Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope that a very special day was had by all!

Last night, we sat and wrote down a list of things that we are grateful for. I was a little surprised at some of the things that Dallin was grateful for. The first thing out of his mouth was a house. We had been listening to the Road Home telethon the other day and I was trying to explain to him that there are people who have to sleep out in the snow because they do not have a home or a bed to sleep on. I didn't think he was grasping the concept. But I guess I was wrong. Among other things he was grateful were: Christmas Tree, GameCube, the library, school, medicine and pizza. After the list was made he quickly ripped it out of the notebook and posted it up on the fridge. Then we made hot chocolate and popcorn and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks (the first one).

We had to leave hot chocolate and cookies for Santa! We didn't have any homemade, so he got oreos. I think that was ok, tho. I am pretty sure Santa digs oreos... And we couldn't just leave 1 carrot this year, but 8 since there are 8 tiny reindeer! Luckily I talked him into just 2 carrots broken up into 8 pieces... It seemed to work.

In his prayer last night, Dallin asked Heavenly Father that Santa would, "fill our stocking with goodies." I really wonder where he gets some of this stuff! I don't know that I have ever said that to him.

This morning I got up early to make Dallin some more cinnamon rolls. He wanted those and sausage for breakfast.

And what would it be if the smoke alarm didn't go off while baking???? Yet another oven fire. This oven is a piece of dung! Oh well. There is a really thick coat of baking soda on the bottom of it now. I guess I need to clean it out before baking again...

I had to check and see if Santa ate his cookies! It looks like he enjoyed them! And I KNOW he loves - absolutely LOVES - hot chocolate! So of course that was gone!


Oh and I had to make sure he left the Santa bag and stockings full of goodies...


When I went upstairs while the rolls were rising, Dallin looked at me from his bed.

He said, "Are you coming to bed yet?" I had to laugh. I told him it was morning and he was so excited! But Maggie wasn't up yet...

So Dallin and I got to snuggle and talk. I love those times with him. I love my little snugglebug. He has always been and hopefully always will be my little bug. During our conversation this morning he said, "I sure hope that Santa left me something." I asked why he would be worried about it. He said, "Because I was half on the nice list and half on the naughty list!" He makes me smile!!!!!!

When Maggie woke up, I told her that Santa had come!

She went to check out the window and started crying because he wasn't here anymore! I told her that he came in the night and that he left presents downstairs! She is hilarious!

So we went down and opened too many presents. Although how can you deny grandparents getting them the cutest dresses with matching baby dresses???

Even if they leave glitter EVERYWHERE!!!!!

Dallin was pretty pleased!


Santa left Maggie pink Legos so now she won't have to take Dallin's. And Dallin got Star Wars Legos. Talk about satisfaction to hear just Legos being put together and taken apart for 30 minutes!!!!


While they were doing that I decided to tackle the Christmas Carcass that was sitting in the living room! UGH!


Ok... maybe I will do it later. After I eat one of these babies....

I seriously am going to be sugar crashing after all these cinnamon rolls this week! Sheesh!

Then Maggie and Dallin watched a Barbie movie...

Love Christmas!!! Now we just have to go through all the old toys that don't get played with!

Tonight I decided to make my sister's Baked Potato Soup. It was a disaster! Worst soup I think I have ever made in my life!

Luckily - China Hill was open!

Unfortunately no one sang, Fa Ra Ra Ra Raaaa Ra Ra Ra Ra to me! :( Sadness.....

So here I sit - editing photos, blogging, listening to my Glee Soundtracks 1 & 2 and eating Veggie Lo Mein.....


Merry Christmas to all - and to all a great night!

Cinnamon Rolls and Gingerbread Houses

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is that it gives me a valid excuse to make these AMAZING cinnamon rolls!! Thanks PW for the recipe!!!! I made a few pans and took them into work and I think they liked them! :)

Although they weren't made without a few hiccups.... We boiled over about half of the milk while trying to scald it. So we had to start over again...

Then when it was rising... well...

It was quite the mess!

After 2 pans of regular cinnamon rolls, I decided to try and make some with mini chocolate chips.



They look like they will be really tasty!!!



I let them rise a bit much, resulting in....

a bit of a mess... again.

And after a small oven fire, we found out that cinnamon rolls with chocolate chips are really NOT that good. In fact, they are really gross :*(

But this morning we had regular ones for breakfast!

With hot chocolate in regular cups...

And I think they are a hit!


Then last night we decided to make our annual gingerbread house....


I am beginning to realize....


the importance of a good foundation....


Cause this poor thing looks great from the front....

But not the top!

And before the kids even went to bed.....

the poor thing was a complete wreck!

Well, I am going to go enjoy another cinnamon roll before hopping in the shower! Ta Ta!!!!

Heat Wave

Holy COW! I am pretty excited about this! Not only do we not have single digits for our lows, but our HIGHS are in the 40s!!!! I might actually get my car cleaned before spring!

On Sunday when I was leaving church I saw this mini-van pulling a canoe around the city streets.

It was hilarious! Kaysville doesn't plow the side streets really. They get most of the main streets but leave us poor saps to ourselves!

Until the middle of the night... When the unsuspecting residents are fast asleep....

Then they come... Like a jerk... and totally block your driveway...

And of course it's in the night so it ices up really well!

Inspired by my totally cute friend Charley, I decided to use Dallin's lego men and have some fun with the mountains of snow that I was about to hack away at...

Legoman is hiking... It kinda looks like Mt. Everest to me!

And YAE!!! He made it to the top! I wish I had a little flag he could have been standing next to!


Maggie had a bath that morning. She wanted milk or something so I told her she needed to get dressed first. This is what she came outside in while I was chipping away at my ice mountain!


And of course a police officer comes driving by while she is out in the snow in this get up~ So instead of hoping he would stop and help a girl out, I was hoping he would keep on driving so that I didn't go to jail for having my daughter outside in inappropriate clothing (as a couple just did in Utah County last week)...


Although the mother was passed out drunk on the floor and the father wasn't even home and the kids were locked outside...

So I think I would PROBABLY be ok... I love that she didn't even get the same socks on her feet!!!

Yesterday Dallin decided he needed to play with his Legomen on the mountain. It was really funny! He had them on a spoon sledding down. My camera battery died. So I didn't get any pictures :(

Terrified!

Last night I was laying in bed. About 11 pm there was a knock at my door. My stomach dropped. Then I heard the door knob rattle. I started thinking, "WHAT IF I DIDN'T LOCK THE DOOR?" I was totally freaking out. After a bit I heard the hard snow being walked on. Then my car door opened... HOLY CRAP! I forgot to lock my car. I never forget to lock my car! After another little bit the car in front of my house left. I called a friend to stay on the phone with me while I went outside to check my car. Just wanted to make sure someone knew I was dead if I got killed!

I walk outside in the freezing cold and get to my car. Open the door. On the seat was... a package of double stuff oreos... I think I know who left them, but she is denying it!!! I was never so relieved!!!! It was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life! How am I supposed to defend my children if someone were to come into my home??

Needless to say - I locked my car door. Came in the house and checked the door lock, deadbolt lock AND the chain lock. Then hopped under my down comforter! Still didn't fall asleep for several hours...

So this morning I took a shower and while I was in the shower...

an Oreo Monster broke into the house! This Oreo Monster only eats the filling of Oreos! Good thing they were DOUBLE STUFF!!!!

I wonder where else I will find naked oreos???

Maggie cracks me up!

Then after we got back from Dallin's Art class I was folding clothes upstairs. Meanwhile... the Oreo Monster struck again!

But this time, she put them all on a plate for me! Isn't that just sweet????

And totally random, here... Anyone know how to get pink dye from cardstock off a table??

The kids were letting their action figures go for a swim on the table but didn't clean it off of papers first. This pink paper got wet and left on the table. Now I have pink dye stuck to my table!!! Isn't it always SOMETHING??

Embracing the Cold

So trying to embrace the cold! Maggie and I bundled up to walk to Dallin's school today.



Sorry the quality is poor - these are from my phone...

She ate lots of snow on the way home.

I think we are going to sled down our hill today again. But I need to warm up first... Then get cold... then warm up...

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

I am not a fan of cold weather... I guess it is tolerable... Sometimes...



But this is a little bit on the extreme! On Monday the weather guy said that it was supposed to be clear up to 38 on Friday! I thought - GREAT! A hot streak! Somehow they are way off. I don't understand it... They are usually right on the mark! Hahahaaa....

I totally did NOT want to take Dallin to school. I do long for the days when my kindergarten-er was a baby still and on these unbearably cold and snowy days all we had to do was stay in the warm house!

I was really looking forward to cleaning the car this weekend without it freezing up. But it doesn't look like that is going to happen. On the way to school today, Dallin tried to get his window down. It was frozen shut. He thought it was funny. I didn't :(

Ok... Somehow I need to find a way to embrace the beautiful falling snow. Re-thinking process is starting. Maybe I can listen to fun songs like this one and get a new attitude!

Funny thing that Maggie did today...

She loves bubble baths. LOVES them... She will sit in them for over an hour if I would let her! Today she said she wanted a bubble bath. I was cleaning the kitchen and she decided that she would take matters into her own hands.

First she takes off her princess dress. Then sit down and takes off her socks. I asked her why she was taking them off. It's still a bit cold in our house. The windows don't keep the heat in very well. She said to me, "Camoss, I want them off!" I finally figured out what Camoss was. Apparently it means Because! I love figuring out her little words! Then she took off her jammies and then ripped off her diaper. Streaking through the house, she is yelling, "BUBBLE BATH!"

She is now in the bath. Love that kid!

Box, Scissors, and Markers

Today we were cleaning up a little bit and Dallin decided that he wanted to make a robot out of his new booster seat box! So I figured I would try to do it. I mean, really... How hard can it be to cut out some holes and let them have at it with the markers, right??


I am pretty sure my hole cutting skills are suffering.... The arms were WAY too high! Oh well...

It didn't stop them from having fun... For over an hour! It was so funny.


I love to see them interact with each other and laugh...

And have such wonderful sibling love for one another!!

And then have it change just like that!


But really... They do love each other.


And I love them too! More than words can say!!!

Here we go again...

Remember this??? (If not you can click on the red lettering and re-read the post!)

Poor Cinderella...

Turned into Poor Maggie walking off the woodstove...


Then Poor Drusella...


Turned into Poor Maggie sliding down our apple tree...


I am so nervous!


She did a double doozie...


Prayers are being accepted for NO BAD KARMA...

After all... It's just Cinderella again. She is just in a white dress instead of a blue one! And Snow White doesn't REALLY need 2 hands does she???

Altho I have to admit that I am traveling back in time to my brother burning and maiming his action figures... Oh how I wish that I had gotten pictures of that so I could compare them to my sweet daughter's princesses!

Jeremy used to burn and cut off limbs. Maggie simply uses her teeth and bites them off...

But she just looks so sweet, right?

(She said, "I mommy!" when she put on my glasses the other day! It was really cute!)