Dance

Finally, we get to do girl things. Tiara had her very first dance recital tonight and it was so much fun. She has been talking about it for a week and just dying to wear her costume. She was so excited when today finally came and it was time to get ready. Hair, costume and...oh, yeah...MAKEUP!! She loves to watch me put on makeup and frequently asks when she gets to wear makeup. My reply is always, "In Jr. High." which never makes her very happy. But when I told her today that she got to wear makeup for the recital she just squealed. She had so much fun and Dave and I enjoyed it too (if only we could have left the boys at home.) We'll remember that next time. We're so used to just taking everyone everywhere that we never thought about how rowdy Davis is and how Seth has to always be hanging or sitting on top of one of us. Not so fun when you're trying to video, which needless to say, turned out terrible so all I have to post is a few pictures. And guess what?? I didn't delete them! Anyway, Davis kept tugging on Dave's arms saying, "I'm not touching you!" That kid is the worst tease EVER! Lesson learned. From now on, when the girls have a dance thing, the boys get a babysitter.
Here she is with her friend, Lexie. And Makayla. Tiara thinks they are the same age. Makayla's so sweet to play along.

Stupid!

Do you ever have those days when you wonder how you EVER get by in life? Well, that's me. I usually pride myself on being pretty smart and a thinker, but maybe I shouldn't. Thursday night, as I was looking at some pictures on my camera, I noticed that some of them weren't focused very well and seemed to be more of a resolution problem than a focusing problem. So I went through the settings I had on my camera and changed a few things...increased the resolution, etc. What I didn't realize I had done until it was too late was reformatting my memory card. DUH!! How I could have ever done that without really thinking about what I was doing is beyond me. I'm partly mad at myself and partly in awe that I actually did that. ALL of the pictures on my camera are gone! Thanksgiving, McCall's birthday, Seth's Christmas program, our cruise, and Santa. ALL GONE!! Luckily I had transferred a few of them to post on here, but I had compressed them so it's not like they will print very big. How could I be so stupid???

Christmas Is Coming!

Ever since we got home, we have been watching the snow fall and freezing to death. So today, rather than complaining about it, I decided to take advantage of it. I took the kids to get some new snowboots, since just about everyone needs new ones. We then picked up Davis from school and went to lunch at McD's with his bestest buddy Hunter (and Kim). After lots of playing we headed to the mall to see Santa. I love having the kids off-track in December because we can go do all of the Christmas stuff without all of the crowds. We waited for only 10 minutes to sit on Santa's knee!

After getting home to still more snow, the kids got all bundled up and went out to play in the snow. They had a blast, except for McCall. Her mean mommy wasn't quite ready to send her out into the cold so she had to stay in and watch through the windows. Oh well.

Tomorrow we're going to start our cookie-making factory and put together a cute gingerbread train that the Fullmers gave us (thanks guys!) This time of year is so fun...IF I can survive the kids!

I Love My Husband

After 10 years, yes, I still am in love! I get so sick of hearing people (women) complain about their husbands that I have to counter it. He is my best friend and I love being with him. Here are a few pictures we had taken on our cruise. The first one is my favorite...

Isn't he just so cute?!!

Cruisin'

Our cruise was so much fun! We (I) have wanted to go on a cruise for so long and have tried to plan one before, but it hasn't ever worked out. We decided that for our 10th anniversary would be a great time, so off we went. Finding places for all of the kids was the hardest part. This is the first vacation we've been on without kids (other than little weekend getaways) since before the kids, so it was much needed. But having to find places for 5 was nearly impossible and I thought about cancelling our trip a few times because of the hassle. I'm so glad I didn't. Grandpa Martin (yes, you read that right!) took Spencer and Seth for the week and they had a blast. As I said before, Seth wanted to stay and live with them (read - live with the Wii)! Grandpa took them to lunch every day, to the DUP museum and to visit Grandma at school. Thank you Grandpa! And my friend/angel, Kim, took Davis, Tiara and McCall. She was so brave to even consider it, especially because she has 4 of her own and is expecting another in February! She is amazing! They had fun and are still talking about when they lived at Kim's house. I could never thank her enough for helping. Now she just needs to go on vacation so I can pay her back! (hint, hint Chet!)

So with all the kids taken care of, we headed off to San Diego and onto our ship. Dave had never gone on a cruise before, so I wasn't sure (but hopeful) that he would like it. He did and is ready to plan the next one! We ehjoyed the time alone together and being able to be "Dave & Sonda" instead of "Mommy & Daddy". It didn't take long to relax and get back in to being a couple. It felt like another honeymoon. I fell in love with him all over again and couldn't believe how much time had gone by that we were just on autopilot. It's so easy to focus only on the kids, especially while they are young, and forget that we both need attention too. Well, this trip made up for it. It made me realize how much energy I put into our family and how little enrgy I have left to nurture my relationship with Dave. We've always done things together, but it's been with the kids or after they go to bed. Maybe now we'll be a little better about getting a sitter and going out together. If it was only that easy *sigh*

We made stops in Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. We hung out at the beach in Cabo and did a little shopping there. The weather was great and made us forget that it was December. In Ensenada we went to La Bufadora, which is a big blowhole. The ocean water comes in and fills a cave and then shoots air and water out a hole in the top. It was pretty cool. We did a little more shopping in town and found some cute things for the kids. Our time on the ship was quite relaxing. We both read an entire book each and turned into sudoku junkies. I can't remember the last time I had so much time on my hands that I was looking for something to do. It was great!

I'm, excited to go again, although I need my mom to get home from Chile so we have another Grandma to lean on with the kids. So any of you that are making plans in the next couple of years, keep us in mind. It would be really fun to go with another couple ot two.

Reality Sucks!!!

Dave and I just got back from a cruise to Mexico last night, and I'm having a hard time adjusting. I really did miss the kids, but I really miss the childless life too. I'm still rocking back and forth and feeling like the earth is moving. Dave has been really dizzy, although better today than yesterday. We had so much fun and I'll post pictures later. But right now, I really need someone to bring me a Diet Coke and make me something yummy to eat. I can't find anyone that will make my bed, clean up all the messes and I didn't get a chocolate on my pillow last night!! Reality is here with kids running wild, whining and piles of dirty clothes in my laundry room. Spencer and Seth had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa, although Seth informed us that he wasn't homesick yet and wanted to stay longer. Could it be because Grandpa took them out to lunch every day??? He wants to go live with them! Apparently, our house isn't fun enough because we don't have a Wii and we fix food at home. Some days I might let him! Davis, Tiara and McCall went to Fullmer's house with Davis' bestest buddy, Hunter. From Kim's blog, it looks like they had a good time. I'm just glad to get McCall back. She's so good that I'd really miss her sweet spirit around our house. Maybe Kim will get lucky and have one just like her. Thanks you to everyone for taking such good care of our kids while we were gone. Now are there any volunteers out there to bring me a Diet Coke and that yummy chocolate melting cake that I totally overindulged in? I want to go back...

2 Wahoo!

Yippee! McCall is 2 today! This morning she got to open her 1 present we got her. Seth was quite upset that we only got her 1 and made sure we knew that he thought that was a bum deal. But with a big sister only a year older and Christmas 3 weeks away that was all she was going to get. I feel a little bad, but I'm sure we'll make it up to her when she's older. She didn't seem to care though. She got a new baby that is all hers, NOT Tiara's. She's always had to "borrow" one from Tia when they want to play. Not anymore. She is officially a big girl now.

We took our traditional trip to McDonald's for lunch and she got her own Happy Meal! I usually just give her a little bit from the other kids' meals, but I figured since it was her birthday, I could splurge on the extra $2.50. Well, she made sure I knew that she should always get her own now. She ate all of hers and 1/2 of Tiara's cheeseburger. How she stays so tiny is beyond me because that girl can seriously put it away when she wants to.Here she is with her cake from Sunday at Grandma's house and tonight at home.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!!!