The Last Straw

Day #8-The Last Straw

I love this family tradition! I have been doing it as long as I can remember, it is such a fun tradition. It is a story about a little family who's mom thinks their home does not have the Christmas spirit. So they do a little activity to hopefully get the Christmas spirit in their home. They each draw names and the name that they draw they are to do something nice for that person all week long. Every time they do something nice they put a piece of straw in the baby manger that will be full and soft for baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. Each week they draw new names. It focuses mostly on a little boy that continues to get the same name and he really struggles with it. It is a great story.

This year I am kind of excited because Cooper is old enough to really get it and participate, it won't be me doing everyone's secret elf. In fact I came into my room this morning with my bed all made (at least made to the capability of a 8 year old) it made me so happy. Love that kid.

Neighborhood Christmas gathering

Day #7-Annual Neighborhood Christmas Gathering

Well I am sure this was great too, but then again I didn't make it. My kids were driving me crazy and I wasn't about to take my kids by myself to our sweet neighbors hosting the party and have them scream and run away. Visiting and eating yummy cookies sounded fun, but chasing my kids did not. So we chose to stay in and enjoy our warm house and the company of each other...:)

Temple Square

Day #5- Temple Square lights

Isn't this picture beautiful? And I am sure the lights were too, but I would not know because we did not make it to Temple Square. There was no way I was taking my kids out in 15 degree weather...TOO COLD! So one year without Temple Square lights, kind of sad.

Richards Christmas Outing

Day #5- Richards Christmas Outing

Well I am a dork and didn't take any pictures of this night, I fully intended too I just never got my camera out of my bag to take the pics. Anyway, we did have a GREAT time.

We went to dinner to Epic, a very yummy restaurant and then we went and saw The Blindside. Loved it! What a great, feel good show. I loved Sandra Bullock in it, she did an amazing job.

Thanks for the fun night Richards!

Letters to Santa

Day 4- Letters to Santa

Dear Santa,

This Christmas I want,

A Lego Star Wars Walker ATE ??

Or a Lego Harlequin (isn' t a harlequin a lady that isn't very nice? I don't think that is what it is, Santa better get it straight).

Or a Lego Indiana Jones something escape.

And a Monsters vs. Aliens movie,

Night at the Museum movie

and a $20 gift card to Walmart.

From Cooper

Dear Santa (written by Cooper) this year I want a Wal-e movie and a Wal-e Leapster game. And some plastic golf clubs and the gift to talk and the gift to be potty trained.

And a cars race track.

From Bode

Dear Santa (again, written by Coop)

this year I want a dog.

And a doll and some clothes.

And a Barbie movie and a Barbie toy.

Coop makes some great Santa lists. My favorite is the gift of talking and potty training..love the little guy!

Live Nativity

Day #3- Live Nativity

We love the live nativity, or at least I love it. My sisters stake does this every other year and it is AMAZING! So much work goes into this and the finished product is great. This year was a little tricky, I didn't have Collin with me so I had to rely on my sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and friends to help me make it. We made it, barely.

This is before we got in line. The line is HUGE. We were lucky and got there early, Shawn and Stacy got there earlier and got us a good spot in line. I couldn't really imagine waiting 1 1/2 hours in line with my kids. We only had it about 45 minutes.

Stacy was smart and got a close parking spot and left all the kids in her car so they could stay warm. I didn't see it, but I heard that Bode wrestled them all to the ground. He was loving it.

I had Peiton with me and she was great at first and then she just started saying "go, go" she was freezing...it was freezing.

When the line got closer and the kids had enough of Bode wrestling him, we got them out of the car and brought them to the line. That is when it kind of started falling apart.

Peiton started crying (notice her beautiful makeup on her face) and Bode didn't want to stay in line, so low and behold I gave him my camera, again (yes he broke it last time, but then I gave it to Peiton and she dropped it and it fixed itself. Amazing.) So the camera kept Bode busy for a while and I just focused on Pei.

Here are a few of the good shots Bode got, he didn't get many. Most of them where of shoes, the ground, rears, and who knows what.

We got closer to the nativity and Bode started loosing it and Pei continued to loose it. Thank goodness I now had help from my good friends Rach and TJ...thank you, thank you. TJ took Bode for a while and again I worked on Pei. It was our turn to go in and Bode wanted nothing to do with it, neither did Peiton. We got in and Bode screamed bloody murder, he was scared to death. So to save everybody from a awful experience with a dreadful scream from two little children, I exited as fast as I good leaving Coop with Rach and TJ.

We made it to the car and waited for them to come out. So we waited in a 45 minute line for nothing...wrong. TJ and Rach came back and watched the kids while I was able to run through with my sister Hollie. I said I was okay and didn't need to, but I am sure glad I did. I have been through this nativity a couple times and every time I tear up. I just leave filling the Christmas spirit and reassuring me why we celebrate Christmas. It is overwhelming to see this little newborn laying in a manger and in your mind you are picturing that it is Jesus on the day that he was born. I am grateful for this stake on putting this together, so me and many others can feel the Christmas spirit. I am also grateful for those that help me so that I can do things like this without my hubby. Thanks!

the Elf on the Shelf

Day #2-the Elf on the Shelf

This is our 3rd year of doing the Elf on the Shelf, and Cooper still loves it and still believes, which I am very happy for. It has a cute little story with it that explains everything that happens with this little elf that is going to spend the holidays at your house looking over you and seeing if you are good or bad. At night time, the elf or "Flippy" (that is the name of ours) goes back to the North Pole and reports to Santa on how good you have been. He then comes back before morning and he is in a new spot. Each morning the kids have to go find him, they love it.

It has been a great tradition in our home, the only problem is...mommy or daddy forgets to hide Flippy (sorry to those adults that still believe) and then we have to come up with some excuse on why Flippy is still in the same spot...:(

The festivites begin!

Day#1-Make Christmas chain

December is here and the chain has been made. Let the Christmas festivities begin!

It doesn't seem like Christmas to me, so hopefully this will bring a little of the Christmas spirit. I never wish for snow unless it is Christmas time, so bring on the snow! I think the snow will help make it feel a little more like Christmas too.

Hopefully I will post all the things we do everyday, if not everyday every other day...we will see, I have been kind of a slacker with making posts lately.

"No," "Wait," & "Beauty and the Beast"

I am trying, yes trying, to get Bode to understand the words "no" and "wait." I actually think he understands them quite well, he is just so stubborn that he is NOT going to take "no" as a answer and he is not going to "wait" his turn or "wait" for me to be ready to help him. It is as bad as, ie...I am in the middle of doing something that can't be interrupted (going potty for instance) he will come grab me by the hand, pull until I do something. Or if he wants to watch a movie he will come with the movie and shove it right in my face! I will try to ignore him but he is good...oh, he is good. He doesn't stop! I sign to him "wait" and he could care less...it really is driving me insane! And the best part about it, is Peiton is starting to do the same thing...although I can ignore her and she will give up after 5 or 10 minutes.

Well last week, it could have been 2 weeks ago, I don't know....my weeks all run into one these days. I was doing my monthly workout (yes monthly, that is all we do these days) and low and behold, Bode comes down with the DVD "Beauty and the Beast," I was in the middle of my workout and I was NOT going to turn it on. Well after about 10 minutes of pestering me, with DVD in face, pulling my hand, he finally gave up. I was like YES, he is learning...well I cut my workout short (yes, that is what we do these days, too tired to finish the whole workout) and I went upstairs and the door to the garage was open and the garage was open....yes, Bode ran away again. No, this isn't the 1st time, 2nd, 3rd or 7th time...I don't really know how many times it has been (I really am not that bad of a mother...he is FAST and sneaky, and before this time he didn't know how to unlock the little locks on the door...now he does.)

Well my heart sunk of course, not sure where to look. Peiton and I got into the car I drove to the last place he ran away to, no Bode. Drove around the block again to make sure I didn't miss him, no Bode. I decided to drive to the other park on the busy road by our house, no Bode. But, as I was driving there I saw a white Suburban pulled over to the side of the road on the other busy road by our house. I thought I would drive by just to see...low and behold there was little Bode on the sidewalk with a very nice lady that had pulled over to see why this little boy was walking down this busy road, bare feet, in jammies and holding Beauty and the Beast. Bless her heart.

Well I ran over to him furious, but very thankful that there are people out there that care enough to stop and help a little lost boy that is just trying to find someone to turn on Beauty and the Beast for him. Oh...Bode. I felt pretty stupid as a mother trying to find her child, you think we would learn our lesson after him running away so many time. Our house should be locked up so that nobody can get in or out, but then where would the excitement be in our life...right? Not really, I don't like this excitement at all.

So I think Bode really knows the meaning of "no" and "wait" he just doesn't want to listen and he doesn't want to wait...

Bode turned 5!

Our little Bode is 5!

We celebrated Bode's birthday the other day...I am so late, I was without a computer for 5 days and I went CRAZY...but now I have it back and I can make a birthday post for Bode.

5 reasons why Bode is super cool:

1. He give the best loves...even when you are super frustrated with him. And to top the love off, he will give you a pat on the back while he is doing it. It is hilarious.

2. He knows what he wants he he knows how to get it. Although this drives me crazy, it is something I wish I had. He won't stop until he gets what he wants, or maybe I give in to easy.

3. He has this awesome language that consists of "ma," "na," "mor," "ugh," and "my mom rocks!" I don't know where he learned that one, I think his daddy has been teaching him. :)

4. He brightens any ones day! Just to see this little guy will put a smile on your face. He does mine.

5. He can wrestle you down! He is the strongest 5 year old I know. One tough cookie. Once he has you down, he knows how to put you in a head lock and your a goner from there. He knows his stuff...Special Olympics Wrestling, here comes BODE!

Love you Bode!

Bode had a great birthday, well I tried to make it great, but I think all he wanted to do is sit home and watch movies. But, mommy had other plans.

On Saturday we had a celebration with Grandpa Johnson celebrating Grandpa and Bode's birthday....mommy didn't bring the camera.

On Sunday we celebrated with the Van Wagoner crew. Bode had his own dinosaur cake and I think he he got the loudest cheer when we blew out the candles. This is something we have been working on...blowing, very hard for Bode and he is doing so well with blowing.

On his birthday I thought it would be fun for him and I to just go to the movie together, like I have said before he loves movies. I took him to Mc Donalds for lunch and then off to the theater. Well we got to the theater (thank goodness it was only the $1 theater) and we go sit down to see "Up" and he is freaked out...the previews and the theater scared him. What? He has been to plenty movies and loved them. This was new. Well we did a little walking around and tried to go back in, didn't work, so we left. Thank goodness it was only $2.50 out of my pocket. I took him back to Hollie's with Peiton because that is where he really wanted to go anyway, and I did some grocery shopping.

That night Grandma Holly came over and took us to dinner...we went to Bode's favorite place, The Training Table, he loves the phones. To keep Bode entertained I gave him my camera and he went crazy at taking pictures...a few are shown above. Well he decided he was done so he threw the camera...broke! (Thankfully I was able to get the pictures off, but no more taking pictures.)

When Daddy got home from work, we opened his present from us. We have him a Leapster and I have never seen him so excited over a present before, it was awesome and well worth the money to see is excitement. And it keeps him pretty busy, which is a bonus. :)

It was a great day for Bode. I can't believe he is 5...time flies.

Love you little guy!

Halloween Fun!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. I love it! I just love all the fun parties, the food, the dressing up (although this year I was kind of a slacker:( ) it is just a lot of fun. The kids love it too, which makes it even better. It seems like our whole month has been full of fun activities and towards the later part of the month the real Halloween fun kicked in!

We started off with the Witch Party. I love the witch party. It is soo much fun to throw! You get all of my great sisters and friends from all over dressing up as crazy witches...not all crazy, some scary, some sassy, some funny...and I am not quite sure what I would call the witch Lou Lou dressed up as, she was HOT!

We started the night off with yummy appetizers, salads, soup and fun Halloween desserts! Everyone was so creative. We mingled and took pictures and just had a great old time.

The first activity would be the road rally. I love the road rally and I love putting the clues together for it. This year I did it a little longer than before and for the most part it worked out great...besides for that team that thought it would be fun to visit every cemetery in town. :)

Here are the clues we used...it probably doesn't make sense to those that don't live in the area.


Off we all go “witch” direction will you choose.
Make sure you hurry fast, you don’t want to be the team that will loose.
Read the clues closely they will tell you where to go,
Make sure you write down the answers to all the clues that you know.
Crazy witches are we, but the rules we obey,
Absolutely NO speeding on this fun “getaway.”
Your team MUST stay together, ALL must appear,
The more the witches there are, more the people will fear.
Now remember to have fun because that is what witches do,
Hopefully I will see you within an hour or two!

Get your brooms set, you must go,
To where the prices are always low.
What I want is one helium filled balloon.
that is green like a goon!

Make your way, to where you find corn and wheat\
And a lot of everything that tastes so sweet.
They grow it fresh and make it good,
And strive to be the best they could.
The LDS faith they may fear,
A few little witches if they came to near!


Hold on to your hats because from base to base you will run,
picking up all the trinkets will be so ,so much fun,
As you run, I don’t want you to forget,
There will be four trinkets you must get!
But wait, at the snack bar you must stop,
And grab that can that is filled with pop!


Now you must go where there is hardly any noise at all,
Listen very closely you may hear a ghost call,
By the very last tree is where he might hide,
What is the name of the headstone where he might have died?

Walking on foot the kids go here to learn and play
If they were to see all you witches they wouldn’t want to stay!
Now go look above the hill and by the slide,
You will see something that isn’t very easy to hide.
(What do you see??)

Most witches like us the water we fear,
But this challenge won’t stop us from coming this near.
Emmeline will bring you close,
Until Ashland ridge you must goes.
There will be jon there if your feeling whacked,
It will be the third one over to be exact.
Look for the serial number you find on the side,
Write it down now and then hop in your ride!

Most witches love a scary show,
Please don’t tell me that it isn’t so…
_”Where the Wild things are” is where I want to go,
Tell me the times at the District so I know.
While you are there won’t you check it out,
Tell me the price of a large popcorn so I won’t be in doubt!


Bob and Randy are their names
And how they like to play these fun little games.
Now go go go, they are waiting to greet,
And all you say is “Trick or Treat!”
They will give you a treat, oh yes they will,
Make sure you bring it back that is part of the deal!


Now you are done so hurry yourselves back,
Hopefully there are no clues that your team will lack.
“Witch” place will you come in? 1st, 2nd, or 3rd,
I just hope you didn’t think this little road rally was too absurd.
Come back for some more fun at Wacky Witch Nat’s
But just make sure you don’t cross paths with any black cats!

Of course, Stacy's team won it! I heard Alicia was a main factor in that winning.

After the road rally we came back to bring on the karaoke. Each team was given a song, props and 10 minutes to come up with something to entertain us with... everyone did a fantastic job, but not as great as a job as me...I am a great singer you know. ;)


After the karaoke we played a fun, physical game that got everyone moving. It was a blast once we figured it out...who won? Stacy and Rachelle...who would have guessed?

Thanks witches for coming and being such great sports!

We had our Van Wagoner Halloween Party, we missed last year, so it was great to do it this year. Stacy threw a great party, with yummy food and lots of yucky eating games. Have you ever eaten Gerber Chicken dinner? Don't it is nasty and don't feed it to your child either...nasty!
Everyone came in costumes because costumes were a MUST! Corey showed up as Hannah Montana and he looked pretty much like my sister Jacki, it was great! Everyone had great costumes...besides little Bode who would not put his on. O'well.

Thanks for the great PAR-TY Stacy!

We got our pumpkins carved which Bode LOVED...Peiton not so much.





On Halloween eve, we had the Richards Halloween party with yummy soup and bread sticks. We missed you Cam & Nicky and Matt & Court. The food was delicious and Grandma put on a little spook alley for the kids. I wasn't quite sure if Cooper would even go in it, but he got brave enough and did. He loved it! They loved the whole night.
Thanks for the great party grandma and grandpa!

On Halloween we went our fabulous neighbors, The Olson's and enjoyed yummy Navajo tacos. They were delish! It was great to see all the neighbor kids in costume and even some of the adults.

Thanks Olson's for the great dinner! Loved it!

After dinner it was trick or treating time. Cooper was pretty pumped to go and so was Peiton and Bode. Bode didn't dress up, but that didn't stop him from going. He thought it was great to go door to door and people would give him candy. Although he doesn't eat the candy he thought it was pretty great. I was able to take them this year which was really fun to see them out and about. Collin did a great job handing out candy...go Collin!

Well, here is to this years Halloween. I can't believe it is already over..here come Christmas! That is right, it seems like Thanksgiving is skipped these days...which is sad :(!

We hope you all had a spooky Halloween!

Give Away Today!

On November 4th, 2009!

Enter to win free designs from Natty Sue Designs.

Go there daily and enter your name to win many fun, exciting products!

This is how Bode reads...

Thought I would share....

This is how our little Bode reads...

Pretty good, huh? He is learning so well.

My book budget (not that I ever had one) has just increased!

Pumpkin Patch

I was feeling a little brave last week and thought I would venture out to the pumpkin patch. We have a darling one kind of by our home. It has a corn maze and a ton of pumpkins to choose from, and quite cheap too. I thought it would be something fun for the kids to do on the beautiful day that it was. Every year that I had been before it was a disaster, and I am not sure why I didn't think it would be this year too....I guess I had my fingers crossed that it would work out okay...but no, it was crazy!

First, we made our way to all the cool tractors they have. They let the kids play on them and just explore. Coop thought they were pretty cool, Bode wasn't quite sure and Peiton was scared of them...we got away from the tractors.
We thought we would go to the corn maze first, that actually turned out great! The kids loved it!

After we got through with the corn maze, it was off to choose our pumpkins. It started going well until Peiton fell and would not quit screaming...I think she was scared of the pumpkins too. Bode thought he would run all around the pumpkin patch, which is hard to chase him carrying a screaming Peiton and pushing a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins. Thank goodness Coop is always up for chasing Bode and Jacki was able to help me push the wheelbarrow.

So we have Bode running all over the pumpkin patch, going into the corn maze and Peiton screaming bloody murder...I was READY to go!

Cute Cooper! Always so good!

Peiton screaming bloody murder!

We tried to get a good group shot before we left. Bode wouldn't look at the camera, Peiton wouldn't sit down because she was screaming and scared of the tractor and it was very difficult to get all the kids to look at the camera at one time...this is the best we could do.

Next year, I think I just might not go, or make sure Collin is with me....

Dressed in White

I can't believe the time came for Cooper to get baptized...it came up WAY to fast!
We have been trying to prepare him for this day and I think he was so ready. I thought he might be a little nervous just because that is the way he gets when he is doing something new, but he did great! The day was awesome!

Cooper and Collin before the baptism

We had a great baptism program. Cooper choose the speakers and all the musical numbers and everyone did such a great job. We had a lot of family and friends there to support Coop and we appreciated it so much. I love days that you are just surrounded by love ones, the day could go on and on it is so great.

Mom, dad and Cooper

He looked so handsome in his tie!

Cooper with Grandma and Grandpa Van Wagoner

Cooper with Grandpa and Grandma Richards

Cooper with Great Grandma and Grandpa Johnson

Cooper with Great Grandma Van Wagoner





After the baptism everyone was invited to a luncheon over at our house...yummm!

Everyone pitched in and helped bring something and it turned out delicious and fun. It was great to chat with family and friends.

Thanks everyone for coming and supporting our family, once again...we loved having you there.

And Cooper, I am so proud of you for making the choice to get baptized and I am so proud of the daily choices you make that make you the GREAT kid you are!

I love you!