Santa's List

I'm trying to decide what I want my children to ask Santa for for Christmas. Yes, you read that right I like to decide what they want... I do this nicely of course with a little persuasion...and some sneakiness. Gasp! Terrible, right? No, not really. They are none the wiser and are as happy as could be on Christmas morning, since they are getting what they/I wanted. This couldn't be any more win-win....until of course they grow up and realize I have been brainwashing them their whole childhood. Ooops!?

So... does anyone have any great ideas?

Side thought: Some of you may be thinking Christmas lists now, in November? Too late or too early? I'm not sure which of you think which. So I put both. Well, anyway...Shayne and I like to have the girls write Santa a letter asking for 1 item around this time of year, so later if they change their minds (after we have already purchased the item) we say, "Oh, maybe you can ask for that next year. Santa has already gotten your letter and has been busy making that toy for you." Yep. Great parenting tip! No more panicking a week before Christmas.

It all comes down to a toothpick

Sometimes as a mom, I feel guilty that I don't make my kids fun and exciting snacks. You know the kind that have faces and shapes, lots of colors, and maybe even variety to them.... and then of course they are very healthy for you.
One day it came to me ... something very simple...an idea that turned out to save me from all that work. A toothpick! Yep. This simple tool is brilliance. So now snack time or even lunch time is like a party every day.
Here it is.. easy just 2 steps::

Step 1: cut some food in small chunks. Ex. cheese, strawberries, or my kids favorite apples (sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar).
Step 2: get out the trusty old tooth pick. And wahh-law.

It's amazing how a simple sliver of wood can be the difference between..."boring old apples for a snack again"- t0- "Yes! apples! Yummy!"

WARNING: I must admit here: I only have girls so the urge to poke, jab, or pierce someone does not happen at our table. If you have boys....well...good luck to YOU!

Wouldn't you like to know

I've been tagged by my hubby, Shayne. So here are some things you've all been dieing to know about me.

Places I've Worked:
1. WIC as a breastfeeding peer counselor
2. Truitt Middle School as a 7th grade math teacher
3. MLMS as a night time custodian
4. USU University Inn as a desk clerk and night auditor

Places I have lived:
1. Logan, UT.
2. Houston, TX.
3. Mesa, AZ.
4. St. George/ Santa Clara, UT.

Guilty Pleasures:
1. sneaking in a nap
2. eating handfuls of milk chocolate chips throughout the day
3. hurrying to put the kids to bed so Shayne and I can.... watch t.v together (especially Thursday nights)
4. not having to cook dinner, therefore not having to clean up afterwards

Favorite T.V. shows:
1. 30 Rock
2. The Office
3. CSI (Las Vegas)
4. The Closer
5. Amazing Race and Survivor

First things I thought when I saw/met my significant other:
1. He's cute.... to bad he is dating my cousin (Brooke)
2. If he only got to know me, he would like me. - I always thought I was the kind of girl guys would like to marry, but not to date.
3. Who puts milk in their ice cream? -I do, now.
4. He's funny.

Favorite Places I've been on vacation:
1. Seaside, OR.
2. Disneyland, CA. /San Diego, CA.
3. Logan, UT.
4. Portugal- leaving in a few weeks (I've never been out of the country...no, not even to Canada or Mexico)

Favorite Restaurants:
1. PF Changs
2. Mongolian BBQ
3. Outback Steakhouse
4. In and Out

Favorite Books:
1. Vampire series by Stephenie Meyers
2. Emma
3. These is my Words
4. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series

Talents:
1. Talking and talking while running (I never run out of things to talk about...even during a 20 miler.)
2. Falling asleep when my head hits the pillow- nightly around 10:30 (even if I take a nap during the day)
3. Making others feel good about themselves by telling them all my flaws
4. I am really good at packing our van up before we go on a trip

Things I like:
1. DVR
2. Conversation
3. running
4. one-on-one time with my girls (individually) and alone time with Shayne
5. eating foods not made by me

Things I dislike:
1. Planning meals for the month
2. End of the month Budget review (or really anything money related)
3. That I'm a little too sensitive sometimes
4. The fact that I enjoy a little drama (Does that make me a drama queen? Please no.)

Goals for the future:
1. Try to go a whole day without calling/or IM Shayne at work
2. Boston Marathon in April
3. Not get sucked into confrontations with Parly
4. Watch more t.v. (thanks to DVR)

I tag: Amy, Kristi T., and brother Marty

Halloween 2007

Getting everyone in costumes this year without spending a cent. Priceless. Literally. Here's how it ended up looking:

Maggie: Halloween Princess- used the dress that all the girls have worn on their 2nd Halloween. $0

Kate: Porcelain Doll- or China doll as she calls it. Used a dress that we got from Shayne's cousin, Athena who wore it when she was a little girl. $0

Clayre: China girl- used the costume from Clayre's dance recital last year and the real Chinese paper umbrella was a gift from Brooke. $0

Parly: Bride- used her white baptism dress and my wedding veil. $0

Shayne: Old Man- clothes came out of his closet, YES he shaved 1/2 his head, cane brought over by Susan. $0

What a cute and cheap family.