Epiphany

Months ago I came to a realization about our holidays. Christmas and Easter are the only holidays that have a magical person/creature that comes and gives us things. We don't have a magical eagle for the 4th of July that comes and brings us Old Navy glory t-shirts. There isn't Trevor the Thanksgiving Turkey to lay some golden eggs in our shoes. Not even a Labor Day ant eater to come wipe out the varment infestation. Christmas and Easter are the only holidays that are supposed to be about Jesus Christ yet are the only ones that have things to distract us from the real meaning behind the celebration. The thought struck me and I haven't felt the same since. This year I made 87% of the few gifts that I gave. I didn't get to go see all the shopping frenzy and see all the crazy deals and fake Santas that drive us further from the celebration of our Savior's birth. It was great!

Next year I am not going to give as many gifts to my children, but just keep things simple. I'm going to do more things for others. I want my children to grow up appreciating the things they have and learning that the greatest happiness comes not in what they get, but what they give. I am grateful for this holiday season and the time it gives me to reflect on the many blessing that I have, the greatest being my Savior and friend Jesus Christ. I hope to do better in the year to come and think less of myself and more about others. Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!

One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me. I was maybe 2 1/2 years old and had just recovered from an accident.

Someone had Given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of myFavorite toys.

Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought Daddy a little cup of 'tea' (which was just water).

After several cups of Tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Mom came home.

My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, Because it was 'just the cutest thing!'

My Mom waited, and sure enough, here I come down the hall with a cup of Tea for Daddy and she watches him drink it up.

Then she says, (as only a mother would know), 'Did it ever occur to you That the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?'Hahahahaha....I got this in an email and about peed all over myself. Hope you pee all over yourself too ;)

Tree Lighting Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Tree Lighting Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

Smart, Cute, Silly, Funny, Laughable Regan

Today was like any other Sunday. It entailed waking up at 6:45 with Regan calling me from her bed, "Mama.....I'm awake mama."
Me: "Ok, come here."
Regan: "I don't want to come here. You need to come lay with me. The sun's awake."

She is definately an early riser. Then a mad dash ensued to get them fed and ready for church all the while kicking and screaming about not wanting to get their dresses on. Sacrament meeting was typical: both girls figeting, talking, screaming, wanting in, out, and all about with Jason finally taking them both out for the majority of the meeting. They both did great in nursery which is a blessing seeing how we usually have to stay in nursery for part or most of the time to be with them.

After church we try to have a family nap time and it usually works, but this time Regan and Sophie crawled all over me in bed for 2 hours while Jason did dishes and studied a home teaching lesson. Jason went home teaching and Sophie fell asleep. I traced Regan's hand about 10 times and we drew faces into the fingers. She loved that.

Jason got home and starts cooking dinner. Regan comes up to me bobbing her head back and forth singing (to the tune of "If you chance to meet a frown...") "Can we have some candy pwease, can we have some candy pwease, can we have some candy pweee-ase, can we have some candy pwease?" I mean, she got the tune, the pitch, the head bob so right on!! I had to give her some candy for that performance. What a smarty pants.

A while later she's playing and laughting and then climbs onto our speakers.
Regan: "I'm just mad now. I'm upset." With arms folded and a scowl.
Me: "I'm sorry. Why are you mad?"
Regan: "I just want to be mad for a minute. I need to pray." She then starts praying and doing a great job. When she's done she stands up, smiles and says, "I'm happy now. I'm all better."
Me: "Oh my goodness! I'm so glad! Praying does help us feel better."
Regan: "I prayed mama!" a few seconds later "I'm just mad again"
The process repeats over and over with her being mad, praying, and then feeling better.

Later that night Jason went to school and I got the kids ready for bed. I turned on the First Presidency Christmas devotional,which was excellent by the way...well, what I could hear of it from the girls playing and wanting me to read books to them. Regan pointed to President Eyring and said, "Look, it's Heavenly Father!"
Me: "That's not Heavenly Father. That's Pres. Eyring. He helps Heavenly Father."
Regan: "Heavenly Father loves us."
Me: "He sure does."
Then she started singing, "I am like a star shining brightly" but just end part that says, "Cause I know Heavenly Father loves me."

I was so impressed with her. I think today I have realized more than ever that my little Regan is growing up and understanding more. I have been painfully aware lately that she picks up and remembers so many things that I don't think about. I want her to remember in years to come that I love her and showed it, not that I was always getting after her for being naughty. What a blessing she is to me.

We went to the park and I got these rapid fire pictures of her being silly. They make me laugh so I had to share.

Random, unimportant things you always wanted to know about me!

Copy the list and highlight the ones that are true about you.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii ( I was only 9 months old though :(
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (just the airport)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (well I got to see them in person)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (I haven't killed my kids yet :)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Read a book all through the night
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Talked your way out of a ticket

Now you see it, now you don't

WARNING: What you are about to see may shock and horrify you. Please proceed with caution. (And don't send me hate mail.)


I know many of you commented last post on how pretty Regan's hair is. I agree. She has amazing curl to it and it looks so gorgeous when she lets me do it. But that is the key...WHEN SHE LETS ME...which is almost never. She hates me to brush it and runs away at even the suggestion of it. If I do manage to get a pony tail in, she pulls it out within a few minutes. I'm sick of her fighting me and looking like she's a little orphan whom nobody loves enough to do her hair.
So I took it upon myself to liberate her from the fight. Yes, I did it myself and if any of you readers are hair dressers then please turn a blind eye. The only other hair I've cut is Jason's, so girls' hair with layers was a challenge, but amazingly enough she held still. I only had to fight Sophie from crawling all over me and Regan trying to get the scissors.

This was after her bath. And might I add, quite easy to do. Only a comb. No detangler, pik, brush, and straps to tie her down...hahaha.

Ambition

We have had a wobbly old table from D.I. for about 6 years and I was sick of it. The girls liked to climb on it and it moved like a surf board. So I was out and about at none other than the D.I. and I found this beauty. So much potential, and I love the shape and curves, not to mention it doesn't wobble! It even has a leaf with it. I thought...oh it won't take much to restore it. A little sanding and a little paint and...wualah....a beautiful place to lay my not so beautiful cooking.

A dozen pieces of sand paper, 3 cans of paint, 3 cans of varnish, countless hours, and 2 1/2 months later my beauty is finished. It only took Sophie all of 2 seconds to scratch up the varnished top with a fork. Ugh. Maybe next summer I'll take it out and re-sand and re-varnish the top.I have set up my sewing machine and I didn't think I would like sewing that much, but it is starting to grow on me. When I moved the beautiful dining table in and saw it with our (free) office, dining chairs that are....well, pretty much disgusting from the girls getting food all over them, I knew that I needed to make covers for them that could be washed. Not too shabby for a novice eh? Don't mind the food under the chair....hahaha.

More Reganisms

Regan calls older women grandmas and yesterday was no exception. We were at the park and an older lady was there with her grankids. Regan goes up to her and shows her the sticks she had been collecting and calling her grandma. She got stuck on the ladder and was calling out "Help grandma-friend". I went over to her and said that I could help her, but she adamantly stated that she wanted grandma-friend to help her, which is what she does when her real grandmas are around anyway. Bless that old ladies heart, she was as nice as could be to her. Today I was talking to Regan about praying when we need help and she reminded me that she was stuck on the bars and was calling to grandma-friend to help her.
For the last month or so, when Regan has been sad and can't find me she'll say, "I want mama de Kristo (mama the Kristal)." "I was looking for you mama de Kristo". What the!?!?! Cracks me up everytime!!

Fun with Cousins

The girls and I got to spend some time with family last week and they had so much fun playing with their cousins. Sophie would spend all day in the swing if I let her.

Regan likes to swing but she LOVES going down slides. Yesterday I asked her a question and she said, "Cause I'm a lady, that's why." What the.... where did she get that from? I got a good chuckle out of it.

Brinley kept asking me to push her higher, "up to the sky!!"

Carson is a good lookin' kid and loved playing with Regan and Sophie.

Sophie didn't want to come inside with everyone else, so I left her and went to the bathroom. This was how I found her when I went back outside. Kelly N.....these pictures are for you. This happened the same day we were talking about random places kids fall asleep!

Sweet little Dopher. At 18 months she is just barely starting to grow out of 6-9mo pants into 12mo pants. I call her my little short stack. She may be tiny but she is LOADED with personality. Great things come in small packages!

Anderson Family Pumpkin Party

My cute little bumble bee. I love the little stinger on the back. Thanks Bailey's for the costume.

Janie as a cute lady bug.

Regan was a witch with a skirt that I made her. She didn't want to wear the wig or hat though, so she is just a cute apprentice witch.
Sophie decided she wanted to wear the witch hat.

Then she got tired of hats altogether.

Ideas for Homemade Gifts

Check it out!

I got an A!!!

Well, technically Jason got an A on this project he did, but I did most of it. Jason needed help getting his work done on time so I made a little flip album and he finished it with a wood cover. When they turned in the projects his teacher picked Jason's out and said he had never seen anything like it and it was impressively cool. He got the highest grade in the class.....so hooray for me...if I was in the program I'd be doin' pretty good!! The funny thing is, his classmates knew that I had made it and were probably sitting there silently cursing Jason and his amazing wife while his teacher raved about it.....hahahahahahahah!!!

Back at it

My mother-in-law bought the girls cute matching halloween outfits and trying to get them to sit together for a shot was like trying to tell a fly to sit still.


Sophie is so dang funny. Currently her favorite words are "no way" and "cookie". She is a little cookie monster. About every five minutes she is tugging on my hand and saying cookie. My mom taught her how to say delicious and I get a kick out of it everytime she says it. Peese (please) is another word she is learning pretty well. If she starts screaming for no good reason and I tell her to stop, she automatically says peese, in a soft voice. She loves to sing and dance and when she tilts her head to the side, hand outstretched, and asks for cookie dough "peese" at 10:30 pm, there is no way I can say no.

Regan is my little helper. If there is a dirty diaper in any garbage besides the kitchen garbage, you can count on her to get it to the kitchen. She loves to help change Sophie's diapers and she really takes after her dad in that regard....i.e. wiping with a wet wipe once and then getting another wet wipe. If I'm cooking she wants to be right there to help.
She is pretty tender hearted. Sometimes when she's crying for no apparent reason I start my fake cry to go along with her. She looks at me and says, "Don't be sad mama. Why you sad? I want you to be happy." Little tears start welling up in her eyes and she starts crying because I'm (fake) crying. Pretty cute. I sometimes fake cry just to see her little bottom lip pucker out and have her rub my cheek softly.

One thing I really don't love is having the girls help me cook, but the mess is forgotten when I see this cute little face.

Now this is some serious brownie eating time.

Sophie thinks Regan is pretty funny. All that brownie mix tuckered her right out.

Is that a 5 o'clock shadow?
Nope...just lipstick.

What is the fascination with make-up?!?!?

Picture mania

So my break in AZ was just what I needed to refill my patience tanks. They were running on empty. I made some little aprons for the girls. I think they turned out pretty cute. The girls wouldn't take them off.
I had a camera with me so I guess people thought that I knew how to take pictures so I ended up doing 4 photo shoots while I was there. I really don't know what I'm doing, I just have good subjects to work with. Here are some of my favorites
These pictures of Gavin turned out so cute. He's a little Yankee Doodle Boy...

Then I just got some random shots.