All about my girl!

(I started this post a couple weeks ago but got interrupted by Christmas chaos so I'm posting it now...before the Christmas post(s).)

Jenalyn is sumthin' else! I've been wanting to jot down some of her funny antics so I don't forget them. ...so that some day I can tell her what a fun little girl she was.

Jenalyn the Superhero:
Jenalyn has an alter-ego. She's a superhero named Rescovery Girl (dun da-da dun da dun). You didn't read it wrong - that is Rescovery Girl - NOT Discovery Girl. (Where she came up with that word, I know not. But don't try to correct her!) So the other day I asked her what Rescovery Girl is like. She told me that Rescovery Girl flies around Jenalyn World saving people who are in trouble. She wears a cape and a princess crown. She also wears princess rocket boots. WOW! A couple days later I asked her to tell Aunt Penny about Rescovery Girl and she said, "She makes people beautiful. She makes the girls beautiful and the boys handsome." That sounds terrific! I love this girl and her imagination! I especially love that she can be practicing kung-fu and kicking bad guys' butts one minute and the next she's wearing her princess dress-up clothes having a tea party. She's one heckuva girl!

Jenalyn on Santa:
Jenalyn stood by our fireplace with her hand on her hip and exclaimed, "We have a problem!" She pointed to our wood-burning stove with the pipe connecting to the wall and said, "Santa isn't going to fit down our chimney!" She said it with such seriousness! Like we better do some major remodeling before Christmas or we'd be in big trouble!

Jenalyn on Corbin:
I was tucking the kids into bed the other night and we had a strange conversation...

Jenalyn: I think we should take Corbin to some other people.
Me: (huh.) What do you mean?
Jenalyn: There are lots of people who don't have any kids!
Me: So you want to give Corbin away?
Jenalyn: Yes!
Me: Why would we do that?
Jenalyn: Because he doesn't let me sleep at night.

I never imagined Jenalyn would want to give Corbin away. I know she loves him! Sometimes in the afternoons she tells me that Corbin has been napping too long and we should wake him up so he can play with her. How lonely would she be without him? She loves her brother. I choose to believe she was just in the giving spirit of Christmas *LOL*

Snow Day

We don't get snow often so it's a really big deal when we do. It throws everything off! No Preschool. Two-hour delay at work. Double commute time.

BUT, seeing the excitement in my kids' faces when they see the snow....you can't get any better than that! Ahh, to be young again and not care about being dry and warm!

Today was supposed to be my early day at work - I leave at 11:00 so I can get Jenalyn to preschool. Well, due to the snow delay I called to tell Jason I should really stay an extra hour. he said the kids were seriously chomping at the bit! Eager for me to get home and take them outside. Sho'nuff, when I walked in the door Jenalyn was dressed in her warm clothes with her boots on. Meanie-mom made her wait until after lunch!

But we had a great time in the snow. It wouldn't pack well enough to make a snowman (Jenalyn really wanted to make a snow family). Jason worked really hard for the itty-bitty snowman on our front porch railing *lol*

Afterwards, of course, we came inside and had hot cocoa with marshmallows and candycanes and build a fire in the fireplace. For dinner we had beans and cornbread - perfect snow day food!

Holiday Spirit FOUND.

The weather man said we would get snow today so all week I've had these visions of being snowed in with my little family, hanging out all day in our p.j.s, sipping hot chocolate, a fire in the fireplace, snow falling outside, watching Christmas movies and baking Christmas goodies.

Well, it didn't go exactly like that. No snow - although it's cold enough now, I'm sure we'll be slipping and sliding on our way to church in the morning. But we (Jenalyn & I at least) wore our P.J.s all day. we made English Toffee, watched somany Christmas specials on TV (ABC Family had them all day long!), and Jenalyn & I drew Christmas pictures during Corbin's nap. We snuggled on the couch, we played together, we cooked together, we laughed together...it was a blissful day! I wish every day could be like this.

After dinner we bundled up and went for a drive. I heard there was a house in town that had Christmas lights synchronized to music. We found it! Incredible! Absolutely stunning! They have their own radio station playing the music so you can sit in your car and listen! We were lucky enough to be there for Carol of the Bells...one of my favorite Christmas carols! Here is a link to a video I found on YouTube of their display last year (it's way better this year - more lights!). If you listen or skip to 1:32 in the video they do Carol of the Bells. Stunning! The kids loved it too. They loved it! Afterwards we drove around to see other lights in that neighborhood. The kids were not amused. Jenalyn said, "But these ones don't dance!"

I hope my kids can feel the magic of the Season. I know I can.

On another note...

Corbin has been so clingy since we got back from vacation. I think he got use to having me around 24/7 and he's having a hard time with me back at work - especially on my long days. He wants to be in my arms constantly. Do they make slings for [almost] 3-year olds? I think he would be content if I could wear him around the house. He got so upset the other day when I had to put him down because I needed my hands free to make dinner. He walks up to me and says, "Mom, can I snuggle up?" That means he wants me to pick him up for a snuggle. Don't get me wrong, I am certainly enjoying the snuggle time. I'm always good for a snuggle! If we're on the couch, he's sitting on my lap with his arm crooked up around my neck pulling my face down so we're cheek-to-cheek. The boy loves his mama, what can I say? When I finally showered at 4:30 this afternoon he stood outside the door the whole time knocking, "Are you done yet? Can I come in? I need you, mommy!" So when I finally let him in he helped me blow dry my hair and we were glued together the rest of the evening.

More highlights from our trip

MoB Friends

For those of you who don't know, my hubby is an online gamin' nerd. He plays World of Warcraft with friends from all over the U.S. & Canada. He has been a member of a "guild" called the Mormon Battalion for the past 3 years. Last year we all met up in Colorado at a YMCA lodge and spent a whole week together. Every time we go to Utah we try to meet up with everyone who is in the area. We have made some really great friends. Makes me sad we don't live closer. It would be fun to hang out more than once or twice a year.

This time we met at Kevin & Kelly's house in Roy for dinner and then our family and Matt & Liz's family went to see the lights at Temple Square. It was beautiful and the weather wasn't so bad either. We really got lucky. The kids had a great time together too.

After Temple Square they came back to my sister's house with us and we played a good game of Settlers.

Misc Time at Gramma & Grampa's House.

Just a couple priceless pictures I caught on our trip. One of the first things Jenalyn wanted to do when we got there was climb the tree. I love that she's old enough now to remember grandma & grandpa's house in between trips. She remembers her favorite things to do. Like ride on Grandpa's back, play at the "Barney Park," and watch Madagascar and Shark Tale.

Achy. Sniffle. Ugh.

Utah makes me miserable! I swear they have strange, funky germs there! I get sick EVERY time we go. Every time! Sunday we were supposed to head home but I woke up with a sick stomach and spent the rest of the day on my knees in front of the toilet.

So we headed home Monday. Still sick to my stomach and Jenalyn with a cold, we stopped in Boise and crashed. Tuesday I woke up with the cold and it has only gotten worse. Of course I would take the cold over the sick stomach any day!

Five hours in a car, driving down in altitude with a head cold - I was sure my head would explode! Misery, I tell you! Luckily the kids slept most of the way and I had a good book on CD. Thanks Dad.

I used my last tissue last night and begged Jason all day to go get me a new box. FINALLY relief. Did you know that you can now get Puffs with Vicks? Has there ever been a better combo?

I'm a total Vicks/Mentholatum junky. I use it even when I'm not sick. Just a dab under my nose at night. The smell is so comforting to me. And now I have it in a tissue. THANK YOU Puffs! A small ray of sunshine in my gray, gloomy sick day.

Turkey, Potatoes & Pies...oh MY!

hahaha...I'm so original!

We just got back from Utah. Thanksgiving with my family. If there is one thing my family does well it's FOOD! I'm pretty sure I gained 10 pounds this week (then I got a stomach bug Sunday and lost it all! bwahahaha) We had a wonderful time ('cept for that last day when I got sick).

Here is our week of food...in pictures :)

Tuesday night mom, dad, Jason and I made the apple pies. Dad cranked the apple peeler/corer/slicer; Jason sliced; mom and I lined the pie tins with crust and put the filling together. It was fun to work together like that.
(nice little pose, eh? I look like I'm 14 in that picture!)

Wednesday we made our own pizzas. Even the kids made their own!
Thursday...of course, the big turkey spread.
I didn't get many pictures on Thanksgiving - too busy cooking - but just trust me, we had all the traditional grub. Pictured above is Jessica, Mom, Me, and Cheryl.

Friday we had our Mexican fiesta. We do it every year the day after Thanksgiving. If you ask me, it's waaaay better than the turkey spread. This year we had mom's homemade bread tacos, chile verde and enchilada casserole.

Oh.

My.

Gosh.

I don't have a single picture from our Friday Fiesta! I'm so sorry I have failed you. You can check out my sister Rachel's blog if you're interested...it has a couple pictures of us preparing Friday's meal.

I feel the need to say this is not an unhealthy obsession with food that my family has. I know there are people who would say that it is ridiculous to structure our get-togethers around food. But being in a medium-sized kitchen with five or more family members is a truly bonding experience! The meal prep is the hi-light of it all. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else than in the kitchen with my family.

And that's what I was especially thankful for this Thanksgiving. My Family. I wouldn't be who I am without them. I LOVE YOU ALL!

Family
The ones you live with
laugh with
and love.