Christmas 2008!!!

Okay here is our Christmas rundown- and the photos are totally in backwards order but I have been told by someone, HOLLY, to update my blog already so here you go!

Berk opening his Elmo Kitchen- can you tell he was excited?
Braden & his new drawing thing, that once his Dad figures out how to install, will be really cool.
Right before we let the boys come down in the morning, and also the last time you could see carpet at my house for a few days...Both boys got scooters from Santa. Braden also got a TBall set and Berk got the softest Wall-e blanket.
Berk sleeping in on Christmas morning, in my bed- yes his feet WERE  right in my face all night.
Christmas Eve at the Beck's
The boys loving on their Auntie Kels.Berk & I eating Eve dinner. They even made me Chicken Chicken legs (you Mortensen's understand that one)

Rusty and I each got what we really wanted this year, I got an IPhone and he got a Blue ray player. So I am relearning how to use a cell phone again. We had a very blessed Christmas season- even with our attempts at doing less getting and more giving.   We are headed up to the snow in a few days so I am trying to get Christmas down, but not very fast. Oh well. At least my blog is up to date...

Merry Christmas!!!

Hoping this year's end finds you wishing 

to see more of the Earth's wonders.

Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season- Soccer that is...

Actually our soccer season just ended. And none too soon. Braden had an injury* the morning of our last game and couldn't even play (too much pain killers to walk straight let alone run!). The Sharks had another great season. Of the 16 players we had last season 9 were back again and we got a few new friends, making it a family of players. I have to say our girls players are hands down awesome. We did have one kid who had never played before just tear it up. Amazing that kid was, when he showed up. I loved Wednesday practices because after one afternoon of chasing Berk out of the field and across the entire park 700 times I had the brilliant idea to stay home and have other Mom's spend practice there. So Steph and Randa would come and keep the craziness confined to my house and we had the bonus of chatting time! The kids all play well together, except when Berk threw a wooden building block at Blake- resulting in enough blood for us to summon Pops to see if stitches were needed (nope). Other than that we had so much fun.

The games were always an adventure. Either Berk would or would not run into the field. Generally he did, unless someone was there to entertain him with a ball on a nearby field. And Braden either would or would not decide he liked soccer and either he did or didn't make an effort. Crazy kid.  

We just had our end of season party and Coach Rusty got to give out the trophies. I love all these kids- they are so funny! Braden is the oldest on the team and will move up in age bracket so most of them won't play under Rusty anymore. I am super sad!

Berk got a trophy out of the box- he can't wait for his turn to play!

The best Soccer Mom's out there- Randa, me & Steph

We think we may try T-ball next, since there is a lot more sitting and a lot less running- sounds right up Braden's alley!

*Braden's accident-He was riding his electric scooter around the yard and across to the neighbors drive as well and turned to sharp and went right into their rock slicing his pinkie finger in half sideways from his fingernail coming out. It is hard to explain what happened (Pops used the word evulsed---ICK!), and frankly I still can't look at it without throwing up in my mouth. Luckily Rusty's dad has an AMAZING first aid kit and has been patching him up all week. Not so lucky it was his right hand so he has trouble getting dressed, writing and basically everything else. Oh well. BOYS!

My Bunco Girls...

I have the best group of Bunco Girls ever. I know you may think you do, but my group really is the best. Some of us having been playing together for going on 6 years! We are a modge podge of people who really shouldn't know each other but do through someone or another and love each other anyway. We have sisters, friends, co workers, and friends of friends all playing together every month and having a ball. For lack of a better word I am the Bunco Mom for our group. I say Mom the other girls say Nazi but whatever.  The highlight of the year for me is each December when I get to host at my house. I actually started shopping for the gifts last year and having been busy organizing the second annual ornament exchange for us too.  I love love love these girls and the memories we make each month. I love that it is my escape from the world and we can talk about random things and laugh till we cry. Or just cry because your very own sister cursed the dice you were throwing- while you were in the middle or a rocking turn- AND you were partners! But usually it is laughing till we cry. 

Rhonda, Megan, Meghan, Jessica W, Jessica C, Rachel, Lauren, Kristie, Jolie, Parie, Sherry & Jenn --

Thanks for being the best out there and for putting up with my craziness!

Some of our ornaments from the exchange.

The prizes. I ended up with the tall sparkly snowman- for most wins. Which is a good thing since he already had a home all picked out on my snowmen table.

Thoughts on 'the season' so far...

To the hostess at one of the places we love to go to, sorry we inconvenienced you by asking for two whole high chairs and three whole kids menus. Its funny it was almost like we didn't even mention it when we told you about our party size. Patrons can be such a bother sometimes. No worries, at least the manager was nice when the waiter forgot one of our orders.  We really like to eat in shifts anyway.

To the worker at the Petsmart on Val Vista. You were totally right.  What were we thinking? Why would Braden, Berk and I stand right in front of the tank of fish we selected and actually think someone employed at the store would scoop one out for us? I mean its not like we were there only to replace the 4 fish that died after less than 2 weeks -that were also from your store. Silly us.  I hope you disregarded the cries of 'Pish Pish Pish' as we left the store 10 minutes later.

To the clerk at the big W store. Totally a time saver you are! No wonder that line moved so fast that I barely had time to read the entire People before it was my turn! If I knew that I would be asked to show my credit card and my ID, maybe I would have offered them to you before I put them back in my wallet and into my purse. Oh wait I did that and you ignored me and then once I was reaching for my receipt then you asked to see them. ERGH!

To the employee of another big store, the T one this time, you were totally right. Why would you actually want to help a customer when stocking a shelf is clearly better customer service? Especially when I will end up scaling the shelf to reach the too high item before you can even offer to help. 

And finally, to the guy who sped around me from  the opposite direction, you were totally right, I WAS using my blinker to show you there was an open spot. Wasn't it nice of me to wait while that woman unloaded her cart and buckled her kids in just so you could get the LAST spot in the parking lot. No biggie- I can lug my 40 pound kid a few more miles, I need the exercises! 

Okay honestly people! It is Christmas! Remember? 

 Man, I really am very patient with people at the holidays. I worked 4 retail Christmas' at a mall department store no less.  And until you have- you never really get how annoying it is to hear Christmas music start before Halloween and have men yell at you for being sold out of things on Christmas Eve. (Honestly, that last part- true story, my reply- seeing how I had already put my 2 week notice in I may have been a tad sassy-  was, "Sir, you have had 364 days to make your purchase, and that seems to mean it was your poor planning not mine." I may have even winked. I can't remember.  Then I called my manager so he could yell at her about me, and being out of stuff.)  I know you know what I mean if you have served your time in retail. 

But I digress....

My point is this. Be kind. Let the guy with one thing cut you in line, especially if he is holding diapers. That is my personal rule. Smile at the workers, they may have just had someone rip their head off for a matter out of their control.  Drop some coins in those darn red buckets and make those bell ringers day worth the headache. Don't let the little annoyances of rushing around ruin the season.  Be patient. You are busy, but guess what? So is everyone else, including that person behind the register- who is probably thinking that have to shop on their breaks to get it all done in time. Being annoyed does not make the line move faster. Be Christlike. Take every opportunity that could go sour and make it about service and being an example.  Your kids are watching, which is why I quietly let me complaints known to the manager of the pet store before we left, and parked in another spot-ridiculously far away rather than yelling that the jerk guy. I may have thought those things, but I tried not to act them. I want my boys to know that this time is more about a baby in a manger and less about a guy in a red suit, ya know?

Festival of Trees 2008

For the second year we went to the Banner Gateway Festival of Trees Gala. It was so fun. Different from last year because there were not as many trees, but they did have wreathes, gingerbread houses and other things to big on. Plus this year we knew a lot more people there, including the Treece family and the Nielsen family and our good friend Susan Haviland- who came with us. We had a fun time. Although it was FREEZING in the tents- the food was yummy, dessert especially. 

Cindi my MIL managed to leave with another tree this year! It was the cutest one there hands down (it's the one in the red pot at the top of the post). There were a lot of variety including the all pink one and that cool burgundy one-- oh oh and the all white one, loved it. But the most creative one was from the Jeremiah's Closet (BGMC Peds & OB tree) it was all decorated in candy and gum. The frames were made of gum packages and the garland. It was so {sweet}.

Be on the look out for next year, it supports such a great charity. It raises money for parents who can't afford car seats for their preemies and replaces those that are damaged in car crashes, plus a bunch of other stuff. Thanks for the invite Pops!