On the 1st day of Christmas...We DECORATED!

It's time to decorate the tree for Christmas soon will come,

Balls and bells and snowmen, too, and candy canes-YUM, YUM!

Just because we're tiny elves does not mean we can't do...

The best darn job at decorating...Merry Christmas from us to you!

Chase & Shay demanded that we wait for them to come over and help us decorate the tree...And I am GLAD! Chase, with his little mechanical mind, helped me figure out how to connect the tree up!

Chase, Dyl and Shay decorated the tree all by themselves...I didn't even touch it (Except for a little help with the star on top). Not too bad for a few little amateurs! A few bare spots...but very, very cute! Dyl says the stockings must go on the tree and he got them to hang up there without tipping the tree over so there you have it!

Countdown to Christmas!

My youngest sister, Ashley is way too organized and crafty for her own good! Ash came up with an idea to make a book and, in it, make up an activity to do from December 1st to December 25th. I was supposed to help Ashley make my book but I sorta conned her into making it for me while we were at Mom & Dad's for Thanksgiving. Isn't it adorable? It looks much better than if I would've made it myself! My job was to come up with poems for each activity as Ash thought we needed to be "creative." Here goes!

Hangin' on the Polar Express

We decided to take the kids on the Polar Express in Heber City this year. It was absolutely perfect except there was no snow on the ground. Oh well, the kids still had a wonderful time. They got new pj's to wear to the event and Dylan was so excited to wear the robe he picked out. It was just the perfect thing to get us all in the holiday spirit!

Dyl with his ticket...All aboard!

The kids tried to hold back their excitement and hold still long enough to catch a pic...

On the train we were served yummy chocolate chip cookies and delicious hot chocolate...Yum!

I think Jangle had a crush on Dyl!

While on the train ride we sang lots of Christmas songs and read the book "The Polar Express."

Uh...I hope Santa has a forgiving heart if Dyl is going to convince him to put him on the NICE list!!
All the kids got a bell from Santa. Dyl lost his before he got home and he was distraught! He claims he had a hole in his pocket...Sound familiar?

Closing Thoughts...

Afterwards we went to eat at Dairy Keen. There were train sets to play with and a train that went across the top of the restaurant...

Deep Thoughts by Dylan Findlay...

I am the most important thing in this world to my Mom. She still loves me even when I'm at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Moms love you even when you make bad choices. My mom smiles when I be good or draw her a picture. My mom likes to play basketball and throw the football with me but sometimes she has to work and that is boring. If I want my mom to laugh I tickle her feet but then she tickles me back but I'm still tougher than my Mom 'cuz I drink milk and my mom drinks diet coke.

Eatin' Turkey!

Dyl made this cute turkey in Mrs. Forsythe's class and I thought it was adorable! I wouldn't let Dyl eat it till we got home 'cuz I wanted to take a picture. He was a little impatient but gobbled up the whole thing once I got my pic...So cute! This year Thanksgiving was short as I had to be back home to work the Friday after...But we had a great time hanging out with the Findlay family and stuffing our mouths with that good home cookin'!

Serious Moments...

Ok...So Dyl is not a talker...unless he's trying to joke about something. Dyl doesn't like to talk about what he did at school or how his day went. I can't ever get him to open up about how he feels about a lot of things. According to Dr. Phil it's my responsibility to raise my child to be an adult and, one of women's biggest complaints is that their husbands don't like to talk or communicate. I know I'm trying to turn nature around, but I came up with a little game we play at night after we read books. I have a little light thing and, as we lie in Dyl's bed, we ask each other questions. Whoever has the light gets to ask the question. This is a good way to connect and communicate with Dyl and to see what's on his mind. Tonight one of my questions was, "What are you really good at doing or what is your best talent?" Since this is usually a more serious time for us I was expecting something like--drawing, building, singing, dancing, football...But, no! I got the 'ole "I'm really good at peeing on the grass!" And, from what I hear from other moms...It only gets worse!

The Truth About Elves

While driving in the car the following conversation took place:
Dyl: Mom, have you ever seen the movie "Up?"
Mom: No, Dyl. Aunt Tracy took you to see that and Mom hasn't seen it yet.
Dyl: Well it's a GOOOOOD movie!
Mom: Maybe that's what I'll ask Santa Claus to give me for Christmas.
Dyl: Mom, Santa's elves can't make movies.
Mom: Yes they can...Elves can make anything they wanna make.
Dyl: Mom, you sure don't know much about elves. Geez! But think whatever you wanna think!

Would you like a little sugar with that?

It started out like any other ordinary day. The alarm clock went off. I went downstairs and packed Dyl's lunch and backpack for school, grabbed a Diet Coke out of the fridge, and came back upstairs to wake Dyl up to get ready before I had to work. Dyl is a little finicky in the mornings so I usually give him a few options as to what he wants for breakfast. He didn't sound too interested in any of the options so I gave him his clothes and told him to get dressed. (I've learned if he ain't hungry I ain't gonna force him to eat anything!) Leslie came and picked Dyl up for school and a little later I took a break. I walked in my bedroom and there was Dyl's breakfast all over my bed...M & M's and leftover fun-dips from Halloween, followed by his bag of dum-dum suckers he's been working on for a couple of months. I wonder if he at least had a glass of milk with that??? I bet Miss Joanne had a fun morning!

Things I'm Thankful For...

Just 8 more days till Thanksgiving. As I've been pondering over what I'm thankful for this year I thought I'd create a list...And add to it every day as I recollect all the things I have to be grateful for. Here goes (in no particular order)...

• a warm home
• Dylan's giggle
• laughter
• deep breaths
• my mom and dad and the things they've taught me
• happy thoughts
• noise
• sunshine
• cuddles
• hugs
• rainy days
• bubble baths
• online shopping
• online banking
• email to keep in touch with those I love
• Dyl's phrase in every prayer (even when blessing the food) "Thank you for my awesome Mom!"
• PB&J
• green M&M's
• smiles
• security
• stability
• knowledge
• no regrets
• cell phones
• computers
• neices
• nephews
• siblings
• Dyl's art projects
• Dyl's songs...real & made-up
• photographs
• service (both giving & receiving)
• talks w/Dyl
• Sacrifice
• road trips
• Christmas lights
• quiet moments
• people who make a big deal over Dylan
• those who stick by me no matter what
• my pillowcase my mom cross-stitched for me
• a strong work ethic
• independence
• energy
• hot cocoa
• freedom to live how I choose
• Easter candy
• small town folks
• sugar cookies
• towels right out of the dryer
• a healthy child
• bubbles
• fresh air
• baby lotion
• life lessons
• the scent of onions (reminds me of my mom's hands when I was little--She was always cooking!)
• Vicks vapor-rub
• homemade blankies
• wisdom and good advice
• sidewalk chalk
• crazy people...they keep life interesting!
• working from home
• clouds
• people who "understand" me
• Dyl's big, brown, beautiful eyes
• peace
• blogging
• lazy weekends
• fruity candles
• homemade french fries w/Idaho spuds right out of the ground
• Sunday naps...They don't happen often...but, when they do...ahhhh!
• squishy old people
• transportation
• good people with good hearts
• honesty and tranquility
• Christ
• the smell of Thanksgiving dinner
• male role models for Dyl
• teachers
• Dyl's sense of humor
• trust...It was a 4-letter word for a long time!
• Forgiveness
• Water balloons
• snowmen
• campfires
• dates w/Dyl

PB & Mayo Mustard Turkey

So today I was feeling a little tired and didn't feel like cooking dinner...It's a Monday! I asked Dyl what kind of sandwich he wanted ('cuz he's happy with sandwiches). He said, "I think I'll have a potato sandwich--No, wait--What are those red things called?" When I told him tomatoes he decided that's what he'd have. By the time we arrived home Dyl had changed his mind, only he couldn't decide if he wanted turkey or peanut butter. I made myself a turkey sandwich as Dyl insisted he was going to make his own. It started out with peanut butter and then he reached over for the turkey. I told him that whatever he made he was going to eat 'cuz there wasn't any bread left. "I know, Mom...It's good!" After the turkey came the mayo and mustard and a slice of bread on top. Dylan proudly put some chips on his plate and carried it over to the table. After the blessing Dyl started chomping away. After the first bite I thought for sure Dyl was going to say how gross it was...But he loved it and finished the whole thing! Scrumptious!

Happy 4th, Karly!

Today we celebrated Karly's 4th birthday...Can you believe how time flies? Happy Birthday, Kars!

Disney on Ice...Princess Edition!

Princess Disney on Ice is the only Disney on Ice we haven't been to yet...For the simple reason that I assumed Dyl wouldn't be interested in princesses. Little did I know! Dyl was so way excited to chauffeur his 2 little princesses to the show. We brought along Uncle Anthony and his girlfriend, Julie, Karly, Brittany, and Julie's neice, Madison. It was a beautiful day and the weather started out perfect. We rode Trax down to Energy Solutions arena and the show began.

When Disney on Ice was over we looked outside and snow was coming down in white, puffy flakes and the wind was blowing. It was so freezin' cold! The kids were troopers...

And even our little pregnant Brittany didn't whine too much...

The Tobacco Police...

So Grandpa Findlay thinks that smoking is the most disgusting habit there is. In an effort to freak them out, Grandpa gathered all 7 grandkids (who are 5 and younger) around to view the "Totally Disgusting Gross-out Smoking Video"---Which is technically reserved for 4th graders. That was about a year ago and ever since then Dyl has been on a mission to warn the world about the dangers of smoking. Grandpa Bates got a lecture when he was out for a visit this summer. Dyl told the neighbor that if she doesn't quit smoking her fingers are going to fall off...And tonight at the store, a young kid was standing in the aisle reaking of smoke---Dyl told him he'd lend him his smoking video so he can quit before he talks like a robot. You'd think a mother would be a little embarrassed...But heck---He's standing up for something he believes in! Conviction, baby!