Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas eve came on so fast this year! Despite our tree being up and there being presents under the it we had a tough time feeling "Christmas-y" so...we spent the majority of Christmas eve watching Christmas classics like, A Christmas Story, Home Alone, The Santa Clause, etc... It did the trick! By the afternoon we were in much better Christmas spirits!

Our Tree

My new favorite Ornament...Emmie made it at school - I love it!

Emmie and Daddy watching Christmas Movies and snuggling

By the afternoon we were all getting a little stir crazy and decided to go to the park...Emmie insisted on sporting her Dog costume...

Big girl on the big girl swing

Going down the twirly slide

Watching the train go by with Daddy

When we got home we made Santa some cookies

That evening the fam came over to skype with Ceri and John (who were in Mississippi with John's family) so we could all open our pj's together

After opening the pj's Matt and Emmie had some fun with tape
(does this bring back any memories, Heidi? hahahaha)

Christmas Morning we had our own family Christmas first....I think this may be the last year we get to sleep in....we enjoyed it!
Santa brought Emmie a vacuum...she's in love

At Daddoo's, Santa brought Emmie a trike! totally rad!
Emmie insisted on sharing with mommy....
thank you daddoo for capturing such a flattering moment....

Later we went out to brunch - Emmie loved riding the elevator up and down about 50 times



We gave up after 3 takes to try and get a good picture in front of the tree...Emmie was ready to take a nap...so were the rest of us!

Spokane!

On Friday, right after I got off work Matt and I dropped Emmie off at her Daddoo's (my parent's) and we hopped on a plane to Spokane to see one of Matt's best friends get married. We had a great time...here are some highlights:

The happy couple: Christy & Ryan.

Matt and Ryan enjoying the Luncheon at Round Table Pizza

Waisting time at the mall before the reception...they had a super creepy santa display....Matt looks a little more disgusted in the display rather than scarred...

The Reception was a the Davenport Hotel. A super ritzy place. Matt and Ryan worked there when they were going to college. They have a lot of good stories about this place!

I think this is the one picture I was in the whole trip : ) Matt in his totally awesome vest and tie...isn't he handsome?

Ben's (Matt's other good friend) Best man speech.
too bad the lighting is so dark
We stayed with some friend of Matt's in Cheeny (the college town just out of Spokane) this is one of the roads - pretty huh? except when we went it was raining/foggy/freezing 98 % of the time

This is Brian, Matt's good friend that put us up for the weekend. He and his wife, Caroline, have two adorable children - it was fun spending some time with them!

Wasting time at the mall...again...before our flight home on Monday. Snazzy hat!

When we got home we were so happy to be with our Emmie Grace again...I missed her so much! You can tell she's probably not going to get what she wants for Christmas...We'll put that on the "when we make good money and loose our minds" list

Before I forget...Last but not least...if you're in the need for a quick good read go pick up this one:
Ceri let me borrow it and I read it in one weekend - a total page turner. Perfect way to spend an plane trip!

Boutique in the Barn

Last week at Indie Chic @ 10th went so well that Ceri and I made a quick decision to do another one this weekend!! If you're out and about Christmas Shopping today you may want to stop by!

13010 South 71st St Tempe, AZ 85284

boutiqueinthebarn.blogspot.com

Our Christmas Puppy

Now that it's Christmas time, Emmie has decided that she likes her puppy Halloween outfit that our friend lent to us. Almost every afternoon after school she'll ask to put it on then want to go outside and play. It's too cute!

Too bad she didn't like it this much at Halloween time! Oh well... On a few occasions after we're done playing we will come inside and as she takes off the costume she'll say "bye, bye doggy" then blow it a kiss. So adorable....makes my heart smile. oh...and then another time as I was helping her out of it, the legs caught on her shoes, pulling them off and she said, "no doggy! zem mine!"

eye advice....

Anyone know a good optometrist in the east valley area? I'm a REALLY horrible patient and have not seen the eye doctor since before I got married....and even worse I'm just now on my last pair of my "year supply" contacts....yikes....it's horrible....I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a good tongue lashing at my next appointment...regardless, I need to find a doctor that's not too expensive - anyone have any ideas?

Thanksgiving 2009

We spent 3 days in beautiful Oak Creak Canyon with The Bennett Family. It was a lot of fun. We feasted, we chilled (A Mythbuster Marathon was on Thanksgiving day...totally rad), the boys went fishing, Emmie played with Monson (there were lots of leaves to crunch) and Ceri and I (we roped Dana into it too a bit) crafted! It was wonderful!

I need to remember to take more pictures...but this is what I got...
Emmie and Grammy spent a lot of time snuggling
Best use of Duct tape EVER!....a dress frame! totally cool huh?

Clif caught a fish! I don't think it even took 30 minutes to go from creek to tummy...Clif felt pretty good about his catch!

The leaves were beautiful and they smelled so nice!
My two loves - aren't they cute?

Emmie wasn't so sure about jumping into the big pile...Uncle John tried to persuade her...a more "slower and careful" version of the leaf flop was more to her style. I'm good with that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(if you can't tell...that's a turkey Emmie has on her head! I had no idea what it was until her teacher pointed it out! hahaha...oh preschool...)

So much to be thankful for! Hope everyone is enjoying their feast!

it was horrible

Today was one of those days that you prepare for as a teacher but always pray will never happen...well it happened and I had to call 911. It was terrifying. I had a little girl trip with a pencil in her hand. The pencil punctured her right next to her collar bone. Luckily my assistant was right next to her when she tripped and helped her stand up - when my assistant turned her around completely white faced and I saw the pencil sticking out of her I bolted to call 911.

Our administrator darted to get to her - the girl was in shock, but very calm. I got the rest of the class to the playground quickly without much commotion - my assistant and another teacher stayed on the playground with my class while I called the girls parents (who, with full reason, were FREAKING OUT). The paramedics were there within minutes and she was wheeled out - stretcher and all - to the hospital.

Our administrator was strapped to the stretcher with the little girl on her lap. When they got to the emergency room the parents were there and the on call Dr. was a former parent from the school (how serendipitous). The pencil was fortunately located in a place that caused no damage or harm. The Dr. removed it, bandaged her up and she was free to go.

After the ambulance had gone the adrenalin started to wear off and I had a slight brake down- I almost had to pull out a paper bag to slow my breathing...

There are so many ways that this situation could have gone - I couldn't help but think that just an inch or 2 in any other direction that pencil could have done some major damage...maybe even worse...

So many tender mercies - I have no doubt that there were angels looking over all of us...especially my little student.

New Moon

so. totally. awesome.

We had such a good time! I loved seeing it with all the screaming tweens - most people find it annoying - I think it adds to the experience! Over all I agree with everyone else who said it was better than the first - definitely better! Better action, less cheese - and what girl doesn't drool over Jacobs hot new bod (let's just be honest)?

...stupid side bar doesn't work properly...

I don't know what the deal is with my updating thingy on the side bar...I updated my pregnancy blog and it still shows that my last post was a month ago...so after trying a whole bunch of stuff I just took off everything but the title. So...If you're interested go and check it out every now and again. lame...

On a happier note...I GET TO GO TO NEW MOON THIS AFTERNOON!!!!!

YUMMY!

There are very few deserts out there that I think are worth the calories. Don't get me wrong I LOVE desert and rarely pass it up. It's just that afterwords I usually think to myself - "was that worth it?" and usually the answer is "nah" (doesn't mean that this stops me from repeating the next night or so). BUT last night I made this AMAZING pie and it was so good that I didn't even stop to think if it was worth it....'cause it so was! YUM!

Behold...Decadent Peanut Butter Pie

Now go make one for yourself - Click HERE

Good Stuff Going On...

Lot's of good things are happening around here...it's just keeping us really busy!

Let's see...

#1 Matt can cross the "spanish exam" off of his list of things to do before graduation. Having that done and over is wonderful - aparently it's not as big of a deal as he was under the impression it was...just another loop to jump through - slightly frustrating...
#2 Ceri (and by extension, Me) got invited to have a booth at the Indie Chic on 10th Street on December 5th. We kind of held off buying materials/making stuff until we knew for sure but now that it's definite we are in high crafting gear! I'll be posting some more about it (hopefully, if I get my blogging grove in gear) as it get's closer.
#3 I finished Parent/Teacher conferences. I have a love/hate relationship with conferences. I dread filling out reports and how much time it takes - but then when I sit down with all the parents I really find my self coming away with a deeper love for these children, my job, and the Montessori Philosophy.
#4 Emmie has been sick on and off for the past 2 months...I knew it would happen and tried to warn Matt about it (he didn't believe me at first). ohhh the right of passage as our children start school...germs...gotta love them. We've been lucky that she's only gotten colds - nothing worse...but it is every other week...yuck! and it's very tiring.
#5 some of our Family Pictures are done and we are SO excited about them! Check them out here and here! We are excited to see more!

#6 I hit my 20 week mark with this little man tomorrow! Half way there!

Emmie has something she would like to say...

That's right - we're having a BOY!

We are completely excited. The ultrasound was so fun - the little man was on his tummy for the majority of the time just hanging out - so cute! Everything looks good - baby is measuring perfectly and all of his organs seem to be working the way they should - what more could a mom want? Now we just need to think of some names...we've got nothing.

The only good profile picture we got before he turned on his tummy.

Chillin' on his tummy...I love how his arm is hanging down - Emmie likes to chill like that too.
I thought this was a cool shot of the top of his head and shoulder.

I was going to post the "boy" picture...but...you all know what that looks like so I spared you...and him : )

October Rewinded...beware it's a loooooong one

October was a little busy for us...These are all the things that I meant to post over the past few weeks but just never got around to.

Emmie's 2nd Birthday!

The Birthday Girl
The poster we made for school - Emmie put all the stickers on herself.

The Elmo Cupcakes

Opening presents with Daddy

Daddy playing dress up with Emmie's new tutu (thank you Marilyn!)

Singing to the birthday girl

Our Trip to the Pumpkin Patch:

Cute right?

Ceri, John and Monson with their pie pumpkin - They asked the lady how many pie pumpkins they needed to make a pumpkin pie the lady answered, "uh, one...that's why they're called pie pumpkins." They felt stupid - but we had a good laugh.

Emmie LOVED the mini pumpkins...just her size!

Emmie is such a good helper!

Halloween 2009:The redneck, and his two blue birds
(I know...no beak...we look like ballerinas...whatever. Emmie was suppose to be a puppy and had the cutest little jumper that our friend let us borrow. She spent the past 2 weeks begging to put it on almost every night but of course when it came down to Halloween time...meltdown city - hence the makeshift outfit...if i had known she was going to be a bird/ballerina/whatever I would have done it right...next year!)

Trick or Treating for the first time - by the last few houses she had gotten the hang of it and would say, "tank ku" after they put the candy in her sack! so cute!

Matt's mullet found it's long lost brother....lookin' good boys!

I've got to hand it to him...the man's got a nice pair of legs! (please don't pay attention to the back ground...it's embarrassing...we're in the middle of rearranging Emmie's room)


Me kicking rear at the penny drop game - thank you Liz and Ben for teaching us!


Matt vs. Dallin - I forget who wins...what and let me know

Some October first's:

First time singing and signing all by her self
(translation: Baby, Baby, Baby signing time)
She used to watch that DVD because she loved watching the other kids now she loves watching it to learn the songs and signs...so. dang. cute!

First time playing in a bouncy thing...Emmie Loved it!

First time petting a snake...She Loved it! the girl has no fear...gigantic slithering animal thing?? bring it on!

First Football Game - She cheered and danced

First pony ride - again...no fear...she LOVED it!

And this is just too cute not to add. Emmie calls Monson "Monty" and is his official pacifier putter-inner - she takes her job very seriously.


And that's THE END of October!

p.s On WEDNESDAY we find out if it's a boy or a girl!!! I'm putting up a poll! vote and see - you only have a few hours!!