Getting on Santa's Good List

I had to write this down before I forget...definitely one for the records.

After we got home from our trip last night the kids went through the mail and found the Toys R Us Christmas Books. They spent the next  hour and a half going through and picking out what they would like for Christmas (I should've taken a picture...they were both seated on the kitchen floor in their pjs helping each other pick things out with the most animated faces and comments). After I finished unpacking, we sat down for a family tv show before bed. All of a sudden I was getting back rubs, kisses and my hair done. When Bodie initially started rubbing my back he said "I'm going to give you a back rub b/c I really want that tool". He then kissed me on the shoulder and gave Todd the funniest smile. McKayla started doing my hair at this point while Bodie moved his way over to smooze Todd. It was the funniest scene and showed us that the kids are going to be WAY more into Christmas this year...and hey, they're smart...mom and dad LOVE backrubs ;-).

Halloween 2013

What a fun Halloween! McKayla started the week by going to the pumpkin patch with her class. They read spooky stories and each got to bring home a pumpkin to paint. On actual Halloween the kids both had parties/painted pumpkins at school and McKayla's class got to go trick or treating as well. We had everyone come over to our house again this year where we had snacks and played. We headed out to do some trick or treating and the kids made out really well (we didn't even do half the neighborhood and they still had a ton of treats). With such a large group we had a tantrum, melt down, someone fall at pretty much every house, but we all survived and everyone had a great time (it was actually pretty funny). We had SO much fun with all our friends...it's definitely way more fun going as a group and hanging out with everyone :-). We ended the evening with a dance party in our living room with our friends the Helblings (kudos to them for being the last to leave....dance party was awesome!) :-). Love, love , love our friends and love spending holidays together.

Football player for Halloween night

A princess and her Daddy

We couldn't get all of them in, but this was most

Candy time

Ready for school (knight and Sleeping beauty)

Jasmine and a skeleton for a friend's costume party

Dress Up

McKayla has been getting herself dressed in the mornings recently (I used to pick outfits out for her) and it's so fun to see what she comes out with. For two weeks it has been nothing but dresses (we've made her add leggings since it's not exactly warm here). She even tried to dress my mom in a little sundress Sunday morning after she had spent the night. I love how much she's growing up and love seeing her little personality shine through :-).

This one reminded me I need to go through her closet and pull out the too small (i.e. TOO SHORT) stuff ;-)

Spooky Fun

The kids and I had some spooky fun this weekend. On Friday, my work held their annual "Trick-or-Treat with KPMG". The kids got to come in dressed up and trick or treat around the office as well as make their own cupcakes and play games. They love this party every year and this year was no different. One of the best parts is that they do some community service work while they're here too (bringing cans of food for the food bank and making blankets to donate).
On Saturday, my parents had a Halloween party. We had such a good time! McKayla had so much fun she ended up spending the night :-). Bodie and I got home about 11:30pm and he was up and happy that whole time. We helped my mom set up for the party on Friday night and the kids really enjoyed being GiGi's little helpers.

A random night costume

At my parents party

Ready for my work party

Meeting Belle at mom's work

Making their own cupcakes

Pumpkin bowling

Count Your Blessings

Last week was one of those that really made me stand back and reflect. The week started with Todd getting a call informing him that his assitant manager was coming down the canyon from work the night before when he slid on black ice and rolled his car 4 times. Thankfully, he was in great condition considering the severity of the accident (this does make me sick thinking about Todd and his employees coming home every night, but I know I can't think that way). A day later I found out that one of my best friend's Dad had a stroke...again, he is doing well. The next day we learned my brother-in-law's Grandma passed away and the day after that I got a call that our new little nephew was being life flighted to Primary's for a heart condition (incredibly thankful to say he had surgery and is recovering really well). On Monday, Sadie had surgery on her leg again and this time it was more invasive (the poor thing is in so much pain, but we are really hoping this helps her heal completely this time).
After taking some time to digest everything and after countless prayers, fasting, supporting and tears it really hit me that you don't have anything without your health, family and friends. You could have all the money in the world and every posession you could ever desire, but you can't buy good health or amazing family/friends. I think we all get so caught up in what everyone else says we should have, own, want, desire and we forget what really counts. I know I've hugged/kissed my babies a million times more this past week and made sure to tell them and Todd how much they mean to me every day. I can't thank the family and friends who have been so supportive through everything and my heart and prayers still go out to my family/friends who had to deal with some of life's hardest moments this past week.
I've made some new goals to try and keep myself in this frame of mind including getting back to the gym (1st early morning sesh today...woohoo), eating better, putting the phone down at night to just be with my kiddos (laundry and cleaning can wait too), telling everyone I love that I do love them and appreciate them as much as possible, being more thoughtful about my prayers and trying to just live more in the moment (these moments go by so fast and I don't want to look back and feel like I didn't live in them with my family and friends).
Love you all so very much and sending lots of love and prayers for good health and good times ;-)

Girl's Night

I was going to get my hair done last night (i.e. chopped off...yep, chopped it) and decided to ask Todd if he'd bring McKayla over to get her hair done. She's only ever been to Cookie Cutters so she was really excited to go to the salon (her words...not mine..I tried to call it the hair place and she corrected me with "The salon Mom"). While my color processed (oops, did I just admit I'm no longer a natural light blonde ;-0) she got the full treatment. She fell in love with having her hair washed (they don't do this a the kiddie place unless you really want them to) and enjoyed watching herself in the mirror as she got her hair cut and styled. After, she was dancing around the salon flipping her hair back and forth (pretty sure I was worried she was going to give herself wiplash, but she just looked so dang cute doing it). It was so much fun having her at the salon with me that I offered to make it a real girl's night out and take her to dinner. We decided on Corner Bakery where she got the oh so yummy mac&cheese and "the biggest cookie EVER Mom". We chatted and giggled over dinner and then headed home to our boys. I must include some of her favorite sayings just so I never forget them..."For real life", "Bless you me"(when she sneezes), "So awesome". I love her more than she'll ever know and spending time with her is like having a forever best friend.

A fun change after 4 years of long, long, long

My sassy love at dinner

Support

Todd's support always means the world to me, but during my work busy season it's even more apparent. He has been there when I need him and has been as flexible as possible. He allowed me to bring on extra help for the kids and house which gave me more family time. I appreciate it so much and know it's not easy on him, but he never complains. Love him to pieces!!!

A surprise visit from Todd and the kids brought these to celebrate getting over the worst part of busy season

A last minute (much needed) date night which ended up being fabulous

There were flowers and wine waiting at the restaurant when we arrived (Bodie helped Todd be "sneaky" as he called it to deliver these before)