Kids Christmas Quotes

NOAH

When setting up the Playmobil Nativity downstairs,  Noah and I went through the story of Jesus and played it out with the toys.  It was actually a very tender moment for me as his mom as it seemed to me that he was understanding the story a bit more than he used to.  Afterwards, he asked if he could play with it for awhile.  I wandered away and came back about 15 minutes later.  All of the figures were sprawled about the table and Noah looks up at me with excitment in his eyes, exclaiming "Mom,  I never play this game before."  He picks up one of the wiseman and said "This is the evil king."  I thought it was a wiseman but this was a new game he told me.  And the bad guys had poison darts and had knocked out all of the good guys. Except for Mary, who was sitting guarding Baby Jesus, cause that is what Mom's do.  He picks up the angel and tells me that she is magic and has the potion to wake them all up.  And after everyone wakes up, the bad guys storm in trying to get all the good guys. And then Baby Jesus pulls out TWO Guns from underneath his manger and saves us all.   Hey at least he understood the part about Jesus saving us all.

In the car driving home from school
"Mom,  it is a good thing that there is a Santa or there would sure be a LOT of elves around."

SOFIA

On Christmas Eve we got home really late from my in laws so the kids did not get the cookies out for Santa.  Noah was very distressed and worried that he would not come.  I assured him that I would make sure it was taken care of.  He clarified that Santa needed milk with his cookies and a diet coke also.  Cause Dad told him Santa likes that.  Kersten and I had a brilliant Idea to also leave some popcorn for Santa and his reindeer.  Here is a little known fact about my daughter,  She LOVES popcorn.  A bit obsessed with it really.  In the morning after we opened presents Noah goes over to the plate and notices that the milk and diet coke are gone and that there are cookie crumbs and some popcorn.  We told them we left him some for him and his reindeer.  The rest of the day we would hear Sofia saying over and over again "Santa Popcorn" and laughing.

I helped the kids get presents for their dad.  Sofia and I were struggling on what to get him.  Whenever I would ask her what she wanted to get Daddy she would exclaim  "Ponies".  When I thought of a book he would like and asked if she would like to get it for him, she looked at me very serious and said "Princess Book."  She was very determined about this.

TWO, the small event

Can any of you resist those lips?

I bet you can't.

What a very lucky girl to get two cakes.

One on her real birthday

and another when we have her party in June

Oh, well a bigger party.

With a girl like Sofia, you need to celebrate twice.

I am just as much in love with her cash register as she is.

Tiana, the frog princess

given to her by her favorite brother.

He had to get her it because we saw the movie on her birthday

Very cute movie, by the way.

Call this the year of the vintage toys.

Do you recognize the phone?

We have already had some fights over them.

Our Christmas in Pictures 2009

Christmas Eve

Dad got a Ladder

Sofia got twin babies and this set for her baby

Noah got his first Star wars Legos

and a Pirate Playmobil Ship

and I got a paper shredder and a under the counter radio.  I am spoiled

Christmas Morning

We have had such delicious dinners since christmas

Wolverine has arrived and more and more pirates.  We have pirate battles going on

Noah got his Dad a t-shirt that matches what he has

Christmas Aftenoon

We are so spoiled

I love my handmade Creamer

Sofia holding the "Baby Jesus" at my moms

My dad wrote us a Willie the Rabbit story that he read out loud to us.

That was a highlight of the day.

We had such a fun Christmas.  It was super fun and we feel very blessed.

Sofia Caroline is Two

My Dear, Sweet, Trouble, Monkey, Princess Daughter.

I still remember the feel of you in my arms when you were brand new.  I remember the shape of your head and your dark hair that stuck up and I will never forget the smell of you.  Oh,  I am so full of joy that I have a daughter.
You are such a delight.  That is the word that always comes to me when I think of you.  DELIGHT.  Oh, there is no doubt that you are trouble.  I have never known there were so many ways to climb and that so many different things in the house had multiple uses.  I know you and I know that most of the times when you are being trouble you are just discovering your world, testing your limits or expanding your creativity.  It really is just delightful being your mom.

You are generous with your hugs and your great kisses. You have all your toys give each other kisses and hugs.  Your cars, your books, your babies and even Noah's "Guys" as you call them.  You play like a girl and have a generous heart.  You want everyone to feel your love and each others. My favorite time of the day is in the morning when we snuggle together in my bed.  Your little body curls perfectly in the crick of my arm and I can feel your heartbeat and your warmth.  I think you like this time too.  It is ours.  And I cherish it.

You and your brother Noah have developed a very strong relationship.  I love watching you attack him with hugs.  You tackle him to the ground and wrestle with him.  You always try to be quiet and say shh in the morning but end up waking him up with your excitement to see him.  He insists on giving you a kissing hand and a hug when he leaves for school.  And you jump up and down when we go to pick him up.  Both of you play so well together.  Noah was one of the first things you said.  He can make you laugh and cheer you up better than anyone.  Make sure to stay close with him, he is the only brother you have.  You are blessed to have one another.

This past year you have grown in so so many ways.  You astound us with your words and the things you say.  Our favorite is "kaked"  which is naked.  And you yell it with gusto.  Such as "kay-ked shower" over and over again.  YOu love pointing at your body parts and saying what they are.  Right now elbow and eyebrow are your favorites.  You love getting tickled and even tickle your own belly if possible.  You don't like onesie's because you can't get access to your belly.

You sure are full of "IT", babe.  I am not sure exactly what "IT"is, but, it seems like it is stubbornness, sassy,  silliness,  joy, mischief, temper, curiosity, methodicalness, craziness, love and more love,  People flock to you and want to be with you.  You genuinely love all the people in your life and they know it.  I am so DELIGHTED that you are my daughter and my love for YOU know no bounds and limits.  You are a choice and beautiful daughter of our Heavenly Father and I am privileged to be you mother.  I do love you my Tweet-um Boo.  You are my little bird just bursting to fly.

Love forever your,
Mom

My Grandma's Hands

I love these beautiful hands.  These are the hands of a woman who has lived a long, fulfulling life.  She has worked hard and cared for the ones she loved. I love the feel of her hands in mine, still so soft and a bit knarled with age.  Her simple words of love and the reminder to never forget, will forever be edged in my mind. These last couple days I have been blessed to be able to care for her a bit.  She fractured her hip and fell and has been in the hospital.  This happened Sunday morning right before my cousin's farewell talk.  It was a crazy emotional day.  I really have enjoyed sitting with her, feeding, caring, hugging, kissing her and just being by her side in the hospital.  It was so nice being the one on the other side for a change.  The nice thing is that I knew what I could get her and what I could demand.  I believe my biggest triumph was being her cran-raspberry juice supplier and getting her a bowl of fruit.  That brought her so much joy.  I love spending some peaceful moments with her.  It sad that I had to have an excuse to make the time.  She told one of the therapist that she was at the bowling alley and it would be better than being in this hospital and another time she told them her name was "Billie Goat".  I thought that was hilarious.  I loved spending time with my sister Amy we were able to be there together a lot.  Sometimes your soul needs the quiet and the companionship of a sister.  My beautiful 90 year old grandma is being moved today to a rehab facility to strenghten her brand new hip.  We had some of the nurses say what a delight she was to care for.  I love this woman and want to emulate her in so many ways

Here is a picture taken a couple months ago with 4 generations

My mother Jeanne,  my Grandmother Blanche,  My daughter Sofia and Me Laurie

I've Wanted to Tell You.......

I am having a blogging crisis.  I have been wanting to blog for awhile now.  I have so many thoughts and events that have happened that I am bursting with feelings, words and pictures.  But for some reason I seriously can't.  Each time I sit down or think about it there is a total lack of motivation.

 I want to tell you about my birthday and that I saw New Moon twice at the theater.  That I got to go to lunch twice with my siblings.  And that my brother reinacted the entire New Moon movie in the parking lot of Chili's.  And that I laughed so hard my cheeks hurt.  (I can't remember the last time I laughed like that). That I got to see my best Friend Kieran, two days in a row.  Which never happens.  I want to tell you about my beautiful children snuggling the morning away with me in bed on the day I turned 33.  And that they gave me the first and second season of Gilmore Girls.  My husband shopped with me uncomplaining until I tried on what I wanted and found the perfect A-line denim skirt.  It hits right below the knee.  It is to die for.    I want to explain how fun it was to go to the DQ for dinner.  My children are obsessed and they were so excited and thrilled that that is where they were taking me that I was happy and just as excited.  I mean a twist dipped cone is one thing that always makes anyone happy.

I wanted to tell you all about how I got to eat lunch with my kindred spirit and best friend Carrie.  She brought me Cafe Rio and a Cinderella phone for her Goddaughter.  It is still a big hit.  How I got to snuggle and love her baby, Maggie.  Oh, that girl is so precious and beautiful.  My heart strings tugged at the perfectness of her.  How I got to be with her for an entire afternoon just talking.  Now that is bliss.  It was perfect being with her.

Thanksgiving thoughts have swirled and whirled and wanted to come out.  My niece Kristin and I made nametags for the table.  We had dinner with my Mom this year.  She only gets us every 4 years.

 She made the food of my childhood that smells and tastes of love and how Thanksgiving is remembered in the heart of my soul and my childhood.  She made my grandma's gravy and Amy made the perfect turkey.  We had homemade stuffing and amazing appetizers that I still dream about.  Lena brought Dixie salad.  The food was so good and so plentiful that my mouth is watering just remembering it. And sadly the leftovers are long gone. I wanted to tell you how Sofia stole the drumstick off of Kersten's plate and ate it with gusto.

 Thanksgiving dinner is one of my all time favorite dinners.  I wanted to tell you about doing the dishes in my mom's funny sink and loving and feeling such a connection to my mom, her mom and grandmother.  As we talked and cleaned up after the huge meal.  My heart was so full eating that food and being with my brothers and sister that I love so dearly.

I wanted to tell you about the  annual day after Thanksgiving event with Kersten's family.  How we ate delicious food in a suite at the Plaza and walked around bundled up in our warm coats to see the lights on Temple Square.  How magical it was to see it through Sofia's eyes as she yelled lights, water, trees and pointed every which way.  How the beauty of the Temple inspired me to be better and happier and teach my children more.  How each baby Jesus in all the different Nativities made my children coo with happiness.

I wanted to express how frustrating it is to have sick children and be sick yourself.  My ears ready to explode and how your heart aches when you five year old who does not know how to fake yet,  says mom I am not feeling well. I don't want to get the other kids sick.

I wanted to tell you about my helpers putting up the Christmas decorations.  How Sofia walked around with a string of lights yelling "helper" at the top of her lungs. That Noah became a Christmas Tree all covered in lights.

And  How our Star Wars ornaments were the first on the tree and the twinkle lights hold so much magic in our front room.  And Noah had to take lots and lots of fuzzy pictures. How telling my children the story of the birth of our Savior was joyous this year since my son was listening and attentive to the entire story.  .

I really have wanted to tell you all these things.  But really have had a hard time getting up and just doing it.  So for now this will have to do.  I, at least told you a little bit.


fufglmhgjgfkihgohgihghguibohhkihtupoynoyj ku9opkyuuy[y0u0uyu0-9[p0-ulg67iiiii76gk6l65iweeep0rerti4hk.lo9;ytpy;;;p5;pfv[gv;g;f6r;gyty;/[yt;p1wd;]ew[p[
0[;[;ecs'/;e'c;rec[;rrd'f;;;;;;;;fjftgdgufyuyyyyyyyurfdjgyrtguytiykyyhf8ut7ytuyutyupu7tr876k7hyykjh       bbbgbbgb nbn nnn  And this last part is Noah typing and telling you all about it too....

Gratitude

"gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.

it turns what we have into enough, and more.

it turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.

it can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home,

a stranger into a friend.

gratitude makes sense of our past,

brings peace for today,

and creates a vision for tomorrow."

-melody beattie

New Moon

I saw NEW MOON today.  Yes, my dear friend bought tickets months and months ago so that we could see it together.  It was dreamy and wonderful and all that jazz.  I got to go with my brother Nik, his wife Lena,  my husband and one of my best friends Kieran and her husband Kevin.

 I had to see this movie the first time with Kieran.  I adore going to movies with her.  She has the best laugh and is so enthusiastic about Twilight and just movies that it is contagious.  It would have felt totally wrong to see it without her.  We took a self portrait last year at Twilight and did so again today.  She looked super chic.  I wore purple with my black trench coat that is shiny.  Trying to look a bit more vampirish.  I don't think I pulled it off to much. We were a bit giddy and giggly.  It was super fun.  She is a great writer and I know on her blog this adventure will sound a lot more exciting.   I just love this woman.

I loved it way more than the first Twilight movie.  It had some awesome cinematography.  This is the book that you are suppose to start falling in love with Jacob.  And in this movie, Jacob is WAY hotter than Edward.  I have always been an Edward fan but today I was totally on the Jacob page.  Some of those scenes just took my breath away. They had some standups of Edward and Jacob outside the theatre.  Of course we had to take pictures.  I had to touch Jacobs chest

and in the one of just me and Edward looks like his arm is around me and I am snuggled in.  We did get a picture of Nik licking Jacobs face.  Last year we had one of him licking Edward.  But mine turned out all fuzzy.  I hope Kieran got a better one.  So here is last years

Above is a picture with my Edward,  he actually is much more like Jacob.  A lot hot, a bit angry and oh so cuddly and warm.  I am so glad he came with me.  It was glorious holding his hand and making eyes at him.

I won't give away any spoilers about the movie or anything although most people know the story.  It was fabulous being with my love, my brother and my best friend.  And just being a girl and having fun.  I loved it.  It was a great day.  I also got to go to lunch at Five Guys with my brother and sister Amy.  Who was amazing and watched my kids and even took Noah to school.  I owe that woman big time.  Overall one very fabulous day.

Hulu Find

Have you heard of the wonderful invention of Hulu?   I was making Christmas tags last night a bit bored and not knowing what to listen to or watch.  I hit Hulu and watch one episode of Glee.  I like the music cause I am a musical type of gal but it really wasn't keeping my interest.  I hit most popular searches to get ideas and on page 3,  do you know what I found?  You will never guess

Yes I found Doogie Howser MD

My favorite show in Jr High.  I loved it so much.  That the boy that I liked at the time, gave me a poster of Doogie Howser for Christmas my seventh grade year.  It hung in my walk in closet until I moved out and got married.  I loved this show.  I sadly remember very few specifics of the show.  Except Vinnie was his best friend and Wanda his girlfriend.  So I started at the beginning of Season 1 and went through 4 episodes and was done with the tags.
Oh, I am a bit giddy.  My sweet, poor husband had to listen to me lament and go by a play by play of each episode until late into the night.  He laughed at me and teased me a lot about Neil Patrick Harris.  Who now does not hold the same appeal for me.  Oh, but the memories of watching and dreaming about this show when I was young.  I did love Neil in the smash hit comedy "Under Cover Brother."  That show makes me laugh out loud a lot.
Happy day while I dream of Doogie.
Lucky me I have 4 whole seasons to get through.  So so happy.

He really is Anakin

We were getting ready for bed when I looked at Noah in shock.  This is what I saw

It all made sense when he explained that he was just being Anakin in the original animated Clone Wars of 2003

And this art work all happened right before my eyes as I folded and put away laundry
My powers of observation are astounding.  I figure they were happily playing why worry

Noahisms

Here are a couple of fun things that Noah has been doing lately.

* Every night in his prayers he asks Heavenly Father to "help him get the bad guys,  No, Heavenly Father just the pretend bad guys, Not real".  It is a very serious business.

*One night he thanked Heavenly Father for giving him a really cool name like Noah.  That made me feel really good that he likes his name.  I think it is a really cool name too.

*Whenever I can't understand him and I repeat what he says and it is wrong he gets this indignant look on his face and says "Me not say that" and it is usually followed by some remark about using my listening ears better.

* Noah has discovered the delights of YouTube.  I am careful about what I let him watch.  On Wednesday,  we found a Space Ghost puzzle and after we finished we watched the classic song " I Love Beans"  sung by Brak.  We laughed hysterically and he started watching it again when Sofia started throwing a fit.  I went to investigate.  When I returned he was watching another Brak song called set to the song "Turn Around-Total Eclipse of the Heart".  I sat next to him and looked on in shock at him.  He was sobbing hysterically.  His shoulders were shaking,  tears streaming down his face.  His hands wiping at tears streaking his eyes.  He kept saying over and over again.  "I am just so sad Mom,  Just so sad."  I quickly clicked off the screen and said "If is is making you sad, we don't have to watch it."  He then said he had to show me so I would know what was so sad.  So we looked it up again.  We start watching the clip.  His tears keep getting stronger.  At this point I am a bit confused about what could be so sad.  It was an anthology about the life of Brak.  In it was a crudely drawn lobster that was Brak's pet.  At one point the lobster gets blown up.  After this happens Noah goes into hysterics.  "Mom,  it is just so sad,  The lobster died.  He lost his pet."  I quickly gathered him in my arms,  grabbed his stuffed dog Pal and his blanket and snuggled and talked to him on the couch.  It took a good 20 minutes to calm him down.  What a tender heart that losing his pet lobster would affect him so much

*Yesterday we celebrated all the birthdays that were in November for Kersten's family.  I had Noah make cards for his Aunt Ginny and Uncle Jason.  When he was picking colors for their cards.  He promptly picked purple for Ginny, her favorite color.  And when it came to Jason's he said "i don't know what his favorite is."  So I suggested some colors that most boys like for example blue, red or grean.  He says "How about Pink?  It is okay for boys to like pink.  That is what my teacher says."  Then promptly picks a neon bright pink for Uncle Jay's card.

Grateful Sunday-Halloween Edition 2009

Happy Halloween from these two adorable children.

A monkey and Good guy Black Spiderman.

Our weekend was fun and full of lots of Halloween parties

This week I am grateful that halloween is over and was a success.

I am the room Mother in Noah's kindergarten class.

I am grateful that the party is over and it was a rousing success.

Noah said the party was so so fun and he liked having me there.

My mom came and saw the parade which was really fun for me.

I love watching the kids march around in their costumes.

We had Halloween bowling and bingo

Tootsie pop ghosts and sparkly pumpkins to paint

Yummy snacks

and a silly story about a witch that loves cats
and gets a job delivering pizzas on her broom.

We went to the Trunk or Treat in our old ward on Friday.

I am Grateful for old friends and ward members and comfortable places.

It was fun that most of Kersten's family came to the trunk or treat.

It was good being together.

Noah loved the play on words of Trunk or Treat.

It made him laugh most of the night.

Kerst was a very manly Captain Rex.  I was a witch and then a hockey fan.

On Halloween day, we went to the annual event at

My Grandma Shep's house of homemade hot chocolate and donuts
I am so grateful for old childhood traditions
that still exist in my life.
I love the comfort, the smell, the never changing
and the same exclamation in her voice about how cute the kids are

And then we went trick or treating in our new neighborhood.

We went about 6 and we were the first trick or treaters at everyones house.

I am Grateful for such a  great neighborhood

there was even one lady who took our picture,

 gave us hot cider and invited us in for chili.

Another family gave us hot scones and
 had a movie playing in their yard on a big screen.

And of course lots and lots of candy

Afterwards we went to "Lena's Done with Chemo: Plus Costumes" Party

Oh,  I am so entirely Grateful  that Lena is done with chemo

And is cancer free as far as they can see.

She has been a pillar of strength through this

I love her and admire her a lot.

It was fun.  We played Beatles Rock Band

Ate lots of yummy food

Saw Nik dressed up like the Joker as a nurse.  A bit freaky I tell ya.

The party was packed which brought my heart joy.

And we came home tired and with a bit of a sugar high

I am grateful for our new callings,  I think

Kersten is a Sunday school teacher and

surprise I am on the Enrichment committee

This seems to be my role in the church.

as the Food specialist.  That in itself is a joke.

Kersten has been teasing and mocking me about it all day

It was a great weekend.  Tiring and fun

We all have a party hangover.

Hope yours was good also

Pumpkin Carving 2009

We finally were able to Carve our pumpkins.

We do Family Night on Tuesday nights just because that is the only night that Daddy is home.

 It was super dooper fun as Noah says.

The thought of cutting The Great Baby Pumpkin open was a bit to much for Noah

so he decided to draw a face on his pumpkin.  Complete with Hair

Not to be outdone Sofia started drawing too.  She is obsessed with drawing so this fit right in her style.  

Kersten really like pumpkin guts.  The kids were laughing hysterically

We use power tools to carve our pumpkin.   Can you handle his manly prowless?  I know, I can't.  He is hot...

All of the pumpkins are successfully beautified.

Are they not so very cute and super dooper fun?   Kersten says this might be his favorite pumpkin so far.