought some great memories with a last minute trip to Virginia the day after Christmas. (MANY photos to follow) The boys loved their new pjs and Lukes got some great puzzles. Brian got me scuba lessons and I can't wait to go! He is always so thoughtful when it comes to gifts.

Some other fun memories this season were made when we went to the Polar Express with the Anselmos. It was truely magic. We got a bell from Santa and loved wearing jammies on the train. We can't wait till next year.

With no school we got to play with cousins. On the tramp at Grandma Jones' house. Grandma got the boys a big bounce house at her home on Christmas day and despite the rain the kids had a great time playing with their cousins. It has become a very anticipated tradition.

Playing at McDonalds with Aunt Cletty. Everyone needs an Aunt Cletty! (Avery has claimed her now) I love Christmas parties. We had so much fun at the annual friends party at the Anselmos.

Thanks for the great times Matt and Kim.

At Brian's work Chistmas party in Scottsdale. Even though it is always a chore finding a dress for the occasion, we had a great time and won a trip to Vegas in the raffle.

We had a such a great end to 2008. I feel like I just finished a marathon, I am looking forward to a very non-eventful start to the new year. A very belated Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night sleep!

Cousins or Siblings?

Living in an apartment certainly has it drawbacks, no yard, minimal light etc, but benefits of moving have far outweighed any inconviences. One of the best parts is being so close to family and friends. My sister now lives three miles from us and my kids think it is odd if we go more than one day without seeing their cousins. I don't know if we will always be this fortunate, but I take it while it lasts! Riding the REALLY FAST roller coaster at Amazing Jakes. Way to be brave Ben!

Making the most of our incredible weather, selling lemonade at Noah's. Thanks to my sister's great neighbors they made $2.50. They were so excited. (Poor Jeff is still recovering from a mild case of pnemonia and was napping at home with Daddy)

Making Christmas treats for neighbor gifts. Denia graciously let us trash her kitchen for the marathon baking session. My mother in law says that having your children grow up to be friends is one of the best blessings a parent can have. Mine must have done something right, I hope my boys are just as lucky!

Birthday Fun

For part of Luke's Birthday celebration we went to the zoo! They loved the monkeys and Lukes spent about twenty minutes eyeing the tortoise. He love turtles. We we so happy to go with our friends Cameron and Brookie, and the boys had fun running, climbing and exploring together. Thanks Tiff for a fun day...we missed you Hallie.

Luke had two parties, one with grandma Jones' train cake and one with at Aunt Denia's house. We had a Luke day and he picked out Ninja Turtles cups, Doggie plates, Star Wars napkins and Kung Fu panda cupcakes. (poor kid can't make up his mind which of his brother's favorite things he likes best)

Happy Birthday Baby

Two years ago he we got an early Christmas present and can't imagine what life would be like without our baby Lukey. He definately is letting us know lately that he is not a baby anymore.
Luke, here are some of my favorite things about you:
1. Your blue eyes, finally one of my boys got my eye color. You have me completely beat on lashes however!
2. You love your brothers.
3. You are a mommy's boy, and love to cuddle with me. I love the way you run to me and yell Mommy when I come home.
4. You ask me to teekle (tickle) your piggies.
5. You love to read stories.
6. I love wrapping you up in your bug towel after your bath, rocking you like a baby and listening to you laugh.
7. You are your own person, and let us know all the time!
8. You get so excited about things, and make it so rewarding to be your mommy.
9. You call me mom, not mommy, but mom.
10. You truely think you are six.

We love you Lukes and are glad to have you as part of our family. Happy Birthday.

Feeling Thankful

We had a quick opportunity to take "retakes" of family pictures this weekend. The boys were in a way better mood and they turned out great. Between the two "photo shoots" we got some wonderful pictures. I am so grateful for my little family and am constantly amazed at how blessed I am to have three healthy children. Ben made some Thanksgiving feathers at school today and the things he was grateful for were: 1. Star Wars, 2. Movies, 3. Jeffey and, 4. Spence (preschool buddy). It warms my heart that Jeff made the cut! I truely am overwhelmed by the joy and purpose they bring to my life.

I am also grateful for my husband. He is supportive of all the things I try with the boys and our home and gets excited about the little things. One of my favorite things is to hear him use words or phrases with the boys that I coined. I am so proud of what a hardworker he is and that he keeps getting A's at school (we can't quite figure out how, with everything else he has to do). We have so much fun together and I love going through all that life brings with him. Happy Thanksgiving to all our family and friends.

Great Christmas Gifts

My friends make these and I love how original they look. Check out the link for a cute, affordable Christmas gift.
http://www.unlikelyletters.blogspot.com/

Bringing Back the Magic

The first year of marriage was so simple and so much fun. We lived in a little apartment and had not a care in the world! Then in what feels like a second, life got so complicated and busy. Last night we took a trip back in time and all slept on the floor in our new apartment. Yes... thats right, we scalled down all our things and tucked them tightly in a three bedroom basement "hometel" (as Ben calls it). Life is simple again! I'm sure I will tire of no yard or garage, but for the time being it is a fun little adventure until we find a house we like. The boys think it is great and the extra thirty minutes I had to get the kids to school this morning was golden. It was so heartwarming to watch my little men carry twenty #10 cans into the house. As completely exhausting as this process has been, I do love moving. There is something magical about the smell of new carpet and fresh paint, and the completely spotless house.
I feel a little like a newly wed again and we do definately need another honeymoon when all this is done!
Thanks in advance to everyone who helped or loaned their husbands to make this happen.

Spooky Week

We have had such a great month getting ready for Halloween. It feels like what used to be one night when I was young has now turned into a week long process with even more prep time. I guess if I didn't make such a big out of it, it wouldn't be so much work but this is the most fun part of my job! Our "Ghosty the Mosty" Monday night pizza.

Carving the pumpkin with Daddy. Our family is lacking the talent of others in this area, but the boys sure had fun.

Visiting our grandparents, showing off our costumes.

At the office with Grandma Jones and cousins. Ben had already disrobed from school.

Halloween night at the ward "Trunk or Treat". I loved that our ward did it the same night as Halloween. Getting Lukey to wear this much of his costume was a chore and one day was enough. We had a great turn out this year and it was very well planned and the food was great. The boys had fun with all their friends.

After telling me for weeks that he wanted to be Yoda, he decided at the last minute that what it took to look like Yoda wasn't worth it. (Fickle two-year old!) Oh, well I had fun making the hat and he loved his belt that held his "Lightsaver".

I think Jeffey was a dead ringer for young Anikan and he kept telling me that Annikan didn't have a light saber when he was a "wittle boy". He loved his costume and didn't take it off all day.

I spent the least amount of time on the costumes this year and the boys had the most fun. Ben loved being Obi Wan and practiced the stance from the movie all week. It was so much fun to watch them trick or treat. Luke loved the candy and eagerly went door to door gathering treats. Ben commented: "These people are giving us candy and they don't know us". Oh, what a wonderful concept!

My Jedi Knights

Lukey was exatic when we let him take the Yoda hat off. Amazing how some $6 light saber and two bed sheets can make my little men so happy! The fun continued when the great pumpkin came and took the candy they left out and left them each a fun Star Wars figurine. Mommy doesn't have to say no to treats and they are entertained for our with their new toys. Now that is what I call a "win-win" situation. Happy Halloween.

Many Thanks and Moving!

Thanks to my friend's husband Chad for stepping in at the last minute and snapping a few pics of our family. I think we may have one out of 236 that might make the Christmas card. With limited time and a very stubborn, cranky little boy (as shown above, in one of the few happy moments) it was a tough job! We are so busy right now that we took the opportunity when we could. We have found great renters for our home and will be moving in three weeks. We are still looking for a final destination, but I think it will all work out. We are so excited to be closer to most things in our lives and very sad to leave behind our wonderful life here. This has been the longest I have ever lived in one home and have grown so close to our ward and little community. It will be bittersweet to leave one "family" for another. I will update when we know more and will post more pictures after much photoshop time! The holidays are here....

Gearing Up!

It is so fun to get excited about Halloween with the boys. They can't get enough of all things gross and spooky this year. It was a little harder to steer the boys towards matching costumes this year, but they are ready and I can't wait for Friday. One highly-altered pattern, some slighty creepy Star Wars websites (I had no idea the devotion people give to these movies!), and two glorious days of sewing and we have some pretty handsome Jedi this year. Here are some pics of Halloween's past: 2004- Our little monkey
2005- The Hunter and the Hunted
2006- Fun party at the Castles
2006- A very pregnant mommy and her little dinosaurs (Thanks Sandra for sewing while I laid on the couch)

2007- My little Super-Heros (and the spider that bit spiderman)

Something about Jeffey

We love Jeffey, he adds a certain spice to our family, to say the least. He has a number of friends that I can't see and the most incredible imagination. He aks me each day of preschool: "This is the first day of school, right Mommy?" There are days when I am so glad I have a front row seat to watch this kid figure out life and how to make it fun. Lately we've had some great little moments with Jeff that I don't want to forget:

(Waiting for my sister at the mall)
Jeff: Lets play a game to see who can see Auntie first, that be a good idea mom?
Me: Sure would Jeff
Jeff: Lukey, she has red hair, actually orange, just look for her kay?

Last week the boys were saying goodbye to Brian in the morning and Brian told Jeff he couldn't hug him because he had a dirty face. Jeffey promptly went over to the chair in the living room, wiped his face on it and then gave his daddy a big hug. I guess no hug wasn't an option!

I am trying to see the world the way Jeff does, he can see the bright side of everything...I want to be more like him. Thanks for making me smile Jeffer Babies!

Mommy's Turn

Brian has season tickets to the ASU football games and usually takes the boys. This weekend it was my turn. It is finally cool enough to enjoy the game. I love the whole show. At home we didn't have college football like this, the band or cheerleaders. It is still amazing to me to watch the halftime show and I love to get frozen lemonade...a date tradition.
Go Devils! What makes a great date better...good company. We had so much fun going to dinner and the game with The Edwards and The Anselmos and their "baby bumps". (It isn't hard to tell I haven't seen Brian a lot in the last week!)

Fun times...thanks Kim for stickin' it out.

Me and my handsome husband! I love you babe.

(Too bad the Devils didn't have as great of a night)

Funny Guy

Lukey is starting to make his preferences known. If I don't set out clothes the night before, he follows me to the dresser and pulls out his "wimming pool shorts". Once he is satisfied with the picture on his shirt he proceeds to get his doggy backpack, stand with his back to me so I can put it on and then goes and get some mask. The kid throws a fit if you remove one piece and I have had to swallow my pride on more than one occasion and take him out in public. (I have succeeded in leaving the mask behind thus far) I always wondered what kind of moms let their kids wear halloween costumes to the grocery store in January...now I know!

"Brothers Gotta Hug"

It never ceases to amaze me how much fun these three have together. Last week we went to a local farm to smell the stinky cows, and eat blue snow cones. Fun times."Cheese"

The Lobby Lobster

Here are so more fun pictures from the cabin trip. Aside from no sleep, this was seriously one of the best mommy/boys outings! In all our filthly glory after hiking to the falls.
The cutest picture to date of the cousin twins! Love these two.
An absoultely edible Lukey, "kyming" all over the rocks.
We love to see the lobsters at Walmart, then we caught one. I've caught some crawdads in my time but this one was huge! We snagged it with a Barbie fishing pole and a chunk of cheese.
The boys didn't want to eat the "Papa Lobby" so we let him/her walk right back into the river. Afterwards none of the kids ventured back in! (If you click on the picture you can see the "Lukey Lobster behind Uncle Marshall's hand)

Cute girl

Ben's sweet friend Caitlyn drew this picture of the two of them at school. Her mom emailed me and I couldn't resist making it a permanent memory. She assured me that Caitlyn is just learning how to draw ears, hence the apparent focal point! I love watching my boys learn to be social. Friends are already such an important part of their little lives.

The Cabin

While our husbands were hard at work, my sister and I took the opportunity with fall break to get out of the heat. We rented a little cabin in the mountains, packed up the van and took off. No make-up, no cell phones, no house to clean and we were in heaven. The kids had so much fun playing outside and getting dirtier than even I thought they could. This is definately the first of many trips to the mountains...we are addicted! Denia and I were impressed with ourselves and were "Rockstar Mommies" when we attempted to catch lizards, made fires and took the kids on hikes.

Uncle Marshall joined us the last day for some hiking fun. Lukey loved every minute of this trip. He loves being outside and getting dirty. He loves bugs and promptly smashed the lizard we were attempting to catch with his apple triumphantly. He was so proud he saved us all from impeding doom. He walked around saying "I mash that bug, mom".

On the "teter-toter". We found this park that was straight out of the eighties, complete with ultra dangerous, super fun equipment.

When is the last time you've seen one of these. So fun!!! At the risk of sounding old...they just don't make them like this anymore. (maybe for good reason, as we watched Luke go flying off the side when we got going fast!)

Jeffey was such a great hiker, the kid never complained and is a natural.

Jeff and Ave couldn't get enough of the jeep, even though it didn't work. They were constantly pretending they were going to Disneyland.

Making Halloween crafts in the morning when it was too COLD to go outside....imagine that!

Benjamin is really into naming our outings, he called this "Fun Halloween Cabin". It really was such a wonderful week. My boys loved being outside with their cousins and it brought back so many great memories of ANASAZI. I love watching them explore nature and get away from the TV for a while. We also loved catching crawdads and roasting marshmellows outside. The only thing that was missing was Daddy...guess we will just have to go back.