Christmas!

Luckily, Jeff got a photo printer for Christmas, so despite my aforementioned camera problem, I have been able to get my pics off! Hallelujah! I'd be super sad if I lost holidays.

For Christmas, we were, of course, super busy. It was the North's year to have us on Christmas eve. My extended family always happens to get together early in the day, so we were lucky enough to get to see both that day. In the morning on Christmas Eve, we drove up to Ogden ('we' being me and the girls-Jeff was at work til 3:something.) We had taco salads and many many desserts. For the most part, my girls were good, but Amelie had an accident (luckily I brought clothes!) and Lisie was tired-fussy for a bit. We played a dice game for our anonymous dollar gifts and we got some good things. Jenny also brought a DVD she made of my Grandpa's life (he recently passed away) that she showed-and gave us all a copy! It was lovely. It was a good time. There are so many of us, that we held the party in a church gym. I don't usually like this, it feels less intimate, but they did a good job of setting it up so we felt closer.

The one split second where she wore her headband.Kiddie Korner

This manger was a centerpiece...

but Amie just wanted to snuggle baby Jesus!

Lisie loves aunt Mar Mar

and Grandma's mouth!

Yum!

Aunt Mallolly and her shadow doing hair at every family get together!

Two sweeties!

Then, we left to pick up daddy and go straight to his grandmother's house in Grantsville. We had the usual smorgasbord there, and then a cute program of two movies-first Christmas Oranges, and then the Nativity (I think?) Then, we followed it up with marshmallow guns, of course! We got SOO many sweets as gifts there this year, I thought we might die. Seriously-fudge, homemade candy (mints, caramels, coconuts, cremes, caramels, maples,) pecan brittle, two varieties of chocolate covered pretzels, truffles, a gallon bag of cookies, popcorn, and that's not even all!

We decided this year was the year to start sleeping at our house (we'd been sleeping at my mom's the past few-meaning me and the girls. :)) We opened presents bright and early Sat. morning at our place so we could be on time for breakfast and presents with the North's. We went from there to the Radcliffe's and had a second breakfast then presents. Then dinner. Needless to say, I did not escape about 5 holiday pounds.

First look

Too early.

This is the post-unwrapping mess. Whoa!

I tried my darn darnedest to get a better picture of us in our Christmas outfits this time, without much success. I decided our color was gold this year.
(They were both imPOSSible to keep still!)

Worst. Idea. Ever.

Today we had the worst idea ever today. What could possibly be that bad, you say?

Well, I've had a fairly home-bound week. Gotten out at least somewhere each day, but by today, Saturday, I was going a little stir crazy. So I decided we should go out for lunch. We decided on Red Robin and actually enjoyed our time there despite a rambunctious toddler (who kept talking to the people in the booth next to us) and a sicky baby.

Not too bad, right?

So we decided to push our luck and take said babies to see a $1.50 movie. We went over and decided on Megamind, and were a bit early, so we let the girls play out in the hallway for a bit to expel their energy. Then, we went in to get our seats, and settled in. (It filled up really quickly and we got blocked in our row.) The girls were being pretty good, and the movie started. At 3:30. 3:30? Yes, that IS my rambunctious terrible two toddler's and sick baby's nap time. What a disaster. We tried every possible idea and combination of people inside and outside the theater, but no. We did not see the end of this movie. Even though we only spent $4.50, this makes me really crazy-I never quit a movie or book because not knowing the end will drive me insane! We made it through most of the film, so I was really invested in that little storyline. I may never know...

Live and learn, I guess.

FYIs

Fyi, I have not dropped off of the planet, and we had a LOVELY Christmas, too, but I am boycotting blogging about it until I can get my pics on. Somehow the usb connection on my camera conked out and is not working for me at all. :( I'll have to do a slick SD card transfer some other way. Boo! I don't know what happened exactly, but I probably don't have to let my imagination wander farther than two adorable but destructive little girls.

In the meantime, Alisa is walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alright, girlfriend! This came without any coaching from mommy, so it was quite a surprise. I actually scared her when i noticed because I got all excited. (In case you haven't spent much time with her, she does NOT like surprise-excited.)

Conks and Bonks

At my mom's house on Sunday, Amie tripped down the stairs (we think) and landed right where the slate tile meets the carpet, effectively earning her the biggest goose egg I have ever seen in my life, no kidding. She was pretty rattled for a long time. It took lots of mommy snuggles, an ice pack, her blankie, a movie and a cupcake to get her back to normal. These pics don't do it half the justice that nasty knot deserves!




These are just a little romping around time with daddy. They are SO blurry but that's just a testament to how much fun they were having-couldn't make them be still!



Aw.

Santa!

Our ward Christmas Breakfast was this past weekend. I brought muffins and directed the choir in two fun numbers. It was a good time, and the first time we got our girls to actually sit on Santa's lap. I love the pic. :)

Amie was mesmerized by the singing kids.


Cutie smile and stripey tights!

I'll eat the camera!! Nom nom!

Waiting patiently.

Haha! So cute!

U v. Y!!

This year for the annual Holy War, we decided to watch from a pizza place, Big Daddy's, then went to Jeff's parents at halftime for the remainder. OF COURSE the best team came out victorious (Go Utes!) but I think my friend Heather said it best, "Congrats to Utah-you win the 'least suckiest of two suckiest teams award.'" Neither team played their best, but I have to say that last field goal block was pretty darn impressive. A Utah Man am I!

Are you sick too?

I have been so sick, this is about all we've been doing at my house, whenever possible:


I finally got myself to an Instacare today (day 11) and got some meds. I thought the inability to even look down or not cry for the pain in my head was a good reason. We soldiered through all the other activities of a busy week, except for the annual Messiah. It made me very sad, but glad that I didn't have a solo to miss (Jeff did. :/) At least I sang at the Taylorsville City Sing-In. I sang "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion." If you're not familiar with Handel's Messiah, its the most hardcore soprano solo. I was terrified to sing it, but it turned out ok. (Luckily that was the day before I got sick.)
Here's to lazy days and getting better!

Sledding!

Two weeks ago, we busted out our FHE (Family Home Evening) a few hours early and turned it into FOD (Family Outside Day.) I insisted on getting Amie a little saucer sled last Christmas, but it had yet to be used by her. We got one for Alisa for Christmas this year, but when we got all that snow I couldn't resist it! We took both sleds out to a nearby park, bundled furiously, and gave the girls their first sledding experience. Alisa was so monotone the whole time-it was naptime, and she just sat there going along with whatever we did. No smiles, but no tears. Amelie was loving it! She thought it was great fun, and eventually went by herself. Then, once daddy sat her differently on the saucer and she flipped off. She wasn't hurt but got a load of snow up her shirt-she was ruined! She would have no more of it! It was fun while it lasted, but you can only be happy for so long trucking those kids up the hill over and over.

It was SOO bright, we couldn't see anything in the camera viewscreen, so this is what we ended up with:


I think Lisie looks so much like her cousin Kail in this one!!

Potty-Training Chronicles, Finale

I think we are good, people! Amelie is going on her own, telling us when she needs help and even going all night without any accidents. (Which is a great thing, since we tried the big girl bed thing, and... no cigar. Crib side is back up!) I have to say, I think we had an easy go of it, comparatively. But, the saying is so true-when they're ready, they're ready, and when they're not-they're SO not. Those times we attempted before felt hopeless. This time, she just got it! Yeehaw! I am SO ready for that diaper bill decrease!

Funny things the Norths say... First installment

It occurs to me that this North household has been hopping in the comedic one-liners lately. I've been wanting to post this forever, but have been trying to compile a good list. Here are a few for your blog-time enjoyment.

Jeff:
-Rolling over in his sleep, hugging his pillow, sighing and shaking his head "Oh, Arnesky..." (Neither of us know any Arnesky's.)
-Sits straight up in the middle of the night. I ask "what are you doing?" I was met with my favorite response ever: "I'm getting ready to go to tiny church." That's right folks, tiny church!!!!!! HAHAHAHA!
-Sleepy again "sorry, I think my car's poisoning me."

Nikki:
- To a member of my ward choir during practice (I'm the director) "Go back a little farther, like 'up your.' " Not kidding. I couldn't stop laughing for a very very long time. Kinda impedes your practice.

Amelie:
-Asks where mommy is, dad says 'at work.' "We have to go save her!" (Yes, please!)
-I walk in to get her out of the crib in the morning, her hand is in her mouth. "mommy, I'm eating my hand." "What?" "I'm eating my hand!" "Why are you doing that?" "It's so good!"
-Daddy's calling her to come get dressed, she puts her face down into the floor "but I can't find you, daddy!"

Alisa:
-"UUUUUUNNNNGG!" That girl grunts and groans like a full grown man! I think all her noises are very funny.
-We SWEAR she imitates what we say. So far we've heard versions of Amie, something and more...