Welcome to our World

6 years ago at Thanksgiving, my son began puking half way to my in-law's house.  For 4 hours, Hubby drove while my one-year-old vomited all over me.  So when my 3-year-old started puking 2 hours into our 8 hour drive, I instantly remembered that awful drive years ago and was determined not to experience it again.  I rented a car and drove home while Hubby continued on to see his family with the 3 healthy children.  See N, all smiles?  See the spaghetti vomit on her chin?   She's smiling because her mom pulled off the highway to take a picture of her in front of the CO sign.  Omg.  And yes, she vomited in the rental car as well. Luckily my parents were willing to babysit while I took it to the car wash to have it detailed.  If I took it in it was $50.  If I had paid them to take it in, it would have been $150.  And my parents did an entire load of puked on laundry for me while I was gone.  Mom and Dad to the rescue! ...

 On December 23rd I decided we needed hair cuts before Christmas and all the photos that would be taken over the weekend.  K, D, M, and I all got ours cut while N stayed close by watching.  Afterwards we kidnapped Hubby from work and had him take us out for lunch at Pizzeria Da Lupo.  Then we told him the children had done draw names and wanted to pick out presents for each other at the toy store only 2 doors down.  Somehow after all that he was still able to do what he needed to get done at work that day.  I love this picture K snuck of him smiling at me while waiting at a red light.  He loves me.  I love him too.  After letting Hubby go back to work, we headed to the mall to use a $5 coupon I had and got some steals at Gymboree.  The Apple Store is completely different than when I worked there and the kids couldn't believe that had been one of my jobs before they were all born.  10 years ago now.  Wow.  The Disney...

Sledding!  Our new board game!  N's last day in our church's nursery! Darrell's annual Christmas Cantata and cookies and cocoa! M caught in a snow globe, K helping N so marble painting! The first two days of break M went to horse camp (like at Thanksgiving) and D went to Indoor Soccer.  He came home exhausted and happy but I have no photographic evidence.  D looked like death warmed over when I picked him up and everyone got free screen time until dinner.  He also attended a half day of soccer with a friend while the girls and I were getting checked and cleaned up at the dentist.  Thanks again, H, for the help!  I do want to note that K is always offered to be signed up for things, but she would rather stay home with N and I or have a play date with our neighbor, I.  Those 2 girls sure did play a lot over break!

He's done!  Taking one class at a time for years on end, my husband has earned his master's degree!  We felt so proud and are grateful we get to spend more time with him in the future.  My mother, M, and N and I were in attendance.  My father had asked for the day off work and didn't get it and I convinced K and D it would be boring and they should go to school.  M wasn't buying it.  Hubby had started this thing when she was a baby and she was not going to miss his graduation.  Yes, she got pretty bored, but when I picked her up from school that afternoon, her teacher told me how proud M was to tell her all about her daddy and his master's degree. We lucked out and were sitting in the same row as Hubby.  N waved to him over and over and over again. Crossing the stage. Out front. On the way back to the van. At the department party.  I was super impressed with how family friendly the staff had made the party.  Those balloo...

 The week before break was busy and fun.  Ward Christmas party, snowball fights, tithing settlement, H's Harry Potter's birthday party, our annual Hannukah FHE with a BYU friend of mine, Rijon, visiting, and delivering the group gift to K's classroom.  We have been watching a lot of Full House lately and my children have been encouraging N to pick up Michelle Tanner's tricks.  This is a picture of N going around and asking us if we can feed her piggy bank. I love watching M watch every scene Michelle is in.  She gets this cute grin of pride... one of the reasons I cave to screen time... that combined with the shortest days and longest nights of the year.  My favorite boy celebrated a half birthday with Star Wars cupcakes made by Grandma K and continues to earn Cub Scout belt loops and participation patches.  Here's a picture of a great mold culture that helped him earn his Germs Alive loop. These little ones were so excited I happened t...

 Hubby took the well children to see Santa while N slept and took them out to eat lunch -- and then see another Santa.  We've broken a new record! Luckily N was well recovered by the time the St. Nickolas festival at the Praha restaurant.  I was so happy my parents could join us and my children could be introduced to Krampus.  When N got scared while waiting in line Hubby suggested she scare Krampus back.  She was making the cutest snarling faces at him and growling a bit.  She was then really good at ignoring him while speaking with St. Nick.  K was super happy to happen to see one of her best friends from school.  One of N's classmates was there too.  (Check out K's new glasses too!  She had outgrown her old ones.)   Trying out the new Pie 5 restaurant after D attended a free karate class M had won. This little one still loves dropping off and picking up her siblings from school. And this guy is still loving Cub Sco...