WWSD...What would Santa Do?

I admit that I am taking full advantage of Santa this year. But really how long am I going to be able to play the Santa card? The time to play it is NOW. Dash is SO excited for Christmas that he will do ANYTHING to be on the "nice list". (I must side note that Dash has been VERY good this year! He has really chilled out and matured a lot in the last 6 months. He is really a GREAT respectful, loving little boy. On with the story) He is helping me with chores without being asked and sharing all his toys with his sister...well most of the time. But even the best of boys forget to make the best decisions sometimes. So I have coined the phrase in times of need "What would Santa do?" and Dash always stops and thinks about it then says "I don't know...he would probably listen to his mommy, be happy and give me lots of presents". The question is always successful in getting the kids to stop and think. Don't you think it would be funny to have little rubber bracelets made, just like the W.W.J.D. bracelets, that said W.W.S.D. Although you would have to specify that it stood for "What would Santa do?" and not "What would Satan do?" because that could be a problem. : )

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, and remember to ask yourself "What would Santa do?"

Weddings, Halloween, and more weddings

Shortly after I had returned from my trip to Utah this summer I got a call from my brother Sean. He was engaged and getting married in October. Well of course I had to be there so off to Utah I went for the second time this year. Unfortunately We didn't have the funds for the whole family to go so the kids had to stay home with Chris. Fortunately we didn't have the funds for the whole family to go, so the kids stayed home with Chris! More fortunately is that I have some of the best friends in the whole world! Our GREAT friends Nichole and Brock offered to watch Dash and Miley during the day while Chris was working at the VA hospital, and Kara took me to he airport. It was so nice to be kid free for 5 days! It was nice to have the opportunity to miss them.

On my way to Utah, during my layover at the Phoenix airport I realized that I had forgotten my temple recommend. The wedding was the next morning and I thought I was going to miss it. Chris scanned my recommend and emailed it to me. When Sean printed it off for me it was on a full 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. This is what I took to the temple with me. My family joked that I should go waring these nice coke bottle glasses and sporting a cane. When I showed up at the temple the old workers thought it was so funny! They had never seen anything like that before! I got in though! (I blurred the recommend picture for your viewing pleasure)


My brother Sean and his beautiful bride Tiffany. I LOVED her dress! If only I could do it all over again...same guy...different dress and hair.


Me and my sister, Amber. I stayed with her while visiting and came back a considerable better dressed gal. I love raiding her closet for hand-me-downs.
Carly and I had way to much fun putting together a gift basket for Sean and Tiffany. We forgot to get a card so we made one out for newspaper, foot bandage, and a contraceptive flier we found. It was pure genius and sooo funny. The envelope was held together with nothing but chewed up gum!!!

My nephew was such a ladies man. He danced with all the little girls!


Then came Halloween
I am on the activities committee, and helped throw a "Freak Show" Halloween party. We had ward members share their freaky talents and stupid human tricks. Miley was not officially performing, however she had many people taking pictures of her eating noodles. She was shoving them in her face as fast as she could. She made such a mess.




Gingerbread houses with Dad. While I prepared for our Halloween party. We had a bunch of friends over for a costume party. I managed to not take any pictures of it though. Dang it!

I helped throw a Halloween party for Dash's class. I took these pictures through the window as I was getting their snacks ready.
Then of course there was trick or treating. The kids made out like bandits! Dasha and Miley are both cowboys/cowgirls. Miley had a horse like Dash's but she was scared of it and wanted nothing to do with it. After all was said and done we had great Halloween week.
Jonathan and Karlee's wedding
Just before I flew out to Sean's wedding I got another call. My baby brother was engaged and getting married three weeks after Sean. I couldn't miss it so after just 3 weeks of being home I flew back again to Utah by myself. Again Nichole and Brock watched the kids while Chris was at the VA Hospital, and Kara took me to the airport and Dash to and from school. I am seriously so lucky to have such great friends!

My brother Jonathan and his beautiful bride Karlee.

My nephew Caden discovered that he could make a killing buy excepting tips for "refreshing" our drinks. What a crack up!
I am so happy for my brothers! They found great girls to be married to for time and all eternity. I am so lucky to have two more sisters that I love! In short I had an awesome month! Thanks Chris for letting me go!!!!

Lucky number 7!

Chris and I celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary on Sunday, November 15th. Here is a little flash back of us 7 years ago.
Chris I can honestly say that I love you more today then I did back then. Thank you for your love, respect, honesty, work ethic, and commitment for our family! I LOVE YOU!

Hiking at John Bryan State Park

Several weeks ago we went to John Bryan State Park for a hike. The leaves were changing colors and It was absolutely beautiful! The colors of the trees were so bright they looked like fireworks. Here are some of our nature pictures on our hike.

After our hike we stopped for hot chocolate and I taught the kids how to rake leaves into a pile and jump in them. I love fall in Ohio!

Just some randomness!

I couldn't resist a picture of my two good looking guys chilling out after church.

Just two best friends riding the range together!

I am discovering the perks of Chris working for an Optometrist (and soon being an Optometrist). Chris surprised me and bought these way cool Coach sunglasses, at wholesale cost, for me. Way cheap!

Dash is constantly asking me to make him costumes to dress up in. I feel sometimes like I am on a kids version of fashion runway. I have to come up with costumes on the spot out of things around the house. Lucky for me he is not very picky. This is his MONSTER costume.

I caught Miley potty training her babies. She is such a good mommy to those babies!

Miley has been pretty sick for the past few weeks with UTIs, ear infections, and other discomforts that come along. She wasn't sleeping well for a few days. I found her a couple times passed out in the middle of the day which is weird because I usually have to convince her it is time for a nap.

Burrowed in the couch for an afternoon nap.

We went with Dash's school on a field trip to the Circle S Farm and got to pick pumpkins, play in the hay and eat yummy donuts. Such a fun day!

More Tubes

Dash is getting another set of tubes put in his ears on Friday. His tubes are tilted and crusted over with blood and wax preventing his ears from draining properly. So out they go! I sure hope that this is the last set of tubes he needs. I am so done with ear infections.

Dash is back in school!

I have so much to post and so little time. Dash started school in September. He is attending preschool at the Y. It is such a GREAT program and we are so lucky to have gotten Dash into it. He goes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 - 11:30am. They even give him swimming lessons once a week. Dash is loving school so much that he wishes he could go every day. They have already taken him on two field trips. The first one was to Circle S Farm where they got to go on a hey ride and pick pumpkins from a patch, Play on the hay slides, pet animals, go in a hay maze, and eat pumpkin donuts and cider. Last Friday they took them to the Indian Caverns. Dash learned about where bats live, rock formations, and Indians.

New Batman backpack for Dash, old camel pack for Miley!

Dash found this bug on the tree outside his school. He told me his name was creature and asked if he could keep it as his pet.

It is amazing how fast he is learning and maturing. He is a totally different kid then he was 6 months ago. I sure do love this kid!

Miley's Week long Birthday Bash!

Chris's best friend and mission companion, Ryan Houghs, surprised Chris with a visit on August 19th. It was awesome! Chris had no idea he was coming. We had our friends the Bodells over for dinner. While I was setting the table Chris was looking at something on the computer. Houghs snuck in and was standing behind Chris then offered him the salad he was holding. Chris jumped about a mile! We loved having Houghs visit. On Miley's Birthday we decided to celebrate with Miley's favorite people...Jake and Kara Bodell and Houghs. We all went hiking in Hawking Hills then went out to eat at Texas Road House.

A week later I had a friend party for Miley at our pool. Needless to say she got a lot of attention this year and was very spoiled.