PMS Crew: December 2008

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Our week of Christmas part 3

This is Natalie fascinated with the lights on my brothers Christmas tree. We went there the day after Christmas to have dinner and have picture done with all the grandkids of my parents. We had planned to do it outside but it was really windy and cold that day so we opted for inside. Hopefully I will post those pictures soon.

This is Nathan at my Grandpa's house. We visited him on Christmas day. He has a lot of animals that sing songs and my kids love to play with them. To be honest I think it gives Grandpa Great great joy to watch the kids enjoy them.

Taylor enjoying the Winnie the Pooh toy at Grandpa Great's. We had also visited there Nana great before this visit. It is great that my kids have Great Grandparents that they get to see pretty regularly.

Taylor organizing her stocking candy on Christmas morning. Gee I wonder where she gets that from. ;-)

Nathan pointing out that Santa had tried the cookies we left for him.

We really did have a great Christmas. We consider ourselves blessed in many ways. We spent a lot of time with our extended family and our little family making many memories. It was a busy and somewhat stressful time, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Our week of Christmas part 2

Tuesday the 23rd we had the lockshop Christmas party. We wanted to do something different and fun for the employees this year. Plus we needed to have a party we could bring the kids to since we both needed to be there. Before most of the lockshop parties were at an American Legion post and we sat there as everyone else smoked and drank. Obviously we didn't want to do that so we opted for a party at Speedway Racetrack in Phoenix. It was a lot of fun. The employees got to race indoor go karts (we have 7 employees in addition to us) The party consisted of 2 races each, pizza wings and drinks, we gave them all a small present and trophy's were given to the 3 fastest racers and I of course got the turtle award for being the slowest. THe picture above is of Nathan and Taylor doing to arcade race game. (you have to be 8 to drive the go-kart)

This is Preston (front car) in one of the go-karts. They definitely did not have leg room, but they were fun.

This is Nathan Taylor and Thomas (cousin on my side) I watched Thomas and his little brother Henry while most of the rest of my family went to see the Nutcracker in Phoenix.

Christmas Eve we went to my Parent's house for dinner and to act out the Nativity Story. This picture above is my brother and his 2 boys as the 3 wise men. They were visiting from Provo and it was so great to have them here to make memories with.

Here is the rest of the Nativity pageant participants. Nathan was the lone shepherd. Taylor the lone Angel. I am Mary, Preston Joseph and Natalie baby Jesus. Can I just say this terry cloth robe and towel were very hot. Plus I had a sweater on underneath. I was neat to participate in the pageant. I havent done that since I was probably 12. Thanks to my sister Sherri for gathering most of the costumes for us to do this.

Our week before Christmas Part 1

Monday Dec 22nd the cousins on Preston's side were in town for the big family party (125 + people in one house-crazy times) Anyhow the cousins came to my house and made ginger bread houses. The picture above is of Nathan and Daniel with their houses.

This is all of them during the construction phase.

Taylor and Chanelle with their finished products.

Most of the cousins on my side at our family Christmas party we had at my house on Sunday evening. We had a lot of fun. The night included a yummy mexican dinner, barking dogs a couple of videos (Mary did you Know? and Luke 11) We had all the family together. 10 grandkids at 9 adults.

This is the Gingerbread house that Preston and I made at my friend Hollie's annual Gingerbread party. (Friday the 19th) I am a little embarrassed by it. I really didn't have time to research any cute ideas of what to do we just threw it together with candy I found at the dollar store and what I found in my cupboards. It is fun to make though. Hollie really goes all out for these parties.

Saturday the 20th we had our ward Christmas party. THey fed us a really yummy spaghetti dinner, we had a program and Nathan dressed up as a shepherd for the Nativity Pageant. Preston and the rest of the bishopric were the 3 wise men and they did a little program part and handed out gifts. Sorry I forgot to my camera that night.

Sunday the 21st at church I actually sang in the ward choir for the Christmas Program. This was huge for me. I haven't sang in a ward choir since I was a teenager. I really enjoyed it and plan to continue to go. The highlight of it all (other then the amazing spirit you feel) was that Preston had to come off the stand and sit with the kids while I sat on the stand for the program. Of course they were angels for him. No tantrums and no throw up. I was really hoping for something to help him realize it is a bit difficult by yourself with the 3 of them. Oh well.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Wow 3 posts 1 day. Can we say catch up?

Taylor enjoying the spatula from the brownie dough.

The picture to the right is 3 of the 9 goodie plates I made for primary teachers, HT and VT families.

These bottom 3 pictures are what my house looked like after spending most of the day baking and doing work for the shop. I had also cleaned up some before I thought to take a picture of the mess. Taylors room isn't bad but it shows 2 of the 4 loads of laundry I needed to fold. I am glad I am done with that project and grateful that my kids were low maintenance yesterday.

Some Christmas picture moments

We went and saw Santa at the Chevy dealership by our house. I have done this for 2 years now. The picture is free and there is never a line. Preston and I did not plan to be in the picture but Taylor wanted nothing to do with the Jolly Old St. Nick. She told us that she wasn't scared of him. But when we walked up to him she changed her story.

This picture was taken on Saturday after we finally finished decorating our Christmas tree. It took 5 days. Preston put 2/3rds of the tree up on Tuesday afternoon. Thursday night he finished putting the tree together. It is 10 feet tall so that is why I didn't finish (in case you were wondering why I looked at a partial tree for 2 days) Friday night we decorated some. Finally finished decorating it Saturday morning. Preston made the comment. "We don't have to worry about a toddler to bother the bottom ornaments and therefore can decorate the whole tree this year." I reminded him that Taylor may be almost 3 but she is still Taylor. I find ornaments in random places throughout the house and she has broken 2 or 3 ornaments. That's our Taylor ;-)

Saturday is a special day

That wonderful primary song never meant as much to me as it does now. I am not quite sure why it is a primary song when it should be the Relief Society theme song. Anyways part of my personality is to set out what I am going to wear the night before I go to bed. When I worked I would set out my outfit, now I just have my gym clothes all ready to go. I even have Nathan trained that he sets his clothes out the night before. It just makes the morning routine go so much smoother. With 9 am church and 3 kids to get ready for church by myself Saturday preparation for Sunday is a necessity. I took a picture of my kids last Sunday before church. Taylor is definitely not in the mood for a picture, but overall they all look nice in their Christmas church outfits. In the span of 6 days the following items were lost and required tweaking of their outfits, thankfully I had time Saturday night to do this instead of scrambling Sunday morning.
1. Natalie red bloomers that went with this dress completely disappeared. So she is just wearing a white onesie underneath to hide her diaper.
2. Taylor's white tights now gone. So we substituted with cream and black shoes as opposed to white.
3. Nathan's black church socks gone. He is wearing navy blue, close enough right;-)
ANyways this is a random post but just something I have been thinking about. On a sidenote I loooove hand me downs. Nathan's sweater and Taylor's dress are both handme downs. Thank you to my gracious family and friends that help clothe my children.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Counting our blessings

This is my wonderful mom and Natalie when she came home from the hospital. We are counting our blessings right now because of both of these girls. In case you didn't know my Mom was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer in early November. She had a full hysterectomy done this past monday. During the surgery the pathologist didn't believe the cancer had spread by the look of things. We got her biopsy results yesterday and discovered that the cancer was contained in one polyp inside her uterus. She does not have to have any radiation or chemo. We are so happy and consider it a miracle that it was caught in the very early stages and taken care of quickly.
Now onto Natalie. She has had a cough for a couple days. I prayed that I would know when it got serious enough to take her to the doctor. Well she was coughing quite a bit yesterday morning so I made an appointment with the pediatrician. Of course she coughed maybe once after I made the appointment until we got there. Her lungs checked out clear. Oxygen level in her blood 97% and tested negative for RSV. YEAH!!! The ironic part is when the doctor checked her ears she has an ear infection in both ears. We were both shocked. The doctor stated "I did not see that coming." Natalie has never had a fever and doesn't act like she is in pain or bothered at all. But she is now taking amoxicillin (which makes her mad when I give it to her). I am grateful that I took her in to discover the ear infections before it caused any more damage. I am couting my blessing of prayer and the medical knowledge that is available.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

Okay I am finally posting officially about our weekend in Eagar. This is the kids on Thanksgiving day. I got the girls matching outfits at Costco. I never thought I would be a mom that dressed my girls alike. Of course I never had 2 little girls to dress up and didn't know how fun it could be.

This is Natalie with her Nana Great from Preston's side she is almost 93 and was able to come from Mesa to spend Thanksgiving with all of us in Eagar.

Natalie with her Grandpa (Prestons Dad) We got some cute video of the 2 of them talking.

Taylor all ready to ride her Grandpa's 4 Wheeler with her Dad. It was really cold so Preston didn't take them on many rides.

Nathan playing with his cousin Daniel. They were playing a game that is a mix between raquet ball and tether ball. Nathan is 8 months older then Daniel and they are pretty inseperable. (don't know if spelled correctly)

Taylor with her 8 yr old cousin Janelle. They were playing all kinds of songs on the piano. Taylor loves playing girly things with her girl cousins.

We had a great and relaxing weekend spending time with family.

Monday, December 1, 2008

We have another one

Thumb sucker that is. Our little Natalie has found her thumb. She is still getting the hang of it but is taking quite a liking to it. I must admit I am glad. Once they get the hang of it then I don't have to search for the pacifier while driving or when she is in her bed if she starts crying because she needs some soothing. It was pretty much inevitable that she would suck her thumb because when she was younger Taylor would try to help Natalie put her thumb in her mouth. Taylor is a thumb sucker too. Maybe it is a girl thing. Nathan never sucked his thumb.