on the tenth day of christmas

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30

We got to visit with my high school friend Bekki. She has two daughters (ages 7 & 3). Our kids play amazingly well together, especially since they only see each other once or twice a year. We decided to take our kids down to the Upper Newport Bay Interpretive Center. It's a free nature walk and a free kids science center. Our nature walk was brief because it was cold and sprinkling rain. But the kids had a blast in the science center. Tyler loved all the coloring pages.Natalie was obsessed with the animal tanks and cages (fish, snakes, tarantulas, toads, etc.) and the puzzles.

Brandon spent most of his time creating animal puppet shows with Bekki's daughters.

Thankfully we went there in the morning, since the whole afternoon it downpoured rain. My mom and I decided there isn't much to do indoors for kids in mild-climate southern California where everything is created for outdoors! We spent the afternoon playing games and trying to keep the kids from destroying my parents' house and Tyler from getting any more injuries (after 3 head wounds in 3 days).

on the ninth day of christmas

TUESDAY DECEMBER 29th

In the morning I took the kids to one of their favorite parks to play at whenever we come to visit. Tyler has officially named it "the spinny park" because it has several unusual spinning pieces of equipment. My favorite part is that is has the rubberized foam instead of messy sand or bark that cannot be thrown at anyone! It was a gorgeous day outside, so after naptime and attempting to play in my parent's very small backyard, we took the kids to a different park. This park happens to be right next to the fire station. I noticed that the fire truck was there, so we walked over. Firefighter Kevin (my kids thought he was cool because he had daddy's name) was very nice and let the kids sit in the fire truck, try on a jacket, and gave them stickers. The kids were especially excited because these were "real" red fire trucks (the ones in our area are blue & white for some reason). As we were walking away they got a call and we watched the fire truck leave with lights & sirens, so it was perfect timing.

on the eighth day of christmas

This is actually 3 days rolled into one post...but we didn't do much, there are not many photos, and also the "12 days of Christmas" wouldn't work out well!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 26th

With our house empty of company for a half day, we caught up on housework and laundry. The kids enjoyed their new Christmas toys and the boys especially loved building and playing with their awesome new remote control Lego train set. Thanks again Grandpa & Grandma Park!
I spent the day packing for our trip to California. My parents moved down to our house Saturday afternoon and took us to dinner at Joe's Farm Grill, a restaurant I've been wanting to try for awhile. The food was good, but not worth the hype. It would definitely be better when the weather was a bit warmer and we could eat outside.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 27th

Tyler's very last day as a Sunbeam and he finally got to give his first Primary talk (huge primary + only one talk per week = not many primary talk opportunities). His topic was "My Family Is Blessed When We Remember Jesus" and he did an excellent job. Grandma was thrilled to be visiting and be able to hear him.

MONDAY DECEMBER 28th

I decided that a whole week of dealing with three kids' post-holiday craziness by myself was not a fun idea, so we caravaned with my mom and dad back to California for our second week of school break. Kevin stayed in Arizona to work and get Natalie's room painted and will fly over on New Years Eve to celebrate with us and help us drive home. The kids did pretty well on the drive over and we even managed to stay with my dad for about 75% of the drive...a challenging feat considering he refuses to use a cell phone. And my mom and I created a new motto, "what happens in the van stays in the van!" (she will be the only one that understands this inside joke, but I want to remember what happened...aren't you all dying of curiosity now?!?) The kids made themselves right at home with Legos and baby dolls (as well as fighting, screaming, running through the house, and waking up at 6:00 a.m.).

on the seventh day of christmas

FRIDAY DECEMBER 25th

Christmas morning felt somewhat anti-climatic after we had already opened a bunch of presents on Christmas Eve with my family. But Santa did come and the kids were excited about their gifts. Brandon really wanted a Nintendo DS but Santa (or rather, Mrs. Claus) over here is cheap and doesn't like video games. Thankfully the disappointment only lasted about 2 seconds and he was happy with his large Lego set. Tyler really wanted a new remote control car from Santa and got what he wanted. Natalie still doesn't really have a clue about Santa, but was excited about her Princess scooter (or "cooter" as she calls it). Grandma & Grandpa were with us most of the day and Eric & Amy were here until they had to leave for the airport about 1:30. My sister and her family joined us later in the afternoon for a few hours. Other favorite photos & memories of this day:

Natalie napping in the car on the way home from the airport...doesn't she look comfortable?

Brandon and Kevin trying out Tyler's new Twister game.

Lots of cuddling and playing with Grandma & Grandpa!

Figuring out and becoming addicted to Brandon's new game Qwirkle.

We got to Skype with Kevin's parents for a few minutes and the boys were thrilled with the huge Lego train set that they sent.

We hope your Christmas was as wonderful as ours!

on the sixth day of christmas

THURSDAY DECEMBER 24th

We did our family celebration a day early because Eric & Amy were flying out on Christmas Day. It was really nice to be able to spread these gifts from their Carlson grandparents out a day earlier than the Santa ones plus the ones from Kevin & I plus the ones from the Park grandparents.

One of our family traditions is to take a photo of all the grandkids in front of the tree and presents before we start opening.

Back row: Brandon (7), Brooke (10), Kelly (7), Ryan (13)

Front Row: Natalie (2), Tyler (4), Sean (4)A few of my kids' favorite presents from their grandparents included:

Workbooks for Tyler (he actually chose to stay and look at them instead of going to the park later)

Baseball bat for Brandon

Dress up clothes for Natalie Other fun family photos and memories of the afternoon include (from L to R):

• Eric with his ornament earrings
• Tyler & Sean waiting very patiently in the armchair for their turn
• Grandpa Claus
• Ryan giving Natalie a piggyback ride
• Grandma opening the final gift which was a professional photo of all the grandkids together (we haven't done one for 5 years)
• Amy playing with their new camera

It was such a beautiful afternoon we took the kids to the park to play (since Brandon promptly kicked Sean's brand new soccer ball over our back wall). They played baseball, soccer, and on the park equipment. You just can't beat a warm Arizona Christmas!

That evening the four older kids did a program for us which included a piano recital and a skit. We had asked them to perform the nativity story. When Brandon told me he needed to wear red to play Santa I asked why they weren't doing the baby Jesus story. He said, "we decided we liked Santa better than baby Jesus!"

on the fifth day of christmas

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 23rd

I don't usually do sugar cookies because they are too time and labor intensive and messy (and not enough chocolate for me!). But we thought it would be fun to let the cousins decorate them as an activity. Natalie just enjoyed eating the toppings and licking the frosting.Tyler created some lovely masterpieces. Either they were smeared through with his (licked) finger or they had about 1/2 jar of decorations on them.
In the afternoon we took the kids to McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (what we had planned to do on Tuesday before the rainstorm). For those who live here or are planning to visit, it's well worth the time, especially at the holidays. The seven cousins (above) and our family (below).

The park has two playgrounds, a carousel, model trains, and two train rides.

We got in line early to ride the nighttime holiday train ride, but still had to wait about 1/2 hour. We entertained ourselves with food and my camera. Please note the half-chewed candy cane in Brandon's mouth. And no, the picture of Kevin & Natalie isn't sideways...he was leaning her over the rail on the train platform!My kids were thrilled to wear their "big coats" for the second time in one week. For us warm-weather creatures, the 50 degree temperature was downright frigid! All 13 of us (minus my sister who was the photographer). My brother-in-law had to work late and my dad wasn't feeling up to it with his broken toe so they weren't there.

on the fourth day of christmas

TUESDAY DECEMBER 22nd

Tuesday was a very quiet day. The three men had to work, and the afternoon rainstorm ruined our outdoor plans. But it was nice to get caught up on a few things around the house and Amy was awesome playing with our kids. Natalie even let Amy braid her hair. I was in complete awe, since usually Natalie runs away crying when I even mention her hair!

on the third day of christmas

MONDAY DECEMBER 21st

The morning was fairly uneventful, as three of the four men in the family had to work. It was my brother's birthday so we helped him enjoy his free dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. But the afternoon & evening excitement never stopped!

First my dad tripped over a toy and fell, catching his foot on a piece of furniture and breaking his toe. If you'll recall, last year my dad fell at the temple lights...Arizona is not good for his body!He refused to get medical care so we taped, iced, and drugged him up and continued on with our pizza dinner and seeing the temple lights. Dad obviously did not join us there, which was a very smart decision because it was the busiest I've seen it in the 10 years we've attended. Our kids enjoyed the novelty of wearing their coats again.
Tyler and his cousin Sean (born 4 days apart) were inseparable and holding hands the whole time. I plan to save this photo for teenage bribery purposes! After seeing the temple lights we went back to my sister's house to celebrate Eric's birthday (and Amy's birthday that is in January) with cupcakes and ice cream.

Eric & Amy joined us again for another rousing game of Ticket to Ride. The score is now:

Eric=2 wins

Amy=1 win

Kevin=0 wins

Danika=0 wins

on the second day of christmas

SUNDAY DECEMBER 20th

Sunday we went to church and then had our "traditional" Christmas turkey dinner. We usually don't have our big meal on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day because we've found it's too much time & work when combined with all the other festivities. The adult (and Natalie) table above...and the kids table below. I love how my family doesn't care about the fancy stuff or decorations. We use plain paper plates and plastic cups for our dinners.
After dinner we attempted a quick photo shoot. Grandpa & Grandma and the kids and then the whole group.
We had five kinds of pie for dessert and then Eric & Amy came back to our house to play Ticket to Ride (Eric had my name for the gift exchange and gave me my present early so we could play it together all week).

on the first day of christmas

These won't be daily entries, but I need to start recording all the fun things we are doing together as a family whenever I can so I won't have 2 weeks' worth of entries to catch up on later...

SATURDAY DECEMBER 19th

My parents had been here two days, but this was the day my brother and his wife joined us (they had been here in Arizona for a week visiting Amy's sister but we hadn't seen them yet). We made our third annual temple visit to do sealings. Forget all the gifts, this is what Christmas is really about. There is nothing better than all being together in the temple. We ended the night with a delicious prime rib dinner at Black Angus. I love this adult-only tradition!

tyler's preschool christmas program

Today was Tyler's preschool Christmas program. It was a beautiful sunny "winter" day here (72 degrees) so she did it in her backyard. You can see why Tyler loves preschool and why I love his teacher! After 3 failed attempts to upload a short video clip, I give up...sorry!

Rest assured it was perfectly adorable.

love it vs. hate it

HATE IT:

• Boys that mistook 5:30 a.m. for 6:30 a.m. (the time they are allowed to come out of their room) this morning


• Thinking you're finally done shopping or mailing or baking or wrapping and then realizing you forgot someone (or someone sends or gives you something and you feel obligated to respond in kind)


• A month where you have to fit in all your regular chores and errands PLUS christmas stuff = headaches & stress


• My house that still needs to be cleaned


• Kids that are so hyper they are uncontrollable


• Realizing that 2 1/2 weeks of being spoiled by Grandma is going to make some bratty kids


• Costco or the mall the week before Christmas is pure suicide


• Thinking that the week between Christmas and New Years would be the "perfect time" to re-decorate Natalie's room


• People who complain that they have "no money" and then I hear/see how much they buy their kids for Christmas


• Snowbirds (the elderly people who come live here during the wintertime)

LOVE IT:

• Eating christmas goodies!


• Hearing Brandon explain "the true meaning of Christmas is Baby Jesus' birth" to Natalie every time she mentions Santa.


• Enjoying trips to the mailbox and hearing from friends and family


• Babysitting co-op so I can do shopping without a certain little girl "helper"


• My den that finally got cleaned out


• Parents that arrive tomorrow and my brother and sister-in-law that arrive two days later


• A successful Family Home Evening on Monday night (kids listened, participated, and remembered)!


• An internet connection problem that was fixed with a $15 cable instead of a $80 modem


• Christmas music


• Boys that are making special gifts (love notes and drawings) for each person in our family (and Santa) and putting them under the tree


• The most wonderful time of the year...even with all its frustrations and craziness!

personal history: january and february 2005

PERSONAL HISTORY

JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2005

The first two months of 2005 went both slowly & quickly. Slowly because I was hugely pregnant. But quickly because it was our last few months to prepare for the birth of our second child. Brandon was already a full-time job by himself. The thought of having more to do and another baby to take care was beyond terrifying.

We finished Brandon's new room and got him moved into it, including transferring him into a big boy bed. I was scared that we would find him wandering the house in the middle of the night or that he wouldn't stay in it for nap time, but he did fantastic! We told him to let us know when he was done sleeping and we would come get him off his bed, and he actually listened (he even continued to do this for the whole next year). I was relieved and amazed.

My brother-in-law's grandmother passed away at the beginning of February. It was not unexpected (she was in her mid 80's and had been sick), but it was still sad to lose her. She lived locally and she treated our family like her own.

Also on the same day, a man I had worked with died tragically when he suffered a heart attack while he was driving which caused a car accident. He was Mormon (one of only three in the company), he was the father of 13 kids, and he was in my stake, so I felt a special bond with him.

Unfortunately both of these funerals occurred at the same time on the same day so I could only attend one. I went to Grandma Turner's. Then I tried to compose myself and rushed over to a baby shower that was being held in my honor. Brandon (age 2 1/2) and his cousin Kelly (almost 3) were still best friends.

Me at 38 weeks pregnant, for those who have not had the pleasure of seeing me hugely pregnant in person!

This will be my last personal history entry for this year. Sorry to leave you hanging...the next entry will be Tyler's birth!

I've done 45 personal history entries total this year, covering almost 8 years (May 1997-February 2005). I'm almost done! Only 2 1/2 more years to write about (I will stop at the point where I started blogging in August 2007).

ward christmas breakfast

This morning was our ward christmas breakfast. Good food + good friends = good fun!

Santa was even there! This year he was in the foyer as people came in which was much better than last year when he came at the end and we had to wait in a 45-minute line.

Brandon was (surprisingly) our brave child who volunteered to go first! He told Santa he wanted a DS (which Santa will NOT be bringing him this year...Santa is cheap over here).
Tyler was (surprisingly) scared and didn't want to sit on Santa's lap. But he wanted the candy cane and toy so he suffered through. His photo is blurry because he was only sitting there 4.2 seconds.

We were curious to see what Natalie would do after last year's Santa disaster (see photo HERE if you don't remember). She was really excited to go to the party and see Santa...right up until we told her it was her turn to sit on his lap! As you can see by this year's photo she wasn't thrilled, but at least she wasn't crying. Like Tyler, she mostly just wanted the candy cane and toy. (I just realized she's wearing the same outfit as in the previous post...that photo was taken last week)

The boys ate more than I think I've seen them eat for breakfast EVER. Then they started Christmas karaoke. Some singers were good, some were terrible. But Natalie didn't care - she was a singing and dancing maniac!

where does the time go???

Natalie is 2 1/2 today and is now doing 24-piece puzzles. I will be signing her up for preschool and dance lessons in a few months.

Tyler is almost 5 and I will register him for kindergarten next month.

Brandon is already halfway done with 2nd grade and will be baptized in eight months. And he uses words like "syllabicate" and "mimicry" when telling me what he did at school during the day!

How did this happen? Where does the time go? I remember when Brandon was a baby and the days seemed to pass so slowly. Now I blink an eye and another month or another year has flown by. I'm finally beginning to believe all those people who told me "you better enjoy them while they are little because they grow up so fast!"

my kids are funny

Here are the latest funnies from my kids. Okay, some probably aren't that funny to you (the "had to be there" moments), but they showcase their personalities perfectly.

• A few days ago Tyler was telling Brandon about how he saw a bird on the drive to his friend's house during preschool carpool. Brandon's response, "Well, did you crush it?"


• Last night for Family Home Evening we were discussing the Nativity Story. I asked Tyler if he remembered what the wise men rode on to visit baby Jesus. His answer, "CANNIBALS!"


• Later in the lesson, I asked Brandon if he remembered what the three gifts were that the wise men brought to baby Jesus. He said, "Gold, (we had to help him with Frankincense), and MURMUR!"


• This morning Tyler told me I smelled like ornaments. (not sure what that smells like, but I'm going to pretend it's a good thing, especially since I was already showered)


• Natalie was having a meltdown the other day (not sure what happened, I was out of the room). As she was crying, out of the clear blue sky she said, "I want Pirate Booty!" (this was not the cause of the meltdown, but apparently it's her new comfort item! And for those who don't know what Pirate Booty is, it's cheesy puffed air snacks - similar to Cheetos)

personal history: christmas 2004

PERSONAL HISTORY: CHRISTMAS 2004

Nothing noteworthy happened over these holidays. Just the usual: My mom and dad and my brother Eric were all here in Arizona celebrating. It is easier for them to come to us than for my sister & I to haul both our families to California and all squish in my parents' house.

Since we had just bought & started using our digital camera (which are making these entries SO much easier!), I took almost 100 photos. Here are some of my favorite ones from Christmas 2004.

Sidenote: it's really hard for me to believe that this is the age that Natalie is this Christmas and that Brandon is now 7 years old and doing piano recitals (see previous post). Oh how time flies! Brandon with Grandpa Carlson
Brandon with Uncle Eric Carlson

Brandon (age 2) with his cousin Kelly (age 2 1/2)

I can't remember exactly what Brandon was doing, but this photo makes me laugh every time I see it!

My brother-in-law Tom got the Darth Vader talking helmet so all the kids had to play with it of course. I bet you've never seen Darth Vader with a sippy cup!

Brandon (who was far too interested in the puzzle to look at the camera) with Grandpa, Grandma, and Eric.

My sister and I both pregnant (Vikki at 28 weeks, me at 30 weeks).