Christmas . . . To Give or to Give More?

I think my girls had a great christmas!  They loved the lights, the tree and of course all the food! They loved getting presents . . . and were so excited for everyone to open presents that they picked out.

Apparently though, my plan with distracting Abby from the American Girl doll with other gifts from her list did not work.  At the end of the day . . . she was still wondering why Santa didn't bring her the gift she had specifically asked him for . . . the thing that she wanted the most.
Abby still really believes in Santa . . . and doesn't understand why he didn't just make the doll in his workshop and give it to her.  He gave it to other girls.   She told me that she knew that "I" couldn't buy it for her because it was $105.  I asked her how she knew how much it was . . . she told me that she saw it in the catalog.  I told her that maybe Santa just knew that she didn't play with dolls all that much and must have figured she would use her other gifts more often.

I have to say . . . I feel terrible.  I feel like we are in a version of the Christmas Story movie, and Abby is a nice little girl that asks Santa for something . . . only the movie doesn't end right!  She didn't get her doll!  Ben feels like she will be fine, and that disappointment is healthy . . . especially where she did get other things she asked for.  I agree that it is fine for kids to not get EVERYTHING they ask for.   But since she didn't get MOST of the things on her list . . . and since the American Girl doll apparently was the most wanted gift . . . I feel like this is a terrible situation!  20 years from now . . . she will remember this Christmas because of the disappointment!  What have I done?
I am tempted to find a doll now . . . and then put it under the tree . . . hidden away in the back corner.  And then, when we take the Christmas tree down, Abby will find it . . . and maybe think it was there all along?????  HELP?????  Do I let this go or fix it?????

Wish List

I don't get my kids EVERYTHING on their wish list for Christmas . . . but I do like to make sure that they at least get the ONE thing that they really want. That ONE thing that they keep asking for . . . the thing they tell Santa that they want. Until this year.

Abby this year is asking for an American Girl doll. If you ask me . . . I think these dolls are EXTREMELY pricey (they are around $100-150 or more!) . . . it is not going to work in our budget . . . and Abby doesn't even really play with dolls . . . so why she is asking for one, I don't know. But I feel like if we bought her one, it would get played with a handful of times and then sit on the shelf. So this gift is not happening.

Halle is asking for a REAL LIVE kitten. She already has picked out 3 names to choose from for it. I know that she would LOVE having a cat . . . but what a commitment! I'll end up taking care of it . . . and I don't EVER want to own ANY animals with fur. So this gift isn't going to happen either.

I had my girls make wish lists for Santa, and they did have quite a few other items on there. So they ARE getting things that were on their list . . . just not those things they told Santa that they want. Am I a terrible mother?

Hair Cuts

My sister in-law is visiting this week and luckily has some sweet hair cutting skills.  She has cut all of our hair . . . but it is Gwen's hair that I am the most excited about.  Gwen has had the shaggiest hair for so long!  Thanks so much Liz!!

Gingerbread House

Yes, this is about what our gingerbread house looked like.  In the past, I have bought the kits . . . and I really recommend those!  This year, I decided to try making homemade gingerbread and using up halloween candy for the houses.  I guess I am supposed to put the house together and let it sit overnight and such . . . I didn't do that.  I wanted to just make it.  It stayed together for a few minutes, and then fell apart after decorating the roof.  We decided to just eat it, something I don't think we have ever done.   Next time, we'll make these things AFTER dinner and not right before!

Let it Snow!

Finally . . . yesterday we had some real snow!

911

I am RELIGIOUS about quiet time/nap time in the afternoons.  Today, after a crazy morning, I told Halle that I really needed a nap.   Abby is home sick today, so Abby, Gwen and I took naps and Halle had "quiet time" downstairs.  

Towards the end of "quiet time", there was knocking on the door.   Abby and Halle came to tell me there was a man knocking on the door.  I thought to myself that it must be a delivery guy that often delivers books and CD's for Ben's side business.  I told them that "he'll just leave the boxes by the door . . . I'm not going to get up right now." 

The guy KEPT knocking.  Halle again came to me, saying that he was still there.  I asked her if she had looked out the window.  She said that she had.  I figured he must be so persistent since he knew someone was home.  He started knocking AGAIN as I was coming down the stairs . . . LOUDLY knocking.  I was so mad. I was thinking to myself . . . "why is he so persistent . . . just leave the boxes on the doorstep!"

I answer the door expecting a delivery guy . . . to find a POLICEMAN. He was on his walkie talkie or whatever it is . . . and told someone that I had answered the door.  Then he told me that he had gotten about 15 calls into 911 . . . from a little girl!  He said he was getting ready to BREAK INTO OUR HOUSE to find out if that little girl was okay or not!  He also said that her calls were getting in the way of other calls.

I was SO surprised, obviously.  And SO embarrassed.   I must of looked like some drunk/unfit mother.   I mean . . . I have no idea how long he had been knocking before I answered the door . . . and then when I do . . . I have just woken up and am a little out of it.

Anyway, I asked Halle if she had been playing with the phone.  She said she had.  I told him I had had no idea, and that I would talk to her about it.

I am just waiting for social services to show up to see if I am a fit mother.  I feel like I must have looked SO suspicious . . . of something!

Ultrasound Says . . .

We're having a BOY!!!!!!  I think I am still in shock!

Here's how it went at the ultrasound . . . .

Ultrasonographer: " Do you want to find out what you are having?"

Me: " YES!"

Ultrasonographer:  "What do you already have?"

Me: "We have three girls . . . I think we just make girls."

Ultrasonographer: "Well . . . it looks like you make boys too!"

Me: "WHAT?  Are you serious????"

Can't You Read My Mind?

I have to say that my life would be a lot easier (and so would Ben's) if Ben could just read my mind and not rely on what I say. Many times I say one thing . . . but in reality, I expect him to figure what I really mean. Maybe I am just a girl . . . or maybe I have severe communication problems . . . who knows . . . but this happens every so often.

For example . . . my birthday was a few days ago. I really don't expect that much for my birthday, but apparently I expect more than I got . . . as poor Ben had to learn this week.

So . . . before my birthday, Ben would ask me questions like "what do you want for your birthday?" I would answer him with "don't do that much . . . just get me this or that and call it good". Okay, those kinds of answers are kind of true . . . but kind of not. Of course I want him to do something creative or fun for me on my birthday . . . but I'm not going to say that! (for some unknown reason that I have not yet figured out).

Well, my birthday comes around and Ben gives me the gift I asked for . . . and then "called it good."

All day, I kind of wondered if it was a joke that I thought Ben hadn't planned anything. I wondered if there was some real surprise coming later . . . I did my hair just in case.

But no. There were no plans. He did make breakfast and dinner however . . . and he brought home Chinese food for lunch.

By dinnertime, once I realize that my birthday was going to be EXACTLY what I told him it should be . . . I was pretty mad. I don't hide my madness well . . . and didn't even try to this time . . . so he could tell.

Poor Ben was so confused! Once the confrontation started (after the kids went to bed) he let me know that he could not understand what I could be mad about . . . he did EXACTLY what I told him to do. This was very true.

But . . . why can't he just read my mind and know that it would have been nice to have him take me out . . . to do SOMETHING!

Why can't I just stop speaking in riddles and just start saying what I want or mean? It's not like we just got married.

Bless those confrontations/discussions/whatever you want to call it. I think both of our birthdays will be more fun from now on!

High Expectations

I have high expectations for Sundays . . . something I should have let go of a long time ago. Every week I imagine Sunday as being relaxing, my girls looking nice, going to church, a nice dinner, etc. Today those expectations were not any different . . . but once again I realized I need to throw this very unrealistic ideal out the door. 

Abby and Halle woke up at their normal time this morning . . . but they fight about so many things!  They ended up in time out within 10 minutes of my being awake.   I get the girls breakfast and eventually I get dinner made (in a crock pot . . . my favorite thing ever!)  I get everyone ready . . . except for myself . . . because I'm sure I'll have time to do that later . . . and I won't take that long anyway . . . so I think.  

Finally it is almost time to go.  It is then that I realize that Halle was dressed, but her hair was not done yet.  We hurry and do it . . . and it end's up not looking very done.  I can't seem to find anything to wear as many things do not fit the same.  And I go downstairs to find that Gwen has pulled out her pigtails with ribbons and it is as shaggy as ever!  

We roll into church and sit down, and I notice that Abby is wearing brightly printed underwear. How do I know this?  I can see right through her dress!  

Gwen is all over the place during Sacrament meeting and people sitting next to us start giving her things to do.  Where were the things I brought?  I didn't bring that many things because sometimes I think less is better (give me a break . . . she is 2!)

All of our church lessons today were on eternal marriage or motherhood responsibilities.  I noticed things I could do better during these lessons . . . but then I got home and my kids would argue with me whenever my answer was "no" and we would ALL have meltdowns. Some mom I am . . . Dinner was great though! (Thanks for the Cafe Rio recipes Liz . . . and thanks for eating it with us Rebekah and Doug!)

I Survived Halloween

Halloween turned out to be successful.   Both Abby and Halle pronounced this Halloween as "the Best Halloween Ever!".   And how could they not?  They dressed up, went trick or treating, played some Halloween games, and stayed up late to watch a Casper Halloween movie.   I was able to finish the "Alice in Wonderland" costume . . . but hopefully no one looked at it too closely . . . especially that hem:).  Apparently Abby was very proud of my sewing job though, and  let everyone at school know that "my mom MADE my costume".  What more reward for my grief could I ask for?
 

Halle was Tinkerbell (not homemade . . . but I got over it pretty quickly) . . . and Gwen was supposed to be a ladybug (a costume I made 6 years ago) for the Halloween party the night before Halloween.  But once she saw Abby and Halle putting on dresses . . . she wanted to wear a dress to be "beautiful" . . . so we raided the dress-up trunk.

Luckily on Halloween night, I was able to get Gwen into the ladybug costume.    They all came home with WAY too much candy.  Am I really supposed to let them eat all this stuff?  Any good ideas on how to get rid of it . . . without eating it myself?

What Was I Thinking?

Last year I had this neighbor who made her children's Halloween costumes . . . and then one for herself . . . and they were all a part of the same theme.  Sooo cute!  After that I decided that I was going to be THAT kind of a mom.   We would have homemade Halloween costumes ONLY . . . we would ALL coordinate . . . and my costumes would look AMAZING!   The Halloween costume decision deadline was September 1st. this year.   That way I would have enough time to sew everyone's costume.  

Well . . . the first problem for me arose when Halle only wanted to be a princess.  We couldn't come up with a story book theme were she could be the princess and we would all have something that coordinated . . . or that could easily be made.  I wasn't sure how to make Beauty and the Beast costumes.   So, I told her she could be a princess . . . and the rest of us would be a group "something" else.   We finally decided on "Alice in Wonderland".  Abby would be Alice, Gwen would be the white rabbit, Ben could be the Mad Hatter, and I would be the Queen of Hearts.  I started making Abby's costume first . . . as I thought it would be the easiest.  Well, Halloween is in what . . . 3 DAYS . . . and I am STILL working on it!  I've learned that I don't really like to sew clothing.  How in the world do you hem a dress???  

So apparently . . . I am NOT that kind of mom . . . even though I really wish I was.  And we will NOT have coordinating costumes.  

Halle Turns 5

Today is Halle's birthday.  She is now 5!  Every year I get a little more sad that she is "growing up".   I will never forget how a week or two after Halle was born I actually called the doctor to find out if it was really okay that I was getting as much sleep as I was.  Halle was such a content and happy baby!  Now . . .  5 years later . . .  Halle loves to be a princess, play with Barbies, dress up and be "fancy" . . . and luckily she has not grown out of it yet.  But I get really sad thinking about the day when she will be "too old" to do those things.

Halle wanted a "costume party" for her birthday . . . which of course is of no surprise . . . since she is always in a costume!

The kids played a game that Abby thought of and wanted to be in charge of . . . a "guess how many pieces of candy are in the jar" game.  They also played "hot pumpkin", went on a candy hunt, and played musical chairs.

We ate cake and ice cream and opened presents.

Happy Birthday Halle!

Pumpkin Patch

Fall is here!  I really start looking forward to this in June (summer heat is my least favorite thing . . . unless I am on vacation).  I love the pumpkins, the cold weather and the treats!

Abby has "Fall Break" this week . . . and so it was time to go pick out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.  The girls LOVE this!  This is a little embarrassing . . . but being the cheap person that I am, on the way to the pumpkin patch  I drove by a grocery store that was selling pumpkins for SUPER cheap.  The pumpkins at the pumpkin patch are not that unreasonably priced . . . I just sometimes take too much pride in saving a buck.  But Abby and Halle were confused of course and quickly let me know that it is much more fun to get pumpkins at the pumpkin patch than at a grocery store.  I quickly agreed and am glad we spent a few dollars more for a happy and MUCH more fun experience.

It is really hard to pick the right pumpkin.  Abby had picked out a couple before she finally was ready to walk away with one.  Halle was able to decide a little quicker . . . despite the meltdowns that happened occasionally.  Halle was probably more interested in the maze that the kids could go through.  Gwen enjoyed it all.  We went to this same place last year to get pumpkins . . . and now I  think we have found our "pumpkin finding" tradition . . . since the girls are already asking if we can go there next year!

 

Cougar Fans

Ben and I have season passes to the BYU football games . . . but Ben cares a lot more about going to all the games than I do.  Today, he took Abby and Halle with him . . . and I stayed in our warm house with Gwen . . . it was like 44 degrees today!  Anyways, they all had a great time . . . and the girls came home talking about nothing else. 

Beauty and the Beast

We took Abby and Halle to the community theater to see Beauty and the Beast last weekend (Ben's coworker, Jennifer--pictured below, was in it). They LOVED it! They were so good and able to sit quietly for the most part. Why can't they do that at church?

They were so excited to wear "fancy dresses" . . . girls are so fun.

The Faithful are Rewarded

Congratulations to those who actually look at my blog!  You will be able to read about our news first . . . well aside from my mom and sisters who know because they have been speculating for months.      I am pregnant!  ETA?  April 4, 2009.  With my past history . . . I'm hoping that actually means the end of March, but I guess I may have jinxed it now that I actually put that in writing:)

Gwen Turns 2

My baby is no longer a baby!  Gwen can say the word "beautiful", has opinions about her clothes (she prefers dresses), needs a napkin at every meal, and says "thank you" quite often.  

For her birthday, we had a birthday breakfast and presents.  She enjoyed the attention a lot, but had no idea what was going on:) After that we went over to ride the hot air balloon at our insurance picnic.   While I waited in line . . . the girls played games, colored and won prizes.  

After I had waited in line for over an hour . . . and finally became the second to next person in line . . . the rides were stopped because it became too windy.   Luckily there was a park nearby and a catered lunch . . . so the kids weren't too upset.

Gwen seemed to enjoy her birthday . . . she liked the singing a lot! Happy Birthday Gwen!

Happy Birthday Ben

Ben turned 31 today!  We are finally the same age . . . for a couple months at least.  I hope Ben enjoyed his birthday . . . considering the mishaps we had.  We have a birthday breakfast/present opening tradition at our house.  That part seemed to go well.  The girls are always so excited for someone to open their presents!  Ben went to work during the day, and then we were going to have a birthday dinner at night.  Halle and I made his cake . . . and then I got the great idea to try making a homemade carmel sauce.  I found a recipe and it said I could leave a sugar/water mixture to boil for about 10 minutes (unless I read it wrong which is completely possible).  I got the mixture to boil, set the timer for 10 minutes, and went downstairs.  10 minutes later I heard the timer  go off.  I went upstairs to find that I could barely see anything!  There was SO MUCH SMOKE!  The sugar/water mixture had turned into something that looked like black lava.  After taking it off the stove and opening every window and door possible, the smoke left after a while.   I have a terrible cold right now and can't even breathe through my nose most of the time . . . which means I really can't smell anything.  But apparently . . . our house still smells like a campfire that went wrong and I'm not quite sure how to get the smell out.   Happy Birthday Ben! And sorry about the rolls that went wrong too . . . it really does help to add all of the ingredients.

Girl Time

This weekend my sister Lisa and I flew out to Boston to visit our sister Kristi.  What a fun trip! We went shopping . . . a lot.  We ate great food . . . some from restaurants . . . and lots of Kristi's exceptional cooking.  We also saw a few sights along the way.  Kristi and her husband Steve were such good hosts . . . and 7 month old Carter is VERY cute.

Ben stayed home with the girls . . . I am so lucky to have a husband that is willing to do that! And I can't thank Rebekah enough for coming over to do their hair on Sunday.    I missed my family but it was really fun to just hang out with my sisters and be a person and not necessarily a mom for a couple days.

Feeding the Ducks

I'm pretty sure Gwen ate more bread than she gave to the ducks:).   Having Gwen and Halle home during the day is fun . . . but a little different than last year.  I'm worried that Halle is getting sooo bored!  She turns five in October, so she can't go to Kindergarten until next year. All summer long I have not even thought twice about putting her in a preschool or anything because I really like having her home with me . . . and she has always been so good at entertaining herself.   Now that school has started . . . She seems to be a little more restless.    A friend and I are doing a playgroup/school type thing at our houses twice a week . . . hopefully that will be enough!

The Tooth Fairy Visits . . .

Halle for the first time!  I cannot even describe how excited she was about this.  A few days before her tooth actually fell out, we were at the park eating lunch.  She bit into an apple and started complaining that her tooth hurt.  I asked her if it was loose . . . and all the sudden . . . you could see in her eyes that she made the connection.  Halle said her tooth had been hurting for several days, and apparently she had had no idea why . . . until I asked her if it was loose! Anyway . . . when it finally fell out . . . there was too much excitement to describe!  It's a big deal to loose your first tooth!  

Kids at our house get a quarter from the tooth fairy for their teeth . . . and this has been a prized possession of hers ever since.

Halle is in the Spotlight!

Halle wanted to play soccer this year . . . and finally she is old enough to.   She had her first game last night and  had SO MUCH fun.   She loved being told that she is a fast runner . . . and I think she likes that her team has purple shirts.

Anyway . . . it is fun to see Halle start to do her own things.  We are all so used to going to games and such for Abby . . .     which is also fun . . . but it was fun to see Halle's eyes light  up when she saw it was her turn to shine.