It's beginning to look a a lot like Christmas

Well, it is snowing this morning...I am glad I don't have anywhere to go. I do have a dresser/nightstand that i am painting that is still not done that I need to go get out of the snow. Parley is finally getting teeth 8 and 9 and one is a molar so he is feverish and laying on me. I think that it is a day to watch a ton of movies and make chicken noodle soup. So, I am not sure if I am done with Christmas or not. I went and get everyone socks and underwear (it was NEEDED) and that about did the budget in. We went into the mountains on Sat and got the best tree. It was really fun. We didn't put it up because someone was coming to look at the house. So we put it up yesterday. The kids loved it, and Mike realized that he needed to "let go" of his christmas light and tree obsession. They did a great job. We are tenitively planning on Idaho for Christamas, but neither Mike or I are in the mood to travel for a long time. We will see what happens. It is ultimatley his decision since it is his family, oh yeah, and because he is the head of the home (I sometimes think it is me, my bad) so I am guessing it will be a no. I am definately the more adventurous one.

Update

I don't know why I haven't been in the blogging mood. Katie came into our bed this morning at 6:30 wet, scared because she thought Jeffrey had left...where to, I don't know. So now I am up, and too lazy to start the day. I can't remember the last time she came in to our bed, and the past two weeks she has been wetting the bed again. I think Santa last night was the reason for being scared. She didn't sit on his lap, but she leaned against him with Mr. P in her arms. That is the closest she has been since she was a baby. Jeffrey said he wants a horse that poops for Christmas, Katie a puppy with not long hair and Savannah a candy cane. I think Bana will be the only happy person Christmas morning. I am ready for it to snow so I can get in the mood and get the remaining presents. I still have to do stockings. Michael's family has some really neat traditions for christmas, and I have always loved my families traditions, and we have found ways to incorporate them both. It makes for a very special holiday season. We have only put up one tree in the past four years. The children are old enough now and I am out of my scroogeness thata I am ready to celebrate. We are planning on going to Idaho for Christmas....but I really don't want to think about getting in the car again. Yesterday I was going to go to volleyball and them grocery shopping. I got all the kids in the car...started looking for the keys. They weren't on the key hook and I knew Mike had them from when we drove home. I gave him a call and sure enough they were in his pocket, and he was in Roosevelt. So much for leaving the house. Then last night when we left for the ward party, I realized that I really hadn't wanted to be in the car again so soon. I get a little traumatized with long drives, and being int he car. Since Maryann was with us, she sat in Katie's seat and Katie sat next to Jeffrey in the back. We remembered why we don't have them sitting next to each other in the car. Kansas was really wonderful. We got to do so many fun things, and just enjoy family. The Zoo was a highlight, the kids favorite part was the one orangatang sp? We went on a carasoul we drive through the lighted park. Liberty Jail and Independance Visitor Center. I can't get enough of those places. We went Sunday afternoon, and we were pretty much the only ones there. It was a nice way to go. I got a Ducati ride with Casey...he took me on the freeway...scary! We even hit two thrift stores and I got some books and.....an awesome wagon for Jeffrey for his birthday. We have been planning on getting him one for about 6 months, and it was so cool and such a good deal.....I made Mike make it fit with out Jeff finding out. We went to the parade at night. The weather was perfect, the kids were pretty good too. Topeka is such a neat town, the houses there got me in the Christmas mood. They are...Charming, I think that is the perfect word to describe them. Well, the kids must have heard the keys of the key board and are waking up nice and early. At least that means they will go to bed early.

On our trip home
Liberty Jail One of the few pictures to verify that I was on the trip too

Ice Cream time!
Oz country

Photos

Kansas

Our visit with Grandma Jo and Great Grandma Ray

This is us "working" on the house.

The Purchase....

I haven't been in the mood to blog...sorry. My purchase was 8 silver (on clearance rack) double hook over the door hooks. And this is why I bought them......my kids are much better at hooking up a towel rather than hanging up a towel. So I am going to put 4 on a nicely painted two by four and hang it on the wall in their bathroom. There they can hang up their personal towel (that saves me a lot of laundry) when they are done bathing. I am not sure if I am getting more lazy, or efficient...but I am finding a lot of ways to cut down on repetative cleaning , picking up ect...

A Special Purchase

Last night I bought something for the new house. I haven't bought anything for it, and try not to make plans or get my hopes up. But last night I saw something and knew I NEEDED it for the new house. I convinced Mike and we bought it! Okay, I was going to write what it was...but I want you to guess. Make you guess and write it int he comment box and i'll post a picture of my purchase in a couple of days.

no news is good news....

I have so many things that I want to post about...but time is rare these days. It is stormy and I want to stay cozy all day. The kids are enjoying a special treat right now...Sid the Science Kid.First of all here are a couple of pictures. My boys, and Bana with the darling hat her Aunties made for her..she loves it. They have started making these. Down at the Otter Creek Homestead things are going well. Mike and I picked out the texturing yesterday...we didn't know what we were doing. I still can't believe the sheet rock got hung in one day!! It made me realize how much faster it would go if we hired it out...and how much more expensive!! So...my tam rocked at volleyball last week,. I think that we finally found our groove and how to play together. It was AWESOME!! I got asked to teach a Truffle class for another ward in the stake. It is in Nov. I am so excited, it really is something I enjoy doing, but definately need an excuse to do it. Mike's boss came out to visit last week. It was the first time he has been out here in the almost three years Mike has worked here. Mike said it was really good having him here. They looked for a new building...hooray! He also told Mike about a training in Nov, so I think we will take a little couple time then. We are going to Kansas for Thanksgiving to visit the Gile Family. We are all REALLY excited for that. It has been a long time since we took the kids on a trip. As usual, it will be too short, but fun. Well, that is about it..gotta get my day started.