Mommy got run over by a raindeer!

Really that is what I feel like. Christmas came and went too fast something must have taken me out! This year was really tight for us. I usually start shopping early on in the year but this year there just hasn't been extra cash. So I felt like it was a whirlwind in the end trying to make sure everything was done. Christmas came and I really still didn't feel ready I only got half of my Christmas cards sent. So don't be surprized if you get a Christmas card in the middle of January (that is wishful thinking on my part it might be more like Easter before I finish addressing them.) I have had a slight cold and I don't really do well under the weather. Santa came to my mom's on Christmas Eve and he is always lots of fun. Brianna was so fun to watch. We saw Santa at the ward Christmas party and then we saw him at Oakridge and both times she asked him for a snowglobe. So when Santa handed her a monkey game she looked at him puzzled and said I don't like monkeys and this is not what I wanted. Silly...I told her Santa needed his snow and so he couldn't bring her a snowglobe until Christmas morning...Seth was terrified of Santa this year he couldn't get far enough away from him. However when Santa brought him Diego Dominoes Seth would not put them down. Maybe part of my feeling like it all came and went too fast this year was that I had to work. Santa got about two minutes of instruction and then called me three times at work and still the stockings were not exactly as planned but hey at least Santa tried since I couldn't be there to help him. The kids actually slept in a little on Christmas morning so I had a brief nap before we opened presents. Working nights is getting to me though and so energy is not something that I have enough of. The Varners stayed with us and that was great since they are dream guests. They smell good and they help out and they don't expect anything. I think this is the first Christmas that Rob's entire family was together since we were married. It was lovely.

Isaac's First Concert

Isaac is taking piano lessons and likes to practice as well as I did. My entire career of piano which was very short lived since I never practiced and would fight with Tiffany half hour before every piano lesson for the piano so I didn't look like I hadn't practiced all week. So needless to say it is a battle to get him to practice. He really didn't want to be in the recital and I wasn't sure how it was going to go. We walked in a couple of minutes late with Brianna in tears because she didn't want to go. My Dad took Brianna and Seth whew! Then we sat down Isaac was third on the list to perform. The first person went the next person went Shawna annonced Isaac and he shook his head. She said lets give Isaac some time... I wispered you didn't want to go third cause three is not your best number you would rather be fourth right... Oh thanks goodness for small miracles after the now third person finished he jumped up and went to the piano. It was great...he played the keys one by one as Shawna pointed to them. He clapped for himself on his way back down to sit with us and he said he wanted to do it again next year.. Just the week before he was done with piano and I told him he had to finish out the year. I am so glad that he has Shawna as a teacher she is so patient with him and caters to his ability.

Judge not that you be not judged....

Okay this is a total confession. I really believe that life is cyclical..At least mine is if I ever look at someone and think something bad about them or if something really irritates me I am bound to deal with that thing directly. Oh the irony..Here is an example I used to babysit this little girl. She was terrified of Tiffany's dog Bear (this giant Lancer Newfinland that barely moved around seriously he could have passed for a throw rug most days. Every time we went to Tiffany's house she whined and whined I would get so annoyed. Then I have a daughter of my own. Tiffany now has the same type of dog only Bear died so his name is Chewie and he is still a puppy but my daughter and son are terrified of him. Now I am still annoyed that they whine I just wonder if I wasn't so annoyed with the little girl I babysat a few years back would I still have to deal with this? So here is what I am thinking instead of being annoyed with the bad stuff I am going to take offense to the good stuff. Then maybe it will come back to me.. So Cherry your perfection drives me crazy. Tiffany your dedication to working out and natural parenting skills are appauling. Shannon your beauty drives me nuts. Juli your sense of style puts me on edge. Smith your sense of humor drives me up the wall. Ashley the fact that you always look so put together makes me batty. Alison your sweetness is sickening. Jaime your skills on and off the basketball court really tick me off. Kelly your cooking and friendliness infuriate me. Kasea your ability to socialize and connect with people drives me to the edge. Keri your craftiness and ability to make things look good including yourself chap my hide. Wendy your ability to keep a perfect house and decorate it to the "T" make me want to stick my tongue out at you. Jaimee the fact that I can't find anything wrong with you really bugs. Julie your warmth and effieincy push me over the top. Hyland your ability to have fun doing anything make me want to puke. Sorensen your zaney personality and silent strength are just annoying. Pam I think that your perfect and even just seening you brings joy to my heart that really sucks Renee you just glow and can run a marathon pregnant with twins and get hit by a mini van and still do it again how disturbing Gibby your so helpful even your blog is insightful and helps me, whatever... do you think it will work do you think that by pretending I am bothered it will still come back to me...I hope so but probably not but it was worth a shot right?

Family and lots of good food what could be better???

Thanksgiving morning Tiffany, Keri, Cherry, and I ran a 5k it was fun. Cherry is great she ran even though she hasn't been running and she held back and stayed with me the whole time. We took a nice easy pace and both felt like we were putting in our time for the overeating we would do later. We ran into some friends and that made me really happy. I especially loved seeing Trisha, Jason, Erin, and Jenna.
I love Thanksgiving. My mom makes everything from scratch. I didn't realize that not everyone does that. I feel a little guilty since she is getting older and I know that it isn't as easy on her as it used to be, but man I love to enjoy her cooking to the sum of an extra 7lbs I am carrying on my butt right now but I still think it is worth it. I especially like Thanksgiving left overs cause I like to savor each individual thing by itself. I mean really the table is so full of yummy food that I have to pick and choose what I really want to indulge in. My mom makes amazing stuffing and these orange rolls that are lick your lips good. I love to eat and I love to be around my family. Really too things in this life that make me very happy. We had our girls weekend and went down to LA shopping. I think it is gross down there and it is hard for me to get past that. It is always amazing for me to spend time with my mom and sisters without having to worry about my children. We even went to Sprinkles. It all went by all to fast. I am sure that next thing I know it will be Christmas.

Behind on Birthdays!

When we first got married Rob put me in charge of birthdays. Fine I love giving gifts, except for the fact that their are over 20 nieces and nephews on his side of the family plus all of his siblings, their spouses and mother and father... Put our families together and birthdays alone can cause financial stress so being the finance guy he puts it on me. I try so hard at the beginning of the year but by the end I am always behind and So pretty much if your birthdays after October or if I have to mail something... your out of luck :( I know.... like I said every year I am going to do better... I have even thought about putting it back on Rob but then again he might do a better job and then I will think why did he put it on me in the first place.
I missed Steves birthday He is a great guy.. good father and fabulous Uncle he is very playful with the kids tries to eat their piggies (toes) and chases them around, and if you want to have a conversation with the devils advocate or if you want the best deal researched he is your man. Gotta love Steve.
Rachel is very sweet and has grown up right before our very eyes. She loves animals and has every type of stuffed animal known to man. She loves to play with Isaac and Brianna and Seth and they all adore her. They even start talking like her if they get to spend any amount of time with her. We have really missed the Ogan's since their big move to Utah but are greatful that they were out here to visit for her birthday so we got to go to Toppers and celebrate with the family.
Jacob is 10 I can hardly believe it. He reads faster than me we were racing to see who could read Breaking Dawn faster and he won What was I thinking racing a with a 10 year old that doesn't have any other responsibilities than to take care of himself? Duh!!! Jacob is a good cousin and friend to all of my children. He is very smart and likes to hang out at Grandma's house. When Jacob was little he and Abe liked to chase me around and pinch my behind. I don't know why my behind is such a good target (yeah right) anyways once we were in the mall and Jacob went up to the counter and grabbed this girls behind she turned around and Jacob was in shock she was appauled and I laughed so hard. I think I was grateful that her butt was mistaken for mine because hers was much smaller and the pinching died down a bit after that.

Summer in November cept Jody's Wedding of course

November has been absolutely incredible weather I'd say 80's or higher mostly. In fact I even got to take Isaac, Bree, and Seth swimming a couple of times. No fun when you thought swimming suit season was gone but I sucked it up cause the kids love to swim so much. Well my friend Jody wanted to get married before Thanksgiving. I love Jody and really credit her for sparking my interest in Rob. Rob and I were running together, (he was running to get in shape for soccer) or that is what he says anyways. Jody started running with us as well. We became kinda of a trio since we all went to CSUN at the time. After a few monthes of running together Jody said would you ever kiss Rob I thought about it and said no. She said I asked him if he would kiss you and he said your totally out of his league. I was completely taken back. He felt like that about me. My whole perception changed and I started to see him differently. If you know Rob you know that his presentation is not as strong as his being. He is so much more than he would let anyone see. He is truely one of the most humble people in my life. Tauni had also asked me if I would date him and I said no he is like a brother. Interesting how that friendship between us evolved into so much more. Well I adore Jody she has always been a really good friend to me. Dawn Jody's sister called and said they were predicting rain for Jody's wedding (CRAZY!@!@#@#) how?? the weather was just beautiful. Jody was getting married in Dawn's backyard which is absolutely beautiful but rain. Well easy ups were the only solution. So I worked all night Tuesday night went to pickup the activity day girls Wednesday morning for a kidnap breakfast and then spent all day in the rain on Wednesday decorating for Jody's Wedding. Dawn was amazing it looked great despite the obstacles that she had to counter act. Jody's wedding was simple and beautiful. She is now a wife and a mother. Lucky she scored three precious little girls. I am so happy for her.