The Day of Rest...Yeah Right!?!

Today started as any typical Sunday goes. Everyone got up. Got breakfast and started getting ready for church. We even got out the door on time so we could go set up Primary before Sacrament Meeting. Oh how short lived that plan was today.

As I was going to put my bags down in the Chapel to save our rows, Joe had the boys in the Primary room helping set up chairs. Jared took it upon himself to run full speed into the big heavy wooden door. Bang! and we have instant goose egg in the middle of his forehead. So we packed everyone back into the car and headed for the nearest Urgent Care to make sure he didn't have a concussion.

The first Urgent care wasn't open (Phx Children's Urgent Care on Higley doesn't open until 12 on Sundays, in case you are ever in the need). So we headed across the freeway and past the Gateway Hospital to another Urgent Care. 30 mins later we were headed back home. No concussion, just an amazing bump, swelling and bruising. Joe stayed home with him for the rest of Church just to be safe and I took the boys back for Primary. By the way, the red cut is from an earlier bump into the garage door. I think he is going to be the kid who hits his head on everything. Maybe we need to invest in a helmet?

This is what he looked like when we got home from the Urgent Care.

I don't know why he thinks he has to stick out his tongue for every picture lately.

He sure has some beautiful blue eyes...and a nice blue goose egg to go with it! This is what it looked like 2 hours later, after church.

And a side view to see the nice bump.

Mission Impossible

So tonight I was on a mission. Que the music... I was in search of an unwanted Christmas tree. I needed one for a project I am working on, not the whole tree just the trunk. And I figured the best and cheapest way to get a tree trunk was to wait until after Christmas and get one of the left over/unwanted Christmas trees, FREE. I even made my husband assist me in this quest.

See, we don't have a real Christmas tree. Not because we don't like them. Not because of the additional cost. But because Christmas trees set off Tyler's allergies. Therefore, we have a prelighted tree that doesn't cause anyone to get sick.

We started at the Home Depot, we were there already for some other things so I asked around about the old trees. Ahh, but we were too late. They had already recycled them. So on to the corner lot in front of Safeway. Darn if the gate wasn't locked. So I got the bright idea to go to the recycle center for our neighborhood...also know as the police substation. Bingo! Trees! No locks on the gate!! If only that police car wasn't there. But don't you worry, I just waited and pretended to read the information on the signs until he left. I found a perfect tree, in the back corner of course. After much pulling and pushing I was able to free the tree, and it was a big one.

So we put it in the back of the truck and brought it home...cut off the bottom 3 feet...trimmed all the branches from the trunk...loaded up the unused portions of tree...and took that all back to the recyle substation. Mission Complete!! You will have to wait until a future post to learn what I'm making. I can't tell you...it's a suprise!

Just know that my ever supportive husband kept singing, "Bad boys, Bad boys, whata gonna do...." He also kept telling Aaron and Jared in the back seat to say goodbye to mommy, cause "she's gonna get arrested for stealing a Christmas tree!" I'll have you know I returned most of that tree right back to where I got it from. No harm, No foul!

P.S. I think I too am allergic to Christmas trees. After climbing through the pile to get the one I wanted, my nose started running and I started sneezing and now my hands are red and itchy where I handled them! The things I will do for a Free tree trunk.

Christmas Eve Cookies

Every Christmas Eve we make and decorate cookies. This serves 2 purposes.

1 - Keep the boys busy making a fun dessert that they love

And 2 - Cookies for Santa!

The big debate is which cookies to leave out for Santa. Usually we leave 2 cookies, however, this year Aaron thinks his cookies should be left while older brothers have a different plan in mind. Either way Santa will have delicious cookies left for his visit. I hope he comes soon!

Just getting started decorating... Jacob loves decorating cookies.

Tyler likes it too, even though the picture says differently!

Aaron just kept asking for more frosting. MMmmmm, those are going to be some yummy cookies!

Once Jared figured out what to do, there was no stopping him. He wanted every sprinkle and every color frosting.

I even got in on the cookie decorating.

These are Aaron's final product. Don't they look sooo good?

Here's what we have left. There is nothing like Christmas cookies.

Merry Christmas!

Gingerbread Houses

Today we built and decorated gingerbread houses. We are not the best builders, but we made a good attempt. The best part about this...I bought 2 kits so Jacob and Tyler worked on 1 while Aaron worked on his own. Therefore, no fighting over who gets to put what where.

Aaron could not wait to decorate his house. Hence the sliding decorations and needed props to hold the roof on.The house that Aaron built. Not bad for a a 4 year old. He was happy, so I was happy. He did it all by himself.
Jacob and Tyler worked on their own house. Not bad!

Aaron could not wait to eat his gingerbread man.

Tyler got a little green while applying the green roof.

So I wanted a good picture of the boys with their houses.

Here is attempt # 1.

I don't know how Tyler does it, but he always has a few weird faces.

Attempt #2: Again with Tyler

Attempt #3:

We have a winner.

Dad came in and made faces at the boys to get them to relax.

Such a great looking group of boys. And really cool houses.

2 more days to keep them entertained. Wish me luck.

Ward Christmas Party Pictures

Here are the pictures that were taken at the Ward Christmas Party. Not a bad picture of the family with Santa. The terror on Jared's face is priceless and Aaron was just trying to get as far away from Santa as he could. Tyler is our brave one and Jacob thinks everything is lame. But we are together and that's what counts.Tyler and Mom at the Nativity dress up.

I love the look on Tyler's face as he looks at me with this silly crown on.

More Birthday Hoopla

Aaron has spent the day asking me when I am going to call my friends to invite them over for my birthday party. Well, my parents are all that got invited and they are the ones that actually called and asked to come by. My Mom baked me a chocolate cake and thanks to the candles my children gave me as a present earlier today, we sang and blew out candles. Here are a few pictures from my "party". Although before my parents got to our house Aaron informed me that we needed a pinata or it's not really a party. Maybe next year?! Yes, you read those numbers right. I will admit that I turned 37 today...EEEEeeek! Where does time go?

These are the birthday decorations that Aaron demanded Dad put up for my party.

And of course, my roses. Joe gets me red roses for my birthday...and any other day he feels I need roses. This year he came home with 24 of them. Talk about spoiling me. I have a great husband.

Today it's MY Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Me!!! Happy Birthday to Me!!! Happy Birthday to MEeeeee!!! Happy Birthday to Me!!!

After church Joe got all the boys together and presented me with my Birthday presents. He got me some new workout clothes, lotions from Bath & Body Works and the best present ever!!! My very own Mother's ring. It has all the birthstones of my 4 boys. Isn't it beautiful! I Love It!! I have been wanting one for quite a while and Joe did a wonderful job picking it out. Yes, I gave him a brochure with my favorite picked out and he did a marvelous job of finding me that ring. My poor boys have pinks and reds for birthstones, which didn't make them very happy. It goes in order in case you are wondering. Jacob is the pink, Tyler the ruby, Aaron the emerald and Jared the garnet. All my boys! Did I say I love it? Well, I do.
So....1 more time...Happy Birthday Dear Sherri! Happy Birthday to Me!

Let 's get creative...

Jacob has been at it again. Thanks to a 1/2 day of school, he had the afternoon to get creative. He disappeared for about an hour and came out with this really cool Lego airplane. It had bombs that shot off of it and a guy in the cockpit. He is really getting good at making Lego creations. I know! Pretty cool! Later he created an anti aircraft machine gun to help shoot down enemy planes. (His words, not mine.) He is obsessed with military stuff.

Breakfast with Santa

We attended our Hawes Ward Breakfast with Santa Party this past Saturday. It was a really great turnout. They had cinnamon rolls and egg casseroles for breakfast. Afterwards we went around to 4 different rooms. There was Santa's Workshop, Pictures with Santa, The Nativity & a Service room. Here are a few pictures we took. Jared really enjoyed the cinnamon rolls...he ate mine too.

We went to the Santa's workshop first. Here the boys made reindeer pencil toppers.
I don't know what is with Jared and his tongue, but he loves to pose this way lately.
Next was the Nativity room. Tyler was the only brave one to dress up. So I dressed up with him. He makes a pretty cute shepherd.

Thanks to Doug Beebe, I was some kind of green shiny wise person...I guess. It was all in fun.

Then Doug added the crown. And he told me it looked good. See if I ever trust Doug Beebe again!

This is Jared and Aimee Asay, friends in the ward. They are wearing their prized white elephant gifts...t-shirts with pictures of Kea & Nikki Enos' prom picture from 1995.

This is Jessica and her sister Dani. Jessica is our favorite babysitter.

We did stop to see Santa, but didn't get a picture on our camera. I'm hoping they will be posted on the Ward website and I can tranfer one here later. Tyler was the only one who went up to Santa. Jared and Aaron said no way and Jacob has decided he is too big to sit on Santa's lap. We did drag them up for the family photo with Santa and I can't wait to see their expressions. Of course on the way home, Aaron decided he was ready to see Santa and asked to go back for another try. We told him Santa already saw him and knows what he wants for Christmas. So he will just have to wait till next year to sit on Santa's lap. Hard knocks life...lesson learned.

Temple Lights

Tonight we went as a family to see the Mesa Temple Christmas Lights. It was a perfect night to go. The weather was cool enough for a jacket but not freezing. The crowds were not bad either. We decided to go after the 7:30 concert and I think that was a great idea. Jared was so funny this time. When we first walked up, he started with a high pitched "WOW"! Then there were many giggles as we walked and he literally jumped for joy! Really, he was jumping with excitement. As Jared walked the steps, he had many YEAH's and WEEE's. It was utter joy! And I don't think there is a better way to enjoy the Temple lights. I hope he never grows out of it. I did not take this picture. But I thought it was a pretty one of the lights.

We are on a roll!

Jared is doing great sleeping in the big boy bed. He goes down easily and has been staying in bed, even when I leave him before he is asleep. I have still been lying down with him for his nap, but partially that is so I get a quick snooze. And I stay in at night for a few minutes, but as soon as Aaron drifts off...which takes less than 10 mins...I'm out of there. Last night Jared sat up when I got up. I told him, "Stay in bed and go to sleep like a big boy." Kissed him and closed the door down. I checked on him about 20 mins later and he was sound asleep. So, we have officially passed this milestone. Now if only he would take an interest in potty training! Goal set for Summer 2010 potty mastery! Wish us luck.

Day 2 = Success

Jared made it through day 2 without the crib. Nap and bedtime in the big boy bed. YEAH! I took down the crib. YEAH! Now the trick is to get him to lay down and stay down without me having to lay down with him...baby steps. We will get there. He is doing great. My baby is so grown up!

He did it!

He did it...he finally really did it! Jared not only took a nap in his big boy bed yesterday, he also slept through the night in it! Given, I had to lay down with him for about 30 mins last night. But I don't care. Day 1 = success! I haven't taken the crib down yet...just in case...but I am really thinking about taking it down. My goal is to have it packed away by this weekend. Wish us luck. I can't believe he did it!

We must be doing something right...

Today, Tyler made us very proud. All by himself he went up to the pulpit in Sacrament meeting and bore his testimony. This was a first for our family. It was short and very sweet, just like Tyler. He is such a good boy and becoming a wonderful example. So, we must be doing something right!

Thanksgiving

Grandma showing the boys how to make the cookie turkeys.Aaron gives it a try.
Tyler loved making turkeys. I think he made about 5 of them.

Jared the turkey stealer. He thought they tasted really good.

Our 2009 Family Photo

Jared out playing football.

Tyler, Joe, Jared & Jacob playing catch.

Grandpa was out taking pictures of all the fun.

My brother Galen and his friend Julia and her son Sheldon. Sheldon was a good sport playing with my boys.

After roasting marshmallows/s'mores.

So I decided since it's officially December, I better get my Thanksgiving pictures and post up before I get too involved in Christmas stuff and never get around to it. This year for Thanksgiving we went to Grandma & Papa Hastings' cabin. Joe took Wednesday off work and we took the kids out of school and left Wednesday morning. It was cold in the mountains, or atleast Arizona cold. It was in the 50's when we got there. Just crisp enough for a jacket.

My parents came up later that afternoon. I made taco soup in the crock pot and had it hot and waiting. The highlight of our first night was my foster sister Charlotte stopped by the cabin on her way from New Mexico to Phoenix. She had with her her brother, Robert, and her 2 kids as well as another teenage boy (I think a cousin). They finished off the taco soup and I don't know how many cheese crisps. It was nice to see her and have her meet all my boys. The last time Joe & I saw Charlotte was a about 4 years ago on our way home from Colorado.

On Thursday, Galen came down from Snowflake with his friend Julia and her son Sheldon. Grandmas Hastings got the boys involved making cookie turkeys while our turkey dinner cooked. They had a blast making these fun treats. Jared loved eating them as fast as he could. We had to hide the completed turkeys because we kept finding them with bites taken out of the cookies. We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving feast and then played catch with the football with the boys. In all it was a relaxing and fun Thanksgiving. Just a small affair, which was a nice change. All my other brother and sisters were with their in-laws this year, hence the small affair.

On Friday we did as much lounging and relaxing as is possible with 4 energy filled boys. We roasted marshmallows that night in the fireplace and made s'mores. Yum!

We are so grateful we were able to go to the cabin this year for Thanksgiving. It was a quick yet fun vacation. Hopefully and tradition to continue throughout the years.