Christmas Tag!

Merry Christmas! If anyone has the time to answer this tag, I would love to read your answers. It's early and my girls are still asleep. I really should be wrapping presents, but this is more fun. Have I mentioned that I haven't wrapped any presents yet?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for sure. Gift bags are too pricey, especially with all the kids in my family!
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. Much easier! And I never have to string lights!
3. When do you put up the tree? A week before Thanksgiving, so I have have everything decorated before family comes for Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? I wish never. I could keep it up all year round, but usually a day or two after New Years.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yuck! No way! Never! Get the point?
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Strawberry Shortcake dolls my mom made and embroidered by hand!
7. Hardest person to buy for? This year? Hannah. I still don't have much. We already have all the little toys a baby her age could possibly want!
8. Easiest person to buy for? Olivia
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Of course, who doesn't?
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither! I'm so lame!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of anything, but Scott says that I always took back the things he gave me when we were teenagers!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Scrooged. It's a family fav!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This year? Last week. It's been rough! LOL!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can remember!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Sugar cookies
16. Lights on the tree? What else is there?
17. Favorite Christmas song? All of them.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of course. Dasher. Dancer. Prancer. Vixen. Comet. Cupid. Donner. Blitzen! And Rudolph.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? No presents on Christmas Eve (I get that from my dad) and the rest on Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The commercials on kids TV. Every toy in the world, and most of them end up breaking right after you buy them.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love bells.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey and stuffing. No one in my house likes stuffing so I never make it, but it's my favorite.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Truth? I'd really like a new counter top to go with my newly painted cupboards, but I settle for another great year to come!
26. Who do you tag? Anyone who is feeling festive!

Holiday Cooking

Olivia loves aprons. There is a little kiosk in the mall that sells aprons, and they are realy cute. I bought Olivia an apron to wear while we did our Christmas baking. We have had a lot of fun. This year we made a gingerbread house...from Costco. Have I mentioned how much I love Costco? Anyway, we had a super fun time and it turned out great!
I made pecan sandies too. Olivia rolled all the cookies in powdered sugar. I think that might have been more fun for her than the gingerbread house. We had a really fun time.

Rudolph Lives at Our House

A couple of nights ago I sent the kids out delivering neighbor gifts. Olivia really wanted to go out, so I bundled her up and sent her our with Kaden. They went to running around and Kaden ran a little faster. Olivia slipped on the ice and scraped her nose. Now we call her Rudolph. It's a good thing she has a fun personality...and I don't think she knows who Rudolph is.

On a different note, she likes to dress herself. This picture needs no explanation. Cute!

Legwarmers are back!!!

the Happiest Place on Earth

We just got back from Disneyland a couple of days ago! It was so fun. We had the best time. It was so fun to see Olivia run around this year enjoying it all. Little children make the biggest difference in the way you see everything. I think Korey could have spent all three days in "Princess-land" just to watch Olivia.
Here is a fun family picture. I was going to get pictures sent out to all our family and friends, but at the rate I am going this is all you are going to get. I think it's a great picture! Look how handsome all my boys are! Don't blow this picture up though, Olivia has a goofy face~

Here is Kaden playing the tambourine in the French Quarter at Disneyland.

Here is Goofy! Olivia ran around getting pictures and signatures of all the characters. Unfortunately, we did not see Belle or Ariel. Well, we saw them, but we didn't get pictures. It was kind of upsetting for her, but she bounced back.

Hannah pooped out every morning around 10ish. Just a little too much for one baby to handle.

On the teacups with Dad and Jake! She had tons of fun. The teacups make me sick so I'm glad someone else could take her.

All in all, we had a great time. I'm glad to be home, especially now that the laundry is done!

A Mother Is Always A Mother

Today was Olivia's birthday party, and I will display all the fun of the party another day, but I saw motherhood in action today. We had the birthday party at "Kangaroo Zoo." This is just a big room with bounce houses, two-story slides, all things that slide and bounce in giant proportion. Some mothers stayed and some mothers dropped their children off to run errands. As the party-goers ran liks maniacs all over the place, mothers play with all the children. One mother carried children on her back up the two story slide, slid down with them, and then carried them back up. And mostly not her own children. I was humbled and the way all the mothers talked so sweetly to each child. Each mother took a moment to come up to my child and give her a hug and wish "Happy Birthday." What a blessing it was to interact with those mothers today. I thank each one of them for their good example to me. I thank all mothers, we wouldn't be where we are without you! Thanks Mom!

Kitchen Renovations and Thanksgiving Dinner

Is it legal to say them in the same sentance? Well, I'm afraid I am. We are having 25 people over for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. How can I have my kitchen looking like it is (brown and black doors)? It took five months to finish the first third of my kitchen cabinets and I have three days to finish the last two-thirds. You do the math! That doesn't include the birthday party for nine three-year-olds tomorrow (and all the loot bags and errands to get ready), Olivia's birthday on Thanksgiving and seven kids with nowhere to go but home for five days straight! Why do we do these kinds of things to ourselves? Plus, I have started Weight Watchers! Maybe this is a good week to start because I dont' have time to eat anyway. A prayer of thanksgiving to Marie Callender and Costco for their help with pies and rolls. I couldn't do it without them. And good luck to all of you at this holiday season

Something About Me

I got this little post from my cousin-in-law. She tagged anyone that was interested. I decided to try it. One thing I have really started to enjoy about blogging is the information, more like fun-facts, I have started to learn about family and friends. I hope you learn something fun about me through this post.

I am: a Grey's Anatomy fan.
I know: the church is true.
I want: a housekeeper.
I have: no idea what my natural hair color is.
I dislike: eggs, beans, peanut butter, and day-old tuna.
I miss: Mark.
I feel: tired most of the time.
I hear: radios playing all night long!
I smell: boys!
I crave: Diet Coke.
I cry: when the Primary children sing.
I search: for quick and easy diets on a regular basis.
I wonder: if I'll have anymore children.
I regret: when I yell.
I love: my family.
I worry: late into the night.
I remember: cutting down Christmas trees with my Dad.
I dance: with the Backyardigans and my girls.
I don't: like to wear socks to bed, it drives me crazy.
I argue: with Olivia everyday about buckling up in the car.
I write: in my journal once a year, if I'm lucky. I'll never make it to heaven!
I win: things all the time. Just kidding, I've never won a thing.
I lose: my keys all the time.
I wish: I still used my french.
I listen: but I'm more of a talker.
I am scared: of haunted houses.
I need: a date with my husband every week or I go insane!
I forget: Korey's birthday sometimes. I really have to think about it.
I tag: anybody but my siblings. I tagged them last time and not one of them responded!