The BIG 5...

And in the words of Kaleb, "It's good to be 5!" and I completely agree.

This little boy has taught me how to clean my toilet seat on a regular basis.
This little boy has taught me that burping and "tooting" is an instinctive trait in all boys.
This little boy has taught me patience.
This little boy has taught me that just when I think I'm about to run out of patience I manage to find an extra dose of it.
This little boy has taught me how unconditional love really is.
This little boy has taught me that screaming and yelling gets me no where.
This little boy has taught me that a little tickle and a big hug goes a long way.
This little boy has taught me that, despite the tough exterior, little boys have a heart gold.

No birthday would be complete without a visit to Chuck E. Cheese.

Kaleb had full birthday cake decorating rights. His only requests were blue frosting, gummy O's, and gummy worms.

I love the next few series of pictures...

I've decided it's almost cruel to give a little boy a bike in the middle of winter. So, for now, it's become a coat rack in the center of Kaleb's bedroom until winter decides to stop winter-ing.

Happy Birthday Kaleb

Life just wouldn't be the same without you!

Dear Santa,

I please want a car.
I want to drive a car with a control and red stuff on the car.
Please give it to me.
Give it to me when it snows.
Merry Christmas Ho,Ho, Ho!
We want you to come in our room and hope we get lots of presents .
Help me be nice.

Kaleb

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Santa,

Hi.

I wish you a merry Christmas.

Do your reindeer really fly?

Did they really trick Rudolph and call him names?

Does he really have a red nose?

I'm thankful for you!

Did you check your naughty & nice list twice?

Are they in two pieces or are they in one?

Ho, Ho, Ho-

I LOVE YOU SANTA!

Thank you for all the presents.

Love,

Abrie

PS- I want a water baby

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Santa,

I want a BIG Dora.
I want little pet shops.
(Me interjecting) Macie, you can't have little pet shops. You'll eat them.
(Macie continues) I want Little Pet Shops... and I won't eat 'em.

Macie

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Santa,

I will keep my list short and sweet this year.
I want a house.
I want a house with a dishwasher and washer & dryer.
I want a house that has a room for each child and a time-out room for me that is NOT the bathroom.
I want a house that has a fenced backyard (biggie size it please).
I want a house with a closet that is bigger than my big toe.
I want a house with a kitchen that gives me the desire to cook.
Better yet, I want a house with a kitchen that will just make dinner magically appear.
I want a house with my very own bathroom and a jetted tub wouldn't hurt either.
Dear Santa, I want need a house.

Yours truly,
Ginnie

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Santa,

Please bring Ginnie a house.

Nate

It Officially Feels Like Christmas

Time to don last years two-sizes-too-small snow suits,
your hand me down two-sizes-too-big snow boots,
and your socks that double as gloves,
because, baby, it's c-c-cold outside!


For all you Utah virgins out there, this is what it looks like after a half of a day's worth of snow.

And just in case you're asking yourself, "Who is that little boy in blue and where is Macie?", well, here's the answer...

Poor thing. Not only is she a beautiful little girl, but she makes a cute little boy as well. And notice the socks on the hands. You thought I was kidding about socks that double as gloves. Sadly, I wasn't. She didn't seem to mind too much though, which saved me the speech of, "Macie, you will wear these socks on your hands, dang-it, and you will like it or so help me...".

So I'm thinking it's time to do some winter shopping. What do you think?

Some Day....

When I own a home,
with my very own wall,
I want to be Martha-esque and be as domestic and crafty as a woman could possibly be.
And then,
when that day happens,
I think I'll attempt to make something like this...

or this

images courtesty of diyideas.com

Wasted

Do you follow A Little Sussy? If you don't, then you should start. Now.

Here's the link to her blog, and in particular, her wasted photo shoot that she just did the other day. And tell me, do you happen to recognize any of the "wasted" models? Look closely and you'll see a little boy with crazy hair and funny face that happens to belong to me.

A Little Sussy: The wasted shoot

Duuuuuude!

I experienced nitrous for the first time yesterday. All is can say is that my heart not only belongs to Cafe' Rio's salmon taco's, but it now belongs to nitrous as well.

We decided it would be best for mine and Nate's safety if I had a little something to calm the nerves, since last time I was at the dentist I almost punched Nate in the face for giving me a shot. You think I'm kidding, but I'm not. I don't treat all dentists that way, only the one I sleep with.

So they hooked me up to the nitrous and 5 minutes later my feet started to tingle and I felt so chill and relax and the only word that kept coming to mind was, "Duuuuu-uuuu-uuuude". Nate asked me if it was working and the moment I went to reply uncontrollable laughter and obnoxious giggles came out. I tried to control myself, I did. But I was too weak, the laughter took control. I couldn't stop. Tears started streaming from my eyes and Nate's poor assistant- who was meeting for the first time- started cracking up too. I don't think I made a good first impression. Nate looks down at me like, "control yourself Ginnie". He quickly looks at the assistant and says, "Ummmm, I think we need to turn it down just a bit". In between bouts of loud laughter I tried to mutter out, "No, don't turn it down yet" but they couldn't hear me. The least they could have done was let me enjoy myself for a little bit longer. It's a shame.

You know, if I could carry a can of nitrous with me every where I go, life wouldn't be so bad. I could manage the chaos & crazy with joy & laughter. Every time Macie draws on the carpet with mascara I could just hook that bad boy up and it could make that mascara all disappear.

Dear Daegan,

I rarely dedicate my posts to just one person other than myself, but for you... today I make an exception. I'm sure you looked at me with envy the day I posted this little beauty of my family and future family.

With me as a queen and 8 kids (one with the name of Pubert) who wouldn't be jealous? Since you are a close friend and Nate's bush whacking companion I didn't want to leave you out. Yes, Christmas for you dear Daegan comes a couple weeks early this year.

What man wants to be seen driving the family van around with those stickers plastered to the back? I know you Daegan. You need MAN stickers. You need stickers that shout testosterone. Stickers that ooze manliness. Stickers that say, "I can survive in the wilderness for 47 days & nights with just a small paper clip, ball of yarn, and a can of Dr. Pepper".

Well, Daegan, I've got the perfect stickers for you and I took the liberty of naming your 4th & 5th child. (Hope you don't mind)

Sticker A:

And just in case Amy doesn't want to name child 4 and 5 Smith & Wesson I've designed another manly sticker choice.

Sticker B:

Yes, Daegan. Those are the one and only Surefire photoshop brushes, custom designed by yours truly. You will be the envy of Flashaholics everywhere.

Merry Christmas!
(I expect to get at least a little something from you this year. Diamonds would be fine).

Sincerely,
Ginnie

Post-Thanksgiving Thankful List

I am thankful...

• For water that I dare to drink out of the faucet. (memories of this... shutter...)
• For a roof over my head (even if that roof happens to belong to my parents).
• For Cafe' Rio and my new found love of their salmon tacos... my heart belongs to you.
• For the heaven sent, super sponge, magic eraser that can take permanent marker off of walls, tables, and chairs. (It doesn't work so well on garage doors though).
• For hoodies and sweat pants that can double as casual wear and pajama's.
• For Wendy's dollar menu.
• For all the conveniences of life like washers & dryers, dishwashers, and clean mold-free bathrooms. Let's just say apartment living wasn't kind to us.
• For child lock doors that foil Macie's attempt to escape James Bond style on the freeway.
• For backyards and the hope that I will someday own one.
• For nap time. Actually, my sanity is thankful for nap time.
• For Diet Coke and the tingly feeling I get every time I take a sip. I wouldn't call it an addiction... more of an intense love.
• For Wendy's dollar menu.
• For Lysol disinfectant wipes and any other types of degermifiers that make me feel at peace knowing I can sit down on my own toilet seat.
• For divinely inspired epidurals, although I would be more grateful if they just knocked me out completely.
• For a husband that loves unconditionally despite the fact that I'm a deeply flawed individual.
• For three kids that love unconditionally despite the fact that I might very well raise them to be deeply flawed individuals as well.
• For Wendy's dollar menu.
• For lots of other things too many to name like the miracle bra, the flat iron, mascara, 2 cars, the ability to make an awkward situation more awkward, for friends who stroke the ego and tell me things like, "Ginnie, honestly. That spandex does not make you look fat" and "No worries Ginnie, bangs are coming back in"... I am thankful!

And look, I crossed stitched this just for you!