Welcome Back, Dear Friend

A couple of weeks ago, our computer decided to die on us. I was freaking out, hoping that we wouldn't lose all of our pictures because I am a lazy sucker and haven't backed anything up yet. (Yes, I have learned my lesson and I will be backing everything up now!)

To make a long story short, we called a few different people and didn't know what to do about the dumb thing. I knew I wanted to try to get it fixed to save pictures and my iTunes stuff. My sanity would be shot without my dear iPod. :) Our good friend let us use his laptop in the meantime so that I wasn't completely shut off from the rest of the world (thank you SOOOO much, Jeremy) and it was Jeremy who talked to a guy at Staples about our computer. He said he happened to work on our specific computer a lot and that he would look at it. So we took it in to take a stab at it.

Okay, our original plan was to buy a laptop (approx. $550) and send the tower away to be fixed at HP ($200.) We had our computer at Staples for two days, and the guy gave it a tune up and said he couldn't find anything wrong with it and charged us $14.99. He seriously spent some time on the darn thing and said that if it acts up again, we can bring it back in and he will look at it again, but it should be fine. So far, so good. It is running like new. We were ready to spend about $800 on computer crap, but we got away with $14.99! What a deal! And we didn't' lose anything on this computer! I am so excited! Now I know why they say, "Staples, that was easy."

Now, I can breathe a sigh of relief and get back to my normal life. I can blog again! (Okay, I could have with Jeremy's computer too, but I was so afraid to screw up his computer!)

My life can get back to normal again....Well, after tomorrow it can. We have Rylee's baptism tomorrow, and she can't wait! So stay tuned for pictures!!!

Happy Birthday To Our Sweet Girl

I cannot believe that Rylee has turned eight. She is thinking that she is so big now. She HAD to have this dress for her birthday. She wanted it for Christmas, but I already had her Christmas dress picked out, so we got it for her birthday. She LOVES it. As soon as she put it on, the twirling started. You know that your little girl is still somewhat little when she still likes to twirl.

She was so excited for her birthday today and just had to get dressed up in her fancy new dress that she got. She decided how she wanted her hair and woke up in plenty of time to get all pretty and open her presents before school. We put her hair in curlers, painted her nails, got her dressed in her pretty new dress, and she was all primped and pretty for school.

And, she had plenty of time for pictures, of course. Here are a few of the favorites.

She is so proud of her "dangly" earrings. That's why we took this picture:

She was all smiles before school (well as much as she dared smile with that adorable toothy grin!) I can't believe that I have an eight year old. I couldn't be more proud of her. She is such a good kid and she is so excited to be baptized in a couple of weeks.

We love you, Rylee! Have a happy birthday, sweetie!

Her Creative Juices Are Flowing!!!

Lately, Rylee has been on a major creative kick! She will color and draw, play play doh, make posters, write in her journal, sing songs, write stories...anything creative lately.

Here are a couple of the recent creations:

She made a boy and a girl out of play doh that she got for Christmas. I was amazed at the detail that she thought to put on her creations.

And it has rubbed off onto her sister too. Lana now likes to create play doh people.




Another thing that Rylee has created is a song. She LOVES the guitar that she got for Christmas and she has been singing away with that thing. On Sunday night, she put on a little show for our family and my sister's family. If I would have known how stinking cute it was going to be I would have recorded it. I need to have her sing her song again so I can record it.



Anyway, she wrote this little song and these are the lyrics, written exactly as she wrote them (because I think the punctuation and spelling are so endearing!)


Mabie I'm too yung. Mabie I don't fit the job well. But I can still be...a little rock star. Case theres no rule theres no law. I can do what I think is cool. So I can still be a little rock star. It doesn't matter if I don't sing in shows. I can at least sing for one person. Or even my hole family. Case there is no rule there is no law. I can do what I think is cool. So I can still be...a little rock star. I could show evry one what it's all about. Of being a rock star. Just think about it having your own band. It would be as good as it can be. I would love to be...A little rock star case there is no rule there is no law. I can do what I think is cool. Mabie I'm too yung. Mabie I don't fit the job well. But I can still be...a little rock star.


Now tell me that is not too dang cute! I love that girl and her little creative personality. I'm glad she inherited that gene. I have no idea where she got it, but I hope it grows and flourishes as she grows up. I wish I could do what she does. She amazes me all the time. Her current goal is to write a book and illustrate it and find a publisher. Maybe instead of being a "little rock star" she could be a famous children's author! ;) Stay tuned...

Wow, What A Couple Of Weeks This Has Been...

We have been so busy, as I am sure everyone has been. We have been doing very important things.

Things like licking the Cool Whip container when we were finished making oh-so-yummy chocolate pies!

And making sure some got in his hair.

And things like going to Rylee's Christmas program at school. Grandma came with us, and it was such a good thing because Hayden took his ever important nap in her arms after running around like a stinker.

And then there is another very important job of licking the pan after I make fudge. I gave Rylee and Amelia spoons and let them go to town. How cute are they!

And then there is the important job of trying to figure out why Lana broke out in a crazy looking rash the Sunday before Christmas. I thought she may have had an allergic reaction of some sort. But two doses of Benadryl did nothing. This led me to the internet. And I was almost sure she has Fifth Disease. Then, lo and behold, I talk to Stephanie and I am describing Lana's symptoms and wouldn't you know that Tess has the same thing. WHEW! They both had Fifth Disease. They probably picked it up from church the week before or from preschool. I was relieved it was just that. That little bug is not a bad one to have. So here are the two sweet little "slapped cheek" girls.

And then Hayden and Kate had to jump in the picture too and give me a "Cheese!"

Another "important" item of business: Holiday Baking!!! I spent about seven hours the Sunday before Christmas making goodies to send with Bill to work. I love holiday baking. I sent three trays of stuff with him and had a blast making it all. (Thank you Alesha for the new Almond Roca recipe and the Mint Chocolate Cookie recipe - they will be a tradition every year now!)

There were about a million other things we had to do that were equally important, but because my brain has left me this holiday season, I didn't take my camera everywhere. My sister, Brooke, graduated from hair school. YAY Brooke!!! So we had a get-together for her the Saturday before Christmas.

My other sister, Tai, and I did a Christmas Eve party for all the kids and our families. It was lots of fun! The kids had a blast and since we have done this for the past few years, I think it qualifies as a tradition - right? That takes it to a whole new level of "important."

And then, of course, there was Christmas Day and the important duty of opening presents. The kids loved what they got and it was a fun morning with them.

Kate loved her new little baby buggy. Santa must have known that she loves playing with her babies!

Santa brought Rylee a guitar, and she could not stop playing it all day. She could have stopped opening presents after that one and she would have been happy. What a good day for her!

Lana loved getting this doll from Santa, but her favorite gifts were "The Wizard of Oz" DVD and the set of McDonalds Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz dolls. She loves them! She is really into that movie for some reason, and when I saw the set of dolls online while I was looking for the DVD, I couldn't resist. She always says she wants to get all of them, but we just don't go to McDonalds enough to get them.

Hayden got a lot of "Cars" things and loved them all. My parents gave him some "Cars" swim shorts, and he had to put them on right away. At least they coordinate with his "Cars" pajama top, right?

Bill even got a fun surprise from Santa. He got a remote-control helicopter. I guess that Santa knows you are never too old to get a toy for Christmas.

Then we were able to go over to my parents' house and talk to my little brother on the phone. Even though he is a missionary, he still has his sense of humor and his spunk. I love that kid and miss him tons. Those people in Tennessee are lucky to have him there.

We had a fantastic couple of weeks filled with family, friends and good memories. We hope you all did as well.

She Guessed It!

Classic story here:

Last night we were all hanging out as a family and Lana was asking if we could play a game. It was half an hour until bed time, so I wasn't in the mood to get out any games. Off the top of my head, I decided to play 20 Questions with them.

So the game began. I was laying on my back on the bed with Kate jumping on my gut. Lana, Rylee and Bill were all sitting on the bed for our rip-roaring game. I thought of something and the questions began.

"Is it a person?"

"Kind of," I replied.

"Do you hold it when you use it?" For any of you who have played the 20Q game, you know where Rylee got that question from.

"Can you eat it?" I would not recommend it.

I bet you are dying to know what I was thinking about, aren't you! You will find out soon, just like the rest of them did.

"Is it a holiday figure?" Rylee was on the right track.

"Is it Santa Claus?" Nope, not Santa Claus.

"Is it baby Jesus?" Nope. Keep guessing.

At this point, Kate stands up on my stomach as tall as she can and sings, "Foseee, Nowman!"

I couldn't help giggling. She guessed it!!! Hayden and Kate love Frosty the Snowman and they sing the song all the time. It was so cute that she guessed it right on cue.

When I laughed and said, "You guessed it, Kate," everyone started laughing right along with me. It was one of those funny moments that just was so cute that we need to remember it. And my whole family was saying, "You gotta blog this!"

I love moments like this with my family during the holidays when we are all together just laughing and enjoying our time together.

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Tag

Steph tagged me for this Christmas meme. I haven't blogged for a while because I have been so busy, but this one looked like fun. So here it goes:

Christmas Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? Wrapping paper

2. When do you put the tree up? The day after Thanksgiving

3. When do you take the tree down? Sometime between Christmas and New Year's Day - whenever I can't stand the tree any more.

4. Eggnog?? BARF!!!

5. Favorite gift received as a child? That one is hard. Probably the year that I got my first Cabbage Patch Doll.

6. Hardest person to buy for? Our parents.

7. Easiest person to buy for? This year - Hayden. He likes anything "Cars," "Mickey Mouse," or "Thomas."

8. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, and I LOVE it!

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Christmas cards! I love to get them, so why wouldn't other people?

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received? Wow, that one is hard. Off the top of my head I really can't think of a bad one. Guess I'm lucky.

11. Favorite Christmas movie? White Christmas

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? After Thanksgiving. I would like to start earlier, but Bill hates to. So we are last minute shoppers.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't think so, unless you count my kids playing with the Cabbage Patch stuff and My Little Ponies that I got as a kid.

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Home-made chocolates.

15. Lights on the tree? Yes. Who doesn't?

16. Favorite Christmas song? Canon in D, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, O Holy Night, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas (that one's for you, Dad!)

17. Least favorite Christmas song? Santa Baby

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Heavens, yes. I have four kids. I better be able to!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither - a big bow.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? On Christmas Eve, the kids all get new pajamas and a book. Then we read all of their new books to them before bed. The rest of the presents have to wait until Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Too many parties. I just want to spend time with my kids and make goodies.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have several ornaments that I love. My mom has given us ornaments every year, and I love them all.

24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Either a turkey dinner or Yummy potatoes, little smokies (not for me, but the kids love them), homemade French bread, veggies, crackers, etc. Now I'm hungry.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Nuttin'!

I would love to see the answers on this tag for Mom, Tai, Ashley, and Brooke. Have fun!!!

The Little Sneak

This is what I have caught Kate doing twice this week:



I walk into my room and can hear her little noises and her little voice saying, "ELMO!" So I look in my closet where Bill and I have stashed a bunch of Christmas presents and there she is. She has peeked under the blanket that is covering the gifts and found one of hers.


She SO gets that from me. I can control myself now, but I used to be the biggest "peeker." She knows that she is busted, but she is happy about it.

At least we know that she will like one of her gifts. I just hope she doesn't lead the other kids in there and show them her discovery!:)