Christmas Pictures in their entirety...

I'm pretty sure Santa broke my camera. Why you ask? Because I took pictures of my kids last night opening their obligatory Christmas Eve photo receiving new pajamas. Santa took pictures of the kids' things all laid out nicely and of the tree with their presents from Ken and me. Then this morning when I turned on my camera to take pictures of them opening their gifts, there was a lens error. After spending time researching the error on the internet and trying all their 'fixes' we have come to the conclusion, that the camera is indeed dead.  It is a sad day.

This year we did Christmas morning a little differently and I really liked it so we will continue it next year...I think. After Santa filled their stockings and set out his gift to the kids, he ate his treat and took off. Normally he sorts all the gifts from under the tree so the kids wake up to a big pile of loot. This morning, the look was under the tree.

Their 'piles'  were smaller and I thought they looked very nice. Then the kids sat by their things, went through their stockings, then we handed them one gift at a time, which they opened one at a time. We continued this until all was opened. Maybe your family has always done it this way. If so, you're a genius!

Below are the photos we were able to take before Santa broke the camera. :)

note to self; don't make pajama shirts for Nicole and Matthew anymore. Just buy a three dollar t-shirt.

R.I.P beautiful canon PC1309.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I just wanted to stop in and with all of you a Merry Christmas. Our motto this year when shopping has been 'Something you want, something you need, something handmade and something to read.' I feel it has been a success. Each of the kids have 8 presents to unwrap including the Christmas Eve gift (pajamas) their gift from Santa and gifts from Ken and me. Next year we will narrow it down to 4. I learned to saying a little too late in the season, but it helped me from going even more overboard.

I hope you all have a very merry Christmas. See you in a couple days. I have some books I'll be reading.

Dedra

Virtual Christmas Card.

I am lame. I am cheap.

These 2 previous sentences are the reason I am not sending out Christmas cards. Most of the people who care about our family read this here blogdango. Those who may not know about it will get a paper copy of the amazingly fantastic poem I'm going to write in a minute.

That being said, Merry Christmas! Here is our Christmas card/letter;

It seems we've all gathered together again,

To celebrate the end of 2010.

Join us as we speak of this year,

With love, laughter & Christmas cheer.

Matthew is 11 and loves his airplanes,

He's happy outside, even when it rains.

Reading, violin and how to take flight,

Keep his attention 'til late in the night.

Nicole is 12 and learning to cook,

She'd rather sew or draw, than read a book.

Piano and clarinet - her musical choices,

In choir she adds to the beautiful voices.

Dedra's at home, teaching 7th grade,

Doing laundry and getting dinner made.

Ward organist is her current 'job',

Writing poems is currently her hob...by.

Ken's job is an undertaker,

Funerals for the Christian, Agnostic and Quaker.

Ward Mission Leader is his calling,

Exchanges, discussions and Elder's he's hauling.

The very best part of 2010?

Our family has finally grown again!

Anna Rebekah is 4 years old.

Adopting a child is worth more than gold.

May 2011 bring you peace and plenty.

May your hardships be few,

And your blessings many.

Merry Christmas!

Ken, Dedra, Nicole, Matthew and Anna

FAQ

Some of you may have noticed my clever profile description written by my clever self.

 I am a Wife to 1, Mother to 4,

Daughter to 2, Sister to 7, Aunt to 23,

Niece to 20 and a friend too.

Amway Jason from the Gym

is NOT one of those friends!

The FAQ I will address today is Who is Amway Jason from the gym.

When we lived in Great Bend, Matthew had a friend in his class named Matthew. They liked to play together after school. They also liked to greet each other. Hi Matthew! Hi Matthew! How's it going Matthew? Great Matthew! See ya later Matthew! Bye Matthew!  They thought they were sooo clever. I actually thought so too. 

One evening, approximately 1 day before Thanksgiving, my Matthew C was playing over at Matthew E's house. Ken went to pick him up. He was there for a loooong time. When he got home he told he had made a new best friend. He said Matthew's dad is so funny. They have so much in common. I invited them over for dinner. Tonight. (Me: WHAT?!?!?!!?!?)

That evening Matthew's family came over for dinner. His mom was really nice. A manager at Walmart and a hard worker. His older brother was a 15 year old teenage boy. He didn't really want to be at our house and we didn't really have anything to offer him for entertainment except our Xbox. He kindly deleted all our profiles and made his own. He had a little sister who was 4 years old. We all know how awesome 4 year old girls are. I just wasn't interested in 4 year old girls that evening, so we allowed her to torture Nicole the whole evening. His dad, Jason, was a whole other story. He walked in telling really bad jokes and laughing hysterically at them. He kept telling me how uncanny is was that he and Ken were so much alike. (They are nothing alike.)  He was self employed and spent much of time managing the 6 games on facebook that was publicly addicted to.

Oh, the whole time this conversation was taking place, Ken wasn't home. A lady decided to die and he got a free ticket out of this impromptu dinner party.

When they left LATE that evening (past midnight) I kindly informed Ken that he and Jason were NOTHING alike and then I told him I'd pray for him so he might get a better sense of self.

Time went on and Ken invited their family over for dinner a couple more times but sadly they couldn't come because being a manager at Walmart during the Christmas season left little room for eating dinner in stranger's homes.

During this same time, Ken and I decided that we were going to give weight loss another go and join the local gym. We successfully joined the gym and unsuccessfully accomplished weight loss. Ironically, Matthew E's parents had a membership to the same gym! While Ken and Jason used the elliptical machines, Jason educated Ken about this amazing sports drink he was using. He asked Ken in if he's be interested in trying and Ken said sure. There was just one catch. It couldn't be bought in stores. Luckily, Jason has a business on the side, (because his main focus was facebook) and we could buy the sports drink from Jason. Ken thought that was interesting and asked what the business was. The answer...Amway.  Actually, quickstar, but it's the same business with a new name, all internet based.

Ken listened to his spill, speel, speal ? (no idea, help Rhonda!) I told Ken NO WAY. We weren't buying from him, I wasn't talking to him, we aren't going to his house to listen to a meeting, I don't want to borrow a CD. Jason was relentless.

Each evening when Ken and I would go to the gym, we would take 2 cars because if Jason was there I wasn't going in. Hence the name, Amway Jason from the gym.

Every year we have a New Years Eve party. (Except this year, our first year in 10+ years w/o having one.) We invited some of our friends from the ward and their families. It is a child friendly party. About 4 days before the party Ken told me he invited Matthew E's family. I was really mad. See response to when he invited them over to dinner the first time.  Ken told me not to worry, he didn't think they would be able to make it. I felt a little relieved but not completely. On the day of the party, Ken told me he'd finally heard back from Jason. Their kids were going to spend New Years Eve with some of their friends and his wife had to work late, but he would be able to make it.

He.Came. Alone.

Our plan was to play Apples to Apples, eat a lot of food, laugh a lot and then at midnight ring in the new year and say good night to our guests by 12:15. Sometimes this happens, sometimes the party goes till 5am. We were hoping for the first because of AJFTG, not our other friends who are completely fun and awesome.

The party started at 9. Only one other family was able to make because in a ward with large boundaries you don't always live just down the street from your friends. We did live down the street from most of our friends, those streets just happened to be 20-45 miles long.

Jason showed up almost on time. Through out the entire, LOOOONG evening, he kept telling us how hyper he was feeling. He would tell jokes, that weren't funny, and laugh at himself. Then he would explain that he is normally funnier and he didn't seem to understand what was happening. Maybe it was because he was so hyper.

He successfully ruined a game of Apples to Apples. It was NOT fun. At. All.

Finally, midnight came. Our friends ditched us with this guy at 12:01 am.  Okay, about a quarter after.  Then all that was left, was Jason. The horror!  At 1 in the morning, when he was still talking, Ken sat down on the couch, and FELL ASLEEP! Leaving ever so eloquent and caring me to listen to this guy. Faking interest is not my strong suit. If I don't care, I. Don't. Care! At 1:30, I woke Ken up and told him to go to bed. Then said I was going to go to bed also. Jason kept talking....At 2, Ken stood up and walked down the hall, leaving me alone. Again. At 2:15 I stood up, opened the door and said to Jason, It's been real. Have a good night. I'm tired.

He left 5 minutes later. I slammed the door...on accident. But I was happy it closed so loudly.

I tried to never speak to him again. When I accidentally saw him at the gym, I turned the other way immediately. I wore ear phones, even when I didn't have my music.

I am not Christ like.

And that, is the rest of the story.

ps, I'm going to write a book series kind of like Curious George.

AMJFTG goes to Walmart
AMJFTG does Disneyland
AMJFTG gets fired from facebook.

I like the sound of it.

The stuffed plush will be of a guy who wears high tops with gray sweats and dirty T-shirts. Reddish brown hair and a greasy face.

Anyone with deep pockets interested in backing this venture? Call me.

Walking on broken glass

Once upon a time, last Christmas, I didn't have any Christmas spirit. I was looking at the same ornaments on the same tree that I'd been looking at for MANY years. To some this is comforting. To me, for many years, it was comforting. Not last year. I hated my tree. I hated the decorations. I wasn't happy with the weather. I didn't know what we were going to give the kids as gifts. It just wasn't a great year. Christmas kept getting closer and closer, as it always does, and I was not getting excited. I was homesick and unhappy.

Christmas morning arrived with little fanfare. We were woken up early by children who were excited and for the first time that season I was excited and happy! Then it was over. I was even more sad. I left my tree up until New Years Eve. I NEVER do that. I like it cleaned up on 12.26 before lunch.

When I finally got around to packing everything up I decided I was done with all the non-homemade ornaments. I had looked at them enough years. It was time to move on.

Some people donate old stuff when they are done with. We donate a lot of stuff we don't want anymore. But not breakables. Some people don't like the sound of broken glass and actually cringe a little. I LOVE IT!

It started when I was a baby. glass bottles + split entry stairwell with a rod iron railing = happy baby...until all the bottles were gone and mom didn't buy more. boo.

When we get new dishes, we find an empty dumpster and throw the glasses in one at a time. It's music to my ears.

I've digressed...30+ years!

Matthew got a bb gun for Christmas and was shooting at anything he thought he could get away with. When I was done packing all the Christmas stuff up, I asked him if he wanted to shoot the glass bulbs. Of course he did! We took over 20 minutes of video and I made it into a montage of sorts. The only thing missing was it the song, walking on broken glass. I was going to post the video from you tube so you could hear it, but the video is weird!   Anyway, here's the montage.

Hind sight, being perfect, I am glad I got rid of those old ornaments and we started something new this year. This is the first year with out my mom. I haven't actually spent Christmas with my family in many years, but I no longer the option with mom. This new tree, or the decorations rather, is (in my mind) a new start on an season that may never be the same for me.

That being said,

HAPPY FESTIVUS!

Christmas Tree then and now

by then, I mean at 6pm.
by now, I mean now.

Watch this video. It's of an ugly tree and a cute girl. gracias.

So I'm not going to say I love it now. It is definitely better. I can't actually believe we have a colored lights in our house. We haven't had any in over 10 years. Ken and I went on another date to walmart tonight and bought all the junk you are looking at now. good times. Also, take special note of our dinky little Christmas tree. I bought this tree when I was 17 to put in my room. We are too lame and cheap to replace it. We may have to soon though, because the kids are tall enough to know it's not big anymore. haha

First Things First

Here is a picture of Anna's Christmas stocking. 

Below is a picture of all three of the kids' stockings in a row.

That is all.

Thanksgiving 2010

We left for my brother's house on Thursday morning at 10am. We just needed to make 1 quick stop by my sister's house on the way to drop off some music. The roads were clear and the drive was going by quickly.

Then I took their exit and the roads to my sister's home were not so good. There was snow floor and it was a little bit slick, but nothing I couldn't handle. When I turned onto the last road before her street they got a lot worse. I slowed down to about 25 MPH and still had to keep slowing. When we crossed the freeway overpass it was pure ice. We got off the over pass and I tapped my breaks to slow down so we didn't miss her street and the car was not stopping. I continued tapping the breaks and continued sliding. We missed her street and we weren't slowing down. I said a verbal prayer for help stopping the car as we were sliding down the hill and just before the road hit an even steeper grade our car came to a stop. It was clearly divine intervention.

I turned the car around and started back up the hill we just slid down and could not get enough traction to get up the hill. They say when you are moving a little bit, do not stop the car because you won't be able to get it going again. I was not moving a little bit. Tired were spinning and the car was fishtailing. I put the car in park, pulled the e-break and let Ken take over.

By this time, I was emotionally done. I can handle a lot of things, but car trouble and bad road conditions leaves me crying in the corner and seriously wanting a blanket. I was scared. When I got out of the car so Ken could drive it up the hill, I walked to my sister's street. I would not have been a comfort to my children, so I did not get back in the car. (I know this was probably not a comfort to my children either, but in my state of mind, I couldn't see that was the fact at the time. I know, I just earned another degree of crazy to my resume.)

I called my sister and told her we were stuck. She and her husband came in their truck to help us. A stranger came along and helped Ken push the car up the hill to Wendi's street and Matthew steered and gave the car gas. (The best day of his life if you ask him.) They got the car to her street, then Wendi, Larry, Matthew and I pushed it while Ken gave it gas, so we could get it onto the road. We drove to Wendi's house, I used to restroom and cried and prayed, and then we invited ourselves to Wendi's for Thanksgiving.  I called Ryan and let him know what happened and told him we weren't going to make it to his house.

We were disappointed but I didn't feel comfortable trying to get back to the freeway. I also knew we had 6 hours of above freezing weather ahead of us that day and that alone would improve conditions on the roads. My assumption was correct. The drive home was easy.

So we had an unexpected change of plans but we still got to spend time with family  We also got to eat with Wendi's mother in law, Linda. I've loved her since I met her when I was 14.  Larry's brother, Aaron and his family were there too. It was a fun day, filled with good eats and a lot of laughs.

Here are some pictures from the day.

We watched Toy Story 3. I had never seen it before and it was cute.

Zachary was really good with Anna. He played with her and helped her find things to do. It was fun to watch. She told us at bedtime that he's a good uncle. We're still working on cousins, brothers, uncles etc.

Devon doesn't like his picture taken. Here's his foot.

Nicole likes pie with her whoop cream.

 Ken and Devon's hand. I actually did get a picture of Devon's face but he clearly didn't want me to have it.

 Anna and McKenzie. McKenzie is one of Larry's brother's daughter. Anna loved playing with another 4 year old girl.

 She also loved the pumpkin pie.

Happy Thanksgiving and a little more...

Happy Thanksgiving! This is the first time in 6 years that we will be spending Thanksgiving with family. We will be going to Pt. Hadlock, about 2 1/2 hours from here, to eat dinner with my brother, Ryan and his famdango. I'm excited to see them and a little sad that we won;t be eating with the Carltons and the Drapers...our holiday buddies in Kansas. I love them!

In other news...

• I still don't have batteries for my camera. My rechargeable have dropped off the face of the earth which means Matthew probably put them in the xbox controllers...again.
• We saw the Forgotten Carols last night. It was a very touching show.
• I am adjusting well to having 3 children. Anna is doing GREAT. To many of you who have more than that it's probably a walk in the park, but I've had 2 for many years now so 3 is taking some time.
• I have forgotten to blog a few times this week. See previous bullet.
• We got a few inches of snow on Monday night so they canceled school on Tuesday and Wednesday. That being said, Matthew went to school in November 8 times. Nicole went 6.  For the whole month.
• Nicole has a nasty flu bug.
• I'm excited for black Friday. I LOVE being the crowd at 5 in the morning. It makes me happy. It's also the only day each year that we go out to breakfast. The kids are excited about that part.

I think that is all for now. Have a happy Thanksgiving. Travel safely. Eat a lots of food. Take a long nap. and happy shopping tomorrow!

Halloween 2010

For Halloween this year the kids had their first party then we went to the 3 ward + a branch Trunk or Treat at the church.

Here is Nicole in her wedding dress...a beautiful bride.

 Matthew was an army guy.

 Ken was Charlie Brown.

 For our party we celebrated a lot of the holidays through out the year. First we made rest of the year resolutions.  The kids had to think of something they could do for the rest of the year to serve their families.

 For February they made valentines and put them in the stockings that were hanging off the kitchen counter for each of the kids. I forgot to take pictures of them.

For March we decorated shamrock sugar cookies. The recipe is AWESOME. I'll post it soon.

 Next we dyed Easter Eggs.

 For the summer months we talked about our love of camping and outdoors and then we roasted marshmallows on the stove.

 September was hunting season. They shot inflatable pumpkins with a nerf gun.

 November was thanksgiving. They are their cookies, eggs and we made bean dip with chips and salsa.

 We took random breaks between each activity to break out into random dances such as:

The Hokey Pokey

The Bunny Hop

The Cha Cha Slide

The Macarena

The Electric Slide

 More pumpkin hunting.

 Here's our group shot.

 Halfway through the party Nicole decided to change costumes. She'd been wearing the same thing for almost 4 hours! The horror!

 Here they are at the trunk or treat. It was the biggest one I'd ever seen. The WHOLE parking lot was full! Ken says maybe 150 cars. There is certainly no need to go trick or treating after that!

It was a fun day and I'm glad we have tomorrow to recoop from it before starting back to school on Monday! Happy Halloween!!

From our Family to Yours!

Today I...

Today I...

took down all the Christmas stuff.

rearranged the front room. (It looks beautiful.)

read the first 9 chapters of 1 Nephi.

played Monopoly with Matthew. (He kicked my trash.)

did NOT take a nap. (I wanted one.)

To My Family, Watch this!!

This post is for my family. Of course you are all invited to listen/watch it too. It just happens to be the BEST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER played in our home...if you ask my humble opinion. We only listened to it hundred of times growing up.

Random Christmas Pictures...

Animal pulled the corner of this fabric out from under the table so he would have a spot to lay down. He also knocked the sheep over on the nativity scene. He is naughty.
The lovely gifts waiting to be discovered. Santa was rude this year. He only filled stockings and he gave the kids electric toothbrushes. The best part was they didn't believe me when I told them that was all they were getting from him! MUHAHAHA!I LOVE LOVE LOVE bedhead pictures and they are even better when the person is still tired. Matthew bought this white board for Nicole and I think her ink is almost dried out she's used it so much.

Matthew enjoys the Magic Tree Houses series. He was happy to get these. This year our Christmas was small and very personal. We didn't buy gifts just so the kids would have a few more things to unwrap. We went slow, laughed and enjoyed unwrapping each gift, and when that part of the day was over we were thankful for what we received and had tons of fun playing and sharing.

I felt the spirit of Christ this Christmas stronger than I ever have before. I hope to be able to replicate it in Christmases to come. I hope all of you have a wonderful day too.

Probably the Funnest Weekend in the history of my LIFE!!!

On Friday at 6pm, my friend Liz called me. "Ben got home early, we can go." I told her I'd be ready in 20 minutes, hurried and finished up last minute packing--I'm a procrastinator, and then went to pick her up. As we were pulling on the 10th St--the main road in GB, I called another friend, Angie and told her we were on our way. A little over 2 hours later we checked into a hotel in Wichita--without husbands or kids.

That evening we went to a restaraunt called The Rowdy Beaver and we ate fried pickles among with other yummy appetizers. Angie and Liz liked the pickles, I thought it was kind of gross, but I liked the idea. I'm just picky about the kind of pickles I'll eat. the rest was tasty too.

The next morning, we ate breakfast at the hotel before checking out and it was the best customer service I'd ever seen at a continental breakfast. Way to go Hampton Inn West! The lady there was making sure everyone was eating good and getting more than enough. At one point she was clearing out table and picked up a spoon, I told her we were taking it with us and she told us to be sure to put some fruit in our purse while we were at it. I think that is a job I could do when I'm older! She was really fun. Her name was Sheila.

After breakfast we went to approzimately 10 stores in 10 1/2 hours.

Kohls

Burlington Coat Factory

Famous Footwear

Walmart

Scrapbook Memories

Hobby Lobby

Stop for Lunch at Red Red Robin

Stop for Gelato by Red Robin

Target

Stop for Steamers at Starbucks

FYE

Old Navy

Lane Bryant

We left Wichita at around 8:15 and got home at 10:41pm. All the guys were at my house watching BYU get stomped.

Highlights of the trip...

There was a girl who worked at Target named Dedra who spelled her name the same way I do. I've never seen that in my life. She too said her Mom and Dad didn't know how to spell it when they named her that. I personally love the way my name is spelled and I'm glad it's not the traditional spelling--Deidre.

Liz found 2 pairs of jeans that fit her. and they were less than 30 dollars for both of them on super clearance. She was extatic, we were happy for her because she was so excited. What woman doesn't feel joy when they find a good pair of jeans!!

We had a GPS with us--affectionately names Lola--who got us to most places with little or no trouble. Sometimes we went the scenic route and she did tell us that Red Robin was over 100 miles away, but Liz called Ben and got us a better address, then Lola led us there flawlessly.

We LOVE Gelato! None of us had ever had it before. I had Creme Brule, Angie had Coconut and Liz had Pistachio. We all tried each others, all 3 were delicious!

I'm DONE with my Christmas Shopping, and after I finished wrapping everything last night, I was able to put aside a few gifts, so their birthdays are done too.

Thank you to Ken, Ben B and Ben D for watching the kiddos so we could have a night away. It was so much fun and much needed.