New traditions?!?

Last Wed. morning Brayden had his school performance at a retirement/nursing home. He was pretty excited, but I think he viewed it as a job to get done. Grandma Phillips was able to come and watch and we laughed the whole time because B was so serious. Just like his Dad, he was there to complete a mission and move on to something else.

My three munchkins running around before the show. I'm sure the old ladies loved listening to them shriek and scream with excitement!

Me with my perfect little angels. :) Ellie is hiding in my lap.

Brayden singing away. This is the only pic. where he is halfway smiling.


After we got home, we had to take off all the "fancy" clothes as soon as possible! Ellie was a good girl and tinkled and pooped on the potty! (I know you are tired of seeing my kids on the toilet, but I have to document that it does happen occasionally).

This is the funniest pic. though:

While E was on the potty, Dani was changing her own bum. She took her wet diaper off, then put a new, dry one on, and then got dressed. If she can change her own bum, does that mean it's time to be potty trained? Can you please let her know that!?!


Last Friday was a good opportunity to head downtown and do some festive, holiday stuff. It was 40 degrees! I couldn't believe there wasn't any snow on the ground and it was above freezing! It was the perfect night to stand in line for an hour and a half to ride in a carriage for 10 minutes! :) What a great tradition we may have started. hehe. There's a story behind this.... of course. We got downtown and 5:15 and got in line. It was great, there were only about 12-15 people ahead of us. We waited and waited and waited.... finally at 5:45 when no carriage had arrived, therefore no progress in the line was made, I heard someone say, "They're on their break until 6." Perfect! My tummy was hungry, since we usually eat at 5 pm on the dot. (No we don't have any blue hair). So I was starving at getting grumpy (imagine that) and I made the executive decision that we were going to go eat dinner and then come back.

It was a good choice, I also grabbed a hot chocolate and peppermint brownie from Starbucks. Oh my, talk about heavenly! The kids were much more patient for the next 45 minutes in line while they got to sip hot chocolate with full tummies.

Ellie playing peek-a-boo while we waited and waited.

Dani not too thrilled to be in line again.

B with a little left over cocoa on his face.

YAY! It's almost our turn!

Kent, super excited to be on the carriage and sitting down!

Dani, me and Brayden. When did I get so old and haggard looking? I am going to venture a guess and say within the last couple (2 1/2) years? Every time I see pics. I swear I am going to start wearing (more) make-up. I guess I need to make that more of a priority in the mornings. :)

After our carriage experience we walked a couple of blocks down to the Davenport hotel. It was beautiful and the kids loved all the fancy trees and decorations.

They also had tons of themed gingerbread houses that were amazing!

Overall, it was a very fun evening. What will the rest of the week entail? I just hope we all make it out of the holiday season alive. Are anyone else's kids walking a thin, thin line?

It's finally here!

The snow has arrived! We have had a few dusting's of it, but last night 5 inches dumped. The kids were thrilled! Brayden has been asking to go sledding with every sprinkle of snow. After I shoveled for a half hour, I let the kids out to play...... Between the time of me going in the house to grab my camera and coming back down, through the window I saw B chuck a snowball right at Dani's face. I walked into the garage and told B to sit in time out. He said, "I was just having fun, she likes it!" I have to admit, Danielle didn't even cry, but that's only because ever since she has been born, B has been chucking snow at her. Tough girl, but he still had to do his time. I didn't realize he was in time out while I was snapping all the pics. so I don't have any of him in the snow......next time.

Working and working....after a few shovel fulls I decided I needed to bust out Kent's new toy. I went in the garage, read the directions, looked and looked at the snow blower, and felt like such a girl! It said turn the key in the ignition.... I thought, 'I can do that.' Low and behold, I couldn't even FIND the key. I hate feeling so stupid! So I took my anger out on the snow and shovel! (Kent is in San Diego this week, so he couldn't help, although if I called him he probably could have walked me through each step, but I had way too much dignity for that. LOL :) Plus it was a good warm up for my work out at the gym.

Here it is: the new toy, with plastic and all! Really, did we have to get the biggest one possible?

After all of the shoveling I took Brayden to school, went to the gym as fast as I could because I had to be back at B's school within an hour and a half for the X-mas show. I hustled my buns in ZUMBA and zoomed back to the school as fast as I could on the snowy roads. When I arrived I realized I didn't even THINK to dress B up for his Christmas performance. (Granted, I have been thinking the real show is tomorrow at the nursing home, so he will look very handsome tomorrow). AND I was all sweaty, and stinky. Ellie looks like a chemo. baby, (which is very, very sad), and Dani's hair hasn't been combed since yesterday morning, and she has a huge scrape under her eye from falling down the stairs and landing on her baby doll.....wow, I am thinking I am super mom! Good thing I'm not too concerned about our appearances! We will look better tomorrow for the old folks! :)

The show was fantastic! It's fun to see B as one of the older kids, he really took the lead and sang every song and did all the hand motions, I was a proud Mama! Plus he was one of the few kids who DIDN'T pick his nose during the performance. Phew, we lucked out on that one! That is my friend, Julie's daughter, Madison next to B. They're so cute!

Here's most of the gang, I realized, I never got a picture of Ms. Jenny. I will have to do that tomorrow too, I better start making a list: Take a shower, dress nicely, comb hair, take picture of the teacher.

After our crazy morning, Brayden and I made Pumpkin Crisp during nap time. It was so great and so easy! Thanks for the recipe Tami, it's a keeper! I LOVE pumpkin!

Frank is back...... (with a brand new edition.....)

Our elf on the shelf is back....I have missed Frank over the past year! Hopefully his presence will help restore some manners, and listening skills in my children. I know it is really kind of creepy (especially when Kent wants to put him on Brayden's night stand and have Frank stare at him all night), but at this stage of the game, I am willing to do just about ANYTHING to have my children listen and be well behaved for even a few minutes at a time. Apparently it works to some degree. The second morning Brayden woke up and found Frank on the shelf next to the TV.

Brayden said, "That is a silly place for Frank to watch us, I'm never naughty when I'm sitting on the couch watching TV." Take note Frank, keep an eye out where they can get up to mischief. i.e. bathroom, art closet, basement DVD cabinet, bedrooms (jumping on beds). You would think Frank would be smarter at this point. I guess it's a STEEP learning curve! Happy Holidays!

The Best/Worst Santa picture ever!

One of our traditions that I've carried over for my children is getting a Santa picture every year. No matter how traumatized they are, I have to get that one picture. Before we went and saw Santa this year we spent the whole week talking about it/preparing for it.

Ellie said, "I don't like Santa, he squeezes me too hard. Will he wear his mittens?" Is it possible that she remembered her experience last year and how tightly he had to hold on to her? AMAZING! Yet again, he scared her to death, and had to squeeze her harder than ever. So I suppose she will hate it again next year.....

Not only are my girls struggling to get free, but the chick cut off half of my boy! Can you believe it? I paid $20.00 to get half of my boy and my ballistic girls. After it was all done I didn't have the heart to make the girls sit down again and scream, so I had to settle with half of my sweet boy. Yay for traditions!

Trees, turkey, Sara, rock wall, ZUMBA, Cousins.... oh my!

We were fortunate enough to have Turkey Day down the road at Sarah and Kelly's! This meant we could spend the morning decorating! We put up the tree AND finished decorating the house. The kids did a great job on the tree, though I don't have a finished product pic. Cousin Sarah, we missed you, we could have used your expertise. :)

Dani

Brayden

Ellie

I don't know what Ellie is grinning about, maybe because she is in control of her OWN ornaments!

Turkey day kids table. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! All six kids did a great job, all the adults got to sit and visit and we even got to play some games! This was the first time in YEARS (probably five) that this has happened! YAY US!

Sandy, Uncle Pete, Sarah, Kelly, Kent and I went and saw the Sara Evans concert on Friday night. We had so much fun! She put on a great show. None of my pics. turned out inside the concert, I will have to get some from Sarah. It was a great night, maybe a family tradition now? Head out to the casino the Friday after turkey day, see a show, lose some money.....

I have forgotten to mention the we joined the YMCA a few weeks ago. I LOVE it! The kids love it too. We have gone swimming a few times and they have a great water slide that they all love. When I exercise the kids go to the daycare and I call it the "Y School." The girls think they're so cool when they get to go to "their"school! I have started going to ZUMBA a few times a week and I can't get enough of it! It is so fun and it puts you in the best mood. I had no idea what it was, the instructor told us, "It's a Latin party!" It's dancing, cardio, and toning all rolled into fast paced music.... shaking, rolling of the hips and lots of other crazy stuff.... I can't even imagine what I look like when I do it... there will be no pics. posted of this..... but I highly recommend it. It's the most fun you can have while exercising!

This brings us to B: He has been wanting to do the rock wall ever since we joined. Here he is:

I was quite impressed with his skill and determination. I think he would have stayed there all day if we would have let him! He was so cute, I can't believe how big he is!

COUSINS- Brayden and Keegan

Great- G & G Petrousek, Uncle Pete and the gang.

COUSINS- Ally, Brayden and Keegan

Fun Family Time!

Happy Birthday Great-Grandpa Pratt! My Grandpa turned 82 last week. The kids were ready to celebrate! They talked about party hats on the whole drive there, wore them the whole time we were there, and talked about them all the way home. "It's not a party unless you have party hats!" According to Brayden, everyone take note, make sure you are wearing your party hat at the next shin dig!

Great-Grandpa, my kids and Auntie Sandy!

Uncle Pete, Ally, Ellie, Dani, Uncle Kelly and Great-Grandpa Petrousek.

After partying with Great G & G, Uncle Pete (who is in town from Florida) and the rest of the Phillips/Petrousek clan came to our house for dinner!

Kent and Ellie.

Ally



Owie, O's busting a move with his Mom!

Our Baby Bella

I finally took the plunge and did it.... I cut my little girl's hair! Ellie had pulled so much out, it was looking awful! She had bald patches all around and the right side of her head was looking VERY shabby. I am so cheap, I refused to pay for another haircut for her, especially since there wasn't a whole lot left. But looking at the pics. I did take off a lot of length......

She did a great job! She just sat in the chair in my bathroom and waited. I talked about it for so long, I think she was ready.

When I was all done she looked in the mirror and asked, "Am I go-geous (gorgeous) Mommy?" (Uncle Kelly always says how gorgeous his girls are).

How could she not be gorgeous? What a sweet girl, I love the new cut, I think it goes with her spunky personality, it's a cute little bob. A better after pic. will be posted soon.

*Bella is one of her many nicknames. Along with: Ellie Beth, Mackenzie, Ellie Mack, Princess Grumpy, Baby Bell, Betty-Sue-Who, Betty, Elle. Is anyone else worried about a multiple personality disorder?