December 15, 2008
We went to our first family Christmas Party last night. I took my 21 bags of gingerbread shaped men and got 21 things to either decorate my house for the holidays, or things I cant...well I won't say that, I will eat, though I really shouldn't. I didn't take any pictures (!) until it was time to go. Liam and Neil disappeared and I found them glued to Frosty the snowman in Marcus' cousins theater.


It was not pretty when we had to leave, but it was 9pm! The kids didn't get to bed until almost ten, so I was dreading getting them up in the morning but they were super. Maybe it was because I was trying to get them to go to school in their sweats that made them change into school clothes so fast... something to try again later...

Did anyone else see the sunset last night? It was gorgeous!

December 13, 2008
I woke up this morning at 7:30 to Liam bouncing in his bed Yelling: "Maaaaameeeee!" I didn't want to get up yet though so I ignored him. Ruth was watching cartoons at the time so she went to get him up and at 8:00 when I did get up to go get my bountiful basket this is what I found: (that's Eve's dress hanging up in the background Katie, shall I wrap it for Christmas?:)

It was nice to see Liam humoring Ruth; She is always trying to mother him and he wants none of it so when he does let her have an inch, she usually takes a mile smothering him in kisses making him dig his heels in even more. She must have been spot on this morning for him to cuddle with her for 1/2 hour watching cartoons. I snuck out so I didn't have a crying Liam pounding on the laundry room door as I left.


Saturday is 'clean your room' day and I usually vacuum for the kids, but I made Ruth (who is still afraid the vacuum will spontaneously suck her up if she walks by to slowly) do it herself. Seriously, its time to conquer the fear, she has gotten over the hand drill and blender, the vacuum is next. (though I'm not sure I'm ready for her to stop furiously cleaning things up when I turn it on...)

After we cleaned Ruth and I made cookies. I even had enough patience to let her measure and pour things into the mixer. Luckily though she lost interest and decided taking pictures and video (of which I will not bore you, its mostly her saying "Hello Gingy, you are so silly, I'm going to eat you, goodbye." Repeatedly) of me rolling and cutting out the dough. I ate too much peanut butter dough so when I was done baking my allotted 84 cookie men, and cleaning up the mess, I laid down to rest my overworked gallbladder and let Ruth have the rest of the dough. I was very impressed she did great rolling and cutting the dough and even putting them on the cookie sheets, all I did was tell Marcus when he got home how long to bake them.
We went over to Grandma and Grandpas house later, I was STARVING, but the only thing that sounded good was a Turkey bacon Grinder from Neilsons. It was very good.

A very few of Ruth's pictures: (she particularly wanted me to put the one of her shirt in, there were about 2 dozen to choose from... because she read it and told me what it said, thereby impressing herself and wanting to impress all of you.)(are you impressed?)

Neil came home from school on Thursday with the traditional reindeer cookie. He was excited because he remembers Ruth's from last year when she did it. He also remembered how she shared with him, so he graciously gave Liam a pinch. Liam was a bit insulted so he kept snatching more and when Neil went to the bathroom he climbed up into his chair so quick I couldn't stop him before he took an enormous bite. I told Neil he could either share some more with Liam or we could put it away for an hour until he went to bed. He shared (he didnt like the pretzle part). It's hard to teach kids how to share, you don't want to force them but its so important that they learn. I never had to cajole and bribe Ruth to share, she was excited to do it; always coming home from school with her treasure box treasures, one for her and one for each of her brothers. ALWAYS. She is actually saving up her green tickets at school so she can have enough to share. In Preschool it was one ticket per treasure, in Kindergarten its 5 per treasure, she has 21 tickets right now. (Does this mean she will be a saver like her dad?):::fingers crossed::: Neil does share, but its more of a 2 for me one for you kind of sharing, and from what Ive read, that's normal. Throws you all off having a kid that reaches milestones before they should first.

Christmas time at the dead animal store!

December 8, 2008
My kids got excited when we told them we were going to see Santa for family night, they got really excited when we told them we were going to see him at the dead animal store (Bass Pro Shops). It was actually pretty cool; they had some stuffed reindeer right next to Santa, (luckily no one asked how the sleigh was going to fly with Donnor and Blitzen stuffed and glassy eyed...)





Liam was enthralled with the 'too too tain' and Neil was in love with the Red Ryder Laser Range so standing in line was a breeze, besides the fact that the line wasn’t bad at all.


Liam was a bit apprehensive about standing with Santa for the picture; I missed the picture of him giving Mr. Claus the eyeball (dang delayed flash!) But the pictures turned out pretty good. I got those sweaters for the boys at a Garage sale about 3 1/2 years ago in the hopes that I could use them. (My little Liam looks so big in these pictures; he was so excited to look just: "Ike Nee Nee")


We walked around for a bit afterwards; they loved the huge fish tanks and the little river.



We spent quite a bit of time in the gun room upstairs looking at the African animals. (Marcus was looking at the Guns...) Liam growled a lot. They also liked the Bears. *gasp* :shudder::: who's children are these?

I touched one of its claws and my heart seriously started racing. I had to walk away; it was ridiculous.


Don't these just look like the eyes of a killer?

It was a good time, Im glad we went and we will probably do this again next year. The mall is over rated with their cardboard and plastic reindeer.

December 6, 2008
We had our Ward party tonight, my beehives were in charge of face painting, so Ruth Neil and Liam were the first attempts.


Ruth smeared hers before I could get a good picture Neils looks like a blank coloring book page and Liam's was a sad looking star before it was done being painted, but I didn't think they cared. My girls had a lot of fun doing it too and they got more creative and elaborate as the night progressed; the last few kids had their entire faces scribbled on.

They also had bounce houses, a fishing game, darts, a cupcake walk and pony rides that the kids LOVED;





The ponies were tired by the time we got over for a second ride, they kept stopping and refusing to budge.
I ate 2 cupcakes, a hot dog and ruffles potato chips. My gallbladder did not appreciate it, but I could not resist. I was good at Abby's birthday party and only ate a quarter of a cookie with a handful of carrots... I'm weak. This is torture for me. *sigh* Hurry up January!

Eighth Folder, Eighth Picture

This is my Ruthie, August 12, 2004 at the airport waiting for Uncle Travis to get off the plane. He was just returning from his mission in Spain.


Eight things I am passionate about: The Gospel; Marcus; My Children; Family; Clearance Racks, Thrift Stores; Happy Endings; & Pizza

Eight words or phrases I use the most: ‘Liam get your thumb out of your mouth!’, ‘hurry up! You’re going to be late for school!’, ‘go potty and you can have gum…’ ‘Mmmm… cheese sounds so good’ (or chocolate) ‘If you wear a fancy top, you have to wear plain pants! (Seriously, she went to school yesterday with leopard print pants and a purple flower spangled sparkly sweater, lime green socks and sandals.) ‘No, I'm not buying even one toy!” “Here I come with the vacuum! You better pick up!”, and: ‘when are you going to be home?’

Eight things I want to do before I die: grow a successful garden; go back to Europe with Marcus; go on an all expenses paid shopping spree; win a dream vacation somewhere tropical (not during hurricane season); Motor home the US; live in another state for a few years; Go on a church history tour; move into my dream home.
Eight things I need right now: 6 people who want to buy a puppy for Christmas; A whole batch of Fat Free chocolate chip cookie dough (that doesn't taste like its Fat Free); motivation to take a shower; A maid service; a scrapbook/sewing/computer/crafty crap room in my house; a makeover; a vacation; the winning Power ball ticket.

Eight places I want to visit: holy land; Capri; Swansea; Maui; New England in the Fall (and again in the spring) Venice; Hills alive with music;


Eight favorite restaurants: Costa Vida; Olive Garden; Rumbi; Paradise Bakery; Denny’s (lately); Chick-fil-a; El Paso; Any Steakhouse.

Eight TV shows I watch: 11th hour; NCIS; Survivor; Rick Steve’s Europe; The Mentalist; Conan O’Brien; Numb3rs; Lost.

If you just read this you have to post one on your blog too, just go to the eighth picture folder in your computer and click on the eighth picture and change the answers to the rest.

December 3, 2008
One of my handsome nephews, Carter, sent me his school photo today.
Ruth said: "I had fun with you at Thanksgiving Carter, are you having fun at home? I can’t wait to see you again!"
Neil said: "I miss you, happy thanksgiving!"
Ruth: "Merry Christmas."
Neil: "Merry Christmas"
Ruth: "Happy Holliday..."
Neil: (losing interest) "Happy Hollidayis dinner done?"

We miss you Carter! You too Luke! (Liam hasn’t stopped talking about 'Lookee' all week.

Neil is awesome; things are never ever boring with him around. Lately he has been getting in trouble at school with his friend Reese. They are the perfect examples of a boy...always at the wrong time. Mrs. Kerry said they like to wrestle during story time, they play extreme bowling, when it should only be indoor quiet time bowling. He likes to crash other peoples block castles, helps them build them back up, then crashes them as he leaves. Bean bag toss tick tack toe is no longer a boring game and I don't even want to know how snack time is. She said she just tries to keep them from sitting next to each other. She actually said he did really good today he didn't have to be in time out for throwing the little people up so they could touch the ceiling (like yesterday), and he got a fake dollar for treasure box at the end of the month. *sigh* boys are different than girls...in so many ways. I'm not sure if I prefer a girl who hates getting dressed in the morning because nothing is as comfortable as jammies and socks or a boy who is naughty. Maybe Ruth will just get to start wearing her jammies to school so I can cut one headache out. They sell slippers with rubber bottoms...




On Saturday Neil got whacked on the head by a hot wheels car in a gallon sized Ziploc bag. No one is sure exactly how it happened, somehow Ruth was trying to take it back from him and it ended up thwacking him on the head. Anyway, he screamed and bled like a stuck pig, this is the injury. He swore he could feel his brain when he touched his wound.



Yesterday Neil went on errands with aunt Hillarie, she let him borrow her ipod and grandma loaded him up with goodies. He thought he was hot stuff when he left.
Neil is awesome.

December 1, 2008
Well it’s that time of year again; Im never sure if I should be excited or resigned. I remember as a kid how very long it took for Christmas Eve to come; I need to forget that, it gets me in trouble every year! It does NOT take forever, it comes very quickly. Luckily I have a pretty good idea of what im going to get everyone; it’s just a matter of doing it now.
I was at my mom’s house today helping her with her Christmas ornaments. She is tying cinnamon sticks to her tree with cute ribbon. I let Liam smell them and then forgot he was sitting there. The next thing I knew my mom was laughing into her hand nudging me to look at my silly baby.


I guess he likes the smell of cinnamon!

Turkey Trot! I love going to the turkey trot, we usually walk the fun run, but we were late and didn't even do that this year! LAZY! Oh well, the weather was beautiful; and we were in good company.

This is after the Turkey Trot at Grandma Holly's house.

Marcus teaching Liam how to be the best turkey carver EVER.


Carter accidently dipped his carrots into white poster paint and was all upset about it until his dad suggested he pull a prank on Uncle Tyler. This is Tyler’s reaction when he realized he hadn’t eaten funky celery, but poster paint. I missed carter in the picture though, he was beating a hasty retreat!



The kids were having a really great time playing in the muck getting dirty, so instead of making them come in and scrub up like a good parent would have… :) We set up a table outside and let them have their own thanksgiving.



Carter called on Ruth to say the prayer. (that's not my son peeking!)









Liam was a mess by the time he was done eating, he would play, go run and grab a bite of food then run back to play with the kids; im not sure how much dirt he ate today, probably a lot.


We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Evans' house for the rest of the evening; I didn’t take any pictures because my camera battery died, but we mostly just searched the black Friday ads, ate some yummy jell-o salad and visited. My stomach started hurting so I didn’t have anything, except a small bite of rice crispy treats with Reddin’s home made marshmallows (Mmmmmmmm). Not surprising that my stomach would hurt, after all, I did eat 4 of Callie’s wonderful rolls on top of a whole plate of turkey dinner, (what talented in-laws I have:) but this was one of the stomach aches I had begun to recognize as something a little different. I had been getting them for about 6 or 8 months now and they always localize under my right ribs. Usually starting in the evening, a few pain killers always made the pain gone by morning. This time it was so much worse; a left over Percocet from my last C-section FINALLY worked by morning (so I was able to get some good shopping in) We had Burger king for lunch and Left over turkey dinner later that evening. The pain came back with a vengeance; NOTHING helped. Around 4am Marcus couldn’t sleep for all my moaning and groaning so he got up and got on WebMD. A morning trip to the ER confirmed our suspicions that it was Gall Stones. *yeah* Ruth made me this lovely card

it says: “Get Betr”. Im workin’ on it, I don’t know how long I can live on this low/no fat diet; I need cheese! (And chocolate) I go to the Dr. Tomorrow so hopefully they will have good news for me.