Christmas Memory--30 second Santa Claus...

To those who may still be reading my blog (thanks by the way!): I was reading posts back from the beginning of this blog and thought I'd repost this since we did just finish with Christmas. It made me laugh and yes, we did go to the mall this year! I'll be back soon, after having taken my blog sabbatical, but until then...enjoy! 

Found this on SketchySantas.com and it seemed fitting...

Ok, so yesterday I had the brilliant idea that I would take the kids to see Santa. We see the same Santa at the same mall every year. I've always told my kids that this one is the REAL Santa and the rest are just helpers. So I go through all the trouble of throwing the little darlings in the car with the hopes of getting just one good pic of all three with Old St. Nick. Half way there I realize I forgot my camera. (Insert faux swear word!) We get there, meet my Mom and she tells me she brought her camera. Yeah! We hit the North Pole and there's no line! Yippee!!! HOWEVER-There is a sign that says no personal pics are allowed. WHAT!? But of course they would be happy to take them for me for the low price of $20.00 for 2 5x7's. I could get like, well, 20 5x7's for 20 bucks at Wal-Mart. Now call me old fashioned but how hard is it to just let a parent take a little snap shot of their crying baby on Chris Cringle's lap? So I tell the Kiddie Kandids' Chick dressed like an Elf no thanks and usher the kids in. Santa sits one older kid on each side (what's the use in subjecting The Pea to the age old toddler inflicted horror of the White Bearded One if I can't capture it for posterity) and in about 30 seconds flat asks them what they want, gets their answer and tells them he'll see what he can do, then moves them along with a story book. They leave a bit shell shocked to be honest. The Pirate turns to me and says, "That's it? That was boring!" I felt bad. They look forward for months and then don't even get the courtesy of being asked if they've been naughty or nice! Oh, and to top it all off? I was informed by The Princess that Santa had garlic breath! How about an after lunch candy cane Santa?

Next we move onto Things Remembered with my Mom to get a Christmas Ornament for my brother's baby and I proceed to tell The Pirate no less than 20 times to stop running around, stop hanging on me, stop playing chicken with the Christmas train that keeps driving laps around the mall corridors and most of all stop stretching his shirt over his knees and hopping around like a hobbit while I try to focus enough brain power on helping my Mom pick out the ornament and also keep The Pea entertained because she has now decided that she will not sit peacefully in her stroller like she usually does but instead wants to be held and is determined to touch ever shiny silver object on the counter top in front of her (whew!). Alas, we survive and bid the Things Remembered employee adeu. At this point, all though technically The Pirate does not deserve a ride on the Christmas train, I figure it will buy me a good 5-7 minutes of peace and I happily allow my very generous Mother to buy tickets for it. I place The Pea on the lap of The Princess, threaten The Pirate if he even thinks about standing up during the trip and remind them to keep their hands inside the ride at all times. I then wave giddily as they drive off. I proceed to spend the next 5 minutes taking deep cleansing breaths and dreaming of the darling pink dress I saw at Dillards (that I can't justify buying) that would look so cute on The Pea. Yeah so, 5 minutes goes REALLY fast!

So now I'm thinking I can still salvage the day with lunch. My kids LOVE eating at the mall. They always get The Village Pizzeria. Spaghetti for The Pirate and Ziti for The Princess. Throw in more bread sticks than any two children should consume in one meal and you've got a meal made in heaven! We get our food, sit down and I start cutting spaghetti. I think, "Hey, The Pirate never finishes his spaghetti. I'll give The Pea some and I won't have to spend more dough on something for her." The first three bites go well. Then she decides to help. You know the drill. You're trying to get the food to the toddlers mouth and a power struggle ensues. I tried to get the fork away before she could drop the contents and she decides to flip the thing and spaghetti splatters EVERYWHERE! She honestly looked like she had been in a food fight. It was all over her face, her clothes, in her eyes, and all over her stroller (where's the camera now?). I have to admit. I put my face in my hands and just sat for a minute. To cry or not to cry... You'd be proud, I didn't cry. I cleaned her up then went and stood in line for a ridiculously long time to get her a corn dog that she would eat roughly 3 bites of. Better have been some darn tasty bites! During all of this my sweet Mother had gone and got me lunch. I sat down to eat while listening to The Pirate ask for quarters repeatedly. I finally threatened to never give him another quarter as long as he lived (which at this point was looking like a mighty short time) and tried to enjoy my Charlie's Steakery. After a few minutes Grandma came to the rescue and gave them money for the carousel and the claw machine and I finished up my Chicken Philly.

By this time I was more than ready to go but my Mom offered ice cream and a sista needs ice cream at a time like this! The Pirate decided to pull out the spoiled rotten act and pout about the lack of Oreo ice cream cones at Dairy Queen but quickly apologized when faced with the alternative of no ice cream at all and gratefully accepted a vanilla cone. I didn't want to rush my Mom so I agreed to go to Bath and Body Works where she needed to buy a gift. Besides, if I ever needed aromatherapy today was the day! We were there about ten minutes and I think The Pirate had been told to get out of the middle of the teetering display shelves three times. He and The Princess had sprayed probably 5 different perfumes on themselves and The Pea was started a full scale meltdown. My poor Mom made her purchase and we hightailed it outta there!

Well, that was the end. We made our way to the car, hugged Grandma goodbye and I instructed them to get in the car through gritted teeth. The ride home was quiet. I think they were a teensy bit afraid of me. Hmmm...go figure.

Honestly, my kids are great kids-usually. What is it that brings out the worst in them sometimes? I admit, I did have a picture in my head of how I had wanted the day to go. But really? The Pirate is always some level of a spaz but this time he was in rare form. The Pea is famous for her peaceful disposition and willingness to happily sit in her stroller for long periods of time. Uh, not today. And The Princess hardly ever misbehaves out in public and even she had to be reprimanded a few times. I tell you, I shoulda dragged those 3 back to Santa at the end of that trip and demanded he ask the naughty or nice question and then whipped out my personal camera and taken a pic of Mr. Bowl Full of Jelly right in front of Elf girl and let her do with that what she wanted!

I think next year we'll skip the mall...

My Boy Got Baptized!

So a couple of Fridays ago I woke up to a sweet little face about 3 inches from mine asking, "Can you believe your baby boy is getting baptized tomorrow?!" It was my cute Thomas and he was beside himself with excitement over the fact that he would be baptized the next day. I had teased him a few weeks before, when he had turned 8, that I couldn't believe that my baby boy was growing up. It was too funny that he had actually remembered that!

The next day he literally jumped out of bed when I woke him up and said it was time to get ready. We ran around the house like crazy people (as usual) trying to get everyone ready on time. I made him pose for a few pics before we left.

We actually arrived at the Stake Center on time and Matt and T went to change into their very stylish jumpsuits. We had a lot of really wonderful family and friends who showed up to support T and it meant so much to us. Especially because my brother is living in India right now and my sister just moved so we were short by two families. It was really fun too to have so many of Thomas's good friends from our cul-de-sac there for him. We really are so blessed to have such a fabulous group of families with young kids around us! Even Nikki came from Idaho! T's best friend/cousin Jordan was brave enough to give a talk on Baptism and his Grandma Elaine was kind enough to give a talk on the Holy Ghost having been asked to do so by T a few weeks ago. Matt's talented sister Tara played the piano for us and my mom and I gave the opening and closing prayers at T's request.

One of the best parts of the event outside of the baptism itself was when Madison played a piano solo of "When I Am Baptized". She did so good! She has always hated performing and would have anxiety attacks when she was put on the spot. Now that she has gotten more confident in her piano playing it has given her more confidence all around and she was able to get up at that piano and play beautifully....I WAS SO PROUD!

Seeing T get baptized was so great! I always feel the spirit so strongly when I watch one of my kids willingly make the decision to do something they know is right. The Grandpas acted as witnesses to make sure all ten toes and every strawberry-blonde strand of hair stayed under the water. Matt confirmed him, giving him a beautiful blessing, and he was OFFICIAL!

After the baptism we went to Olive Garden with our families (except for Jordan's family because he had a big football game he had to play in...and he WON!!! Go Jordan!!!!). Thomas had been looking forward to lunch almost as much as the baptism itself! He loves their breadsticks and he is obsessed with their fries! That's right. French fries. At Olive Garden...don't ask. When we sat down at our table I put Emilia in the high chair which highly offended her! She spent the next 15 minutes looking down at her lap with a fat pouty lip but her pride wouldn't let her cry in front of all of those people...hilarious!

The day turned out really great and at the end of it all I was a little sad that it was all over. I missed our family members and friends who couldn't be with us but I was so thankful for those who could.

Well, another milestone's passed and before I know it my baby boy will be going on a mission. First we gotta get him to eat something other than chicken fingers and fries though or he's never gonna survive! One milestone at a time...

My Favorite Things...

Just for laughs...

Antidepressants and cold chocolate cake

Chilled Diet Coke and meals I didn't make

Big shiny gems on my cute silver rings

These are a few of my favorite things...

Cheese on my fries and a dark shade of red

Reading a book before going to bed

A really hot guy on the White Collar series

These are a few of my favorite things...

When the kids fight

And when Matt's right

I get really mad!

I'll simply remember my favorite things 

And then I won't feel...

So bad! 

P.S. I love you honey-not my favorite criminal...don't worry!

But ya gotta admit...he is kinda cute!





       

The Flu Strikes Again!

So I mentioned in my previous post of emotional vomit that my kids have been sick right? Well it gets better! On Saturday night Em woke up with a fever and when I took her to the InstaCare on Sunday morning, low and behold she had an ear infection...well of course she did! Then in the wee hours of Tuesday morning the flu bug that Madison has had hit ME! Yesterday was A.W.F.U.L. My wonderful mom came over and took care of Em for me and when she wasn't here helping, Matt and the older two picked up the slack. Today is better but I'm still not feeling great and I've got things to do! I don't have time for this! Honestly, I think that once us women receive "Mom Status" we should become immune to all illnesses!

P.S. Hopefully in the next few days I will get a real post up here for you! Until then enjoy this (with a tissue)...



The Gift Of An Ordinary Day from Katrina Kenison on Vimeo.









  

Yep, still here...

I've had a few people ask me about my lack of posts lately so I figured I would get on here and let you know that, yes, I am still alive. I've been in a bit of a funk I think. My sister left and I miss her something fierce! My kids have been sick off and on, especially Madison and we have been trying to get to the bottom of what is causing her ongoing stomach pain. T is getting baptized tomorrow and I have been running around crazy-style trying to get everything we need for that and the invitations made and printed, then emailed out but never mailed because well, things were crazy. In the middle of everything I hurt my already painful back and that has slowed me down and made things harder. My sweet mom has helped me out SO MUCH this past week starting at a moments notice when I called and asked her to come get Em out of her crib after nap time because I literally could not stand up! *sigh*


It's funny how when a few things are stressful in life, it makes everything take on a negative feeling. I am discouraged that my back is once again making every day life harder and slower. The house falls apart because the simplest chores are painful and then I start to think about how unorganized I am and feel like a failed homemaker. I get frustrated and sad when I cannot help my child who is crying in pain in the middle of the night with stomach pain. I start to wonder if it is because, well honestly, I have not been the most diligent mother when it comes to teaching my children about nutrition and I worry that due to my negligence her stomach is suffering because I feed her too much junk. Then the paranoid side of me kicks in and I worry that it is something really serious that I am missing. Either way, I feel that I am failing as a mother. The feeling intensifies when I cannot pick up Em when she is begging me, "Carry you! Carry you!" at the store because my back hurts so bad and when T brings home his report card and I see that he is struggling with math and I have a sneaking suspicion that it is because I am not usually on top of him when it comes to homework and frequently just ignore it with all of the rest of the chaos going on each day after school.

When it comes to T getting baptized I have tried really hard to make sure everything is ready, from making invites (but not mailing them-FAIL) to buying him new dress shirts and ties to buying him a gift and making sure that we have a picture of him for display on the special day. Of course, then the guilt sets in because when Madison got baptized I was REALLY pregnant and miserable with Em and a lot of things fell through the cracks. We bought her a beautiful white dress but I didn't make invites. I didn't get her a gift because my pregnant brain didn't think about it. I forgot the camera and so I had to rely on others for pics and I wish I had the ones that I can see in my mind now. I guess I just don't want her to think that she is/was any less special...

Matt is planning on going to his Dad's house all day after the baptism to watch the day's BYU and Jazz games and instead of being excited for him to have a much deserved break and some time with his Dad, I got irritated and jealous that he was leaving for so long and I let it show when I responded in frustration to his plans. I know that he works SO HARD for our family and he really enjoys this season of sports each year and he totally deserves a fun break. Why can't I just be a good wife and be happy that he has the opportunity to relax for a little while?!

Have I mentioned that I ate Ben and Jerry's...TWICE...this week? How's that diet going you ask? Yeah.

That brings us back to this here blog. Each day I think about writing something and cannot think of anything that would actually interest anyone. I want it to be fun and inspiring and instead I feel so unorganized and discouraged so I just don't write anything.

Whew. Anyway, that's where I've been. Now that I have vomited it all over the screen I'm sure that ya'll will think twice next time you think about asking why I haven't posted in a while!

PITY PARTY FOR ONE is now CLOSED!