Turkey bums!

We started a tradition last year to do these cute turkeys on our wall and on their feathers write down what we are thankful for. We also give anyone who comes to our house a feather to put on the wall with our turkeys. By the end of the season our wall is covered in feathers of gratitude. I love it to see what everyone puts. Some are funny and some are inspiring.

Last year I made the turkeys and not the boy who is an artist. My turkeys ended up looking like Turkey Bums so that is what this tradition is called. Brandon cut out the turkeys this year. perfect. free hand. no drawing or tracing. show off.
Darby's turkey. I love the google eyes! Ms. Greene is her teacher.
Max. He had My home and the word ingredients....because with out ingredients the food would be gross.
Juliet. She is thankfule for BUKEE (her word for McDOnalds....don't ask) Markers (she colors on EVERYTHING) Cali (our cat who is not so thankful for her) her MUNGY (her word for her blanket) Her Bah bah (Yes she is 2 and still has a night time bottle.....don't judge me she is my baby!) and of course her UNCLE RYELEY and PAPA and her family.....in that order~
Brandon's fancy turkey!
Dash's fancy turkey! Ms. Bell is his teacher (I am pretty thankful for her too!)
My turkey!

Nickelodeon Halloween!

Nick holds a Halloween party for the family of the employees! It was TONS of fun! Some of B's co-workers were super generous and gave us extra tickets so that Uncle Ryeley and his kids could come with us! How many kids get to say that they Trick or Treated at Nickelodeon?

Each department (cartoon) would do up their department in a "haunted" fashion! I think they were all judged too. We first went into "Fairly Odd Parents".
Uncle Ryeley being REALLY scared. (They had to tone it down this year. I guess last year was too scary for some of the kids.)
This was B's dept. "Kung Fu Panda"! This is going to be one of the new Villains. If I was a better wife I would know what his name is. I got nuthin!
These were the peeps that B designed. He is a rock star at our house that colors and works on cartoons that are cooler than anything. I am just the mom.
A new cartoon coming to Nick. Again if I were cooler I would know the name. For now I call it Big Robot. (catchy don't you think?)
It really is a big robot!
Who doesn't love Fan Boy and Chum Chum? Oh yea, me. They are gross and have tons of potty humor and that is why the kids love it!
AVATAR! (not my fav. but the people who love it, LOVE IT like no other!) Curtis got his picture taken (not on my camera) with the creator of Avatar. Other Avatar geeks were freaking out over this. I will say their department was pretty cool and very black light glowie!
Ghosts of Nickelodeon past! (I hope Fan Boy and Chum Chum are there next year..... so sad, I shouldn't say that.....someones rock star dad works on that cartoon too.)
This is the costume contest winner at Nickelodeon. Not a contest I would ever win. I tell you what some of the costumes there were "off the hook"! Cartoon people REALLY know how to dress up! The kids were actually a little scared to take a picture with her...him...her...who knows!? The one shot of Darby and Curt and Grace! Max had to take his costume off to see everything!
FINALLY! Spongebob Department! (they won btw) Patrick....
Spongebob as Michael Jackson
Then it got scary..... Mr. Crab (Sp?) from the dead!
rest in pieces Spongebob....
Uncle Ryeley and B.
Uncle Rye and me! Such a pretty shot.

The kids in the court yard doing one of the BILLION activities they had for us. Cookies, picture frames, pumpkins, food, food, food, booths everywhere! It was too much fun! (Note Darby's snake eyes! When she closed her eyes she had snake eyes..... my idea.... I may not draw but I can think of some mean snake eyes for daddy to paint on you!)
The kids had tons of fun and we could have stayed there the whole night but they were SOOOOOOOOO worried about getting to the church on time for the Thriller performance that we actually left early! It was killing me. Free food (booths of cotton candy, candy apples, ice cream sundaes, elephant ears, soda, candy, cookies, sliders, on and on and on), free fun at NICKELODEON and they want to go to the church ! I guess it could be worse!

Apparently not for Uncle Ryeley.....

TRUNK OR TREAT

Our ward does a great Halloween party with a Trunk or Treat! There is a chili cook off that Katie Cannon always wins. (she deserves it with her delicious white bean chicken chili) and tons of goodies, a parade of costumes, costume contest and Trunk or Treat. This is Juliet holding hands with Tommy Cannon. He was showing her the ropes at trunk or treat. She is supposed to be a "50's" girl to go with Brandon's greaser, but she was with my mom all afternoon and when it was time to pick her up she wouldn't get out of her ELmo jammies so we put the skirt over it and called it a day! Here is a better picture of Max as King Boo.
Max and Dash....a.k.a. Baby Bowser and King Boo. My favorite thing on Max was the red glove that was King Boo's tongue. Apparently King Boo sticks his tongue out all the time. It was really cute! The kids all did a dance to "Thriller" with the young women. It was tons of fun and I was glad that Curtis and Grace got to be a part of it all too. Ask me if I got a picture of them or Darby..... Bad mom/aunt!

WIlbur Halloween Parade

At Wilbur Elementary they have a Halloween Parade of all the grades. Tons of fun! This cute little Jack in the Box costume isn't any of my children. I just thought it was really cute and creative so I snapped a quick shot of it so we could copy later!
That is Max. He is "King Boo" from Mario Bros. I had to learn! B made his costume and it was a HUGE HIT! It was amazing. An umbrella on a bike helmet with a sheet and some sewing and painting! Very cool to have a daddy as an artist! (More pics of King Boo to come)
Dash's kindergarten class.
Dash is "baby Bowser" also from Mario.
Again, great to have a daddy as an artist. I did some of the sewing.... I get credit for that right?

Random pictures

Uncle Ryeley and the kids and Nana came to visit for Halloween! We had tons of fun with them! More blog photos to come of Halloween and their visit! Here are some random shots. Juliet LOVES Uncle Ryeley and claims him as hers as soon as they get here. I loved this shot because she was copying the way he was sitting.
Juliet and Gracie Belle!
I wanted Juliet to be an Elephant SOOOOO bad but she wouldn't keep the hood on. My mom made this costume for Curtis and a few of the kids have gone as an elephant. She was our last shot at using this costume. Size 2. In the costume box for a while.
Such a cute costume on such a grumpy little girl!

Darby's Birthday! (October)

Darby's birthday is in October (yes just getting it blogged!) She had a few friends over for some "Bloody worm" sandwiches and chips and root beers! They played outside and B painted faces! They decorated trick or treat bags and had a blast just hanging out!

Here are some of the decorations for their bags!

Darby and Lizzy!
Opening gifts.
All the guests with the birthday girl!
The birthday cake! (Darby was Medusa for Halloween so she wore her Medusa hat for her party!)

It was great fun and the kids and Darby had a great time!

2010/2011

I only have this month to catch up on the blog from Halloween up to the end of the year! I will do it! It is just to hard to finish it all by the end of December but this year I will keep up on it!

2010 had tons to offer the Jeffords!

We made our move permanent from Texas to L.A.! I am sad and happy about that.

Brandon changed companies after almost 8 years. Scary and amazing at the same time.

Suzy went from subbing classes to being on the schedule with 4 or more regular classes for 24 HR fitness.

Dash started kindergarten!

Juliet started walking! (It literally took her almost 20 months....no reason she is just stubborn)

We went to Utah I think 4 times! Nana and Papa and Uncle Ryeley visited us 2x!

We moved 3x!

We made some of the best friends ever and continued relationships with best friends that have been there for us!

The kids started a new school. WAY better than the one we had. A little snooty but the kids are doing well!

2010 brought with it a ton of blessings for us and a few opportunities to grow through trials. I am so grateful for all we have been blessed with! Here's to 2011.........

Juliet will be potty trained!

I will get off the sauce (diet coke)

Lose the baby weight...for good!

Brandon's career taking off!!!

More visits to Utah!

Max will be baptized!

Darby's big play production!

Max will start cub scouts! (maybe Dash if we find someone)

Hopefully Darby will start piano again!

We will get out of debt!

Body pump Certified!

Continue forgiving and forgetting and moving forward!

Love with all our hearts!

Dating Brandon every week!

Hopefully getting my adenoids out so no more ear infections for me.

Juliet gets tubes!

2011 the possibilities are endless.........

Confessions of a weak bladdered woman!

Christmas confessions.......

1. I don't think I ever had a disappointing Christmas growing up. We were pretty blessed. I know my parents worked hard so we didn't want for things. (It wasn't like I had everything I ever asked for but for a girl who grew up in a trailer I had all I needed!)

2. My favorite Christmas gift was the Kitchen Aide Brandon gave me a few years ago. It should be the family portrait he drew (it is a close second but I love that blasted kitchen aide! I use it almost every day!) One day my favorite will be a bigger diamond!

3. I want a bigger diamond.

4. One year I got B a guitar for Christmas and wrapped it early. It wasn't hard to guess when the box was shaped like a guitar! (I tried to build a box around it so it wasn't obvious....lame!)

5. I usually get sick after Christmas and B has to take Christmas down all by himself. We have been married almost 14 years and I think I have only helped with one! (I think that almost makes it a tradition right?)

6. When Christmas is over IT IS OVER! I can't wait to get all the Christmas down (or for B to do it)! The house all of a sudden feel cluttered and there is to much stuff in it! GET IT DOWN! Then it feels naked and clutter free!

7. I want my Christmas to be Christ centered. It is hard.

8. I like staying home for Christmas. I miss my family but it is too hard to pack ALL of Christmas and then bounce from house to house. Y'all are welcome to come to my house!

9. I DON'T like lingerie for Christmas. That is NOT a gift for me! Our first year we were married I thought it would be cute to get Brandon "Christmas pajamas" but instead of jammies for him I got some "JAMMIES" for him! (a nightie for me!) Tradition is that you open p.j.s on Christmas Eve! Who knew the missionaries would be there that night?

10. I pee my pants every night that we do the 12 days of Christmas (knock and runs) so now I have to be the get away driver. (Who doesn't toot and laugh and pee when they are running away?)

Merry Christmas!

Secret Santa!

Every year the Jeffords family does secret Santa for someone! (But we call ourselves something different....I will not tell because we don't want to give away our secrets!) It is one of our favorite traditions that has brought us sooooo much joy! Every year has brought amazing and unique experiences. (One year someone started leaving us gifts every night when we would do our drop offs! My kids/me loved that!) :) This year the budget didn't seem to be able to squeeze out the 12 days. We decided instead to do something small with our "knock and runs" because it brings us such joy and is such a fun/special memory. I don't say this to toot our sneaky horns.... The last 2 nights we have been on the receiving end of the "Secret Santa". The most generous Santa I have ever come across. Last night was so much fun and humbling. THEN AGAIN tonight. I had no idea the receiving end felt like this! There are so many emotions. I feel eternally grateful that someone would take the time and money and energy to bless my little family. I feel overly blessed. I feel selfish for loving it so much and feel like there are so many other people who are more worthy. I feel sooooo loved. Who ever you are....if you read my blog.... We love you! And "Thank You" can't express the way I feel. Our lives are forever changed by you! May you have the best Christmas ever and may your family feel and be as blessed as you have made ours!

I love this guy!

So, yea.... I love him! He makes me crazy with his forgetfulness, and lack of organization and he CAN'T multi task to save his life BUT he is fun to look at and is a super kisser! He also loves me unconditionally, will check the house for ghosts in the middle of the night, get me a drink of water, put the kids to bed, bring me flowers, not get too mad when I go out of the budget, serves God with all his heart, puts his family first, embraces my crazy, can admit when he is wrong, provides for us, makes me laugh harder than anyone I have ever met, doesn't like to watch sports, AND he's a super kisser! I love him!

Quote of the day!

SO our kids receive 3 gifts from Santa because that is what the wise men brought the Savior. A little cheesy I know, but it keeps us from getting out of control and keeps a little bit of the reason for the season in the gift giving part. Max thinks LONG and HARD about his 3. He takes it very serious. This year he told Santa the 3 things. It took him a while to remember the 3rd thing and I thought Santa was a bit impatient for my boy. I wanted to yell at him and say "DUDE YOU ONLY BRING 3 GIFTS...LET THE BOY THINK! SO in Target he showed me something he wanted (not one of the 3 things!) I told him I thought it was a little expensive for Santa to make AND I bet Santa had all ready made the gifts he asked for. Max went on and on trying to figure out a way that one of his gifts could be switched. Finally I told him to let it go. About 10 minutes later he said, VERY HUFFILY, "But the Wise Men brought the Savior REALLY COOL GIFTS!" Then he let it go.

It made me both laugh and cry. I know he knows what the 3 gifts were. He calls them "Gold, Frankincense, and MUIR (my maiden name)." I just don't know if he KNOWS what they all are. I love that little boy!

Confessions of and unbalanced woman

I love that friends and family have picked up the confession sessions! I really love hearing your personal "shares" (or overshares as my hubby calls them) it makes me feel closer to y'all! I love that my cousin Mary started it or stole it from someone else, who knows! I love the title because I am unbalanced BUT I think I am changing my title because I found one that fits me better. Better than unbalanced you say? YES...... are you ready......

CONFESSIONS OF A WEAK BLADDERED WOMAN! Not a secret if you take my classes at the gym. No air jacks for me or I will pee my pants! 4 kids, 1 bladder and no Mastercard to do bladder surgery....you do the math! ANYWAY, Let the confessions commence......

1. Here is a real personal one..... after work outs I smell like a crouton! I don't know whether to gag or be hungry! It's gross. Some girls still smell good after a killer class but I am just going to say I work harder than ALL of them and I am totally NOT jealous or their pretty smell! :) Nothing a little spray can't mask!

2. I want to sing........ a solo......... and make people cry because it's sooooo good and they had no idea I could sing like that! Standing Ovation good! Alas I don't sing. When I do Juliet "shooshes" me....she's 2.

3. One day I will have enough money to fly all the mommies I love to a destination for a mommy weekend and pamper them and we will all wear matching track suits with our names on them and eat steak. There may or may not be a testimony meeting (all religions welcome....no politics just what you feel in your heart.) I think it will be a little like Oprah's favorite things show but on a smaller scale. I will sing a solo there! (I am thinking "On My Own" from Le Miserable)

4. I yell to much.

5. I kill plants. I don't mean to but I don't have a green thumb. Maybe if I watered them instead of Diet Coking them.

6. I secretly (not so secret now) want to live back in Utah....next door to my mom or in a compound with all my friends. No stupid UTAH girls aloud..... you know the kind.

7. I think I would abuse my kids if I moved back to Utah and I had to get them ready in snow clothes, and boots, and gloves and hats, and pack your shoes in your back packs. That makes me sweaty. (crouton anyone?)

8. I have to pee every time I go into a store. You can't take a full cart into the bathroom. You can't pee by your car in the parking lot. All of that adds to the yelling in #4.

9. I don't remember my previous confessions so I am afraid every time I do them I will repeat some. :( (It's probably early onset ahlsheimers)

10. I am always pretty sure I have a lot of things. Cancer, Parkinson's, Lou Gerick's (sp?), MS. In other words I always think the worst. Boo. A head ache is never a head ache. It is a brain tumor. Weak hands are MS and not a crazy hard bicep work out. I have cancer of everything. 2 weeks ago it was cancer of the labia.....turned out to be an ingrown hair, don't worry. WHY would I share that? Because I really want to work on this. 3 days of being OBSESSED with it. Driving people crazy (poor Brandon). Lessening what people who REALLY have these things are going through. Borrowing worry. Don't sweat the small stuff.....it really is just an ingrown hair!

Happy Happy Birthday Juliet Dear!

Happy Birthday Juliet! We love this little stinker! She makes us laugh soooo hard almost on a daily basis! I can't believe that she is 2 today! Her middle name is Zuzu from the Christmas show "It's a Wonderful Life." Jimmy Stewart's little girl was named Zuzu and when he "comes back" from not being born he realizes it when he finds her rose petals in his pocket. He shouts out "Zuzu's petals! Zuzu's petals!" It makes me cry every year. It is also how I feel about Juliet. Sometimes when I get lost she brings me back! I am lucky to be her mom! Daddy Loves: "The way she greets me when I come home. The way she smiles with her whole face and shoulders when she's really happy and her refusal to perform on request!"

Mommy Loves: "How she is every persons favorite in our family! They all want to be around her. She is like the glue. She also says full sentences to shock you but then when you flip out over it she will say something like, baba or mungy!?!?!? I love that she has renamed her blanket, Mungy and McDOnalds is Buckey! We will forever call them that!"

Yes, sad/proud to say that is diet coke in her cup. (I will say that Nana gave it to her though...but I didn't stop it.)
Papa and Uncle Ryeley are 2 of her favorite people! Seriously, we are dead to her when they are around. She has had a special love for Uncle Ryeley since she was 6 weeks old.
Dash Loves: "I love that she plays and I love her with me. She loves me. She is my favorite baby sister!"

Darby Loves: "I love to play with her and she has a great personality and she old enough that I can have a conversation with her. I love that she is really into dancing and she dances around the house a lot and she sings too!"

Max Loves: "She's cute, she's adorable and she's playful!"

Callie the Cat loves: "that she can't reach me on the top bunk and I can still out run her...meow"