Sleep and Other Stuff- Thrilling I Know

Well not much has happened this past week. I finished the Christmas shopping for the kids. I have definitely learned a lot this year regarding the art of shopping. This was somewhat the "first" year that I have done Christmas shopping for the family... I went out the day after Thanksgiving..crazy. I looked around seeing things that "I would think about". Total moron. Everything is gone now (and was gone a week ago). Should have just got it and if by chance changed my mind I could have returned it. Well because of this Phillip isn't going to get the one thing he's been asking for I don't know how long- I guess your birthday honey. Sorry.


Well moving on- the kids are finally getting better. Phil and I were about to go totally crazy from lack of sleep. Quinn's cough is getting better and that means he's sleeping again. Audrey has had somewhat of a hard time transitioning to the big girl bed. I had to start a sticker chart with her - she gets one every time she sleeps in her bed ALL night. She was getting the nasty habit of waking up and playing. I would go in there to see that all the dresser drawers were emptied out with her naked in the middle of the room with a inside out bathing suit around her ankles. She's talking a lot more- just the other afternoon she said "mommy, I'm tired". She then went and laid down and fell asleep! If only everyday.... sleep time usually entails me sitting in the rocking chair singing songs until she falls asleep.


Brianna is constantly cracking us up with insanely adorable sayings. My mom says I should write them down or I'll forget. Well here are just a few- a couple of nights ago and was thinking about making cookies. I went to the cabinet with the baking goods and right away Brianna said "what are you making mommy?". I told her I wasn't sure if I was going to make cookies and if I was I needed to find a recipe. "Can I help you?" (her favorite question now). "I don't think so. Can you read?" She then said that she could read. "Really? What does this say?" I pointed to some writing on the computer monitor. She then ran her finger across the words saying with confidence "Mommy has to make cookies". And then today after correctly answering a question I told her she was right, she then said "thank you mommy for telling me I was right, that makes me happy." Amen sister!

Sickness !!! Toxic Child Mucus.

We had a great Thanksgiving in Salt Lake with my side of the family (busy but fun) we had dinner and we even got to stay and watch the disheartening defeat of the Utes. However, there is always the unwelcomed guest that rides home with us when we visit family in Salt Lake -- sickness. It seems without fail that somebody's child is always sick and the toxic child mucus comes in contact with one of my children and the family is out of commission for a week or so. Alas, so it is with us now.

Audrey was the carrier of the virus this time, we noticed that she became much less active than her normal monkey-esque self and she became cuddly and warm. The cuddliness is the only upside to of having Audrey sick. However, as the cold passed from Audrey to Quinn and then to Brianna, our home has become a sad bunch with rosy cheeks and bright red noses. A festive look, but sad.

I seem to have an invincible immune sytem, and I am the only one that has yet to fall victim to the wrath of TOXIC CHILD MUCUS.

Our First Christmas in...

our new house!! I am really exited about being able to have our first Christmas at our new house. It's great timing too- it's been fun to see that Brianna (three years old) finally gets Christmas. She keeps singing Jingle Bells over and over and loves seeing grandma's lights "It's Christmas time at grandma's house!" as she says. Audrey (almost two) refers to Christmas as "pim preem" hmmmm... interesting. Quinn (8 months) is such a smiler. He's been our best baby so far. Thank heaven. Hopefully I can somewhat make a journal of our family during this time in our life.
Phillip is enjoying is job and has survived another tax season. He enjoys tax and has been talking about maybe going into tax law. I think he would be great at it but the thought of going back to school makes me not too happy. He's been also doing great at using our gym memberships! At least someone is using it. I am learning more and more at my attempt at a photography business. Things are going fairly well. If nothing else, it gets me out of the house and lets me be creative. I am enjoying my calling of a nursery leader (now that they finally got me an assistant!). Phillip teaches the Elders now and again. Brianna started preschool in October and really loves it. She goes three times a week. Audrey has just moved into her big girl bed from the crib...she could have stayed in there longer because she's so darn small, but she was definitely ready for the change. She loves it! She calls it her "Bee Gaa Baaa". Quinn is growing like a weed. I was looking at pictures of him when he first got home...it's hard to believe he is the same guy! Especially one who was early and spent his first week in the NICU. His neck muscles are getting stronger but he need work with his trunk muscles. It's hard for him to keep up with his growing head and body.
We spent Thanksgiving up in Salt Lake and had a nice trip. We watched the BYU/U game with Phillip's family. They were all quite sad. We couldn't believe the last play. Phillip is now on a campaign to fire Kyle Whitingham. It was fun for Phillip to watch the game with his brother and dad. While the boys watched the game the girls got some Christmas shopping done downtown. Brianna came and her Aunt Julie had fun shopping with her.
Well that's it for this time. Hopefully I can keep this up!