Christmas in a nut shell

We have had a crazy week full of bumming around with family. It's been really nice to have Cheeto around for a couple of days! Christmas was great! My parents surprised us with a Wii. We have really enjoyed that! The boys got some PS2 controllers from Santa so we have really been into video games the past few days. I have caught Cheeto playing them both when the boys weren't around. Cheeto gave me an appointment to get us a living will written up. I have been asking for this one for years! I was very excited about this one! I hope the appointment follows through and we can get it done soon! Of course we got a lot more- too much to list!
We had family pictures taken the day after Christmas. I will be posting them as soon as I get them. After pictures, all the girls were treated to pedicures. Even our little Sassy! She was on cloud 9! It's fun to take her with us. She behaves very well on these dates. About an hour after pedicures our "Idaho" Christmas party started. These are always fun.

Christmas Sunday

I just had to go to sacrament meeting today. I know some of you will beg to differ, but our ward has, hands down, the best choir. The musical talent that comes from our ward is amazing! Our Christmas program consists of just musical numbers. The spirit is always so strong. I couldn't miss this! I had to go! Of course, there were some people that couldn't keep their hands to themselves. The halls and a newborn baby just are not safe! I won't be back until her blessing now. :( I did get uplifted and came away full of the spirit.

Ok... I had Addelyn's knitted Christmas dress done but ended up taking the whole thing out. It fit perfectly. I didn't want her to only wear it once so I'm going to make her stocking and then start her dress again just a bit bigger this time! This outfit my mom gave her. It was a bit big. The pants were huge but weren't too bad once you rolled the waist down about 2 inches.

A friend of mine was given an extra Christmas dress. She thought of Analise and gave it to her. She was feeling like a princess. They were adorable. I felt bad that I didn't get the boys a new tie or something. They didn't care but I did!

Addelyn loves to be wrapped up in a towel after her bath. She screams when you take her out of the bath. Today I put Analise in at the same time. She thought it would be funny to turn on the shower. Addelyn was in the back and got the shower in her face. This set Addelyn off screaming. As soon as I put her in her towel she immediately stopped. Cheeto thought what Analise did was hilarious! Of course, he would!

10 year Anniversary Date

When Cade was just a baby, Cheeto surprised me with an anniversary trip, in "August." He told me to be ready for a date one Friday night. When he got home he told me to start packing a bag for two nights. I had no idea what to pack. Then he said to pack stuff for Cade to stay at Grandma's. I was shocked! He got the idea from a really good friend of ours. They switch off every year who plans their anniversary trip. We celebrate ours usually in the summer sometime because our anniversary is in December, Cheeto's birthday is in January and mine is in February. It seems like everything runs together so this is a great way to break it up a bit. Well, Cheeto's job made celebrating during the summer pretty difficult. And Addelyn kind of made doing anything romantic and overnight pointless. Cheeto has been really wanting to go to Red Robin for his favorite hamburger for forever. We went there, ran a Christmas errand, and went home to watch "Get Smart" with Steve Carell- one of favorite actors. I decided to sort out Christmas for the kids and get it all wrapped. I surprised Cheeto with his favorite dessert- Cheryl's Strawberry Brownie Torte. However, Cheeto surprised me more. When I got up for Addelyn's 2:30am feeding there was a card and a book on the couch. The book was actually a beautiful leather bound journal. In it he wrote, "Why I Love Shena". Of course, that's all you're going to know. But to me, nothing means more than just reading these words. I have the best husband ever!!!! It wasn't all romantic by worldly terms. But was all I needed! Thanks Tia for having a sleepover with the older kids.

Cheeto lovin his Red Robin Burger!

Cade Class party

Friday Cade had his class party. This is the first one I went to that was fun yet educational. His teacher does a great applying learning to projects and such. He asked me to bring his panthers hat that Tia gave him to wear during the party. When I walked in the classroom his class mates cheered! They loved the hat too! I'm so grateful for this opportunities. So many mom's had t just come and go quick during their lunch breaks. Thanks honey for working hard to let me have these moments with the kids!
Cade's teacher loves the Panthers too! She had to get a picture of him with his hat on. They have a special bond all because of their love for a football team!

Here's to 10 Years!

Happy Anniversary Mi Vida! Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for being the wonderful husband and father you are! You are so much more than I deserve. Thank you for giving me a loving home. Thank you for great kids- they are kids- they are going to drive us crazy sometimes! ;) Thank you for filling our home with your testimony and honoring your priesthood. You are a man our boys can look up to and strive to become. I know it's been really hard lately but we are doing our best and going through it together. I would ask for it to be no other way. Thank you for working hard and giving us everything we need. You have made the last 10 years the best ever! They have gone by so fast. And I'm sure the next 10 will be here before you know it! Te Amo Mi Vida! Para Siempre!

Wow! not enough time in a day!

It's coming down to crunch time. I thought because I had everything bought that I was so prepared for Christmas. However, after feeling guilty that I didn't make a certain someone (you know who you are!)a Christmas gift and slacking on a few other gifts, I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. But hey... since I stay up most of the night anyway that gives me a few more hours to stress and wonder how it's all going to get done! And of course, anyone that really knows me knows that I'm going to throw in making my new little girl a knitted Christmas dress. What was I thinking?!!?!? I could have sewn one in less than an hour. What I don't do to save a dollar!!!!

Kelson his class party today. So I spent the afternoon with him. Came home to work on some projects while the girls were napping. A friend brought us some dinner which was a blessing. It was the perfect day for some help in that department. Shortly after she left we received a special guest at our house. Well... you can see who came by to pick up Christmas lists.

Funny Kid Quote of the Day
Analise had an accident today and was going to wash her own pants. However, she thinks that just throwing them in the dryer actually cleans them too. She started arguing with Kelson about it and his explanation was, "Sassy, this is the dryer. You have to throw them in the "wetter" first!" I died laughing!!!!

Man Rules

*A friend sent this to me via email. I found it pretty funny!

Note to Cheeto: This doesn't mean that I believe it all and you still may get in trouble for any of the following! ;)



The Man Rules­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down

Finally , the guys' side of the story. ( I must admit, it's pretty good.)
We always hear ' the rules ' From the female side.

Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered '1 ' ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both.
If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color.
Pumpkin is also a fruit.
We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' We will act like nothing's wrong..
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;
But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

My day of Tears

Yep- Mom and Erin had to go home to their families and husbands today. They had to leave by 5am. It was so convinient that Addelyn woke up at 4:30am for a feeding. I was able to see them for a few more minutes and say goodbye. Analise came walking down the hall just as they were walking out the door. Analise got this pout on her face and started to tear up when mom was telling her goodbye. That's when I lost it. Up until then I was doing so good! It got worse after she left. Analise started the hiccup crying after she watched them drive away! She then wanted her daddy! She went and got in bed with him. She cried again when she woke up. She really bonded with mom and Erin.
I hate this part of their visits. However, it wasn't so bad saying good bye to mom since she will be back with Dad in just 3 weeks. But I don't know the next time I'll see my sister. Sometimes it's years in between visits. I love where I live. I love my home and my life here on the east coast but the miles between me and my family is too much at times. They were such a great help this past week. They cleaned my embarrassing dirty bathrooms and house. They made dinners, did laundry, bathed kids, read stories, and loved on everyone. Words can't say how grateful I am for loving family. Sky made his schedule work so Erin could come. That in and of itself was a great sacrifice. Let alone giving up her kids for a week. Mom and Dad always make a time and spend the money to come see me. There are so many parents that don't do that. For that, I am also grateful! My kids seem to pick up with them just as if they saw them yesterday. I find that very special. I want them to have the same relationship with my parents as they do with Cheeto's even though they don't live close.
Analise just brought a tissue to wipe them away and said, "Mommy, it's ok. Damma will be back at my birthday!" What a sweet little girl! Such a lovey kid! So here I am living my day of tears.I always do this the day my mom leaves. Tomorrow will back to normal. Thank you mom and Erin for all you did. Mom for the shoes, skirts, baby blankets, clothes and much much more! Erin- you went above and beyond. You honestly spoil me! Addelyn thanks you too!

SOMEONE PLEASE MAKE TIME SLOW DOWN!

Addelyn just looked so cute yesterday in her Christmas outfit from Grandma A. I can't believe how big she has gotten in only 3 weeks. It makes me so sad to already feel like time is going by so fast. Someone please make it stop! Addelyn has changed so much in the last few days. She is awake more and turns her head towards you when you talk to her. We all are enjoying her in our home. What a wonderful Christmas this will be! The gift of a child is more than I could ask for. We are very happy with our family!

Visitors from Home!

My mom and sister, Erin, arrived last week. I was so excited to see them. I was so thankful that my sister's husband worked out so she could come. We had lots of fun shopping the steals, had some good laughs, cried a few tears, and slept very little. I'm sure Cheeto thought there was a little too much estrogen in the house! He was a little out numbered.

Friday night is when we got Erin. Mom and Dad wanted to give the kids some money as part of their Christmas to buy gifts for each other and for us. Mom wanted to take them and help them do this so it was a surprise for Cheeto and I as well. I thought this was awesome! Cheeto and I went to his mom's to get her family room put back together. She finally got her carpet.
Saturday we kicked around all morning. Cheeto had to go to work in the morning to prepare for his Florida trip. We met him at his office around noon to show Mom and Erin. We really got to see the "entire" building- finished and unfinished. We came home, ate some lunch and then left Cheeto with ALL of the kids. Mom, Erin, and I went to Kohl's shopping. We found some killer deals. I got 5 pairs of shoes for less than $50. We then went Joann's to get the finishing touches for Addelyn's blessing dress. Analise is still coughing like crazy! The boys are too a little bit. Mom wanted to try the thing with putting vapor rub on your feet and wearing socks to bed, since we had so many patients to try it on. I must say I believe worked. I didn't hear a cough all night.

Sunday only the boys went to church. We stayed home and knitted our Christmas gifts and watched movies. We ate dinner and then went to see the Christmas lights in Caswell. If you have been long time readers of our blog, you will probably think that this post is identical to one from last year. There is a Caswell family that has been putting up these Christmas lights for the last 60 years. We talked to the wife while we were there. They put up 1.5 million lights each season. She said they take the lights down right after the new year and start putting them up in August or September sometime, after the major hurricane season is over. They can't leave them up because the trees growth breaks the lights and wires. They also can't put up the colored lights until right before Christmas because the sun fades the lights. I thought all of this was interesting. Definitely things you would only learn by years of experience and by trial and error. We had told mom and Erin what to expect but I don't think words can explain what this family does. The kids love the train sets and villages. My dad would have loved the train sets. This was another place where Papa C was truly missed!

Monday I had to get Cheeto to the airport by 6am. He had a business trip to Tampa. About 6:30, I get a text from Cheeto to look at his facebook. He had a friend from his Kernersville office offer him Panthers tickets for Monday night's game. Panthers vs. Buccineers. I felt so bad for him. He could have gone on a guy's trip to a Monday's game. Those offers don't come around everyday. Instead he had to watch his Panthers play the Bucs in their hometown. That's messed up! Mom, Erin, and I went back to Kohl's, where we found even better deals. We found many $50 skirts for less than $4. It was exciting! That night we had watched Home Alone 2 with the kids. Oh the laughs that movie gets from kids. It was worth watching just to watch my kids!


Tuesday I had a "meeting" with Cade's teacher. She emailed me Friday asking for me to come in sometime this week. I got there about 11am and the class was working on math. She didn't look like she was ready for a "meeting." One of the kids saw me standing in the hall and shouted, "Cade's mom is here!" His teacher opens the door and invites me in. She then says, "I hope your not too mad but we lied to you. There is no meeting. We just wanted to get you here to give you something. Cade just found out this morning so this ia kind of surprise for him too." She then went behind her desk and brought me this HUGE basket full of baby gifts. The entire class pitched in got Addelyn stuff. I was shocked. What a sweet surprise. Cade had to help me out to the car. He asked if he had to go back. :) He also asked if I would wait to show everyone until he got home. He wanted to be the one to show Addelyn! After I got back we went to eat at Mexico and pick up Addelyn's birth announcements.


We got home and started picking up the house and got some Bojangles for dinner. Mom and Erin then had to do some clever packing to get all the deals in their suitcases. Cheeto wasn't going to be home until 11pm. I was exhausted but was afraid if I went to sleep I would be to out of it to drive. We got home about midnight.

Funny Kid Stories (there are so many this time!)

ANALISE
I wasn't as prepared as I wanted to be when my mom got here Wednesday. I didn't have a chance to get her room put together so I figured she could sleep in Analise's bed the first night. I put Analise in the boy's room for the one night. About midnight, my mom got a lil' visitor. Analise wanted her bed more than we thought. Mom said as tired as she was Analise had her laughing most of the night. She kept saying, "Damma, me loves you!" "Damma, do you need your purse?" The she would throw mom's purse on the bed. "Damma, can I have a treat in your purse?" This went all night. When I say mom the next morning, my mom told me what about her night's events. Cheeto was embarrassed. I told Analise that we were going to lock grandma in her own room tonight. Analise looked up at me and said, "But mommy why you do that? Me loves my Damma?" That night Analise tried to find her Damma. She even woke Cheeto up to help her. There was one night that mom forgot to lock the door and guess what happened.... Yep- she received a lil' friend to sleep with.

KELSON
We had just gotten back in city limits from picking up Erin when a cop came flying up behind me with his lights flashing. I pulled over to the side and Kelson said, "Phew! Mom, I thought we were busted!"

Analise was fight with Kelson and snatching toys away. When Kelson yells out, "Analise! You need to share! God wants us to share and He's watching you right now!"

The Little Bowtique

These are some awesome little clips! You should check out her website and see what she has. I have seen these sold for 3 times as much out here. What a cute gift for all the little girls in your life!

I thought this would be fun! 1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper 2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial - I get a Yankee Candle for the missed smells 3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving weekend 4. Do you like eggnog? Yep- only diluted with milk 5. Favorite gift received as a child? WOW- I had so many! 6. Hardest person to buy for? My Dad 7. Easiest person to buy for? My kids and mom 8. Do you have a nativity scene? Just little ones- I would love a nice one though 9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail - not real committed to it though 10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? mmm.... would I really admit what that was? 11. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation,White Christmas, & Polar Express 12. When do you start shopping? Year round baby! 13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? hasn't everyone :) 14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas morning rolls 15. Lights on the tree? White 16. Favorite Christmas song? What Child is this? but there are so many! 17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? stay home 18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? I think about it and only if I sing the song. 19. Angel on the tree top or a star? an angel 20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? EARLY Christmas morning 21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Cheeto complaining about all the Christmas music and decor. :) THE CROWDS- that's why I get mine done early! 22. Favorite ornament theme or color? We collect ornaments from everywhere we go. Don't have a theme 23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Honey Baked Ham 24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Cheeto to be done with testing!!!! 25. Who do I tag? Lettie, Becky C., Alyssa and Melissa (sorry sissy's- I just wanted to see how well I know you!)

PS- I wanted to see how well Cheeto knew me. I quizzed him and he wants the record to show that he knew me better than I did. He reminded me of things I forgotten. I suppose he should know me that well. We have been together for 10 years this year. WoW! Are we getting old or what? Thanks for humoring me honey!

Kelson loves his Sisters

I have said many times how much Kelson adores Addelyn. He can't get enough of her. She got sick last week. Her eye gets all green and goopy and is as congested as a baby can get. It is so sad to hear her breath. He has been watching out for her all afternoon. We took her to the doctor today. Her right ear looked a little red so he gave her an antibiotic to clear it up. H0pefully she will be able to sleep better soon.

Sassy LOVES TO DANCE! She turns the radio on a number of times during the day and will ask anyone to dance with her. Her favorite is her daddy! The other night she asked Kelson and of course, being the sweet brother that he is, he did it. I really didn't think they would do it when I showed them closed position hold. They did pretty well. Of course it stirred up some giggles from all of us!

Christmas is HERE!!!

Can I just say what a great husband I have!!! Cheeto doesn't like having Christmas decor up or music playing until December 1st. However, I like to decorate Thanksgiving weekend. Because of my current situation, he really wanted to wait until my mom came this week to do it. I was feeling up to some decorating so he did his best to helping me on Friday. It only took us a couple of hours. I didn't do as much as I usually do but enough. The kids really helped with the tree decorating. Thanks honey for all your help!

I obviously have some knitting to do to get Addelyn's stocking done in time for Christmas.
I'm hoping this will happen next week sometime.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day was very low key. We all made something to help with dinner which helps everyone! I made Cheeto's favorite apple pie weeks ago and froze it thinking I wouldn't feel up to doing it whether I was still pregnant or had had the baby. It didn't taste exactly the same but it worked. I was glad I was so smart in doing that! I also made a family favorite- 7up salad. I know no one has ever heard of this one. Cheeto and I really like it. I don't know if the rest of the Arellano's do or not but it is a Christensen holiday staple that I don't like to miss out on.

Cheeto had big plans to play in a Turkey bowl. He looks forward to this every year. He loves his football. I stayed at home praying that he wouldn't break anything! That's all we would need- huh? He came home unhurt except for every muscle in his body aching for the next few days. We made quite the pair. :)

We ate dinner later that afternoon and then made our ornaments. My Grandma Bullock use to have a craft for us to do whenever we went to her house for Thanksgiving. I was only 12 or so when she passed away but that is still one of my favorite memories of her. My mom was of course involved with this craftiness. My mom didn't do it every year but did very often. I started our own tradition about 3 years ago and decided my family and whoever else was around would make Christmas ornaments on Thanksgiving afternoon. It gives us something to do as a family on this day. This year I had wooded thread spools and made them look like Christmas list scrolls. My kids love to paint so they each got to paint their spool. I must say I was please with the finished product! I think it will be fun to see them years down the road and look at what they were interested in and how cute their handwriting was.

Nola made all the girls new Thanksgiving aprons, even our little Sassy got one. I suppose wearing our aprons is another holiday tradition. Thanks mom! It was interesting this year over at her house. Dad left for Mexico Tuesday. We sure missed him. We played some marachi music during dinner in honor of him. :) Mom was suppose to have had new carpet laid on Wednesday- the day before thanksgiving. However, Wednesday morning she got the call saying the carpet was still in Georgia and wouldn't be delivered until the next week sometime. We had already moved EVERYTHING out of her family room. We all sat on the floor and kitchen chairs all weekend. I'm sure it would have bothered dad more than it did the rest of us. It wasn't the most comfortable but it was fine. We still had lost of fun!

Addelyn's First Bath

When we were taking pictures last week, Addelyn's umbilical cord came off. This made the other kids very happy. I have had the baby tub- aka "The Boat", in the kids bathroom for awhile and they have been dying to put Addelyn in it. Analise needed a bath so she got in as well. Addelyn didn't scream her head off the 'entire' time like the other kids did. She was harder for me to bath because of her little size. "The Boat" is still a little big for her!

This was Addelyn's first "spot" bath. She still had her cord so we couldn't give her a full on scrubbing. The kids still thought it was great and wanted to help anyway they could.