O Christmas Tree

So I mostly wanted to show off some of our Christmas decorations.  We have a tradition where each year we get a family ornament for the tree, and we also get an ornament for the kids.  Here's what we have.

Originally we were going to get ornaments from our vacations - this one was from our honeymoon at the Great Wolf Lodge.  However, we have had trouble finding ornaments on our different trips, so that idea got stopped before it really got started.

Our First Christmas Together 2006.  It is a mirror, so really hard to get a picture.  I do like our wedding picture that is visible on the wall behind it though.

2007.  This picture is actually from outside the temple on the day we were sealed.

2008.  A trip to Nauvoo that we took that year.

2009.  With a 10 month old Ally-girl!

2009.  Ally's first ornament.

2010.  Another trip to Nauvoo.  I was pregnant with Jacob.

2010.  Ally's ornament.  She was really into mittens that year. 

2011.  Our ornament this year!  From the hayride.

2011.  Ally's ornament for this year.  She loves Minnie.

2011.  Jacob's first ornament!

A plastic canvas snowflake that my mom made.  I want to make some more of these.  Snowflakes are my favorite.  Most of the ornaments on our tree our various snowflakes. 

A VERY old pair of skates that my mom made.  We used to have a bunch of these on our tree.  Made of felt, yarn, and paperclips, stuffed with cotton.  I want to make some more of these too.

Putting the tree up.  Jacob liked to slap at the boughs and then would giggle.

Our fireplace.  I just finished Jacob's stocking tonight :)

My nativity set that I love. 

Ally and I decorated the front door with - you guessed it - snowflakes!

It's YOUR Birthday, Mama!

My birthday was last Monday, on the 5th.  Ernest thought that he might be working late that night, so on Saturday when he and Ally went to the store he helped her pick out a cake for me.  We celebrated Sunday night, with Ally and Ernest singing to me and then I got to blow out the candles.  Ally was so excited, but told me that she wouldn't help me because I could do it myself.  So, low-key but nice.

Monday Ernest did have to work late, but Lori, Lucas, Sydney, and Brandon came over in the evening to make some more sugar cookies.  Lori and I have made some together nearly every year for probably the last 10 years or so.  The kids had a great time and I loved getting to spend some time with two of my best friends!  We don't get to get together nearly often enough anymore.  Between Sunday night and Monday night I really did enjoy my birthday.

And then...  Tuesday afternoon I started feeling sick.  It just kept getting worse.  I nearly cancelled my chiropractor appointment but when on and went since my stomach settled down a bit.  I had a call that night for work too, which I took from bed.  Ernest was wonderful with the kids, and I stayed in bed for the rest of the night.  Well, part of the time I was on the couch.  I asked Ernest to get me some 7UP.  The only way Ally was okay with not going to the store with Daddy (she loves going to the store) was for her to take special care of me.  She sat near where I was laying on the couch and kept giving me "squeeze hugs" and kisses.  She'd ask me if it helped, and I told her that Yes, it helped a little bit.  "No! It helps a lot!"  Okay, baby, it helps a lot. 

When Ernest got back with the 7UP, he told her it was special fizzy water that would help me feel better.  She felt quite important when he let her bring the cup to me.  For the rest of the week she'd ask me if I needed some more special fizzy water to make my tummy feel better.  Oh, and more squeeze-hugs and kisses. 

I finally had to get up around 11 and hang out in the bathroom for a while.  I hate stomach bugs.  I rarely get them, which is a good thing.  I also had a light fever.  So for the next two days I lived on soda and crackers, and I was fine with that.  I watched Ernest and the kids, and they didn't seem to get what I had, which was very nice.

But...

Thursday night, I'm feeling mostly normal, but tummy is still a bit off.  I went to bed early because I was planning on going to work on Friday.  Ally woke up crying hard around 10 saying that her knees hurt.  We got her settled down and couldn't find anything wrong with her, so we put band aids on them (they fix anything!) and got her back to sleep.  An hour later she wakes up again, this time nearly hysterical.  I was still feeling kind of sick, and remembering how my stomach felt before I got sick on Tuesday. So I am thinking that she is about to throw up.  I'm praying that she doesn't and trying to get her to the bathroom while she is still frantically crying.  Everything we did upset her.  We got her an icee to see if that would help settle her down (usually it does) and that even made her more upset - while she was eating it.

And guess what....she is crying so much and so loud that Jacob wakes up crying in his crib.  Both Ally and Jacob wanted me, and both were very vocal in their complaints.  I sat with Jacob for a few minutes, and said some prayers asking for guidance.  I switched kids with Ernest, and it popped in my head to see if Ally wanted to watch Backyardigans with me.  It's after midnight at this point.  But it worked!  She calmed down, and even let me bring towels and a bucket to the couch with us since I told her it was for me. 

We ended up watching Backyardigans and Kilan with me laying on the couch (still feeling sick), Ally laying next to me, and Jacob laying on me.  By the time everyone was settled down and in bed it was after 1:00.  Ernest and I finally got to sleep.  It was an eventful evening.

One thing I kept thinking through the couple of hours we were doing this, was could we really handle three kids?  Wow.

All in the Name

Lately if you ask Ally something like, "Are you tired?" or "Are you my girl?"  she'll respond with a big "NO!  Me Ally Kelso!"  Though she says "Kelso" like "Kel-see-o" half the time now, not sure why.  She's also quite interested in everyone else's name.

Me:  What's your name?
Ally:  Ally.
Me:  What's your middle name?
Ally:  Ally Frances Kelso

Me:  What is Dada's name?
Ally:  Ernest.  Dada Ernest.  (sometime she'll say "My Ernest" too).

Me:  What's his name? (pointing to Jacob)
Ally:  Jacob.
Me:  What's his middle name?
Ally:  Ernest.  Like Dada!  Jacob Ernest.

Me:  What's my name?
Ally: Mama.

I have heard her say Shannon once or twice when Ernest and I were talking, but if you ask her what my name is, it's just "Mama."

Cookie Day

Saturday was our 1st Annual Cookie Day.  A friend of mine does this every year with her family and I loved the idea.  I talked to the ladies in my family and we all agreed to try it out.  It's for the Aunties and Nieces.  I selected the cookies that we were going to make and each family was assigned to bring an ingredient.  We made sugar cookies, candy cane cookies, chocolate chip cookies, spritz, and peanut butter blossoms.  Of course many get eaten throughout the day, and then whatever is left gets split up between the families and taken home so the boys can also partake.  I had a good time hosting, and it looked like everyone had a good time making and eating cookies.  I think this is the beginning of a tradition.  There was already talk of "next year, let's try making..."

 "Cousins" playing together.  Ally is quite excited by the fact that she has cousins.

 Kira's first time cracking an egg!  Auntie JoAnn taught her how.

 Auntie Taunia helping with sugar cookies.

 Auntie Martha helping Ally with sugar cookies.

 Auntie JoAnn helping Ally too.

 Our batch of sugar cookies.  They looked quite interesting but tasted soooo good.

Candy can cookies!  Auntie Jane and Auntie Taunia are the adults helping with these, with Lucy and Sophie being the youth leaders.  They helped make these last year too. 

Thanksgiving Holiday

We enjoyed a quiet Thanksgiving with our little family, JoAnn, Martha, David, and Morgan. I had been so wrapped up in work the last few weeks that I hadn't thought much about Thanksgiving dinner, other than making a quick run to the store the Saturday before. Thursday morning I wished I had thought about it a bit more, as I realized I had never done a turkey all by myself before. It didn't turn out too badly for me faking it. The rest of our menu included sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, pineapple bread pudding, fresh veggies, rolls, apple pie, and blackberry cobbler.

Jacob is trotting around like a champ and curious about everything.  His latest "fun" thing to do is to open the trash and recycle bins and see what he can find.  He will also wander around the table and see what he can reach.  In the picture below, Jacob got one of Ally's pudding cups that she had just finished.  He is quite the fan of chocolate pudding.   

That night we went to Rob & Jane's to play some games and see Hannah's in-laws again, Sydni and Roger.

We spent the next couple of days enjoying each other's company since neither Ernest nor I had to work.  We (well, me) took advantage of several Black Friday specials online and got most of our Christmas shopping done. 

We went to church with Rob & Jane's family on Sunday since Maddie was being blessed.  Dad came up for the blessing, and Jacob had a good time sitting with Grandpa during Sacrament.  After church we stopped by Rob & Jane's for sandwiches and some family visiting before taking the kids home for naps.  I didn't realize that Dad hadn't seen Jacob walking around yet.  I put Jacob on the floor and Dad watched him stand up.  When Jacob went trotting across the room (literally - he's practically running), Dad's eyebrows went up so high they got lost in his hair.  I don't talk to my Dad on the phone often enough...he shouldn't have been that surprised! 

It was a great 4 day break.  No work, no where really that we had to be, and all of us together.  I am so grateful for Thanksgiving and the extra time off we have around the holiday.  And, best of all, it signals the start of the Christmas season!

Christmas Favorites

Christmas is my favorite Holiday.  I love so many things about it.  Here are some favorites.

Favorite Christmas song:  O Holy Night.  Though I'm pretty much good with any Christmas Classic.

Favorite Christmas treat:  Fantasy Fudge.  Oh yum.  But, a favorite Christmas Treat Event is Cookie Day!  We get the girls in my family together and make 4-5 kinds of cookies that we all then split up between the families.  Another favorite is Hot Chocolate and Popcorn and a movie.

What does your Christmas tree look like:  Colorful.  I love white lights, but colored ornaments.  We started a tradition when we got married that each year we get a photo ornament showing the family.  We tried to do it originally with having ornaments from places we visited, but enough places didn't have ornaments available that we gave up on it.  After we had kids, we decided to get each kid an ornament every year that represented them that year, and after they move out they will get to take their ornaments with them. 

When do you start shopping for presents, on black Friday or the day before Christmas?  I start usually in November, but before Black Friday.  I try not to shop on that day, unless it's online :)

Favorite Christmas tradition:  Christmas Eve.  Watching a Christmas movie or two, reading the Christmas Story from Luke, and opening a present (or stockings). 

Best holiday memory:  I have several. 

As a Kid - one year I got really sick, I think it was on my birthday (Dec. 5).  Dad went grocery shopping and came home with groceries (of course) and a book of Christmas Carols for me.  I loved the book.  There were several years after that where we would sit around the piano singing the songs, with me picking out the tunes.  Mom would go all out for Christmas. We had these three bells, dark red and plastic, that we'd hang on the fireplace mantle.  They played Christmas carols and lit up in time to the music.  Kind of silly, but I remember singing along to them, and wanting to turn them on as soon as I got up. 

As an Adult - Our first Christmas together.  We had a shabby tree, and lots of random presents.  We read the Christmas Story on Christmas Eve and got into our stockings.  We slept in and had fun opening presents then playing with the games we got.  And probably last Christmas.  JoAnn came and stayed with us, since Jacob was due to be born any time.  Ally had the best time opening presents.  We also spent the day watching movies and hanging out.  My aunt and her husband came over for dinner, and I had actual place setting including cloth napkins and stemware.  First time I felt like an adult entertaining :) 

Fake or real tree:  We've had both.  I kind of like the fake kind though, just because of maintenance.  And I now have a pre-lit tree, which is very convenient. 

Favorite Christmas movie:  White Christmas!  I love Danny Kaye.  Though Home Alone (1 or 2) and The Santa Clause are also pretty high on the list.

What do you want for Christmas this year?  An Eye-Fi card for our camera. 

Favorite Christmas story:  The Real One, as read in Luke chapter 2.

I am Thankful for...

• Ernest.  He helps me have fun and makes me want to be better.
• Allyson.  She constantly makes me smile.  It excites me to see how she grows and changes each day.  My little girl.
• Jacob.  He also makes me smile.  His eyes light up when he sees me and immediately makes my day better.
• Loving sisters (and sister-in-laws that I consider sisters). 
• Book club.  I've been able to meet more ladies I wouldn't have met otherwise and also re-discovered my love of reading.  Or, more to the point, am taking time to enjoy reading. 
• Friends who stay my friend and wait patiently when my life gets crazy with work and my family.
• My Relief Society calling as a teacher.  It makes me dive into at least one lesson a month and makes me stretch.  Also isn't such a high demand calling that I get to still enjoy my family even while working.
• Cars that run.  Still paying one of them off, but that will be done next year. 
• Jobs for both Ernest and I.  If we both have to work, at least we have good jobs.
• Technology.  E-mail, the Internet, blogs, online journals, even spreadsheets.  I love being able to look up anything and to organize our stuff.
• Prayer.  And answers to prayers.
• Ernest.  I have to mention him again.  I've had to put in a lot of hours for work lately and he has been giving the kids dinner and getting them ready for bed on his own.  I know from when he has had to work a lot of overtime how much easier another pair of hands makes it, and I so appreciate that he takes care of our family.
• The book "Believing Christ" by Stephen E. Robinson.  Such an easy book to read.  A quick way to make me look at the Atonement in a fresh way and renew my efforts to use that great gift.
• Holidays.  I love an excuse to celebrate and spend time with my family.
• Christmas.  My favorite time of year starts the week after Thanksgiving.  I love Christmas decorations, Christmas carols, Christmas gifts, the Spirit of the season, everything. 
• Church hymns.  They are the quickest way for me to bring the Spirit into whatever I am doing, calm me down, and help me remember they "why" to what we do here on earth.
• Playing the piano.  I wish I got to play more and can't wait until we can get a piano at home.  But in the mean time, I love to play and look forward to when I can spend more time at it and improve my skill.
• Singing.  I'm not great at it, but I love to do it.  It always makes me feel better when I am down, stressed, or already happy. 
• My family.  They've been mentioned individually a few times.  But I thank my Heavenly Father every day for my little family.  They make my life complete and I am so grateful I have them.

Jacob's sad!

Last night we were driving home after I picked the kids up from Jane's.  Jacob started to cry, and Ally said that he was sad and she could try singing a song to see if that would make him happy.  I told her it was a good idea and to try it out.  Here's what happened. 

"Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are."

Jacob stopped crying.  Ally stopped singing in the middle of the song.

"Jacob's happy now."

It made me laugh because as soon as he stopped crying she made her announcement and was done with the singing.  Eventually he did start crying again and she tried singing again, but "Jacob stayed sad!"  I love hearing Ally sing, and especially love that she tries to make her brother happy. 

My Little Man

Jacob is 10 1/2 months.  Where has the time gone?  Every day you see more little boy and less baby in him.  Here is what he has been up to lately.

He FINALLY has two more teeth, on the top, and it looks like he is going to have a nice gap just like his Mama.  So he now has a total of four teeth.

He is running around.  And falling.  And running some more.  I love listening to his little footsteps around the house!  And he is getting fast.

He got his first haircut.  I'm a bad documentor and didn't take a picture before, but we did get one after.  Ernest did it with the clippers - thought that would be safer than scissors.  Now he's my bald baby :)  We'll do a longer setting next time.  I think it's not so much that his hair is that short, but more that it's that fine and blond. 

Feed him baby food and he "strains" it by keeping the chunks in his mouth and pushing the liquid part back out of his mouth.  He really wants to eat what we are eating.  More teeth will help this!

When we do feed him new foods - if the texture is different he will usually (and immediately) push it out with his tongue and use his fingers to try and brush it off of his tongue.  One of the funniest things I have seen.  Haven't caught it on camera yet, but I am trying. 

He goes to sleep so nicely.  Some night he needs some extra cuddling, but most nights he just snuggles down with his dummy, blanket, and mobile and is asleep on his own within minutes.  By contrast, we still fight with Ally for 1-2 hours at bedtime to get her to sleep.

We are weaning.  I am sad about it, but he's perfectly fine.  Just this last weekend we took out the morning nursing (he wasn't nursing during the day anyway except sometimes before naps on the weekends).  He didn't notice at all that we didn't nurse.  He still gets his evening one, though for the last two nights he's fallen asleep before I could get in there to nurse him.  I just do it while he's asleep.  I probably could just let him go and not nurse him at all, but I can't quite do that yet.  He only nurses for a few minutes anyway, and then he just wants to talk or snuggle.  It is nice that he is weaning himself though.  Ally did the same thing right around the same age.

He's been saying "Dada" for a little while, especially when he's upset.  But he's started saying, "Mama" too.  Again, usually when he's tired or upset.  It comes out in the middle of his cry and it is so stinkin' cute, I just want to give him whatever it is that he wants. 

He has to be the sweetest baby ever.  So easy going (unless he's hungry or tired - but those are easily fixed).  He adores his sister.  His whole face, especially his eyes, light up when he smiles, and he smiles a LOT. 

We love our Little Man.