{Holiday Eating Tips}

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrot sticks on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrot sticks, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year, but now. Drink it up! Who cares that it has 10, 000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat step #3.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello!?!?!?!
6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by: Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO what a ride!'

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas

Lean your ear this way. Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say. Christmas Eve is coming soon; now you dear old man, whisper what you'll bring to me. Tell me if you can!

My friend and I took our kids to see Santa at our mall and I have to say that he was the nicest mall santa. He didn't even mind when we came back for another go around with him before we left the mall!

Addison got kind of shy when she told him what she wanted. She just pointed to the list on her shirt and said "that". But every time we see something on TV or at the store, she says " I'm going to ask Santa for that". Funny girl!

Paige didn't ask for much. She just said that she wanted some milk and maybe a nap, if he could swing it!

Halloween 2010

I am seriously so behind on blogging.

I am behind for two reasons.

1. I simply don't care

2. I'm lazy

Truth be told, I think I don't care BECAUSE I am lazy. When I have 5 minutes to myself, the LAST thing I think/want to do is blog. (See, told you I'm lazy!) I thought when I got my new camera, I would be blogging like crazy, but that has not been the case. If you are rabid (and not in the affected with rabies kind) reader, I apologize. I really will try to be better.

Anywho, lets talk about Halloween. I have to admit that Halloween is my LEAST favorite holiday of the year. I appreciate Arbor Day MUCH more than I like Halloween. I know that there are Halloween fanatics out there and I apologize, but there is something wrong with teaching your kids all year long to be themselves and then one day out of the year to be something/someone else. That kind of bothers me. But I have a three year old that thinks Halloween is just the bee's knees. All she could talk about in the weeks leading up to Halloween was what she was going to be. Addison was thrilled beyond belief when her costume finally came in the mail. (I'm too lazy to make costumes too!)

These first few pictures are of Addison painting her pumpkin for school. The kids were able to bring scary/funny carved or painted pumpkins to school the week leading up to Halloween.

Funny story. Addison was so excited to take her pumpkin to school and show everyone how pretty it was. Addison was so pissed when we had to leave it at school for the rest of the week. She didn't understand that she would get it back the next time she went to school. Funny girl!

Addison getting ready to trick or treat. She was VERY adamant that she did NOT want me to put freckles on her face like the girl on the package had.

I think she makes a PERFECT little Strawberry Shortcake!

We went up to my sister-in-law's house for pumpkin carving. Addison was so excited. While we were eating and the kids were playing, she kept coming up to me and asking me if it was time to carve pumpkins. This was her first experience carving pumpkins (told you I am not a fan of Halloween). I think she had a great time!

Thanks Nancy for hosting such a fun event! You really are a great sister/sister-in-law!

Addison wanted a scary witch. I think she and Randy did a really good job!

Nancy had some small pumpkins that grew in their garden. Addison found one and thought it would be fun to draw all over it!

Inkley's does this really great thing on Halloween and will take pictures of your kids for a very low price. Addison was so excited to go and have her picture taken...until it was actually time to take the picture.

Can you see the tears in her eyes? I don't understand why she was so upset. She has been doing really well at having her pictures taken. Oh well, I still think she looked beautiful!

And last, but not least, our ward's annual Halloween carnival.

The little stinker let my friend Marci take her picture.

Addison does not like having her face painted, so I was pretty surprised when she let our neighbor Taylor paint her face. I will let you know though that the moment we got home, she went to the bathroom and washed it right off her face! I love this girl!

HAPPY BELATED HALLOWEEN!

PS. I was going to take pictures of our cute porch all decorated for Halloween with Addison's pumpkins on it, but it had been raining like crazy all day!

"Paws" and Enjoy

I stole this from my Aunt Deon's blog. I thought it was way too funny not to share.

The Day After The Day of Giving Thanks

With this being the day after the day after giving thanks, I thought I should share with all of my 8 readers what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for places like this

because it means that I can be with these

F O R E V E R !!!

I am so very thankful for my family!

I am thankful for the smiles, the I love yous, the "Thank you, Mama" when I wash a particular article of clothing or certain dish, the snuggles, the coos. I could keep going on, but you get my point. I am thankful that I have these little joys and many others in my life for the rest of my life!

Two Month Old Newborn

It's official folks. I have a two month old newborn! Paige's weight and height are that of what a newborn baby's should be. I can't complain because she is healthy and growing. She loves to eat and wants to constantly do so. Thank goodness for supplementing, or else she would starve to death (or so she would think!).

On Monday the girls went in for their check ups and shots! :( I was expecting Paige's shots and had given her Tylenol before we went, but I was not expecting shots for Addison. Addison was such a big girl, climbed on the table, laid down for her shots, then she started screaming like a banshee! She asked me afterwards when we were driving home in the car "Why are their needles so sharp and pointy? My shot at home isn't sharp and pointy?" I couldn't help but smile and laugh under my breath. (Addison has a play doctors kit that comes with a shot, stethoscope, bandage, thermometer and blood pressure cuff.)

Paige also cried after her shots, but that was also expected. All day and evening, she would start screaming whenever her legs were touched. Poor little girl.

Paige - 2 Months

Weight: 8 Pounds - 3%

Height: 21 Inches - 9%

Addison - 3 Years

Weight: 30 Pounds 2 Ounces - 70%

Height: 38 Inches - 75%

Paige is starting to:

Smile

Coo

Respond to voices and noises

Loves her daddy and will turn her head to find him whenever she hears his voice

Loves sitting in her bouncer

Sleep approximately 6 hours at night between feedings

Hold her head up longer and longer (She is a little behind on that one, but not for a lack of trying. When I put Paige on her tummy for tummy time, she usually just ends up falling asleep or she will lay her head down and just cry.)

I love both of my beautiful girls and am so grateful that they are both healthy and growing strong!

And The Winner Is...

... Stacey Jenkins!!!

(who guessed 6 pounds 2 ounces)

Paige's weight at six weeks was 6 pounds 9 ounces!

I was thrilled beyond belief when the scale read her weight. I have said that I want a child who will eat me out of house and home. I think I have that child! She is such a good little eater. She almost looks like a normal baby at this point. We (Paige and Addison) go to the doctor tomorrow for a two month and 3 year check up (respectably) so we will see if she is on the scale yet.

Stacey, let me know when you would like to receive your prize! I can mail you the box of Cap'n Crunch, but if you choose cuddle time with Paige, you will need to come and get that personally! (I'm not sure Fed Ex or USPS would appreciate a screaming baby in a box!)