Joys of the Holidays

So we are all decorated for the Christmas holiday. But with it comes the unavoidable annoyances that holiday decorations bring, especially with 3 cats and a 15 1/2 month old in the house. What I wasn't expecting was that Ethan and Holly can't seem to keep their hand off of the tree! Everyday I find that Ethan has decided to rearrange all the ornaments in clumped groupings through out the tree. Boy does that drive me CRAZY!! Who would have thought that my 6 year old is more of a problem with the tree than my toddler. Mason has been really good with the tree at least. He has one ornament that has jingle bells on it that he takes off everyday just so he can shake it. Other than that he just goes really close up to the tree and looks at it, then looks at me and or Ryan who say "no,no,no". If it is Ryan who says it he bursts into tears and runs to me but if it is me he just walks away. Why is that? But he is such a good kid when it comes to the tree.

The presents and the "Little People" nativity on the other hand... Mason likes to pull each gift out from under the tree and take it to the nearest person. Which will be great on Christmas day because I think we will let him pass out the gifts. The nativity is always pulled apart and the button that plays "Away in a Manger" is always pushed. I have had to turn it off and told the older kids to "NOT TURN IT ON UNDER PUNISHMENT OF DEATH" at times but all of them seem to love playing with it. Christmas is the only time of year they can play with the nativity because I'm sure the different "peoples" would go missing if we kept it out for them to play with all year.

The cats also love to play and especially sleep under the tree. It gets warm under there when to lights are on and the love the heat. I thought Tess was going to drive me crazy because she was always trying to climb the tree while I was working on getting all the lights to work, but thankfully she has not tried to climb it since the ornaments have been put on. She just bats at a couple of the small balls on the inside of the tree now. I can handle that...I think.

We have also been enjoying our new flat screen TV we got the day after Thanksgiving. Our other TV died. I think something happened when we moved because ever since March we have had some small white lines across the top 3 inches of the screen. The color has also been going "wonky" since then too. So we dealt with it till all the good after Thanksgiving sales and found a REALLY good deal. The kids love it and tell Ryan and I just how cool it is often. As you can see from the picture the old staple at our house is still "Yo Gabba Gabba". That is almost all that is on during the day anymore, well other than Ethan playing Mario Cart.

The kids are very excited for Christmas and are just bouncing all the time. Holly is calling the Christmas presents Jesus' Birthday presents. We have already had the discussion about why we celebrate Christmas and she asks if she can open one of the "Birfday presents" almost everyday. I just hope that we can keep everything under wraps till the big day. I am out numbered now a days 3 to 1.

Wish me luck. I'm going to need it.

Better Late the Never

So as you can see I have been a total slacker and not posted anything for a long while. Not that I haven't had anything to post but because we have had a lot of things going on and that I gave my self some "me" time to reread the whole Twilight series. It is amazing how when I am too stressed out with reality that if I can escape into the world of fantasy for just a little while it helps me to unwind.

Anyway I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We just had Thanksgiving here at our house as Ryan's parents went to Colorado to spend the holiday with his sister Liz and her family. I hope they had a great time! I know how much it means to have some of your own family around once and awhile.

But we had a nice quiet day with the full spread for dinner. I did the trimmings and Ryan cooked the turkey. He is really good at turkey's maybe because he is one. Oh, did I just say that? ;) tee he...

We also celebrated Ethan's 6th Birthday the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. We had a party for him the Sunday before his birthday with Ryan's family and some friends. Then on his birthday we took him to Magrath's Fish house for dinner. When we asked him were he wanted to go for his birthday he said, "the place with the flags in the fish sticks". It took us a little bit to figure out the place he meant but we all had a great time. He got a free chocolate sundae and they put a big fish hat on his head while they sang "Happy Birthday" to him.

Now we are getting ready for the Christmas holidays. I just finished with the decorating yesterday and we have been slowly gathering some of the kids gifts and locking them away in a closet we have down stairs. We had to put a pad lock on it just after we moved in to keep Ethan out of his Dad's Star Wars toys. It has come in handy with birthday's and Christmas.

Well I am going to try and keep up better during the holidays. I think I will just keep my laptop up on the kitchen table so that I can do just that. We are going to be taking pictures of the kids int he next couple of days for our Christmas card and getting those out soon.

Getting Caught Up

- I have been tagged by both Raimi and Karly. So scroll down and see the two posts below.

- Mason has learned how to crawl down our stairs. He has loved the freedom of being able to go anywhere in our house. I am not too sure about it because I can't seem to keep him out of the cat food and water. I guess we are going to have to invest in a kitty door, and hope we can find one that he can't get through.

- Ethan had his first real wipe out on his bike and of course he wasn't wearing his helmet. He had a pretty good gash in his head which probably could have used a couple of stitches but I just glued it together with some liquid bandage that I keep on hand. His Dad has made such a big deal out of him having a really cool scar that Ethan is now wearing it with pride.

I know I'm a terrible Mother for not taking him to the doctor but I figure if I can clean it out really well to prevent infection why spend the money on a doctor when I can do just as good of a job. I guess if it had been Holly I might have taken her because girls are a little more sensitive about there looks. And that is a big "might".

Before..

After...
- Ethan has had this loose tooth in the front, bottom of his mouth for about a week and a half. I have been telling him to keep wiggling it so that it can come out. Well he hasn't been very good about it and now his permanent tooth is growing in behind it. I am taking him to the dentist in about an hour to have it taken care off. Now if I can get him to work on pushing that new tooth into place so that we don't have to look forward to braces when he gets older. That is my goal. Ryan had to have braces, but I didn't because my Mom had me massage each of my teeth in so I wouldn't have to have braces. So guess what - my Mom was right and Ethan is going to get to do the same thing that I had to. Then he can take pride in a dentist telling him what perfect teeth he has someday.

- My friend Lesli got us tickets to see Twilight on Friday night! I'm so excited not only to see the movie but to get out of the house with no kids and enjoy some time friends. I don't do that very often and it is starting to show in my stress levels. So Ryan and I have talked about it and it is our goal to give me some "Mommy" time. I really need Ryan to support me in this because I'm the type of person who won't do it unless it is made easy for me to do. I just don't do things for myself. I have major guilt, why I don't know. Well maybe I guess I have just watched my Mom not take any time for herself all my life and just grew up thinking that is what being a Mom is. So now I have to make myself relearn the definition of Mom.

That's it for now. Don't forget to scroll down for the "tag" posts.

Husband Tagg - Karly

My friend Karly tagged me awhile ago. Sorry it has taken me so long.


1. Where did you meet your husband?
His Mom set us up on a blind date.

2. How long did you date?
We dated 3 or 4 months, then took a year break, went out on one date, took another year break and then dated 1 month before we got engaged.

3. How long have you been married?
12 1/2 years

4. What does he do that surprises you?
How excited he still gets about cool new toys.

5. What is your favorite feature of his?
His tummy, believe it or not. I'm top heavy and with his belly we fit just right when we hug.
I also like his eyes.

6. What is his best quality?
His youthful enthusiasm

7. Does he have a nick name for you?
Just Barb. Well sometimes he calls me "Mother" which I hate!!

8. What is his favorite food?

Sushi

9. What is his favorite sport?

Baseball. Hockey is a close 2nd.

10. When & Where was your first kiss?
When - about two weeks after we first started dating.
Where on my front porch. He very shy-ly asked me if he could before hand, I might add.

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
Well this is a family blog, so...watching movies.

12. Do you have children?
3

13. Does he have hidden talents?
His Bryan Boytano (the skater - I'm not sure how to spell his name) impression.

14. How old is he?
36

15. Who said I love you first?
He did - after our 2 year break I sure wasn't going to say it.

16. His favorite music?
Hard Rock

17. What do you admire most about him?
His childish enthusiasm

18. What is his favorite color?
I don't think he really has one, but if I had to pick maybe red?

19. Will he read this?
Yes!

20. Who do you tag?
Anyone who would like to take it.

Tag of Two's - Raimi

Ryan's cousin Raimi tagged me...so here it goes.

1. Two names you go by.
Mom
Hey you

2. Two things you are wearing right now.
Jeans
Pink top

3. Two things you want right now.
Sleep
Kids that listen

4. Two things you did last night.
Cleaned up the days destruction
Watched "The Closer"

5. Two things you ate today.
Diet Mt. Dew
Chocolate Muffin

6. Two favorite drinks
Diet Mt. Dew
Raspberry Lemonade

What a Difference a Ryan Makes

So as promised I will divulge what I did for Ryan for his off site"retreat". His boss Deanne, called me the last day Ryan was in Driggs and told me that on their off site they were going to have the theme of "Differences" as in what a difference each person makes. She wanted to do a presentation on not just the difference they make at work but the difference they make in their own homes. So she asked me to write something up tell everyone how Ryan makes a difference in his home life.

Well Ryan came home the next day and I didn't have a chance to write it until he went back to work a week latter as he took the week of Halloween off. That Monday I sat down and wrote this out and even sent pictures, although Ryan says they didn't use the pictures which he was happy for. So here is what I wrote...

Ryan influence is everywhere in his family life and the differences he makes is felt by all he comes in contact with.

Ethan, Ryan's eldest son says that "He has the best Dad because he always plays with him". (See picture)

Holly, Ryan's only daughter says that "He is the best Dad because he is always there to keep bad dreams away when she gets scared at night". Ryan always lets her cuddle up to him and makes her feel safe and warm. (See picture)Mason, Ryan's youngest son is only 1 but Ryan is always on the floor with him playing with him and encouraging him to walk and play with the big kids.
You see, Ryan is a big kid at heart. I believe that makes the greatest Dad. He just understands the kids so much better than others, because he is one of them. Even the neighbourhood kids come over just to play with Ryan.

Ryan lets his kids be kids and tells them not to be is such a big hurry to grow up because being a kids is the best time in life, and there will always be time for grown up things latter.

At the same time he teaches his kids to be respectful and to use good manners in word and deed. You really don't see that too much anymore, kids respecting their elders, and in our house he insists upon it.

Ryan also encourages his kids to do what they love and to work hard for what they get. To take their time and do things right the first time. To get an education and to always ask questions so that they can learn about the world around them. And most of all if they don't know something go look it up and learn about it. Ethan has already asked is Dad about "what does...mean?". Ryan will have Ethan bring him the dictionary and they will look it up together. That is the kind of GREAT Dad Ryan is.

All of these things together and the difference Ryan is making in these kids lives will carry with them throughout their own lives so that they can make a difference in turn.

As for me, his wonderful wife, he is my calming force. I have a short fuse and he is always the one to give me a hug and time outs when they are needed most. He listens to me when I need it and let's me do things my way when needed as well. He is my rock and my foundation. I don't know what I would be without him.

He works so hard and can't "just do nothing" on the week ends. I have never had to give him a "honey do" list because he is the first to see when something needs to be done and tries to do it as soon as possible.

He has never raised his voice to me and shows me respect and love in just the way he treats me. The way that a husband should treat his wife. I love this about him because by being this kind of man he shows his sons how to treat women and shows his daughter how she should except to be treated.

Ryan is a wonderful example to all around him and is always there to give support to anyone who needs it including friends and neighbours. He always takes the high road when he is treated unfairly and gives everyone the benefit of the doubt in their motives. And most of all he helps me do the same.

Ryan is a wonderful man who is loved more than he will ever know and his influence and example will be felt through the ages by those who's lives he has touched.

Gone Again

Well Ryan left this morning headed for St. George for work. That is if you can call it work, because they play a lot but I guess they can get away with it by calling it a "team building off site retreat". They have one every 6 months it seems but maybe only once a year. It just seems like he has been gone a lot lately because of all his work with the conversion of the United Bank of Idaho in Driggs. Ryan's boss said that they still needed some help up in Driggs and I was happy to hear Ryan say that he would pass on the next trip if they could get someone else to go up. They were successful in finding someone so he doesn't have to go up again anytime soon. Yeah!!

But this morning Holly and Ethan got up early to see their Dad off and were not too happy he was leaving either. Holly just cried..."But I will miss you! Don't go". I know that broke Ryan's heart and at the same time made his day because he truly knew that he was loved.

He will only be gone "two sleeps" as the kids say and I am not too put off that he had to go this time because I know a little of what is waiting for him. His boss, Deanne called me a couple of weeks ago and asked me to put something together for him that they will present while on his "retreat". I'm kind of excited to hear how he likes what I did. I will post it when he gets back because I know he reads this blog and I don't want to spoil anything for him. But there are a few things in it that I do want him to know that I wrote it BEFORE our little talk this past weekend so I didn't put it in just to make him feel bad.

Anyway I am going to try and get some things done while he is gone because I never sleep when he is not here and it is the perfect opportunity to get a few things done. So wish me luck and I am looking forward to the Twilight movie that comes out in 8 days because after Ryan has been gone so much lately I deserve a break! Hint, Hint...Ryan :)

Review

So I have listened to the Twilight Movie Soundtrack a few times now and for the most part I really like it. There are some songs I like more than others and only one song I really don't like, it's the Rob Pattison song. He is the guy who plays Edward in the movie and he is playing around with a music career on the side. But personally if all his songs are like the one on the soundtrack he should stick with acting.

The song titled "Bella's Lullaby" did not turn out the way I thought it would from reading the books. It didn't really sound like a "lullaby" to me but maybe once I see the movie I will feel different.

I often like the soundtracks better once I've seen the movie. Now come to think of it I don't think I have purchased anything but soundtracks in the last few years. Go figure?

So that is my review of it. If you would like to hear some of the soundtrack you can go to http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/ and they have a sampling of it there. Just click on the movie tab and scroll down.

I am planning on going to the movie on the 21st or 22nd with a friend of mine from College. But she is bringing some friends with her so if anyone would like to go with us, we can make it a big "girl movie outing", so let me know.