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I know, so exciting. That really, truly is how I feel right now. I am so tired! I have gone to bed after 1:00 am the last few nights. At least one of my children wakes me up around 6 or 7 every morning (7:00, if I am lucky). So I am writing, just to write. I really could fall asleep right here! I am getting really excited for Christmas. This is the first year since Ethan was born that Jody and I do not know what we are getting from each other. That is his favorite way of doing things. He used to buy me stuff and then leave a receipt out or one time I came home and an Abercrombie and Fitch bag was on the couch... we had just been in there the day before and I did not need to look in the bag to know what was in it... I used to get in trouble for all of that. Well, that was in our condo and now we are in our house, so hopefully there are enough hiding places to go around! I am a bit proud of the fact that most of the gifts we are giving have been wrapped (one of my nights up until almost 2 am) so I do not need a hiding place :).
I am going to St. George with my sisters and Sydney Friday morning, so everything has to be ready when we come back on Sunday. We are hosting the Genessy family's annual Christmas Eve celebration, so I have been cleaning like crazy (yes, it is time to mop the floors again! lol). Then, a week later, we are hosting my grandma's annual New Year's Eve party. Lots of excitement in the next couple weeks. On that note, I am going to have a low-key night and make it to bed by 11. Season's Greetings (you know-- like wrapping presents, making and delivering neighbor treats/gifts, etc--- the whole sha-bang)!

Thanks

Thanks to all who responded. If you have not yet, I am still happy to hear what you have to say (see previous post).
This recipe is for some of my favorite cookies. I have been making them since I was pretty young. It is from one of the Highland 4th Ward Cookbooks.

Grandma's Gingersnaps by Thelma Chidester

1 1/2 c shortening (or butter, softened, makes better cookies!)
2 eggs
4 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 c sugar
1/2 c molasses
2 tsp soda
2 tsp ginger

Get some sugar (not the sugar up there) and put in a small bowl. Set aside.
Cream shortening, add sugar, eggs, and molasses. Sift dry ingredients and add to molasses mixture. Form into balls (says size of walnuts... I guess if you really want 5 dozen...) and roll into the sugar. Toss the sugar when you are done.
Bake on greased cookie sheets at 350 for about 12-15 minutes. Makes 5 dozen (only if you make TINY cookies)
Stick them in an airtight container with a piece of bread, and these are delicious and soft!

HELP! Please Respond!

My husband and I have an ongoing argument about the amount I pay babysitters. He thinks I pay too much and I am just going by what another mom had told me in the past. Will you PLEASE tell me how much you pay per kid, per hour? This would be a tremendous help. I really do not want to under pay and I don't want to pay too much either-- maybe I would go out more. Anyway I would appreciate feedback on this matter! Thanks!

Weekend Boutiques

We just squeezed into a show at the last minute! Tres Chic is making an appearance in two places this weekend- Oakley Holiday Boutique and Rocky Mountain Christmas Fest. Finally we have one that is close to me-- it is in South Jordan. If anyone wants to come, it is at the Salt Lake County Fairgrounds (or the Equestrian Park) 11400 South 2200 West. I am excited. This show is not exactly a boutique- it is a "show," we have to be there the whole time and there are many different things. There are some people with vinyl lettering, but other than that, there is Pampered Chef, Lia Sophia (and other jewelry) and many more (it is a pretty big building). There is entertainment, also. I was told that there will be a performance by Carmen Rasmussen, for all you American Idol lovers out there.
I hope to see some friends there! Have a great weekend!

The Wonderful World of Disney (and others)

When you have kids, you come to know all the kid movies and shows (unless you don't allow them...). When Sydney was born, the only way I could get Ethan to sit still- and not get into EVERYTHING- while I was feeding her, was to watch a show. So I have seen my fair share. I chose Life is a Highway (Rascal Flatts version) for Ethan's slide show because I have heard it a million times. I did not like it at first, but now every time I hear it, (Ethan yells CARS!) and I envision Mack making funny faces behind the other truck, and reminds me of road trips (which I love). It is one of my favorite kid movies.
This is not really where I was going with this, but I am going to side track anyway! The movie has such a great message. You can really get something from it! Just ask me, I have seen it, and the credits SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many times. I like to listen to the Brad Paisley song at the end 'When You Find Yourself.' And get sad about someone who died that I (obviously) never knew (there is a tribute in the credits). I kind of wish it was still his favorite movie. For a while, all we watched was Cars and Curious George (the movie and PBS Kids). In fact, one day I was trying to remember the website and I said aloud "pbskids dot..." and he filled in the "org" that I was missing... and he was just barely two. Ha ha. Another little side track-- I did not used to like Jack Johnson either. After CG, I do.
Anyway, I had to endure many hours of Peter Pan, Mulan, Monster's Inc, Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tail Spin (old Disney show), Dragon Tales, Clifford, Thomas the Tank (oh my this is THE MOST BORING show out there!) and more. Some of these are better than others, but thank goodness for the kid's movies/shows we can stand!

Pictures that have nothing to do with this post...

My New York baby-- in July Jody and I went to NYC and took Sydney along.

Here is Brooke and Syd overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge.

Grandma and Grandpa Harrison happened to be in the area at the same time. We met up in Bryant Park for 'Broadway in the Park'. I wish I would have listened to more of it-- it was fun.

A Great Read

I love the prophet. He is such an amazing man- he really has so much to offer. I love to hear what he has to say, and usually I need to hear it.
I really enjoyed reading this article. If you have time, please go and read it!
http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0f6920da30286110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=true
It is probably best read when the kids are in bed and cute :)

Candle Light Dinner

Last night, I was having dinner with the kids, and the power went out. Well, I walk through my house in the dark often , so that is no problem. But it was kind of funny to listen to Ethan come up with a fear of the dark. I lit some candles, since they (and the matches) were close. Then I grabbed one of the ten flashlights we have and I turned it on. It was pretty dim, so I went in search of batteries. The power came on by the time I had three flashlights all ready to go, but it made me think. For one, I was thinking that if the power was out for a while, I would be wishing my fireplace was a wood burning one, rather than gas. I guess the gas is nice, but it still requires a switch to turn it on. Then , I was thinking about the batteries. Sure, I keep AA around-- I buy them quite often, unfortunately. But D? I do not usually have those just hanging around. What if the power was out for a long time and for some crazy reason I was not able to leave? I don't know. I am always thinking that I would just run to the store or something. But what if that was not a possibility all of a sudden? I guess I made a resolve to be (at least) a little more prepared. I am guessing people in certain areas did not expect the crazy situations that happened, and even though we live in an area where not much happens, I guess that does not mean that nothing ever will happen. So here's to us all being a little more prepared, however we each interpret that!

My sweet baby girl. She vomited all over the two of us during her birthday party. Then, after we had opened presents, had cake n' cream, and were all cleaned up, she vomited all over herself and her cousin, Dakota. What a sad little party! She is a little sick zombie in this pic, in a weird position, but she is cuddling her dad.