Guacamole Live!

Before moving to Canada I had to work as a server for a little while. It was actually a REALLY fun job! I had amazing bosses and fun coworkers. Plus it was such a fast paced environment, I can't stand boring, slow paced, desk type jobs!

Well, on our menu was something called "Guacamole Live." Pretty much we came to your table and made guacamole from scratch right in front of you. It is so YUMMY! I used to buy one and make it to take home, then eat that for dinner with tortilla chips... WOWZERS!

I made some tonight, so so good! Here is the recipe!

On The Borders Guacamole Live

2 Fresh Avocados
1 lime wedge (1/4 of lime)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon tomato, seeded and diced
1 1/2 tablespoons Fresh Jalapenos, diced fine
1 tablespoon red onion, diced fine
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped

Place avocados in bowl and mash until chunky. Squeeze lime onto avocado.
Add remaining ingredients and mix until desired consistency.

33 weeks...

Apparently my body is a major topic of discussion amongst my co-workers and visitors at the hospital. Here are some I have heard...

-You must be Pregnant... (You think? I don't know many people that get THIS BIG in the belly for nothing!)
-Wow, you are all belly! (Funny since I am 4 pant sizes up in my LOW RISE jeans! and 30 lbs of belly? I think not)
- Are you sure you're not having twins? (Okay, that's REALLY not funny!)
- Well, you're really starting to grow now... (Really? People think it is okay to say that?)
- You look so cute. (Ahh, I can accept that one!)
- I think you're having a girl, because you're getting big in the back. (Fabulous! I know that, but do you have to remind me?)
- I bet you're having a boy, because when you were pregnant last time with a girl, you looked so pretty. (Ummm, did I hear you right? That is just not nice!)
- Oh, wow, my daughter is due in February too, but she has only gained 10 lbs. (I will assume she was heavy to begin with, just to make myself feel better!)
- Your not due till February? Oh, Hmm, "strange look", You look like you're due now! (I think I will just cry now!)

So, all this is making me much more excited to get this baby OUT! Then, all the comments will hopefully "crossing my fingers" be,

- Wow, you lost the weight fast!
- You look so great!
- That is the most adorable baby :)
- Oh, he/she is so sweet!

Come on baby, help your momma out! Lets say... 3-4 more weeks, instead of 7. Deal?
I will love you forever if you cooperate!
I PROMISE!

Though, I already love you so much :)

INVICTUS...

Such a good movie! Makes me want to learn more about Nelson Mandela! When he was sent to prison, he had this poem written on a paper on his cell wall! Pres. Mandela seemed to be a pretty amazing man and did much to change a country! In the movie he gives this poem to the Captain of the South African Rugby team (Feeling he could heal a nation through this teams victory).

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

Though, in real life, Nelson mandela gave a portion of "The Man in the Arena" speech to the captian. Here it is...

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Councellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Eve!!

My father-in-law read this story to us tonight! How thankful I am to have everything put into perspective... just in time for Christmas! Merry Christmas Everyone. This one is a keeper. My father in law was teary at the end of the story!~

Christmas at the Gas Station

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go."

"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.
He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."
Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.

"You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.
"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."
George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.
George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.
"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.
As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."
George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease.
"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."
The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.
He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."
George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."
George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

"None for me," said the officer.

"Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.
The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.
"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.
"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."
The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!"
The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now."
He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away."
George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week."
George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."
He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."
The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."

"Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.
"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"
"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.
Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."
George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.
"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued.
"Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."
The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"
Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."
"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."
George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."
The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."
"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."
George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."
The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier.
"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said. "Now git home to your family."
The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."
"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."
George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"
"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"
"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."
The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.
The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."
George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.
"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."
The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."
George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.
"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."
George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"
Merry Christmas!!

Okay, the stress has hit me!!!

Every year, even when I was little, I start stressing on the 23d of December about whether or not I have enough and or the right things for everyone. I start worrying about my extended family and my nieces and nephews hoping their parents were able to get them something special!

It feels like such a dark cloud!! I start scouring my brain for last minute ideas to add to their stockings etc...

I wish I could just relax and enjoy the last few days before Christmas. But I just HATE sour faces on Christmas morning! I was talking to a friend today about how nice it would be if we could do Christmas like some celebrate Hanukkah (They get one gift per day for a set number of days, no extra, some days big some days small. And everyone knows that when the last day is there, IT'S ALSO THE LAST GIFT!) I hate to see that, "Is that it?" look on a child's face! Plus it makes my husband REALLY mad because he feels like they should just be ever so grateful for anything. I agree with him, but, what he doesn't get... is he is the same way! I get excited for what I got him, just to find out... it's not that great! BUMMER! It causes me to always want to go bigger and better every year! Not a good thing!!

I need to know how to bring the LOVE and JOY of the Saviour into my home on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Some favorite Christmas Treat Recipes...

My mom does not like cooking much so we never made Christmas treats. We just bought them. But, I LOVE to cook, so I have had to get recipes from other people. Here are my favorite Christmas Treat Recipes.

Spiced Nuts

1 egg white
1 tablespoon water
1 pound pecan halves
1 cup white sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Grease one baking sheet.
In a mixing bowl, whip together the egg white and water until frothy. In a separate bowl, mix together sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
Add pecans to egg whites, stir to coat the nuts evenly. Remove the nuts, and toss them in the sugar mixture until coated. Spread the nuts out on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake at 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) for 1 hour. Stir every 15 minutes.

Caramels - both of these caramel recipes are my mother in laws

1 C. Corn syrup
1 C. Butter
1 C. Brown sugar
1 tin sweetened condensed milk
1/4 t. salt

Melt butter in pan, add syrup and brown sugar - mix well. Gradually add milk and salt and stir constantly (milk can burn easy) Make sure to use something to stir that can scrape the bottom of the pan. Cook till 238 degrees. pou into butter 9 X 13 pan. cool, cut and wrap.

Licorice Caramels

2 C. white sugar
1 tin sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 C. corn syrup
1 c. butter
1/4 t. salt
3/4 t. black food coloring
3/4 t. Anise oil

Cook same as regular caramels starting with butter, syrup and sugar, then adding milk and salt. Cook to 238 degrees. then add 3/4 t. black food coloring and 3/4 t. Anise oil. Pour into pan, cool cut and wrap.

Chocolate Pretzels - Thanks Rachel!

Large bag of pretzels
White chocolate melts from michaels or your favorite chocolate.
Green and Red Chocolate melts or peppermint peices broken.

Melt white chocolate, then toss pretzels in it. Spread onto wax papper and drizzle with the red and green chocolate or sprinkle with peppermint. Cool, break and gobble!!

Merange Cookies - Thanks Lindsay :)

3 egg whites
1/4 t. cream of tarter
3/4 C. superfine sugar (I used regular)
1/4 t. vanilla

Beat egg whites until fluffy, then add cream of tarter. Beat until soft peaks, add sugar in small amounts until all in and stiff peaks. Add vanilla and beat to compine. Spoon onto sprayed wax paper and sprinkle with peppermint or sprinkles. Almonds would be good too. Bake 200 degrees for about 2 hours.

Big Soft Ginger Cookies - one of the top 20 recipes on allrecipes.com

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Christy's Butter Tarts - Believe me, I will be trying to get her recipe!!! YUM :)

What are your favorite recipes???

Christ

The real gift of Christmas

Did you ever think what our lives would be like if there hadn't been a Saviour?

Today Tommy said, "Mom, we should get a present for Santa instead of Cookies." He has been extrememly good this year at thinking of others for Christmas. He even has a box in his room that he says he puts money for the poor in.

But, I had to remind him that it was Jesus birthday that we were celebrating and that maybe we should give him something instead.

He wasn't sure what we could give him...

Here are a few ideas.... Merry CHRISTmas!

Some Cherished Christmas Memories

When I was young, Christmas was so magical and exciting! I remember once in the summer watching a TV special with my family, I was probably 8 or so, and there was someone in the show that had died. I, at the time thought it was so sad that the person would not be able to celebrate another Christmas...

It wasn't even all about the presents for me, but more about how my family celebrated it. Here are some of my fondest memories...

- My mom always did a Mexican Christmas party early in December with enchiladas and a pinate full of goodies. (Just another excuse to get together with extended family and play cards and games!)

- A few times we celebrated German Christmas early in December. We would leave our shoes out and in the morning there would be little treats in them.

- Decorating the house was a BIG deal. My dad would dig all our Christmas boxes out from the back of the storage room. We would get excited to see all the books, movies and CD's that had been stored away. We would all help with the tree and putting the other decor around the house. We usually did this right after American Thanksgiving.

- For me, Oranges are such a reminder of Christmas, I love that citrus smell. Many years we would end up with a whole box full of Navel oranges under our tree on Christmas morning.

- We always did so much in December; The Christmas Tree Festival, Driving around Provo looking at every ones lights - especially on Osmond Lane, Going to the Christmas house in Provo, The Temple Square Trip, Waiting to see Santa on Mary Pulley's Hill (Mary Pulley had a house just south of where Mt. Timpanogus Temple is, the house is on probably 10 acres of land. There are HUGE trees that she would have lit up and then she would hire a guy to dress as Santa and stand on her path by the street and give treats to the kids that came. Every year there was a LARGE line-up of cars!)

- When we were really young my 3 siblings and I would zip two sleeping bags together and sleep in it downstairs. We would then get up at 3 AM, go tell my mom and dad that they had 1 hour more to sleep. We would go get into our stocking and play games till they got up. Then we would open our gifts around 4 AM. My dad often times had to work around 6 AM or so on Christmas Day. I remember those early hours together more than I remember what was under the tree!

-One very memorable year, me and my sister (2 yrs younger than me) received a life size, handmade, wooden Barbie house. Every other gift we opened that day ended up being sets to go inside (bedroom, kitchen, living room etc... It was pretty amazing for us! But it meant more when a few years later I learned that my mom really couldn't afford to buy all that for us, so my big brother (only three years older than me) gave her a lot of his paper route money so she could get us all that stuff.

-One year my mom sent us of a scavenger hunt where we eventually came upon a Trampoline in the driveway. As soon as it was a little light out, we all went out in the snow and built it together.

- We always watched lots of Christmas movies in December. My favorites when I was young were Scrooge (Albert Finney version), Smokey Mountain Christmas, Nora's Christmas Gift and Mr. Kreugers Christmas. I also love the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon, Garfield Christmas and Christmas on Seseme Street.

- My extended family has done a Christmas game every year since I can remember, everyone searches all year for the perfect "GAME GIFT." It's always really fun with some funny gifts, some sweet gifts, some functional gifts and sentimental gifts (Like the Christmas Afghan that my Grandma made and put in the game the Christmas before she died.)

- My favorite Christmas memory is this...

One Christmas eve night, I had to have been in my late teens, We decided to jump in my brother in laws truck and drive over the point of the mountain (off road style). Most cars can't make it! It was so special to be in that warm truck together, listening to Christmas music, looking at all the beautiful untouched snow at the top of that mountain being lit up by our headlights. My mom was quite scared the whole time and when we finally came down on the other side in Salt Lake, my mom got out of the truck and actually kissed the ground. So funny!

Some of the high's of my job...

- Today I got to have a 45 min discussion with a dementia (Alzheimer's type) patient about why he had to wait in the hospital for an assisted living apartment, when he had a perfectly good condo he could live in! Oh and by the way... his doctor doesn't know anything about his mental status!!! haha

- I got to comfort a super sweet old man that was transferred to our unit and was scared. He said he hates the hospital because his wife died there a year ago! :(

- I got to hear another sweet old man sing "Silent night, holy night" OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER... at the top of his lungs. The only lyrics he knows is... Silent night, holy night! He even sang while eating breakfast and lunch... that is talented!

- I was lucky enough to have about 45 different people over the age of 70 rub my belly! That is priceless I tell ya!!!

Some stuff I want to make for next year.

Here are a few things I have come across lately that I want to make for next Christmas. I'll prob try and get some of the supplies on sale this year, then work on them in Jan when my mat leave starts!Found this one here. I love it!

I thought these were a super fun grandparent idea! Photo block puzzle. Found it here.

I love that it is on a board. I already have a mini easel too! Found it here.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these! Such a cute idea! And seems fairly easy as long as you can get big enough peices of wood. Found info here.

Christmas music, crafts and hair!!!

Tommy had his school concert last night and again tonight. Thanks again to Christy for saving me a seat on the third row! Much better than where I would have been (WAYYYYYYY in the back!).Well, turns out Tommy was WAYYYYYY in the back, so it was hard to see him. But, Christy's son Carter ended up right in front of me on the front row. So, I got good pictures of him :) Tommy is so happy when he is up there. He smiles so big and doesn't take his eyes off me. I really likes to act, dance and sing (when he knows the words and it's a fun song).
Even more unfortunate was poor little Linken (one of my most favorite little kids, by the way). He isn't very tall, but I guess the teachers thought it would be cool to put him right behind a tall girl with HUGE "cindy lou who" hair! From the front, you would never even know he was back there :) Good thing Christy was standing at the side of the gym and could kind of get some of Linken. Oh well, I think the kids had fun, they were ALL smiles!

On another note, Santa called to tell me that he is bringing Kyla and Tommy one of these.
So yesterday, Tommy and I melted some crayons into molds and made Kyla some of these. (Tommy doesn't know about the easel, though). I got the idea from "not so idle hands." Now Tommy wants some.

This morning I tried to round brush Kyla's hair. It kind of worked :) Probably wont last though :)

Naughty or Nice???

http://santa.sympatico.ca/watch/1a7eefc216e51aff4549c8516cae8d0f

I contacted Santa... and it turns out my dear sweet hubby has ended up on the naughty list.

The proof is in the video!

I just don't know how that could have happened!

Though I think if he is REALLY good this last week before Christmas, that Santa will reconsider and bring him something very special! I am crossing my fingers...

I on the other hand am OBVIOUSLY on the good list :)

Christmas

Last night was frustrating, but today is a new day! Thanks for all your comments :) Here is this years Christmas Letter for those who don't receive a hard copy, I apologize in advance...

p.s. and please disregard my husbands irreverence :) He can't help himself, I mean... Look at me! haha

Dear Friends and Family –

Apparently I am not the only person on earth that despises the annual Christmas letter thing. I tried to take an easy approach this year and decided to ask for some extra help from outside sources. I jumped on the Internet went to Google and typed “Christmas Form Letters.” Much to my surprise (and excitement) the search returned some 35,600,000 web pages. After scouring some of the pages I realized there could be a great business idea here. Just think about it…christmasformletter.com. I can even think of a great tag line for the business especially for any men writing letters. “Do the letter, so your wife will do you (sorry mom I couldn't resist).”

Now carrying on with this Christmas letter nonsense (by the way just so you know, the Internet has useless information regarding form Christmas letters).

Kathy (28) – With an ever-growing belly and just a couple months before our third addition to the family she maintains keeping the house in order (most of the time anyway) and enjoys spending time doing her blog and Facebook stuff. I don’t get it and have refused to jump on the Facebook bandwagon. She is also looking forward to a year of no work!!
Tommy (7) – Now in Second grade Tommy is starting to become a good reader. He especially likes playing sports. It’s quite amusing watching him play. He can’t get the grin off his face. I think it’s because he loves playing so much, so he just smiles the entire time. I try to convince him to “get his game face on,” Maybe for now it’s just too much to ask! He is a bundle of energy and an AMAZING big brother! He can’t wait till baby # 3.
Kyla (22 months) – Kyla weighs less than 20 pounds, but she makes up for her weight in personality. She probably has the most personality in the family. I tell people that she’s “crazy” all the time. She goes a million miles a minute and she’s a little clumsy. She has been to the hospital a couple times this year. Once for burning her hands quite badly on the fireplace and recently for a concussion. As much as Kyla loves us I think she might love our new dog Zoe more than anyone else. They are quite the pair and almost the same size!
Zoe (9 Months) – The newest addition to our family has truly become a member of the family. At first is was an adjustment, but getting a dog was a great decision for our family. It was actually my idea! Big shock to Kathy and the kids, since I claimed I would NEVER get a dog! There were three really important things we looked for in a dog. 1. No shedding. 2. Doesn’t bark much. 3. A small dog. With that in mind our little Zoe is a Shih Tzu and we love her!
Barry (31) – Officially middle aged. Many of you may or may not know I am the biggest Dallas Cowboys fan north of the 49th parallel. The highlight of my year came recently when I went to a couple of Dallas Cowboys games, including the Thanksgiving Day game. As far as sports are concerned everything else is a distant 2nd to the Dallas Cowboys. When I got home I couldn’t resist the temptation to buy season tickets.

Until I get conned into this next year.
Barry

Some commentary from Kathy:
Hi friends and family! I am so happy this letter is FINALLY done! Barry has been a little preoccupied (a little too much blue, silver and white). Speaking of that... He first came to me and said, “Honey, I know how we can make a quick $30,000.00.” Okay, I’m listening. Well, once I agreed he could get the tickets, and saw the twinkle in his eye, there is no way I could make him turn around and sell them. So we are season ticket holders for a team that lives in a state that I refuse to go back to unless forced! :)
I also wanted to comment on his opening paragraph. As you can see... his head is ALWAYS spinning with ideas of how to make a dime. He is an entrepreneur at heart! (Last night I said, “Barry, I am going to start a facebook group in south Calgary called “Gym Mommies” where we swap childcare for free so we can go to the gym. He said...”Oh, yeah that sounds like a great business idea.” I guess he didn’t understand that I was trying to get away from having to pay ridiculous fees to work out, and start a free child swap). You gotta love a guy that has SO MUCH self motivation and drive!
The kids are growing way too fast and I am trying not to miss any of it! Tommy starts piano soon, along with playing sports. As far as Kyla goes, I think she is meant to be a gymnast. She does forward rolls, hangs from everything and loves to stand on furniture and say, “ta da!” I am very excited for this baby to get here and am sure it is a boy, but we are letting it be a surprise!

We hope this letter finds you well. Merry Christmas!
The Ehlerts
2009

Holler if you hear me...

I hope I am not the only one. But, this is my weekly experience with family home evening!

"I" plan the lesson, snack, activity etc...

Kids fed, Barry just got home. Grabs his dinner, brings it into the living room turns on his game... Then mutes it and says, "I'm listening, but make it quick cause I have work to do." A for effort, RIGHT??

I start doing the lesson. Kyla gets into something or spills something or starts tackling Zoe or throwing a fit... you name it.

Tommy starts chasing her around.

Barry's eyes are glued to the "muted" TV.

I pause, try and get everyone together again...

Then Start over. Barry swears he's listening :)

The events are repeated again.

I eventually say... I feel like I am reading this to myself, and I already read it today. GRrrrr.

I get through it, with Tommy halfway dangling from the chair, while I try and jam the lesson into his mind.

Everyone eats a snack, then Tommy runs upstairs to enjoy his last 30 min before bed, Kyla does what Kyla does... and Barry resumes the volume on his game and then opens his laptop.

I have 30 minutes to feel DEJECTED before I have to be a sweet mom and put the kids to bed.

I spend it wondering why I even try week after week. But as the week goes by, I get ideas and bam. We try again! 95% of the time with the same result!

What am I doing wrong?

31 Weeks and a Christmas Message!

"The Christmas season is one of the most wonderful times of the year. However, it is not the gifts, the trees, the decorations, or the food that make this a season full of wonder.
It is when we remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that the Christmas season becomes truly special.
As we strive to remember our Savior, our desire to live like Him will grow. It is no coincidence that Christmas is the time of the year when people are the most loving, the most giving, the most kind, and the most grateful.
As we try to follow Christ’s example this season and do our best to live as He did, let us find ways to lift up those around us. Let us celebrate our Savior’s birth by being followers of Christ in word and deed.
We testify that as we do so, the desire to follow Him that grows within us at Christmas will continue to develop throughout the upcoming year."

President Thomas S. Monson, President Henry B. Eyring, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Centered...

It's Christ-mas Time... not Santa-mas time!!!

But, for me it is good to remember that Santa resembles all the things that Christ would like us to be. Charitable, Unselfish, Loving, and Happy! He really was a man, long ago who was very Christlike and wanted to do good at Christmas Time. Since it is impossible with children to get away from doing Santa things...Let's have a Christ centered Christmas and be Santa for others, in word, and deed!!! And share with our kids who Santa is trying to be like... Christ!!!

Here's to hoping....

Here's to hoping that every bad person in the world (pedophile, kidnapper etc...) looks like this guy...

Because there is no way in the world that Kyla would ever take candy from him, get in his car or for that matter... go near him!

I really did not think she was going to cry, she doesn't cry with anyone! But this guy was just WAY too freaky with his big round belly, bright red suit, long white beard and military black boots... Not to mention his outstretched hands saying... "come here little girl!" She clung to me in pure terror!

Poor Baby, I think I will let her look at the mall Santa either from afar or at the same time as Tommy. Maybe that will help :)

Free Stuff!!

I just got an email from these guys. Udder Covers is offering free nursing covers again. All you pay is the shipping and the cover is free, you pick which one you want. Mine just came in from the last promo they had. It's really nice. I got the black one. So as you are placing your order, put in promo code "Christmas" and you'll get your free cover! I would order quick as they will sell out fast. Also, they said this code works as a 32.00 discount on any products. Pretty cool. Go shop.

Also, there is a lady doing a ton of giveaways for Christmas. Blog is http://muddqueen.blogspot.com/

Right now she is giving away a free Ipod Shuffle. Go and check out her blog!!!

My FAVORITE Christmas Story

Besides "The Story of Christ's Birth", this is my favorite!

There are so many amazing and inspirational Christmas stories that make us better. A Christmas Carol, The Christmas Orange, and so many others.

If you have never heard this one, I really suggest you brew a cup of hot chocolate, grab a comfy throw and cuddle up for a 5 minute story that is WONDERFUL!!! It would be great for a family home evening lesson!

What is your favorite Christmas story?

I loved this video! I work with the elderly all the time and they are often misunderstood!

It's sometimes hard to realize that they are just like us, they may not have their memories or their full brain function; But, after you take the time to get to know them, they are amazing!

They remember me when I show up at work and many of them have a joke or want to pat my tummy! Others may not remember me, but their funny personalities make me smile!

I am working on Christmas day from 3pm - 11pm and was kind of down about this, until I saw this video! My family will be okay of Christmas without me, but these sweet people may not have anyone else to give them a hug of Christmas Day! It will be good for me and them :)

Merry Christmas!!

What is santa bringing you???

I helped my kids write letters to santa last night. Canada Post will make sure you get a letter back from him! It's pretty cool! I even talked them into telling santa to surprise them this year, since he already knows what they like! This makes it so much easier for me :)

Well, this morning Tommy said...

Mom, if your bad, santa brings you a lump of coal! But, if you are really bad, he brings you a vegetable!

So funny!

Happy Birthday!

Barry, I love you dearly!

You put up with my nagging, my worrying, my complaining.

You are always available when I need to help unscrambling the anxieties in my head!

I still don't understand how you can stay so calm sometimes :)

You are always ready and waiting for a hug, kiss or some cuddle time.

You LOVE us all so much, and we feel it every day!

We appreciate all you do for us, all your hard work, your long hours and your determination!!

Happy Birthday!

10 Commandments of Christmas...

I was reading in 3 Nephi today looking for Christ's Birth. I have never before felt as close to the nephites. They were waiting and waiting for the signs of the coming of the Savior, the same as we do today. There were many people who started doubting, same as there is today! But, he came... as promised by the prophets. :) This is all in 3 Nephi 1 if you are interested!

My mother in law gave me this Christmas Cookbook full of all her holiday recipes. But, in light of the very spiritual woman that my mother in law is... she starts the book with "The ten commandments of Christmas" - Author is unknown.

Ten Commandments of Christmas

1. Thou shalt not leave "Christ" out of Christmas, making "Xmas". To most minds "X" does not stand for Christ, but for the algebraic unknown.

2. Thou shalt not value they gifts by their cost, for many shall signify love that is more blessed and beautiful that silver and gold.

3. Thou shalt give theyself with thy gifts. Thy love, thy personality, and thy service shall increase the value of thy gifts an hundredfold, and he that receiveth it shall treasure it forever.

4. Thou shalt not let Santa Claus take the place of Christ, lest Christmas becomes a fairy tale rather than a spiritual experience.

5. Thou shalt not burden thy servant. The shop girl, the mail carrier, and the merchant shall have thy consideration.

6. Thou shalt not neglect thy church. Its Christmas services are planned to help spiritualize the Christmas season for thee, thy child and thy household.

7. Thou shalt not neglect the needy. Let thy bountiful blessings be shared with the many who will go hungry and cold unless thou are generous at Christmas.

8. Thou shalt be as a little child. Christmas is the day of the Christ Child; not until thou hast become in spirit as a little child are thou ready to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

9. Thou shalt prepare thy sould for Christmas. Verily, most of us spend much time and money getting gifts ready, but few seconds in preparing our souls.

10. Thou shalt give thy heart to Christ. Let thy Christmas list have Christ at the top and thy heart as the gift. In doing so thou art as the Wise Men of Old and verily thou shalt find thyself bown again on Christmas Day.

These are two of my neices who performed in the Nutcracker in Utah. They are so sweet!

Recycling Pays!!!

Took all my bottles, milk cartons, cans and juice boxes to the bottle depot this morning! Yeah, cleaner garage and 40$ in my pocket... SWEET!

With my 10$ in super bucks from the gas station, I got 50$ in free groceries! Even in Canada that gets you the necessities... Free Milk, Free Eggs, Free bread... and some gummies for my snow angels!

My life is SO EXCITING!!! About to fold laundry now... YES!