Hey, Santa!

We got to go see Santa last weekend at my dad's work!  The kids may or may not have had more fun golfing in grandpa's office while they waited for their turn:)  He does have a pretty cool office!

Easton was excited to sit on Santa's lap.  His list grows every time he goes into a store.  It currently includes "a batmobile that batman can ride in, a bow and arrow from Scheels, and sea creatures."

 Callan was apprehensive until Santa gave him a ball.  Then he was all over the idea!  Callan is asking for toys for Christmas.  Easton suggested that Santa should bring Callan a piggy bank so he will stop playing with Easton's.

 Easton and Mrs. Clause

We were so glad we could visit Santa!  Easton, however, is convinced that he was "a fake because he the real Santa didn't have brown hair under his hat when he growed up."  Oh brother.

Raising Children

I'm so glad a neighbor posted this quote on her blog last week.  It has been so helpful to keep in mind lately, especially on days like today.  The boys have been sick and Tyson has been studying so hard for his last test before winter break.  I've been working a lot and it has been hard!  

Callan has an awful cold and croup.  He is so congested that he can't suck on his binky AKA can't sleep.  Friday night he was up all night.  At least he was happy.  We just played downstairs for hours until I couldn't take it any more and hit the Benadryl around 4AM.  Saturday we both worked all day and had a neighborhood get-together that night.  Tyson called me to ask what the boys should wear to the party and then quickly called me back to say, "never mind we're not going."  Easton was throwing up so we just tried to get things under control and went to bed.  We were all up all night.  Even Max.  He tore apart his dog house outside and since it snowed and he was soaking wet, had to sleep inside.  It was a long night and we were so tired in the morning!  We talked about our options.  
Tyson suggested putting the kids on KSL.  We both agreed to just keep on keeping on.  Tyson left for work and I got to spend the day with the kids.  Thank heavens for the ladies who took my Sunbeam class.  I was actually feeling a little grateful that the kids were sick, because life doesn't give you very many opportunities to just sit and hold your babies!  Easton and I watched "The Lorax" while Callan had a nap.  Speaking of which, "did you know the Lorax can fly by holding his butt?" says the oh-so-knowledgable Easton.  Sure enough.  He can.

Tyson came home and we sat down for dinner and Callan started puking.  We somehow got through dinner even though the kitchen smelled like puke, bathed, and loaded up in the car to take a drive to see Christmas lights.  They're finally asleep, and I should be too.  I'm sure tonight will be fun!  Christmas break can't come soon enough!

Festival of Trees & Elf on the Shelf

Last weekend we got to go watch Aunt Kennedi dance at the Festival of Trees.  She did a great job!  I'm not slouching that much in this picture - she must be taller than me at 14!  I think there's a good chance that I end up being the shortest of all the sisters...

We loved looking at all the trees.  There are soooo many we couldn't get to them all.  Callan loved the Mickey Mouse trees and Easton loved the super hero and grinch trees.  There were a good amount of all three so I was in luck!

Callan trying to take Mickey home with us...

 When we sat down to watch Kennedi, the group that was dancing before her was the "clogging grandmas."  We all got a good laugh.  I think Callan thought his own grandmas were up on stage because he was watching very intently.  Luckily Kennedi's dance was the second number in their group.  I was so proud of the boys for sitting still! After her dance we went to check out the kids corner.  Easton saw a "bubble machine" that he wanted to do so bad!  I dug out 4 quarters from my purse and we stood in line for EVER so he could do it.

After he was done we had to pick up Kennedi from her dressing room and Callan seriously cried for 30 minutes straight because he wanted to do the bubble machine too.  I dug out another dollar in nickels and dimes this time and we stood in line forever again.  When it was time to put Callan on the stool there were some verbally upset parents.  As in what kind of mom would put her one-year-old on a stool in a pool of water... I seriously wanted to turn around and tell them to can it.  He's the one who wanted to do it!

And he LOVED it.  Talked about it all night.  "Bubble!  ME!"

 For family night this week we tracked down a copy of "The Elf on the Shelf."  It's a hot commodity here in Utah county so Grandma Cook had to pick one up for us in Sandy and bring it to us.  Easton named our elf "Sprintzer."  We think it's fitting.  Sprintzer watches the kids every day and goes back to the North Pole every night to report to Santa.  Every morning, the kids get to find him in a new place.  One morning he hid in Easton's underwear drawer and Easton just can't stop talking about how funny it was.

We hope they make it on the nice list!