Ward Christmas Party

Top 10 reasons why the Christiansens won't be asked back again

1.  We forgot to bring what we signed up for.  (we really weren't home all day, how can they expect us to bring anything, I rarely feed my own family).

2. Ashlen was the cutest toddler by far and made everyone else look bad.

3.  My husband is the hottest man there over 40 and all the other wives were wishing their husband was hot like mine.  ( He is even cuter than the 30 somethings, 20 somethings is pushing it).

4.  During the opening prayer, Peyten was already in the food line.

5.  They ran out of rolls towards the end of the dinner and I noticed Peyten had 5 on his plate.  ( That was also the food item that we were suppose to bring).

6.  Half way through the musical program I noticed that my boys were gone from the our table and then noticed that many of their friends were gone as well.  My boys had initiated a capture the flag game and were outside playing.  ( I got a few dirty looks for fellow parents, hey I didn't tell their kids they could go).

7.  Lauren was suppose to be helping the little kids visit Santa at the end but she ditched it to go outside and play capture the flag and later said she almost beat up the Bishops son.  Way to go sweet cute girl, that will get the boys crawling after you!!!!

8.  Ashlen told Santa, "I don't like you", but later gave him a high five when he gave her a candy cane.

9.  The Bishop asked me if I was ready to be Primary president again and I laughed at him and walked away, then came back and reminded him that I am still expecting his wife to bring me a Christmas treat.

10.  And the final one, we ditched early to drop the kids off to go to a neighborhood party where they served real Coke!!!!!

All jokes aside, I love our ward, I just like to spice things up a  bit.  Every ward needs a crazy old lady like me.

Christmas picture out takes 2008

Gotta love the ones that don't make the cut.

Some fun photos

The kids doing homework after school, my table always looks like a garage sale.

Ashlen always is cute!!!!

Chloe, the new dog my neighbor got.  She is a toy poodle and so cute.  Ashlen loves her as do I and the rest of the kids.

Thanksgiving with the Spendloves

Year after year we make the long trek to San Antonio (3 hr. car ride) to spend Thanksgiving with our dear cousins, The Spendloves, Brents sisters family.  There is always great food, yummy treats, lots of video games, this year it was Rock Band, and of course lots of Football.  Thanks for a great time Kari and Family, see you next year!!!!

my do's and Don'ts

It's about time you all got a bit of my wisdom that I have collected throughout the years.  Here is my list, take it for what it's worth, but surely it is worth a lot somewhere.

Don't falsely impress someone before you really know them

Do let them see how imperfect you really are then you can only get better in their eyes.

Don't have your kids clean their own bathrooms until they are old enough to really clean and not turn it into a water fight and the toilet cleaner is used as a weapon.

Do have your kids clean their own bathroom, it teaches them an important lesson; less mess, less you have to clean.

Don't buy store bought cookies

Do make homemade cookies (Lauren does this in our house)

Don't watch scary movies alone

Do watch scary movies with a good friend that lets you scream in her ear and hug her if needed.

Don't buy cheap toothpaste

Do buy what 4 out of 5 dentist recommend

Don't miss out on hugging your kids everyday

Do grab them whenever possible and plant a huge smooch on them.

Don't let a day go by without telling your kids and spouse how much you love them.

Do show your family how much you love them, not just tell them.

Don't gossip around your kids

Do talk nice about people.  ( if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all)

Don't swear abound your kids

Do swear when they aren't around if you really need to.

Don't wear too much makeup

Do wear a bit of makeup

Don't wear a thong bathing suit ever

Do wear a bathing suit even if you think you look horrible in it.

Don't let your kids go TP ing alone.

Do take your kids TP ing at least once in their life.

Don't buy your kids everything they ask for.

Do make your kids earn and buy their own stuff. (even if you are a celebrity)

Now here are just some don'ts:

Don't laugh with Jello in your mouth

Don't leave the dishes in the sink too long

Don't pick your nose

Don't dress like a teenager if you aren't one

Don't tell people too much info.

Don't drink caffeine ( my weakness for sure)

Don't stay up too late playing guitar hero or Harry Potter video games

Don't forget to wash your kids football gear everyday, or it will stink up the whole house.

Don't let your kids beat each other up.

Don't ever weigh yourself unless you really want to know.

Don't ever forget to lock the bedroom door when you are in your unmentionables and your kids have all their friends over.

Don't forget to lock the door when you want to kiss your husband!!

Now for the DO's:

Do make new friends

Do take a walk in the rain, or snow, or sunshine.

Do chase your kids around the table and give them a spanking if they need one.

Do call you family on the phone if you are thinking about them.

Do let your kids know that you will stick up for them no matter what.

Do kiss your husband ever chance you get, even in front of your kids so they see that you love each other.

Do stay in bed as long as you can sometimes.

Do read a great book.

Do cry during a wedding.

Do cry when a baby is blessed.

Do volunteer for something that doesn't sound like fun.

Do go to church once a week.

Do act like a crazy person every once in a while.

Do put on lotion after you shave your legs.

Do get your toes painted in the summer, a pretty bright pink is fun.

Now do your own list of do's and don'ts.

Movies with a two year old

I promised Lauren and her friend that I would take them to go see High School Musical at the movies today.  Brent has been out of town since wed., Austen was at a scout campout, and I couldn't find a babysitter so Ashlen had to come along.  I usually don't take Ashlen anywhere remotely like a movie or public for that matter cause she is a handful to say the least.  (she swore at me in spanish just now, I heard the word poo in spanish).  Anyway, I decided we had better go to the ghetto movie theatre so not many people would be there bothered by a two year old running around.  I gave her a bit of cough medicine, brought treats, a blanket and a pacifier and tried to do my best.  There was no one else in the theatre, I was so relieved and good thing.  Once Troy Bolton and Gabriella started to sing it was all over for Ashlen.  She was running circles around that place.  She chucked her paci too many times to count, did summersaults down the aisle, threw her sippy cup in the theatre trash before I could catch her, dumped popcorn on the floor, flew out of her theatre seat more times that humanly possible and the untimate, pooped her pants.  I realized I forgot to bring a spare.  I thought, no problem, i'll just dump the poop into the toilet and put the diaper back on and she can wear it for a bit longer.  Well, that doesn't work with the "Runs".  I had to chuck the diaper and wash her bum with a million paper towels while she kept trying to escape.  She just happened to be wearing a dress so no pants to cover her bum, so when we were walking out of the bathroom, she flashed everyone in the lobby, yelling, "diaper yucky".  I love that child!!!!  The rest of the movie was spent hoping she wouldn't tinkle on anything, but really by that point, did it really matter? 

Ashlen loves her brother Austen

It is a Magical love those two have.