From the mind of Andrew...

Just wanted everyone to know what kind of little boy we have...

Andrew at the dinner table:

Andrew: Mommy, I have something I want to tell you.
Kristina: What's that?
Andrew: I love you.
Kristina: Do you have anything you want to tell Daddy?
Andrew: Daddy, I want to watch TV.
Kristina: Do you have anything nice to tell daddy?
Andrew: ... Daddy, I like to watch TV all day long.

Andrew's Prayer

Tom: Ok Andrew, I'll help you with the prayer. "Dear Heavenly Father"
Andrew: Ribbit.
Tom: Thank you for this day.
Andrew: Ribbit.
Tom: Thank you for Mommy and Daddy and Madeline.
Andrew: Ribbit.
Tom: Please bless us that we can sleep well and have a good day tomorrow.
Andrew: Ribbit.
Tom: Ok, Andrew, you need to say this right ok -- "in the name of Jesus Christ amen"
Andrew: Amen. Ribbit.

Andrew at church

Tom: Andrew, we are so glad we found you -- we were looking all over for you.
Andrew: I was going to the bathroom.
Tom: I see that. Please put your clothes back on.
Andrew: Ok.
Tom: And in the future, you shouldn't walk around in the girls bathroom with your pants off.
Andrew: But I was just going potty.

And to top it all off, Tom was singing in our ward choir today for the Christmas program. Guess who followed him up to the stand, and started running barefoot right in front of the bishop while the whole ward was watching? ANDREW!!!

Anyone else have any good stories from today?

Look at us go!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Playtime For Madeline

Madeline is finally to the age to enjoy the finer entertainment in life: Wet Wipes pulled out 1 by 1 is so much fun!

Do you really have your license young lady?

Those ornaments sure look tantalizing!

Already technologically inclined just like her older brother. (Andrew came crying to me today that Madeline changed the input on our TV and I laughed my head off about it)

He's got to be old enough to be driving his little sister around, right?

And the winner is...

Drumroll please...




Natalie with her suggestion:

"How about a piece of furniture that you pick out together. Maybe a desk, leather chair, armoire, etc. Or, a set amount of money to spend on decorating an area of your home."

I was surprised and excited by Tom's choice! I will be thinking hard about what piece of furniture I'd like or which room to decorate!

The second place pick is from Charity with "Under the counter Ipod dock and player." I've been wanting one for awhile!

Natalie, please confirm you have an ipod and if that's something you want, because Tom said you can negotiate your prize if need be. (o:

As a special surprise, we would also like to reward Charity with an Ipod player. Please also confirm that this is something you would like.

Thanks for all your thoughtful and creative gift ideas. Hopefully, Tom will be using this list for many special occasions to come!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Patience is a virtue! (o:

No word from Tom yet on the winner. He is currently travelling fron Houston to DC, so we may not have a winner until this evening. I will share the news as soon as I hear it. Have a great day!

Giveway

Only one more day to enter the giveaway! (Please see post below for more details)

I also need to mention that in order to make the contest fair I will be sending all entries to Tom anonymously, so he is not biased in picking a winner.

Second Best Present Ever For You

This post is going to require lots of participation from my faithful blog readers. Tom is stumped about what to get me for Christmas, so this is your chance to suggest what you think he should get me for Christmas. Tom will then judge all the suggestions and pick the winner. The winner will receive what Tom judges to be the second best present on the list. Multiple entries are welcome. If I don't know your email address, then you will also have to leave your email in your comment, so I can contact you if you win. This contest will end Wednesday evening, so start suggesting NOW! The winner will be announced Thursday morning.

Please come!

Andrew just informed me that he really wants Lara to babysit for him tomorrow. Would you mind Lara? I'll be expecting you.

I agree with Andrew...

Cleaning can be such a waste of time sometimes!

Andrew's room shortly before his friend arrived:

Andrew's room shortly after his friend arrived: Remind me why I bother to clean BEFORE friends come over. Arghhh!!

Who Would've Thought?

A 3-year-old who hates naps would do this in order to get out of picking up the toys in his room:I can hardly wait to hear his excuses when he's a teenager.

What do your kids do to get out of cleaning?

Question of the Day

When will someone invent a self-cleaning house? I would like to be first in line when they do! Maybe I can just have Ellie over. Please?!

Santa Pics

My babies with Santa.

Merry Christmas to me!

Thank-you Mr. Landlord! You just made my life so much easier. This sweet little machine dried my load of towels this morning in 41 minutes rather than 3.5 years, as was usual with the old, archaic, clunker dryer we've been using.

Can I add a REAL laundry room to my list of things I want next year or is that too much to ask? At least the faster dryer will mean my clothes won't be lining my hallway waiting their turn for quite as long anymore. (o:

What's wrong with this scenario?

I ate almost an entire bag of mint M & M's while watching the Biggest Loser tonight. Mmmm...mmmm good!

Attempted Family Pictures

These are our attempts at taking a Christmas photo:

Heather I can't wait until you come to town and can take some real family photos. 23 more days until Christmas. I am so excited!

Million Dollar Prize...

...will be awarded to the person who can get all 14 kids looking at the camera and smiling all at the same time. (all children are under 13 years of age, 8 of them are younger than 4 years old) We loved spending time with my family, even if the picture didn't quite turn out!

Pictured here are: Lauren, McKenzie, Bridgette, Andrew, Madeline, Spencer, Cami, Emma, Adam, Ellie, JD, Lily, Sylvie, and Jakob