Days 9-12

Here are our last surprises from our secret elves:

Day 9: Beautiful bouquet of roses.

Day 10: Basket of citrus.
Day 11: Christmas trees with 11 pieces of candy.

I thought these were very creative. It looks like they're vomiting candy.

Day 12: Presents for each of us.

This was actually also on day 11. We got 2 surprises this day because our elves were going away for Christmas. Each of us got a nice fleece blanket, fun toothbrushes (Dono got an astronaut spinning brush and Elliott got a firetruck spinner) and other tooth cleaning supplies, candy, and more. We also got to find out who our elves were. The funny thing was we had no clue. The first of the last visits Dan was staking out the window in the dark. He only got to see the jacket of the elf. So we made suspicions off of that, then they knocked 5 minutes later and showed themselves. We won't reveal their identity because they said they like to do this every year. We had so much fun and felt so special to receive such kindness. Thanks for all the wonderful things, you know who you are!

Roswell the Pickle Eater

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I guess Roswell is a true Earl. No sour faces here. His brothers loved pickles at his age too. Look at him chomp away. Sorry if the background Christmas music is too loud. Enjoy.

Days 4-8

Our Santa's Elves have struck again. Here are the fun things they brought.

Day 4: Ornaments for us to decorate.

The kids (and the grown-ups) had lots of fun sticking the foam pieces on.

Day 5: Mugs filled with yummy makings for white chocolate hot cocoa.

Very yummy on frigid days like there has been recently.

Day 6: MMMMMmmmmm! Very yummy candies!

The funny thing about this day was that our secret elves (that's what they call themselves) came while we were outside giving goodies to our neighbors. We were right in front of them and didn't even see them. Sneaky elves!

Day 7: A toast for friendship. "Now raise up high your empty cup... Sorry...no champaign...only 7UP!"

We thought this was so cute. It at least narrowed down our elf suspect list. They know we don't drink alcohol, must be good friends or someone from church (which we also consider friends). OK, maybe it didn't narrow the list that much!

Day 8: A toy.

Now we know that our elves are from church. Our present was left in Dan's car while we were inside. Kind of a bold move on their part. I don't know why Dan didn't lock his car, I got after him when he told me. (I'm still paranoid and lock all the doors even though it's much more laid back and there's less crime here) What would the elves have done if the car was locked?? Interesting. So now we know that they are from church and know which car Dan drives which narrows it down. Maybe. Agh! Only 4 more days of suspense! Oh magic 8 ball, will we ever find out who our secret elves are? --Try again later. :(

A Trip to Bethlehem

We had our branch Christmas party today. We dressed up and got to travel to Bethlehem where we were put on the census, taxed, got to eat on a blanket, and saw a re-enactment of the nativity. It was great. Those that put it together did an awesome job. Our cultural hall really was Bethlehem under the stars.

Eating a dinner of bread, olives, grapes, raisins, nuts, and ham (I don't think they were going for Kosher)

Two cute angels (they got to sing songs for the nativity performance) looking at the baby Jesus in the manger.

Santa's Little Elf

Nama & Papa Earl got this cute outfit for Ross. It's so fun and festive I thought I'd share our little elf.

Merry Christmas!

Secret Santa

We have been the recipients of a secret Santa for the 12 days of Christmas. We can't remember if we've ever had this done before. It's really exciting. And boy whoever is doing this is VERY creative and super sneaky. Dan and the kids are determined to catch them, but they are too tricky. On day 2 there was new snow and Dan couldn't even find footprints! They're good. Here's the cool stuff they've brought so far.

Day 1 : One wreath (if you look closely, it is made entirely of candy! YUM! It is so cool and must have taken FOREVER to make!)

Day 2: Two very yummy scented candles to help us relax.

Day 3: Three holiday flavored lip balms to let us smile big without chapped lips.

We're looking forward to what our secret Santa might do next. We'll keep it posted!

I Am

I got tagged a while ago by Charmen, sorry it took so long.

I am: a wife, mother, sister, friend, daughter, aunt
I know: that I am a child of God
I want: to be a good mother and wife
I have: a wonderful home that keeps me warm in the winter!
I dislike: a messy home.
I miss: all my family and friends in AZ.
I feel: tired and sometimes stressed out.
I hear: the kids watching a Christmas movie while I blog. :)
I smell: my yummy chapstick. It's good there's no poopy diapers around!
I crave: lovies from my kids and hubby.
I cry: when my frustration is at its breaking point.
I search: for the missing socks. (Really! where can they possibly go?? We even have a laundry chute for depositing the clothes once they're off!)
I wonder: if my lists of things to do will ever diminish.
I regret: yelling and being upset with my kids.
I love: my family.
I remember: not much. My memory is horrible. I catch glimpses of the past every now and then which remind me.
I dance: when I'm feeling funky or when the kids are being crazy
I don't: get enough sleep, which is entirely my fault since Ross has been sleeping 12-15 hour nights for the last couple months.
I argue: probably too much.
I write: only when I blog.
I win: when I play rummy (except when I was in labor with Roswell), which is why Dan doesn't like to play anymore.
I lose: my sanity when the house/kids are in chaos.
I wish: I could see our families more often, especially on the holidays.
I listen: more than I talk.
I can usually be found: in the basement playing with the kids during the winter and outdoors during the summer.
I am scared: of the kind of future my kids have to look forward to.
I need: nothing but love. All you need is love, right?
I forget: to let Dan have time out for himself.

Our Big Helper

Donovan is getting so big. He decided to help Daddy with dinner the other day. Here he is cutting the potatoes into smaller pieces. Don't worry it was a butter knife, he did a very good job.

Photo Shoot

It's time to play catch up. The dates on my blogs make it seem as though I haven't missed a beat, but we've just been so busy that I haven't made the time to blog this last month. So here we go. These are some pictures that I took of the boys because I haven't taken them to get professional pictures taken yet. I really didn't want to be the typical kind of mom that takes less pictures with each additional child. I've tried really hard and I think blogging helps me keep it up, but alas, I see myself slipping into that hole.

My three sons.

Most pictures of Roswell have him holding his toes. He's at the loving his feet phase.

Me and my boys.

Merry Christmas! (sorry for the fuzziness, it was taken with the cell phone)

Winter is Here!

I have been looking forward to winter this year. I liked it last year, but then I was usually holed up in the house with morning sickness. So this will be the first year that I'll actually be out and about in the winter. So far I've loved it, amazingly enough, so have the kids.

Our winter playland.

With this much snow, what did we do? Make a snowman of course!

The boys had so much fun making this snowboy and playing in the yard (Roswell was sleeping in the garage) that they didn't want to go back inside. It took a lot of effort to get them to strip off their gear. I'm glad they had fun.

A couple days later when daddy was home we decided it was the day to go chop down our Christmas tree.

We go to a tree farm where we get to choose and chop a real tree down. Dan found our blue spruce this year.

I got to pull the kids in a sled to find our tree. They had a blast. I'm glad the farm owners let us use it.

I love how this picture turned out. I love Roswell's chubby cheeks and snowy chin.

Then the boys got to decorate the tree. (We found out while setting the tree up that I seem to be allergic to blue spruce. My hands and arms got rashes and welts. Fun stuff. I guess we won't get this kind next year.

Roswell helping daddy pass out the ornaments to the boys.

Cute Idea

As I've mentioned before, we go to the library most Thursdays for story time and a craft. Today's theme was on whales. Then they made a whale. So easy and totally cute. Our story lady really finds fun things for the kids to make. Dono and Elliott love playing with theirs.

I guess this would be a blue whale.

Taking a Bite Out of Life

For a while now, Roswell has been very interested in watching us eat. We knew that he would be ready to eat solids very soon. Once he started his pretend munching we got all the supplies and today was the day! We started with rice cereal. I know this is the doctor recommendation because it causes the least allergies, but WHY? it is the worst tasting stuff!

Feeling pretty happy because he's finally getting some food and sitting with the rest of the family.

Then he tastes. Responce?? YUCK! He hated it.

Which is really unusual because his brothers loved it. But then, I've learned already that Ross doesn't always do things the same way as his brothers.

We did the 3 days of rice cereal to make sure he wasn't allergic and then went straight to the good stuff - pears, applesauce, etc. A much more satisfied boy appeared.

Here's the big brothers encouraging Roswell to eat:

Elliott showing Ross that food is yummy (sorry that there is actually food in his mouth). Elliott is actually happier too because he now gets to sit in the big chairs since he had to relinquish his reign of the high chair.

Donovan was just happy to get his picture taken.

Happy Birthday Vanessa!

Happy 27th Birthday to my little sister Vanessa.

What a cutie!
Nessa and I after our sister Alisa did our hair. Can we say 80's??

Nessa & Stephan's wedding day Oct. '02

Vanessa and Grant on a quad.

Nessa and cute kiddos Zoe and Grant.

We hope you have a great birthday! We love you!

Happy Halloween!

We had such a fun time for Halloween. A week prior, we had our annual Halloween Carnival and this year we got to have Nama Elliott come to take the kids trick-or-treating for the first time. Our neighborhood is kind of a dud, so we went to a friends neighborhood that has more willing candy givers.
Here's this year's costumes: (I forgot to get pictures of witch Nama)

Dono as a cowboy ranger

Elliott as Mickey Mouse

And of course, Roswell as a skunk. (While trick-or-treating, another kid was a skunk. His parents were delighted to see another skunk, so they took a picture of the two of them. Weird.)

Just to show you how similar my boys look, here are my other stinky baby boys.

Elliott

Donovan


The Earl gang

Elliott at the gourd ring toss.

Donovan giving the pumpkin a Madonna look at the bean bag toss.

The boys and some friends: Cole (clown), Skylar (monkey), Kenedi (Cindy Lou Who), Elliott, and Donovan.

We love Halloween and hope you had a fun filled day.