Ho Ho Ho

We had our ward Christmas Breakfast on Saturday , Rich usually works Saturday morning, so he wasn't planning on attending, in fact, he left our house early to get a jump on things at work. Just as I was loading the kids into the car to head over to the party, I got a call from our sweet bishop, who sounded FRANTIC! Santa had called in sick...was Rich available? I laughed and made a quick call. Rich is a sport, he headed right over to save the party!! We had a nice time and enjoyed a great breakfast and just as they announced that Santa was on his way, John began to scream! (I know you are all shocked!) Before Santa even made his grand entrance, MY SON WAS HYSTERICAL! It is really so embarrassing! It is rare when this child isn't screaming! Kirk thought the whole thing was a riot! He asked Santa for Pretty Ponies...the stinker! He thinks he is so funny! (so do I!) I had Ruby go before John so he could see that Santa was harmless! Ruby asked Santa for Nintendo DS games, she is such a believer, had no idea who was in that Santa Suit! Although later that day she said, "Mom, Santa's glasses look just like Daddy's!" All I could say was, "NO WAY!!" She is too cute! John was terrified but I made Hannah plop him down on Santa's knee anyway. Every toddler needs a picture with Santa, even if he is scarred for life, right? Rich tried to calm him down and said his name over and over again. Just when John was starting to relax, he turned to get another look at "Santa" and he FREAKED out...the double take was priceless, HE SCREAMED OUT LOUD, imagine a horror movie scream, I think Sister Niblett may have peed her pants! I KNOW that I am going to burn in hell...but I thought it was so funny, that I dragged him over to Santa AGAIN, just to see if he could figure this whole thing out...NOPE!! John couldn't even bring himself to look Santa in the eye! He was a mess...the whole ward enjoyed the entertainment though! I now I have some repenting to do!! I know I am a horrible Mother, don't waste your time sending me hate mail! Don't worry John, someday you will do the very same thing to YOUR kid! I hope you all have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS filled to the brim with family and friends! (and good food too!!) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO Heather

What a nightmare!

I have been trying to get a fun picture of the kids for a Christmas card for WEEKS!(Sometimes I wonder, WHY DO I BOTHER??) I thought for sure I would be able to do it today...CHECK this out and please as you are laughing, try and give me just a little bit of sympathy...if you don't get a Christmas card from me this year, IT IS ALL JOHN'S FAULT!! Isn't he just ADORABLE?

A date with John

Rich and I have been taking turns taking the kids out for some quality one on one time...it has been so fun! Kirk and I went out last weekend and I didn't get a photo of our night, but we had a ball. We started our night by seeing Madagascar 2 and then doing some Christmas shopping together and then finishing our date off by filling our bellies at IHOP. It was a great night! I love you Kirk! Here is picture of me and John before heading out for our date! WE WERE EXCITED! John and I got to go see Sesame Street Live together. I got such a kick out of watching him take it all in! I was in heaven! Of course we HAD to buy a souvenir and OF COURSE, John chose an ELMO doll! He didn't let go of it all night! We even had to buckle him in a seat belt on the way home! TOO CUTE! JOHN, YOU ARE A FUN DATE!! We will have to do it again sometime! I LOVE YOU PAL!

BUSTED!!

Need a good laugh? The other day, when we were walking home from school, Ruby suddenly remembered she was mad! We were chatting happily, when she suddenly scowled at me and said, "Mom! My picture from the tooth fairy is fake!!" I still am not sure if she was placing the blame on me...but she went on to say, "my friend in class was on youtube and found the same picture, that it is NOT THE REAL TOOTH FAIRY! Do you understand Mom?" I really didn't...was I in trouble here? I am not sure, maybe she thinks the actual tooth fairy ripped her off. I told her maybe the tooth fairy didn't want anyone to know what she REALLY looked like. I'm not good under pressure, what would you have done? Okay people, how many first graders surf youtube? I was laughing so hard that I thought I might pee my pants, however, I didn't want Ruby to know it! Tricky business folks! Here is Ruby's "fake tooth fairy picture!" I know, I know, it is bad, but I desperate! I was tired! I just wanted to go to bed! Don't judge me! Can I make a confession? I kind of want that wand...check it out! :)

Let the madness begin!

I know the holiday season is upon us, but for some reason we are having a tough time getting things started around here! For example, we couldn't find an evening this week when we would ALL be home to decorate our tree. How sad is that? We don't even have teenagers yet! OH MY! GOT NOG???? Anyway, we were all excited to get the tree up, so as a fam, we decided that those who could be there would help Mom decorate the tree. Hannah watched from near by but had a project she needed to get down before swim team/young womens...wednesdays are CRAZY for her! So she worked on homework and drank her egg nog while Kirk, John, Ruby and I decorated the tree. We had fun EVEN THOUGH Dad and Hannah couldn't join us. We broke out the egg nog and cranked on the Christmas tunes. I had more fun watching the kids pull out each ornament and FIGHT, I mean, debate about who it belonged to and where it was from than I did actally decorating the tree. John was fascinated with each ornament and gave almost all of them a hug and a kiss! TOO CUTE! We started in the afternoon and with all the "kid shuffling" and dinner in the way, we didn't finish until 8pm. Pretty funny! Ruby and I were the only ones left in the end. Here we are celebrating! What a project and what a beautiful tree!