December 4th

http://http//www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/noel/angl/gui.htm go to this link and learn a bit about kissing under the mistletoe. Have you been kissed under the mistletoe? We used to hang mistletoe in our home as I was growing up and I can remember playing games where we'd kiss each other if we saw someone standing under it. We'd find mom and dad kissing under it at times and giggle. I have been surprisingly kissed under mistletoe when I was growing up, in my college apartment and a few other areas where there was mistletoe. It is a fun tradition. I better run and buy some mistletoe and see if Eric notices when he comes home!

Camilla kissed Neal today as he was finishing up his breakfast. She has been asking about kissing a bit more recently and laughing if she sees anyone kissing and say's "They're in love" or "Ewwww" those kind of things. Well, today she told me, "I'm just giving Neal a little kiss, because he is so cute, not a big MOOCH!" LOL..she said, "Mooches mean you are in love, I can't be in love with Neal, I just think he's so cute." I said, "It's okay to give kisses to each other in our family because we do love each other." She said, "I know mom, but we shouldn't be MOOCHIN on each other." Ha, ha.

I always say to my little ones..."Give me a smoochie on my moochie" It was just something silly that came out of my mouth, it stuck and lasted for YEARS and so I guess Camilla has taken it in her own way and now a kiss between two people who are being romantic with each other has evolved in to a MOOCH.

I hope you get some Mooches under the Mistletoe this Christmas season..or at least a few pecks of friendship and goodwill.

December 3rd

Neal has become interested in trying to put on shoes, other people's BIG shoes. He spends time working to get his feet in the shoes and then tries to walk. Today he found my slip on shoes and I caught this priceless picture of him taking a walk in them. As you can see it gives him joy and makes for lots of laughter!

He also loves hats and sunglasses. Grandma and Grandpa stopped by the other day and even though he was sick and had his binky in his mouth to sooth himself, he managed to get Grandpa's hat and Grandma's sunglasses.

December 2nd

It's a bit cloudy here in Payson this morning and chilly. There is snow on the mountains but no snow to shovel yet, which is nice. After I got everyone off to school, I dressed Neal in his red Mickey Mouse coat that Lisa gave him along with his Mickey hat...I will post a picture soon....and we headed out for a little frosty morning walk. Neal beep bopped along at quick toddler speed and didn't want to hold my hand. I made him as we crossed the street. He headed to the park, found a light colored labrador and went right up to him, hugged him, almost kissed him and followed him to the underground tunnel that leads to the next park in our area...I stayed at a close two steps behind, just amazed at how fast he has gotten. He took a little fall as we were heading down the steep incline toward the tunnel, he whined a bit about his hand and then got right back to the task of following that "Goggie", we crossed the river and somehow lost site of the dog (which was okay by me), I turned Neal around and headed back to our park, he headed for the slides and managed to climb up the stairs, head down the slide head first. Luckly I was close by to hold on to him. There was frost on the slide so he was irritated that his hands got cold, I forgot his gloves, and he tried hard to climb back up the slide, but his hands got colder. So finally I picked him up and told him it was time to go home, as I was walking toward the sidewalk I didn't lift my foot up high enough and stumbled to the ground with Neal in my hands. Luckly he didn't get hurt and I just bruised my knee and my ego.

On the 2nd day of December I am thankful that I didn't break anything when I fell and I am so happy to see Neal enjoy being outside even when it's cold! I'm thankful that Lisa gave him a red Mickey Mouse coat, HE LOVES IT!

December 1st

It's here....December!!! I can feel it, the most wonderful time of the year. I hope you feel it too! At our house there is NO SNOW, yet. Decorations are in place. The calendar is changed the count down begins and the Magic of Christmas is on it's way.

If you receive posts on your email from my blog, please take a minute to actually click on to the blog, enjoy some Christmas music and see how it's decorated. I have loved keeping this blog for a little over a year now. I hope you enjoy reading it and seeing the pictures.

Thankful

Thanksgiving 2009 is over; but I'm thankful for pictures that help me remember how nice it was. I didn't remember to take my camera out during food prep time in the kitchen, but I did enjoy having a crowd in the kitchen helping to get the food ready to serve almost on time! We did have most of my family here at our home, just missing 5 family members. Thankful that our basement is finished and we can use it and fill it up with nieces and nephews;as well as our own children, ranging from 14 to 11 months. 36 people!! 2 sets of twins!! Blonde hair, brown hair, strawberry blonde hair, no hair, white hair, multi-colored hair (me). Blue eyes, hazel eyes, brown eyes, green eyes? Children turned in to teenagers getting TALLER than me! Children trying to get taller than me! Food being devoured by tall thin boys who don't look like they could ever eat that much food! Cousins getting in the canal water....luckly it wasn't full, wet pants and shoes. Good dinner, good dessert, good company. Family, I am thankful for family!!! Danny and Anika wins for biggest smile!!!

Michael, most distinguished pose after Thanksgiving feast.

Dad, best Thanksgiving jig holding plate in one hand and phone in the other!

Chad, winner of eating the most mashed potatos and gravy, Joseph coming in a close second.

John winner of the BEST SEAT in the house!

Bev, winner of the last person left sitting at the table...notice how many plates she has next to her...hmmm!

Stacey and mom best facial features to sum up how we all felt after dessert!

THE FRUIT OF OUR LOINS!!! See me in the background?? Don't I look like everyone's favorite Aunt??? That's because I AM!! Ha, ha.

The line to get to the food! Joseph is the tall boy trying to dish up the biggest amount of mashed potatos!

It was a fun Thanksgiving....No one was hurt...I am ThAnKfUl!

Blast from the past

Donny Osmond is on "Dancing With the Stars" this season. I have enjoyed watching him. I remember being a Donny Osmond fan from the time I was very young. I had Osmond records, Donny records, purple socks and yes I wished to marry him when I grew up. I was devastated the day I heard he found his one true love. I recently began organizing my photos in different containers and remembered coming across a few pictures of a time that my sister, Bev, and I found out about an appearance Donny Osmond would be making at a local Las Vegas Movie Theater. He had something to do with the music in the movie and I don't remember what the movie was. (No it wasn't Mulan...this was before his Disney time) I do, however, remember that a friend of mine from work, myself and my sister went to this event. As you can see from the photos, we were able to get up close for a picture. Bev, who is the ultimate Osmond stalker, stood a LITTLE closer than I did. Whoever took the picture cut off the top of Donny's head..but you can still tell it's Donny Osmond. Yes, that is me with the BIG plastic rimmed glasses.

As you can see from the second picture Bev was not satisfied with just one up close picture, she followed him throughout the theater and outside almost got in to the limo with him. I wish I had pictures of Bev's days chasing Jimmy Osmond around, but alas it is just written down somewhere in her journals for her posterity to enjoy.

Good luck Donny...you made it in to the final 4...maybe you'll be the next Dancing with the Stars Champion!!! One more thing to add to your wall of fame.

Hmmm I wonder if he has his copy of the picture with Bev and I on his WALL???

Happy Birthday Dad!

The first man I ever loved is my Dad! I had my dad all to myself for 4 years..(Well I guess I had to share him with my mom)

I love to dance with my dad and I have lots of good memories of dancing and him dancing his little jigs to make us laugh. I love you dad, I hope you are having a wonderful day. I wish I could spend it with you. I'll see you soon!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!