A Holly Jolly Christmas

Got home late last night from our Christmas trip to Salt Lake and we had a wonderful time. The holidays really came and went this year and it makes me sad that Rosie and Evie have to wait for a whole year before Santa will come again. Christmas was better than ever this year watching them enjoy it so.
 
The Saturday before Chrismas we went on a sleigh ride with the whole family up at the Homestead. We  ended up at Santas house for a visit and cookies. Evie was a bit of a stinker on the sleigh and refused to go anywhere near the Santa but we still had a good time.

Christmas Eve brought tons of beautiful white snow which was fabulous. I can't remember the last time we truly had a perfectly timed white Christmas. We drove around running last minute Christmas errands and then packed up our gift bags to bring to the homeless downtown. This is my favorite Christmas tradition. We came home and left milk and cookies out for Santa and then were off to bed. Unfortunately poor Ben got really sick the night before and it slowly spread throughout the family. Sweet Evie threw up quite a bit that night but was right as rain for opening gifts the next morning.

Christmas morning was super fun watching the girls open their gifts and anyone else's they could get their little paws on. They made out like bandits as per usual. They got clothes and lots of new food for their new kitchen, zoobie pets, a darling Little People Nativity, super fun bandaids, and a lovely cloth alphabet set from their auntie. They also got big girl pants to start potty training because Rosie said that is what she wanted Santa to bring her. We started today and it is truly a nightmare. Not for the faint of heart.

 Later that day we went out and attempted to build a snowman in the front yard but it wasn't packing very well and also went sledding down the hill in the side yard. We came in for a delicious Christmas feast that people couldn't eat much of because everyone was feeling a little under the weather. I however never ended up getting sick and  regretfully (not really) ate my fill all week long.

The rest of the week the girls mostly just played with their cousins who they cannot get enough of. They played cowgirls, jumped from couch to couch, had movie parties, and chased each other all over the house. Grandma is a very good sport for all that goes on and all that gets broken. We took them to the McDonalds Play Place and witnessed an epic and hilarious brawl between Ava, Evie, and Ella which needs to be remembered. We also all went to Les Mis together which was awesome.

We unfortunately didn't see too many friends because it is such a busy, family week for everyone. We did get together with my favorite girls in the world from high school and went down to Lehi to catch up with some wonderful girls I went to New Zealand with for study abroad.
We had a wonderful holiday.

Christmas Crunch Time

I just got on my blog after several fun, Christmas filled days and realized in my flurry to get out the door that I never even posted this from last Friday, the 21rst. Oh well, better late than never. 

 

Christmas is four days away and we have been busy, busy, busy getting ready for it. I have been slaving away making almond roca for neighbors and friends and getting advice from my mom every other second on how to get it just right. I made about 10 batches and I would say only 3-4 actually turned out perfect. Ugh. It's tricky. The girls also loved frosting sugar cookies.

We spent an evening out to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop where they have all kinds of Christmas activities, an aquarium, a merry-go-round, and lots of fun for kids. It was a good time but a very long night. I was worried about Evie being too scared to sit on Santas lap after hours of waiting around. She was all smiles and assurances that she was going to until we were about a foot away from the cute little Santa and she backed out. My sweet shy girl. This will do. She was ok with the moral support from her daddy and sister.

Ben and I went on a Christmas date in downtown Denver and had a wonderful, romantic time out to dinner and ice skating.

We had a mini Colorado Christmas yesterday so that we wouldn't have to cart all the bigger stuff to SLC. We got amazing deals on a little toy kitchen and new push trikes for the girls. We also opened lovely presents from Grandpa and Grandma M which the girls have been throughly enjoying. We ate Christmas coffee cake and then Ben had to head to work. Santa also brought a freezing cold day and a snow storm which was very festive. We were glad it came when it did instead of when we make our big drive.

I was a little foolish to volunteer to have bookclub at our house the night before we left town which added some extra stress to an already  packed week but it turned out well and was a lot of fun. We read Little Women this month and I have absolutely loved it. It's the perfect December read and really added to my Christmas cheer the last couple weeks.
Now we are rushing around throwing everything together to make our journey to SLC tonight. Just a few more things to do before Ben gets home and then off we go.

Check out Christmas in Colorado 2011 and 2012. What a difference a year makes. Merry Christmas!

Wake Up

Monday morning started off slow. The start of another long week. Evie was in a bad mood and was doing a lot of crying and whining for no apparent reason. I just couldn't get my act together and sat down when breakfast was done to read reviews on amazon for some Christmas presents I have my eye on. The Today show was on in the background. Rosie and Evie were playing with their toy farm on the floor at my feet and were having squabble after squabble over the plastic chicken. I broke the fight up a couple times but then went into my tune out mode where I pretend that I'm not there (not effective...but a survival mechanism).

 The chicken fight escalated and Evie ran to me in sobs. I was in the middle of reading something (and in my tune out mode)so at first I didn't even look up. That sounds so cruel (and I guess it is) but when every other second of my life involves someone bursting into tears, sometimes I don't jump as quickly as I should. After a moment I reached for her and pulled her up next to me and offered some comfort and asked her what happened while rubbing her back. My eyes were still on the computer screen however. Evie knows when she isn't getting your undivided attention and that's just not going to fly. She literally slapped me across the face and slammed the lap top closed on my hands and screamed "Go Away Mommy!!".  Evie is a little confused on the meaning of that phrase and uses it when she wants something- another song before bed time, another cracker in the car, or just some undivided attention. It means: "Hello!!!??? I'm here! Don't ignore me!".

My first reaction was to scold her and haul her off to time out for hitting me in the face. But this time I didn't. She was wrong to do that but absolutely right in wanting my attention and for me to do my job. Just to love her and be there for her and protect her from the wiles and whims of her sister.  WAKE UP.

That same afternoon we went on a long walk to have lunch at the park and enjoy the beautiful sunny 65 degree weather. When we got home I was on the phone with Ben for a few minutes. Once off I turned to see Rosie galloping into the room in nothing but her shirt screaming that she wanted some candy. I said no to the candy and asked her where her clothes were. She dragged me into the bathroom to show me she had used her mini potty ALL BY HERSELF with no prompting from me and managed to get her coat, shoes, socks, pants, and diaper off in the matter of seconds. She will do just about anything if she knows candy may be a reward. Ben has been telling me to potty train for the last few months. I keep putting it off and saying the girls aren't ready. Uh....wake up. I think it's just me who's not ready.

Yesterday I was at the gym doing a oh-so-hard-as-of-late 3 mile run. I got off the treadmill and went to refill my water bottle and saw a mom by the play area crouched down talking to her darling little girl. The girl had a big smile on her face and I got pang of jealousy and then sadness. I want another baby! I want more moments like that. One beat later I realized how ridiculous that jealousy and sadness was. I have TWO beautiful, amazing little girls who were right down the hall in the childcare waiting for me to come get them. WAKE UP and appreciate what you have now because it is sooooo good. Dwelling on this baby hunger is only making me miss moments with my babies...the ones who are here and still need me and provide a endless supply of sweet moments. I just to need to be awake.

Here's to being better about that. 

I received so many nice text messages, blog comments, calls, and emails in regards to our failed IVF attempt. In truth, I'm doing just fine but I really appreciate all the concern. I'm lucky to have such good friends and family. I'm excited for February but really enjoying being drug free and focusing on other things.
My acupuncturist recommended some supplements to take and to go gluten free the next couple months which she thinks should help our success rates. I'll try anything and I like feeling like I'm doing something proactive.

What else have we been up to...We had the perfect morning last Saturday, taking turns in the temple and then going to IKEA for lunch and browsing. We also made and painted some salt dough ornaments to counteract the quickly disappearing ornaments from our tree that have either been smuggled away somewhere or broken. 

We also have loved having this sweet puppy around. Eve and Rose  love walking him around the house on his leash and singing him to sleep. He's quite darling but I'm glad he goes home and these two stay. 

  

 We have been enjoying night walks to look at the lights and reading books by the Christmas tree. I love this time of year. I sat down to blog while I took the unnecessary step of toasting a tray of almonds to make my moms famous almond roca (gluten free, mind you) but totally spaced setting the timer and just charred them all to a crisp. errrrgh. wake up.