Baby Alive

Yeah, so Santa brought Courtney a Baby Alive. Courtney's best friend, Hayley, has a Baby Alive and so does another girl in the neighborhood. So Courtney has been wanting one for a long time. Mrs. Santa found a great deal on one online and thought of Courtney's desire but didn't really investigate the Baby Alive too well. She understood that it peed, but figured that Courtney has another doll that pees and it lost its fun after a while and hasn't peed in a year. So she thought things would be well.

When Courtney opened Baby Alive she found some powder along with a baby bottle and an extra diaper. She gave her mom (me) the powder and wanted to make her baby some juice. I decided to read the packaging and realized that the powder is what makes the baby poop. Yes, the Baby Alive not only pees, but it poops. As Bryan said, "Yes, we want to re-live some of the best memories we have of having babies....not!"

Courtney wouldn't give it up until we had made the baby poop. So I mixed up the juice, took off the baby's clothes (she only came with one extra diaper and they aren't washable), put her on the toilet (I have my limits) and let Courtney feed her. The baby makes very realistic eating noises, sucked the bottle dry and yellow stuff started coming out. It wasn't really pee, but it wasn't really water either. Anyway, Courtney was pretty grossed out and I wasn't too thrilled with it either. So we fed her a bottle of water to clean the system out and we decided that we didn't need to ever do that again. Baby Alive can pretend to eat a bottle and be just fine.

But seriously, who thought up a pooping doll?!?!?!

Rosenbruch Museum

There is a wild life museum in St. George that is there for education and preservation. Ethan won 2 child tickets to it and I decided that we should use them. I'm not a big fan of stuffed deer and such, but Ethan wanted to go so we went. It only took us about 20 minutes to see everything the kids wanted to see. There was a bunch of animals and the kids were given binoculars so they could look at them up close. The bug room was only fun for about 30 seconds until Ethan saw a huge bat in a glass case and was out of there. The part they really liked was the kids room where a tent was set up and a lookout to see wild animals. Safari clothing was there and the kids played hide-and-seek for a long time.

Here are some photos:

Christmas!

Yes, I'm a bit slow posting Christmas, but we've been busy!

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve. We went to the movies with my parents and sister (the second Chipmunk movie) and then we all went back to our house for Christmas Eve dinner. Since my parents and Leigh Ann had ham for Thanksgiving, we had turkey for Christmas. It was soooo yummy and we have loved having leftovers at our house!

After they left the kids began begging us to let them open their Christmas pjs. We kept holding them off and holding them off, until about 6:30 and then we let them go nuts. They had fun and everyone's pjs fit (except Courtney's are a bit long). We spread reindeer food on the front and back lawn and then set out pie for Santa because we were too tired to make cookies. Bryan and I then spent the next few hours trying to keep the kids in their beds. All day we had been checking Norad to follow Santa's path and this got them so anxious. But they finally fell asleep.

Christmas morning Ethan came to in to tell us that Santa had come and that we needed to get up. I had told him the night before that he couldn't get up until 7 a.m. but it was 6:30 and he just couldn't wait. So we got up. They got to play with their Santa gift (Ethan got a skateboard and Courtney got a Baby Alive which Santa didn't investigate well enough because it not only pees, but it poops too....gross!) and check out what they got in their stocking while Bryan and I made breakfast. Ethan got some books in his stocking and took them into his room to read while breakfast was cooking.

We then ate and began opening our gifts. It wasn't too long after we started that my parents and sister showed up. We finished opening all our gifts and the fun playing began. Our living room looked like a tornado had hit it, but the kids were having a blast. Bryan got toys to go with his bike and an air compressor from his parents, among other things. I got a bunch of pedicure things (yeah!!) and a cool blender-thing that has been working non stop making smoothies, ice cream and orange julius ever since! It's been great.

My parents and sister left (she had to go back to Phoenix to her husband on Christmas Day) and we went on our traditional Christmas Day Hike! We don't have to go very far from our house to find cool hiking spots. We decided to go on a hike through the lava flows about a mile from our house. It was so much fun and the kids loved exploring around.

We just spent the rest of the day playing with our toys and relaxing. It was a good Christmas!

2010 FHE Lessons

Last year I found a posting on sugardoodle.net where someone had made FHE lesson plans to go along with the Primary lessons. We did this and LOVED it because it helped the kids remember what they learned in Primary better. This year someone else put together a packet so I thought I would post the link.

http://www.sugardoodle.info/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5512

Ethan's Cookie Party

Ethan wanted to have a cookie party with his friends but I kept putting it off because we were just too busy. Monday morning he told me that it would "really make my Christmas special" if we could have one. How could I put that off?!? So we made invitations and invited his two best friends over. (Courtney was a bit upset that she wasn't included, but she already had her party last week.)

They got here at 9:30 to roll out cookie dough and make some Christmas shapes. They each got their own cookie sheet and while they were cooking the boys played. When the cookies were cooled, they each got to decorate their batch. Then we had hot chocolate and they got to take them home. It was tons of fun and something that Ethan wants to do every year!

Ethan's Christmas Recital

Ethan's Christmas piano recital was last Saturday. He did a great job! He was pretty nervous about playing because the song was hard for him and he doesn't like to read music so he kind of guesses at what the next note will be. But he did work hard to get the song prepared. I think he did well.

After Christmas break we are switching his piano teacher to one who is close. Ethan is pretty excited and so am I. I loved his previous teacher but now I won't have a 30 minute drive each way! But the new teacher has 3 recitals each year.

Here are some photos and video:

Caroling

Last night was Mutual. It was a combined Laurel/Priest activity to go caroling at a local nursing home. Bryan was a bit nervous that no one would turn up so he asked us to go along, thinking that there would at least be someone there to sing with him and fulfill their commitment to the nursing home. Ethan and Courtney were thrilled to be going to Mutual with the young men and women!

We met at the Church and they actually had 3 leaders, 4 girls and 7 young men show up! It was a good turnout. When we got there we found the common room but the Jazz game still had 5 minutes left and the old women wouldn't let us turn off the TV to sing. ;) So we walked the halls caroling to all the people who live there. It was nice and we had some really neat experiences. We were invited in to sing to one woman and another woman was having her birthday so we sang to her. The kids were a bit nervous at first but everyone warmed up.

By the time we got back to the common room, the Jazz game was over so they were ready to pay attention to us. I played the piano and the youth/leaders sang about 6 songs and then we ended with "We wish you a Merry Christmas." It was a great night.

Because it was a youth activity we ended it at Del Taco. Food and youth always go together ;)

Ethan and Courtney loved going and had a great time singing. We may make this a family Christmas tradition!

Storytime

For Ethan's Christmas party at school we had a man from our ward (who plays the big guy up at Tuacahn) come and read a Christmas story to the class. It was cute. The man couldn't dress up as Santa (contract reasons) so he put on a Santa hat and a red vest. When the kids walked in a lot of them thought he was a real Santa but wasn't in his red suit or had a beard because it wasn't Christmas. But the debate was on.

He read them a story about a clockmaker who worked on a clock for a long time so it would be a perfect gift for the Christ child. But he ended up selling it when it was finished to give Christmas to some neighbor children. He looked around his house and found the only thing he had to give the Christ child was an apple. So he gave that and it was accepted as the "best gift" because it was all he had.

When the story was over we gave the kids an apple and a huge candycane as their gifts from us. It was a great morning and the kids loved it! Courtney had to sit by her brother the whole time. She certainly loves him.

Carols by Courtney

In September I took Courtney in to the doctor to have her ears checked because she seemed to have problems hearing things clearly. He found that her ears didn't have the right pressure in them so the ear drum couldn't vibrate. He gave us a nose spray which we did for 2 months but that didn't help. The other day I took her to an ear, nose and throat specialist (Ethan's doctor) and was told that she needed tubes. So we have an appointment for January to have that done.

Sometimes it's annoying to have her repeat back to me what I said and have it be completely different from what I said. It's a constant game of telephone but the message is garbled between the first two players! But it has made Christmas carols kind of fun! For example:

Jolly Old St. Nicholas:
Jolly Old St. Nicholan leave your ear today....

Silent Night:
Round yon version, mother and Child...

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer:
Then one froggy Christmas Eve....

I'm sure there are more, but those are the songs she is singing this morning! I love her!

Primary Nativity

The Primary did their annual Nativity tonight and it was great! Ethan and Courtney both had singing parts and they did a great job. The Sunbeam class (all girls) sang "Silent Night" and Ethan sang with a group of boys "With Wondering Awe." The boys sang the first verse and when the second verse began it was apparent that Ethan was the only one who knew it. He was on one side so the chorister stopped the singing to move him to the middle but when the singing began the other boys figured that Ethan was in the middle so he could sing a solo. Ethan was a bit nervous but he did an excellent job!

After the Nativity, light refreshments were served...my 17 dozen cookies! They turned out well but next year I think I need to make more sugar cookies and leave out the gingerbread. But it all went well.

Here are some photos:

Christmas Lights and SNOW

Our neighborhood is CRAZY!! On December 2nd we realized that we were the LAST HOUSE in our neighborhood to put up our lights! We have been getting a bit of pressure from neighbors to get them up. Bryan tried last week but couldn't borrow a ladder. So yesterday he came home from work early and we put them up. It looks great and now we feel like part of the neighborhood again. ;)

When we woke up this morning, we were glad we had put them up yesterday because it SNOWED!!! Who says St. George doesn't have all kinds of weather?!?! Ethan was so excited and came in our bedroom to tell us. Then they bundled up and went out to play in it. Ethan asked for a sled for Christmas and I thought he was crazy but now he may have had a point in asking.

Tuacahn

Courtney danced at Tuacahn tonight and it was FREEZING!! Seriously, it was only 30 degrees and the girl was in tights and a tutu.

Her first performance was at 6:30 and it wasn't too bad at that time. They only had 2 dances to do and the performance was only about 20 minutes long. We were prepared with rice bags warmed in the microwave, blankets and coats. She did pretty well waiting and keeping herself warm.

We then went to the live Nativity at Tuacahn. That was fun. We have been before but it's always a great experience.

Then we went back to her second performance and it was REALLY cold! It was actually snowing a bit so that made it worse. They had the girls wait inside the building before they went to the outdoor stage and that helped, but Courtney was still shivering pretty badly! Between dances they went back in the building but the second dance was almost too much. Her little legs were shaking and she was cold.

Bryan bundled her up and carried her to the car. It's taken a while to warm her up but I think the hot chocolate and the cookie her primary teacher gave her at Tuacahn helped (her teacher works there at the concessions stand).

Cookie Party

Courtney wanted to do something fun with a couple of her friends to celebrate Christmas, so we had a cookie party. We made invitations and she delivered them on Wednesday. I made some cookie dough this morning and we were ready.

Two little girls came over and they each cut their own cookies out, I baked them while they played and then they sat around and decorated them. Afterward they got to eat one cookie while they drank hot chocolate and talked about "girl stuff." It was a lot of fun and they were super cute girls!

Ward Christmas Party

Last night was our Ward Christmas party. It was the Mexican theme of Feliz Navidad. It was pretty fun. The kids loved it and ate tons of chips, salsa and salad. All their friends were there so they played around while waiting for the adults to eat.

Then Santa showed up. They didn't do a "sit on Santa's lap" thing, they just had Santa go around from table to table giving out candy. When he first showed up, Courtney wasn't too sure about it and jumped on Bryan's lap with a worried look on her face. But when he came around to our table, she was okay with it. Ethan was super excited, just because he wanted the candy Santa was giving out. Ethan's friend was sitting with us and they began debating whether it was the "real Santa" or not and they finally decided that it had to be the real one because he had enough candy for everyone! It was cute.

When Santa was finished a few games were played and then the men were all called up front to sing Christmas songs to the women. It was a good party. We stayed and helped to clean up while the kids ran around.

Ethan getting candy:

Courtney getting candy:

Ethan's face when he first saw Santa:

Courtney's panic when she first saw Santa:

Amish Oatmeal

I made this the other day and it is SOOO good. I thought I would share it. It turns out kind of like a cake and is sweet. I'm sure it isn't any good for you because it tastes so good. ;) I only made a half batch and put it in a 8x8 pan, just to check it out.

Amish Oatmeal:
3 cups oatmeal
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
warm milk
fresh fruit (optional)
brown sugar (optional)
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Combine first 8 ingredients and mix well (also add cinnamon if you want). Spread evenly in a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until edges are golden brown. Immediately spoon into bowls and add warm milk. Top with fresh fruit and/or brown sugar if desired.

I added the cinnamon in my bowl afterward and it was yummy, but I think it would be better added in at first. You can decide.

YUMMY!!

Another Performance

Courtney had another dance performance at the Dickin's Festival. The girls did a great job. I have video but they are the same dances as last time, so I won't bore you, but she did a great job and had a great time.

We picked Ethan up after school and drove to the Dixie Center so we could get there early enough to walk around before Courtney had to perform. There were some cool things to buy and my kids wanted all of them. The best thing, in my opinion, was "snow in a box." It's this powder that you add water too and it turns into snow. It lasts for 4-6 weeks before drying up and then you can reconstitute it again and again. It was even cold! But it was also $20 a box and snow isn't worth that much to me ;)

Here's a blurry picture of the cute girl (it was dark and my camera had problems).

Christmas Decorating

Last Monday, for FHE, we decorated for Christmas. We put up the tree, put on the balls and other decorations (I only dropped two this year!) and then put out all our other nicknacks to make it Christmas. The kids had a great time.

Now we just have to put lights on the outside of our house. And, once again, we are the LAST house on our street to put up our lights. CRAZY!

Self Esteem Deflator...Thy Name is Courtney

I drove the carpool to preschool yesterday and then spent the morning putting away all our junk from Thanksgiving. We had all our winter clothes, the gifts I bought, along with all our dirty laundry. I got it all put away, cleaned the kitchen and living room and got things pretty organized before it was time to pick up the kids from preschool. I thought the house was back to looking normal...until Courtney walked in.

She turned to me and said, "Wow Mom, the house actually looks clean!"

Yeah, it took her about 2 seconds to deflate all I do every day. ;) You gotta love kids.