Last Post of the Year

We're at home for New Year's Eve. When my kids hit that magical witching hour of 8 o'clock it's wise not to be in public... so we watched Kung Fu Panda (both kids were yelling and laughing) and got them to bed on time.

Also, I'm a sucker. My little girl kept commenting how much she liked the make-up kits her cousins got for Christmas, so I found a little kit that came with just lip gloss and nail polish on clearance. Amazing how 5 little containers of lip gloss can manage to grow exponentially until they've smeared themselves onto every imaginable surface and article of clothing... but nonetheless, she's happy. And thus concludes another year of my online journal!

"Rowr Hugs"

Here's your feel-good moment of the day!

Christmas with the Arnolds

I am proud to announce I topped last year's record: this year I ate five (5) almond-paste filled croissants. (I spread the eating out over several hours, in my defense, but hey, it was Christmas!)

I was taking a picture of Kenzie waiting for presents and didn't even see Annie there.

Arnie opening his socks! (We got him an electric screwdriver, too, but he asked for socks. My grandma asks for socks, Arnie!)

Excitement!

Parker was a present-opening pro by this point.

Kenzie's gift to Camille was a make-up set. "Mom, we're going to have make-overs!" Kenzie exclaimed excitedly.

Parker loved his T-ball set!

Christmas Morning!

Merry Christmas! This morning started off at 6am when Parker woke up. I managed to get him back to sleep, but then I was too excited to go back to sleep! (I kept thinking to myself, "Am I 26 or 6? Why am I so excited?) Finally I just got up and showered. Kenzie got up around 7:30, then promptly rushed into Parker's room, flipped on the lights, and said, "You're sleeping too long! We have to go downstairs and see what Santa brought!"

The "Mother-in-Law" gift. My mother prides herself in finding something gross each year. This year was "Oregon Duck Droppings."

Parker had a blast this year. He gasped for each present, ripped the paper, and played with everything. He loves cars, and now has several more!

I loved the chocolate milk breaks. Present time was cutting into breakfast time, after all.

Santa brought Kenzie an Ariel costume. In case you haven't noticed the theme, our little girl loves princesses.

Our kids were ever-so-slightly spoiled!

Here's Kenzie with her loot, most importantly her Littlest Pet Shop kitty she's wanted for so long.

Parker could not be bothered to pose for a picture (not that he ever poses anyways) so here's a shot with most of his presents in the background.

He loves his new race track Daddy picked out for him. Here he's clapping after a race (those cars go too fast for me to get a picture!).

Kenzie's play-doh center has been a big hit, too. They each can sit on one side of it and have tons of different things to play with. (Bonus for Mommy: my garlic press can be used for garlic and not play-doh now!)

My favorite video clip of the morning. I love the excitement. Christmas with little kids is so fun!

Cookies for Santa

Kenzie has always been a great cookie artist. This year she was actually helpful with making the cookies. She played in the dough, too, but she did use the cookie cutters pretty well and rolled out the dough correctly.

She was so happy to leave a plate with two cookies on it for Santa, along with a mug of milk. Then, she looked at it and said, "How about one cookie for Santa and one for me?"

It's Christmas Eve for Certain

Hooray for Christmas Eve! I can tell I'm going to need a nap when Christmas is over! Parker couldn't wait for dinner and decided to mutilate a roll while he waited for us.

Daddy got a fire going for atmosphere.

About to eat! Bacon-wrapped pork loin, potato gratin, crescent rolls, asparagus (and green beans for the kids). Then later we did have peppermint ice cream cake, which Kenzie insisted be frosted pink for baby Jesus.

Then the kids got to each open one present. Chris had a good idea to start a tradition that they exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. So even though they technically had nothing to do with the purchase of the gifts, Kenzie did thank Parker for her Pretty Pretty Princess game.

Daddy was a good sport and played the game. I was a good sport and refrained from taking a picture. Kenzie even won, which is always great for her!

Parker gasped when he opened his present. (I don't even know what you call it, just those toys usually reserved for waiting rooms with the wooden base and the chunky beads on thick wires.) I was sad my camera's batteries died because I didn't get his reaction on video.

What a goofball! Kenzie is showing off the present she made at preschool that she let Daddy and I open early. It's a little note-holder and notepad. We were so impressed that she managed to keep a secret. (I found out why, though, when we opened it and said, "What is it?" and she just shrugged. "I don't know! It's from preschool!" No wonder she could keep it a secret!) Needless to say, it's the sweetest gift we've gotten. Now it's off to bed so Santa can come. Kenzie has already pitter-pattered down the hall a few times claiming she can't sleep, so I hope it's not too long of a night!

Holiday Lights

Tonight we took the kiddos through the lights at Thanksgiving Point. Everyone else had the same idea, so here's Parker sleeping as we waited in line for about 15 minutes.

He woke up in time to blab about the lights, point a lot, and even gasp a few times. I turned around to take a picture of his reactions, but he saw the camera, said, "No!" and turned his head away! Stinker.

Kenzie really did enjoy it, I promise. She put on her fake smile because she knew I was taking a picture. Oh, well. Maybe someday she'll thank me for recording every single thing she ever did. (Maybe?)

We've Got Connections

The Arnold family has an "in" with Santa. He came by with Mrs. Claus, otherwise known as Chris's aunt, Annette, last night.Kenzie wasn't too shy. She eagerly swiped that candy cane and asked for the same toy she's been asking for since right after her birthday: the "kitty with the fishbone and toy mouse."

Parker was not too happy again, even if Mommy held him!

Here's Chris asking for a house. Worth a shot!

Grandma trying to decide what to ask for: a vacuum cleaner, a washer, or a stove.

Parker had another go at Santa's lap, and decided he'd tolerate it if he got yet another candy cane out of the deal. (Still, later I said, "Did you see Santa?" and he shook his head and said, "No!")

Magic Glasses

I get a kick out of watching Parker and Kenzie use these "glasses" to look at the Christmas tree. Each pair makes the lights look different: some say words like "Joy" and others make the lights look like stars.

It didn't take Parker long to figure out what to do with them.

NOW It's Christmastime

Nothing says, "Christmas is almost here," like watching the Muppet Christmas Carol. It's tradition. Chris bought it for me a few years back, since it kept getting harder to find at video stores each Christmas.

This year Kenzie was really into it, and kept laughing at Kermit. ("What's the frog's name?" she kept asking.)

Parker was mesmerized, too. (Here he's just staring at the opening credits, even). I thought he'd lose interest after a few minutes, but he planted himself between Chris and I on the couch and just shoveled popcorn into his mouth the whole time.

Homecoming

Here's everyone milling about, anxiously awaiting that first glimpse of Grandma and Grandpa

Parker is pointing at a Christmas tree. He didn't know what was going on but he'd clap when other groups started clapping

McKenzie with her sign. She worked really hard on it. It says, "McKenzie" about 43 times, "We missed you," and "Welcome Home Grandma and Grandpa. Love, McKenzie, Parker, Daddy and Tiff." (I loved that! I even asked, "You mean, 'Mommy?'" "No, Tiff.")

Finally! And the crowd goes wild...

I thought this one was sweet. My niece, Laura, getting a hug from Grandpa

Here's my view from one end of the table (well, one of three we filled) at Chuck-a-Rama. Somehow Kenzie was lucky enough to get the coveted spot next to Grandma. Parker just flung mashed potatoes about and then dumped a cup of Sprite onto himself. (Literally. I don't mean he spilled it. I mean he picked up the cup, poured it down his front, then shivered and said, "Uh-oh!") What an eventful day!

2 Years Down

Meet my in-laws, Kirk and Marie-France. Here they are, Jan. 2008, right before leaving for an LDS mission to France. They get home tomorrow. (Yes, I have been cleaning for about 17 days. You wouldn't know it due to two kids, a cat, and a dog perpetually making messes - thank you Taz for barfing up a work glove in the garage today. Just lovely.)

Just for fun, here's another picture from Jan. 2008. I was taking a picture, and Kenzie suddenly yelled, "I lick-a da cat!" So she did! This makes me laugh. What a nut.

Christmas Packages

Now that my parents have officially received their package, I can post this picture of McKenzie decorating cookies for them. She took the sprinkles very seriously and used a different kind on each cookie. It's all just practice for when she makes cookies for Santa, though. (She wants to make him cookies already, and keeps waking up and asking us first thing, "Is it Christmas now?" It's getting hard for me to wait, too!)

First Haircut

One snazzy little man, with even hair! I've trimmed it his whole life, and it's slowly gotten more and more uneven as he wiggles more and more each time... Finally I gave in and got him a "real" haircut so he will look respectable in all the pictures I'll take at Christmas. Amazingly, Parker just sat there glued to SpongeBob (we went to Cookie Cutters for the TV and airplane seat) and was really good.