Merry Christmas!

Christmas Morning... the way it's suppose to be spent, with family in your jammies!

Eliza had fun decorating daddy when she figured out that the jewels would stick to his head!

I should really post about the past two weeks here seeing as how apparently my montra from the last post apparently did NOT work to get me to post once a week like I wanted. So I'll hit some highlights from two weeks ago on what I can remember and then move into this past week.

The only thing I can specifically remember is a lot of time in front of my computer desperatly trying to finnish my final assigments for my most recent round of classes. I also baked 8 (yes count them 8!) pumpkin rolls in one day thanks to Grandma Waite who willingly watched and entertained my girls while I make an incredible baking mess in her kitchen. I am also officially in love with the concept of a convection oven and I want one for myself VERY badly! But seeing as how I have a good oven right now and I really shouldn't be shopping for appliances I don't NEED I will be very happy with what I have.

The girls and I went to Heather and Heidi's swim meet that night and I was again reminded that I really should not get in a fight with those girls... they are tough as nails and incredbly fast in the water! Eliza made a quick friend and enjoyed the rest of the evening!

There was more homework shoved in there... some other running around trying to get everything done...

Thursday the cousins got into town and both girls were litereally jumping for joy over the chance to go play at grandma's house with the kids! I wish I would have been able to record their adorable reactions!

Friday I had play group at my house. I only had one regular show up that day and then the McMillan cousins came over to play with us too! We all had a really good time playing for a while longer.

Saturday was spent taking pictures of the grandkids. Ben and his dad went back up for another round of skiing in knee deep powder (again!). They said they had a fantastic day even though poor Abby stayed home sick this time. I spent the afternoon at home working on homework while Grandma kept Eliza to play with the boys. Sadly enough the 6 hours I spent working non-stop on homework and finals I was still unable to finnish everything that needed to be done for that class. I cried a lot that night I was so tired and wore out from all the screen time and my brains were total mush, but I did press forward and finally finnished after about 4 more hours of work over the next two days.

Sunday church

Monday more homework. We watched the Mott kids all morning while their mom was out and about. Those girls all had a blast running around with each other and the house ended up cleaner by the time they left so that's always wonderful! I spent 90% of the morning trying to get in to finnish my final and around 3:30 that afternoon everything finally started working like it was suppose to (thankfully)

Tuesday was spent doing something... Umm... Oh, I went to Loveland on Tuesday we finnished up some last minute shopping for Christmas and then hung out and had a fantastic tea party with Eliza, Alayna, Mommy, and Grandma Waite. (that's the stuff that memories are made of!) we had a really good time doing everything we did that day and then in the evening we went over to Bass Pro Shop in Denver to see Santa and play with everything they have set up there for the kids. Eliza and the boys did just about everything they offered from the trains to drive, cars to play with, things to color, indoor 'snowball fights' and even cookie decorating while I stood in line waiting for our turn with Santa. Eliza took bribery of popcorn to sit with Santa this year and Alayna was not as easily persuaded. Eliza didn't cry until we were done and even then it was just a little whimper. Alayna on the other hand screamed in his lap. The pictures are priceless!

Wednesday was spend having Hailey and her kids over to play at our house. I dilligently worked on finnishing up some doll cloths I was working on for the Turner's girls (they turned out great). I also made some vain efforts at getting some things in the house cleaned up and ready for christmas (I again state they were vain efforts). I really enjoyed the time to just hang out with Hailey the kids all had lots of fun and Jackson was given sufficient proof that my house is not full of "just girl toys". The favorite game of the day was probably when I pulled out the sleeping bag and pillows and blankets for sliding down the stairs that game lasted for a very long time!

Thursday: I hit a breaking point in my stress levels Wednesday night. I felt like my "to-do" list was growing exponentially and I had no hope of catching up to it. So I when the girls got up at 6:00 am I decided that we were going to get up and go visit daddy at work and deliver all those pumpkin rolls I made to his co-workers (that's what they were for). After that I really needed to attach that 'To-Do' list so thankfully Grandma Merritt took over with Eliza for a few hours while I took Alayna home for a nap and I successfully got a lot done that day. Eliza really enjoyed getting to decorate gingerbread houses and trees! She was also exhausted and feeling pretty played-out by that day so she spent a good portion of the day being really weepy. That evening I went out for a MUCH needed girls night with my friend Megyn. We really enjoyed the time out without our kids or any resposibility!

Friday was Christmas Eve! Ben, Eliza and I spent the day cleaning up the house making it ready for Santa to come. We had our traditional devotional with the Merritt Family that evening and thankfully we made it through the entire thing this year without any puking from my family! I was so thankful for that!

Saturday: Merry Christmas! It was a fantastic day, the night before was pretty miserable Eliza was awake for a good portion of the night with a really bad headache (enough to wake her up and keep her awake!) so she ended up on the couch in our room therefore neither Ben nor myself slept really well either. But we started Christmas morning bright and early at our house anyway opening gifts from eachother and from Santa. Eliza was very excited inspite of her lack of sleep. Alayna was very good as well she was tired but excited about so many new things to play with. By about 8:30 we were at the Merritt house for gift opening and breakfast there as well. That was wonderful we all got wonderful gifts and are very excited about getting to play with everything. We finnished up there around 12ish and went to Loveland for gifts and time with the Waite clan. Eliza passed out and slept for a few hours there thanks to the fever she was running and then when we woke her up we did gifts there as well. I loved getting to visit with them and watching Alayna and Hailey play together was so much fun! those girls are both little balls FULL of energy it's going to be fun to watch them grow I just wish they lived closer! By about 5ish that evening we were all burned out so we loaded up and came home both girls crashed soon thereafter and Ben and I stayed up to enjoy a movie together before calling it a night ourselves.

Sunday: today was great! church was extra fun thanks to cousins there to play with. Sunday School and Relief society were extra fun to watch Ellie and Alayna play together. I especially enjoyed watching Alayna do things with Ellie that Eliza does with her, the way she would move her head and the tone of voice she used in her little babble. They looked like little twins running around (in fact someone mistook them as twins) in the little chirstmas dresses the Grandma Merritt got them. They were adorable together and it was fun. We are really looking forward to Ben's week off from work this week and time to go play with cousins and friends! I hope everyone has a great week!

I think I can, I think I can...

Eliza saw this picture of Ben and I (wedding day) and ask "Mom, What happened to daddy's hair?"

Putting up the Christmas Tree

I came down a few days ago to find her in her PJ's and boots all snuggled up on the couch... funny girl!

I think I can get back into a weekly post... I think I can... I think I can...

We'll see if my new montra works for me.

This past week has been interesting.

Monday was a good day... I spent it cleaning house... All day long. We got to have Laura over to play all day and that was what let me get so much cleaning done! Eliza and Laura were totally enthralled with whatever game they decided on and played contently all day. By the end of the day the house looked awesome and I felt a lot better about things! I even got everything set to put up our Christmas Tree! Which we did that evening when Daddy got home. It is currently standing beautifully in my living room with a crooked angel on top! The decorations are mostly on the top half of the tree thanks to some helpful little fingers and my new tree skirt looks incredible!.

Tuesday was spent in Loveland playing with Grandma Waite. We ran a lot of errands that day and got a lot of stuff done. Including finding a car to replace Little Red. R.I.P. 'Little Red' my first car. We gave the car to my parents as a floating car for the kids in college and Eric was the current 'owner' of the car. he treated it well and loved it (at least he better have!) But last weekend he was rear ended. The end results of a 1995 Geo Prism being rearended is inevitable totaling. One of Mom's friends was even kind enough to comment "95 Geo Prism, just filling the gas tank doubles the value" (how rude!) it was a good car and it served a great purpose with lots of good memories.

Wednesday was spent baking in my house! Eliza and I got to work on the Pumpkin roll extravaganza (as i like to call it) We got 1 finnished when we were invited to go play at a friends house so we stopped mid project and went to play. I finnished the other three rolls that evening and ran out of eggs. So at some point I have at least 3 more rolls to bake but we'll get there sometime this next week. That evening I had my tutor over for a few blissful hours of studying. I think I got more out of 3 hours with him than I have out of the 40+ hours of class/homework time I have done!

Thursday I started to feel pretty yucky. I figured that of course after weeks of caring for sick kids I was bound to get sick eventually right? I was lucky enough to spend the morning with Abby getting all pampered. My hair looks awesome by the way! I'll have to get some pictures when it's actually fixed so everyone can see how awesome it looks! Grandma Merritt kept the girls all morning for me so I could really enjoy the pampering! Eliza and Alayna had a blast playing with Grandma and came home exhausted so we had some nice quiet time/ naps and that was the day!

Friday came and brought a bus full of sumo wrestlers with it. That bus ran me over and then somehow managed to jam itself into my sinus cavity. I spent Friday on the couch doing basically nothing. The girls were angels and played nicely. And then I remebered that Eliza had playgroup that day. Bethany Mott agreed to pay back the favor and kept Eliza for most of the day so I could sleep! By the time I went to pick Eliza up the bus full of wrestlers had moved from my sinus' to my chest and now I sound like a man when I talk. That night I took a lot of drugs and slept very peacfully!

Saturday Ben went snowboarding for the scout ski day at Copper mt. with his dad and Abby. They said it took them 3.5 hours to get there but the snow and everything was worth every bit of the drive! There was knee deep powder in places and the runs were just beautiful! I stayed home and kicked myself over and over again for not going to the doctor on Friday because the pressure in my ears was really getting to me. Grandma Merritt called and offered to take the girls so I happily agreed and dropped them off. I got a wonderful much needed nap and felt supprisingly better thanks to some home remedies for ear aches.

Sunday, today I did not go to church. Boo on still being sick. I actually feel quite a bit better but I also still sound like a man when I talk and I have this yucky cough. So I am writing this blog post and doing homework instead of exposing a bunch of people to my illness. Ben and Eliza are enjoying a Daddy daughter Sunday this week and I hope it goes perfect for them. I also hope and plan on being 100% healthy by Thursday because the McMillan family will be arriving and we can't wait to go play!

Happy Brithday Eliza!

Birthday Pictures for Miss Eliza! Her and her Buddies!

Make a Wish!

Getting some helpful motivation to open gifts!

I know I am late about this. I have been so busy with school and other holiday stuff that I just have not put blogging on the priority list at all.

The week of Thanksgiving Ben had the whole week off so we spent the first few days cleaning like crazy. Those sick fairy's that I mentioned in the last post refuse to leave my house. I've officially hit my breaking point with the illness in this house. As of today I have been into the doctors office with one or both of my children at least once a week for an entire month now. I'm DONE being the sole supporter of the Kaiser offices in Longmont. It's never a good sign when the front desk ladies give you a pity sigh as you walk up to their desk because you are back for yet another visit! I was extra grateful for Ben being home with all the visits to the doctor that week! He was able to stay home with one kid while I took the other in. In the end it ended up being that Alayna has a double ear infection and Eliza also has an ear infection. We got to try a new antibiotic with Alayna that they warned me tasted terrible (not a good thing to hear with a baby who wont even willingly take baby advil!). The good news in that was that I could mix it with chocolate syrup (I used carmel so if someday in the future she has some odd hatred for that then this is likely why!)

Back to the fun week though! After spending two days cleaning like mad and visiting the doctors office a few times we took the girls and went to Bass Pro Shops in Denver to visit the store and see the Santa's Wonderland. It was a lot of fun with all kinds of fun things to do! I plan on going again later and taking my camera the next time around to catch some of those cute moments!

Aside from that the week was spent just plain enjoying the wonderful company of my husband and family. We were able to spend Thanksgiving with my family in Loveland for the usual mass gathering and food fest! Yumm! the girls had a good time getting to run around the gym at the church!

Ben and I got to go see the new Harry Potter movie (fantastic!) and then we took the girls to go see Tangled (the new Disney movie) with Aunt Mallory and Uncle Evan (and their niece and nephew). After that we hit up McDonald's for the play place! That had to be the highlight for Eliza! Alayna on the other hand was just glad to go home to bed by the end.

That was Thanksgiving week!

Then last week:

Monday we celebrated Eliza's birthday (early but it was the only day that worked for family!) Evan and Mallory brought Allyea and Elijah (sorry about the poor spelling) which was a heaven send that night. Eliza doesn't really like to be the center of attention, it makes her clam up and threaten to cry at the drop of a hat. I don't think we would have ever gotten her to open presents if it weren't for friends there to help! In the end she made out like a bandit with all kinds of fun toys! Her current favorite is the scooter from Grandma and Grandpa Merritt and the tent from Daddy.

Tuesday was spent in Loveland with a halfway normal day. Aunt Abby took Eliza out for balloons for her birthday. By some act of cruelty to parents someone has invented a 'singing balloon' it sings every time you hit it and Eliza picked a Micky Mouse one that sings Happy birthday... I have heard it many, many, many, many times and have given serious consideration to popping the thing but it would just break her heart so I'll wait until it deflates.

Wednesday was Eliza's official birthday. She spent the entire day on the couch watching her new movies and holding a bucket at her feet to catch everything that made it to her mouth that day. Poor kid spent the entire day puking.

Thursday I sent the girls to grandma's. I was desperate for a break from the puke and tears. My girls have needed to be held, cleaned, calmed, and soothed for three weeks strait and my patience were gone. I gratefully spent my morning running to the store, lysoling everything in the house (pillows, mattresses, door handles, etc) in a last ditch effort to end all the illness in my house. And finally I went to the crocs warehouse sale (total bust this time). It was a good day! a Very very good day.

Friday I gave in a took my very grumpy and sick 1 yr old back to the doctor. Only to find out that pneumonia was not the issue, she just has a yucky cold. BUT that double ear infection that she's already finished the antibiotic for is still there and we will need to start ANOTHER antibiotic. I wasn't too thrilled with this news. But it did give me great pleasure to get a full nights sleep that night thanks to some numbing ear drops they gave me as well. She was a much happier baby without all the pressure pain from nose drainage on top of the ear infections.

Saturday morning the girls went back to Grandma Merritt's while I went and cut stuff up at the church for the ward Christmas Party (fondue yum!). Ben spent the morning chucking pumpkins with the young men in the ward. He said they had a ton of fun until the launcher broke and they were forced to be done. That evening we had the party which went well in spite of being exhausted and dealing with kids that just wanted to go to bed. Best part of the whole night was arranging to finally have the accounting tutor that I so desperately need in order to pass my class!

Sunday was a good day as well. Church was very uplifting and dinner was a hit at my parents house! I do believe that we have officially converted them to Italian stir fry yummm!

That's about it... Long enough post? sorry for rambling and that it's such a downer of a post... it's been a really long couple of weeks now to just pray that we stay healthy for the rest of the holiday season!