White Christmas

This was the first year since we've been married that we spent Christmas alone...just us and the kids. But a few days before Christmas, we decided to head up to my parent's house in Twain Harte. They had gotten all kinds of snow and we even bought chains just in case we had to use them (which we didn't).

We spent Christmas Eve reading from Luke 2 and Colin acting out the reading with his Little People manger set. Then the kids got to open two special traditional gifts: new pajamas and an ornament. Mike got to open a new ornament, too. Katie was the first to wake up on Christmas Day wanting her morning bottle and I sat with her in the living room admiring the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. About an hour later, Mike came out with Colin and it was so neat to hear Colin scream with delight that Santa had come. This is the first year that Colin understood about Santa and that made me so happy!

We couldn't sit around too long on Christmas morning because we had to leave to head up to my parent's house for the rest of Christmas Day. So with kids and dog in tow, we made the trip up. It was beautiful weather all the way up until we got a small snow flurry just east of Sonora. We drove ahead of the storm and arrived safely in Twain Harte. Grandma and Grandpa had more presents for the kids, and Colin loves the Nerf Gun! It was great to just relax and enjoy the snow.

We are so glad we made the trip to Twain Harte. The snow was beautiful and Colin had so much fun playing in the snow and sledding down my parent's driveway (it makes a good sled run when it is icy) and their street. Colin had never been sledding before and it only took one time with his Uncle Jason for him to see how fun it was. He must have been out in the snow for a good 3 hours...thanks to the great snow clothes my parent's keep on hand for all the grandkids. He kept as dry as a bone...no wonder he didn't want to come in. It was so fun to hang out with my parent's and help my mom cook for our side of the family's Christmas that was held at my aunt's house in Brentwood (Bay Area).

Saturday morning we packed up and drove out to Brentwood for the festivities. We were going to leave that night to drive back home, but the time to leave came...and we didn't want to go. So we camped out at my aunt's house and left the next morning. We had decided that since we were so close, we would go and see Mike's brother, Tim, who lives in Oakland. As we were driving to Oakland, we made a sidetrip to Pleasant Hill where Mike's dad is buried. I was so grateful for the promptings to head up there and got some great pictures of Mike and the kids next to his dad's grave. We had a great time visiting Uncle Tim, but I can't say the same for Lola (our dog) who did not get along too well with Tim's dog, Devin. She had to stay out of the house for the visit because they just kept baring their teeth at each other. I think she was just protecting her family from the "mean" dog inside.

We left Uncle Tim's and was on the 580 when we saw the Oakland Temple to the left of us up on the hill. You know we couldn't head all the way home and NOT go visit the grounds! We were married in the Oakland Temple, afterall. So Mike took us through his old neighborhood (just down the street from the temple) and passed the house he grew up in and headed up to the temple. We walked around the top of the temple terrace and got some great photos of the kids. Luckily, there was another family taking pictures in front of the temple gates and they kindly agreed to take some pictures of us. I think we got a great family photo (Katie' fat lip and all...that's another story). In all, we had a great Christmas this year.

As I look back, I am glad that we did have our own little Christmas at our house, and that we got to enjoy the snow and our family, too!

Colin and Katie in their new jammies on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning and Santa's gifts to the kidsColin helping Katie open up her new Little People CarnivalHaving fun at Grandpa and Grandma Johnson's Grandma helping Colin with a push down the driveway on the sled

Visiting Grandpa McCarthy's grave in Pleasant HillThe view from the cemetary at the top of the hillThe view from the Oakland Temple...you can almost see San FranciscoColin and Katie looking at the beautiful flowers up on the terrace

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

So I guess today would not be a typical Christmas Eve, for me anyway. I am used to being around some family for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It is just us today, though. But tomorrow we are driving up to my parent's house in Twain Harte for the next few days (thanks to a last minute purchase of tire chains!).

Mike has today, tomorrow, and Friday off, but he had to spend this morning at the Mazda dealership in Selma (about 25 minutes away because there is no Mazda dealership in Visalia) getting the car fixed. Our check engine light came on about 3 days ago and the car has been running a little rough in park and neutral and idling really low when it is stopped. Thankfully it was just a broken hose and was fixed in an hour, but man do they really get you on labor!

To thank Mike for taking the car down to get it fixed, I swept out the garage for him and stacked the bins back up and put all the cardboard boxes and garbage together ready to go out to the garbage bins. I left the kids playing in Colin's room, which is right next to the laundry room/access to the gargage and trusted that all would be well while I spent a mere 10 minutes out in the garage. So I finished up my good deed for my hubby and came back in the house. I noticed the hall bathroom light was on which meant the Colin was in the bathroom...no big deal. I turned the corner to the bathroom and here come Katie crawling out of the bathroom...which is also no big deal since she follows Colin in there all the time. As I looked down at her, I noticed a spot on her head...kinda reddish but not really sure. I thought she had conked her head and it was a bit of blood...until I got closer and it was more brown and I as I tried to wipe it from her head it smeared. I then realized it was POOP! Yelling at Colin I asked him what was on Katie's head and he quietly replied, "it's poop, mom." I yelled back, "yeah, it sure is! Where did it come from?!!!" Obviously it was from Colin who had decided that it would be funny to wipe poop on his sister, the wall, the toilet seat, his legs, and the bathtub! I was so fuming mad. I cleaned up what I could and quickly started a bath for the both of them. As I went to take off Katie's diaper to put her in the tub she also had pooped! What was going on here?! Are my kids pooping in sync, now?

So everything is cleaned up now...including the guilty culprit and his unsuspecting victim. Man, what a way to start Christmas! I warned Colin that he had to behave the rest of the day or Santa was not coming which, by the way, Colin has been tracking ont he NORAD site all day. I also told him that I am sure Zeek (see previous post) will have a mouthful to tell Santa on his last night. Zeek will be returning to the North Pole tonight and won't be back until next December.

Christmas Angels

Make a Smilebox greeting

More Christmas 2008 pictures

Make a Smilebox greeting

A visit from the tooth fairy?

The big event that happened today is that Colin lost his first tooth. We discovered that it was loose on Katie's birthday, 12/7, and he has been playing with it ever since. I offered to pull it out for him but he couldn't decide if he wanted me to do that.

Then, just 30 minutes ago, he walks up to me with a mouthful of blood. He tried to pull it out himself! So off to the bathroom we went and I took the pliers and pulled it the rest of the way out. He was a little upset and scared at first, but after explaining what it means to loose a baby tooth and that he will be getting his permanent tooth there, he calmed down and was actually happy about it.

I had to take a picture to document the big event with a picture. The tooth next to the one he lost is also loose, so I have a feeling that will be coming out before we know it.

I hope that Colin will be visited by the tooth fairy tonight!

Make a Smilebox greeting

It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want TO!

Since Katie's birthday fell on a Sunday, we just had a small little celebration with our little family.

Before I continue on with today's festivies, I must regress to yesterday's disaster. I made cupcakes yesterday (24 of them) and was just going to use a few for today and I was going to freeze the rest for her party next week. Well, the cupcakes got moved from the counter to the kitchen table so we could put garland up on the cupboards (the little needles fall from the garland everywhere and I didn't want them to end up in the cupcakes). We went to the ward dinner last night and upon arriving home and checking things over, I had discovered that all but 8 of the cupcakes were gone and there were only 2 cupcake wrappers left at the scene of the crime. Our dog, Lola, had gotten onto the table and eaten 16 cupcakes and the paper wrappers! I was so mad at her!! She hid in the garage for the rest of the night. Well, at least I had 8 cupcakes left to decorate and I did that today so that Katie could blow our her candle.

Here are some pictures from today's festivities:

This was from first thing this morning. Katie is ready for breakfast. It was tradition in my family to decorate for birthdays.

I wanted to get a photo of Katie in this dress. She looks so big here and so happy...then 5 minutes later...

...she had a complete meltdown! We didn't get home from church until after 1:30. She is so ready for lunch and a nap!

After lunch we decided to sing happy birthday to Katie and let her eat her cupcake.
Mommy helped her blow out the candle. Mmmm...those cupcakes look yummy!

Grandma and Grandpa Johnson called to wish Katie a happy birthday, and so did Grandma Arizona (McCarthy).

Mmmmm...cupcakes...good..

How old are you Katie? This is such an awesome photo.

Time to open presents...

Katie's first Madam Alexander doll from Grandma Arizona (McCarthy).

Katie's first "little purse." While we were in Arizona, Katie loved playing with this at Grandma's house, so Grandma sent one for Katie.

Katie admiring herself in the little mirror that came with the purse.

After a long day...Katie is nestled snug in her bed and off in la-la land. I think she had a good 1st birthday. Now we'll see what Saturday brings at her first real birthday party. Happy Birthday Katie-girl!

My Little Pumpkin is 1!

Katie Maurine McCarthy was born one year ago today at 12:13 pm. She was 7 lb. 12 oz., and 20 in. long. The most surprising thing about Katie is that she was born with red hair...and it is still red today. Never did I think that I would have a red-headed child!

Happy Birthday Katie! Here's a look back at your first year at life:

Katie's first hours of life, 12/7/07. All cleaned up and ready for my closeup!

Katie's 1st Christmas last year. She was still so jaundiced.

This is one of my favorite shots of Colin and Katie. She is about a month old here.
Katie's blessing - March 23. My dad, Mike, and my brother, Jason.

Colin is such a good big brother. He would love to help her with her bottle.

Sometimes Katie just loves to roll around on the floor.

One of her favorite things to do...use whatever she can as a walker.

Thanksgiving in Arizona

Early morning...ready to go to grandma's!

Can't travel without Silky Bear! it makes good head gear for the sun!

The "Death Star" house just over the Arizona Border. We love passing by this place everytime we see it.
One of the many trains along the way

The beautiful mesas along the highway in Arizona
We spent 10 days in Arizona with Mike's family. We had a great time and it seemed to go by so fast. After a harrowing drive home, we arrived safely Sunday night. Just posting a few pictures of our trip. These pics are of the drive down there. I took all these from the car while we were driving. I don't think they turned out too bad.

Zeek

We started a new Christmas tradition last year. It was a gift from Mike's mom.

A package arrived at our doorstep on December 21st of last year. It was from Santa and contained a story book and a very special elf. "The Elf on the Shelf" was read to our family insructing us about our new little friend. We were instructed to name our elf...to which Colin said we should name him Zeek. He sits around the house watching the kids and they can tell him what it is they would like for Christmas. Every night he flies back to Santa to tell him if the kids have been good or bad and the things that they told him that day. The kids are not allowed to touch Zeek or he loses his magic and will go back to Santa that very day and will not return. Santa has told the elf that he is not allowed to speak to others. Every day when the elf returns, he is in a different spot and the kids have to find him. The elf will return to Santa on Christmas Eve and will stay there until Christmas time next year.

Well, our little friend returned to us tonight and Colin was very excited to see him. I did not think that he would remember Zeek from last year, but he did. It is so cute to see Colin go up to Zeek and tell him what it is he would like for Christmas. If Colin starts to get out of line or is mean to his sister, I just remind him that Zeek is watching him and he stops whatever it is he is doing. Hmmmm...can Zeek stay around the house all year long?

I think this is a great tradition and I hope that Zeek will be with us for a very long time.

"Do Not Leave Unattended"

When a warning label says something like "do not leave child unattended," it is there for a good reason. I will always obey the warning labels from now on.

Glad to be Home

We spent the 9 days in Arizona visiting Mike's family and enjoying Thanksgiving with them. Although I was glad to be there and had a great time, I am glad to be home.

The drive took us almost 13 hours. It was a great drive home until we hit dead stop traffic. We drive the Tehachapi route to where Mike's mom lives. During the drive, the highway merged from two lanes to one lane, and about 7 miles after this happens there is a stop light. So we sat in traffic for more than 7 miles! It took us over an hour and a half to drive these 7+ miles. Needless to say that Katie pooped as we were sitting in this traffic! Poor thing! As we finally approached the stoplight, we pulled out of traffic by a gas station to just get out, stretch, and change Katie. When we hit Bakersfield at about 6:30, we hit a wall of fog. We literally saw the wall of fog as we approached it! Once we were in that, it was slow going all the way home!

I am thankful to be home, safe and sound and to find that our house was just as we left it! The only thing missing is our dog, who has been in a kennel while we were gone. I have to wait for the fog to lift to go get her!

ooooohhh...SHINY!

Well, we managed not to put child locks on the cupboards and drawers in our new house for long enough. I guess we ought to do that soon!

Photo Tag

I was tagged to post the 6th picture in my 6th photo album. It is one of Colin when he was about 4 months old and was just learning to roll over. I can see so much of Katie (his sister) in him. I can still see Colin, who is nearly 5 now, in this 4 month old picture. I love you, Colin!

Now I tag...Adrienne, Amanda, Mindy, Aubrey, and Karin to post the 6th picture in your 6th photo album (or folder). Let's see those pics!

I'm a DUP

What is a DUP, you ask? It stands for Daughters of Utah Pioneers ( http://www.isdup.org/) . I joined 3 years ago and this year I was elected the Captain for the camp here in Visalia. It is a great honor for me to be the captain at such a young age with so many other more qualified and experienced daughters (that's what we call the members). It is such a neat organization to belong to. My mom is a member and so was my great-grandmother. I love serving as captain and have learned so many things about the organization.

DUP was started by descendants of Mormon Pioneers, but you don't have to be a Mormon to join. You can become a member if your ancestor came to Utah before May 10, 1869 (when the railroad was completed). That means that any of your ancestors who passed through Utah territory between 1847 and 1869 weather because of the Gold Rush, Johnston's Army, as a Mormon Pioneer, worked on the railroad, as a trapper, and many more, can become a member. Even if you don't have pioneer heritage, you can join as an Associate. And even if you don't live near a camp or cannot attend meetings, you can be a Member-at-Large.

Many women would like to learn more about history and family research but don't know they can join. I am especially reaching out to younger women, like myself, so that we can maintain our membership. This year we are learning about the artifacts that are in the DUP Museum in Salt Lake City.

If you are interested, let me know! I can help you with the application papers (super easy to do!). If you are interested in coming to a meeting, we meet on the first Saturday of each month (September-May) at 10am. Our December meeting is a special one. It is our Christmas meeting where we have a regular DUP meeting (lesson, songs, pioneer story) followed by a luncheon. If you would like to attend and meet some really wonderful ladies, let me know and I can give you more details about where and when we are meeting.

I really hope that you will take an interest in becoming a member of this wonderful organization. Check out the website for all the information that you would ever need about DUP!

A woman has strengths that amaze,

She can handle trouble; carry heavy burdens.

She holds happiness, love, opinions.

She smiles when she feels like screaming.

She sings when she feels like crying.

Cries when she's happy, laughs when she's afraid.

Her love is unconditional.

There is only one things wrong with her -

She forgets what she is worth.