So...where was I?

Oh yes, December. Afton chose the colors for our Christmas tree this year, so we ended up with purple and silver. I wasn't so crazy about the combo at first, but it actually turned out to be really beautiful. I was putting the wreath together one night when she asked to help...so I let her. She decided where all the ornaments went and under no circumstances was I to move any of them (okay, maybe when she wasn't looking I tweaked it just a touch), but either way; here's the finished product. We're very proud...

After she was finished supervising the tree decorating (think "No, mommy, not there! Next to the little purple one!" and "No, higher!") Joe and I let her put the star on the Christmas tree, with a little help of course...

I was the party mom for Afton's class Christmas Party at her Preschool, and it was so much fun!! Unfortunately, I was to busy to take any pictures, but as soon as I get them from the other moms I'll post them. We had a really low-key, non-crazy kind of party. I baked a couple dozen Chrismas sugar cookies in the shape of Christmas trees and tinted vanilla frosting green. We let each child take a couple of cookies and a big glob of frosting and had them decorate their own cookies, complete with sprinkles and sparkly green sugar. They were... ummm...interesting. And, just a note - if you are ever a party mom, I HIGHLY recommend letting them do that! It took a good 15 - 20 minutes and they were so quiet! We had pizza and some fruit and veggies - then onto the cupcakes. They also had a gift exchange, each child drew a name and bought a gift for that little boy or girl. We tried to keep it somewhat organized, but once the wrapping paper started to fly it was all over. After that we sang a couple Christmas carols and then sent them packing. Sugar them up and send them home...that's how I roll.

Now for the highlight of the month...Christmas!! This was such a fun Christmas! The week after Thanksgiving I went through a couple of toy books with Afton. I told her to circle the things that she wanted Santa to bring to her; and we would make a list for him. She was so into it!! At first she was very discriminating...only circling the things that really appealed to her, but by the end of it she was circling every page. On one page I asked her "Do you want these drums? Is that why they're circled?" and she said "No, I want the boy who plays the drums." I'm so proud...my little girl digs drummers. Well, needless to say, she did NOT get the little boy, neither did she get the drums. She did, however, rack up. Here are some pictures from Christmas morning...

I love a Christmas tree that's all lit up with tons of presents!!

Who knew that My Little Pony made a working Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster?

Ok, this thing rocks! It's a Snugglekins by Fisher Price and the baby monkey coos and gurgles. But not in a creepy, going-to-chew-your-face-off-in-your-sleep kind of way. The swing plays a lullaby and lights up...it's Uber-cute!

I think this is the part where Afton yelled "LOOK MOMMY...IT"S A BABY MONKEY!!"

Every kid needs Candy Land - and this kid has beaten both

Joe and I at it almost every time we play!!

This adorable, fuzzy, pink back pack comes complete with a detachable ballerina teddy bear.

And nothin' says Christmas Day better than a giant lollipop for breakfast!

Super Duper Slacker

I am a superhero, and my alter-ego's name is "Super Duper Slacker". It has been a whole month since my last post, and not just any month - a very busy one. A month that included a family vacation to Myrtle Beach, my birthday, Afton's Preschool Christmas party and then Christmas!

I have very few pictures to document the last month - and I know that I will regret it later (I'm already starting to regret it, actually). But here's the rundown of what we did...

We took a mini-vacation to Myrtle Beach the first weekend in December. We left Saturday morning and came back on Sunday afternoon. We went with my boss's family (Ashley, Troy, their daughter Jordan and one of her friends) and we got a great deal at a hotel called The Captain's Quarters. We had a 2-room Suite with a kitchenette and a balocony that (sort of) looked over the beach. They had an indoor pool, indoor lazy river, indoor hot tub/sauna and the entire 6th floor was a bowling alley & arcade. We had only one serious meltdown from Afton, and the rest of the weekend was wonderful! We didn't do any shopping, and only left the hotel for dinner and breakfast. We did stop by Ripley's Aquarium on the way home. Afton loved it! They had a moving sidewalk through the shark tank, she rode it 3 ties with me and at least mre with her dad - we couldn't get her off for anything in the world! I even bribed her with ice cream (at 10:30 in the morning) - no go. Before we left she did get up the nerve to put her hand in the stingray tank. What a brave little monkey! It was so nice just to get away for a day or two!

The weekend after that was my birthday (one year older & wiser, too - well maybe not so much!). Joe and I went back to Myrtle Beach, just the two of us. We stayed at the Marriot @ Broadway at the Beach (thanks for the hook-up Edward!) and did A LOT of shopping at the Outlets on Saturday. He surprised me on Saturday and took me to a great Japanese Teppanyaki restaraunt for dinner. It was so yummy! Afton got to spend the weekend with Grandma, she helped make Christmas cookies...

and went to the ward Christmas party where she sang with the Primary kids (even though she's still only in Nursery, and in a whole different ward!);

(that's her on middle row, 2nd one in - she got to stand next to her cousin, Dylan. I think that made them both happy)

and she thought that she wanted to sit on Santa's lap, but when it actually came down to do or don't, well, she don't...

That wraps up the first two weeks of December...I'll have to do the last two weeks tomorrow, my nice clean sheets and fluffy pillows are calling. I must be getting old - I can remember staying up all night to watch the ball drop and now I can't even make it to 11pm! I seriously doubt that I will be watching 2009 come in! I hope everybody had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!

Thanksgiving Madness

As much as I love Thanksgiving...the friends, the family, the food, the good company, the beginning of the Christmas season, the food, did I mention the food?...this year was crazy! Somehow the decision was made to have Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Heather reminded me at some point that I actually begged for this opportunity, but I stand by my declaration that I must have been drugged; because nobody in their right mind would actually ask for this kind of madness! We had 17 people at our house for dinner that night. We had to borrow tables and chairs from the church and we still didn't have enough seats! There was more food than any of us knew what to do with...fried turkey, smoked ham, smoked venison, mac & cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, broccoli & cheese, corn, cheesecake, pumpkin pie, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies...and all Afton would eat was Easy Mac!! Although it was crowded and hectic - I really did enjoy myself. We had good friends, some new friends, the missionaries, and family join us and it was a great night.

The day after Thanksgiving we went to Mike's Farm for dinner and a hayride. They have one of the best southern dinners of anyplace around, and it's all served family style. They just kept bringing out the platters of fried chicken, mac & cheese and mashed potatoes - more good food! And the hayride is always spectacular. They decorate acre upon acre of land with Christmas lights and have a soundtrack that goes with it...it makes you feel like the Christmas season is truly here...complete with fake snow! I didn't get many pictures because I was too busy watching the kids enjoy themselves...maybe next year!

And I certainly don't want to leave out how exciting it was to have Brian and Andi here with us. I miss my younger brother more than I can say when he's at school - and I enjoyed meeting Andi so much! To have them both here to share Thanksgiving with us was such a treat!

The items in bold are things I have done, the rest, I haven't, but I have now begun a very long To Do List! Thanks for letting me steal this Amber – it was fun!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band ....at school (I guess 5th grade orchestra counts?)
4. Visited Hawaii (sort of – if I remember correctly, our plane stopped there to refuel on the way back to the states.)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (it’s a topic that is discussed from time to time though)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (personally, I'm shocked that my SIL Amber has done this!)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (I so hope Ashley Danko isn’t reading this!!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (really badly)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (but one day I will!!)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (see, once there was this really cute boy & he was taking classes, so then I started taking classes – well, then he moved & I quit. End of story)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (definitely on my list of “things to do”!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (embarrassing, but true)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (again; embarrassing, but true)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (just don’t tell my parents! I’ll be grounded forever!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (ran right up to the edge, almost gave my dad a heart attack - or so I'm told)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (this one is on my list of “things NOT to do”)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

Yep, you read right...it snowed today...here...in Southeastern, Coastal North Carolina. Now, I know that it was only a couple flurries, and nothing stuck to anything; but don't bother me with technicalities and details - it was snow!! I love that the weather is turning, and the leaves are changing, and I can leave my windows open during the day to let in the brisk, fall air. I love that I can start playing Christmas music, and cussing at a tangled strand of tree lights. I can start buying Christmas presents and wrapping paper. It means hot chocolate first thing in the morning and last thing at night, cozy sweaters and cute tights for little girls, snuggly blankets and soups & chili for dinner, cold noses and pink cheeks, I even went to Toys R Us tonite and didn't murmer under my breath when the cashier couldn't figure out how to ring in a coupon...it must be Christmas!!

Jill made me do it!

This was lots of fun...thanks, Jill!!

8 favorite tv shows
We don't have cable anymore, so I'm not really sure...but I have always loved:
House
CSI
Veggie Tales (on Sat mornings)
Numbers
One Life to Live
General Hospital

I'm am recently addicted to:
Lost
The Mentalist

8 favorite restaurants
Macaroni Grill
The Cheesecake Factory
Roly Poly
Old Chicago
Oceanic
Port City Java (they have the best Chocolate Chip Muffins!!)
Chick - Fil - A (b/c we can take Afton and eat while she plays)
San Felipe

8 things that happened yesterday
I dropped my bagel in the driveway
I was late for work
Afton was chosen to go to the 4 year old preschool class for Literacy & Reading (think AIG for preschoolers...you go girl!!)

I worked late

I played Super Mario Bros 3 on the Wii with Afton
Read 4 books to Afton before bed
Afton went to sleep in her own bed without a fight
Went to bed (relatively) early

8 things that I'm looking forward to
My dad coming for Thanksgiving
My little brother and his girlfriend coming for Thanksgiving
A weekend in Myrtle Beach - just Joe and I
Piggies and Paws Party on Friday night
Having a happy, healthy family
Having more happy, healthy kids
Christmas shopping
Losing 10 more lbs

8 things I love about fall
Cooler air
Hot Chocolate
Cozy blankets
Soups and Stews for dinner
Dinner and hayride at Mike's Farms
Sweaters and blue jeans
The leaves changing colors
Leaving the windows open to let in some fresh air

8 things on my wishlist
Seeing a Broadway show
Traveling to Ireland
African Safari
...hey, it's called a wishlist right?...
Losing 20 more pounds
That the dog and Afton would quit fighting
Getting rid of a lingering sinus infection
A maid
Family pictures where we all look nice and nobody is blinking or sneezing or crying

8 people I tag
Well, we all know I don't know that many people with a blog, so I'll tag the ones I do know...
Amber B.
Laura B.
Toni W.
Rebekah H.

Have fun girls!!

Happy Halloween!!

This Halloween was so much fun!! I think it was the first Halloween that Afton really got into the whole pumpkin-carving, spider-web manipulating, scary-music-playing joy of it. She picked out her very own costume for the first time this year too. She was (and I quote) "a blue butterfly fairy". She was very put-out if anybody called her a princess or just a fairy. She would get this very exasperated tone in her voice and say "I'm not a princess, I'm a blue butterfly fairy". Occasionally it ended with a stomped foot.

Here's a rundown of the week's events:

Pumpkin Carving With My Home Skillet

Joe has been working a lot of nights this past week (a bank downtown flooded last week, 5 floors of fire alarms have to be replaced and tested), so Afton and I decided to carve a pumpkin together...she loved "scooping". She has a little song that went something like this: "Mommy scrapes and Afton scoops and Mommy scrapes and Afton scoops..." As it turns out, we're not to bad at the pumpkin-carving thing - a picture of our witch pumpkin is further down. And isn't Afton too cool in her shades?

Partyin' With The Preschoolers

Afton's preschool class had their Halloween party on Friday. They had so much fun! They danced the Hokey Pokey, did a conga line ('cause let's be honest, it just isn't a Halloween Party without a conga line), ate enough junk food to choke a horse and watched a Halloween cartoon. I think it was every 3 year-old's idea of Heaven on earth.

Trunk or Treat!

These are from the Trunk or Treat held at the Stake Center on Halloween night. We chose to do this rather than go door to door in our own neighborhood, because it didn't look to promising here. Afton loved the "sparkles" on her face and said they matched the ones in her skirt. You can't really tell in the second photo; because she was dancing, but there are tiny lights in her skirt that blinked on and off - she was so proud of them! And I have to thank the Yankeys, they parked next to us and provided the best music for her to dance the night away!

I was pretty proud of how our trunk turned out - considering I'm still missing one whole box of Halloween decorations. Joe put dry ice in the cauldrons, he blew fire extinguishers under the front of the van, so there was smoke billowing out from underneath the back - the kids loved it! The little blue pumpkin is one that Afton did all by herself, since she wasn't able to carve one; and the one with the stickers she did in Preschool. And once it got dark we lit the witch up...

All in all, it was a really great Halloween, and I'm glad that I have 360 days until I have to do it all over again!