She insists that she is FIVE...

...but I say she is STILL Three!

We were able to celebrate Kam and her Aunt Chelsea's B-Day while at GMa and Gpa's house during Christmas Vacay. BIG THANKS to Aunt Shana for the Beautiful (and delicious) cake!!! (Grandma said she didn't have any B-Day candles, but we found 'em! ha ha) ;-)


A few days later (on her REAL B-day), we stayed at a hotel for a couple of nights while traveling home.

She only had a few requests...
#1...
(IHOP) :-)


#2...
That SHE be able to take a few pictures with MY camera...


#3...
SWIMMING at the hotel!
Now, if it could only be that easy when she is 16!

Holly Jolly (crazy, happy) Days...

Christmas Eve Mystery...

Santa's not going to like this!...

Case closed.

Christmas Eve '09...

The Pink (as opposed to blue) Kind...

We found out a couple of weeks ago that our new little addition is a GIRL! We love her so much already. I would have to say that next to me, the most anxious one to meet this sweetie is Kambria. She really wanted a little girl and is constantly talking to (and hugging) my belly which seems a little rounder at this point (abt. 21 weeks) than in the past. Lovely. Feeling great at this point, hoping that continues for awhile!

Dear Santa, ...

Dear Santa,
We saw you at a local store a few days ago. Please don't be offended that my kids wanted Nothing to do with you. They want me to assure you that even though they are Terrified of coming anywhere Near you, they will still welcome (and embrace) all gifts you may bring for them. They have each written a letter for you, I guess it will have to do for this year. Merry Chrismas!
Your Friend,
Aletha
Bryn's letter (translation):
Dear Santa,
Brynlee's toys: I want a money counter. I want the movie UP. I want Hungry Hungry Hippos. I want playdoh. I want a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse toy of the Choo Choo Express. I want a guitar. I want a karaoke machine.
Your Friend,
Brynlee

Kam's letters:

#1. (with a little help):

Dear Santa,

Kambria

I want Hungry Hungry Hippos.

-

#2. (with absolutely NO help!):

Dear Santa,

I want Playdoh.

Kambria

Gavin's letters:
#1. (with the help of Kambria):
Dear Santa,
Gavin wants a Bugs Life Toy.

#2. (All on his own)
Dear Santa,
(Your guess is as good as mine!)

We're all about Traditions...

...here is a new one for us. We love trains, especially Gavin. And Brian. We have an electric train up really high (on a plant shelf) in our house that goes around and around a small village that we have created up there. The kids run back and forth between rooms to watch it as it goes around. We also love movies. Polar Express is one that I personally love and is one that I won't let my kids watch just whenever (I don't want to get sick of it)! We decided that it would be fun every December to set up a Polar Express train around our Christmas tree and then watch the movie as a family...blankets...popcorn...treats, the works. So, there we go...the new tradition has officially begun.

SO Proud of this Girl...

"Student of the Week!" (Her, not me.) Last Monday we got a call from the Principal telling us that Brynlee was being awarded Student of the Week. She was apparently nominated by her teacher because she is so kind to everyone and is very responsible with her homework and helping others. We really couldn't ask for anything more in this girl. She is such a joy, not to mention a wonderful example to her younger siblings. Such a blessing to us!

Yet Another Reason...

...that Brian and I are a GREAT team!

(I am adding this to the list from THIS former post)

You see, I come up with an "adventure" all by myself (well, along with 2 small kids in the backseat)... ...and Brian comes to the rescue!
He would be so bored without me.

-

***Reasons I feel very lucky:

1. I was driving slowly in a nice little neighborhood right next to a church parking lot when this happened. (The sudden 4 inch GASH in my tire would have thrown us off of the freeway had we been on one!)

2. We were also only a few blocks from Brian's office which was handy (although I know he would have driven hours to help if he had needed to).

3. Brian never acted annoyed for one second.

4. I think I could have changed the tire on my own (except it probably would have taken ME 4 HOURS next to HIS 15 minutes). After watching him do it, I could maybe do it in 2 (3?) hours now!

5. Even if I could have changed the tire on my own...I wouldn't have been able to jump the DEAD BATTERY by myself after turning off the engine and leaving the dvd player on for the kids the whole time while we (he) changed the tire.

-

***Reasons I don't feel very lucky:

1. The tire is NOT repairable and we have been told we have to replace ALL 4 TIRES when we replace one because it is all-wheel-drive! Those tires still had a few good YEARS left in them! Arrrgh.

-

At least the positives outweigh the negatives! Never a dull moment. :)

I was just lectured...

...by a TWO YEAR OLD! The reason for the lecture? Because I "need to SHARE!" He was referring to the brownies that I just made for the Mutual Activity tonight. As you can see from the picture, one brownie was NOT enough for him. (Actually One and a Half because of the half that he snatched from ON TOP OF THE PIANO where I was hiding them!) Who taught him this whole concept of sharing anyway??! :)

"Trick or Treat, Dude!"...

I have been keeping very busy making all of the kids' costumes this year. I had to start in September to be sure to have enough time. They have always had coordinating costumes in the past years, but this year...they really couldn't have been much more opposite in their costumes!

Gavin LOVES motorcycles, or as he calls them "ogergygles." Gavin discovered the pure bliss and joy that comes on this wonderful holiday! He thought it was SO GREAT to RUN to each house and hold out his bag and get CANDY! After every single house he went to he would say "one more house please Mommy!" Several people were very impressed at the amount of facial hair he was able to grow at just 2 years old! I was impressed that he actually kept it on the whole night, it's amazing what a little bribery will do! (I love when they finally get to the age that bribery works!)

Kambria made a beautiful Minnie Mouse. Her costume was the most fun for me to create. It makes me want to go to Disneyland just to get a picture of her in this costume with Minnie.

This girl would LIVE on SUGAR if I would let her, although she was a lot more timid than the other kids to go door to door and actually get the candy!

Brynlee was our little Cowgirl this year. She had a great time at school! They had a school parade and then a classroom Halloween party, which I was able to help out with. She has a really great teacher and fun kids in her class. This girl really enjoys life and any reason to celebrate! She is such a pleasure to be around!

At Brian's office, they have trick-or-treating every year for the employees' families, it is really getting popular! They always get WAY TOO MUCH candy there!

The mode of transportation for trick-or-treating around the neighborhood this year was the 4-wheeler, although after awhile it was just easier for a couple of us to walk next to it...not much room for FIVE people on ONE 4-wheeler!

Picture Day '09

I seem to be making it a tradition to take my own camera outside for a little photoshoot of the kids on the same day of school pictures. These pictures seem a little more "alive" to me than the typical school ones: awkward smile (me anyway!), sit on a stool with a neon-laser background...maybe that was just the 80's?? *Flashback.* Anyway, I can't believe how fast my kids are getting older! I keep telling myself to live in the moment. The moments are passing by way too quickly!

There is Totally Room...

...for one more! We are so excited to be having another baby! My Dr. thinks I am a little crazy because of the extremely difficult/kinda scary pregnancies that I have ...but I say I would be crazy NOT to "make the world a better place" with at least one more of these beautiful creatures. ;) They all bring so much joy to us in their own way!

We are really looking forward to our little addition in April (not looking forward to February or March!) Until then, we can just imagine how things will be with 4 little ones...

Hopefully the following picture is not a glimpse into our future (although, to give him a little credit, he was very gentle while he was "decorating" the baby). :) Dad, you must be proud with the Huskies colors he has chosen!

Kam is grateful for all of her Fans...

We've been encouraging the kids lately to express more thanks in their prayers. Last night as Kambria said her prayer, with much gratitude, she expressed incredible thanks for all of her fans.

Huh???

Brian and I peeked at each other while scratching our heads. I then noticed she was looking around the room trying to find things to be grateful for, and there it was, her nice white fan that keeps her cool at night. I asked her about it afterward, and she pointed to that fan and mentioned that the ones that we have on the ceiling around the house are nice.

This was after she prayed that Brynlee and Gavin wouldn't wake up at night (this always makes Bryn upset because she doesn't think it's fair if only Kam can wake up at night), ...and before Brynlee prayed that Kam would no longer be whiney.

Two...

It doesn't ALWAYS have to be "terrible two's" (although, I have plenty of pictures to go with that "theme," that is another post for another day). We are reminiscing on the positive today, hmm... must be in a good mood. :)

Anyone...........Anyone?...

We have 2 ducks. We recently found out that one is male and one is female. (We were hoping for 2 of the same gender, but apparently it is hard to tell when they are babies!) We also recently discovered our female duck has been laying fertilized eggs and HIDING them! We now have 6-7 eggs that will probably hatch in the next 3 weeks. We like our 2 ducks, but we don't want to turn into a duck farm! Not sure what to do. Anyone want to adopt a duckling?...or two?...or six??? They are going to be so cute and the kids are so excited to see them hatch. We will try to be more responsible next time. Promise. :) I look forward to hearing from you. Yes YOU. :)

Gotta Say, I'm a little surprised...

...that you made it to 28 years old, little Bro!
My Dear Brother Dodge,
I enjoyed singing Happy Birthday to you on the phone this morning, I know you loved it as well, HaHa! We will celebrate today by having treats and a cartoon-night with the kids...(all the oldies/goodies like Smurfs, Woody-Woodpecker, Flintstones, Charlie Brown, etc...), wish you could be here with us to celebrate YOUR birthday WITH YOU, maybe next time! You are so talented and I will take most of the credit for that (I can do that because this is my blog)...

Oohhhh...
Awhhh...
...This is proof that we liked each other when we were little. Then we didn't like each other very much. Remember when I was pulling your hair and you were punching me, then I decided to just grab you and kiss your cheek? Then, we both started laughing. I remember winning everytime (it's ok that I remember that way, because again, this is my blog). We have come full circle because I really like ya again, lucky fellah you are... ...You now have a beautiful family of your own! I am a proud sister. Oh, one more memory: Remember when we were in Vegas with the fam and you and me and Dad Bungee jumped off of a 200 ft tower and almost gave mom a heart attack? That was funny. I hope you have a WONDERFUL Birthday, you deserve it!

Love,

Aletha

P.S. My cat picture is better than yours. :)