Tree Time!

We decided to switch up our normal Christmas tree stop from Manthey's to Stoney Ridge.  We traded the "good deal" for the "experience".  I would have to say Chris and I were both very impressed with Stoney Ridge with the tree and holiday set up.  There were lots of props, so it was a good reason to get some more pictures...The boys had a lot of space to run around, and they even brought some of their toy tools with them to help Chris cut down the tree. 
They tie up the tree for you too, which makes it easier for transporting it, and was quite helpful when putting the tree in the stand.  Which in years past just getting the tree even in the stand created some non holiday spirit!!  So two thumbs up for Stoney Ridge!

That is one big snowman!!



Baby Jesus!  They did a phenomenal job setting up a nativity seen with lots to look at.



And a camel too...

The boys couldn't run out to the trees fast enough, all in separate directions of course, trying to find their own version of the perfect tree.  Crew seemed to easily spot every HUGE tree and he finally picked this one!



Brody picked this one!





And we ended up with this one!!

We got to see the Turrell's for a visit this past weekend, and Ky's and Tay's were lovin hanging out, while the older boys played rough and tough!



We had a nice Saturday getting our tree and putting up our Christmas lights and decorations.  It has now become a tradition to do this the weekend of Thanksgiving, which I have to talk Chris into every year!  He conveniently forgets that we ALWAYS do it this weekend! But I told "scrooge" that he better get use to this, and of course he gave in, because he couldn't wait to get the Christmas lights up either!

The tree was up and within 5 minutes the cat had climbed the tree, and now that it is decorated, we have no ornaments on the bottom 1/3 because of pumpkin and Kyler.  Crew told me about 20 times within the hour of putting up the tree and the decorations that he loved me so much! He just loved every second of helping put the ornaments on the tree and seeing all the decorations come out of the boxes.  Brodes was just happy pointing out naming the different ornaments, and taking off the one's that Crew had already put on, what a true brother.

Totally Thankful

We got the best surprise ever Thanksgiving day with snow straight from when we woke up until late into the afternoon... What a relaxing day to just have the fireplace going and watch the snow fall.  God is good and has given us so much to be thankful for. With Chris at work for his 10th straight day, my mom brought over lunch and games to play to hang out with me and the boys.  The hit of course was this turkey cake, who has cake on Thanksgiving? My boys, because they are spoiled!  The bakery at my mom's work always makes special cakes, and so my mom is a sucker for buying them and letting my boys get their fill of cake. 

We had a big Thanksgiving feast out at Price's that evening, and there was lots of  "tackle time" and family time.  Lots of leftovers so we will be having Thanksgiving all weekend!  The boys have a blast at Papa and Memi's house, it is nonstop fun, and lots to do. We are just waiting for their cousin to get on the move, but for now he is so sweet to hold because he is such a good boy!  Memi made some great pies, with some funny stories behind them too...Thanks for a great evening Price Family! 

Pumpkin can fall asleep anywhere, and Brodes was just chillin after a long day of Thanksgiving....

Every time I hear this song on the radio, it makes me smile and pray.  So incredibly thankful for the three healthy boys God has blessed us with.  Love takes on a whole new meaning being a mom to these boys.  I love all my boys, the love of my life and husband of 6 1/2 years, Chris, my wild and crazy man, Crew Charles, my sweet and relentless go getter Brody Jeffrey, and my loud, 'high maitenance', super quick, mama's boy, Kyler Christopher...

Thank you Jesus!

Memory to Work!

Ever since Crew has been little he has always remembered EVERYTHING!  He knows who gave him what for birthday's and Christmas, and will tell me things that have happened that I completely forget about.  He knows what is coming up and what is going on next, very much in sequence...Well his new game right now that he likes is memory.  You would think he would want to start small, but he puts out 30 sets (60 total) of NBA match up cards, and it takes him no time at all to clear the game.  He beats me EVERY time, no joke, in fact that challenge is on for anyone that wants to take him in on in a game of memory!  So I thought it was just me, but he has beaten Papa and Nana too...But don't be surprised if a 4 year old beats you!

So I figure I might as well use my resources, he can remember where all the cards are in memory, he can very easily put away the dishes correctly right?  Sure can, just had to tell him ONCE where everything goes, and he sure enough he figures it out.  Better than his dad too... :)  I even caught him laying out all the tablespoons and teaspoons to find where the missing one went and put in all back in the right order!

While Crew was getting all the attention, it looks like Brodes found some M&M's!

So I am just curious if Crew can "remember" all of these things, why is it so difficult for him to remember to play nice, put his toys away, and "remember" the rules.  Hmmm.... Selective memory.  We will go with that!

Thanksgiving Round One... And the Simpliest of Things

We are so lucky to have so much family so close.  So much family that basically from yesterday until Christmas Day we have either a Thanksgiving or Christmas every weekend!  I can't complain, in fact this has got to be the best time of year, and my goal is to not let the hustle and bustle of the season take away from that.  That's the goal, we have the dates set, and most of my shopping is done, so now I just want to enjoy each party with each group of our families.

My mom cooked an AMAZING Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday. Wow, I have been doing so good watching what I eat, and then the famous sweet potato casserole comes up, and everything was very good! We missed you though Deuce, can't wait for you to be home! Jeff and Rae made the trip from Yakima, so it was a very nice evening.  My dad got the boys playing air hockey, which is their new favorite thing to do at Papa and Nana's.  We usually don't have wine with dinner, and when Jeff placed a bottle on the table, my mind automatically thinks...toast...announcement....pregnant....?, maybe, hopefully???!! But nope, just wanted some wine, how boring!! I don't think we all sat down at the table together very long, Ky's was just tired and cranky, and they were definitely a noisy dinner bunch. I love how by the end of the evening when we finally leave, I can literally see everyone take a deep breath of relief....now we can relax! Holidays with the Price boys will always be an experience!

I have totally chilled out on taking pictures lately, partly because I don't have an extra hand very often, and sitting and relaxing is honestly non existent. But trust me, this dry spell won't last for long!

Memi came by an afternoon this past week and helped the boys trace their hands and feet and make these turkey crafts!  They had so much fun, although Brodes was not too sure if he liked his body being traced!  Now Memi better be prepared each time she comes over with a new craft!

The simplest of things...It really brings a smile to my face...  This weather...oh how I have anticipated it, hearing the howls and whistles of the constant northeaster winds, that leaves you curled up inside looking our the window and being close with your family... or not! Just kidding, but really having the snow and the winds and freezing temps is a little hard to get these 'crazies' out.  But we have been very creative, and with Chris working for the past week straight, me and the boys have had a lot of fun together. 

Ky's is the book guy right now, and loves to say "moo", by holding his lips together and humming. He also is very excited to chase the kitty around the house and say "keeeeeeety" or something like that. It is the cutest thing I have ever heard! If you come and visit our house you might as well get use to the fact that he will start crying when he sees you, he automatically thinks I am leaving him. And he won't stop fussing until you leave, so take a hint.. ;) Monkey see, monkey do, he copies everything you do, and loves to make noises with his mouth, wave bye bye, throw a ball and play catch, pick up toys (big helper) and will clap for himself. He takes everything out of every drawer, and runs to the next one before you can catch up. Busy and FAST. Him and toilets, Chris' phone landed in it last week, and he came out with a clump of wet toilet paper too! Yuck! Crew needs to learn to flush! The thing that makes me laugh over and over about him right now is when Crew and Brody are playing with something, he very intently sneaks up behind them, grabs a piece of what they are playing with, and turns and just sprints...until one of them starts running after him. He just gets the biggest smirk on his face! Paybacks...

Crew and Brodes: Together all the time...which is not always the best combination, wow these two give each other a run for their money. Puzzles and cars out constantly, and they are obsessed with Toy Story 3, and the new Christmas Classics DVD with Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph. With all of these high tech toys these boys are most happy with flashlights (finding monsters), measuring tape and tools, and a few pillows to wrestle with. Everything is already a competition, and stealing each other's milk cup, or whatever the prize possession may be at the time is overall goal. They both just adore our kitty pumpkin, and surprisingly pumpkin puts up with them, and will even sleep in their laps. Also Chris may feel differently at times when the cat starts whinning from 6 am on until he is let out of the laundry room! We are having a lot of fun right now reading all of the Christmas books we have, and just being together and relaxing...Even if our version of relaxing is still full of energy....

Getting creative with picking up, give them a head lamp, turn all the lights off...and the game is too find all the "missing" toys...

Wow this is a super long post, I guess that is what you get, when a mom has a moment when ALL 3 kids are asleep, and is avoiding housework...Chris got called out to work, so I HAD to take the day off. Gonna be a short week of teaching...That's my style!

Weekend's Best

This is our Banzy!  Ivanna has been around our family quite a bit the last 4 years.  She just fits right in, and is over just hanging out (aka helping with the boys) or babysitting.  The boys just adore her, and her entrance sends them running in for hugs and kisses.  I am going to be so sad to see her graduate this year... ;( We are excited to watch her play basketball this year too!  Go Banzy!

Ivanna helped us out on Saturday night so we could  take Crew and Brodes to the playoff football game at Civic.  It was going to be too late and cold for Kyler to go, so she and Ky's got to hang out.  When Ky's was going through his screaming days, Vanz was able to ride the storm with him, she is clutch!

We had a great time at the game with the whole Price Famdamily, our boys were super high on sugar (must have been the traveling concession treats I had).  I was exhausted chasing them and trying to get them to sit, that is just not in their nature I guess... They are use to running all over the place at the home games, oh well.  Chris said jokingly after the game, was Kade even there?  Oh yeah, but that kid still does not say a peep!  My kids were just born wired for trouble!

Love it

Mom!! The aliens are here!!!  They came running out of the bathroom (naughty naughty) with a very creative impersonation of aliens.  Gotta give them credit, but no more q-tips boys!  Haha.

 Very productive overall weekend.  Chris and I tag teamed some major house projects, which just feels good to be somewhat caught up again.  All 3 bedrooms were completely cleaned including all closets and drawers.   Now just to keep everything organized!  

So I am eagerly awaiting the first chance of snow they have been predicting for Friday...Been watching the 10 day forecast non stop, weather obsessed, that's me! :)  Have a fantabulous week everyone!

A Special Veteran's Day Experience

There is no greater pleasure than making a difference, and the students and I at Lynden High School had an amazing opportunity to tag team with a good friend of mine, Tanis, to collect shoes to send overseas. Operation Shoebox started because Tanis' fiance, Skye, was deployed in June for a year in Afghanistan, wanting to help do something from home, she came up with the idea to send shoes and other supplies over so the troops could hand things out to the children who needed them most.  Not only does this benefit the children, but the soldiers take a lot of pride being able to make a difference in other people's lives and breaks up their long and stressful days. 
Normally we do drives and fundraisers and never get to see first hand what an impact it makes, because of the connection, we were able to get a video clip, and about 12 pictures of the kids receiving shoes.  We not only collected a 140 pairs of shoes, but also $250 to cover the shipping.  We all had such a great time running this drive, and packaging up and sending off the shoes! Nice work LHS FBLA!

Me and some of the FBLA students students who helped box shoes...

What a sweet little girl....



This picture gets me every time, it just breaks my heart to see all of those children in so much need, just for a pair of shoes. 

This was the video played at our school Veteran's Day Assembly.  The FBLA shoebox segment is the last minute of this video, I am waiting to have just our part on a separate clip, so this will have to do for now.  It really is unbelievable the sacrifices made by our troops.   



Thank you Sgt. Ortiz, and all of the soldiers fighting for us in Afghanistan, we are glad that we could make a small contribution, and we appreciate the time you took to give us the video and pictures. GOD BLESS!

Just a Little Sunday Night

Early dinner and bath...just one of those kinds of days!

Oh Crew, pretty soon these two are going to be even better at giving you a dose of your own medicine

Ky's is still wearing his dinner....

They really do love each other...

Traveling crumb monster

Brodes decided that his fill in the missing piece wood puzzles were not challenging enough, so the other night he sat at the table for over an hour, fitting all the pieces to a 24 piece cars puzzle.  The kid has more patience than I do, that's for sure! Ever since then he has wanted to do more and more big boy puzzles, and is getting pretty good at doing Crew's. 

A relaxing, but full of excitement and energy Sunday night.  Ready to take on what the week brings....the fireplace going, and a room full of boys jumping and singing to music...I guess I am an hour early, nothing like a "fall back", is it bed time yet? :) 

Dear Cruiser, Bo Bo's and Ky's, even though you make mom very tired, you are the greatest gifts I could ever ask for.   Every day is better because of you. Thank you for all the love you give me, and for making me a better person and mom!

Forgotten...

Well poor Crew's day didn't start out very good, when he lost his "I" day show-n-tell item.  Ivanna and Courtney, my two very amazing TA's who sometimes take Crew to school, searched the car high and low. But he put his ID card in his pocket and it must have fallen out before he got into the car.  He was very sad...show-n-tell is very important to him!

Too top that off in his little 4 year old world, I get a call at 12:00 on my cell phone at work from his preschool teacher, teacher Gina, saying that Crew is still at preschool (ends at 11:45).  I was like, oh my goodness, I totally spaced on arranging for him to be picked up.  My grandma normally does it, but lately I have been having my dad do Friday's and I just totally FORGOT to talk to him about it.  I felt so awful, what kind of mom leaves her child at preschool?  So I find another teacher to cover my 3rd period class and I race there and pick him up, he smiled and said "mom I am the last one, no one came to get me..." Talk about guilt! Teacher Gina did have the heart to reassure me that she understood it was as scheduling flaw, and says it does happen.  Crew seemed extra sad on the way back, and I asked him if he was okay, and he says yah, but I was just sad that no one came to get me."  I told him that mommy was sorry and that I would never leave him.  He said "Its okay I had all the toys to myself"! 

Just when you think your running a well oiled machine, our busy schedule shows some 'squeaks'.  Arranging people coming into my house throughout the week to watch the boys around college classes, Chris's shift work, and my teaching schedule, then someone else taking Crew to school, and someone else picking him up, can be a little crazy. 

Well hopefully Crew won't hold it against me, although the kids memory is amazing, I probably deserve to be held accountable...Cheers to a good weekend, and a RAINY home football playoff this Saturday!  Last concessions of the year!  Woo hoo!  Stop by and get some hot dogs and pizza!  :)

Halloween Weekend

We celebrated Halloween all weekend.  Trick or treating on Saturday night to half of the family and our neighborhood, and the 2nd half of our family Sunday evening.  Lots of family time which was very much needed.  Crew and Brody were super hero's, saving us from the villain, monster Kys!  A monster was just too fitting for him, and he made a pretty darn cute one.  We had to break it up because Kyler got extremely fussy Saturday evening, so Chris went home with him and handed out candy to our trick or treaters, while the boys and I walked around our neighborhood.  Fun fact, our neighborhood now has a total of 32 kids, holy smokes!  Jack came with us too (Indiana Jones) and him and Crew raced to each house taking turns on who got to ring the door bell.  Brodes just cracked me up the whole night, he would not let go of his pumpkin and flashlight.  He was always about 20 feet behind, but would not let me carry him.  He just doot, dooted along.  So cute.  Anyway I guess Kyer has a reason to be all upset, took him in Sunday and he does have an ear and sinus infection and is doing a lot better now.

Yep that's our MONSTER

Brodes not sure about Crew's mask...Scary mama!

SUPER BRODY!  Making a running save...thanks to grandpa's wheel chair ramp, they can get some speed!

Cutest ever

Uncle Cole gets best candy award, from the candy addict that he is :)

I keep thinking Halloween will get easier, in and out of the car seats, kids throwing their costumes off and all over the car, tears, smiles, "trick or treats" and thank you's, look at all of this candy, and I LOVE Halloween mom! This is so fun!