GRANDMA GREAT!!!

This picture was taken on Thanksgiving. This is my mom's mom, Grandma Evy or "Grandma Great" as my kids call her. These are just a few of her many great grandchildren that are local...all in attendance to Thanksgiving dinner. A crazy night made for a picture that is PRICELESS!!!! I am lucky to still have two Grandma's alive and have a great relationship with both. They are both wonderful women who I have learned much from!

How to keep a car CLEAN...

Okay, I have had it! Anyone who has been in my car recently knows that it is just sick....I admit it. I am a bad car keeper. I like to go through the drive through for an occasional Diet Coke and there is evidence of that all over the inside - try four half empty cups that need to be thrown away. Why are they still there? Good question. You would think that it would be easy to just get out an chuck them when I get home...yeah right. I take after my dad. I blame my mess of a car on the fact that I am in it a lot. Really, if you needed something to wear because you got your shirt dirty or your child puked, you could probably find it in ONE of THREE Wal-Mart sacks carrying diapers, food, clothing, pajamas for my kids that were packed for one of my 5 trips to Grandma's house this week. The problem - I just keep packing Wal-Mart sacks and the sack from the previous night never seems to make it inside. Thirsty? Don't worry, the trunk of my car has 3, yes THREE, 24 packs from Costco waiting for you. My excuse, if there was an emergency and I had to evacuate the water would already be in the car. Goldfish crackers, anyone? You are welcome to come and search my car...there you will find a whole school of fish ground into the carpet, stepped on by my own kids along with the two carpools that I drive. Okay, I need help. I admit it. Any suggestions on how to keep a clean car? If your suggestion is to quit drinking Diet Coke and getting fast food...DREAM ON! Otherwise - any constructive criticism is welcome.

Happy Birthday Austin!

Austin Tyler Holland

November 21, 2006

THEN...

Today I am thankful for my sweet AUSTIN. Today is his FIRST BIRTHDAY and it has been a wonderful year. We are so THANKFUL to have him as a member of our family. He has truly made me SMILE every day for the last year. He is a tough little kid who LOVES his older brother and sister. He is very fond of his GRANDPA and loves to get HUGS every time grandpa walks in the door. He is into EVERYTHING, loves to push play on the HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL CD in Kylee's room, and loves cars. He loves to laugh, walk, crawl up the stairs when he thinks nobody is watching, turn the TV off and on, and do pretty much everything he should not. He has a SMILE and a GIGGLE that I just can't resist and the most KISSABLE cheeks. He is truly a BLESSING in our family and today I am THANKFUL that Heavenly Father chose me to be his MOTHER. I was lucky enough to have not only AUSTIN but KYLEE and NICHOLAS sent to me and for that I am GRATEFUL. Happy Birthday Austin and Happy Thanksgiving to the rest of you!

NOW...

Happy Birthday, AUSTIN!

We love you!

Did you know!???!

Kylee has gotten her hands on the American Girl doll catalog - a mother's worst nightmare! She has so many requests I cannot hardly keep up with them. Every doll is "so cute" and she tells all of her friends that Santa loves her so much that he will bring her one. Well, Santa does love her but give me a break, they are EXPENSIVE!!! For some reason I have a really hard time justifying 75% of her Christmas budget being put towards ONE doll. I can just see her pulling the scissors out of the drawer and chopping all of that expensive hair off.

Did you know...Target carries a brand called "Our Generation" that look just like them. I was so excited when I saw them on the shelf tonight that I nearly wet my pants. They come with a change of clothes and sell other outfits for only $9.99! So, for less than $50.00 I got a doll that looks like the ones she has been dreaming of and was able to buy a few of the outfits too. I am trying to talk Tyler into the pink scooter because I just think it is so cute! So, I am one happy mamma tonight. My daughter will be thrilled on Christmas morning and she won't even know that it is not the real thing. Bring on the scissors...and thank you Target!

Ooooppppssss!

Okay, admit it! How many of you listen to Dr. Laura. I have listened to her off and on for the last couple of years, some of what she says I totally agree with and some things make her sound totally mean and nuts. Well, I have been on a Dr. Laura kick for the last couple of weeks. I have been in the car a lot and have found myself tuning in when she is on. We were in the car yesterday and I turned on some music....Kylee started yelling at my from the back to turn it off. I did as I was commanded by my five year old and then she said "Mom, turn on that Dr. Laura...I really like her." I immediately started to think about the last week or so and tried hard to remember if I had listened to any inappropriate callers. I am sure I did. I learned my lesson, once again, KIDS HEAR EVERYTHING!!!! For now, I will not be a Dr. Laura fan unless I am alone in the car...the things we sacrifice for our children!

Why?

Do you ever wonder why we do some of the things that we do? This weekend we traveled to Logan for the start of another Utah State Aggie basketball season. Why? I ask myself the same question quite often. Why do we travel 2 hours each direction to watch a team play when we don't even live in the city that the team resides?!!? Well, here is the scoop. My husband grew up in Millville, Utah - a small town just outside of Logan. He grew up going to Aggie basketball games every single year and those that they missed he faithfully listened to on the radio. His mom's favorite memories of him are from those days - on the floor in the family room listening and keeping score while acting like he himself was the sports broadcaster. The passion has never gone away. We moved to Logan for work and quickly became frequent fans at the basketball games and even a few football games. I learned to become and Aggie fan as well which lead the the approval of becoming season basketball ticket holders. So, there is the story. We are now proud owners of Utah State Aggie basketball tickets on the 7th row. According to Tyler they are not great seats considering his parent are just below us on row 2. But, for now my friends, I will be a Utah State Aggie basketball supporter. My kids know the fight song and look forward to attending games with Grandma and Grandpa and their dad. To me is is not the team that we are cheering for but the memories that are made in doing so. They play again this weekend so off we go!

Happy 17th Kelsey!

Happy, happy, happy birthday to my sweet baby sister, Kelsey! Anyone who knows her knows what a wonderful sister, friend, and aunt she is! We love you Kelsey - have a wonderful day!