Thank You Santa!!!!!

Wow!! Did Santa ever visit our house? This is our first clue that Santa was here, a Thank you note for the cookies and a smashed Pepsi Can (yes our Santa prefers Pepsi over milk!!)

It was a fun Christmas Morning, both Karden and Whitley actually understood what you were supposed to do and loved every minute of it.They both got more toys than they needed, In the words of my 94 year old little grandma " Santa must of had his eyes closed most of the year Karden if he thought you were this good!" This is the aftermath of toys when we had finished. I should of gotten a picture before hurricanes Karden and whitley blew through the front room!

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and we are ready to see what 2009 brings!!

Too Much KSL!!

Today Karden and Whitley were fighting over a pink plastic high heel dress up shoe. Whitley had it first and Karden really wanted it. Don't ask me why, We have hundreds of dollars of toys in this house and the toy of choice is one plastic shoe from the dollar store. It wasn't even a pair. ONE SHOE!!
Karden is trying everything to get Whitley to give him the shoe. Bribery, finding other toys for her, even telling her mom will give her candy. Finally Karden has had it. He gathers up most of her dolls, her doll stroller and the closest paper he can find and scribbles something on it and puts it in the corner. When I see what he has done I ask him what the paper says " For sale: All of Whitleys toys because she won't give me the princess shoe!"
This is when you can tell that I buy and sell too much stuff on KSL!

PS- When telling Ryan this story and telling him I was putting in on the blog, he asked me to substitite the shoe for something more manly!! Sorry Honey the story just isn't the same without the shoe!!

HO, HO, HO!!!

What does Santa Claus Say? If you ask most kids the answer is
HO, HO, HO!! Whitley being 2 and not very vocal even knows what Santa says. (Just don't let that big hairy guy get too close, but that is a whole other post.) So anyways if you ask Karden what Santa says he will say. HO, HO, Ho, AND A BOTTLE OF RUM!! Were does this come from I don't have the foggiest but I have a strange feeling Grandpa Norman might be the culprit. So if you see a drunken Santa wandering the streets come Christmas Eve, send him our way.

Zoo Lights!!

The zoo + Christmas Lights= Perfect December activity.
What could be better, we headed up on Saturday night and weren't quite sure what to expect. Ryan went begrudingly, he says no normal person has already been to the zoo 4 times this year. He doesn't exactly get my fascination with the zoo. But It was great even Ryan was pleasantly surprised!!
It was so cute, and the weather was great. It was a little chilly but there was no snow. Most of the animals were off exhibit for the night but the ones you could see were very active. The kids loved all the lights, and throughout the zoo they have animated animal displays.
Karden loved the carousel and again choose to ride the praying Mantis. We are 4 for 4 on riding the praying mantis.

Whitley had other ideas and had a complete meltdown when I tried to put her on the baby hippo. We ended up sitting on the stupid little bench that doesn't move. But oh well!! She really loved the light up elephant grandma and grandpa bought her.
I highly reccommend it, it was a great night and it will become a yearly tradition. Just don't tell Ryan :)

Diabetics Beware!!

Well the Christmas tree is finally up and this years theme is "candy". My mom, sisters and I do a Christmas tree exchange and we each do one themed tree, from tree topper, ornaments to tree skirt and then each year we swap trees. So I have a different tree for 5 years before repeating themes. It is really fun. I got this one from my mom and it is really cute.
Whitley has had a hard time realizing that the candy is fake. She has taken a few bites out of they styrafoam Suckers and Karden had a blast decorating the tree, well actually it was two branches!!!!
Now my next task is to take down the Thanksgiving decorations, I know My house looks a bit strange with a turkey on the front door and christmas lights in the yard. Good think I don't work until Wednesday!!

Come See Us At The Light Parade!!!

Well Ryan has been working hard for hours on end to enter a float in this years light parade. I have to say it looks pretty darn good. This has become a tradition for Ry. He used to make a float for Oil Spout and now has moved on to Making one for his Mortgage Company. This is his 4th year in a row. That is officially how I know it is November because he starts planning out his design. If you have never been to the light parade you are missing out. It is tomorrow ( Friday), the day after Thanksgiving at 7 pm. It goes down Main street from Cal Ranch to the the ends at the city Park. All the floats are lit up and Santa usaully makes and apperance. Its a fun way to start off the Christmas season. It doesn't last very long there are usally around 30 entries. Dress warm and make sure you cheer loud for entry #15. Ps. The Float looks great Ryan, Good job!!

What a Weekend!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We have had a fun weekend! Karden had crazy hair day at preschool and thought his hair was so cool- he wanted to keep it like that all day, I had to tell him no and hide the hairspray!! :) We also went to the Gingerbread festival at Thanksgiving point. It was fun and people are so creative! The highlight of the evening for the kids was the cookies that got to decorate and them or course eat!! Saturday we had Whitleys birthday party at Chucke Cheese. It was fun to let all the cousins play together and they all had a great time and left exhausted! That was the plan because the girls left from the parking lot for some christmas shopping. We did so well, had a great time, got good deals and got alot accomplished. I can honestly say my kids are done!! Now hopefully the christmas list doesn't change. It was a fun weekend now I'm paying the price as I'm on my 5th load or laundry today. But oh well!

Happy 2nd Birthday Miss Whitley!!!

Two years ago today- our lives changed forever- we welcomed Whitley into the world!! Whitley is such a funny little girl, her giggle can make even the grumpiest person smile. Some of whitleys favorite things are Karden, Her Pink (well it used to be pink) blankie, talking on her cell phone, Grandpa and Grandma, pushing a baby in the doll stroller and "pop"! I think she has bionic ears because if she hears a pepsi can open anywere in the house she will sniff it out. We have now started to go into the garage to open a drink. We love her to pieces (even when she lays down in the middle of the floor and waits until all eyes are on her to cry.) We are very glad she is ours and wouldn't change her for the world. Happy 2nd Birthday Whitley-Bug!! We love you!

Happy 40th Anniversary!!!

Wow!! My Mom and Dad have been married for 40 years. We had a little get together with a bunch or family and friends yesterday. It was fun and I think my parents enjoyed having everyone there to celecbrate with them. The video that my brother in law arthur made was the highlight, and them just food and visiting- Congratulations mom and dad We wish you many more and thanks for the good example of how a marriage should work!!

Just "4" fun-

Well I was tagged again and the rules of this tag are that you open your fourth folder and post the fourth picture so here it goes... Drum roll Please-

TADA!!

This is a picture when Whitley was around 2 weeks old. This is her first ponytail!! As you can see there is not much hair in the ponytail, but a important milestone for me! It is weird to think she was that little, she still has the baby skin, blotchiness and all-

Now I tag Janet, Tracy, and whomever else would like to do it. This one is easy.

A little vampire love!

Well after our little dentist issue, I was feeling really bad. I didn't want to be the patients that the staff draws straws everytime we go into the office to see who HAS to help us . So I took in a little treat to the office. With it being so close to Halloween and with our little vampire drawing blood. I got a big tray or cinnamon rolls and found these cute gummy fangs. I put them a big tray with a note that says " Now you can sink your teeth into something too!" When I took it in to the office it was a big hit. From all my years of working at a doctors office I have learned a few things. A little treat never hurts and don't make the receptionist mad at you. I hope we are now back in good graces.

My little Reneesmee!!

Well today was my kids first time at the dentist. We don't have dental insurance so I have been putting it off and off and off. Karden did so good, He sat nicely for the xrays, cleaning and when the dentist checked his teeth he was an angel. I was silently gloating about how well behaved my kids were. This is cake I was thinking when the sweet assistant Erica said it was Whitleys turn. She had me hold Whitley on My lap when she tried to do Whitleys Xrays. This was not happening!! There were no tears just a clenched jaw. Erica tried everything to get Whitley to open her mouth. - Can you Sing like a princess- Through clenched teeth Whitley is humming the tune to ABC'S. Growl like a tiger, bite this cracker- Nothing works. Erica gives up and says she is not even two. We'll be fine without xrays. This is the point that I should have taken my angel boy and clenched jaw princess to the car. But No I decide to follow Erica to the chair and she is going to clean whitleys teeth. We get Whitley in the chair and decide to try to put headphones on her so she can watch "Cars" on the ceiling. The whimpering begins, She gets out the toothpaste and Whitley is trying to escape the chair of doom!! I hold her hands down and Erica starts cleaning away. The wailing begins, followed by the kicking, streaming, thrashing and last but not least the biting. Ouch says Erica. She bit me a good one. We both laugh. She's had her rabies shots I say jokingly. We finish the cleaning. I happen to look at Ericas glove and notice that red liquid is filling the tip of one finger. I at first think it is just the pink toothpaste but upon further evaluation I see it is blood. Whitley Brought Blood with one Bite. I say to Erica are you bleeding? She says no one has ever brought blood before, and they she looks at her hand and adds "Until today" I am mortified. My daughter just bit someone hard enough to bring blood. As I am scanning the room to find the closest exit. the Dentist comes in to do a exam. She is fine until hand is in mouth and than the excorsist baby appears again. The doctor finishes the exam and says all is well and laughs and says she may be the strongest one year old I have examined. I don't think that was a compliment. I gather are things and head to the exit. I stop to pay on the way out and the receptionist says see you in 6 months. Okay I say As I am now running to the exit. i"m no thinking Hopefully Ericas finger has healed by them. As we walk out the door I look down to see Whitley waving and blowing Kisses to the receptionist. What a morning!!

Out of the mouth of Babes!!

Well its been a long time, we ended up getting a virus on our computer from a storm trooper pumpkin carving pattern Ryan downloaded for Kardens pumpkin. We have been without a fully functioning computer for 3 weeks. I'm going insane and ebay and Ksl are both going broke without me!! :) We still haven't picked up our computer from the computer tech that is fixing it so I begged ryan to set up his work laptop!! I'm Spoiled I know- I thought I would tell You some funny Kardenism's since I can't post pictures or anything.

Karden to Grandma Linda after seeing a bottle of pickle relish in her fridge. He ran to her with a horrified look on his face and said " Grandma come quick, Your pickles have melted!"

A few weeks ago we attended a baby blessing for one of our friends babies. a few days later We were all in the truck on our way to Provo. When karden kept asking Ryan if he remembered when he put a "spell on me" . Karden was very adament and we were very confused. All through Costco he kept telling Ryan "Did you put a spell on me" We were totally bewildered and thinking what is this kid learning in preschool, when Karden said only dadies put spells on babies! He was talking about a blessing. We had a good laugh.

Last halloween we were being " The wizard of oz " for halloween. Ryan was the Lion, I was the scarecrow, Karden was the Tin Man and Whitley was Dorothy. Karden was in the back seat and was trying to sleep, Whitley was 11 months old and not tired and kept grabbing his shirt. Karden finally had enough when he snapped and said " Whitley! If your pinch my shirt one more time you WILL NOT BE DORTHY!!" Oh the things that are SO important to you when you are little!!!


Hopefully soon I will have my real computer back and will have pictures of the fun stuff we have been doing.

HONEYMOONING!!

Well last weekend Ryan and I had the chance to go to a bed and breakfast up in Midway. It was called the Johnson Mill. It was really pretty. The view from our room was of a pond that housed swans and beautiful gardens. I would love to go up there to take family pics. We went to dinner in Heber and just relaxed. We even slept in until 9:00 am. That is unheard of in my household of early risers!! It was heaven. The next morning we had a tasty but uncomfortable breakfast with everyone that stayed at the Inn the night before. This was a tad bit weird when all the guests are our parents age and the people above us were a bit loud!! (wink, wink,gross!!) We headed up to Park City to do some shopping at the Outlets were we found some great deals at the gap and childrens place. The kids got some cute things, Ryan and I left without anything for us. We ran a few errands on the way home and were surprised how fast things are done without unbuckling car seats and a dozen potty breaks. It was a fun overnighter to actually just talk and be a couple.

Thanks mom and dad for getting new windows and the gift certificate and not wanting to use it. Thanks Tara and Jeremy for not being able to go and thanks Barbara for watching our kids for the night. We love you all!!

5 Random things you don;t know about me.

The girls at my new job were showing me there blogs and one of them had this on hers, I thought it was funny so I'm giving it a try-

1- I refuse to play charades!! you will never see me trying to act out some stupid word or phrase. I hate it. I don't care if it is at a babyshower, game night. I will be a poor sport. Just thinking abouy charades makes me crazy.

2- I shot myself in the foot when I was rabbit hunting- I was dating ryan and we were with all of his friends and I somehow shot myself in the littlest piggy toe. The funniest thing I didn't even realize I had done it until on the way home.

3- I refuse to pull the dish drain in the sink with my hands-
I'm afraid that even though I have scraped the plates some small piece of bread has fallen into the water and I will touch soggy bread. (gag) I use a spoon or other utensil to unwedge the drain, As soon as the water is gone I'm fine to touch it.

4- My mother in law thinks I'm "TRASH"- I met Ryan dragging main, His mom was famous for saying the only thing you meet on main street is trash. Well now it is a standing joke that I'm trash. When Ryan and I go on date night. We all refer to it as taking out the trash!! ( I really have a good mother in law though :)

5- I hate sauce- barbaque sauce, sweet and sour sauce, teriyaki sauce, etc ! gross!! I am a very plain eater and when food has sauce it creeps me out. But I love Ranch Dressing. I eat it on everything.

Now that I have told eveyone that I am mentally unstable. Its your turn!!

I've been tagged!!

Janet tagged me- Now I have to list 6 things I love!! Here it goes.

1- My family- Yeah I know that is a generic answer but it is really the truth. Ryan is so great at putting up with me, and when Karden snuggles up next to me and says "Your my favorite mommy" and hearing Whitley giggle are seriously my favorite things

2- Girls Night- if is playing bunco, a day shopping with my mom and sisters, or just hanging out with the girls from work. I come home feeling great and appreciating my family more. It also helps me endure the sometimes neverending "mom, mom, etc" and the sleepless nights.

3- Fall- I love everything about fall. going for drives to look at the leaves, the weather, the clothes, the colors, and of course Halloween!! Halloween is my favorite holiday. I honestly start thinking of my kids costumes in like May. I am fortunate enough to have a mother in law who is an amazing seamstress and makes the cutest costumes!! But sadly this year Karden has decided he is going to be something "cool" instead of something cute. I guess no more theme costumes for me!! Unless I can convince Ryan again. But after last year of being the cowardly lion in the wizard of oz. I think that will not be a no, but a Hell NO!! ( p.s. tried to find a picture of Ryan in the lion costume but I think he must of burned them all!!)

4-Hairbows- I love little girls in big hairbows. After seeing the picture I think I am addicted and a little embarrased. But if you ever need a bow to match an outfit for pictures or anything, I'll let you borrow. : )

5- Zoo- I know, I Know, pretty random. But I love Zoos. Any city we visit I look to see if they have a zoo and we have to visit. I honestly think this is one of the reasons Ryan wanted to have kids is because when we went to the zoo by ourselves he thought we looked weird and kind of creepy, I go to the zoo at least once a year. Were actually planning a trip this Saturday if the kids are well enough!!

6- Mexican food- I don't care were its from, cafe rio, Mi Rancherito, Los Hermanos, Los Amigos. I will eat it. It's my favorite. I'm still waiting to add Joe Banditos to my list. ( Hint, Hint, Nicki! We still need to go!) After working as a server in a mexican restaurant for 6 years you would think I would be sick of it, but I'm always game for mexican food.

Yeah a know I was only supposed to have 6 but I thought of one more

7- Camping- Love letting the kids run around and play with there friends and cousins, love that when camping we always seem to have time to play phase 10 and other fun games, love the fire!!! I also love the fact that when we are camping the boys cook, breakfast,lunch and dinner!! What a great break, until you get home and have to clean out the trailer and do the mountain of wash. But anyways still love it.

1st day of Preschool

Karden was so nervous to go the Preschool this year. Don't ask me why , he should be a pro by now. All morning he kept asking me to stay with him at school. I kept telling him no way, that only 4 year old go to preschool and mom is WAY older than 4. We picked up his friend Emily to drive to to school too, she was the polar opposite of Karden. She was so excited she could hardly sit still. Well luckily the excitment rubbed off on Karden and when we pulled up out front. They just ran in together. I didn't even walk them to the door. I have to say it was bittersweet. There were no tears or pleas for me to stay, but on the other hand I was so easily replaced. My little boy is growing up!!

4 vs. 94

Little Grandma and Karden Showing there Muscles, I think Grandma is winning!!



On Saturday we had a family BBQ at our house. My grandma is 94 years old, and yes she is amazing! Karden in 4 years old and pretty neat too. But the question is who do you get mad at the 4 year old or the 94 year old? Karden and Little Grandma, as she is known to the grandkids, love each other to pieces. They also love to fight each other. They have fallen into christmas trees, had water poured over there heads at dinners and can't sit by each other in the car, for the very reason that neither one of them can leave the other one alone. They do not do this to be mean, it is just there way of playing together. They have done it forever. But I find myself if a predicament, I am trying to Teach Karden to Not hit and respect his elders. But Little Grandma starts her fair share of the battles. I guess for the mean time I will just have to say, "Karden and Little Grandma- Do not Hit hard Enough to leave Marks!!" Because I don't want to explain why my 4 year old son and his 94 year old grandma both have bruises!!

Yuck!!

"a face only a mother could love"

sandles+camping+Whitley= YUCK!
"All Funned out!"

We went camping over the weekend with Ry's parents and his brothers family. We had a good time but I have one small Question. How is it possible that one little girl can get so filthy is such a short time? I swear Whitley has a force field around her that attracts dirt. I can see how Karden gets dirty, his entertainment was running up the side of the mountain with his cousin Alex and then sliding down on there bottoms. But Whitley would walk out of our trailer, clean and cute and a matter or minutes, no seconds, she would look like she had rolled in a mud bath. She would honestly just be standing there and be filthy. I went through a entire package of wipes on her alone. I am so glad that we have a trailer that the kids can have a shower in. I don't know what I would do with out it, well actually I do know. I wouldn't go camping! :)

Dinosaurs!!!

I had a great idea on Tuesday to take my family to the Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur museum. They are doing a promotion and on Tuesdays in August it is only $2.00 to get it. What a bargain considering it is usually 12.00 a person. Well I think everyone else in Utah county had the same great idea, No take that back everyone in the state of Utah had that idea. It was a madhouse!! The kids had a ball, Karden loved pretending he was a scary UtahRaptor and being with his cousins, Alex and Cadie. Whitley basically just chilled with her blankie and binky. ( we don't leave the house without those) The erosion room were the kids can play in sand and water was fun but Crazy. There had to be 200-300 people in a pretty small area. It was unreal. The crowds, the pushing and shoving got me kind of excited for shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Ryan has decided that he better change some of his ways because he knows his "Hell" will be in the dinosaur dig room of the museam and being smashed by strollers and rude people for eternity. It was a fun family night but a word for anyone thinking of going. Be mentally prepared for major crowds or pay full price in September. But it was someplace everyone should see once, I don't think I need to go back for awhile.

Pigs and Sheep and Cows, Oh My!!

We spent our Friday night at the Utah County Fair. It was fun but smaller than I remember it being when I was little. The kids had fun looking at the animals, Karden loved the sheep that would come right up and let you pet them, and Whitley loved the pigs. They both were a little afraid of the cows because they were only tied up by a rope. Karden thought the tank was cool, and Whitley loved to drive the pink tractor. Ryans favorite was the SWAT vehicle, he was like a kid at Christmas and we had to drag him away from looking at it. In the 4-H tent they had this huge display that was entirely made out of legos. It was amazing, We ended the night with a balloon sword and butterfly for the kids.