Christmas 2008!

Wow! This year was so much fun! Molly has been talking about it for weeks, and Santa did not disappoint! Christmas Eve we spent with Kris's family! Ate dinner, desert, the kids opened pj's form Nana & Pa, both so cute! We came home and read a simple Christmas story with Molly, Stella had fallen asleep, not for long! Then it was off to bed. Molly woke up the next morning not realizing that it was Christmas and came to lay in our bed with us for a bit. She helped feed Stella and then we took her out to see the loot Santa had left. We spent the morning opening gifts and letting the kids play with there new toys. My goal was not to rush them. So gift opening...Kris got me a Camera!!!!!!!!! I have been wanting one forever and this one it the boom! I'm so stoked! Ya, totally have the best husband ever, not just because he got me the camera, but that didn't hurt! We went to Papa and Vonda's for some food and visiting with family then stopped by Nana & Pa's. We opened gifts and then we were right back in the car and off to my parents so we could beat the snow storm and talk to Cyd (My sister who is on a mission). It was so fun to talk with her. Man I miss her and can't wait for her to get back in April, but I know she is wishing she could spend more time in the field! What an awesome Christmas! Merry Christmas!

High School Tag!

So my little sister Katheryn tagged me... Oh High School

1.Did you date someone from your school? Yes

2. What kind of car did you drive? I didn't have one

3. Did you pass your driver's license test on the first try? Yep, I don't know if I should have.

4. Were you a party animal? I don't know that I was a party animal, but I liked to be where the action was.

5. Were you considered a flirt? Yes

6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Choir

7. Were you a nerd? No, I wish I was more of a nerd and I maybe could have done better with my grades.

8. Were you on any varsity teams? No

9. Did you get suspended/expelled? Yes

10. Can you still sing the fight song? Yes

11. Who were your favorite teachers? I don't know that I really had one in High School. I worked in the office a lot and was the assistant principals run around girl. I was there so much they never knew if I was supposed to be in class or aiding!

12. Where did you sit during lunch? When I was a freshman we would sit outside, sophomore and on we would leave and go somewhere.

13. What is your school's full name? Timpview High School

14. School mascot and colors? Thunderbirds. Colors Blue & Orange :)

15. Did you go to Homecoming and who with? Mike, and I know it's sad but I don't remember who I went with my Senior

16. Did you go to Prom and who with? I can see his face... Oh Steve

17. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Not a chance!!!!!

18. What do you remember most about graduation? That I was done and that was that!!!!! Yea!

19. Where did you go senior skip day? Was there a day that was free... I thought that was every day:)

20. Were you in any clubs? No not really.

21. Have you gained some weight since then? I actually was smaller than I was in school, till Stella, but we are working on it.

22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? Didn't go! I was way pregnant and feeling horrible.

23. Did you have a job while in high school? Yep! (County Seat)

My friend Brooke emailed this to me and it was kind of fun to take. You should totally take it. Check out where you score. I was a 50! Just kind of fun! Thanks Brooke! I totally want to hear your score!

Dr. Phil's Test: Here you go. Try this!

(Dr. Phil scored 55, he did this test on Oprah
and she got a 38.) Some folks pay a lot of
money to find this stuff out!

Read on, this is very interesting!
Don't be overly sensitive!

The following is pretty accurate and it
only takes a few minutes.

Don't peek, but begin the test as you
scroll down and answer.

Answers are for who you are now and not who
you were in the past. Have pen or pencil
and paper ready.

This is a real test given by the Human Relations Dept.
at many of the major corporations today . It helps them get better insight concerning their employees and in their prospective employees.

It's only 10 Simple questions, so grab a pencil and paper, keeping track of your letter answers to each question.

Make sure to change the subject of the email to read YOUR total.

Ready?


Begin.


1. When do you feel your best...

A) in the morning
B) during the afternoon and early evening
C) late at night


2. You usually walk...

A) fairly fast, with long steps
B) fairly fast, with little steps
C) less fast head up, looking the world in the face
D) less fast, head down
E) very slowly


3. When talking to people you...

A) stand with your arms folded
B) have your hands clasped
C) have one or both your hands on your hips
D) touch or push the person to whom you are talking
E) play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair


4. When relaxing, you sit with...

A) your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side
B) your legs crossed
C) your legs stretched out or straight
D) one leg curled under you


5. When something really amuses you, you react with...

A) big appreciated laugh
B) a laugh, but not a loud one
C) a quiet chuckle
D) a sheepish smile


6. When you go to a party or social gathering you...

A) make a loud entrance so everyone notices you
B) make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know
C) make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed


7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted...

A) welcome the break
B) feel extremely irritated
C) vary between these two extremes


8. Which of the following colors do you like most...

A) Red or orange
B) black
C) yellow or light blue
D) green
E) dark blue or purple
F) white
G) brown or gray


9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep you are...

A) stretched out on your back
B) stretched out face down on your stomach
C) on your side, slightly curled
D) with your head on one arm
E) with your head under the covers


10. You often dream that you are...

A) falling
B) fighting or struggling
C) searching for something or somebody
D) flying or floating
E) you usually have dreamless sleep
F) your dreams are always pleasant


POINTS:


1. (a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 6
2. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 7 (d) 2 (e) 1
3. (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 5 (d) 7 (e) 6
4. (a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 2 (d) 1
5. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 2
6. (a) 6 (b) 4 (c) 2
7. (a) 6 (b) 2 (c) 4
8. (a) 6 (b) 7 (c) 5 (d) 4 (e) 3 (f) 2 (g) 1
9. (a) 7 (b) 6 (c) 4 (d) 2 (e ) 1
10 (a) 4 (b) 2 (c) 3 (d) 5 (e) 6 (f) 1

Now add up the total number of points.

OVER 60 POINT: Others see you as someone they should 'handle with care'. You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you.

51 TO 60 POINTS : Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality, a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once, someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate.

41 TO 50 POINTS : Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting, someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding, someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out.

31 TO 40 POINTS: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful & practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest. Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you, realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over if that trust is ever broken.

21 TO 30 POINTS: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively
or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature.

UNDER 21 POINTS: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything! They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well, know that you aren't.

I was always one of those people that could never understand how you could find yourself too busy to spend quality time with each one of you children everyday, whether it be 5 minutes, or 2 hours, I just never understood how people couldn't find time for there children and making them feel special. Well I have truly been humbled. Between caring for whoever is crying or changing diapers, trying to get kids to take naps, making breakfast, lunch or dinner, getting the shopping done, the house picked up (that is not including the deep cleaning) trying to workout, shower, or even finding my own time to go to the bathroom, It just seems that my one on one time with my kids is almost non existing. Stella gets plenty of one on one being as she never sleeps and we spend countless hours in the late or early hours of the day alone, but it's Molly I worry about. She is old enough to know and understand and until Stella came along she had me all to herself. I was trying to make time (15 min a day) just for Molly, but it just is not happening. So I sat down and came up with 2 days where we can plan out an activity and just spend time together. Molly/Mommy Mondays and Taking Time Thursdays. Today was just a fun little thing. I pulled out a cookie sheet and put some pulled out some pudding cups from the fridge. We spend about 20 minutes finger painting and then she had had enough, but it was nice to put Stella in her seat and just spend 20 minutes no interruptions, no phone calls, nothing, just Molly time. With all of the snow we had Kris had a slow day at the office and so was home early and was snow blowing the driveway and we bundled Molly up and she headed outside with Kris. She loved it! I think by the time the day was over she was beat and fell asleep very quickly. Bless her little heart. I just love this little thing and hope she knows it!

Christmas seems to be the time of full of traditions! This is our annual family date night! We have done it for years long before the little girls were old enough to date and they would do the babysitting, but for the last few years we have all been able to go, minus our faithful missionary in Taiwan. We do dinner and then go to temple square or do something else that helps us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. This year we went to dinner at Ottavio's and then went to the live nativity playing at the tabernacle. So lets start with dinner. For those of you who have been to Ottavio's than you know that they have an accordion player that goes form table to table and sings and plays for the guests. Not that I don't enjoy the music, I just hate the attention on me so I never make eye contact. My littlest sister Whitney was joking about it all night long that she was going to tell him we were newly weds. Kris came back with "well then we'll tell him that it's your birthday." for those of you that know Whitney she HATES people looking at her even worse so that kind of stopped that talk right there. Long story short. Cameron my brother make some comment to the guy as he was passing like "She's a really good dancer" pointing at Whitney, In turn she pints to me and said "there newly weds" and my response is "It's her birthday!" Oh boy. Well it is Whitney's birthday in January and so when the guy asked my dad if it was really her birthday he said that we actually have two and pointed out Whit and my birthday also being in January so yes they all came out and sang to Whit and I. Oh my word. So on to the live nativity. It was really sweet and did remind us of the humble surroundings of that amazing night. A few funny things was they played out the birth... I know I kept waiting for the lights to go out. You didn't see anything, but they put a cloth over her legs and then pulled the doll out form under it... I know I just had to smile. A few other things that made me smile were 1- the extremely energetic angel and 2- the small little sheppard that they were having a hard time getting to focus. All in all it was an awesome night. Thanks so much Mom & Dad!

Shopping Tradition!

This has to be my all time favorite family traditions of this season. Every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving we all get together in the morning and start the day off with an amazing breakfast we have traditionally done scones, but this year we did waffles and I think that might be better for my mom, she wont have to get up at 4 am to raise the rolls. Then we all give my dad the money we want to put in. This can be as much as you want to put in or as much as you can it can be what ever amount you want. Then we all split up into teams and we usually have two names off of the angel tree and then we head to Shopko where we spilt up into our teams and find the items we have been assigned and then we all meet up at the check out. We make sure they are all separated into the right bags and then drop them off at the designated spot.

You may be asking... How did this tradition begin. Well when a few of us were married and trying to figure out how we do gifts for everyone my parents came up with this one. This replaces all of our gift giving. My little sisters still at home exchange gifts and my parents give us gifts, but we other than that this is our gift giving. I just love that we aren't buying silly little things that we don't really use and don't really need, and we are taking that money putting it toward some one who really needs it. Like I said this is my all time favorite tradition. My team this year was, My dad, me, and Stella (little girl clothing). Kris was with Craig (Boy toys), and Kimball, and Molly was with McKenzie and Jojo (Girl toys)! Like I said this is my favorite tradition. I love it! It always seem to kick the season off on the right foot and I always look forward to the next year.

Thank You Katheryn!

K so we were at my parents on Sat (more on why). Kat had to go to work later and text me and told me she had a surprise for me and I couldn't leave until she got off of work. I had no idea what the surprise was going to be, thinking it might be the Baird family joke barbie CD we were packing everything up and getting ready to leave when Kat came home with this...

It's an elf and he is so cute, but what is even cutter is the poem on the little tag this is what it says.

"This small little elf has a special job to do as he sits on a shelf watching over you.

He goes back to Santa each night to say who's been naughty or nice each winter day.

So make sure to find him in a new place each day so he'll be sure to tell Santa to bring toys Christmas day!"

We have had so much fun with this little guy! THANKS SO MUCH KAT! What a fun gift. Katheryn is always so thoughtful of all of us and now that she is on her own I know money is tight, but that was so kind of you to buy that for us, we absolutely love it!

I Finally Found That Smell!

So Saturday we came home from my mom and dad's and when we walked into the house I smelled this horrible smell! I hate that when you walk into a stinky house. So we searched the house looking for the source of the smell, a dirty diaper, the sink, fridge, anything! We were unsuccessful, and I think that we became accustom to what ever it was. So we got up and went to church the next day and when we came home and walked in the door the smell was still there and maybe worse. again hunting the house and to no avail... Later that day Kris had taken Molly down stairs to play while I got dinner ready. Kris yelled up..."I found the source of the smell" he came up with an arm full of food, and then I remembered.... I few days ago I had gone to the store and had food I needed to put in the freezer down stairs. I had just gotten home both of my kids were upstairs screaming and there was no room in the fridge. It really needed to be cleaned out. Ice cram for over a year ago, soup form last Oct. on and on. I put it in the sink down there so the ice cream could melt and I could dump it and then I ran back up the stairs to help my streaming kids, 2 diaper changes, 1 bottle, 1 cup of milk, put away the rest of the groceries, 1 nap for one child, on and on... and I totally spaced it. Well I happy to report that the house is beck to smelling normal. I know I really wonder if some days I'm just totally loosing it!