December 2012

Every year our ward has a church party. Breakfast with Santa. The night before Jason got a phone call asking him to fill in for Santa. Jordyn did a great job keeping the secret. Tessa had no idea. Asher wanted nothing to do with Mr. Claus.

 

 

 

Then, we went to Jason's work party and the "real" Santa came. The girls were thrilled, and he was amazing!

 

 

Our family got an Elf on the Shelf. This elf is a girl and Jordyn and Tessa named her Cutie, or Elfie, or Tootie, or something like that. It was fun to find her every morning. One morning she was making snow angles on the kitchen table in sugar, she roasted marshmallows over the Scentsy, and she made a mess with paper and scissors creating snow flakes.

 

We went to the Hunter Family Christmas Party. Pretty sure Asher had the best time, just check out that chocolate covered face. And of course, the yummy drink.

 

 

On Christmas Eve we had our traditional Halladay Family Party. We decorated gingerbread houses, exchanged white elephant gifts, and had a devotional. The kids watched a movie about the birth of Christ of Grandpa Day's computer.

 

We spent the night with Sue Sue and Grandpa Day. Somehow Santa found us and our kids were spoiled. Barbies and Scooters, new clothes and a barbie house. Asher got new shoes and a tool bag. It was fun...but once again, I didn't take any pictures. Luckily, the video camera recorded it all.

 

After a fun night and morning with my family we went up to the Hunter's. The girls were spoiled some more and loved every minute of it. Asher was fun to watch, as he played with all of the paper and boxes.

 

Christmas afternoon we packed our bags and headed up Provo Canyon for a few nights at the Warburton Cabin. Asher loved the spiral stairs. Jordyn and Tessa loved the snow, and late nights, and games. It was fun. We played games and ate yummy food. We celebrated Tessa's fourth birthday and rested our tired souls from all the crazy stresses of the season.

 

November 2012

November.

My favorite holiday. My favorite shopping day.

 

I love Thanksgiving. I love taking time to think about all the things I'm grateful for. I know that we should be mindful of our blessings everyday of our lives, but for some reason, in November, blessings seem to be highlighted. I love being with family. I love teaching my kids about gratitude. I love yummy food.

 

 We spent Thanksgiving with Jason's family this year. It was great. Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, pie, and of course...no pictures. I'm good at stuff like that.

 

Black Friday. I love it! This year we headed to Wal-Mart and Kohl's. It was fun, and crazy. People are strange...and I'm one of them.

 

As for the rest of November, here are a few pictures:

Having three kids has made my laundry double. I can not keep up on it. I end up with huge piles, piles that sometimes take an hour to fold.

 

It snowed! The girls loved playing in it.

 

Even Hallie had fun for a little while.

 
 

Cute baby Harper got to hang out with us one day.

 

We created our own little stockpile of Hostess treats. Sadly we didn't get to the store fast enough to buy Twinkies after the announcement that the company had gone bankrupt. But our cupcakes and donuts were delicious, while they lasted.

 

 

We started reading chapter books to the girls at night. They love to listen to books, especially when Daddy is reading. I love listening to all of Jason's silly voices, and his laugh when it's a funny part. Our favorite books are Junie B. Jones. The girls really get into them, and so do we.

October 2012

As I look back on all of the pictures in my camera I am in awe at how much our kids have changed. October was fun, and busy. I was baby sitting my nephew, Carter. Poor kid was attacked by his cousins and a box of hair things. He was a good sport! And now, I have blackmail.

 

Asher and Carter are going to be best buddies.

 

These two kids get a hold of my camera and go to town taking pictures. This is 1 of about 100.

 

We spent a lot of time at the high school during October. We loved watching Jason's brothers, Hayden and Jake, play football for the Vikings.

 

 

 

In October, Asher started to stand up to furniture.

 

And Tessa...started wearing oven mitts and shoes.

 

Halloween was awesome. Julie planned an awesome party and Sue Sue and Grandpa Day's. Here are all the cousins. Jordyn (Witch) Cameron (Skeleton) Tessa ( Bumble Bee) Harper (Cute) Heber (Fire Man) Houston (Puppy) Carter (Lion) Jaxon (Monkey) and Asher (Tiger).

 

My kids are too cute!

 

Most of the time.

 

A Nun, a Priest, a Witch, a Bee, and a Tiger walk into a Bar.

Just Kidding.

 

The twinner cousins.

 

At the party we ate donuts off of strings, carved pumpkins, and had a costume contest. It was so much fun!

 

We had our own pumpkin carving party at home one night. The girls were really good sports. They did way better than I would have. Yuck!

 

 

 

Happy Halloween!

Thinking

I've been thinking about this blog for the past few weeks. Months, really. I think I get overwhelmed with the idea of being a perfect writer. I want to tell amazing stories about being a mother, about challenging moments, and about personal victories. I want to write like C Jane Kendrick, Nie Nie, and Shawni. I want to write about things that are important to me, but then I find myself backing down because I'm scared. Mostly about what other people will think, but also, I'm scared to be honest.

Does that happen to you? Do you want to share things about yourself that you know some people might not like?

One day I'm going to look back at my blog and be so sad that I didn't write anything for 5 months. I'm going to wonder what happened with my kids, and how I felt about my day, and what Jason and I did on our dates. I might even wonder what we argued about, and how many times I had to clean up after Asher, and what Jordyn was learning in school.

Time passes quickly. Much faster than I like.  I want to do better. I'm going to change. I just need to remember that my story is important to me. That I don't need to compare myself to anyone. I can write for me, and for my kids.

Here's to happy writing. May my days be filled with things to share.

10.11.12

Once again, we've been busy around here, only this time I don't have any pictures to prove it. Today I took the kids to Thanksgiving Point. We went with Julie, Heber, Houston, Harper, Carter, Jaymie, Jaxon, and Camren. I think we would have looked crazy if there wasn't a million other kids there. It was crazy! They had a witch doing story time, there was a fun obstacle course, a ring toss, croquet, plus the pony and wagon rides. The kids had fun. Even Heber rode a pony all by himself. I was so proud of him.

When we got home Jordyn had to hurry and change so she could go to Broadway Bound. Then tonight Jordyn and Tessa got to have a "Late Over" with their friend Sophia, who lives across the street. I could hear them crying as they walked home. They were so sad that they had to come home, but so tired. I think there were asleep in three minutes.

Last weekend Jordyn and I went on a special trip with Norah and Nonie. We left Friday and drove to Las Vegas. We stayed with Norah's brother, Tom, and his family. On Saturday we got to go to Wicked! I loved it, and so did Jordyn. It was so fun to get away for a couple of days. Jason planned it all for me, which was a super surprise. I guess I can't complain again about hunting...this year.

Yesterday, in the car, we were listening to talk radio. People were calling in to share their thoughts about President Obama and Mitt Romney. Someone called in and said that Obama is like the clown at all of your kids' parties. I didn't realize that Jordyn was listening until she said, "Mom, is this real life?" Yes I said....in a what is she talking about sort of way. "No it's not, because he never came to any of my birthdays!" She was talking about Obama. HA! So I asked her if she knew who Obama was and she shrugged her shoulders and said, "A clown."

Later that day she asked if Santa was coming to our house for Christmas. I told her yes, but asked if we could get passed Halloween before we started planning Christmas. "But Mom, I really want him to bring me a scooter and I was just wondering if it was too soon to start writing him." She is just like me....always planning.

I loved Conference last weekend. I was especially excited to hear President Monson's announcement changing the missionary age to 18 for young men and 19 for young women. I watch my children grow and I just can't help but feel a great responsibility to prepare them, to teach them. I know how important the Gospel is and I know that there are so many people waiting to be taught. What an amazing time we live in!

Busy. Busy. Busy.

Busy. Really. I feel like all I do is drive from one place to the next. But I love it. I love being busy and I love having busy kids. I'll admit that sometimes I get a little stressed out and crazy. Sometimes I see they way I act reflected in the way the girls act. Jordyn is just like me, they way she snaps at Tessa. I need to do better.

 

In all our business we've been having lots of fun. Tuesday we went to Papa T's school for a fun dinner. They had pony rides and face painting and snow cones. The girls loved it! So did I...it meant I didn't have to cook dinner.

 

 

 

Um hello!

He is just adorable.

 

Friday we welcomed baby #9 into our family, well the Halladay family that is. My sister, Jaymie, had her baby and his is so stinking dang cute! His name is Camren James. I think he looks like his big brother Jaxon. I love his cute hair and chubby cheeks.

 

 

Remember how I started tending Carter? Well, Jordyn has been the best little helper. Today I showed her how to feed him so I could finish some other things. She did great!

 

So, onto the next busy week. We have football games and bunco. Gymnastics and Broadway Bound. Parent Teacher Conferences and the school book fair. Should be fun and exciting! Plus, tonight for family home evening we went to see Brave. I thought it was cute, Jordyn liked it once it was over and Tessa just kept asking to go home.

Kids All Around

It seems like there are kids everywhere around here. The best part is, I love it. I've been trying really hard lately to have a better attitude about motherhood. I hate to say that I haven't always been happy about staying home all day. I get frustrated easily. I sometimes yell way too much. But these last few weeks I've been thinking more about how time passes way too fast. I want to enjoy these days with my kids. I want to remember the cute things they say. The funny outfits they choose. The things they love, and hate. My attitude makes such a huge difference. And I know that seems like such a simple thing, and much easier said than done. Jordyn cries all the time lately. Tessa doesn't listen. And Asher has started to cry when I walk out of the room. But I love them!

 

Tessa loves Asher. She is so good to play with him.

 

Jason made quiche.

 

Jordyn is the big laundry helper around here. These clothes are wet. She just wanted to see how much she could hold at one time.

 

Heber and Houston came to dinner on Sunday. Julie and Jesse celebrated their 7 year anniversary! It was so fun to have them here. Houston was my little buddy the entire time and Heber was running around like such a little man.

 

Asher *almost* fell off the couch.

 

I started babysitting my nephew, Carter. He is six days older than Asher so It was pretty much like having twins around here. Getting Jordyn to school was a challenge...she ended up being 5 minutes late. ((Thank goodness Miss Hunter is a family friend.)) I better step up my game a little.

Speaking of kindergarten...Jordyn loves it. She is so dang smart. I love working on reading with her, and seeing her little brain try to figure out what she is looking at. Today we were reading and she would point to the words as we read and say all the ones that she knew. (and, to, he, a, I, Jack, you, the) I loved books when I was younger, I still do, and I love watching her really get into stories page after page.

Tessa, on the other hand, is our number girl. When we work on letters with her she seems distracted. She makes up sounds even though she knows the answers. Yesterday Jason tried for 30 minutes to play an ABC game with her. After that I gave her a numbers game to try. You match a picture of a watermelon with a number on it to the watermelon with that number of seeds. She was so fast! She would just look at them and match them up. I could hardly believe it!

 

So here's to another week of life around here!

Come what may....and love it.