Under the Shadow of T-Rex

 Above, I guess Ben didn't want to sleep alone.  Mitchell didn't seem to mind the company...  Below: Ben bought these three plants from our neighbor's garage sale for my birthday.  They needed to be replanted, but as that is NOT my forte, Andy did them for me after finals were over!  Sadly, he left them on the table when he went to work.  Mitchell LOVES to be on the table and pulled most of the dirt out of all three pots not just once, but twice...joy!  Then, mom's brain finally clicked and they were moved to the counter until they could be hung up!

 On December 14th, we pulled the kids out of school early and headed to Dallas for the holidays.  It was a long drive, but thankfully VERY uneventful!  The kids did fantastic, as usual.  We weren't sure about Mitchell, but he was surprisingly happy for the 21 hours in the car!  He claimed this rocking chair in Grandma's Christmas Wonderland as soon as we got there.  (By the time we left, her tree was surprisingly top-heavy...any guesses why?!)

 We found a cute little Peanuts nativity two days before we left and had to get it for Grandpa.  He loves Peanuts.  My mom is a little bit Christmas-happy.  She has tubs and tubs of decorations that take Grandpa an entire day to get out of the attic.  We decided that Grandpa needed a decoration of his own!  (And one that is safe for little Mitchell-hands!)

 After running our 15K on Saturday morning, we hung out at home, showered, got ready, then headed downtown to the Dallas Museum of Science in Fair Park.  We met Uncle Roy in the parking lot!

 Finally the ceremony begins!  Andy and Uncle Rusty were groomsmen.  My nieces Addy and Cosette were bridesmaids.  Annie and Emily were flower girls, and Ben was the ring-bearer.  And I tell you - that boy is a STUD in a tux!  (The wedding had a steam punk theme, so Andy and Ben got matching pocket watches for their tuxes.)

 Yes, Uncle Roy and Tia Christina got married under the watchful eye of T-Rex.  They both love science and decided to exchange their vows in a place they love!  It was beautiful!!!

 These sweet girls!!!  They had on heels for the first time, although I was going for efficiency and bought the Velcro straps instead of the buckle straps.  DUMB move!  However, the one and only time the girls have worn the shoes and the straps haven't come undone, was as they walked down two flights of stairs with a room full of people looking on.  :)  The girls came and sat with my sisters and I on the front row during the ceremony (and were entertained with a plethora of electronics!), but Emily was pretty stressed about something.  We finally figured it out - she had ONE black silk flower left in her basket!

 We all quite love Christina.  She's the best thing to happen to Roy in a very very long time!!!

 This handsome little guy doing his job!  Sadly most of my pictures didn't turn out so well, since I was also trying to videotape at the same time...alas...the photographer will have some too!

 This was my favorite part that went WAY too fast!  My three little munchkins with linked arms going back up the stairs...

 The beautiful wedding party!  After pictures - a BBQ dinner - then lots of dancing!  Sadly, my battery died and I missed the unposed shots, but we had a great time!  Thanks for letting us share in your special night!  Congrats to Roy and Christina!!!

One Goal Down...

 I have a neighbor that I have gotten to know much better this year as her daughter started kindergarten and rides the bus with Ben and Annie.  We chat each morning and each afternoon.  She like to run and was getting ready for a marathon last October.  Over the course of a several days, my confidence was boosted just enough for me to convince 2 of my siblings that they wanted to run a 15K with me while we were in Dallas.  :)  My neighbor said she'd help me get ready.  It was so great to have support each morning and afternoon!  Then I found a lady from church who loves to run.  She let me borrow a few books to read, as well as her old gps watch to train with.  And - I was off!!! 

 I had two major turning points during this training process.  First, an email from a very athletic cousin who basically told me I COULD run 3 miles without stopping and just go DO IT.  I did- and felt great!  Second, a friend came to town to visit her mom for Thanksgiving.  We did a 4-mile Fun Run on Thursday, then she did my 8 mile long run with me (at my pace instead of hers...quite a bit slower!).  We found that the lap I had been doing my training on were actually 1.1 miles - we ended up running 9 miles that day.  I knew I could do 9.3 in four weeks.  I just knew it!

 I had signed Andy up for the race.  He did great going to the gym through September, slowed down in October, and just hit a few times in November.  I didn't think he was still going to run with us since he hadn't gone more than 5 miles.  However, did I mention that my pace is pretty slow?!?  I followed Jeff Galloway's Run/Walk method...and highly recommend it!  The first mile we ran for a minute/walked for a minute.  2nd mile we ran for 2 minutes/walked for 1 minute.  By the 3rd mile we were up to pace with running 3 minutes/walking 1 minute...until Nancy's legs started having issues.  We had the most beautiful day in Dallas but a bunch of hills....  My brother Rusty was just there to keep us company.  He did break a sweat, but more because it was warm outside.  :)  We had fun just doing it together!  Bonus: we weren't too sore later on to dance the night away at Roy's wedding!

It was a fantastic experience and definitely one I want to repeat.  Guess what?  A friend told me about a 1/2 marathon in Akron...on a Saturday...that happens to be our 12th anniversary.  We have 3 months to get ready!!!

Dear Santa,

 The Primary children had a Christmas activity where Santa came to visit.  On the way to the church, Ben and I had a very interesting conversation.  He asked what religion Santa is.  Ben has been studying several different religions in school, so I could see where this question was coming from.  He came to the conclusion that this a very busy time of year, so Santa must just not go to church at all because he has to make so many toys for kids....hmmm. 

 I kind of turned the question back of him.  Well, why does Santa bring presents?  To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the Savior of the world, which makes him Christian.  We've had several conversations about Christians, Mormons, Catholics, etc and how they are similar and different.  It's been a really fun holiday season.  I love to delve into these subjects with this 8 year old who has such a THIRST for knowledge!  Then, I bring in the spiritual aspect and ask him how he FEELS to know the truth.  We've also talked about Santa's helpers - like this helper that has the most beautiful blue eyes!

Happy Thanksgiving

 We had such a fun Thanksgiving!  Our friend, JJ, came to visit for 5 days and we kept him busy!  We haven't seen him since July 2009 when he left Texas for Canada to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, speaking Cantonese.  We loved having him here and seeing him again!  I so much enjoyed having an extra pair of hands to help in the kitchen.  JJ made Sloppy Joes, pumpkin pie, and apple pie - all with little helping hands included! 

 I think scriptures was his favorite time of night!  Andy and Ben took him to see the Church History Sites one day, he was a stay-at-home mom another day, and then did flag football (where he and Andy both got hurt...oops!), frisbee, food prep, Black Friday shopping, leaf-raking, and any other about-the-house chores we had to do!

 We love to play keep-away frisbee.  If the neighbor girl comes over, it's adults vs kids.  If not, the adults split up.  The kids love it and I love it to coax Andy away from studying (which, he did have the BEST grades yet this past semester).  I had fun running with a friend to do the 5K Turkey Trot and then my first-EVER 9mile morning run.  Jaime was here visiting her parents and was patient with me as we slowly ran those 9 miles.  :)   Then I came hope to help rake the yard, only to find the boys did most of it!

 Time to put up Christmas lights!  Ben is scared of heights.  He really wanted to be on the roof with the girls, but he just cried once he was up there.  I wouldn't let him come down until I had a picture.  hehehe...I know I'm such a nice mom!  Mitchell was enthralled with the whole 'light' process.  We were all happy to have such a mild Thanksgiving - very grateful for it!  Nights were filled with games and goodies and deep conversations about the joys of college-life!  Such a fun holiday!!!

Cutie Boys

 Ben loves Cub Scouts.  Yes, Ben really loves Cub Scouts.  He just loves learning in general, and for the most part, each week he gets to learn something new.  This is his school troop at the monthly Pack Meeting.  (We also go to the church troop and pack meetings, but Ben is the only boy his age there, so we decided to double up on Scouts; good thing he loves it!)

 Mitchell just loves to climb.  Until we moved the living room around and put the couch in front of the computer to 'protect' it, this was Mitchell's perch of choice during scriptures and books at night, regardless of the computer being on or off....  Also, an open fridge is an open invitation, right?  The girls will pull "Mitchell's" stool over to get yogurts from the top shelf.  Mitchell knows the sound of the fridge opening and hustles over to see what snacks he can find for himself as well!

 Sweet baby - time for bed!

Sunday afternoon Baking!

With Mitchell asleep, we took advantage of our time to cook!  Except for last year, each year we make sugar cookies to pass along to those special few recipients...  The kids and I made 4 batches of cookies to roll, cut, bake and frost!  Andy spent most of those 4 hours completely cleaning out the fridge and putting back on the handle that has been broken for a loooooong time! 

 Mitchell was enthralled with the drill!  (Side note: sad story...  The next morning, Ben was moving the defrosting turkey to get to the gallon of milk.  Somehow, the turkey outer bag had a hole and the turkey juice dripped down two shelves and into the veggie drawer...all spaces that had been lovingly cleaned the night before.  Also had to toss all the awesome veggies I had purchased for Thanksgiving, resulting in yet another trip to the store!!!)  The kids invited Tara, our neighbor, over to decorate with us!  Uncle Roy and Uncle David, hope you liked your cookies!  It was an all-day effort!

Happy 1st Birthday!!!

 Mitchell woke up so happy on his first birthday, much like he wakes up each morning!  Such a cheerful and busy little guy! This stool is his favorite place to sit and climb.  As such, he is not afraid to strong-arm any sibling that may be standing/sitting in his way!

 Everyone took off to school and we cleaned up the kitchen and headed to the gym.  Then I treated us to Chipotle for lunch.  After nap time, the kids came home and we played until Mitchell's special dinner, which I can't recall two months after the fact....so sad I didn't take a picture of it!

 Mitchell quite liked his cake.  He immediately started picking at it with his two fingers.  He would only eat the black icing...for about ten minutes, just slowly picking at it and taking small consistent licks.  Then I gave him a big fingerful of white frosting and pinched some cake into his mouth.

 It started to get a little bit more exciting then...I had to take away the soccer ball for the rest of us to eat and gave Mitchell his extra-large cupcake to devour.

 He enjoyed the whole cake idea and cried many tears when I finally took away the mostly-empty plate.  Thankfully, he was entertained by the whole idea of presents.  Absolutely LOVE this squatting position!!!

Mitchell had many willing hands ready to take over help him open his gifts. 

 As much as he loves his balls and ballpopper, at the end of the day, suckers will always win out!

Fall Fun and Kitchen Excitement

OH, cold afternoons, little friends over, and a pile of leaves!!!!  Poor Mitchell has no idea what coming...look at all those conspiring faces!

For Friday mornings, we do a rotating little art group.  For 90 minutes, we do art projects, have snacks, read books, and some sort of charades that include Mitchell and I traveling to the zoo to see the animals (preschool children) being very active!

Tyler, Emily and Cambri

Mitchell just loves the trash can.  I try to only leave it down when it is empty, but that seems to have the same temptation as when it is full!

This is the most expensive jam I have ever made.  My berries were priced a bit high.  Then before I got to them, most went bad (the trials of berries in November), so I went back to the store for more berries to use with my remainder.  All that work, only to have one jar burst...this hasn't ever happened to me before!  The kids have finally decided that they realllllllly like my homemade jam, so I'm happy to make the effort, but we could have had a really nice steak dinner for the price of these jars of jam!  Although, steak wouldn't have lasted near as long....or shown as much love!

Happy Halloween!!!

The carved pumpkins! 

We tried many a group picture - these are the best we came up with!  Mitchell is a pumpkin, Ben is a revolutionary boy, Emily is the Ice Princess, and Annie is a black cat.  I was my traditional witch.  Andy joined us halfway through as a dad.  :) 

We had such fun sorting candy this year!  The most collected candy was kit kats at 27!  So sadly, I had made a pact with myself the day before for no more chocolate; that pact lasted just over a month, but I'm sure saved me a good 10 pounds!  Anyway, Mitchell fell in love with the idea of suckers.  He had several in each hand and carried them around the room.  Then we cleaned up the candy and took his suckers away.  Then we had to do it again for the video camera - such devastation for that little boy!  It was so super cute...we may or may not have given and taken away suckers from him a few more times of the next week to see the tears turn on and off with impressive speed...