Old Tomatoes

Just a quick little post.

Sunday Christopher was having a rough day. He was throwing a tantrum in the car after church. After hearing enough complaints and demands coming from the back seat Cory says, "Christopher, you don't give the ultimatums in this family!"
Christopher (frustrated and yelling back): "I give the old tomatoes!"
It was hard to keep a straight face after that. Cory and I just had to tease the kid, and he really had no idea what we were teasing him about.

The boys are always trying to one up each other. Drew trying to tell Christopher he's better: "Well, I know how to ride a unicorn bicycle!" Me: "Drew what's a unicorn bicycle?" Drew: "You know, a bicycle with one wheel." Me: "oh, a unicycle."

Clarissa talks non-stop now. She is always repeating stuff we say (which keeps me on my toes). Today she heard me say "Oh my gosh," and that has been her new word of the day. When we ask her to pray she says "I do it myself." I don't remember the boys praying alone so young.

Happy New Year and New Schedule

We've been super busy these past few weeks. My family flew in town for the holidays and we spent every second with them. My kids get along super well with Alvaro's kids (my brother). The fact that they don't see each other very often (maybe twice a year) helps decrease all the fighting that would usually be associated with having so many kids around. We stayed up late almost every night chatting and watching movies. The cousins had several sleepovers, and swam almost daily. We went to Rawhide, had a girls' spa day, did fireworks and games on New Year's, ate out an insane amount of times and now we all feel like we need to rest from our break. It was definitely a busy and happy season.

Now life is starting to settle back into normal. I start classes for my teacher recertification on Monday and am not looking forward to doing all the work involved in going to school. I took a look at the syllabus and first lesson today and am very overwhelmed. I only need to take 9 credits, and they are spread out over the next 6 months, but I'm feeling the anxiety that come with having to do homework, write papers and take tests. Ahhh!! Wish me (and my family) luck so we can survive the first part of 2014.

Drew and Eric built a sand castle at the park during Jacob (Drew's best friend) birthday party). It was funny to see my brother's kids dressed in shorts and t-shirts every day while my kids had long sleeves and pants. They loved our "warm" weather coming from Minnesota. 

 

These crazy kids swam almost everyday. Even though the pool was heated, it was still way too cold for me to dare get in.  

 

Laura's birthday party at Amazing Jake's. She was the best cousin to Clarissa. Cissa LOVED Laura, specially once she found out Laura had shiny lip gloss. Sweet Laura even gave her some to keep forever, thanks ;) 

 

The kids got spoiled rotten this year with gifts. Every year I say we will go simple, and by the time it's done the kids get way more than intended. Trust me they were good during the year, but not THAT good. This was one of Christopher's favorite gift. A "Flipeez" from aunt Kelly. He still wears it. 

 

 Santa managed to fit a perfect sized, 8ft, trampoline, in his bag. It's large enough for the three kids to play together, but not too big to take up half my yard. Other big items in Santa's bag included a tricycle for Drew, shopping cart for Cissa, and two PlasmaCars (those little fun bikes you have to move side to side for it to go.)

 

 

We took a quick trip to see the Mesa Temple lights. Cory and the boys actually got out of the car to see it, and I stayed in the car with a sleeping Clarissa. I had already gone with the Young Women earlier in the month. I love to see the temple! 

 

Cory got put in jail while at Rawhide. He had to dance the Cancan and promise not to pass gas in order to be freed. We all had a great time and tons of laughs. He was a great sport!! (By the way, my brother was the one that put him in jail, not me.) 

I decorated our Christmas tree into a New Year's tree (after Christmas) filled with over 36 noise makers, party glasses and streamers. The kids LOVED seeing the tree transformed when they woke up in the morning, and they specially enjoyed being allowed to ring in the new year by blowing all those noise makers!!