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?

New Moon Extravaganza!

Ok, before you pass judgment, I already know. I am a big dork! Some friends and I were a little pumped for the release of New Moon. I kind of cheated and went on Saturday night with Kent, and then again with the girls on Tuesday.

Kristin and my sis-in-law,Sarah,spent all day Monday making these shirts for us. Like I said, I cheated and went to the movie on Saturday, so I switched "teams" and became "Team Jacob," especially after he cut off his hair. Nice. Stephanie and I are the only "Team Jacob's with a side of Team Edward."

Thanks to Megs, I also made this werewolf kibble for everyone to enjoy at the movies. Thanks Megs, it was a huge hit! We had so much fun! Yes, I know, dorky!

Kent just kept saying, "I don't get it."

Seriously?? Not even an inch of space?

I am going to spare you any pictures that go with this story. You can thank me later. Yesterday I had to go back to see my endocrinologist about my diabetes. She wasn't thrilled with my blood sugars when she saw them last week. Apparently, the stress, the not taking care of my self and the pigging out isn't so good for diabetes. Who knew? SO, she told me, "Your blood sugars are crap." (Good thing we're BFF or I would have been offended). I had to go back yesterday so they could hook up a continuous glucose sensor to track my blood sugars and figure out EXACTLY what is going on. When I did this 5 years ago, before I got pregnant, it was a huge pain in the a**. I was thrilled when I saw the little device that they use now. It is less than 2 inches around. (I'm guesstimating, I really have no clue when it comes to measurements). But it's SMALL!

This is when it gets funny.......The dietitian asked me to lift my shirt so she can put the device in. She said, "We normally put it in tummies because it's most comfortable for people."
Me: "Great, that works for me, that's where my infusions go for my pump, no big deal."

I have to note here, that NO ONE EVER sees my tummy because it is not pretty. When my daughters see it, they point and say, "OWIES!" This is because I have so many stretch marks you can't even tell where one begins and where one ends, it is a continuous maze ALL over my tummy.

Back to the story.... I lift my shirt up and the dietitian (Christine is her name, so of course I liked her) just stares at my stomach and then just starts circling me. NOT kidding, she probably walked around me at least THREE times (maybe she thought it was going to get prettier) then said, "I am going to have our Minimed Rep. (diabetes pump person) come in and take a look, she is really good at inserting these."

I am thinking, great, let's invite the whole office in to see the freaks tummy! In all honesty they were very nice about it, but I was mortified.

So in walks this adorable size four lady, all trendy and put together and she says, "Ok honey, lets see what we have." I felt like I was a freak at the circus. She takes a look and says, "Oh, did you just have a baby?"

ME: "NO I HAD 15+ pounds of babies in me TWO and a HALF years ago!"

Cute lady: "Oh, wow, you look great." (Now they're lying to me). Low and behold she decides they need to put the sensor in my back (really my bum) where there isn't so much scar tissue. So now not only did they see my most embarrassing part of my body, now I have to take my pants off so they can put it in my bum. Seriously, if this isn't enough motivation to get my blood sugars straightened out, I don't know what is.

So if you see me walking around in the next few days, that bulge on my bum really isn't a growth, it's just a lovely sensor that is going to change my life.... right?
Tell me it's worth it....please?

Two, two year olds need a new home

Ok, so I have to admit, I am in a slump. I don't know if it's because of the cold weather, or that my kids are two and a half and five, or that I have a red shirt on today, who the hell knows, but it's not a good thing... that being said, I need to vent. Do not read on if you don't want to listen to some bitching and moaning, I don't blame you if you choose not to. I know I don't need to listen to anyone Else's problems, we all have them....

So I desperately tried to find a baby-sitter for my Dr. appt. this morning. No such luck, I did have a few friends that offered, but they have their own slew of kids to deal with, I didn't want to burden them. B had school, so I figured I could lock the girls up in their stroller and bribe them to no end. All went well, did I mention this was for my annual? Yeah, good times, even better with two chatty two year olds. Some excerpts from the exam room:

(Ellie)

"Mom, you get naked? Mom, you take your panties off? Mom, Dr. look at your bum? I see your bum mom. Mommy, you get owies? I am baby A, Dani baby b, like daddy. Uncle baby A like me." I told them we were going to see the Dr. that took care of them while they were in my tummy. (Kent was baby B and Kelly was baby A, they are very proud of this and can relate to it very well).

(Dani) Same as above, but a little bit louder.

"Mommy I see your bum!"

I have to say, all went well during the exam, it was just all the chitter-chatter beforehand that was so enjoyable, thankfully they were completely silent when my Dr. was there. Who knows what could have come out of their mouths. :)

I was very proud and relieved as I walked out of the office.

NOW it is nap time and I am at my whits end. I need a break and they won't stop screaming! I can't give up naps yet....can't they just rest quietly? Is that really too much to ask?

My Dr. told me everything gets better when your youngest turns four. ONE and a HALF more years!

Luckily Brayden is playing at a friend's house. He may not have fared too well today. Before he left for school he was in time-out TWICE. Does anyone else have a five year old with an ATTITUDE? He seems to know everything, (isn't this a little young) and has to argue with anything that I say.

Ahh, I feel a little bit better now that everything is out in the open.

I do love my children. :)