carolers?

Twas the night before christmas and all through the hood
Not a creature was stirring except for this brood


Late night carolers- We love these guys!

Polar Express

Tonight we all took a ride on the Polar Express. We loved it (the best part...the fact that we didn't have to pay for it-thanks dad!)

It will be a sweet memory for the kids as well as the adults. We ate cookies and sipped hot cocoa.

We sang songs and each kiddie got a bell from Santa.

But I have to say, my favorite part was when the Host of our box car began telling jokes while stalling for Santa. However, it wasn't his jokes I liked but the audience participation part because the next thing I know Kirsten is walking up to him, grabbing the microphone and rattling off this one:

What do you call a pig who knows karate? A pork chop!

And then she walked back to her seat with a huge smile on her face. She killed it- everyone loved her joke and we loved that she did it without being coerced or bribed! That was AWESOME!

1 2 3 4

Ok, so maybe I fell asleep while nursing Sophia and Lilly was watching Sesame Street, and just maybe I was awakened by this FABULOUS piece.
I LOVE SESAME STREET! It makes me giggle every time like I am 4 again.

traditions

When I was single I dreamt of the holiday traditions I would instill in the hearts and lives of my beloved children.

Little did I know that I would marry a man with 2 children who already had a few traditions of their own . . . and not necessarily ones I had ever thought of having

But as luck (their way) would have it, we have held on to their traditions while trying to work in a few of my own

The blending has gone well..very well but I will say, there is one tradition that up until I married Jim, I had never even considered let alone ever known a single living soul within my social circle or familial realm who participated in:



Yup, pictures with Santa at the mall. Don't get me wrong, as a kid I always envied the other kids who's kind and loving parents would let them get pictures with Santa or the Easter Bunny. I was convinced that they loved their kids more than my parents loved me. (uh the verdicts still out on that one) My dad would say "I'm no sucker. If you think I am going to stand in that long line and pay those ridiculous prices, You've got another think comin. Besides, those things are for suckers and they aren't even real!" (It's actually the same line he used for everything- like at the county fair when we begged to play a game so we could win a stuffed animal. )

At first I was ashamed to tell anyone of it- but this year I realized something: I love this tradition.

We get somewhat dressed up and stand in a ridiculously long line with all of the other suckers and kids in tow only to have a 45 second sitting with a Santa who's demeanor makes Keith Oberman look like a saint (he's not very Jolly for a fat guy!) and then we're shuffled off to buffalo as they hand the kiddies a mini candy cane and a crappy 8 page cartoon paper booked titled: Arlee's Christmas Wish. (what the?!) and then they let the suckers (parents) chose the best of 3 photos for a 5x7 print and a 4 wallets all for the meager price of $20.00. (pretty sure a kick in the crotch would cost less and there would be no long lines huh?!)

This tradition has been around since Anna was a baby and we now have 12 frames with photos of the girls and Santa. It's really cool to look back and see pics of them and how they have grown. I look forward to more years of santa pics and watching my little family grow.


Tonight I was reminded again of just how great God is and how my prayers were heard and answered. I am finally a mom, I love my life and I love wacky Christmas pictures.

My Dad

My dad's the smartest guy
and my dad's the bravest guy,
my dad's the neatest guy it's positively so...

Maybe I'll introduce ya-
cuz then you'll know that it's the truth

Cuz my dad, my dad's the greatest guy you'll know!

Thanks for your help today dad! I love you four and a half and a piggy!

Kirsten-isms

There is a woman from Africa in our ward who sports a lovely English accent, so naturally she says "Ah-men" instead of the American version of "AA-men" tonight at dinner Kirsten said: "you know what creeps me out? How that lady says Ah-men. it just creeps me out!"



A few weeks ago while doing her hair for school she said to me: "ummm at the second coming when we get to see mom Michelle again. . . you're going to have to sleep in the guest bedroom."



She reminds us every day that she is "popular". When you ask her why she does anything she responds with "cuz I'm popular!"



And last of all, Jim asked the girls how church was. Kirsten looked at Jim and simply said: "I found it to be quite boring."


Man I love that kid!

All by myself!!!

She insisted on getting herself dressed this morning

And even after picking out a suitable outfit for the day

She said "Go Mom!" so she could dress herself

Needless to say- - - this was NOT the outfit we had agreed on earlier

Something tells me this isn't going to be a one time thing!
(click on the picture to get the full effect)

What are you thankful for?

no candy at church

As Kirsten was getting her scripture bag ready for church today, Jim told her that she was not allowed to bring any candy to church.

After the Sacrament had been passed and the speakers announced, Kirsten got into her bag and pulled out. . . a Slim Jim. She had packed three.

True Story

Best $3 I ever spent!

(This post is well over due but I would be remiss if I didn't make mention of the Halloween Head of '09)

Back in October while hunting for Halloween costumes at the DI with the kiddies and my sister Kristy, we happened upon what could quite possibly be the greatest find of our lives. We all stared in shock and then giggled. We knew we had to have it. My sister and I each purchased one and good times were had. There were many a scares throughout the month of October and after finding it tucked under the covers on his side of the bed one night Jim said "What are we going to do with a head?" my response:" Umm don't you mean what aren't we going to do with a head?!"

I think we put the HALL in Halloween!

cool trick

Hey Mom-


Look at me


See what I can do now


Climb into my sisters crib and torture her!

Hero

This was in my email "In box" This morning:

From: Mike Weaver
Date: November 10, 2009 10:14:02 PM MST
To: Tami Weaver
Subject: My Hero

Grace Weaver

My hero is a lady who I would go to for anything besides you, Mom. Her name is Tammy Hall. She has three qualities that I like most about her. The three qualities of a hero. They are neighborly, funny, and a role model. Neighborly. Tammy Hall is so neighborly. She goes walking with my mom some mornings. We play with her kids so many times. She busted part of the fence out that was dividing our back yards. Sometimes when my Mom needs some ingredients when she's cooking, if she doesn't have them we'll ask the Halls. She is my favorite neighbor.

Funny. Tammy Hall is so fun to be around and talk to because she is funny. We have had some good laughs. She creates memories because she is funny. She is someone that anybody would want to meet. That is why I think she is funny.

Role model. She taught seminary. She is kind and loving. Anna and Kirsten's mother died, and Tammy Hall married their dad. She is the perfect one for them. She is my role model.

Neighborly, funny, and a role model are my favorite qualities of Tammy hall. I love these qualities of her. These are what I think are qualities of a hero.


AND after forwarding it to Jim...THIS was also in my email "In box" this morning:

Well, I see two problems with this. One, I am never going to hear the end of this. It would not surprise me if I find this essay, blown up, framed and hanging on the wall in the living room of my house. Second. I BUSTED PART OF THE FENCE OUT, that was me and if I remember correctly I may have even scraped myself doing it. Seriously though, this is hilarious.

Jim

Oh how I love that Gracie Weaver! She is clearly a BRILLIANT child reared by INCREDIBLE parents!

And so what if it ends up in a frame hanging in our living room or bedroom or made into book marks and handed out as gifts to friends and neighbors or maybe just maybe it gets turned into our family Christmas card. Look, Gracie never cited me for being humble...I mean it's not like it makes me any less of a hero right? :) I love you little Gracie- you made my day/week/year!

alms for the poor

This is the best thing I have seen all day!

and for the reocrd: I would totally give him money!

Left-overs

Kirsten cleaned up dinner tonight and helped me out by packing Jim's lunch for tomorrow. . . (What you are looking at is beans, rice, chicken and raspberry jell-o)

LOVE IT!!!!

Winco~ Win-NO!

Well not exactly. They did manage to lure me into their store...twice in one day. Nixon must be back in office cuz I haven't seen prices like these since the early 70's!

1.28 for a loaf of bread

.98 for a box of fruit snacks

.68 for a 10 lb bag of Idaho potatoes

Chicken for .98 a LB

I got the kids off to school and breaknecked it to the Winco. It was a nice adventure and I had a pleasant experience. SO pleasant in fact that I found myself there again tonight at 11:00 p.m. (to avoid the crowds) and I'll be darned if every family/parent didn't have the same idea. It was busier than Costco on Christmas eve!

Now, thankfully there's no waiting for a parking stall-OH there are plenty of those, to many to be exact (A shuttle bus would have been nice since I was winded walking to and from my car)

But forget about getting a cart. Don't make the mistake of getting ALL the way from your car to the store only to find that there aren't any carts. You have to wait in the parking lot for someone to be done with theirs and then make a mad dash for the cart before someone else does. I actually helped unload the old man's cart just to speed up the process. But what's he doing with all those Capri Suns?

The store is HUGE and they have quite a selection. They actually had a bulk food section. They are bringing BULKY back. :) Which is exactly what it did to my not so small and petite frame (cir. 1985) every time my friends and I decided to try out all of the candies before deciding what to buy (that's not really stealing is it?)

SO, after gathering all of my goods and feeling awesome about the killer deals... I stood in line for about 20 minutes and what to my wandering eye's did appear? Nothing...I mean no one... I mean where's the hired help?

I then realized why I was getting such good deals and how they do it. . .

I have to bag my own groceries?

and where's the drive and load service?

WHAT THE?!!!

and I then it hit me...

I am a total grocery shopping snob!

I love my Harmon's

and apparently I am willing to pay the price.

You may have had me at WINCO but my heart (and pampered lifetsyle) belongs to Harmon's
well at least until they have another killer sale. Then I'll take Jim and the kids-MY hired help!

Beauty Is...

that's this year's theme for reflections. Kirsten decided to enter the contest at the last minute so we chose photography (note to mom's: it's the easiest one to do and the least entered category!)

Here are some of the shots she took-see if you can guess which one of them she chose to blow up and hand in~











Kirsten's last minute urgency couldn't have come at a more perfect time for me. It was on the day of Michell's 4 year anniversary of her death when we took these pictures. We seemed to be so involved in everything, that the day simply came and went without notice. Until the next day.

Anna took it pretty hard and so did I- but for completely different reasons I am sure. For a brief moment I let myself go to that place, "the what about me" place. The "When do I get flowers?" place. And then the Lord in his infinite wisdom and love for me taught me a lesson I really needed. "It's flowers you want? Really? Is that it then? Tam, you get them every day as you raise these beautiful little girls. I have given you lots of flowers."

He's right...He's always right

Gosh, are we both longing for the other's bouquet?

I am positive that Michelle would trade in the many flowers that we have left for her over the years for just one more chance to hold her little girls. My flowers are delivered daily in the form of sweet moments, emotions, laughter, tears, little notes, thank you's, piano practicing, after school routine, dinner time, walks, scaring each other, snow cones, bubble gum and stories from their day at school. Even though she's gone, I think she is allowed to breathe in the aroma of my flowers and enjoy them as much as I do- probably more.

Beauty is. . . recognizing that He gives flowers to everyone. (thanks Cheri Call)

I am grateful for this "last minute entry" because now we have some wonderfully fun random pictures of our girls which serve as a perfect reminder that life is beautiful!

It really is!

regretfully yours...

Dear Molcasalsa:

I am so sorry for the mess my two children and I left you with this afternoon.
I'm sure you remember: we will go down in Molcasalsa history, laying claim to the great Rootbeer Fiasco of '09.
We all drove home partially clothed and really sticky today. Gosh who knew a 6 month old could nearly drown in as little as one of your SMALL styro-foam cups full of liquid. But in fairness to us, the lid was barely on and could you maybe add family friendly tables and chairs (other than the ones outside in the frigid air) instead of the bar and stools-they hardly promote a family friendly dining atmosphere. Then again after today's incident maybe the bar and stools are there for a reason.

Regretfully yours:

Rootbeer covered mom and 2 kids

Our Lady of Lourdes

Every year we pile the kids into the burb and head to Magna for the the annual fundraiser of the "Our Lady of the Lourdes Church" It is an all you can eat spaghetti dinner and Colossimo's donates the sausage for the meatballs
-one word=delicious!



It's a cool event and a way to expose the kids to diversity here in Utah


(not so much religious though-
more like cultural: it's in Magna haha)












We look forward to it every year.
It really is a great time and a very ecumenical experience.

Come with us next year- it is usually held on the absolute coldest rainiest Sunday in October. I don't know how they do it but man the timing is amazing...dare I say divine?!
oh and did I mention the free wine? Man I love those Catholics!

homemaking 101

She did it . . .

all by herself!

Anna's first apron and attempt at sewing

She did an awesome job!

Pet Peeve

Definition: A pet peeve is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to them, to a greater degree than others may find it. Examples may be poor table manners, sloppy kitchen hygiene, smoking, grammatical errors in written passages, inconsiderate driving or lazy co-workers, and loud gum smacking.

I officially have a Pet Peeve.

I've never really had one before.

When people used to ask me I would say: "People who water their lawn when it's rainin" (just to be silly)

Today I can say with absolute confidence that not only do I have a pet peeve, but this will always and forever remain my one and only pet peeve:

People who clip their finger nails during sacrament meeting.

I mean seriously-where are the fingernails going?
And it's usually some old man in the back who has the clippers attached to his key chain.
And he's probably bored (like the rest of us) and figures it's as good a time as any-
And the sound echo's nicely throughout the chapel with those fabulous acoustics
And heaven forbid he take care of it during the week in the privacy of his own home

But really, if a pet peeve is a minor annoyance that an individual identifies as particularly annoying to them, to a greater degree than others may find it, - so it's just me then huh?

Zing Zang Zoom!

The circus is on town! So in celebration we (Brown and I) took the kids down to the Gateway for the annual Circus Parade/elephant walk. It was the coolest! Here are a few shots of the event:

Free Rubber Noses for all who attended

The beginning:
Oh how I envied those flashy bedazzled unitards.

I did some research:
you can actually home school your kids should
the family become a part of the troup. Carnie for a year... hmmmm

The elephant walk

The unsung hero's of the event
(yup you see right, wheel barrows and shovels following the elephants)

The end

And that's exactly how long the parade was. In fact it took me longer to down load these photos and BLOG about it than it did to sit/stand through the parade. But totally worth it and a fun tradition. My favorite part: lunch after wards! Thanks Brown for the good times and for exposing me to the "Greatest Show on EARTH!"

wow what a difference 3 days makes!

Oddly resembles a Celeb Mug Shot huh?!
We just posted bail and got her out of the klink!

I went to the ward party. . .

and all I got was this crappy black eye!

what a shiner huh?!

It's so quiet

hmmmmm

We thought they were simply watching a movie

No wonder things were so quiet!

yup- that's marker

Ah the little darlings!
Nothin BUT Evil! :)

Bring your sister to school day

(Guest Blog by Anna)

so lilly came to my school today. I think she had so much fun.

we learned new songs: 5 little monkeys, 5 little ducks, and last of all we sang 5 little frogs (lilly was really good at singing the songs) we also learned Old McDonald had a farm-we had a paper bag hand puppet for old mcdonald had a farm(it had a animal on it) and for the monkeys, frogs, and ducks it was a picture of them on a stick.

Then we played with playdough, and lilly had so much fun -she made blue stars.

On to the sancks (lilly was very happy for that) they had water, goldfish, and some apples.

we then played duck-duck-goose, Lilly had so much fun and so did the other kids that were there they would run around and tag people. Lilly was the funniest, what she would do was go duck -duck so many times and then she would tap somone on the head, say nothing and start to run thinking they would just come after her.(hahahaha) I had so much fun and I think Lilly did too. -anna