Merry Christmas

It was so weird to wake up on Christmas and not see anything white on the ground, instead we had a beautiful Christmas. It was almost 70 degrees here yesterday if you can believe it. Christmas came and left this year way too fast. I didn't really have time to get much into the spirit this year. I have just been so preoccupied with taking care of my babies that we haven't had time for much else. We didn't go see any Christmas lights. I hardly listened to Christmas music, I didn't do my usual Christmas baking, and I didn't make any gifts to pass out to my friends and neighbors. Oh well, there is always next year! We really missed our families this year but it was nice that we were able to spend time together as a family making our own traditions. In the nine years that Kevin and I have been married we have never been able to stay home on Christmas. Our day always began around 6:00 a.m. and ended way too late. This year it was nice to actually sleep in.

We had a wonderful Christmas, and everyone got exactly what they wished for. Alyssa got a Nintendo ds which she has not put down since she got it. She also received a keyboard that Kelsie won't stop playing. Kelsie got a bike, and a play kitchen. The Bratz dolls were no where to be found (there is a Santa who loves me! Thanks Santa) p.s. Bratz dolls are soon to be off the market FOREVER! Yeah! Leah and Audrey spent Christmas sleeping. Santa was good to them and brought them some bouncy seats, clothes, and other random things. Kevin and I were not so good this year I guess because Santa forgot the gifts for us. We got the gift of each other does that count? However, a few nights ago the babies started sleeping for six hours at a time. That was enough of a Christmas gift in itself. Sleep is good!

Well, I wasn't so good about taking pictures this year. Mainly because I was busy feeding babies all morning, but here are a few pictures. We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season.

The Flintstones Christmas special was on tonight and it made me start reminiscing about my childhood days. It also occured to me that my children don't even have any clue as to who the Flintones are. (although Alyssa was very observant and pointed out that the characters looked like the ones on the Fruity Pebbles box, it's a start right?) Speaking of the Flintstones what happened to all of the classic cartoons? Remember Jem and the Holograms which if I remember right was on about the same time as He Man. Jem could of kicked He Man's butt anyday!What a superwoman! I can't say enough about Jem! Moving along to the Smurf's? Who could forget these lovable blue creatures. I loved watching that show, I especially loved Smurfette. (I even dressed up like her for Halloween in preschool.) What has happened to television. The kids now days have no idea what they are missing out on.


Now moving on to toys, what were some of your favorite toys that you received as a child on Christmas?

One of my favorite things were Cabbage Patch Dolls. My first cabbage patch doll looked a lot like this one, and her name was Trixie. I just loved her. (My brother's even received boy cabbage patch dolls for Christmas) I read the following about these dolls:
What can we say? Cabbage Patch Kids defined the word "fad" in the 1980s. Every child wanted one, and it seemed that every mom and dad in the United States spent frantic days searching for Cabbage Patch Kids to put under their Christmas Trees. The dolls clicked with the general public because they were so ugly they were cute, because they were very huggable, and because the adoption aspect of the dolls was highly appealing.
Ugly, I think not! Look at how cute my trixie was. I loved her permed bangs, and her beautiful yarn locks.
Other great toys included Teddy Ruxpin, Strawberry Shortcake, Rainbow Brite. How sad that our children will never get to experience playing with such great toys!
So go ahead and tell me what your favorite toys were as a child. I am dying to know!

Another "Snow" day
The weather looks terrible doesn't it?

Leah you are so cute!

The babies are plumping right up

Kelsie can't get enough of the babies, we find her putting toys in their cribs, wrapping them up in blankets, trying to pick them up, etc. We have to keep a close eye on her! She is a little too helpful at times.

Leah is on the left, Audrey is on the right.

Where have the last five weeks gone? I feel like I have been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off literally. There are days when I feel completely overwhelmed and wonder how on earth I can do everything that I need to do. Sometimes I get so busy taking care of the twins that I completely forget that I have two older girls who also need some attention. I know that it will get easier, it will just take time.

I don't remember what it was that I was watching on TV the other night but they were talking about how you needed to live in the moment. I love that, and it's something that I really need to take to heart. There is a time and a season for everything. Right time it's my time to raise my children. I don't need to worry about perfection, that can come much later. I think that we all need to take this poem to heart. It's one of my favorites.

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep! I'm rocking my babies and babies don't keep.

We are all doing well, the girls are getting so excited about Christmas. They are hoping that Santa knows that they moved to Tennessee. We have assured them that he does know, and he will find them. I can't believe that Christmas is one week away wow! Enjoy your holiday with your loved ones, I know that we will!

Grandma Preece

Grandma Preece has been here visiting for the last ten days. She just went home today. It was so good to have her here. She raised a set of twins herself and so she knows a thing or two about taking care of two babies at once. She also knows a thing or two about spoiling children. Of course she couldn't put the babies down the whole time she was here, and when she would try to lie the babies down, they would immediately start crying. She would go to pick the babies up, and immediately they would be back to sleep. They aren't spoiled babies or anything are they?

Speaking of spoiled, I am the one who has been spoiled. I have had constant help with these babies since they were born. My Mom was here for a long time, Kevin had his vacation for a couple of weeks, and then I have had his Grandma. It's been so nice having the extra hands. I am hoping that I can now take care of these two little babies by myself. Wish me luck!

You want what for Christmas?

Why is it that whenever your kids see Santa they suddenly add new things to their Christmas lists? Kelsie wants a play kitchen and a bike for Christmas, or at least she used to. Apparently now she wants bratz dolls. What? I have never heard her mention that before. Alyssa wanted a keyboard, and a Nintendo ds. Now all of a sudden she has added frogs to her list. Not stuffed frogs, but real frogs with an aquarium.

How much would you pay for a cupcake?

They have the cutest cupcake store in Nashville. It's called Gygi's cupcakes. The other day as the girls and I were driving through, I thought that I would stop and get us a treat. This store only makes cupcakes nothing else. The cupcakes are just standard size piled with 2 feet of frosting. For 3 cupcakes it cost me $9.36. I almost died! It looks like we won't be going back there anytime soon.

bad weather

When severe weather brings school closings, you need to be prepared. That's the heading that we read on the local news website. Are you kidding me? This is considered severe weather? Alyssa couldn't go to school today because school was canceled. Apparently Alyssa hasn't been having recess either because it's been "TOO COLD" outside. Tennessee has no idea what bad weather looks like. Even in Utah it wasn't uncommon for the kids to go to school with several inches of snow on the ground. We got a good laugh today that's for sure!