Christmas program at Church

I wanted to take pictures before we left for church but alas we were running late so B said no. He said after church. Any mom knows that after church they will be sticky, untucked, hair undone and probably shoes off. SO before church even started, we had choir practice. (The only time I am in the choir is Christmas) By the time we were done they were all the things above. Church hadn't even started yet. While we were practicing Darby got these few shots. Here is Juliet in the beautiful dress our Secret Santa gave her. Dash! He was wearing the sweater from our Secret Santa too. He looked adorable!
More of Juliet!
She loved how fluffy her dress was!
I think this is my favorite dress ever. She looked and felt beautiful. (Brandon rushed me so I couldn't get the bows in her hair either!) grrrrrr. Max was wearing a suit, for the first time because he had a solo in Sacrament. He stole the show if I do say so myself. With his cute little raspy voice and when he stretches his neck to reach the high notes. I was so nervous for him but he really did great and was so brave. He was very excited that he got picked for a solo. He worked really hard and it was amazing. My favorite part was when he sang "gold, frankincense, and Muir" (It's my maiden name and even though it was the wrong word I couldn't correct it and I will sing that song that way forever!) :)

Secret Santa!

So we had 2 secret Santa's this year. It was CRAZY fun and CRAZY generous! It was hard to be on the receiving end. Silly I know. Humbling and Beautiful. So many emotions. We ran to the door after some pounding and scattering. On the porch we found 5 BAGS like this full to the brim of gift bags for each one of us! There was a gift bag for each one of us and some bonus goodies. We all received clothing and I got some jewelry too. It was really fun and we felt so blessed. We all wore our loot the next day to church!

This is something we do (not to this caliber) every year and we weren't able to do it this year. It is a tradition I will continue because I know how it is to be on the receiving end now. Who ever our Santa's were (we had 2 and they were both ENTIRELY too generous) We will love you forever and remember this Christmas forever.

Cute Jacket!

Tiffany gave me this super cute jacket and I wanted a cute picture of it! I got to dress up and go to Anna's Christmas party with her. (I was her plus one!) So much fun to go somewhere all showered! I was totally embarrassed because I finished eating before EVERYONE. When you are a mom of 4 you eat fast other wise you will have to share, eat cold food, or wipe a bum before you are done! (Seriously, every dinner, Dash or Juliet and sometimes even Max needs some assistance! Mom's booty duty is off during a meal! SICK!)

Ward Christmas Party

This year I went over the night before to help decorate for the party. This was the final product. I will say it was a very nice place for Santa to come BUT last year they had probably 5x the decorations. I will give them credit for going all out because after a couple hours I WAS DONE! It was still beautiful! people signed up to do centerpieces for the table. They were all so different and made the room look so festive! The one in the front here is one of mine. The santa's are old fashioned and my granny made them for me. Fake snow and Hershey kisses and the kiddos loved this table.
Me and Max Skinner. I took this picture solely to start rumors! :) He is married to one of my darling friends Mary and he is also one of Brandon's counselors in the Young Men. (and a great sport!)

Me and Miss Anna! (I really had cute curly hair but it rained all day and by the time I got to the party it was all flat and sad) :( I do adore Anna and she looked stunning!
Darby and Brandon performed! It was amazing. The only yucky part....my other 3 walking back and forth in FRONT OF THEM! Angry feelings!
Santa came for a visit. Max LOVED this because he had changed his mind on one of the three things he had asked for!
Dash just wanted the goodie bag!
Juliet had no idea and was just going along with everyone else..... I think for the goodie bag!
We had a great time at the party. The food is always AMAZING! The friends and family is great. It's a great time for all and a great way to feel the Christmas spirit!

Confessions of a weak bladdered woman!

oops. Computer illiterate and I don't know how to delete....... I typed it twice.

1. I am not computer savvy and have no desire to be.

2. Brandon taught me how to copy and paste last night. My new best friends on the computer

Confessions of a weak bladdered woman!

Ahhhhhh, New confessions for the new year!

1. I wish vampires were in the scriptures. I would read them more.

2. I hate scrubbing my tub and shower and don't want to confess when I last did it.

3. I also hate mopping, so again....I will not tell you the last time Brandon mopped.

4. I can eat an entire quiche. So I don't make them. Same with buying Fruity Pebbles....the whole box.

5. I play wii when no one is here.

6. I wish I could be bff's with our marriage councilor. She is really that cool and I have always wanted her to think I was that cool too.

7. Sometimes, in my head, there is a narrator or music that goes along with my life. (Not like a second personality or anything....yuck)

8. I have to stop watching crime shows because every time I go to the store after watching one I am scared it will happen to me. I have some pretty amazing escape plans. Those shows are REALLY horrific now. No more CSI's and Law and Orders for me.

9. I want my kids to look at me like they do Brandon. (he is super fun and always plays and takes time to teach them spiritual things). I found out last night Brandon wants them to look at him like they do me. Who knew?

Christmas cookies!

For our little play group we got together and let the kids decorate cookies! It was tons of fun and they loved the free reign over the frosting and treats! Gavin Stephens with a green mouth!Juliet liked licking more than decorating.
Tommy Cannon with a purple tongue. Thing is, I don't remember any purple stuff!?
Miss Katie with her boy.
Busy at work.

Back to School

The lunches are packed, the clothes set out and the backpacks by the door. WOOO HOOO WEEE is what I said a few hours ago! 3 weeks off for Christmas break was too LONG! It is nice to not have to get them out the door on time (except they still had to get up and go to the gym with me). It was nice to have their help around the house. It was nice to watch them play together. Wait a minute. Now that it is time for me to go to bed so I can be ready for the hustle tomorrow morning I can't help but think about what happens when the hustle is over and they are at school? Things will get back to normal and Juliet and I will do our chores and watch our Elmo but we will do it with out them. That is pretty sad. I love these three. Before I know it they will not want to hang out with me for 3 weeks straight. They will not complain about going to the gym with me because they will be able to stay home and sleep in and not have fun conversations in the car on the way. Sure their were fights and sassiness and many times I thought "When does school start?" But now I miss them and I think I want them to stay home. (Not enough to home school them or anything!)
Who wouldn't want to hang out with these guys?

Ward Temple night!

The L.A. Temple finished the HUGE visitors center and our ward had a special night that we got to tour it. It was tons of fun and a really special night. Juliet paused to reflect the eternities. (she actually was in trouble)

I was trying to get a picture with her but she was trying to run away.
The Christus (sp?)is in the front and the missionaries encourage you to check it out, touch it and even get a family photo. (holy moly get those legs an airbrush! you would think I would have connections! Have you ever tried to airbrush yourself? no bueno!)
Diane and Rivers. Our family away from family. We lived in their complex and they are really like family. (she is the R.S. Pres and I am one of her councilors, so not only to we play together we work together too!)
Part of the visitors center. Super cool!
I loved this shot because it looks like they are all into it and learning and growing! (check out 2 shots down.)
Still pondering and feeling the spirit and learning and growing.
So innocent and sweet.
This was the last of 3 that Brandon fished out of the "off limits" area. No more growing and learning. It was all a plan to figure out how they could get behind the scenes.
A really cool part is the drawing table. All computerized. You can draw and color things then send it to your email or friends email. You can also send it to the Temple and they will put it up on a screen above this table. Super fun and super cool!
We went for a walk to look at the Christmas lights on the Temple grounds. Juliet knows what nuts she is related to.
We were trying to get a shot for a Christmas card but no one would cooperate at the same time.
A FOUNTAIN? She didn't want to leave. She wanted to get in. It was such a beautiful night! We had a great time as a family and they have done a wonderful job on the new visitor center. A really cool place to check out if you are coming for a visit or just want to show some friends!

Juliet's birthday party

We had a little party for Juliet on her birthday. She and Journey just realized that Juliet's older siblings gave her a bag of fizzy skittles for her birthday! YUMMY!
Uncle Jamie and Baby Jeremy

Austin and Miss Anna! Juliet loves Austin and Aaron! (and Miss Anna)

Uncle Jamie and Dash being to cool for school!
Now they are tuff!
and spazzy.
Still in the clothes that I taught a class in that morning! Nice....can't a mom get a shower? (Journey was trying to get me to take my feet out of the chair so she could sit down)
Nana gave Juliet a cart for her birthday! It was the source of much contention once it was opened up!
Looking at the sweet loot she got for her special day! (Aaron in the background)
Uncle Jamie and his fam gave Juliet a fun new Dr. Suesse dvd!
Opening the amazing cart! (Seriously anyone that visits wants to play with it. Who knew a cart could be so cool?)
cake....yummy
all by myself!
she had no idea what to do! It was really cute. We had a spaghetti dinner before....hence the red face.
The day before we took her to Build a Bear. She was really excited! When we did Nana's bear for Christmas she REALLY wanted one. This one has a voice thing in the hand that says all girlie things. She got the shades for the bear and loves to share them. She also got a brush as it is her favorite part of building the bear. She named her bear Buckey!