This is the third year that I will post these on here. It seems to help me remember. I also print them out where I will see them often.
NEW GOALS FOR 2011 for Ransom Family
1. Missionary Work-We will be busy with this since our new callings are Ward Mission Leader and Ward Missionary. =) No more nursery for us, but Vincent has one more year before Sunbeams.
2. Only eat out once a month as a family.
3. Monthly Date nights-Maybe every other month to the Temple. I'm not sure how well that will work with Abigail or if she'll take a bottle. She'll join us for most dates.
4. Keep helping our kids learn and grow and be happy.
5. Make a menu for dinners and stick to it.
6. Scrapbook. Get up to 2011 over the course of the year.
7. Read scriptures as a couple (again) and pray better.
8. Pay off debt.
I think that's enough goals for this year. I'll add more to them if I need to. I'll have enough to do with everything else on my plate already and the new baby.
2010 goals and the update I did on them in July. Here is the new update.
I'm trying to be honest and accountable here. If you want to continue to pretend that I'm perfect (HA!) or that I do everything, skip over this part. If you know there's no way I can do everything, just like any other mom, keep reading.
Ransom Family Goals for 2010
1. Attend Temple as a couple monthly. -We were really lousy at this this year. I don't know what our deal was. Just too busy and too lazy to make appointments. The few nights available each week seemed to be Mondays or a night we just needed to stay home as a family and not have to arrange a babysitter.
2. Be Financially FREE by:
a. Eat out as a family only once a month. -We did pretty good at this.
b. Keep an agreed budget. -We did alright at this, I think.
c. Buy things we need on sale and in bulk to prepare. -All that couponing helps to stock up.
3. Work harder on Fasting and Prayer. -Again, way lousy on this. I'm getting better at praying more, but fasting is still really hard. I think I used the pregnancy excuse for skipping out on trying most of the year.
4. Missionary Work as a family by reaching out to neighbors and people we see daily and talking about the gospel and how it helps our lives. -We try.
5. Make healthy and frugal dinners nightly and lunches for Andy and Elizabeth daily. -CHECK! I did one.
6. Scrapbook 2008 and 2009. -I got halfway through 2008 and was missing some pictures, so I ordered them, but never got back into scrapbooking. It's all arranged and I need to. That's my goal for January before Abigail is born.
7. Continue to make cross-stitch gifts for weddings and babies and help Elizabeth and Olivia make gifts for friends' birthdays in addition to small store bought gift. -I am always busy cross-stitching while I watch movies or tv for weddings and babies. There are so many babies to keep up with! The girls didn't make things very often for their friends, but I was able to get a little stockpile of cheap nice gifts at Kohl's on clearance.
8. Keep adding to food storage supply. -CHECK! I did this through coupons and buying things on sale at Albertson's.
9. Help our family GROW and be happy together. -CHECK! We did work on growing our family this year. Abigail will be here in 25 days. =) We try to be happy and fun most of the time too.
10. Continue to read scriptures and other books with kids. -CHECK! We are very consistent with this. Vincent still needs to learn to sit and be quiet when we read, but he's getting there.
Wish me luck on the new goals! What are your goals for 2011? And HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas
For Christmas morning, we stayed home to open the presents Santa brought us and the ones we bought for each other. 
Santa brought everyone just what they wanted. Andy got the Shrek Bluray four pack, NaDell got a nice set of her favorite perfume, Elizabeth got the guitar she asked for, Olivia got an art set, and Vincent got the Toy Story Trilogy on Bluray. 
We gave Vincent this GeoTrax train to play with.
Olivia with her Olivia the Pig dress up doll. She likes this outfit the best.
They were excited and had a good time taking turns to open gifts too. It took nearly an hour because we took turns and chatted a little while opening. I don't like it over too fast and I like to see their reactions. After opening the gifts, the kids played with their new things for a while and Andy and I got ready for the day. We went over to Kennewick to see everybody and do the exchange gifts at 11am.
Olivia and Elizabeth with their sillybandz bracelets and necklaces from their stockings.
Olivia helped to dig out the presents that were way in the back under the tree.
Elizabeth requested this enormous art set from Andy's parents. We saw it at Costco for a great deal. It folds up into a much smaller case.
When we went to Portland, we found this Jack Russell Terrier dog for Andy's dad that looks like Scooter. He liked it.
Vincent got a new big dinosaur that roars on it's own, but he still roars with it.
Andy's mom gave each of us a Christmas apron. Mine will fit better once I have Abigail. It didn't lay right then.
After lunch and visiting, we went to Walla Walla to see my parents and two of my brothers with their families. We ate again there and birthday girl Tina helped the kids dress up to play the Nativity. Elizabeth was Joseph and Olivia was Mary. Cousin Colby (next to Elizabeth) was a shephard. Caleb and Sam had gifts for baby Jesus. Vincent had just barely woken up from a nap, so he just watched.
Vincent loved this old semi truck with trailer that my little brothers used to play with.
We had a fun Christmas. We always love spending time with our families and enjoy watching each of them open the presents we pick especially for them. It's nice when they are excited about what we picked. Merry Christmas!!!
Santa brought everyone just what they wanted. Andy got the Shrek Bluray four pack, NaDell got a nice set of her favorite perfume, Elizabeth got the guitar she asked for, Olivia got an art set, and Vincent got the Toy Story Trilogy on Bluray. 
We gave Vincent this GeoTrax train to play with.
Olivia with her Olivia the Pig dress up doll. She likes this outfit the best.
They were excited and had a good time taking turns to open gifts too. It took nearly an hour because we took turns and chatted a little while opening. I don't like it over too fast and I like to see their reactions. After opening the gifts, the kids played with their new things for a while and Andy and I got ready for the day. We went over to Kennewick to see everybody and do the exchange gifts at 11am.Olivia and Elizabeth with their sillybandz bracelets and necklaces from their stockings.
Olivia helped to dig out the presents that were way in the back under the tree.
Elizabeth requested this enormous art set from Andy's parents. We saw it at Costco for a great deal. It folds up into a much smaller case.
When we went to Portland, we found this Jack Russell Terrier dog for Andy's dad that looks like Scooter. He liked it.
Vincent got a new big dinosaur that roars on it's own, but he still roars with it.
Andy's mom gave each of us a Christmas apron. Mine will fit better once I have Abigail. It didn't lay right then.
After lunch and visiting, we went to Walla Walla to see my parents and two of my brothers with their families. We ate again there and birthday girl Tina helped the kids dress up to play the Nativity. Elizabeth was Joseph and Olivia was Mary. Cousin Colby (next to Elizabeth) was a shephard. Caleb and Sam had gifts for baby Jesus. Vincent had just barely woken up from a nap, so he just watched.
Vincent loved this old semi truck with trailer that my little brothers used to play with.
We had a fun Christmas. We always love spending time with our families and enjoy watching each of them open the presents we pick especially for them. It's nice when they are excited about what we picked. Merry Christmas!!!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve
I like to keep up with this little blog of mine, so I'll cover Christmas Eve while I wait to make sure the kids are all the way asleep before finishing the tasks that must be done before morning.
Today was a nice relaxing day with all of us at home. After lounging around all morning, the kids wrapped the presents they picked out for me with Andy while I showered. Andy did have to go to the store to get some stamps, but other than that we just hung around here, cleaned up a bit, had a visit from my brother and his family to give them their present from our family because we won't see them tomorrow, and then went to McDonald's for dinner and then over to Andy's parent's house for a little program and treats. The program was nice. Brad and Torrie sang to Brad's guitar playing, Andy read the nativity story while the rest of us acted out the parts with the nativity puppets my mom made years ago, George read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Suzie read a Christmas story that she wrote, Elizabeth sang Jingle Bells, Sami sang Jingle Bells, and then we all ate the treats we brought to share.
Olivia got to play the part of the Angel this year.
Elizabeth wanted to be King Herod. Andy made that puppet the second year we had these puppets because he wanted all the people in the story to have a puppet. He also made a Caesar Augustus, a Camel, and a Star. Aunt Nancy and Kurtis were two of the three wise men.
Andy's parents were Joseph and Mary. Vincent is in the middle of the picture making his dinosaurs attack Grandpa George. Sami is the camel and David is the donkey.
We also opened a few presents from Aunt Nancy and Kurt because we won't see them tomorrow. Last year I forgot to get presents for them and felt really bad not thinking about it sooner, so this year I had them covered. They always pick out great presents for us and our kids.
On the way home it was pretty foggy. I liked that it was a foggy Christmas Eve. Elizabeth kept saying that she could see Rudolph's nose through the fog. After we got home, we opened the letters and drawings in our stockings that Elizabeth and Olivia have been putting in there this week. Simple homemade fun. They get so excited. Elizabeth kept getting up saying she was too excited to sleep and asked when she can stay up as long as us. I told her she can't and she asked "even when I'm ten?" No. I told her we have to stay up to make sure they're asleep so we know they don't open all the presents. She thought we should go to bed at the same time as them. Lucky for me, I had already finished wrapping a few days ago and Andy wrapped the rest of the presents at work this week. He just got back from his office with them, so I guess it's time to go and set them up. I love this part.
We hope all of you have a very merry Christmas. Spend some time thinking about the Savior and how much He has done for each of us and some time with family or friends. Appreciate all of your blessings.
Today was a nice relaxing day with all of us at home. After lounging around all morning, the kids wrapped the presents they picked out for me with Andy while I showered. Andy did have to go to the store to get some stamps, but other than that we just hung around here, cleaned up a bit, had a visit from my brother and his family to give them their present from our family because we won't see them tomorrow, and then went to McDonald's for dinner and then over to Andy's parent's house for a little program and treats. The program was nice. Brad and Torrie sang to Brad's guitar playing, Andy read the nativity story while the rest of us acted out the parts with the nativity puppets my mom made years ago, George read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Suzie read a Christmas story that she wrote, Elizabeth sang Jingle Bells, Sami sang Jingle Bells, and then we all ate the treats we brought to share.
Olivia got to play the part of the Angel this year.
Elizabeth wanted to be King Herod. Andy made that puppet the second year we had these puppets because he wanted all the people in the story to have a puppet. He also made a Caesar Augustus, a Camel, and a Star. Aunt Nancy and Kurtis were two of the three wise men.
Andy's parents were Joseph and Mary. Vincent is in the middle of the picture making his dinosaurs attack Grandpa George. Sami is the camel and David is the donkey.
We also opened a few presents from Aunt Nancy and Kurt because we won't see them tomorrow. Last year I forgot to get presents for them and felt really bad not thinking about it sooner, so this year I had them covered. They always pick out great presents for us and our kids.On the way home it was pretty foggy. I liked that it was a foggy Christmas Eve. Elizabeth kept saying that she could see Rudolph's nose through the fog. After we got home, we opened the letters and drawings in our stockings that Elizabeth and Olivia have been putting in there this week. Simple homemade fun. They get so excited. Elizabeth kept getting up saying she was too excited to sleep and asked when she can stay up as long as us. I told her she can't and she asked "even when I'm ten?" No. I told her we have to stay up to make sure they're asleep so we know they don't open all the presents. She thought we should go to bed at the same time as them. Lucky for me, I had already finished wrapping a few days ago and Andy wrapped the rest of the presents at work this week. He just got back from his office with them, so I guess it's time to go and set them up. I love this part.
We hope all of you have a very merry Christmas. Spend some time thinking about the Savior and how much He has done for each of us and some time with family or friends. Appreciate all of your blessings.
Crowther Cousin Crafting Christmas
Yes, that's a lot of C's. My sister in law, Kori, who married my brother Joe, has taught preschool for the past few years in her parent's addition in Pasco and wanted to get the cousins together for a fun afternoon before Christmas. There were twelve of the fourteen total cousins there. Two of my brothers live in Kennewick and my third brother and his family came for Christmas this year from Idaho Falls. We were just missing the youngest two siblings who are in Kansas and Arizona. She planned out the fun crafts that were easy enough for the youngest of the cousins at 15 months, but still fun enough for the oldest cousin who is 10 1/2. Quite a feat. The projects were ones that she used with her preschoolers this year.
My mom blogged about it here.
The first craft was a large felt Christmas tree that had cutouts and the kids glued pom poms to them. The younger kids just picked random colors, but the older kids made patterns or only used one size of pom pom.
The second craft was a plastic clear ornament ball (she found them at Michael's) that they pushed glittery pom poms into. Kori had already written each cousin's name on it with the year, so it was all ready. Perfect.
Elizabeth stuffed her ornament full so they wouldn't even move around.
Olivia with her ornament.
I didn't have to help Vincent with this at all.
Then Kori got out the popcorn machine and let each cousin put a few kernels in the popper before it started. 
They all were listening and paying very close attention to when the first popcorn would pop. My dad even got in on the action. He's such a good sport (I accidentally typed in goof instead of good there. He is kind of a goof too. We love it.) 
Listening to hear the first pop.
I had no idea that listening and watching popcorn would make all twelve kids sit at attention. They each got a cup of popcorn to eat while watching the old Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie.
My mom brought the grandkid presents over to the party because one of my brothers isn't coming to their house on Christmas with his five kids and she wanted all of the grandkids to open their gifts at the same time. She made each kid their own stocking like she used to give us with one wrapped present that shows which wrapping paper the bigger present wrapping matches, which is yours. This year two kids each shared a big present. They loved the backpacks that held sleeping bags, flashlights, and water bottles.
Six pm was the time for dinner. Joe and Kori made a yummy ham with pineapple on her dad's grill and there were rolls and other delicious things to eat too. Andy got to the party after work just in time for dinner. The kids were all still so excited about their backpacks that they didn't want to have them off for very long, so dinner didn't last long for them.
After dinner we decorated the sugar cookies I made Wednesday with Kori's dairy/egg/nut free recipe for Colby who is allergic. They are yummy and I didn't feel worried about eating the dough because they don't have eggs.
We took this cousin picture at the end of all the fun, so they are all a little rough looking and messy.
It was a really fun party. I hope we can do it again next year.
(If you don't want to read about the beginning busy part of our day, skip down to the next picture.)
The first part of the day was super busy with running errands all over with the three kids. I had a lot on my list because I had coupons for places that expire on Christmas Eve and I didn't want to go out on Christmas Eve. I, very surprisingly, didn't have to wait long anywhere, even at Costco and Winco. I was only home for about 2 hours from 10am-9pm. We went to:
1. the library to drop off items due soon
2. bank to get the budgeted cash to spend on our errands.
3. JoAnn's for some cross-stitch thread and some Christmas fabric to make a few aprons which won't come out until next year.
4. Bath and Body Works in the mall where I went on Saturday and found great comfy soft warm socks for $3 and some anti bacterial scents for the diaper bag when Abigail comes. Elizabeth and Olivia each picked out a scent for themselves too. I had two coupons there. One for a free lip item with any purchase and one for a free large size lotion with $10 purchase.
5. Auntie Anne's Pretzels in the mall. There were coupons in a few of my magazines for buy one pretzel-get one free, so I used two of those to get pretzels for our lunch.
6. Costco for a few things and samples. =) I got right through the lines and didn't overspend. It's way easier when I only have cash and know how much things are going to cost.
7. Winco for a few things on our grocery list and again we got right through the line.
8. Dollar Tree for another packet of 8 of travel tissues. We go through those like crazy in the winter. I didn't want to stay there too long because the kids would start begging for stuff and I already had arranged with them that they had their anti-bac scents and the pretzel for their treats.
9. Albertson's to pick up extra doubler coupons.
10. Hallmark for a Christmas secret and a few marshmallow Santas for the girls. Vincent picked a coconut wreath, which I noticed when we got to the car and he was strapped in wasn't on the receipt, so we had to go back in and pay for it. Our cashier was Olivia's kindergarten teacher.
11. back to the bank because I was nearly out of gas and needed to get some.
12. gas station (see above)
Then home for an hour and a half (half hour nap for me) and to the party.
After the party, Andy took the kids home and I went to Albertson's for their great deals.
I bought 10 boxes of Chex for $1 a box (they are hardly ever on sale and they are SO good!), 4 bags of Kraft cheese and 2 Philadelphia cream cheeses for $4, and the best part of the couponing-getting stuff for free!-, six boxes of Rotzani healthy pasta for free, two boxes of Wheat Thins for free, and eight cans of Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup for 72 cents (9 cents a can). I love coming home and asking Andy how much he thinks I spent at Albertson's and he guesses something much higher. He opened up a box of Chex very soon after I got home. I love couponing. It's fun.
The girls were still up when I got home waiting for me to get home because the sleeping bags were in the car I had. Vincent was asleep. They loved laying in their sleeping bags while I put groceries away until we made them go to bed at 10pm. They ought to be tired tonight and go to bed early, right?
My mom said they went to pick these sleeping bag backpacks up on Black Friday and there were only three pink ones and the rest were blue. If you don't know my family, that is perfect because out of the 14 grandkids, there are only three girls....until Abigail comes soon making it four.
Elizabeth and Olivia each got a different pattern too.
Olivia likes her matching card set my parents got her and really likes the whistle. I think that's her favorite part. Her bag even came with a blowup pillow.
My oldest brother posted a picture on facebook of his four boys in their sleeping bags last night too. They were a great gift. My mom even said that they could bring them when they come to her house for sleepovers. Done. Say when!
Here I am the Eve of Christmas Eve with Abigail. 4 1/2 weeks to go until she's here. Don't tell me I'm small. I'm not. She just has her head down and her feet and arms all over. People told me I was small with Elizabeth and she was 9 pounds 2 ounces. I'm not worried.
I'm sure I'll be posting again tonight after the party at Andy's parent's house with his family. Our nativity puppets will make an appearance.
I hope each of you has a very Merry Christmas!
My mom blogged about it here.
The first craft was a large felt Christmas tree that had cutouts and the kids glued pom poms to them. The younger kids just picked random colors, but the older kids made patterns or only used one size of pom pom.
The second craft was a plastic clear ornament ball (she found them at Michael's) that they pushed glittery pom poms into. Kori had already written each cousin's name on it with the year, so it was all ready. Perfect.Elizabeth stuffed her ornament full so they wouldn't even move around.
Olivia with her ornament.
I didn't have to help Vincent with this at all.
Then Kori got out the popcorn machine and let each cousin put a few kernels in the popper before it started. 
They all were listening and paying very close attention to when the first popcorn would pop. My dad even got in on the action. He's such a good sport (I accidentally typed in goof instead of good there. He is kind of a goof too. We love it.) 
Listening to hear the first pop.
I had no idea that listening and watching popcorn would make all twelve kids sit at attention. They each got a cup of popcorn to eat while watching the old Dr. Seuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas movie.My mom brought the grandkid presents over to the party because one of my brothers isn't coming to their house on Christmas with his five kids and she wanted all of the grandkids to open their gifts at the same time. She made each kid their own stocking like she used to give us with one wrapped present that shows which wrapping paper the bigger present wrapping matches, which is yours. This year two kids each shared a big present. They loved the backpacks that held sleeping bags, flashlights, and water bottles.
Six pm was the time for dinner. Joe and Kori made a yummy ham with pineapple on her dad's grill and there were rolls and other delicious things to eat too. Andy got to the party after work just in time for dinner. The kids were all still so excited about their backpacks that they didn't want to have them off for very long, so dinner didn't last long for them.
After dinner we decorated the sugar cookies I made Wednesday with Kori's dairy/egg/nut free recipe for Colby who is allergic. They are yummy and I didn't feel worried about eating the dough because they don't have eggs.
We took this cousin picture at the end of all the fun, so they are all a little rough looking and messy.
It was a really fun party. I hope we can do it again next year.(If you don't want to read about the beginning busy part of our day, skip down to the next picture.)
The first part of the day was super busy with running errands all over with the three kids. I had a lot on my list because I had coupons for places that expire on Christmas Eve and I didn't want to go out on Christmas Eve. I, very surprisingly, didn't have to wait long anywhere, even at Costco and Winco. I was only home for about 2 hours from 10am-9pm. We went to:
1. the library to drop off items due soon
2. bank to get the budgeted cash to spend on our errands.
3. JoAnn's for some cross-stitch thread and some Christmas fabric to make a few aprons which won't come out until next year.
4. Bath and Body Works in the mall where I went on Saturday and found great comfy soft warm socks for $3 and some anti bacterial scents for the diaper bag when Abigail comes. Elizabeth and Olivia each picked out a scent for themselves too. I had two coupons there. One for a free lip item with any purchase and one for a free large size lotion with $10 purchase.
5. Auntie Anne's Pretzels in the mall. There were coupons in a few of my magazines for buy one pretzel-get one free, so I used two of those to get pretzels for our lunch.
6. Costco for a few things and samples. =) I got right through the lines and didn't overspend. It's way easier when I only have cash and know how much things are going to cost.
7. Winco for a few things on our grocery list and again we got right through the line.
8. Dollar Tree for another packet of 8 of travel tissues. We go through those like crazy in the winter. I didn't want to stay there too long because the kids would start begging for stuff and I already had arranged with them that they had their anti-bac scents and the pretzel for their treats.
9. Albertson's to pick up extra doubler coupons.
10. Hallmark for a Christmas secret and a few marshmallow Santas for the girls. Vincent picked a coconut wreath, which I noticed when we got to the car and he was strapped in wasn't on the receipt, so we had to go back in and pay for it. Our cashier was Olivia's kindergarten teacher.
11. back to the bank because I was nearly out of gas and needed to get some.
12. gas station (see above)
Then home for an hour and a half (half hour nap for me) and to the party.
After the party, Andy took the kids home and I went to Albertson's for their great deals.
I bought 10 boxes of Chex for $1 a box (they are hardly ever on sale and they are SO good!), 4 bags of Kraft cheese and 2 Philadelphia cream cheeses for $4, and the best part of the couponing-getting stuff for free!-, six boxes of Rotzani healthy pasta for free, two boxes of Wheat Thins for free, and eight cans of Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup for 72 cents (9 cents a can). I love coming home and asking Andy how much he thinks I spent at Albertson's and he guesses something much higher. He opened up a box of Chex very soon after I got home. I love couponing. It's fun.
The girls were still up when I got home waiting for me to get home because the sleeping bags were in the car I had. Vincent was asleep. They loved laying in their sleeping bags while I put groceries away until we made them go to bed at 10pm. They ought to be tired tonight and go to bed early, right?
My mom said they went to pick these sleeping bag backpacks up on Black Friday and there were only three pink ones and the rest were blue. If you don't know my family, that is perfect because out of the 14 grandkids, there are only three girls....until Abigail comes soon making it four.
Elizabeth and Olivia each got a different pattern too.
Olivia likes her matching card set my parents got her and really likes the whistle. I think that's her favorite part. Her bag even came with a blowup pillow.
My oldest brother posted a picture on facebook of his four boys in their sleeping bags last night too. They were a great gift. My mom even said that they could bring them when they come to her house for sleepovers. Done. Say when!Here I am the Eve of Christmas Eve with Abigail. 4 1/2 weeks to go until she's here. Don't tell me I'm small. I'm not. She just has her head down and her feet and arms all over. People told me I was small with Elizabeth and she was 9 pounds 2 ounces. I'm not worried.
I'm sure I'll be posting again tonight after the party at Andy's parent's house with his family. Our nativity puppets will make an appearance.I hope each of you has a very Merry Christmas!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
sleep trials
Vincent makes no sense. He is a bad go-to-bedder. He likes to get up and turn on the light and then sing or tell himself knock-knock jokes. The girls were really good at ignoring him tonight which is not always the case.
Andy went in a gave him a spanking when he turned on the light last (we finally used some tape to keep it down) and then Vincent kept singing and telling jokes and even told me to come and spank him because he was not laying down and was being loud (he really said that). I told him if he wasn't quiet I would, but I was finishing folding clothes, so I waited and he told me again, so I told him that if he laid really still and was quiet, I'd come give him a spanking. Guess what? He did that and went right to sleep. I guess giving reverse psychology a try helps him (and me).
I tell every new mom that the worst part about parenthood is being always waking up to crying, but bedtime is a close second, I think now.
It's usually this point in pregnancy that I start to think, "What am I getting myself into?!?! I can't handle the ones I have!" Most of the time it's fun and they are cute. Even the singing and telling jokes is pretty cute and I don't like having to spank them, but sheesh, they make it hard. He has no volume control either. When he wakes up in the morning, like I've said in previous posts, he yells to Olivia to wake up. I don't know why he doesn't yell at Elizabeth, but it's always Olivia he yells at. Elizabeth must be too deep of a sleeper.
One day I'll get these kids figured out. Kids are always opposites it seems too. I'm hoping Abigail is much more like Olivia. I don't know if I can handle another Elizabeth or Vincent personality (they are great, but SO stubborn!) right now.
Andy went in a gave him a spanking when he turned on the light last (we finally used some tape to keep it down) and then Vincent kept singing and telling jokes and even told me to come and spank him because he was not laying down and was being loud (he really said that). I told him if he wasn't quiet I would, but I was finishing folding clothes, so I waited and he told me again, so I told him that if he laid really still and was quiet, I'd come give him a spanking. Guess what? He did that and went right to sleep. I guess giving reverse psychology a try helps him (and me).
I tell every new mom that the worst part about parenthood is being always waking up to crying, but bedtime is a close second, I think now.It's usually this point in pregnancy that I start to think, "What am I getting myself into?!?! I can't handle the ones I have!" Most of the time it's fun and they are cute. Even the singing and telling jokes is pretty cute and I don't like having to spank them, but sheesh, they make it hard. He has no volume control either. When he wakes up in the morning, like I've said in previous posts, he yells to Olivia to wake up. I don't know why he doesn't yell at Elizabeth, but it's always Olivia he yells at. Elizabeth must be too deep of a sleeper.
One day I'll get these kids figured out. Kids are always opposites it seems too. I'm hoping Abigail is much more like Olivia. I don't know if I can handle another Elizabeth or Vincent personality (they are great, but SO stubborn!) right now.
Friday, December 17, 2010
A visit to Dancer and Prancer
I bribed the kids this week to get to bed better with a trip to see some reindeer at a local gardening center after school on Friday. They sort of did it, by that I mean that Vincent still got out of bed and turned on the light and messed around, but he did it less than the previous nights. What a naughty kid. Olivia asked one night if we could put straps on his bed to keep him in. I WISH! I don't think that's very doable, unfortunately. He also likes to wake up at 6am (an hour before Andy wakes up and two hours before the girls need to be up) and yell until we give him a cup or change him and then yell, "Wake up, Olivia!!" as loud as possible. He has no volume control. Spanking him when he gets out of bed doesn't seem to deter him either. Elizabeth didn't respond well to spanking either, but at least she would do what we told her for a few minutes afterwards. With Vincent he'll just get right back up as soon as I close the door and turn the light on again. (With Elizabeth we had to take off the light cover and plug in one of those light chain switches so she wasn't able to turn it on or off and we had to take everything out of her room except her bed.) Olivia was easier. She just went with the flow and wanted to be big like Elizabeth and sleep in a big bed. If we ever had to spank her for getting out of bed, she wouldn't get out again AND we would feel awful with her crocodile tears and sad face. Anyway, I wasn't planning on spending so long on bedtime bad habits, but that's what is bugging me these days.
Abigail is scheduled to arrive Tuesday, January 25th via cesarean section (like the three previous kids because with Elizabeth I did all the labor and then she was enormous-9#2oz-and I had to have an emergency c-section and I don't feel like ever doing labor again.) It is nice to have it all scheduled out and the last two haven't given me any trouble of coming early or anything, just wait until the date, so I have a little more than five weeks at this point to finish some things on my to-do list, like my scrapbooking catch up. I plan on working on that in January. I can get about a month done each day, so it shouldn't be too bad.
Oh, back to the reason for this post, we went to see the reindeer. I called this morning to see what time they closed and the person on the phone said that Santa and Mrs. Claus would be there too, so I got the kids all pumped for that and when I got there and went up to pay for taking my own picture with Santa, the lady was going to charge me the amount when I double-checked that Santa wasn't starting a lunch break or something and she told me that he wasn't actually there and wouldn't be there until Saturday and Sunday. Um, then I'm not paying for a picture with someone who isn't there.....give me my money back.... So I went and took pictures of the kids on Santa's bench and around their store. I didn't feel bad for doing that since I called and they told me the wrong information and I would have told them so if they said anything. I really wanted a Santa picture this year, but since we missed our church party last Friday because of too many different things going on all at once and we can't go Saturday because the girls are going on a little trip with Andy's parents and we don't do things like that on Sunday, it looks like it won't happen this year. Oh well.
On Santa's bench.
In front of the decorative reindeer.
At the fish pond.
Vincent loved these seals. Of course he knows what seals are. Thanks Dora and Diego. =)
Two of the kids liked the fish pond best. One of them liked the reindeer the best. Kids are easy to please, even if I'm not sometimes. They were sad to not see Santa though.
Last night was fun (my word, not Andy's. He did say that he didn't not have fun.) We all went the store together and then Andy took one kid at a time around to pick out little presents for the other two kids and me and then traded kids after paying and taking the stuff to the car, so he had to check out three times. We were able to finish up all the rest of the people we needed to buy for on our list, so now the kids and I just need to pick up a little something for Andy and we will be all the way done. I plan on having the kids wrap their gifts next week when they are out of school. I have a few little crafts for them to do to keep them busy too.
Abigail is scheduled to arrive Tuesday, January 25th via cesarean section (like the three previous kids because with Elizabeth I did all the labor and then she was enormous-9#2oz-and I had to have an emergency c-section and I don't feel like ever doing labor again.) It is nice to have it all scheduled out and the last two haven't given me any trouble of coming early or anything, just wait until the date, so I have a little more than five weeks at this point to finish some things on my to-do list, like my scrapbooking catch up. I plan on working on that in January. I can get about a month done each day, so it shouldn't be too bad.
Oh, back to the reason for this post, we went to see the reindeer. I called this morning to see what time they closed and the person on the phone said that Santa and Mrs. Claus would be there too, so I got the kids all pumped for that and when I got there and went up to pay for taking my own picture with Santa, the lady was going to charge me the amount when I double-checked that Santa wasn't starting a lunch break or something and she told me that he wasn't actually there and wouldn't be there until Saturday and Sunday. Um, then I'm not paying for a picture with someone who isn't there.....give me my money back.... So I went and took pictures of the kids on Santa's bench and around their store. I didn't feel bad for doing that since I called and they told me the wrong information and I would have told them so if they said anything. I really wanted a Santa picture this year, but since we missed our church party last Friday because of too many different things going on all at once and we can't go Saturday because the girls are going on a little trip with Andy's parents and we don't do things like that on Sunday, it looks like it won't happen this year. Oh well.
On Santa's bench.
In front of the decorative reindeer.
At the fish pond.
Vincent loved these seals. Of course he knows what seals are. Thanks Dora and Diego. =)
Two of the kids liked the fish pond best. One of them liked the reindeer the best. Kids are easy to please, even if I'm not sometimes. They were sad to not see Santa though.Last night was fun (my word, not Andy's. He did say that he didn't not have fun.) We all went the store together and then Andy took one kid at a time around to pick out little presents for the other two kids and me and then traded kids after paying and taking the stuff to the car, so he had to check out three times. We were able to finish up all the rest of the people we needed to buy for on our list, so now the kids and I just need to pick up a little something for Andy and we will be all the way done. I plan on having the kids wrap their gifts next week when they are out of school. I have a few little crafts for them to do to keep them busy too.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Nutcracker-the real deal
Elizabeth on Thursday night just before the last dress rehearsal with her curls all set and basic make up ready (mascara, foundation, and concealer for her black eye).
After the dress rehearsal Thursday night. I think she went to bed at 11pm. She did go to school on time Friday though.
Looking all sad with her curlers. She was so so tired. Every night I had to reroll her curlers. Spray gel too. They looked great though and didn't get frizzy or loose the whole time.
But would still give me a little smile.
Friday morning I went to Olivia's class with her for Snowkid building. The class sang a few songs and she showed me around the classroom again. Here's her cute snowkid.
I helped with the angels in the greenroom Friday and Saturday nights. All twelve of them did so good. They are all so cute. One of them was asking all the others if they were nervous just before they went on. She told them that there were 1400 seats out there and that they should be nervous. We had to make that stop a little. They were all just great.
Saturday afternoon I watched the Nutcracker with my mom and Olivia. Here is Olivia by the tree in the entry.
Me with Olivia and my mom. It was snowing/raining hard the whole show. We came out to a little winter wonderland. The button on my shirt is Elizabeth in her angel costume. All the moms wear them so you know who has a ballerina on stage. It's fun.
In between shows on Saturday, they let parents take a picture or two on stage of their dancer in their costume. It was crowded and we were hungry and only had a little bit of time to run home, eat, and get back for the evening show, so we just took what we could get. The camera is at an angle, not my angel. The angels have the most pieces of their costume of any of the dancers in Nutcracker. There is the dress underneath that has the lace at the bottom, the robe, wings, a dickie (missing in this picture), headdress, and they carry a candle at the beginning and then trade for trees.
Elizabeth had a fun time doing Nutcracker. She did awesome. 
Even the costuming people and many others said that the angels this year were the best ever. I'm so glad. They also said that most years they secretly call the angels little devils, so I'm glad they weren't saying that this year.
Andy and Elizabeth are at Nutcracker now because they have a matinee on Sunday. This is the final real performance and Monday morning they will do it two more times for the area fifth graders.
I'm relieved that this is nearly done because I'm a little tired of all the babysitting arrangements I've had to be on top of and I need to start working on some Christmas stuff and the rest of my list, oh, and prepare everything for Abigail. I'm pretty sure we'll be busy the next six weeks until she gets here.
After the dress rehearsal Thursday night. I think she went to bed at 11pm. She did go to school on time Friday though.
Looking all sad with her curlers. She was so so tired. Every night I had to reroll her curlers. Spray gel too. They looked great though and didn't get frizzy or loose the whole time.
But would still give me a little smile.
Friday morning I went to Olivia's class with her for Snowkid building. The class sang a few songs and she showed me around the classroom again. Here's her cute snowkid.
I helped with the angels in the greenroom Friday and Saturday nights. All twelve of them did so good. They are all so cute. One of them was asking all the others if they were nervous just before they went on. She told them that there were 1400 seats out there and that they should be nervous. We had to make that stop a little. They were all just great.Saturday afternoon I watched the Nutcracker with my mom and Olivia. Here is Olivia by the tree in the entry.
Me with Olivia and my mom. It was snowing/raining hard the whole show. We came out to a little winter wonderland. The button on my shirt is Elizabeth in her angel costume. All the moms wear them so you know who has a ballerina on stage. It's fun.
In between shows on Saturday, they let parents take a picture or two on stage of their dancer in their costume. It was crowded and we were hungry and only had a little bit of time to run home, eat, and get back for the evening show, so we just took what we could get. The camera is at an angle, not my angel. The angels have the most pieces of their costume of any of the dancers in Nutcracker. There is the dress underneath that has the lace at the bottom, the robe, wings, a dickie (missing in this picture), headdress, and they carry a candle at the beginning and then trade for trees.
Elizabeth had a fun time doing Nutcracker. She did awesome. 
Even the costuming people and many others said that the angels this year were the best ever. I'm so glad. They also said that most years they secretly call the angels little devils, so I'm glad they weren't saying that this year. Andy and Elizabeth are at Nutcracker now because they have a matinee on Sunday. This is the final real performance and Monday morning they will do it two more times for the area fifth graders.
I'm relieved that this is nearly done because I'm a little tired of all the babysitting arrangements I've had to be on top of and I need to start working on some Christmas stuff and the rest of my list, oh, and prepare everything for Abigail. I'm pretty sure we'll be busy the next six weeks until she gets here.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Nutcracker Curls=Success.
Elizabeth's curls turned out much better with the sponge curlers, see?
So much nicer and they lay just right. Spray gel is my new best friend. So much that I need to buy more. Oh, do you see her eye on the left? Yes, that is a black eye, not a makeup mistake. Everyone thought it was pretty ironic to see an angel with a black eye. Olivia hit her with a little plastic flashlight on Sunday night when they weren't going to sleep. I'm thinking yesterday was the worst day of the bruising. It should be better before Nutcracker's over, I think. If not, no one can see from the audience anyway. Sorry about the shadowing. My camera is not the greatest in florescent lighting and I forget to take pictures at home of the curls.
The curls on the bottom were the bigger size in the assorted package, but I bought a second set so I could use just the two smallest sizes, so tonight her hair will have smaller curls at the bottom. I'm glad her hair holds curls well too. That does make things easier.
I was able to help last night in the greenroom where the kids all stay until it's their turn for costuming and going on stage to do their rehearsal. It was fun to get to know some of the other 11 angels and a few of the moms. I thought I'd need to help with the Act I kids, but got to just hang out with the angels (who are in Act II) the whole time. It was fun. We took them to get something to eat, then to get ready for makeup because once they have makeup on they can't eat or drink anything, and then to costuming. There was plenty of waiting around time in between so the girls were making necklaces, finishing homework, and playing. I'm so glad I get to help, especially when it's easy. I'm happy to not be doing makeup or costumes. Those are harder jobs, and I have the excuse that I'm expecting and can't work as hard, right?
So much nicer and they lay just right. Spray gel is my new best friend. So much that I need to buy more. Oh, do you see her eye on the left? Yes, that is a black eye, not a makeup mistake. Everyone thought it was pretty ironic to see an angel with a black eye. Olivia hit her with a little plastic flashlight on Sunday night when they weren't going to sleep. I'm thinking yesterday was the worst day of the bruising. It should be better before Nutcracker's over, I think. If not, no one can see from the audience anyway. Sorry about the shadowing. My camera is not the greatest in florescent lighting and I forget to take pictures at home of the curls.
The curls on the bottom were the bigger size in the assorted package, but I bought a second set so I could use just the two smallest sizes, so tonight her hair will have smaller curls at the bottom. I'm glad her hair holds curls well too. That does make things easier.I was able to help last night in the greenroom where the kids all stay until it's their turn for costuming and going on stage to do their rehearsal. It was fun to get to know some of the other 11 angels and a few of the moms. I thought I'd need to help with the Act I kids, but got to just hang out with the angels (who are in Act II) the whole time. It was fun. We took them to get something to eat, then to get ready for makeup because once they have makeup on they can't eat or drink anything, and then to costuming. There was plenty of waiting around time in between so the girls were making necklaces, finishing homework, and playing. I'm so glad I get to help, especially when it's easy. I'm happy to not be doing makeup or costumes. Those are harder jobs, and I have the excuse that I'm expecting and can't work as hard, right?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Nutcracker Curls=Fail
Elizabeth's curls on Sunday morning (with the flower Torrie made).
Here is my first attempt at Elizabeth's curls she needs to have perfected by Friday night.
This is the picture of them all in.
They want all the angels to have pincurls, which are curls kind of like ringlets but really close to their head and not pulled out. I didn't know what that was when I did Elizabeth's hair on Saturday night, so I completely failed at that curling and that was how her hair was for picture day, but oh well. Cute enough.
This is the picture just after taking them out and before separating them at all.
Olivia wanted a picture taken on Sunday before church too. She didn't get to wear the tulle on her dress to church though. Torrie made the cute purple flower for our Christmas Event.
Monday night the kids were messing around in their room because the novelty of all three of them in there going to sleep is not wearing off on Vincent. I guess that's what happens when he's been in his crib in a room by himself for almost three years. It's much easier if he goes to be a few minutes earlier than the girls. Anyway, they were goofing off and guess what happened? Elizabeth got a black eye. Perfect timing, I think. Hopefully the makeup will cover that up.
The next time I did them with a pencil, spray gel, and then bobby pins to hold them in the pencil shape (and failed to take a picture). She went to school on Monday and Tuesday with those and a bandanna over them before I took them out after her practice on Tuesday night. I then put in some sponge curlers with the spray gel. I had no idea curls would be quite this hard. It takes me an hour to curl her hair. I wish she was a mouse, so she could just have a bun. That would be so much easier (for her and me!)
It will all be great though when I get to watch Nutcracker and see her on stage doing her best being the tallest angel with her wonderful curls, right? I'm excited about that. Tomorrow night I get to help the girls in the green room to get ready for their first full dress rehearsal (ie:makeup, hair, costume, everything!)
Should be fun, or at least busy, which all of you know to me is the same thing.
Busy=fun, right? Hmmm.
Here is my first attempt at Elizabeth's curls she needs to have perfected by Friday night.This is the picture of them all in.
They want all the angels to have pincurls, which are curls kind of like ringlets but really close to their head and not pulled out. I didn't know what that was when I did Elizabeth's hair on Saturday night, so I completely failed at that curling and that was how her hair was for picture day, but oh well. Cute enough.This is the picture just after taking them out and before separating them at all.
Olivia wanted a picture taken on Sunday before church too. She didn't get to wear the tulle on her dress to church though. Torrie made the cute purple flower for our Christmas Event.
Monday night the kids were messing around in their room because the novelty of all three of them in there going to sleep is not wearing off on Vincent. I guess that's what happens when he's been in his crib in a room by himself for almost three years. It's much easier if he goes to be a few minutes earlier than the girls. Anyway, they were goofing off and guess what happened? Elizabeth got a black eye. Perfect timing, I think. Hopefully the makeup will cover that up.The next time I did them with a pencil, spray gel, and then bobby pins to hold them in the pencil shape (and failed to take a picture). She went to school on Monday and Tuesday with those and a bandanna over them before I took them out after her practice on Tuesday night. I then put in some sponge curlers with the spray gel. I had no idea curls would be quite this hard. It takes me an hour to curl her hair. I wish she was a mouse, so she could just have a bun. That would be so much easier (for her and me!)
It will all be great though when I get to watch Nutcracker and see her on stage doing her best being the tallest angel with her wonderful curls, right? I'm excited about that. Tomorrow night I get to help the girls in the green room to get ready for their first full dress rehearsal (ie:makeup, hair, costume, everything!)
Should be fun, or at least busy, which all of you know to me is the same thing.
Busy=fun, right? Hmmm.
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