Home Sweet Home

We made it! It only took 2 hours to load up and clean our apartment thanks to all of the help we had. Many hands make light work, especially when those hands belong to hard workers. We have great family members who helped out (promising to never do so again) and a couple from the ward.

I was a little worried when we left because I didn't know what we would be moving into. We had never seen this apartment. I had talked to the owner on the phone and then sent Deidra and Chris to scope it out, but I still didn't know what we were getting.

Bentley quickly attached himself to this weird closet under the stairs. He spent most of last night moving all of his toys (one at a time) down to it.

Now we just need to get unpacked.

Pack 'em up, Move 'em out

This:


Is beginning to look like this:

What are the chances!

I just sat down to check my email and noticed one with the subject "VT assignment". Since we are in the process of moving, I have been "released" as a visiting teacher in this ward, so I was intrigued.

So I clicked it.

And I found a little letter bearing the importance of visiting teaching along with the companionship and assignment intended for a Nikkala of a different last name.

I emailed Sister Allred back to let her know that I don't get to Maryland often enough to warrant an assignment.

There Really IS a Santa Claus!

Like most years, the fun of Christmas was in the anticipation. And the anticipation was so great Chod got Bentley up bright and early to see what Santa had brought. Bentley grew tired of opening gifts quickly and there are still 2 wrapped under the tree for him. Apparently he knows his birthday is in 5 days and I haven't thought of anything to get him so he is saving these...good thinking kid.

He does love his trike though.

And look what I got...
a fancy schmancy new toaster.


Thanks Santa!

Merry Christmas

We will be having a white Christmas!

Today has been a perfect Christmas Eve day. We went and saw Enchanted. Bentley sat so good through the entire movie (eating his popcorn of course).

Then when we got home it was so cute watching Bentley with his face pressed against the window watching Chod shovel the walk. I opened the window and he would yell "Go Dad!" or "Whoa Dad!" I really can't tell which it was, but either way it made Dad feel good.

Merry Christmas!

Pukey Pukerton

Nothing makes me appreciate our washer and dryer more than when Bentley is sick.

He woke up crying Saturday night. He had thrown up all over his bed. So into the washer went the sheets and blankets and jammies and Froggie.

Then he threw up all over me and the couch. Luckily, we don't have nice furniture so the slip cover went in the next load. Most days I don't appreciate the ease of doing laundry daily. But today I am thankful all is washed and not sitting in a pile waiting for a trip to the laundromat...ugh.


...needless to say he didn't get to show off his new suit yesterday at church.

Naughty or Nice?

When I Have Grown an Inch or Two

Bentley got a suit. A new suit.
Isn't he handsome. Now we just need to find a tailor and a barber....

TOYS!

We have been on the go a lot lately. Parties. House hunting. Driving. Parties.

We had a house in the scope, but before we could pull the trigger someone else did.

Guess it wasn't meant to be.

But now we have 10 until we need to be out of our current place...I'm not going to think about it until after Christmas.

This morning while Bentley and I were cuddling and he was half asleep I was telling him that today we are staying home all day. And he can take a nap in his own bed and play with his toys and...

With that he threw his little legs over the side of the bed and my Dudey was gone.

I called out "where are you going?"

To which he replied "TOYS!"

I found him sitting on the floor of his room in the dark playing with blocks.

We are both ready for a day at home.

3 Gifts

Only 6 days left until The Big One. While Bentley doesn't exactly get the whole Christmas thing yet, and he still hasn't met Santa, I am still excited for Christmas morning. Everyday has been like Christmas when we he insists we plug in the Christmas lights and then stands staring in awe...it will be sad when the tree is gone.

The first year we were married our stake put on a Christmas workshop. We learned about combining traditions and what not, but the only thing I remember is that one of the ladies said that she makes sure her gifts fit in 3 categories--and no, they're not gold, frankincense and myrrh. She always gives something to read, something to play with and something to wear. Ever since our first Christmas I have tried to stick to those.

I just read about another family that gives gifts that represents Love, Joy and Knowledge. As long as clothes make you feel loved, knowledge from something to read, and you get joy from toys I guess we are on the same page. But Love, Joy, and Knowledge sure make it sound less commercialized....

Flashback

Two years ago I was 9 months pregnant and living off of carrots and oranges.

Not kidding. We bought carrots in 5 lb bags and oranges by the case.

I knew my baby was going to be orange.

Sad day....

...when you accept the fact that your 2 year old no longer takes morning naps.

I want to

This afternoon we stopped by Chod's grandparents for a visit. His grandma is the sweetest little lady and she absolutely loves her family. Her home has always been full of kids. After raising her own children, she helped raise some of her grandkids, and now has great grandkids running around the place.

While we were in the front room talking with Grandpa I heard Grandma in the back bedroom playing trucks with Bentley. My first reaction was that I should go and save her from feeling like she needed to play with him. And then I realized that she was probably enjoying it more than he was, and so I let them play.

Soon her house was overtaken by a party. A few of the grandkids and their families had planned to meet at her house for their sibling Christmas party. Chod and I did not know this was planned and we completely crashed the party. Grandma insisted we stay and eat with them.

As kids were running up and down and around and Grandma was making sure everyone had enough to eat I looked at her and she had the happiest, most content expression on her face. She absolutely loves having her house full and taking care of the ones she loves.

Her Christmas tree is decorated with little framed pictures of all of the great grandkids and she can tell you all of their names and what they have been up to. She never misses a birthday. I don't know how she keeps track of all of them, but birthday cards always come before or on your birthday--never late. There is money tucked inside the cards for the older ones and the younger ones get toys or clothes. She said when she goes Christmas shopping she takes a list with the sizes of clothes she needs to buy and then goes down the racks making sure everyone is taken care of. I can't imagine what she spends on gifts and postage every year.

While we were eating she mentioned she had gift for the kids. One of the granddaughters said, "Grandma you didn't need to do that."

And she replied, "I don't have to do anything. I want to."

Can you reach this?

Yesterday in the grocery store a little lady stopped me, and asked me to reach the ground ginger off of the top shelf.

And I did could!

That is right I was asked to reach a high object instead of the other way around.

Dudey's 'tudey

Our little Dudey is developing quite the attitudey. "No!" is becoming a regular part of his vocabulary. When he isn't saying it, he is shaking his head and giving dirty looks.

He has also mastered the throwing of a tantrum. And he proudly displays his artwork on walls and furniture.

I suppose it is his age, but with his little 'tude come some really fun times. At bath time I say "On your mark" and he finishes with "get set, GO!" and takes off running to the bathroom.

We have a scale in the bathroom that Bentley uses at least once a day. Usually after waking up he walks into the bathroom, steps on the scale, looks down and waits for the number to settle. Once it displays his weight he is off to other activities. He also weighs himself before bath time while he is waiting for the bathtub to fill. I am not sure where he learned this from, because I am not a frequent weigher. And it is a good thing he doesn't know what he is doing, or it would seem that he is obsessed over his entire 22 lbs.

He also is learning the sounds of the alphabet thanks to Letter Factory. I am a huge fan of this movie. His favorites are Ssssss, and Mmmmm with an occasional Bbb thrown in.

Kitchen Aid Part III

It appears that Chod fixed the Kitchen Aid! I was a little worried to give it a try after all of the repairs, but it did just fine with the pizza dough tonight.

Now I can move onto bread, if it can last through a batch of whole wheat bread I'll be convinced that all the problems are fixed.

Little Switcheroo

This afternoon I sat down with a stack of gifts to wrap. There were 4 that were in a similar shape and size of box. Three were for the giving tree and one was for Chod.

Thinking that it would be very easy to get them mixed up I quickly sat Chod's off to the side.

I wonder how it would go if Christmas morning Chod opened this.

And the 14 year old girl opened this.

After weighing his disappointment with her joy--I decided that if I could be there to see it, I just might make the switch.

O Christmas Tree

Christmas Trees are serious business in the Parish home.

My dad perfected the art of watering the tree. A custom tree stand and a gallon of water a day ensure that his tree buds out. Every single year. Live trees don't possess a fire hazard when they are gulping up the water.

Grandpa will be proud to know that in the morning after making sure every stand of Christmas lights are plugged in, Bentley climbs under the tree and checks the water level in our (WEPCO rejected) tree stand.

Maybe our tree will bud this year...

Following the leader

I have a strange habit. Sometimes when I am driving I like to pick out a car I think is going to the same place, and then I just follow it.

Usually I am very good at guessing the right vehicle. I have only been wrong once (and maybe the car we were following was just as lost as we were). My odds are usually increased since these destinations are usually for a highly attended event.

Tonight, as I was driving to the stake center for the Christmas fireside I saw a mini van and assumed it was going to the same place we were. As Bentley and I were oohing and aaahing over the Christmas lights on houses, I realized that I wasn't paying attention to where I was going, but instead following the van.

Lucky for me, the van pulled into the stake center just minutes before the program began.

It's a bird, It's a plane...

Some boys like to dress as super heroes.

Mine?

Well, he prefers to be a turtle.

Let it be Christmas

I decided that this was the year for a tree makeover. I have had the same snowmen decorations on my tree for...well, for as long as I have had Christmas decorations. I know I used them my freshman year, and that I had them even before that--so this was the year for a change.

I started collecting ornaments in October and a few weeks ago when I pulled everything out I realized that they were all pretty much the same size, so there is no focal point in the tree--that will have to wait until next year.

And since I was making the Keck's stockings for Christmas, I figured I might as well make us some too. So I did.

And then I decided that it would me nice to have a tree skirt. So I made one to match the stockings.

Then Chod accepted the new job and he wanted to move in the middle of the month.

And I would have none of that. I had new Christmas decorations that I was not waiting another year to use them!

So it is...our Christmas home.

Christmas Stamps

Is anyone else disappointed in the choices of holiday stamps this season?

Kitchen Aid Update

So our gear box cover came yesterday. We opened it up to find that it was a metal one--amazing.

Chod went about replacing it. Which involved all of of removing 6 screws and replacing the 6 screws--so easy, I could have done it.

He replaced the cover and turned the thing on. It sounded funny, really funny. After a little investigating he found that some of the teeth on the gears were missing and things weren't fitting together like they should....

Nothing a little internet shopping couldn't fix. After dropping another $50, our parts should be here next week. And hopefully we will be good to go.

If not, I am asking Santa for a new mixer.

Hoodlum

.
Bentley loves to wear hats. Right now his favorite is this GW beanie Deidra and Chris gave him. First thing in the morning he brings it to me and asks for it to be put on. Then he will wear it for hours while he plays.

These pictures were taken last night after his bath. I don't know why he loves it so much, but he does.

Don't Tell Bentley

I have a nasty head cold.

Bentley has two bottles of Nasonex.

And since I know how much he likes his Nasonex, I've been waiting for him to go to bed before I use it.

Super Dad

Ever since the U of I asked Chod to use up some of his comp time and not come in until it had been reduced to 100 hours (he had 240) we have been seeing a lot of him. Since they don't pay overtime he has been steadily collecting comp time in its place. So, with 140 hours to burn up I have been finding all sorts of things to keep him busy.

Wednesday, Karisa called to see if I could watch her kids and a friend's son. I told her that wouldn't be a problem, I was going visiting teaching but should be done about a half an hour after they brought the kids---but Chod would be here and could handle 4 kids for 30 minutes. Even if the 4 were 2 nursing babies and 2 close to 2 years...

Two and a half hours after I thought I would be back, I walked in the door.

Hudson was holding Dalanie and they were both crying.

Chod was in the kitchen holding a crying Jaden and trying to warm up his bottle.

Bentley was in his crib.

"Where have you been!?"

"Sorry, it took a little longer than I thought."

"All 4 have been crying for the last two hours. And I only knew what to do with one of them."

I asked Hudson if he wanted to watch a movie. He said yes and picked out "Cars" and I threw a bag of popcorn in the microwave.

Chod fed Jaden. I held Dalanie, and Bentley and Hudson watch the movie and ate their popcorn. It only took a few minutes for everyone to calm down. We even got both of the babies to sleep.

I would like to think my mothering skills are the reason for the calmness. Chod thinks it was because there were two of us, and an arm for every kid.

Who knows if we'll ever find out....after those two hours Chod really thinks Bentley should be an only child.