A depressing day!

You know the song "I cry the day I take the tree down"? Today we put all our christmas decorations away for the year. I did'nt quite cry but I do think it is pretty depressing when everything is gone. Our house looks and feels very empty now. I tried to argue with Chris to keep them up until after New Years. but I lost. Chris' Mom usually takes her tree down the day after christmas and my family keeps it up until after the new year but, I figured if I was going to have help this weekend, today was the day. After it was all gone Chris was saying don't you think it feels so much better? NO! I just keep looking around and have decided I need to start investing in more "every day" decor. My mantle has nothing on it and I have become a custom to having stuff on it for the last three months. Our house just feels empty. And I just keep wondering why did'nt it bother me the first four months we have lived here? Anyhoo I was talking to my mom earlier today and she told me she feels the same way. Does anyone else feel this way after christmas or is it just in my family?

Check out my Slide Show!

Christmas!!

Although we missed many family and friends. Christmas day was a great day for our family. Chris had to work on Christmas Eve so the kids and I watched Polar Express that night. We worked it out with Santa so he would visit us during nap time. Chris came home christmas morning and we had a nice Christmas Breakfast. Then we waited for nap time so Santa could come, and Chris could try and get a little bit of rest before the kiddos woke up again. We finally had to wake Ty up so we would have time to open gifts and make it to dinner on time. We were so blessed. The kids had so much to open between Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles, and don't forget santa gifts. they were on "present overload" we had to leave some gifts to open until after we got home from dinner at the Murphy's. The day seemed to fly by so quick but it was still such a wonderful and semi-relaxing day. What a wonderful time to think of our Savior and all he has done for us. I hope you all had a great Christmas too! here are some videos of our day.

Cookie Exchange Party

You’re invited to a Holiday Cookie Swap!
Leave the kids at home and come take a break from the holiday rush to share the Christmas Spirit with the Girls.

Hosted by: Corine Cook
Date: December 19th
Time: 7-9pm
Place: Corine's house
RSVP:
By December 15th

RULES:
All cookies must be homemade
No duplicates…RSVP as soon as you can. Let me know what kind of cookie you will be baking
No Chocolate chip cookies, Rice crispy treats, or store bought cookies
Please bring copies of your cookie recipe to share
After everyone RSVP’s I will contact you to let you know how many cookies to make (1/2 dozen per person plus a dozen to enjoy during the party)
Pre-package cookies to be handed out
Arrange the cookies to be enjoyed on a platter or basket (be creative!)
No husbands or kids unless they are “attached”
Girls Only!

Tonight was my first cookie exchange party! I had such a fun time! I have been thinking about tonight for about a month now. Ask anyone who knew I was throwing it, and they would tell you that this party was all I could talk about. Every day I was thinking of what I could do and how to do it. The first of December the invitations went out and after reading every website about throwing one of these or any party for that matter. They all tell you to invite more than you expect to come. so that is what I did. Just about as soon as I gave the invites out, the rsvps came rolling in! Every invited person said they were coming. What were those crazy party planning people saying!! Did they not realize I was inviting a bunch of stay at home moms desperate for a girls night out? I started to panick how in the world am I going to fit 17 people in my little living room? Oh well I guess we will figure it out. so I went on with the plans. Until this morning everyone was still planning on coming. Then, I got a few phone calls My kids are sick and one who was feeling sick herself. so I guess the party people do know what they are talking about after all :) Anyhoo we had a great time. Everyone left with eight dozen cookies, sixteen different kinds and a major sugar rush. Wow what a fun night! But I'm glad its over. now its time to focus more on Christmas. can you believe it? less than a week. Where has time gone? good thing I got all my shopping done. Infact that is what Chris did. He took the kiddos out during the party,took them on a date to Culvers and did his christmas shopping I'm so proud for him for getting it done before two days before christmas. Now who is going to wrap those gifts?

My friend Jamie made this winter wonderland display for her yummy cookies it was

super cute!

Here is the display of cookies for all to sample before we took our own packages home seriously what a sugar rush! Good thing I had the cheese ball to try and balance it all!

She is Walking!

Lucy is finally Walking!!! We took this Last week so she is still a little wobbley in the video, but one week later she is all over the place. Actually she is trying to walk quicker than she should and is making me pretty nervous. But I think she is just as excited as we are to see the world at a different view. Lately she has this thing about standing on her head so that is what else she is doing. She thinks its fun to play peek-a-boo this way. Sorry about the sideway view.

Christmas

So I acutally took these pictures a while ago. More like the day after Thanksgiving. I was pretty excited to get rid of my fall stuff and move on to Christmas. So here is Ty helping us decorate the tree it was pretty fun. He was so excited about everything we would pull out. When Ty found the stockings the next thing I knew he was wearing them. He is so much fun to have around and is always making us laugh. The next morning Ty found the big cookie platter and insisted on eating his waffle on it for breakfast. Have I mentioned he is a funny Kid?

Fun Times With Grandma Kalakis

My mom visited us this weekend and we were loving it! Though to short we still had a great time! Ty loved that he had a sleep over with Grandma and Lucy was loving being held any time she wanted. now that Grandma is back home Lucy is trying to figure out who is going to hold her all the time? Back to real life, Mommy has to clean and play catch up on laundry because you don't do those things when you have company! We had a good time playing pirates and making santas gingerbread house. And I was glad to have my shopping buddy with me it was nice to to spend that time together. We Love you Grandma!

I've Been Tagged!

Rules:List 6 somewhat interesting,mabye unknown things about yourself and then tag 6 friends

1. I LOVE to go to Garage Sales! I think I truley have an illness because if I see a Garage Sale sign I honestly have a physical reaction and I have to go at least drive by. Most the time there is nothing but I have found some awsome deals. I bought a large chest freezer for 20 dollars at the end of the summer.I was so excited!!... wait... Im still so excited! How could you not love garage sales!

2. My senior year of high school I was in the Miss Murray Pagent. I probably never would have done it but the pagent director was a teacher of mine and kept bugging girls to do it until they said yes. I never expected to win (especially with the lack of talent) and never did but it was still a fun experience.

3. I'm actually a pretty shy person. I don't come out of my shell until I feel comfortable. I cant count how many times after I have made a friend they tell me..."I thought you were a brat until I got to know you" I really have been working on being less braty:)

4.I love to Bake (and eat the baked goods). Since we have moved here, I had been without my own cooking stuff for so long I kindof went crazy excited to use my own stuff. It got so bad Chris started asking what was for dessert every night. It has slowed down but I still love it and am constantly thinking of what to bake next. Actually I am hosting a Cookie exchange party so I can bake more. (too bad we gain weight along with eating the goods)

5. It sounds kindof pycho but I really have a fasination with Serial Killers. I'm just so interested what the heck is going on in their messed up heads. Chris thinks Im crazy so it's okay if you think so too.

6. I hate washing Dishes!! I will leave dishes in the sink until I can put them in the dishwasher and if the dishes are too big to go in the dish washer they stay in the sink until they drive me crazy or if I know someone is coming over. which ever comes first.
I tag: Tiffany F., Tiffany S., Rachel, Kirin, Alison, and Mitzy

Outdoor Fireplace

The other day Chris decided he really wanted an outdoor fireplace. I have been wanting one since we moved here so when he suggested it I jumped on the idea. Ty loves it, every morning he wakes up and says " can we go start a fire and burn marshmallow's?" I think it was money well spent.

Bragging Mommy

So, earlier today I was going about my business cleaning up toys for the tenth time when Ty kept saying "Mommy Mommy Look" After I finally noticed he was trying to get my attention he said "Look Mommy my name!" I looked on our table and he had arranged his cars to spell his name. I was so impressed I had to take a picture of it so I could show Daddy after he woke up. so I thought I would share it with everyone too.

Trunk or Treat

On Lucy's Birthday we also had a ward fall festival. We did a Trunk or Treat afterward so all the kiddos got to dress up in their costumes. Ty was so cute he ran around all night yelling "to infinity and beyond" Lucy was supposed to be Tinkerbell or a fairy but because it was her birthday I couldn't help but put her birthday crown on. She was a little mismatched but I think she was pretty cute!

ONE YEAR!!!!!!

Lucy turned one year! Other than being a little cranky because she is teething I think we all had a pretty good day. I was excited because she now has toys of her own and I don't have to fight with Ty to let Lucy play with his toys. Now I get to tell him "Ty, they are Lucy's toys let her play too!" It makes me crazy but when they do play together it's priceless.

Ty turned three

I can't believe how fast time flies! Last Friday Ty turned three. Because we don't have family out here to celebrate, we went to Red Robin and they sang to him. The next day we had invited a few families over for cake and ice cream. Only one family was able to come but Ty didnt seem to notice. He was just excited to have friends over to play with him.

Miss Lucy is ten months old in a few days and is so full of energy. She is already pulling up on the couch and crusing. She is alot of fun and we are so glad to have her as a part of our family