Big Guy

Brian is a super cool guy.
...and he was turning 30. So I decided to throw a big surprise birthday party for him last night. It of course had to be something outrageous, like an ugly Christmas sweater party. and it, of course, was awesome! I have never EVER been able to keep something a secret and surprise from this man, so I really wanted to pull it off. He was very surprised! The only complaint I got was after we arrived, we were changing into our ugly sweaters and he said he was a little mad that we aren't going to BRIO (the place we were "going" to eat). Other than that we had MOST of our good friends there. A few were out of town, couldn't come into town, or I just am that awesome and forgot to put them on the list. Im really great like that. daah!

We had a photobooth set up and played a whole bunch of minute to win it Christmas games. It was a lot of fun! I am just glad I pulled it off and surprised him. A LOT of good laughs! We have great friends and GREAT family! There is no way we dont have fun when we all get together!

His actual birthday isn't for another week and a half but I didn't know when else to have it!

That was followed up with he and I exchanging our Christmas gifts to eacother. We are going North for a white Christmas, and didn't want to haul it up just to bring it back.

What's in a name...

I have never asked for approval, or asked what people think of my sons nickname. Boots.

Obviously he was born and we legally named the kid Stephen Tony after his 2 grandfathers. They are both amazing men and so we thought he deserved a special name. At first I was reluctant to call a baby Stephen. It seemed very mature, but then it slowly became the right thing.
Well, shortly after he was born, I'm talking weeks, Brian came up with the nickname boots. Natalie was into Dora at the time and as you may or may not know, her sidekick is boots the monkey. I don't think this is what Brian had in mind when assigning the nickname, but as it just so happens I would Definitely compare our boots to a monkey. He is crazy, climbs everything, gets into everything, is curious, and is just so stinkin adorable!

Thinking that this nickname would never stick, I of course joined in with the crowds and call him boots. Everyone at church knows him as boots, his soccer team calls him boots(they actually never knew his real name), and the list goes on. Brian, Natalie and now Courtney call him exclusively by the name boots. when he is in trouble, of course it is still Stephen to me, bur mostly he is boots.

So I don't know why it has taken me this long to notice how strange this name is. His name is a type of shoe. Last week this sent ace came out of my mouth "Natalie needs boots, and boots needs shoes." ya, that's strange. So tonight, minutes ago, I was thinking about him and his name, boots. It is sooo weird. It's like one of those words you don't think about too much bit when you do you think about it too much and then it becomes weird. 3 years it has taken me to realize it is sooo strange. But I think the name is here to stay. There is no changing that pattern.

Here's to my boots!!

Easy Peasy

I took the kids to see Santa at the mall this week and the kids had a lot of fun. I was kind of disappointed in the Santa though. He didn't ask their name, or take much time with them. I didn't want pictures because I wanted them to be used to him and happy for a picture, so it was just a visit, and I feel like since we were just a visit, he wasn't into it. His breathe stunk. Anyway, it was short and I felt rushed. Natalie was really curious afterwards too "Mom, was that the real Santa?" I said yes, but I am now seeing that I have to be ready to explain that each Santa we see is just a helped, because she is beginning to think that everyone gets their own Santa Clause, because they all kinda look different. haha She is a smart cookie!

Anyway, when asked what they want for Christmas this year, Natalie has a list that could be miles long. She has a few top items that if she is good, she will get.
Boots, on the other hand, is asking for 2 things 1. a candy cane he can eat and 2. chocolate coins. EASY! We have candy canes on our tree and he gets in trouble if he touches and breaks and eats them (which happens often) so all he really wants is one that he can just eat. Done.

Courtney is quickly becoming the cutest little one year old I have ever met. She has a huge belly that is always full of food. She is learning like crazy! She knows where her belly button is, ears, head, eyes(kinda - she can say Eye and point to mine), nose, mouth, and toes. She can say woof woof and MEOW, which is the cutest sound ever! She says Daddy, Momma, Boots(bbbbb), Nani, Nana, Food(fbfbfbf), please(eeeeeeEEE!!), Drink(Diii), ya, Cheese(Chhee), and nap. She gives SWEET SWEET kisses to everyone, sweet cuddles and hugs, waves to all she sees, and blows kisses around like they are air. She LOVES the ABC's and will "sing" along. "A O A A E A O A A" and hold the leapfrog fridge thing that sings, to her ear like a telephone and walk around the house singing. She is seriously Winnie the Pooh. With the belly and the waddle. OH she is just adorable! Love that girl!

We also took the kids to a beautiful nativity display at one of our churches here. We talked to the kids about what they were and they loved it. Boots didn't get it and kept touching what he couldn't touch, and making uncle garrett(the live Joseph) laugh. Natalie and I walked around for about a half an hour looking at all of the different Nativity exhibits that they had on display. There was over 700 on display, everything from one made out of rice, chocolate, cupcakes, a dog nativity, and ones from different countries all around the world. It was beautiful and very neat for Natalie to see it and talk about it. What a wonderful time of year this is when we can think about our Saviours birth. My sadness around this time of year is that I cant participate or watch the Calgary West Stake do the Handels Messiah performance. That is my holiday favorite.

I am also proud to say that my children have perfect teeth.He made some comment about how good I am at brushing my kids teeth... Oh if he only knew the truth. They must have really good genetic teeth from Brian's side. They have no problems, good spacing, did everything the dentist asked of them and walked away with some sweet prizes. Seriously, Natalie got her teeth cleaned, polished, and fluoride, and didn't budge! IF you live in the area and are looking for a good pediatric dentist, LET ME KNOW and you can go to ours. HE IS AWESOME! I mean he got Natalie and that is hard to do!! Good news for her, bad news for me... She has 2 loose teeth. The tooth fairy is coming which is cool, but my little girl is growing up which is not cool.

Testing testing

This is a test. Ignore this if you aren't into iPads. However, If you are into them then this is a cool app.

Thats New

Brian and I are in the Marriage class at church. Brian actually is teaching it, but that makes us participants in the class. I love it. It makes us think and do more for our marriage every day. Last week there was an assignment to do one of 4 things. We decided to "do something different".
Brian planned it out. He got a babysitter bright and early in the morning and we were off for a breakfast date. Even when we were dating we didn't have one of these, so it was totally new to us. The original place he wanted to go was a place he has heard is great ever since he was small. We walk in and the smell of bacon in this place was just enough to make me want to leave. Sorry babe. He was sweet to plan it all out, but I couldn't do it. So we went to a place a know I can eat a good breakfast, La Madeliene. MMMM they have the best french toast. It ended up being really fun and some of the best conversations we have had since being married, that I can remember!



It didn't stop there. Last night we went out to dinner and then decided to play pool of all things. So random, since we have never ever done this before either. We went out with Brian's Brother and his wife and it was a blast. The girls ruled the table. I wanted to be able to brag and say "Ya, I had a pool table growing up" But lets get serious, it was all fluke!
You wanna know something BRAND New that we got to see? HARPER GRACE JONES. Our friends Justin and Andrea had their first little one and she is just the sweetest, prettiest thing ever!

Thanksgiving this last week was really great. We had the whole Rawlins family together, with a little Miller mixed in there. It was over at my cousin Heathers house and it was seriously the best Thanksgiving I can remember. I did decide against black Friday shopping this year though, just the craziness of it all was too overwhelming this year. I did do a little online shopping, that is the way to go!!

I have so much to be thankful for this year. I am thankful for loving family, a warm house (or a cool house!), Healthy beautiful sweet funny lovely children, the gospel of Jesus Christ and my testimony of it, Texas pride, Canadian Pride, Pest control, Treadmills, a good pillow, Pie, chocolate, prophets, technology, ease of traveling...and the list could go on and on. We are truly so blessed to live in this Country with all that we have.

Im thankful for a daughter who wants to be good...

Im thankful for a daughter who loves to get into mischief...

I am thankful for LOTS of good friends who know how to have a good time and enjoy the same silly things together.

I am thankful for sweet Cousins we can take out for her 12th birthday and have cheesecake factory.

I am also thankful for a son who keeps us on our toes all day long. Whether it is hand cream smeared on desks, toothbrushes jammed into printers, honey in the carpet, sneaking loads of candy in his room during a "nap", or just cracking us up with his comments, or whatever he throws our way. I am thankful for him, even though he drives me crazy!

And Last but not least I am thankful for a husband who loves unconditionally, works hard, plays hard, makes me laugh, makes me cry(from laughing of course), makes me good food, cleans, gives sweet kisses, Has a strong testimony, "helps" me make the bed, and can make anyone be a better person. I am one lucky girl. He is one of a kind.

We have had a really fun and eventful week, full of NEW things to be thankful for!

cran crazy

Our kids are nuts. I don't know if every family has kids who are nuts, but mine are crazy and crazy and crazy. I love them, but they are nuts. When the noise goes away finally at night and the kids are all in bed and I get to sit down, those moments are soo nice that I don't want to do anything.
The other day Natalie and Boots were playing house and Natalie said something about going to the kitchen to cook because she is the mommy. Boots was the Daddy and he quickly chimed in that mommies don't cook, Daddy's do! haha I busted up. so true in our house! Daddy definitely cooks!
So i got a white tree on clearance at the end of last season and was so excited to get it up this year. I spent a long time deciding on colors to do on it, and finally we've got it all up and decided on red and white. So I did a little research on some DIY decor in red and white and have gone Cranberry crazy. THESE little things are my favorite though. Ignoring the bad photo, these are foam balls with cranberries hot glue gunned onto them. LOVE them! I also have these crans in rows on the tree, and in other places scattered through our house. I love them, and Courtney likes the ones that fall on the floor. And then I like stepping in the ones that she finds that I had dropped on the floor, after they had been chewed. yum. So the first chapter of Sports in our family has come to an end, until after Christmas. The kids soccer ended and they both got their trophies and final game. Natalie really was improving with every game. This last one, she wanted a goal so bad! She worked hard and I am so proud of her! Boots on the other hand just likes to run. I am not even sure he knows there are rules to soccer! haha

And yes, I am super behind and lacking with the blog. AHHH!! I need that extra hour or two in a day. Or better yet, I need 15 minutes of uninterupted me time to just sit and not be asked for a snack, or a drink, or to help them go to the bathroom, or cleaning someting, or folding, or cooking, or coloring, or buidling block towers, or cleaning, or cleaning, or cleaning... UGH! Anyway, I will try to be better becuase I am sitting her and forget all the good stories I had to tell about the last few weeks.

Misteak

Hi.
We are sick.

In the last few weeks we have been through croup, Ear infections, pink eye, and strep throat. My Dr is sick of seeing us, and really going in multiple times in the week for multiple things is really pathetic. I have had headaches, but lucky for me that is the worst of me. The only thing worse than a sick kid, is having 3 of them passing snot and slobber all over each other. One word DISINFECT please!!
On a much brighter note, we have been prepping for Thanksgiving. We are hosting the family this year and we also have decided it is the year to start the fried turkey tradition. Its juicy, its super fast and hello... its fried! So we did a trial and it turned out superb! Now I'm even more excited for Thanksgiving to come to eat eat eat till my belly is full of turkey and gravy. The only problem is the place settings and decor. I have no FALL decor and really want something on the tables that is EASY and inexpensive. ANY IDEAS?!?! PLEASE I am desperate.

We, as in the whole extended fam, like to get together for fun and always for food. This last week the piano was involved and the mood was set for some lovin', Dancin', and swinging of the arms. Embarrassing for them? Maybe. But I had to catch it, and post it!
COURTNEY - Ever since this little one has started to walk, which has been the last 2 weeks, she has gotten a lot more curious and bold. She will climb onto chairs, beds, and apparently fireplaces. Good thing we don't actually burn fires in ours! She is turning into a little girl version of Boots. I don't know if I can handle another one like that!! The good news for her is that her iron levels were low for a few months and after working really hard to remember to give her her supplement daily, her levels are back up. I hate feeling stressed about making sure they are healthy. Really I am so grateful for healthy kids. I mean, yeah they have croup or pink eye or a cold, but I will take that any day! They are so healthy and happy. Especially Courtney, our VERY healthy and plump eater!

BOOTS...

Originally we had some friends over and it just so happened that they have all girls, so play turned to dress up, pink, and princesses. Boots started out as the prince, escorting, marrying, and just being the only boy. Soon things started to change a little... he felt left out and just wanted to join in, he ran in right as I was fixing to take the picture of the girls fully clothed in princess dress and tiara.

Brian cooks around here most of the time I would say. This is partly because he is better and partly because I am lazy... and he is better. So the other night he made steak and it was so great. Our kids all are meat lovers and when there is medium cooked steak up for grabs, they are the first to take fourths and fifths. Well there must have been a miscommunication with what it is called because boots kept asking for "mistake" or should I say misteak. haha

And as I am listening to him play in his room right now I can hear him singing. Usually there are kid songs coming out of his mouth but today it was "say you, say me. Say it for always, that's the way it should be." perfect spot on. over and over. That kid is classic.