fa-la-la-la-la...la-la-la-laaaaa....

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  

At least that's what I keep trying to tell myself.  I have been having lots of headaches and I just realized that it's because I'm always clenching my teeth.  I must be stressed!  I also found a gray hair.  The root was like 2 inches long, so it's been growing out of my scalp for a while now.  Yikes.  I'm getting old.  I don't feel old though, so that's a bonus.  I'm not sure why I'm just not feeling the 'Christmas Spirit' this year, but this week I am determined to find it.  I've never had this problem before, it feels foreign to me, so I'm pulling out all the stops!  

Today I finished wrapping and mailing all the gifts to be sent to family and I have the Christmas music blasting as I'm writing this.  Something about Clay Aiken's 'O Holy Night' always seems to do the trick.  I have done my share of baking this past weekend...but it wasn't Christmas baking, it is for Olivia's upcoming birthday party.  I baked 33 cakes.  Yes, thirty-three.  We're having a baking party, no worries, I'll blog about that another time.  But now, I'm not quite in the mood for the typical Christmas baking.  I did have a friend bring by some yummy oranges, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and cloves for me to boil on the stove.  That is one of the best smells ever, how did she know that's just what I needed?  I think I'll do that tonight as we are assembling our Nativity, one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  I do see snow in our forecast too....I hope it comes!  I love snow in December.  After December, I hate it unless I'm up on the mountain skiing!  Which I hope to do this year if Bogus can just get some dang snow!  Jack is even up for trying it this year.  We'll see how it goes!  

As for the big news of the month....DAN MOVED BACK HOME!  It has been BUSY BUSY BUSY since he's been home.  He just opened his new dental office and I'm just assuming that's where some of my stress is coming from.  New office openings can be stressful.  Hiring, setting up, and trying to get patients in the chair.  Especially around the holidays.  But it is good to have him home.  The kids especially missed their dad, it's been nice seeing them cuddled up next to him on the couch or running away from the tickle monster, KJ secretly likes it, even if he does act 'too cool'.  He's home just in time for the holidays.  I just realized I don't have any pictures of his office, I'll be sure to post some next time!

Speaking of Dan....He's actually the old one.  He turned the big 4-0!  Yowsers.  I wanted to throw him a big surprise party but he made it very clear to me that he did NOT want a party.  Just something low-key with some family members.  So we all went to a hockey game, one of his favorite sports to watch.  I did have them announce his birthday over the intercom.  I had to do SOMETHING to embarrass him! 

Thanks to everyone who chipped in, he was totally spoiled.  He got the smoker he's been eyeing and a new set of skis!  Maybe now he'll be able to keep up with me on the slopes...but I highly doubt that! ;)

We also had a very nice Thanksgiving.  There is really nothing I am more thankful for than my family. My side of the family as well as Dan's side of the family.  I am truly blessed to have such an amazing group of people surrounding me and my kids at all times. I always hear of these crazy 'in-law' stories and realize how lucky I am to have the family I do.  I must have done something right?  I only wished that we all lived closer.  We are kind of spread out all over the country.  The holidays always make me miss them a little more than usual.  We get together and we are crazy, loud, funny, and we all love each other so much.  It's like a kids wonderland when all the little cousins get together.  They have the best time.  There was a gigantic group of us here this year,  (I think there were 52 of us) so my Nana set up the Thanksgiving spread in the garage!  It was so much fun!  Afterwards, we cleared it out and played ping-pong, played cards, the men went to the movies, the girls chit-chatted, and it was just the perfect day.  

We also had everyone go to the hot springs!  

It was a cold and rainy day so the hot water felt oh-so-good!

The ladies below did some synchronized swimming.   :)  

- Liv's Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast - 

The boys are just finishing up their basketball season.  It was so much fun.  I think I'm leaning towards keeping them in basketball.  The bonus...a nice warm gym to sit in.  Soccer, LAX, and Football had so many freezing/wet games, it was nice to be inside.  They both learned a lot this season.  Jack got the 'most improved' award, I was so proud of him.  His shot is surprisingly accurate.  Last week at his game he was dribbling down the court, tripped, the ball was stolen, he stole it back, shot the ball....NOTHING BUT NET.  It was awesome.  The whole gym cheered for him.  He was so excited.  KJ has height on his side and was great at getting the rebounds.  He is also really good at sticking with the guy he's guarding.  He is better on defense than offense, but he's slowly learning.  He did score some points this season as well.  I will say that 5 trips to different gyms every week was a bit much, but I loved it.  My brother-in-law also coaches at the high school and he has adopted KJ as their 'ball/bench boy'.  He was their lucky charm last weekend at their game.  KJ thinks it's cool that he gets to hang out with the high school kids.  

Sorry these pictures are pretty blurry, my cell phone doesn't exactly produce clear, crisp action pictures.

Also...bragging mom moment.  KJ is one smart cookie!  

Olivia is still doing her gymnastics and tumbling all over the place.  One day she wanted to do cart-wheels the whole way home from school.  THE. WHOLE. WAY.  It took forever.  By the end, I swear she had done hundreds of them and was starting to get pretty dizzy.  This is where she takes after me.  My mom said I couldn't just walk normally anywhere.  

Her favorite exercise is the vault.  She's got some speed on her sprint.

She has now progressed to one handed cart-wheels.

And of course, she was my little helper when it came to raking the fall leaves. 

Did you hear the news that Hostess went out of business?  If not, you must have been living under a rock.  Well, I went and stocked up on all that I could find when I heard the news.  To my surprise most all of the shelves had already been cleared.  I did grab a few things that were in a different department.  Jack was so surprised to see all the goodies when he got home from school because I don't typically buy these kind of 'junk' treats.  Anyway, I told him the company wasn't going to be making them anymore and this was his reaction.  Poor kid was devastated...he especially loves the powdered doughnuts.  I thought this picture was just priceless, so I had to share.

 

I just realized I wrote much more than I was planning on and the kids will be getting out of school very soon, so I better scoot.  I apologize for being so long-winded, I guess that's what happens when you take over a month off of blogging.  Yes, I'm slacking. 

I am officially done with Christmas cards and shopping and post office trips and decorating the house, so now I think I can just relax and take in all that this time of year brings!  Here's to hoping this season brings lots of Christmas Cheer and a few less gray hairs!!  Hope you all can also enjoy this time of year.  It's nice to just sit down and really think of the REASON for the Season.  Time to put my Christmas Play list on shuffle AND repeat and bust out the Christmas movies and hot chocolate.  

Or Cho-loc-o-late as our family calls it.  KJ started saying that 9 years ago and it just 'stuck'.    

PS - One more piece of good news....my brother Jesse hits his one year mark on his mission this week!  That means next Christmas we will have him home!!!!  HO HO HO!

quick run down...

Just a quick update on the Howard clan.  

Here's some new 'deets' or 'details' for us not-so-hip-older-folks...  

Drumroll please....SCHOOL PICTURES came back!  

I always love the cheesy pose and classic background.  I never do the re-takes, even if I don't like the picture.  Because...we all know that the 'bad' school pictures are always the best in future years to look back on.  

I still laugh when I look back on my awkward stage pictures.  Braces, long permed hair, and neon 80's flashback clothing with the huge shoulder pads.  Sweet...those were the good old days!  Such fun!  

The kids all had pretty good pictures this year.  

First up...the princess of the family!

Olivia Michelle - Kindergarten Extraordinaire

This little one will be toothless soon.  She's lost 3 teeth in less than a month and has another one that's wiggly.  I love the toothless smiles! So exciting to find some $ under the pillow!

What I don't understand is that her top two teeth which are dead from a fall as a toddler still haven't fallen out!?  They're holding strong, but her bottom ones are falling like dominos.

My little buddy is also doing gymnastics this year.  She absolutely loves it.  Don't you just love the cheetah leo she picked out?  That was ALL her choice.  Whatever floats her boat.

This is the cute face that runs to me after school!  I love that she still misses me when we're away.  I really do miss her by my side, what a cutie pie!  

Next up...Jack attack!

BIG BOY - 1st grader

Jack chose to play basketball this season.  Can I just say that it is pretty stinking hilarious watching these cute 6 year olds play.  Lots of traveling, double dribbles and a very low scoring game.  Actually, they don't keep score at this age, but I secretly do in my head.  I swear, I have a problem with competitiveness.  I can't help it.  I grew up with the biggest sports nut on earth...my dad!

I also had this on my nightstand the other day.  What a sweet, caring, little guy.  He sure knows how to melt my heart.  I'm just glad he still thinks I'm coll aka Cool.  :) 

The Keaton-meister

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS - 4th grade

KJ has actually lost a few teeth recently too.  Big molar/premolars.  He will soon be sporting some braces.  We were just waiting for a couple of those teeth to come out.  Luckily, he wants them.  He still wears his glasses for school, just took them off for pictures.  He is also trying to convince me that he's old enough and responsible enough for contacts.  We will see.  He still can't pick up his underwear and socks off the floor.

KJ also decided to play basketball this year!  His games are a little more intense.  At least the parents sure are.  I had to sit by some parents from the other team we played last weekend and WOW, they are really in to it.  It's just 4th grade ball people.  Relax a little.  He's learning a lot and is using his birthday gift (new hoop) a lot. 

My dad took KJ for an overnight camping/hiking trip a few weeks ago.  It was something he'll never forget.  They set up camp, laughed, ate delicious (wink, wink) camping food, told stories, and slept thru a big rainstorm.  There were even snowflakes falling in the morning.  Every boy needs these experiences, and I'm grateful that I wasn't the one who had to experience it with him.  Thankful that my dad was up for the challenge while I enjoyed my nice, comfortable, warm bed!

They can't wait to do it again next year.  They have big plans for a long hike next time!

We had a fun Halloween this year!  Typical pumpkin carving night!

 Nana and Pops Smidt came down to visit for the holiday.  It is always great to have them here.  We had a nice party at my mom's house.  Cider, chili, caramel apples, Oh My! 

I had the chance to run a 5k race with a friend of mine and it was a blast!  Literally...blasts of color every quarter mile.  I can't wait to do it again next year!  If the color run comes to your city...do it!  It was the most fun I've ever had running.  I am not a huge fan of running.  Unless, I'm running with a soccer ball at my feet.  :) 

Dan and I had a mini-weekend-vacation.  We met half-way again in SLC and had a fantastic weekend.  It was so nice to have a break from being a 'single mom'.  I got to sleep in.  I had a weekend without cooking, cleaning, or laundry.  It's all I needed to get me thru the next month or so til Dan moves back.  I am so thankful to my mom for watching my kids so I could 'get away' for a few days. 

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST.....there is a new addition to our family!  Isabella Cosette Kelly was born this afternoon and she is just as perfect as can be!  Heidi was a trooper...and baby and mom are healthy and happy.  Bret was so good about keeping us all updated throughout the day.  How great is modern technology?!?  We had videos and pictures we could watch instantly which is so nice.  It made me feel like I was, in some way, a part of this special day, since I wasn't able to actually be there physically.  My heart is there.  I love that little princess already.  We have waited for little Bella to come to our family for years.  So glad she's finally here!  I am a very proud Aunt.  Can't wait to hold the little bundle.  

Next up...Britt's baby.  Due mid-December!  Another little girl!  Can't wait!  Our family is growing so quickly and I love it.  

And that is my monthly round-up!  What a month it has been!  

Looking forward to Thanksgiving.  One of my most favorite holidays! 

Celebration overload....

Holy Schnikes we've had a lot to celebrate over the past 10 days! 

Here is a brief summary!

Starting with my beautiful and amazing mom!  Happy Birthday Mama Smidt!  We had a big conference at church the night of my mom's birthday which she was in charge of so we surprised her with her favorite chocolate cake and a couple hundred of her friends singing her "Happy Birthday!" 

 I love mother-daughter-sister time.  We love you Mom!

The next day we went to Tawni and Scott's baby blessing(s).  Yep, TWINS!  It was a beautiful day!

And of course, my little muscle man will have the most pictures because, well, look at him, he's stinkin' adorable.  I can't get enough of him.  RUSSELL turned ONE and it was certainly a birthday we will never forget!  

This is the progression of his cake experience.  Started out confused, tasted the frosting, got his hands dirty and then wanted them cleaned off!!!  He's so funny!  

Coley did a great job making such a cute party.  

My kids came home dirty and sticky, which is a sure sign of success!  

 Then on his ACTUAL birthday we spent the day in Oregon!  My parents, Coley&Jason&Russ, and me and the kids drove to Bend Friday night.  The next morning he had his birthday breakfast, then we all headed to Eugene for the Duck game that afternoon!  What a lucky little duckling.  :)

While I was in Bend, I met up with an old and dear friend Alex!  We used to be neighbors and she's the kind of person I just 'clicked' with.  Our kids are the same ages, our husbands played baseball together, and we always had so much fun together.  She's probably one of the the funniest people I know!  We went to their house, the kids played, and then her and I went and got some Frozen Yogurt to just chat and catch up.  It was fun to see her and share some laughs.  Some friends you just see after years away and it's as if you had never been apart.  

Saturday morning we drove around and saw our old houses.  The house we lived in when Jack and Liv were born.  Also the green house that Dan and I built.  Of course we had to stop for the world's best pizza too.  It was like a trip down memory lane driving all around town.  Bend was a fun place to live and is full of so many fun memories.  We will have to go visit more often.  Maybe even make a winter trip for some good Oregon skiing!  

Lucky lil Russ got to celebrate his real birthday at Autzen stadium!  Well, someday he'll think it was lucky.  He wasn't a huge fan of the actual game.  Autzen is seriously loud.  Even with noise blocking ear plugs it was a little much for him.  But it was a fun day!  Long day, but fun day.  KJ was in heaven.  KJ's first Duck game was when he was 3 months old and he wasn't a huge fan of the noise way back when either.  But now, he can't wait to go back! 

Of course...the DUCKS won.  ;)  They're having a great season so far!  

KJ loved going on the field after the game was over.

The picture below was taken a few years ago in the same spot, with his Uncle Jesse.  We will be sure to go back again when he comes home from his mission.  Gotta keep the tradition alive. 

And the last of our celebrations for the week....Liv lost her first tooth!  She was beyond excited, which made me happy for her.  But I was also sad that she's hit this milestone!  Pretty soon she'll have a checkerboard smile.  She's already got two more loose teeth!  Slow down my little one!  She made the tooth fairy a special box, pillow, book and pretty note.  I love her innocence.  I love her.  

All in all, it has been a pretty eventful past 10 days.  Life keeps changing, life keeps getting more and more busy and chaotic, but I can't complain, overall...life is GOOD!  

Bucket List...

I admit, I have a ridiculously long bucket list.  I may need to revise it.  That's a whole different story.  But...I was able to cross off two items in one week!  How great is that!?  

Growing up, my mom always had music playing in the house.  A favorite of all of us girls was the Les Miserables CD.  We LOVED the music.  All of the sisters sang and lip-synced to the music quite often (picture whisks and wooden spoons in hands and ultra dramatic dance moves) and I remember playing the piano music from the Musical for hours at a time.  It is so beautiful.  So, when my mom asked if I wanted to go with her and Coley to go see the Broadway production of it, there was no way I was going to say no!  We bought our tickets months and months ago when I still lived in Colorado.  Well, the day finally came to see it and it did NOT disappoint.  It was moving and magical.  I didn't want it to end.  I really appreciated the music and knew every word of every song.  

It was a very memorable mother-daughter date night.  

I was telling Dan how much I loved the production and that I wanted to know more about the story, so Dan surprised me with a special treat, the book and some beautiful red roses.  Such a thoughtful gift.  I am anxious to read it.  It's long, very long, but I think I'll love it.  

The next afternoon I surprised the kids with an impromptu road trip!  I had them all meet me at the front office at school and they were confused and asked why I pulled them out of school early and I told them we were headed for a road trip!  The car was packed and all ready to go!  They had no idea where we were headed, but we left town and headed for SLC, Utah!  We got there around bed time, checked in to the hotel and went for a swim.  When we got back to the room and got pj's on there was a knock on our door.  Dan was standing there and they were so excited and surprised!  It was fun to see them so excited to see their dad.  It was a fun moment.  Utah is a great half-way meeting spot between Colorado and Idaho.

The next morning we took the kids to Lagoon.  I have never been there before and I wasn't even sure if it was any fun or not, but we were NOT disappointed!  It was a blast.  The kids wanted to ride almost everything.  KJ was especially brave and tried every scary ride in the park, a big change from a couple of years ago when he was too nervous to try any type of 'scary' ride.  Poor liv wanted to join us, but just wasn't quite tall enough for the big roller coasters.  Next year she'll make it, she only has about another inch to go!

So...the second bucket list item crossed off my list...the Sky Coaster!  I talked KJ in to doing it with me.  They pull you up in a harness 155 feet (I think that's what they told me?) and when you get to the top you pull the rip cord and fly thru the air, swinging back and forth.  It was such a blast!  

Now we are all warmed up for a future sky diving date, which is another item on my list.  :)  

Later that evening/afternoon we went downtown for some sight-seeing, and yummy food!  This is the exact spot Dan and I met 12 years ago next week.  It's crazy how fast time has flown by and it's even more crazy how much has happened in our lives over the past 12 years.  Yowsers.  

We've had so many huge life moments.  

It was a great week to say the least.  

Let's see what I can cross off next....

September 11th...

Do you remember where you were the moment you found out about the 9/11 attacks?   I do, I remember it as clear as if it happened last week.  Dan and I had just arrived at work and as soon as we walked in to open the office we saw the look on a couple of his employee's faces.  They asked if we had heard the news?  No...what news?  We rushed to turn on the TV's in the op's and I was stunned.  The second tower had just been hit.  

I sat there almost paralyzed.  I remember feeling so sad.  Overwhelming sadness.  How could this happen?  I couldn't even comprehend what was happening. We canceled our day and I sat in the office and watched the news all day.  The whole office was melancholy.

The only positive that came out of this horrific day was that our country was brought together.  We hugged our loved ones a little tighter.  We appreciated life.  We had more understanding and patience with each other.  We were all united in a way.  I still can't believe that 11 years have passed.  I was a newlywed.  My life has had so many ups and downs since that terrible day.  But every anniversary we go back to the moment we heard the news.  We pay tribute to those who lost their lives, those whose lives were forever changed, all of those heroes who served and continue to serve and protect our great country, many of them family members.  We are a blessed nation.  And even though my kids weren't even alive when this happened, I want them to know what happened.  This is an important part of our nation's history.  I want them to appreciate and respect these heroes.  

A good friend of mine from Oregon, Alex Candland, gathered a group of us together every Sept. 11th and we would go to the local fire department and police department and deliver goodies to these brave men and women.  

Last night she sent me a reminder text, which I was very grateful for!  :)  It is so satisfying to have the opportunity thank them for their service.  And we have kept up the tradition after all these years.  The kids love it.  I love that we can give back in a very small way.  

We will ALWAYS remember....we will NEVER forget.