Reflecting Back on 2010

I thought it would be fun to do a calendar recap of things we did in 2010.... especially since I wasn't doing any blogging then. I am sure that I will miss some things but I will do my best!

JANUARY
RMSHA race season starts
Tanner starts wrestling
Colorado Springs for wedding dress shopping
8th grade basketball tournament
Mat Cats Tournament
East Asia Class

FEBRUARY
Doctors Appointment
Superbowl
Valentine's Day
Zatarain's Party
Sam's Birthday - Party at OM Pool
Tiger Wrestling Tournament

MARCH
Tanner American Fun and Folk Song Performance at RimRock
Little Warriors Wrestling Tournament
Spring Break
Grand Valley Class
Digornio Party
Jackson

APRIL
Tanner Tackle Football
Ryder's Birthday Party at Canyon View
Jessy & Jenny's Birthday
Baby Will
Kamdan's Birthday

MAY
Landscaping
Jessy Wedding Shower
Jamey Baby Shower
Mom's Birthday
Jessy's Bachelorette Party
Football Party at Reed Park

JUNE
Jessy's Wedding
Baby Presley
Yearbook Camp
10 Year Reunion

JULY
Lake Powell
Courage Classic
Tanner's Birthday

AUGUST
Peyton and Sawyers Birthday - Superheros and Princess
Back to School
Grandma's Campout
Tanner starts baseball

SEPTEMBER
Tanner Baseball Games
Cole's Birthday
Angel Garden Dedication

OCTOBER
Tanner Field Trip to Cross Orchards
Cole to Idaho
Apply for passports
Little P's Birthday
Harvest Fest at Maggie's preschool
Halloween Party with baseball buddies

NOVEMBER
Las Vegas
Garth Brooks Concert
National Social Studies Convention
Thanksgiving

DECEMBER
Maggie's Birthday at Kidzplex
Parade of Lights
Fruita Parade of Lights
Christmas

Christmas and New Years

I can't belive that as I sit here 2010 is gone and 2011 is here already. We have had a wonderful winter break and I am not looking forward to heading back to work in a few short days. We have had a lot of free time together as a family and we have really enjoyed each minute of it.

One of our favorite traditions each year is looking at lights. This year we piled into Uncle Nate's truck... we drove around and checked out all of the great Christmas decorations... but we couldn't do it without a little Starbucks!

Flash back to Christmas Eve Day.... Instead of sitting around all day constantly telling the kids to stay away from the presents we took them bowling! We met Aunt Jess, Uncle Nate, little P, Grandma Jane, Grammy and Beck for some family fun. The kids had a great time as did we adults! We had pepperoni pizza, cheese pizza and jalapeno poppers along with a few pitchers of soda! After shoving our faces there we headed to the mall to top it off with some Diary Queen. Blizzards, smoothies, ice cream cones and root beer floats.... What a great day!

We spent Christmas Eve at the McKinley's. Jess and Nate made a great Mexican spread for dinner. We hung out there for most of the evening and then headed home for the "...night before Christmas." Grandma Jane came to our house after Aunt Jess's and we put out milk and cookies and reindeer food. Then we read the "Night Before Christmas" and got everyone tucked away snug in their beds! Tanner and Grandma upstairs and Peyton snuggled in between Cole and I.

I had given Tanner specific instructions to not be downstairs before six o'clock in the morning. At 6:01 I was shook awake by a little boy who couldn't wait another minute to see what Santa had brought him. We woke up Peyton (who wasn't impressed by being woke up so early) and they headed in and found presents left by Santa. New shoes, Beyblade stadium and stockings full of all sorts of good things! The problem after we opened Santas gifts was that we had to WAIT until 9:00 for everyone to come over so we could open the rest of the presents. We decided we better do something to waste time.... we loaded everyone up in Coles truck and drove to Grandmas to pick up a pan and a gift that was left there. We then went to City Market where we loaded up with orange juice, donuts and of course Starbucks! By the time we ran those few errands it was time to head home and open gifts. The kids tore through gifts and were so excited by everything they got. Tanner loved his football jerseys, movies, clothes, NFL helmets but most of all his cell phone! Peyton loved all of her new clothes, mermaids, books but most of all her DS. Both kids have been spending time playing with all of their new things.... they are definetely two lucky kids. After tearing through presents we hung around all day playing, relaxing and of course stuffing our faces. Prime rib, baked potatoes and salad.... super good! We also played a few games of Left Center Right which is always a good time.

Most importantly it was great to be together as a family and enjoy the time together.

Maverick and Telemarketers

Last night I wasn't feeling great... I have had a terrible sore throat. I decided to take a hot bath and try to warm up and feel better. When I got out I was so stinking hot that I was thirsty... so I decided that I needed some pop. Unfortunately that is something I rarely buy because otherwise we would drink it constantly. So, in an effort to make mom happy Cole and I loaded up the kids and headed to Maverick! Here we were at 7:00 at night at the local gas station loading ouselves and our children up with all sorts of sugar! Each of them chose a soda and a bag of candy... Peyton picked out a Diet Coke and Sour Patch Gummies, Tanner had a fountain Cherry, Vanilla Pepsi, BBQ Cornnuts and a bag of his own Sour Patch Gummies. On top of that Cole and I both had a fountain drink along with a bag of White Cheddar Popcorn, Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms! Both of the kids were ecstatic... our kids eat a lot of candy and drink a lot of pop the way it is; especially compared to all my nieces and nephews. Going to Maverick on a school night though... that was EXTRA special!

We came home from the gas station and just hung out. The kids gorged themselves on all their candy and soda and Cole and I sat at the kitchen counter and talked. It seems like it had been forever that Cole and I just sat and talked... granted we were interrupted every two seconds by the family "princess" wanting to refill our pops but that is what being a parent is all about! While we were chatting Cole's phone rang, he didn't recognize the number but answered it anyways. It ended up being some polticial telemarketer. Cole is so patient and nice... I would have hung up immediately. Instead he started talking to the guy and then realized he didn't want to be on the phone with him. Once you get a telemarketer talking its hard to get a word in edge wise... so Cole takes the phone holds it about six inches from his face and starts saying " hello"..."hello"..."hello" and then a click! I am sure the guy on the other end had no idea that Cole was going to hang up! ;)

By the way... because of all the soda Peyton drank... we ended up wearing a pull up to bed.

Let Them Be Little...

Bed time at our house is a very interesting part of the day... ever since Tanner was little bedtime has been something I dread. Neither of my kids enjoy sleeping alone in their rooms...now, I know that part of that is our fault, this is what we have created and allowed to happen. Most nights the kids go to bed in their rooms with Cole and I watching television in the game room. We have to tuck both of them in... Cole has to sing "lots" of songs to Peyton. (Itsy Bitsy, Sunshine, Barney, and whatever else she wants) I have to turn Tanners music on and then say the dream catcher dream... "Dream catcher, dream catcher, catch my dream, bad ones out, good ones in until I wake in the morning." Then after a few drinks, potty breaks and "I love you SO muchs" from the rooms silence takes over. Some nights they sleep through the night... Tanner has been doing a great job lately. Other nights we wake up to the sounds of little feet on the stairs. Then they crawl into bed with us and go right back to sleep. Although I know that this is not the ideal "sleeping" situation I can't imagine it any other way. I love to wake up to their little bodies snuggled up against mine... or feel their little hands reach out to find where I am. There is just something comforting about having them by me.

Alot of nights we don't even make it through the routine listed above... we skip over it all and go straight to parent sleep overs. Cole and Peyton in our bed and Tanner and I in his bed. Other nights we say forget everything and we grab a bunch of blankets and have a campout downstairs in front of the tv.

Someday I may regret this... maybe they will have horrible sleep patterns... or not be able to sleep alone....BUT right now that is a risk I am willing to take! Lonestar did a remake of a Billy Dean song... I think it sums it up best!

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand
Felt so good in it, no bigger than a minute
How it amazes me, you're changing with every blink
Faster than a flower blooms they grow up all too soon
So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little
I've never felt so much in one little tender touch
I live for those kisses, prayers and your wishes
Now that you're teaching me things only a child can see
Every night while we're on our knees all I ask is please
Let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little
So innocent, a precious soul, you turn around
It's time to let them go
So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little
Let them be little

Love Letters

Discovery Kids has been a huge part of Tanner and Peytons lives. They both have gone there from a very early age. Although there are days that I wonder if I have made the right decision by being a working mom I know that they are getting the care they need. Everyone there knows each of my kids... when I pick them up it is at least a ten minute ordeal to tell all of their teachers and friends bye. I am very grateful to have such a wonderful place to love my children while Cole and I are at work.

On Wednesday's, Tanner spends extra time at Discovery because it is early release from elementary school. He loves to go and help in the little kids rooms, hang out with friends, and just be a kid. This last Wednesday when I went to pick them up I was greeted by one of his teachers... she wanted to talk! She had a huge grin on her face and proceeded to tell me that Tanner had spent some of his free time that day writing. My first reaction was AWESOME... he usually hates to write. Come to find out he had written a letter to one of the young girls who works there... Miss Brittney.

Hi its me your only love. Tanner the hot won. Me and Cole (his friend) are your boyfriend. We love you a lot. I think you do to. When I see you I think of a rose. You are a great teacher. You are osome. You are Hot, Hot, Hot, Hot, Hot. Girl. You and me should be together forever. From, Tanner

Woah! I couldn't believe it. I have always known that we have a ladies man on our hands but this really showed me what I am going to be dealing with.

RED

Our "Elf on the Shelf" has returned for the Christmas season. He made his debut the day after Thanksgiving and the kids were so excited. For those of you who don't know Red is an Elf that comes to our house every year after Thanksgiving... usually the day after. He brings a story book with him that tells his story and purpose. His job is to spend the month before Christmas keeping an extra close watch on the kids. Every night he returns to the North Pole to report the daily happenings to Santa -it is how Santa finds out who is nice and who is naughty. Peyton gets more into it everyday but Tanner is crazy about Red. The first thing he does every morning when he gets up is head out into the house to search for Red. He talks to him as though he is his best friend and asks him everyday if he thinks he has been good enough to get on Santa's nice list. The best part about Red is that anytime we are having meltdowns or attitudes I just simply say... I hope Red isn't seeing all of this!

Peyton and Pull Ups

Last night was the second night in a row that Peyton made it throught the night in her "big girl panties." She is so proud of herself....in fact I wasn't really ready to get rid of the pull ups at night. The thought of having to change bed sheets in the middle of the night is not to appealing. I kept thinking... one day we will do it, just not yet. Well she decided on her own that it was time. Hopefully it continues and we can finally claim that we are completely potty trained. It's amazing how they know what they are ready for. She was the one who wanted to be potty trained originally and did it essentially on her own with the help of daycare. She did that almost a year ago...not too bad... 2 1/2! She is a very decisive little girl.