MIA

Once again we are having computer issues. I have a million pictures I want to share but I'm waiting for Jon to get it fixed. We had a lovely holiday. Santa brought us a wii, and we love it. I especially love the wii fit. It is great and I think it will be a great motivator and help with my weight loss.
The last week has been a little rough. My Grandma Faye has had a rough year health wise and this last week has been touch and go. I've had some other not so fun stuff I've been dealing with.

We are planning on a quiet night tonight. We've invited Grandma over to play the wii and I think we will go to dinner at our favorite Mexican place. But it will be a happy new year spent with my family.

I hope you all had a great Christmas and will have a wonderful new year!

When didn they change the words?

Brianna's Version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose, like a light bulb
and if you ever saw it, saw it
you could even say it glows. Like a light bulb
All of the other reindeer reindeer
used to laugh and call him names; like looser
They never let poor Rudolph Rudolph
join in any reindeer games. like Rock Band
Then one foggy Christmas Eve,Santa came to say: Ho,Ho, HO
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him loved him
as they shouted out with glee, Yippee
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,You'll go down in history."

Brianna's Recital

Here are a few pictures from Brianna's Christmas Dance Recital. She really love to perform.(Hmm I wonder where she gets that from?)


They danced to "It's Beging To Look A Lot Like Christmas"


Her Cousin Alexa is just to the right of her. They really have fun dancing together.

Little Dancers

This year Brianna and Carly both got to take dance lessons Carly is still too young to dance in the recital but they did invite the parents to come see the little dancers on the last day of class. They are all just too cute for words.

Her teacher says that teaching preschool dance is like herding cats. But Miss Lisa is a fabulous teacher and the kids really love her.

This is a little snippet of Carly "getting Funky" as the teacher called it. Sorry I'm lame and don't know how to rotate the video. It's still cute!

I HATE Walmart

I have never been a fan of Walmart. They are too busy, to dirty and they have absolutely no customer service what so ever. I rarely go there unless I'm desperate. I think the money you save isn't worth the aggravation. My one exception is their photo lab. I like emailing my picture in and picking them up in an hour.


So today I had sent in an order and was going to venture out into the snow. The store I usually get things printed at no longer offers 1 hour photo so I had to go to a different one that is out of my way. I get there to pick up my prints and they ask me who took the pictures. I said a friend. They then told me that because it was a portrait that I needed to have my friend sign a release. WHAT? She isn't a professional photographer I told them. They don't care. I said I'll call her you can talk to her. No, she has to sign the release. I got the manager (which was a half hour process) No I still can't have my pictures until I get Jill to Sign for them. I was livid. I'm not proud of how I treated that lady, But. No where on the website or on my email confirmation order did it say I need to have a release signed to get my pictures. So Walmart sill has my photos and I will try some place else.

I'm never going in another Walmart. And I mean it.

Grrrrrrr

We have picked up a nasty computer virus. So I'm having to use Jon's work laptop which is a pain. So even though I have a million things I'd love to blog about, it may be a while till my computer is feeling up to it. For now Check out our new family Photo. My friend Jill is getting to be quite a good photographer and I asked her to take our picture in front of our newly redone fire place she did a great job. Thanks Jill!

Reality check

In the past few years I've started getting more comfortable with my maternal instinct. I think for the most part I'm pretty good at being a Mom and, for the most part I know what I'm doing. Elementary school as sort of thrown me for a loop. I feel like I'm learning how to be a mom all over again. I've had a hard time finding balance. I want my kid to be independent but I also want her to do well. So how hard do you push? Last night I learned a big lesson.
I've always thought that my girls were the cutest, smartest, most talented being ever to exists. (This is my right as a mother, it don't mean that the other kids aren't great, but because they are mine, my children, in my eyes will always be the best.) So last night was the reflections night at the school. Brianna had drawn a lovely picture of a waterfall. She has always loved to draw and is (in my eyes) very talented. Well she didn't win anything. She was heartbroken. And truthfully I was a little mad that these people didn't see how fablous by baby is. My mama bear was clawing to come out and find out why she didn't win. I didn't let her out. Instead Jon and I talked to her about how lots of other kid had entered and how if there are winners there have to be losers. And just because she didn't win doesn't mean it wasn't good, it just means that some people thought that others were better, but that we thought she was fabulous, and she would just have to try again next year. Then we said we'd go for ice cream. On the way out we saw another little boy who was crying. Bri went to him and asked what was wrong. He said he was sad because he didn't win anything. Bri said,"It's okay my Dad says we just have to try again next year." I'm so proud of my little girl.
So, now I sit here wondering. How do you prepare your kids for the possibility that they won't always be the best? I don't ever want my girls to miss out on things because they are too scared to try. I know that losing is just part of the game. But I just hate to see my little girl disappointed like that.
So I guess I still have a lot to learn about being a mom. I thought that since we've pretty much made it through the baby and toddler years that the hard part was over. But I think it just gets harder from here on out.

Christmas questions

I got this in an email and thought it looked fun.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both
2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? Dec 7. It's tradition to put it up on Jon's birthday.
4. When do you take the tree down? ASAP I usually can't wait to get my house back to normal.
5. Do you like eggnog? sometimes
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't remember anything I got. But I do remember the year our family got our first VCR.
7. Hardest person to buy for? my in-laws
8. Easiest person to buy for? The girls
9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Your all going to think I'm crazy, but I hate it when people give me money. I never by myself something with it, it just ends up going for groceries for whatever. And I think it basically says I didn't care to spend the time energy or thought to go get you something.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love Actually, I don't know if it is really considered a Christmas movie but it takes place at Christmas time.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? We usually start in early November
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My neighbor Tammy's peanut brittle.
16. Lights on the tree? yes
17. Favorite Christmas song? Sleigh ride.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We do Christmas Eve with my brother and sister and Mom, and then open our gifts Christmas morning. It's nice to spread it out a bit.
22. Most annoying things about this time of the year? to much to do.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color. We don't really have a theme we just put them all up there.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Anything easy since I usually have to make it.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new chair for my sewing room.

Thanksgiving

For as long as I have know Jon, (15+ years) they have spent every Thanksgiving in California with is Grandparents. This past summer they moved into a new home and decided to have Thanksgiving in Utah.

It was a very nice day of good food and family.

Brianna and Carly treated us all to a puppet show about a troll who wants to have trukey for Thanksgiving dinner but all the turkeys have run away so has to have fish instead.

They made it up by themselves and it was so cute!

They had tons of fun playing with Courtney

Jon's sister and her family.


My cute little family.

Happy Birthday Atty!

Yesterday was my cute nephew Atty's 2nd Birthday.


Car's Pinata.


Yummy cupcakes!

I made him some Curious George Jammies

And some Cars Jammies

My Little Niece Zoe love the jammies she got for her birthday so much that I had to make her some more.

I made matching ones for the 3 girls.

Forgive me for waxing cheesy, But, I just love that the girls loved their jammies so much. It made me sew very happy to see them dancing around like the princesses they are in their nightgowns. I love giving people things I created. It's like a present to myself, because I had so much fun making it and now I get to watch them enjoy it. When Bri woke up this morning she didn't want to take hers off. I hope when my nieces and nephews get older they will talk about how Aunt Alison always made us the coolest jammies.

Our New Fireplace

Many of you know that we have spent the better part of this year redoing the main floor of our house. We finished the kitchen mid summer and took a bit of a break before starting on the living room. We painted and put in new floor, but our biggest project was the fire place.
I've always loved that we had a fireplace and hated how it looked. This is a random picture that shows the before.

This was taken right before we started to work on it.

And this is the finished product. I absolutely love it. It turned out far better than I imagined. We decided it would be to expensive and to big of a pain to tear it out completely so we decided to tile over it in slate. Jon and I layed the tile together. I even used the tile saw and finished it by myself one day when I got antsy to get it done. We also built the mantel ourselves. I love it. I never loved my house before because it didn't feel like us. Now we can never move because we have put so much of ourselves into it. As much as I want to be done, we really have had fun doing our house. Jon and I are a good team. He is becoming much more patient with me and lets me do thing he wouldn't have before because he know I want to learn. Now we just have to figure out how to decorate the rest of the room.

Happy Birthday Grandma Phyllis

Happy Birthday Mom! We hope you had a wonderful day.

To have the worries of a 6 year old

Thursday night I was awakened at 3 in the morning by Brianna crying hysterically. I ran to her room thinking she was sick, but she had just had a bad dream. So I brought her into our room to sleep the rest of the night with us. When she climbed into our bed Jon asked her what her dream was about. She said, "I dreamed that I ripped my Bell dress and mommy couldn't fix it and I couldn't wear it anymore." Jon and I just laughed.
How nice would it be if your worst nightmares were about ruined Halloween costumes.

New Do

I love Carly's pretty long blond hair. But I don't love the daily screaming that we endure every time we want to brush it. I really don't know how other Moms get their daughters hair looking so smooth and parted straight, with cute little pony tails and twistys. My kids would never go for it. It is torture just to brush it. So, I give up. As much as it pains me, we decided to cut it off.

My good friend Tammy cuts our hair and when I threatened to cut it as short as Daddy's one day she said she wanted to look like Brianna's.

When Tammy asked me how to cut it Carly piped up and said she wanted it cut like her sister.

Six inches! I didn't realize her Hair was that long.

Very cute!

The Party

My girls are always planning a party. When this party is or what it is for has yet to be determined, but the are planning. So far Carly has a stash of bubble gum and other assorted candy left over from Halloween stored in her room for the elusive party. They are always changing the menu, but chocolate chip cookies, brownies and 'Pite' (Sprite) will be served,along with spray cheese, princess fruit snacks and peel cheese. The guest list is growing too. Carly has me write the names of all her friends of post-it's and she has them arranged going up the stairs because apparently this is where her party will take place. Brianna's party will be in her room and everyone is to wear hats. She also would like for me to arrange for a horse to be there. The biggest insult one can give in our house lately is to be uninvited to the party, tears ensue and when they finally make up they are of course re-invited.
Who knows maybe you will be invited!

As good as it gets.

I know this doesn't look a heck of of alot better, but the fact that there is carpet showing is amazing. This is pretty much as good as it gets. It is the catch all room and I always have about 20 projects going, so it never get clean.

Ahhhhhhhh

You might be thinking that my house must have been ransacked recently. But no. Sadly this is a picture of the current state of my sewing room. Scary! This is my project for the day. Don't worry I will tie a string around me so I can find my way out again.

31

This is a long one folks.


I saw this one day when I was blog stalking and it got me thinking. So I have been thinking of 31 things or people that most influenced my life. Why 31? Because I turn 31 today, of course.

1. Moving to Utah. I was only 3 but it obviously changed my life.
2. Rachel Lee (Banks)
3. Tiff Waldron (Houston)
I met Rachel and Tiffany when I was 3. I'm happy they are still my friends today.
But they were who I learned how to be a friend from.
4. Annie I loved this musical when I was a kid. Music has always played a big part in my life.
5. My Baptism.
6. Utah Opera & Sandy Musicals
7. Natalie Nelson I met Nat the first day of middle school. She was a good friend for alot of years and helped me through a lot of rough times. Sadly we have parted ways. I miss her.
8. Mrs. Walton this is strange one I know, but she encouraged me to dance even though I didn't look like a dancer. She really helped me to accept my body.
9. 2nd period Girls chours. What a fun class where I met some great friends.
10. Jill Roundy (Oaks) I've know Jill since middle school, but we didn't really get to be friends till high school. She is sill my best friend, I even named on of my girls after her. She is such and amazing mom and I really value her advice. I really admire her. I don't know what I'd do with out her.
11. Brother Thurson was my seminary teacher my jounior year. He helped me get through the worst year of my life. It is because of him I still have faith today.
12. My parents divorce. Sucked, But I know I never want to go through that or put my children through it. I think I work harder at being married and learned from their mistakes.
13. Mr. Bently (I know he is Dr. now but he was Mr. to me.) taught me I can change lives with music.
14. Vocal Ensamble
15. Getting married at 18
16. My dad living with us.
17. Nora Roberts, cheesy I know but her books reminded me how much I love to read and what a great escape from reality it is. She also introduced me to a great group of ladies and helped me to step out of my comfort zone and have some great adventures.
18. Infertility
19. Brianna my sweet little girl. I didn't know I could love so much until I had her. I learn from her everyday.
20. The miscarriage of my 3 rd baby. I lost this baby at 17 weeks. It was one of the wost days of my life. By I learned so much from it.
21. Carly's Birth. I had Carly very fast and with out drugs. I realized how strong I am.
22. Carly my little monster. I love Carly so much, but it is a good thing she is so cute and sweet, because she is a handful.
23. Bertha Blondquist, is a 92 year-old woman who lives on my street. For her 90th birthday she crochet 90 baby hats to donate. She is serving people every day even thought she can't get around very well. I want to grow up to be just like her.
24. My brother Jon. Jon is one of the best people I know. He is always willing to help, even if he doesn't want to, but is quiet in his service
25. My sister Jen. We have always fought the way sisters do, but for a lot of years we weren't friends. Now I don't know what I'd do with out her. She is the best aunt to my girls and we have become the best of friends.
26. My family, for many years after my parents divorce my family was broken. I learned that we can have our differences and still love each other.
27. 9/11 It changed all of our lives. Jen lived in NY at the time and I've never been so scared in my life.
28. My Dad
29. Bompy, My Bompy passed away this past spring. It was very hard for me to let him go and I still get a little sad about it sometimes. He was a great example of service and determination. What a life he lead. I'm sad my girls will probably not remember him. He loved them so much.
30. My Mom. So probably doesn't think she is a great influence on my life but I saw how much she sacrificed for us and how hard she works still. I really love her and she is always there for me whenever or for whatever I need her. She is always a friend to the friendless.
31. Jon where would I be without Jon. I love him so much. He is truly a partner and I love working with him. I think we are the perfect team. He loves me no matter what I look like. He is the most giving person I have ever met. I'm so lucky to get to share my life with him.

So there it is. The sum of my life so far. I like my life and I think I have become a pretty good person, thanks to some pretty incredible people I have been blessed to know.

Sick

So I've had the blah's and now they have turned into sick. I caught a virus last week that was mainly annoying but didn't make me sick, and since I had so much to do, I just kept going. My doctor told me it was brought on by stress and I needed to slow down, but how? So now I caught the stomach flu. So I spent the better part of yesterday home in bed. (I still had to be at a PTA meeting and take Carly to pre-school and get Bri when she came home sick) I'm feeling a little better today, but still rather run down. SO I'm going to hope that the girls will stay out of trouble this afternoon so I can get some rest.

Happy Birthday Zoe!

I'm a little late with my Birthday wishes, but my sweet niece Zoe turned 3 on Sunday. She is the smartest and cutest little 3 year old. Aunt Misti did a great job with her party. She Had all the kid wear their costumes since it was so close to Halloween.

Baby Jack the Bumble Bee

Atticus the Tiger

All the kids. Brianna, Kenzie, KJ, Carly Atticus and Zoe. Jack was a sleep.

All the kids got to frost their own little cakes.

Then we opened presents.

I made Zoe some new Jammies.



She liked the princess ones best and wore them the rest of the night.


Her favorite present was a little tent that all the kids tried to get in.

Atty giving baby Jack a kiss.

Baby Jack doing what he does best. Being darn cute!

I really love my family!