Holy cow, this is my 401st post!

Sorry if anyone was disappointed by my lack of blogging lately. These 4 kids keep me pretty busy and at the end of the day my priority is to lie down.
Christmas week was busy and fun. The Saturday before we had a ward Christmas party with another Santa. Henry was not a fan.

Some last minute Christmas shopping and baking was done. Christmas Eve we dropped in on Trent's parents before heading to my parents where we ate soup and pork tacos and had the grand kids open all their presents from Nana and Papa and then all the siblings had a gift exchange. It was a good time and we came home to prepare for Santa.

Christmas morning Henry was first to wake up. We brought him in our bed where he happily "talked" and "sang" to us for a good few minutes before Charlie hopped in to the bed to join the fun. A few minutes later Tucker came in and announced that Santa had been here, he checked and there were presents.

Trent's parents came over to join us and brought cinnamon rolls and more gifts. Charlotte's favorite present were the princess dresses from Grandma.

After relaxing a little and picking up for a while we went to Bart and Dusti's for more food and hanging out. It was a long day, but very nice.

Saturday Santa

We went to a block party in Trent's parent's ward. We enjoyed visiting Santa, decorating cookies, the bounce house, fry bread, hot dogs, popcorn, and hot chocolate.

Ta-Dah!

I have these wonderful alphabet cards that my cousin Abbie and my Aunt Susan got for me a LONG time ago. I have wanted to put them up in the boys room forever, but wasn't sure how I wanted to do it. So I sent my question in to Ohdeedoh for the faithful readers to answer what the best way to mount the cards would be. Most suggested the 3M command strips, but one suggested something so cheap and easy that I couldn't resist trying it.

What, you ask, was this wonderful suggestion- hot glue!

Sniffy Face

Trent doesn't think that these photos can be fully enjoyed if you have never seen Henry do his sniffy face in person. However I think they are hilarious no matter what.

More from my wishlist

I think I want this rocking chair for the nursery.


This rug would look good in there too. It's from Urban Outfitters.

Favorite things 2

I'm loving this Vera Wang bedding from Kohl's.

Favorite things 1

Since I had such fun posting my Christmas list I will randomly post links to cute things that I like. For instance, the beautiful necklaces at this Etsy shop.

Catchin Up

We celebrated cousin Kolbe's birthday on the 16th and I left my camera there, so I haven't been updating. We had a great time at the party making gingerbread houses and Paisley had fun sporting one of the flower clips I made her.

The Monday after that I got to take Henry and Paisley together for their 15 month and 2 month well-checks and immunizations. What a joy that was.

That Thursday I was planning on going to my monthly Bunko night when my sister Karen informed me that the band Marcy Playground would be playing a free show in Scottsdale. I got Abbie to come with me and I had a great time. I haven't seen any bands play for way too long (Trent's not really a concert guy). I will have to get pictures from Karen's camera to share.

Then Friday Trent had a scout campout and he kindly took Tucker along.

Saturday my wonderful Ted and Lauren agreed to watch the kids so Trent and I could have a date. We went to Outback and Paisley came too. The lady next to us insisted on holding her before she left and pointed out to us that Paisley looks just like a Cupie Doll.

Then Thanksgiving morning we flew up to SLC to spend the weekend with many of Trent's extended family. It was a wonderful time in a beautiful setting.

Friday Trent and several of his siblings went skiing/snowboarding. Trent even decided to put Tucker in ski class for the day with his cousin Kyler! I wish I could have seen him!
Wes watched Henry and Charlotte for several hours so that Paisley and I could go shopping with the girls- I can't thank him enough!

Saturday I was getting sick. I got to see Emily and her beautiful baby Elora and I was so grateful they drove up to visit! In the meantime Daddy took Tucker and Charlotte on a little hike up to a waterfall with some of the other cousins. Charlotte was out cold by the time they got back and Trent had gotten a good workout. Then we flew out that evening and got to spend all day Sunday relaxing.

Christmas time

So, we put up our Christmas tree Monday night. I know it's early. But honestly, with it being almost 90 degrees outside, I needed something to get me in the holiday mood.
I have barely started my Christmas shopping. I am not one of those awesome people who already have it done. Trent is by far the hardest person to buy for. I have been married to him for 7 years and every birthday and Christmas I hate buying presents for him, 'cause I never feel like I know just what he'd love. The kids are easy enough. Parents are pretty hard and in-laws. Usually I do alright for my own sibling (whomever I draw that year). Anyway, the shopping is going to be a difficult task this year. How do I get the kids gifts when they are with me at all times? And how do I shop for other people when I have 3 or 4 kids with me at all times? I have a feeling I will be buying several things online this year.
You know what I want this year? What do you mean you don't care? Well, I'll tell you anyway.

In no particular order:

-A new vacuum thing for laminate wood floors. ( Our Shark isn't working so good these days and I'm not a big fan of rolling our huge shop vac around the house several times a day.)

- A set of kitchen knives

- A subscription to a design magazine such as Domino or Elle decor or something.

- A girt certificate to Target or Ross

- A gym membership and the will, desire, and motivation to actually diet and exercise

- A hair cut and color

-New light fixtures for my front room and over our dining table ( I want a large drum shade for over the table.)

-Bedding for my bed

- A rotary cutter and cutting board

- A sewing class

- Guitar lessons

This is my dream list. The beauty is that I don't mind if I don't get any of it. I am really happy to get lotion and a couple of cd's. Maybe a mystery novel and some bubble bath. Trent is the best Santa and has never failed to please. . except maybe that one time that he thought an electronic toothbrush was an awesome gift.

Cuteness

Bedtime stories.

Trying to get in more tummy time.

Paisley in all her cute chubbiness.

Blog safety

A lot of this is common sense, but I think everyone who has a public blog should do these things.
For example, I don't use our last name and hope that people don't use our last name when linking to my blog or posting comments on my blog. There are plenty of other ways to protect yourself when blogging publicly. These aren't guaranteed to keep you safe, but can definitely help.

Paisley's Blessing

Yesterday my gorgeous husband gave our gorgeous new daughter a name and a blessing. We were surrounded by family and friends and it was a wonderful day. Mel got to sit by us and help us with our silly kids. We sat across from Lindy and her girls and her boyfriend Matt. My beautiful sister Sarah kept Henry smiling with her almost the entire meeting and one of my other beautiful sisters, Karen was sitting with Lindy and helping run little girls to the bathroom at least twice. My beautiful new sister Lauren got to meet Paisley for the first time. Kim and Dan and their two kids even drove down from Flagstaff that morning to make our 8 o'clock meeting! I was really feeling the love! I had a wonderful time and wish I had gotten to visit with everyone a little more.Neck rolls, anyone?


The food wasn't bad either, we had muffins, fruit, hot cocoa, juice, cookies, pumpkin bread, and I even made 2 breakfast casseroles and pumpkin bars.

Check out this picture from Charlotte's blessing almost 3 years ago.

The election is over

Now let's all be grateful for the end of the political calls and commercials and just pray for the best.

Another blogger friend of mine linked to this article about the current state of the economy that I found very insightful and saddening.

Halloween

click images to enlarge

We had fun at our ward's Trunk or Treat Thursday and then with Trent's family Friday at Bart and Dusti's. Tucker was a Red Power Ranger, Charlotte was a pirate (I wish the hat had lasted longer) and Henry was a chicken. Paisley wore the cute halloween footie outfit that her aunt Emily got her and for about 2 minutes wore the bumble bee costume, but we never did put on the little hat with antenea.

Smiles and more

I can't believe Paisley is 6 weeks old already. She is smiling more and cooing and I am loving it so much. I tried to capture her smile for you guys.

Is there anything better than that cute, fat face?!

Henry continues to be as hilarious as ever and I cannot get enough of him. He has been giving me lots of big, open mouth kisses, complete with kissing sound and nothing could make me happier. He spins in circles and dances and waves at everyone. He is seriously so great!

Tucker loves school. He is reading so many words now that it amazes me! He writes so well and loves computers and singing time and PE and pretty much everything about school. He even gets to be in the same class as his cousin Jack, which he loves.

Charlotte is beautiful and wild. She is shy to strangers and warms up slower than the other kids to people. She loves to do anything that Tucker does. She loves baths. Yesterday while visiting Nana she asked if she could have a sleepover. I have no idea why she would ask that, but Nana couldn't refuse her, so she spent the night. We call her Charlie Brown often and when she heard someone else mention Charlie Brown on the radio the other day she was amazed that they knew her nickname. She loves her dolls especially "Baby Fred" and her butterfly blankie. She eats all morning long like she is starving and then usually has very little interest in dinner.

My kids are the best.