Christmas photos

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

New pictures of our Rock Star Princess

A big cupcake cheese Who me?

I'm 4. You can have a shirt like mine!

My natural pose- mouth open.

Getting to know you.

This was on a friends blog and I thought I'd copy her. Please answer the following questions on your blog. Comment so we know to go read your answers.

What is your favorite thing about Christmas?

What traditions does your family have?

What do you usually like to give your spouse?

What is the most expensive gift you have given?

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

My answers:

What is your favorite thing about Christmas?

Giving (finding those in need), Decorating,

Cookie party (it's tomorrow night (sat) can't wait to see you)

What traditions does your family have?

Cookie party, Giving to others, Day after shopping,

What do you usually like to give your spouse?

Presents he'll like it's hard to surprise him.

What is the most expensive gift you have given?

A gun

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

The one I remember the most is Someone secretly game me green velvet. I wanted to make a green velvet dress real bad, Not the fake stuff and it was wrapped and left on our pourch.

I have many more memories that I cherish when I have been the giver but, sharing them ruins them for me. Sorry. I love finding those in need and being Santa. It's my favorite part. I wish I had an unlimited supply of money to do this part of Christmas. I hope I can teach my children this is Christmas it's all about the giving.

Please sign the petition!

You'll find a petition on my side bar. I'll leave it at the top for a few days and then move it down a little.

Please sign the petition to fight premature birth.

As the Mother of a premature baby I know the effects of premturity. We have beeen very blessed as Clarissa only spent 7 days in the NICU but, leaving your first baby in the NICU for 7 days was rought. Going home with out her was hard. Even worse than visiting her in the NICU would and could have been never getting to take her home. I feel like I can't complain about my 7 days when I think of that.

She is a very smart, active 4 year old as you can tell from this blog. Many others are not so lucky. I attribute it to that fisty attitude and disposition she has. I always say that's what got her here 6 weeks early and kept her in the NICU for only a week.

Please help educate others.

For Healthier Babies,

Autumn

Mother of a premature baby (Clarissa)
Mother of a Health full term baby (Hunter)
Educator
Former March of Dimes employee

Drama Queen

Did any of you hear any whaling and gnashing of teeth and moaning last night?

Did you hear loud laughter in the Henderson, NV area

Clarissa was trying out for Drama Queen of the year.

Or so I hope that is what all the racket was about. I'm afraid she has been paralyzed by fear. If you happen upon her in the next few weeks I'm sure she'll tell you the paralyzing story.

It's called 4, 4 year old shots.

She went to the Doctor last night and "he hurt her". (I didn't think she'd be getting shots til Spring so I didn't prepare her, so I do feel a bit guilty.) None the less I'm sure my writing can not do justice to the drama that has been going on at my house.

She screamed out with pain for hours last night. Could hardly walk out of the Dr's office. Told everyone there the Dr. hurt her and was mean. Advised the kids in the waiting room to not go back to see the doctor as they hurt you.

Screamed and cried like she had gotten stitches. Moaned as she walked down the hall and to the car. Was so hurt she couldn't eat a Happy Meal. But, could try a Frosty.

I had to pick up some items for school at Joann's and Michael's. She moaned as she walked around the stores, crying out in pain like she was beaten. As we walked out of Jo Ann's she screamed so loud the people 2 stores down had to look at her and me. (I have to tell you all the time I'm trying to not laugh, and telling her maybe she needed to go to bed if it hurt that bad. And we wouldn't be able to put up her Christmas tree). She moaned and screamed all the way home and fell asleep for a few short seconds.

She hurt so bad her dad had to carry her in the house (The only person who gave her sympathy). She advised her brother that doctors are mean and he shouldn't go see them. They hurt you. She continued to carry on like at the stores being able to do nothing. We didn't even put up her tree as she was to hurt. When she had to get off the couch to get ready for bed. She requested a walker to help her walk. She feebly crept down the hall for her PJ's and had to sleep on the couch due to pain.

In her defence I was up til 2 am peeling vinyl and she whimpered in her sleep and called out til about 1 am. (Which has me concerned, She felt fine). She woke this morning hardly able to do anything (according to her). I told her we may have to cancel a play date and she seemed to feel a little better.

Yes, we have a DRAMA QUEEN on our hands. Guess I got my money's worth from Hollywood Kids!

I think she could have gotten an Oscar for her performance.

It was so funny to watch our little drama queen!

May we see Red carpet in our future. Guess I should listen to those talent agents. I could spend my weekend in LA instead of at Crap shows (craft).

Letters from Santa, Elf coming soon.

Clarissa and Hunter both received letters from Santa in the mail last night. It seems he's been spying on them and seen a few naughty things they've done. He is even sending an elf to come watch after them. I have added a new tradition to my even busier holiday season. check out this site. http://www.elfontheshelf.com/

You can google and find out all types of elf sightings. I've heard he moves from room to room and reports to Santa each night when you go to bed. I can't wait for the elf to arrive.

Last night Rissa got all of her dolls in her room to get ready for the elf to come.

I have to say I truly am excited about this little elf. We'll report about him when he arrives.

Christmas letter

In my effort to be technologically savy, I'm posting my Christmas letter this year on my blog and then sending out fewer cards/ letters. So here it goes.

Merry Christmas to all

We do hope this Christmas letter finds you in good cheer. We have been blessed with yet another successful year of good times and good health.
Clarissa turned 4 this year and is quite the social butterfly. She was in her first play as a munckin and had her first dance recital. She loves to sing and dance and can't wait to be in more plays. She also loves to rider 4 wheelers with her dad. She is Daddy's little princess and has him wrapped around her little finger. She is excited to start school next year and be a big girl.

Hunter is still his Momma's boy and loves anything that involves dirt, to his mothers dismay. I swear he is a dirt magnet. He keeps baby wipes in business and mom criying with all the dirt. He loves to make his sister sqeeal most recently just by calling her Cassie instead of Clarissa. He is the BEST hugger and kisser. He loves to give hugs and kisses to his mom esp. before she leaves in the morning. He is a charming boy and we are told all the time he will be a heart breaker. I hope we can teach him to be prince charming.

Kent is on year 20 of working at Western Casework and still enjoys all he does there. He had quite the hunting season and we are looking forward to seeing more of him now that it is over. He finished our addition including laying my new bamboo floor in the additon and kitchen. I wanted it so I got it, and well it is nice.

I have spent my year running in circles with my house being added upon which I am greatful for, I have lived in a cloud of dust. I finished an additonal 16 graduate credits this past school year for a total of 29 in 2 school years. Yes, I'm crazy. I was accepted into the Las Vegas Crafters Guild with my bows and vinyl and thus my business took off. I have been doing large craft shows and kickin butt, That also means I have been staying up to keep up with demand. It's getting taxing. I'm still teaching 8th grade English and well I'm ready for a change.

The kids, Tutu and I started our year with a trip to the big D, Disneyland with our dear friends the Lindbergs. We only made one other trip to Disneyland this year but, I was lucky enough to go to FL for a conference and went to Epcot and got to see my grandparents too. Not to mention shop at some great southern outlets (heartstrings). We took our annual pilgrimage to MI via plane again. This is where I earned 50 grey hairs. Me and 2 kids on the plane. Yeah I think I'd rather run 30 miles up hill. I say everytime never again. (and then I agree to do it again for Christmas) We had a good time but, Poppy (my dad) spent most of our visit in the hospital, so Rissa was very sad. She is still a little upset over that but, we all know time heals all wounds. While on vacation we went to the Toledo zoo and saw how big baby Kalie and Louie had gotten and did not miss the zebra's (Rissa's favorite animal, missed last year) this year.The kids also got to attend their first Tiger's game! It was my first in the new stadium. It was grand. Hunter is now in love with baseball which is good since he doesn't even fit into 18months pants at 2 1/2.

That's about all for our travels this year.

I had a cow elk tag and harvest that in early Oct. Kent had a PIW tag and was able to hunt a lot (almost every weekend) this fall. He harvested a nice buck that we are hoping will appear in a magazine.

We are busy with all hte hustle and bustle to get the holidays ready and ourselves ready for our Christmas trip to Michigan. The kids are excited to see snow. I'm excited to see family again.

I'm so excited for blogging and facebook as I have been reunited with some dear old friends and now can't wait to see them in person again. Stay tune to our blog for the many things we do. We manage to keep life interesting to say the least.

Merry Christmas

P.S. We will add Pictures to this post soon

Enlightening news

I have to say I love my husband! That being said his message to me this morning struck a cord of panic.

He asked me the date to which I replied Dec. 1st. He then enlightened me by telling me Christmas was only 3 weeks away. (just in case I didn't know that).

I'm not sure why maybe it was the fact that he seemed so worried about it too. But, it made me panic. I'm pretty much done with my shopping. I'll tell you about that later.

I have a few presents to make and well. I've taken to gift cards for all presents that need to be sent any distance. I know lazy and impersonal but, heck I can give them an extra $10.00 as oppose to paying it in postage. I am getting to make a few extra presents as we are going home Christmas day.

My sister and Dad have been here since Tuesday and are leaving tomorrow. That has been great fun. The kids are sad to see them go. But, the good news in we'll be there in 3 weeks for Christmas, the bad news is I'm not sure when we'll see them next after that.

We'll I'm off to run errands and then get home. I'll tell of my adventures this weekend later this week. It has been full of fun and shopping.

nostalgic

I'm cleaning for the holidays today and consequently going through my kids toys. Hunter has baby toys left that he rarely plays with. I think the 2nd child grows up a little bit faster. I did good I boxed up a whole box of toys to sell at my yard sale in a few weeks. However, There are 2 toys I just couldn't take off the self. It made me feel like my baby boys was to big. He has this cute fisher price animal train and the stacking turtle thing. I love them they are so cute. I just left them. Maybe when he's 12 I'll take them out of his room. Okay before then but, still. It was so hard to go through toys. I boxed all the happy meal toys first and then those that were not age appropriate or haven't seen them play with in ages. I have friends who say they just get rid of all the broken toys and that does it. I'm happy to say I only found one broken toy in his room. I'm so glad my kids take care of their toys but, it does make it hard to get rid of them. I use the excused they are home all day unlike other kids thus they need all the toys. They do a great job of rotating. The only toys I don't think they play with a lot are the little people but, I think that may be my collection. As I had little people before I had kids, oops.

So I guess Hunter's room is ready for Christmas. He even has empty shelf space, bring on the Dr. Jones toys (Indiana Jones is his new favorite movie and they even have age appropriate Dr. Jones toys, he spotted them this weekend).

Now for the Princesses room. I'm going to let her help me. She has 2000 little things and believe me she has them all inventories. I know when ever I try to sneak something out I get caught. I'm going to bribe her with 1. Poppy and YaYa are coming and 2. We can put up her Princess Christmas tree in her room on Thursday if we can get it all clean.

Now off to finish the rest of the house.

Addictions

The boys at our house suffer from addictions.

Halloween has taken it's tole on poor Hunter. He came away with a Chocooolate addiction. I swear he is a chocoooooolate hound and can sniff the stuff out. The other day Rissa came to tell me Hunter was in the chocolate (mine you she was completely innocent, NOT). This is what I found in our family room.

Think this looks bad when I moved the couch to sweep under it later in the week there were more wrappers found.

And this was the cause of all the wrappers. It might not be so bad but, he can't eat the chocooolate with out wearing it too.



Such a disturbed face as his mean mom told him NO MORE CHOCOOOOOOLATE!

He has been sited walking back and forth in the kitchen saying chocooolate, chocooolate when he knows it's on the counter. I try real hard to put it up. I make these cute break in case of emergency chocolate kits for craft shows and he steals candy out of them if they are left unwrapped. I'm scared he has a serious addiction. My only hope is chocolate is not enough motivation to use the potty. But, it will get rooms cleaned and other chores done and dinner eatten. I see a big chocoalte santa in Hunter's stocking.

Just for the record us girls suffer from no addictions. We are not addicted to paper. I promise! The fact that I have 24 feet of wall space with nothing but 12x 12 paper proves it.

Rissa is not addicted to paper either, just because a girls has carried a Bath and Body works bag of reciepts around for a week and steals her mom's cute pads of paper at every chance does not mean she is addicted to paper. We use paper for writing and journaling and all that fun stuff one must do in life.

We all know that Dad is addicted to antlers (Hunting).

So as I see it we are a family of addictions.

Hunter- Chocooolate

Clariss and Mom- paper and scrapbook stuff

Kent- Hunting items

But, hey we'll go to our recovery meeting together and have fun as a family.

Just think. Hunter will provide the food on our Hunting trips that Clarissa and I will record the memories forever!

What a deal