Christmas 2016

Well Santa has come and gone and I think he did a good job this year.

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents.  The kids got to decorate gingerbread houses and do a talent show, well 3 of them showed talents.  Aspen sang Silent Night and Paige and Ashlyn played the piano.  Then Grandma and Grandpa handed out the presents.  I got a bigger crock pot...which I hope to use more this year.  Colt got a fun toy.   I can't describe it but I have played with it multiple times.  Aspen got a coloring book but it is full of designs.  David got a laser measuring tape thing.  Austin got the Chick fil A calendar with coupons to Chick fil A.  And Hollee and I gave dad a Grinch onsie pajama thing.  He loves it...we hope.  Well after we did presents (which completely wiped out all the presents under the tree) everyone parted ways.  It has been raining a lot here lately.  but the kids and I drove to look at a few lights before heading home. The kids did FaceTime their dad and at his encouragement, Colt pulled out his second front tooth.  So he could really say "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth".

Colt and I read the book "The First Christmas" to Aspen and then we watched the movie "Elf".  It took me til 10:00 to get the kids in bed with strict instructions that they could not wake us up until after 5:30.  Well that was not a problem...David and I woke up around 6 and finally went to wake them up at 6:50.  Who has to wake their kids up on Christmas???  But once they were up, they were ready.  Right before we started opening presents, Colt got reminded that he lost a tooth and went to find $1 under his pillow.  He is one lucky kid to have Santa and the tooth fairy both come in one night.

Colt hit the jackpot this year, mainly because he asked for small things.  He received (I know I will forget some things) the Kilo Ren lightsaber, the game Battleship, a kindle fire, a pair of jeans, some playstation 3 games - College football and NBA basketball, a Star Wars backpack, Star Wars pj's, slipeers and a Star Wars indoor/outdoor tent.  He also got candy in his stocking with a football.  Oh and Aspen got him a R2D2 bop it thing.

Aspen asked for a laptop from Santa.  She was shocked when she got one.  She really couldn't believe that Santa got her one.  She didn't have much else to go along with it.  She did get emoticon pj's, slippers and a beanie boo.  She has been really happy with her laptop.  Lucky girl.

Since Christmas the kids had a sleepover with Jeramiah and Alijah at Grandma's house.  I brought some of the games we had gotten at Christmas and we played games for awhile.  I had an appt with my neurologist the next morning.  All went well...and I got my MRI scheduled the same day :)  I headed back over to my parents to see what they were up to.  We played a few more games.  Then I took the boys to see Rogue One.  It was a good story...not Colt's favorite because there wasn't really any light sabers.

Since, we have just been lazy and chilling at the house.  I have had the kids taking breaks between electronic time.  We have played games and completed puzzles.  And now it is time to get ready for the New Year and get ready to head back to real life.  Til next year!!!

Are we ready for Christmas??

I think so.  December has kept us busy but once I was done with work (which was only 2 days ago),  life seemed to calm down.

So over the past couple of weeks, the kids have sure had plenty of activities.  Colt got invited to 2 birthday parties, one at a karate studio and the other at Sand Hollow Aquatic Center.  Then both Aspen and Colt got invited to Trent's birthday party his mom threw at Sand Hollow.  Aspen got her own birthday invitation for a donut party.  Between birthday parties and Christmas, the piggy bank is getting low.  But the kids love going and it is fun to see how excited their friends get to have them there.

On December 17th, the kids and I did the 5K for Aspen's Girls on the Run program.  It was freezing cold.  I was dressed in two layers including gloves and was still cold.  I couldn't feel my feet at all and it felt like I was running on bricks.  But of course, after you start running you warm up.  After Aspen took off on me (and since the course ran back by the cars), I stopped by the car and peeled off some layers.  Colt started off in first place for about the first 3/4 of a mile, then a teenager passed him.  After I got my layers off, I decided to go find him and see how he was doing.  -The course was 3/4 mile out on direction and then back and another 3/4 mile out the other direction.-  I found him walking and gave him some water.  I helped encourage him to run a little bit with me.  He learned that played soccer and football really does help him with his running.  Once we got where he could see the finish line, I turned around and went and found Aspen.  She wasn't too far behind him.  I ran the rest of the run with her.  So no I didn't actually complete the full 5K (my training days have been far and few between lately) but I am just glad that I was able to encourage my kids to finish.

Aspen had her choir concert.  I love her choir.  They are so many kids who are in it and they do fun songs.   Aspen came and got me to do-si-do with.  I got a little dizzy from her spinning me all around.  The choir was supposed to sing up at Tuacahn but it was raining (it's been raining a lot lately).  She did get to miss school to go sing to some local nursing homes.  She was excited for that.

Aspen and Audra at choir concert

Colt also got new glasses and a day later he pulled out his own front tooth.  His other front tooth is loose so I told him to keep wiggling it and maybe he won't have his front teeth for Christmas.

On the last day of school, Arrowhead does a sing a long.  I finally made it this year.  Oh I loved it.  Each grade sings a Christmas song.  I was just sad that I didn't find Colt in time to film him singing his grade (2nd grade went first).  But I did get Trent, Paige and Aspen.  Colt sang Up on the Rooftop with dance moves.  Aspen's grade did a duet (the choir director is a 4th grade teacher).  I loved going to see this and am excited to go next year.

Jayden, Audra and Aspen

The kids got out of school one day before me so on Wednesday I had the kids come to my class for the party.  The kids had fun playing Kahoot with the class and my class was so nice to them.  The rest of their has been filled with electronics, shopping and a sleepover.  Tonight is the Chris family Christmas party and then it's bedtime.  The kids are super excited.  Til after Christmas

And so December begins...

Which means if life hasn't been hectic up til now, it sure does get busy.  David and I drove up to Nephi the Sunday after Thanksgiving to get Aspen and Colten.  Man was traffic crazy.  I don't ever want to do that again.  Luckily I wasn't driving but I could tell David wasn't thrilled to be driving in it.  We did hit a little bit of snow but it wasn't sticking to the road yet.  So I was glad when we made it home safe and sound.  We did have to stop for two different accidents.  Hopefully everyone was alright.

The kids went back to school for three days before heading back north with me for my work meetings.  My mom usually is the one who takes the kids while I have to go out of town but this time around she decided to get her knee replaced and take herself of out commission.  So I brought the kids to Salt Lake with me and their dad came and got them and took them back home with him til Friday.

My work meetings went good.  It is always nice to actually see the people I work with in person.  I tend to do lots of laughing those days...so it's good for the soul.  I also made it to a Fanzz to grab a present for David and myself.  It was so hard not to buy more but I did really good.  I got the kids on Friday and headed home.  We stopped in Springville so we could get a present from her for Aspen.  The kids liked visiting real quick with their aunt and cousins.  And man was it cold so we didn't sit and chit chat.  It took a little longer to drive home because I had to stop and rest my eyes and get some food.  The Beaver passes had a little bit of snow and it was dark.  But we made it home at last and all crashed for bed.

On Saturday, we pretty much had a lazy day, for the most part.  I was too tired to get any cleaning done.  But we did get the tree up and decorated.  Plus the rest of the decorations up in the house.  Austin volunteered to put up lights outside the house.  Colt had a birthday party for a friend.  Then that night was our ward Christmas party.  I tried to make mom's missionary candy but it didn't turn out right.  Luckily there were plenty of desserts there so no one noticed.  The kids did a nice job singing in the program with the Primary, despite not being there for 2 weeks.  Then they were able to sit on Santa's lap.  Then their Grandpa Higgins stopped by and the kids really enjoyed that.

The kids are keeping busy with their regular activities.  Aspen is still doing great in gymnastics (or so she tells me)  and is gearing up to do her choir Christmas.  I am looking forward to it as well.  Her choir director choses the best songs to do and the kids really have fun with it.  She is also getting ready to wrap up her Girls on the Run program with her 5K being next week.  I am supposed to be her running buddy...I haven't been running the last 2 weeks so hopefully I can at least stay with her.  she has also been working on a fundraiser for it.  She is doing pretty good.

Colten is still enjoying karate.  He should be testing for his purple belt in January.  He is keeping me busy with birthday parties.  He had one last week and then one today.  His class is huge and apparently everyone gets invited.  So he is happy to go spend some time with friends outside of school.  He was also excited to have me come read to his class (also read to Aspen's).  I read "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".  Then we gave the kids Grinch bookmarks.

We have been going to the public library almost weekly.  The kids like to check out books and movies and I like to get shows to watch in the morning while I work.  I noticed that there was an Art Club this past Friday so I signed the kids up for it.  They would be drawing Rudolph.  Aspen did a great job and is wanting to go back next time.  Colt took a little some time to get over his not being perfect but eventually he finished it and it doesn't look too bad.

I have been having mild headaches and woke up this morning to vertigo...eyes open or shut everything was spinning.  I don't like that feeling at all.  So I was pretty useless this morning.  I did finally get a nap in and am feeling a lot better.  Hopefully this doesn't continue and I can discuss it with my doctor at my normal appt instead of trying to go in and talk to someone.

Well I think that about sums up what has been going on these past weeks.  Here are a few pictures :)

Thanksgiving 2016 and a few other things...

The week before Thanksgiving, the kids had SEP week..which means early out all week.  Which is what every work from home mom wants.  Luckily there are only like 3 weeks like this all year.  So the kids understood that I had classes to teach and that they needed to occupy themselves.  But I did get a picture of them walking to the car.  Usually Colt beats Aspen.  I didn't get my phone out soon enough.  The kids were walking side by side and then I am sure Colt said "I can beat you to the car" and that was when I snapped the picture.  So just imagine them walking next to each other.

So this Thanksgiving break, the kids were heading up to their dad's for the week.  I met Grandpa and Sheila at the Paragonah exit on Friday.  They went and had a sleepover in Richfield before heading up to their dad's so our house has been more quiet than usual.

But the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, David and I were watching an episode of 24 during my lunch break.  I went to the kitchen and stepped on something.  I went back to pick it up to throw it away but it was squishy.  So I went to grab some paper towels and turn on the lights.  I said out loud "what is on the floor" and then leaned down to get it and it hopped.  Yep there was a little frog in the house.  (It had been raining most of the morning).  Totally freaked out screaming...there's a frog in the house, there's a frog in the house.  David was like "well get it out...how did it get in here".  I went and got the broom and was trying to encourage it to hop towards our back door, which David had opened.  But David soon took over the broom because he thought that I was getting it to jump closer to him.  So I videoed it instead.  Crazy, crazy.  We did get it outside and haven't seen any more inside since.

Baylee, Alyssa and Alanah came from California on Wednesday night for Thanksgiving.  That meant that we were going to be cooking Thanksgiving dinner.  I was super anxious about it and didn't really sleep.  But I got up, got the potatoes in the crockpot (genius idea) and then watched TV til it was time to put the turkey in.  Everything turned out great.  David got some pictures with his kids (we were missing Aspen and Colten - haven't had a family picture wince the wedding) and then ate up.  After dinner, I went up to my parents to visit with Hollee and Darcee.  Darcee made caramel popcorn and I sat and ate it for 10 minutes straight out of the bowl.  Tons of pictures were taken as the 4 Chris girls ate out of this huge bowl.  Lots of fun.

I was able to FaceTime my kids early Thanksgiving morning and we were able to talk for a little bit.  Sounds like they are having a good time.  Break is ending way too soon but I will make the most of it.  And now I am caught up...for the time being :)

Soccer ends..

There were two games in November this year (due to things going on at the college on a Saturday).  But luckily the weather held out and it was nice weather to sit and watch some soccer.  Luckily Colt didn't have any 9:00 games this year.  Those would have been a little chilly.  Aspen has really enjoyed her team this year.  She wasn't on her regular team.  She also enjoyed playing goalie.  I think she likes to be the only one who is allowed to use her hands.  Plus she has a really good kick so she can get the ball down the field.  When she wasn't playing goalie, the coach would often tell her to do corner kicks to try and get the ball in the center for her teammates to kick it into the net.  Didn't always work out that way.  The coach also like that Aspen listened to him and didn't take too long to respond to his request.  I think in the spring we are going to try out softball for her.

Colten did really well in soccer this season.  He isn't scoring a lot of goals but he sure is stopping quite a few so to me, that's the same thing.  I think he came a long ways in learning the importance of passing the ball.  Unfortunately all the boys only showed up to like 2 games so it was hard to get into a rhythm.  With Colt's team, we did an party at the park after the season was over.  The boys sure did enjoy playing together.  It was fun to talk to the parents without trying to watch a game at the same time.  Colten will be doing basketball this winter but at least we have a little while before that starts up.

Halloween 2016

Ahhh my favorite holiday...not so much.  But nonetheless I survived this year.  Aspen got a costume form her friend Audra.  They were going as the devil and an angel.  I got Colt's costume last year...a teenage mutant ninja turtle.  I was able to go to the school's costume party (I usually have meetings during that time so I was glad I was able to go)  The kids looked so cute.  The first lap Colt was walking and waving to everyone.

Audra wanted to come trick or treating with us this year.  So we hit up our wards trunk or treat before heading over to our old neighborhood.  Man did the kids come away with a ton of candy.  I learned that Colt is not a huge fan of getting lots of candy.  He would much rather go home and get his electronic time but luckily I had just parked the car and so he had to go until we were done.  We didn't make it to the house that does the carnival games so Aspen was a little bummed about that but overall I think the kids had a good time.  David and I have helped them get rid of their candy.  We still have a little bit left but not much.

Oh and we had the annual Chris/Watkins Halloween party.  Aspen had wanted to make creepy cupcakes (a recipe she found in her library book - it was a cookbook).  Grandma had gotten all the ingredients that she had written down...well she apparently didn't get all of the recipes written down.  So we scratched that and did sugar cookies instead.  Then Aspen, Colt, Jeramiah and Alijah decorated them.  At the party they played a few games including wrap the mummy and don't eat Frank.  Then Paula or my mom had picked up a project form Home Depot and the kids all made a little whiteboard.  Luckily Jonah was there to help me and my kids with theirs.  Colt wrote a cute message on his for me.  It is still on there almost 4 weeks later :)

My fall break = Dodgers game

David is an avid Dodgers fan...luckily he doesn't have to watch all 180 games of the season but does like to watch playoff games.  David kept saying it would be nice to go watch the Dodgers play in a post season game.  He had wanted to go for the divisional round but work just didn't pan out.  So when the Dodgers made it to the NL Championship round he walked in after work and wanted to go to the game that day.  I didn't have work and had to reschedule my infusion but we made it work.  So we headed down to LA, watched the Dodgers lose :(, also watched Cub fans get kicked out of the stadium for taunting (most of them were drunk) and then drove back home.  I had my infusion on Friday morning at 8am...I am not used to having infusions that early and didn't drink a lot of water before hand but they were still able to get an IV in.  I was freezing though.  I had 3 blankets on me.  Two laying on me and then one wrapped around my back.  The ladies at the infusion center are so nice to take care of their patients.

I don't remember much of that Friday...I think that is the Friday my dad, David and I worked to repair the dryer.  Luckily, we did get it fixed.

A few other things from October

So when we moved back in July, I had a feeling I would be going back in the primary as sure enough the second week we were there, David and I were called as primary teachers.  Well they hadn't done their program yet (lucky us we got to do 2 programs this year).  The chorister is a real fun girl that comes up with crazy ways to encourage the kids to see the songs.  She made this crazy hat and each of the teachers had the privilege to wear it.  Aspen came over to take a picture of me in it.

At our new house we live by a golf course that has a pond with ducks and swans.  We go by this pond while going back and forth to school.  The kids asked and asked to go feed the ducks.  I was a little nervous about it but finally we went and it wasn't too bad.  As long as no one is on the hole, we aren't bothering anyone.  The ducks will just come up to the kids.  The first time we went, the kids just threw the bread into the water.  The second time the ducks were already out of the water.  We even got some of the swans out of the water.  The kids sure do enjoy that.

Oh man I have been horrible

Yes over a month has passed since I last posted :( I don't have an excuse...just plain lazy I think.  I have a reminder that goes off on Sunday but it's football season.  I need to change the time of the reminder.  So I will do my best to catch up on what has been going on in our little world.  I am not getting off the computer until I am caught up...unless something distracts me :)

So way back in October we had fall break.  Washington county and UTVA's didn't align this year.  So I was working during the kids break so yeah that was fun.  But on Thursday Aspen's best friend Audra had her birthday party and Colten went up to Grandma's to play with Trent.  So they were pretty well occupied.  On Friday, if my memory serves me correctly, Colt went over to his friend Jesse's house.  He was there for 3 hours and that still wasn't enough time.  Since there were no soccer games on Saturday, I took the kids on a little hike.  This was my first time doing the Chuckwala trail up Bluff street.  Aspen had done it last summer with her activity days group so she led the way.  I didn't see that Colt had worn flip flops out of the house so yeah that was fun.  But we made it to the turtle rock (I think that is what it is called) with only a few times of Colt stubbing his toes.  The kids were complaining so I suggested playing "Would you rather".  I don't remember everything that I learned about my kids but it sure was interesting.  And of course the situations they come up with was funny too.  I definitely learned that my kids are growing up :'(

Anyway here are some pictures from the hike.

After the hike, I took the kids to the firehouse park.  They had asked to go to the new all abilities park but I didn't feel like fighting the crowd.  It had been awhile since they had been to this park so it was good entertainment for them.  They liked to have competitions of who could run through the obstacle course faster (Colten won this one) or who could go across the monkey bars fastest (Aspen won hands down) or who could keep the spinny thing going the longest.  I was the time keep and they loved to see who was the best.