Lucky Me

Handsome Hubby started this tradition a little over 10 years ago... every time I've been pregnant and can't reach my toes he's offered to paint my toenails for me.

This year instead of using what I had on hand he came home from his weekly grocery shopping with a smile on his face and a new jar of bright red nail polish in his hand. He wanted my toenails to be "festive for the holidays!"

I am one lucky girl! Thank you Handsome Hubby - I Love You!!!

The Professor's Contribution

Here's The Professor's contribution to our Christmas decorations - a giant gingerbread house - he had a lot of fun making it!

C & S Nielson's New House

For anyone who knows Stephanie & Christian - here's a KSL article with a video of their new house in Provo (Cjane hadn't posted anything on the article yet, so I thought I would pass it along), Handsome Hubby happened across it this morning... just click HERE.

Florida Grandma's Birthday Week

Happy Birthday to our Grandma in Florida!

We love you and look forward to seeing you soon!

Favorite Memories

OTG Boy: Great Southern Cooking/Food!

The Professor: Coming to my Baptism!

Bubba: Visiting Grandma's House & Going to the Beach!

My Own Christmas Angel

A couple of weeks ago OTG Boy had his Christmas Orchestra Concert. As busy Christmas schedules go it was the same night as December Pack Meeting. Since I'd already promised I would not attend any more Pack Meetings until after the baby (I always seemed to have problems the next day) Handsome Hubby covered that and I decided to attempt the Orchestra Concert. We arrived a half-hour early and to my shock - not an open seat left - not even an end spot - everyone was saving it for someone else.

I was just coming to the conclusion that "Orchestra Parents" reminded me a lot of "Hockey Moms"... you know pit bulls... lipstick... strikingly familiar anyway...

when another mother, whom I have never met, tapped me on the shoulder and said, "I've been in your situation one too many times, my kids can squish come sit on our bench with us." So as I sat there, with her five kids (who were adorable, by the way), I thought about how thankful I am that Heavenly Father would send me my own Christmas angel in my time of need. She didn't know that if I couldn't find a seat I wouldn't be able to stay... but as it was she gave me the opportunity to enjoy the concert and attend my first school function of the year! Truly a blessing.

And... OTG Boy did a great job! He is an excellent cellist and I love listening to him practice everyday!

Talk Me Into It

Our Speech Homework for the Christmas (I mean Winter - I'll never get used to that) Break - is practicing the art of persuasion... not begging... persuasion.

Definitely a worthwhile activity for this time of year!

So, for the next two weeks we will be practicing how to persuade someone, without begging, demanding, shouting or losing our temper.

OTG Boy's Ornament

OTG Boy was so excited about the ornament he made in Art Class on Wednesday he wanted to show it to everyone. He made it using tin and a stylus - and obviously had a lot of fun working on it!

Piano Man on My Hands

Bubba has been begging for piano lessons for a couple of months now - he just wants to be able to play songs like his brothers. Finally, I decided hey let's go for it - we started about a month ago with some very simple lessons.

Today, he was practicing by showing me all of the "E keys" on the piano... when all of the sudden he started swaying back and forth, moving his head from side to side and broke out out singing, "My baby loves me..." then threw in a few, "down down babies," (from the playground rhyme). I couldn't believe it, Ray Charles was being channeled from the great beyond right into my living room - the only thing missing was the sunglasses!

The Best Christmas Party Ever!

For anyone interested - Bubba's Primary Teacher held a wonderful Christmas Party for her Primary Class this last week. Bubba had a great time! For anyone interested in seeing the party pictures click here!

My Time of Year

My parents tell me they brought me home from the hospital - put me under the Christmas tree - and I'd stare at the lights for hours. Maybe that's why Christmas is one of my favorite holidays! I love everything about celebrating Christmas!

Good thing I love making homemade ornaments - it can be done while sitting! I also love watching my kids make ornaments - again... perfect for sitting.

I hope you are all enjoying this holiday time of year! I absolutely love it!

Perspective

When we lived in California Handsome Hubby and I were soooooo excited to plant our very own orange tree! Having grown-up in Idaho and Utah we'd never had a tree like this and couldn't wait to see what happened.

We were so proud of our little tree when it actually produced 5 (or maybe it was 6) delicious oranges!

Then we moved to Mesa and bought a house with 3 orange trees. We still love oranges... but I have to be honest - we are so thankful our biggest tree has only about half of it's usual amount of fruit this year!

In a year that's been so busy... and I've been so unable to help... I am so thankful for a smaller harvest!

Funny how your perspective can change.

Keep It Going

It's been a few weeks since we've had speech homework, but here's the latest... how to keep a conversation going.

When someone tells you something about their day, ask a follow-up question beginning with - how, who, where, what, when, or why.

This lets the other person know that you care about what they have to say.

I Love Bubba, Too!

When The Professor saw the blog about Bubba being OTG Boy's birthday present - he said, "that's not fair... I loved Bubba when he was a baby, too! Can you please put put a picture of me with baby Bubba on the blog?"

Yes I can... here are two of my favorites!

Our Crazy B-day Week

Around 5 years ago OTG Boy got a birthday present like no other...

A Baby Brother!

Okay, Bubba was born two days before OTG Boy's Birthday, but he did come home from the hospital just in time to help wrap presents and sing Happy Birthday!


Which in case you're wondering there is definitely not a shortage of sweets, or food at HaHa's house once Birthday Season kicks in. Here's a sampling of what's happening this year.

OTG Boy had a Golfland Party with a few of his favorite friends.

It was hard to tell which they liked more - laser tag or the bumper boats! Either way, a great party for a bunch of boys with never ending energy!

Food? Pizza, soda & Cake!

Then came Bubba's Birthday!

Food? Hot Dogs & chips (his favorite meal) & cupcakes!

Next, OTG Boy's real birthday...

Food? KFC and more cake!

Follow that with our Thanksgiving feast and... I think I'm understanding why our baby-on-the-way has such chubby cheeks.

If you think we're done... hold on...

My birthday is right around the corner, followed by Christmas (and all of it's parties involving food) and finally we'll be able to slow down once we're sitting around the table enjoying our New Year's dinner of ham, black eyed peas (for good luck) and of course one last dessert!

Happy Birthday, Everyone!

Getting Closer

First Things that Come to Mind:

Bowling Ball

Tired

Sore

Slightly Nauseous (yeah - only slightly!)

Hopeful

Excited

I need to start getting things ready - I've put that off long enough!

Favorite quote from my ultra-sound last week - the tech said, "I've never seen a baby this young with such chubby cheeks!"