Because my child is terrified of Santa...

I took a picture of another kid on his lap, (This is actually Alayna's friend, Carter) just to document that we did indeed go to the Christmas party, Santa was in fact there and I did help decorate this corner (Santa's Corner). 

And when I say that my daughter is terrified of Santa, I really mean she is terrified of him.  In fact, when he first entered the room, we were standing right by the door that he entered, and my friend told me that she missed her kids' reaction to him because she was completely caught up in watching Alayna freak out and run to me. 

There was NO way she was going to sit on his lap or even go near him.  In fact, it was a miracle that she even let me carry her to get a treat bag.  Mind you, there were still tears, but she did get a treat bag.

Since seeing him, she does not want to watch any of our Santa Clause movies (which she used to watch all the time) and she informed me the other day at the store that she does not want him to come to our house.  I then told her that he only comes when we're sleeping so she won't have to see him. 

I think her opinion of him might change come Christmas morning. :)

A little shopping

Layna has shown an increased interest in gift giving this year...especially gift wrapping. 

She got to pick out Daddy's birthday and Christmas present.  It was actually quite fun this year since she really understood what she was doing.

We went to the dollar store for his Christmas gift.  I told her all morning that we were going to the dollar store to pick out Daddy's gift.  So when we walked into the store, she immediately went over to the baskets and grabbed one.  I asked her if she wanted me to carry it for her, but she said, "No!  I do it myself."

As we went up and down the isles, it was so fun to see her thinking about what Dan would really want.  She would put something in her basket, then see something else, take the first thing out of her basket and put the new one in.  This happened several times before she found IT: The.Perfect.Gift.For.Daddy. 

And really, I am surprised at how well she did at finding something that is so Dan.  But you'll have to wait until Christmas for the final reveal. 

Until then, here's her wrapping job for his Christmas present.  She did the cutting and taping.  I just had to help with the folding and holding the paper where she wanted it.

And his birthday present.  I believe there were six or seven bows total.  Do you like her choice of "birthday" wrapping paper, ribbon and bows?  I think Dan likes pink.  And if he doesn't, he's gonna have to learn to like it because I have a feeling there will be an awful lot of it in our home in years to come. 

An attempt to keep her entertained

As any mother of children knows, sometimes it is, shall we say, a bit of a challenge keeping kids entertained during church. 

I have especially learned that when you are by yourself, and out of patience, it can be really hard to keep your cool with a certain attitude filled three year old. 

So, I took matters into my own hands and decided to finish a project that I started over a year ago. 

Yep.  A YEAR ago. 

And here is the finished product after countless hours of coloring, cutting, gluing and cutting again:

File folder games. For church.

For any of you not familiar with these, they are basically activities in a file folder.  Each file folder has pieces that are attached (velcroed) on to the folder to complete a game. 

This specific game is about the Armor of God.  They are supposed to dress each man in their appropriate clothes (aka: suit for the missionary and armor for the warrior).

The pieces are kept in a Ziploc bag stapled to the folder.

This one is a color matching game.  You have to match the child being reverent to the chair that's the same color as their outfit.

I made ten games in all and let me tell you it was a lot of work.  But SO worth it when my child was entertained during Sacrament meeting.  Now, thanks to some suggestions from friends and family, I have a few other purchases/projects up my sleeve in hopes to keep Miss Layna better entertained during church.

Beware: When bringing file folder games to church, every kid within a few rows will want to join in on the fun.  It might be a good idea to bring enough to share.  :)

Happy Birthday to my Man

This handsome guy had a birthday.  He turned 32.

And according to him, it was a pretty fantastic day.  It started off with his favorite breakfast: French toast, sausage, and grapefruit.  Then, we went to the temple (Alayna got to play at Roberta's house).  We picked up some lunch and headed home to open presents.

Here they are: the birthday boy and his present opening helper.

Here she is, hard at work.

She had to stop for a picture to show just how strong she is.  "Look, Mom!  I can hold it all by myself!"  And she can....thanks to the fact that it is an aluminum dutch oven.

And here's the loot: A couple gift cards, money, a UW polo shirt, a blue-ray player, an aluminum dutch oven and an ipod docking station.  Somebody was spoiled!

While Daddy relaxed and played/tinkered with his gifts, Layna and I got to work on his birthday cake.

You can see for yourself what her favorite part is.

Then later on, Alayna got to go play at her friends' house while Dan and I went out to dinner. 

Layna and Daddy ready to go.

 And one of the whole fam.

After dinner we brought the cake over to our friends' house so all could enjoy.  The kids loved helping Dan blow out the candles.

To end the day, after Layna was put to bed, Dan and I watched a "guy" movie. 

Now, I don't think it gets much better than that.  :)

24 weeks

I figured it was about time for a pregnancy update. 

Here I am at 24 weeks. 

A front view of the belly.  (It's hard to see, but the sticker says 24 weeks.) 

As you can tell, I am rounding out quite nicely.  And based on the five pounds that I gained at my monthly check up...I think it's safe to say that baby girl is growing!  Luckily, I hadn't gained much the rest of the pregnancy.  But this is the first time I have been pregnant during the holidays, so I think I need to watch myself a little closer.  It's so nice to have an excuse to pig out on the sweets, but I probably don't need ice cream swimming in hot fudge every night....just every other night.  :)  Ok, ok.  I haven't really eaten that every night, but I have made hot fudge more over the last couple weeks, than I probably should have.  Normally I am more of a vanilla girl.  Give me a bowl of ice cream any day, but lately, I have really been craving chocolate....especially my Grammy's homemade chocolates. (My dad travelled to Utah this past week, and I told him I wouldn't be sad if he picked some up and mailed them to me. :) 

Enough about chocolate.  I have been feeling great so far.  Most of the time I forget I am even pregnant, until I feel a little poke or kick....which by the way, I am feeling quite often now, and I am LOVING it!  A couple weeks ago, the little stinker finally cooperated and kicked hard enough that Dan could feel her.  It seems she likes to be tricky and kick all she wants until Daddy wants to feel and then she becomes shy.  But she's coming out of her shell. 

Alayna is very aware that there is a baby in mommy's tummy, she knows where the baby's room is, and she knows it's a girl, but beyond that, I don't think she gets much else.  But, hey, she is 3 after all. 

The name.  Oh, the name.  Our list is in better shape, but nowhere near where it needs to be.  We just are having a hard time.  Thank goodness we have some time.  When asked, Alayna has told us a couple different names for the baby.  Recently, she thinks we should name her Brinley.  Based on the fact that her 6 month old cousin named Brinley just visited us a couple weeks ago.  And when we ask her if it would be confusing to have two Brinley's, she doesn't seem to think so. 

Well, that's all that I can think of.....until the next update.

If you care to compare.  Here's a link to my 23 week pregnancy picture with Alayna.

Big girl bed

In anticipation of the arrival of our little one, Dan and I decided that it was past time for Alayna to transfer into a "Big girl room" and thus a big girl bed.  She has been sleeping in a toddler bed for quite sometime now, but it converts into the crib, so we needed to upgrade.  And that gave us the perfect reason to switch Alayna's room. 

The change was made a few weeks ago, and she is LOVING her big girl room and toys.  (We put her kitchen in her room and she thinks she is in heaven.)  It took a couple nights for her to be totally convinced of the awesome-ness of the big girl bed, but she loves it now.

We had to include pictures of the big girl bed for Grandma L. because Layna has been telling her that her new bed has flowers on it.  And indeed it does.  I searched online one night for what seemed like hours (and I think it was) for the perfect bedding at a decent price.  I didn't want it to be too baby, yet I didn't want it to be too themed to where she wouldn't like it in a year or two.  So, after the massive search, I narrowed it down to six different bedspreads and I let Alayna choose.  I was surprised when each time I showed her the pictures, she did in fact choose the same one.  The "flower" one.  And lucky for us, it wasn't even the most expensive choice.  So the "flowers" it was.

So, what do you think?  Does she have good taste?

I am thinkin' so....she must take after her mother. 

Check it off our list

Thanksgiving came and went.  It was wonderful.  We spent it here, with friends.  We are doubly loved because we had breakfast with one family (Crepes with all the delicious toppings) and dinner with another family.  We talked to some of our family on Skype in between meals.  It was fabulous.  The only thing better would have been to actually be with family and snuggle my newest niece who was born the day before Thanksgiving.  But all in all it was great.

Thanksgiving marked the first day of Dan's seven off.  Basically, I live for Dan's seven days off.  When you work a crazy schedule like he does, any extra time to have him all to ourselves is heaven.  And all the time at home means projects get done.

Such as hanging Christmas lights on our first home EVER. 

We learned a few lessons along the way....like don't let your wife help.  She just complicates things.  I did make his job a little harder at one point, but it was on accident.  I promise.

Might I add that he did a pretty fantastic job.

 And over the weekend I was able to finally cross these babies OFF my list. 

I have been writing, printing, cutting, taping, address-labeling, stamping, and licking (Well, I enlisted Dan and Alayna's help) envelopes for our Christmas cards.  And tomorrow the post office will be mailing them. 

Whew!  Thank goodness it's only once a year that we do this.  In fact, I informed Dan that since I am the one that pretty much does all the work, he can go ahead and spend a little extra money on me.  :)  I don't think he's goin' for it.

Our house is in full Christmas mode.  The tree is up. The house is decorated.  The presents have been bought. (Some are wrapped.)  Christmas music is playing.  Christmas movies are being watched.  And Alayna is singing Jingle bells.

Life is great.