Oh Girl!!

Our own little Fairy!!
Maddalyn got fairy dress up stuff for Christmas. She managed to wear every outfit within a two hour period. She then took her brush and mirror and let everyone take turns holding it so she could look in it and comb her hair. Oh man, I have my hands full.





Tea Time
Maddy got a "tea" set for Christmas. Victoria was being a good big sister and the two of them were playing and I snapped a few pictures. We don't encourage tea or coffee at our house so the girls kept playing as if they had hot chocolate.

I couldn't imagine not having a little girl. I am truly blessed to be the mother to two of them!

Merry Christmas!

It has been a very busy weekend at our house. We have had lots of people in town and staying at our house not to mention the back and forth between families for Christmas.



We started with Amber, John, and family coming into town on Wednesday. Jeff and Sandi came also but they weren't staying with me. Then on Thursday Mom treated all of us girls to a pedicure from my friend Holley. Holley came over to the house and did eight pedicures. It was great, I'm sure Holley was tired though! Then on Friday Blayne and I along with Amber and John (and all our kids) went to see Tangled. It was cute. Following the movie we went out to Oregon City for the Fletcher Family Christmas. We did this on Christmas Eve because Ashley and Jake were heading home early Christmas day. We had a great ham dinner with lots of pies for dessert. We enjoyed our time together and played some games. We haven't ALL been together since Victoria's baptism in June. It was great.



We left Christmas Eve at about 8:30pm to head for the Portland Airport to pick up Sean. He was flying in from Fresno to be home for Christmas. We finally made it home from the airport at about 10:00pm. I threw the kids in the shower and then hurried them off to bed, it wasn't easy but they managed to settle down by 11:30pm or so.

Christmas morning we woke up at about 9:00am, later than planned. We helped John and Amber get out the door an on their way before we let the kids open their presents. G'ma Mary, G'pa Doug, and Uncle Sean came to open presents. Then we made breakfast burritos for breakfast. After containing all the mess and enjoying the kids playing with their presents we headed out the door for my Mom's birthday luncheon.


Our annual tradition is to go out for Chinese food on Christmas day for my Mom's birthday. All of my Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins make it if they can. It is chaotic but a lot of fun. My family has grown so much it is one of the only times we try to all be in one place at the same time. Even then we are never ALL there at the same time. After lunch we hurried back to Sandy to go to the movies with Blayne's Mom and Dad and brother.



Finally after landing at home that evening. We got the kids to bed then watched a movie at home. By the time we made it to bed later that night, Blayne and I were both exhausted. We settled in for a well deserved sleep.

The Crazy Things My Kids Say.........

When Gavin lost his first tooth the following morning our conversation went like this.......Me: Gavin did you brush your teeth? G: Yes Mom. Me: Well, what did you do about that one missing in the front? G: Mom......(I love the look that goes along with this tone of voice!)

Several nights in the last month Maddalyn (age 3) fights going to bed. Her most common story goes like this........Maddy: I cared.....Me: Your scared? M: Yeah, Tori is making noises....Me: What kind of noises? M: Scary noises, like a bear. Me: Mads, Tori has to breathe, Go to bed!!! M: But her scaring me. Me: No hunny, she is snoring. Go to bed!

Victoria, the responsible eight year old she is, is doing her big sister duty in torturing and scaring her younger siblings. Sometimes it is all I can do to not laugh at the good job she does. I'm sure she gets it from her Dad!

Oh the joys of Motherhood!!!!

With this year quickly coming to a close I can't believe how much my children have grown. Victoria is thriving at school and can do no wrong in her teachers eyes, I even have the substitutes calling me aside and complimenting her.

Gavin has completely taken this kindergarten thing and is impressing us more and more each day. His teacher called him a math whiz the other day and it brought a smile to my face.

Maddalyn getting ready for Sunbeams in January is Mom's little assistant. I think some days I am assisting her more then she is me. I assist her in putting her clothes back in the drawers after she has changed them 3-5 times a day. I assist her in picking up the 15 books she has laid so neatly out in a line across my living room floor. I assist her in removing her shorts and flip flops and putting on her winter clothes.

I couldn't ask for a better job then being the Mom to the three greatest kids ever!!!

'Tis the Season

We had a great and relaxing Thanksgiving at the Yates house this year. We had Blayne's Mom and Dad and some friends from our ward. It was fun, I was able to set my table all nice and formal and then have the traditional "kid's table". After lunch the kids watched the new Ramona and Beezus movie, which is great if you haven't seen it.

So with November behind we are ready for winter and Christmas. Blayne is so excited, the mountain is due for an epic season this year. There have been a few days where they have gotten up to 36" of snow. The kids are all decked out with new boots for their snowboards. We went up opening weekend as a family and enjoyed the beautiful snow. Definitely gets you in the Christmas spirit.






The kids are thriving in the new charter school we have them in. They are still working on all the signage and mascot pictures for Victoria's chosen Timberwolves. We are excited to get t-shirts and sweatshirts.

Here's hoping everyone has a great holiday season and please enjoy preparing for a great Christmas!!!

Gavin turns 6!!

My boy is getting older as we speak! Gavin has decided he wants to take karate. It is all he ever talks about. Blayne and I decided to buy him a Gi for his birthday. He tries to wear it almost every day. We had the Moore family staying with us, he also invited Nathan and Ryan McNamee. It was pretty chaotic but fun.





Then, not even one week after his birthday he figured his tooth was loose. He found it Monday night and couldn't go to bed until he had pulled on Tuesday night. Then he was so excited to have lost his first tooth, he had the hardest time going to bed last night. He was so funny, I wish I could have gotten the commentary and pep talk he was giving himself int he bathroom mirror. Such and milestone, to lose your first tooth!!

Some stuff.........

The other evening while the kids were "sleeping" we went into the girls room to find Maddy awake. This wouldn't have been completely out of the ordinary had we not stumbled upon what she was doing.......







I couldn't attempt to wash it until we took some pictures. We asked what she was thinking and she told us she was drawing her family. I couldn't get mad, it was pretty sweet. Of course it was cuter before I took the paint off the wall while trying to remove it.

I took the kids to have their pictures taken today. I attempted to stop and take a few of my own before we got there. I found my camera with a dead battery. I was able to take the first picture right when I turned it on then it would die. I managed to turn it off and on then repeat the process before it completely died. Thankfully, I managed to get one.



On our way home from lunch with G'ma Mary, for Gavin's birthday, we managed to get a good picture of Mt. Hood. The snow is piling up and our family is getting very excited to go and play in it, Blayne more than anyone!

Halloween

Out with Halloween, now preparing for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The kids happened to have a very busy Halloween this year. It started with a neighborhood party, then the Ward Harvest Party, Blayne and G'pa Doug took them Trick-or-treating then they finished off the night by handing out candy to other kids. All and all it was a fun Halloween. We are thankful the weather held out and didn't rain or get too cold.




I hope everyone had a great and safe Halloween!

Cookies with Uncle John and Aunt Amber

Amber and John and thier family were at our house last weekend. We managed to make not one but two batches of cookies in that short weekend. All the kids climbed on the counter to be a part of the process. Amber was teasing the kids with chocolate chips. John makes great cookies. I was actually able to replicate his recipe after they had left.




Jonas caught on to us taking pictures and did his best to smile on cue. It was a busy weekend but all in all we have fun!

Fall has arrived!

Although I enjoyed the Indian summer we had I am happy to see fall and have winter on the way. I was driving home the The Dalles a couple of weeks ago and witnessed a beautiful sunset to guide my drive home. It was awesome.




Then today I was finally able to see Mt. Hood after the awesome storms we had over the weekend. I was with Mary and we had to pull over to take some pictures. "Blayne's Mountain", as my family calls it, is so majestic but becomes very inviting once you top it with 3 1/2 feet of newly fallen snow. It definitely makes you stop and take a second look.