Let it Snow

Tyler taught Hadlee to make paper snow flakes. It seems our living room is a Winter Wonderland. She makes them whenever she gets the chance. It has taken over her picture obsession for the time being. I am sure that will resume after Christmas, but for now our house is full of snowflakes.

Calvin Vs. Calvin's Bed

Right after his headboard attacked him

Later that night

Boy's Night

We had a ward party last night and after dinner I brought Calvin and Max home to watch a movie. Jace came over and turned it into a party.

Hostages and Fake Snow

At the mall today they had a Christmas tree that shoots out fake snow.

It was a big deal.

I wondered how many of these kids had ever seen real snow.

Our kids acted like they hadn't.

It was actually foamy bubbles.

On the way home, Hadlee wanted something to put over her head so she could see her movie better. I gave her the extra shirt we had brought for Calvin. (a necessity) So this is what she looked like on the way home.

Kind of like we had kidnapped her and covered her head so she couldn't see where we were going.

O Christmas Tree

Today we went and bought a Christmas Tree. Calvin and Hadlee were so excited. We were going to wait until tomorrow to put it up, but Calvin wouldn't have it. He practically opened the box and started putting it together himself.
We let him and Hadlee pick all the decorations. We are also going to make some, so after the shrinky-dinks and painted, plaster stars go up, I will post more pictures.

We all picked our own stockings at the store. They aren't up yet either, pictures to come...
Calvin was insistent that we should by him 2 at the store. He kept putting a second one in the cart and we had to keep putting it back, trying to explain to him that everyone gets just one. He isn't sure what goes on the other foot.

Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for.....

Little boys...
who take out my garbage



and one of the cutest little girls I have ever seen.

Cheeca and Lisee

I had to upload this to Sprout Online for Hadlee today. She wanted to send it in, but I wasn't sure if I could promise to send it with a clean conscience. I am sure it would have been forgotten, so she watched me upload it. It said you could check in a couple days to see if it was posted on their site, so we will have to keep checking. She likes Sprout and Chica, so when they tell her to draw a picture and send it in, by golly she is going to do it.
Did you know that you can machine wash and dry Pillow Pets? Yeah, you can. (she also pays attention during the commercials.)


Oh, and I echo her sentiments. I too, am thankful for my family.

The New Fettish

Tyler is now crazy about argyle footwear.
He loves them and wants to buy all the argyle socks he can find. I caught him surfing the internet for places to buy socks. I guess there isn't enough of a selection at the regular stores.

He wore all black; black slacks, black t-shirt and these babies to school. It's funny because not long ago, Kate had a blog post about loving crazy tights. It must be genetic.
At least Tyler isn't crazy about tights.
That would be upsetting.

Laie Hawaii Temple Rededicated

The prophet has been in our little town for days. Seeing some of the same things I see. The same chickens roaming the parking lot at the grocery store, maybe the same surfers surfing on the North Shore. Maybe he even drove by my house (or close anyway) while checking out the campus. He could have even seen Calvin sitting on top of our car in the parking lot, pretending to be riding Appa. It's hard to be sure, but I have never been so aware of the prophet's presence in a place I have been.
Tyler and I got to attend the temple dedication and I couldn't help but think how lucky we are to be here, right now, when the temple is opening again. It has been closed for 2 years while they remodeled everything. Not only just that we got to be here for the temple opening, it's more than that. I just kept feeling during the session that we are so lucky to be here right now, in Hawaii. Going to school, being in the same town as the prophet, seeing the temple open house and dedication, living in paradise, living in a simpler way, in a simpler place.
I couldn't help but think that maybe these will be the best times of our lives.
Maybe the old people are right when they say that (although no on has said that to me in a while).

Here is a cool video about the Re-dedication and the area.

Midnight Harry Potter Madness

I was excited when my neighbor asked if I wanted to go to the midnight showing of Harry Potter. I wasn't sure I would find anyone as geeky as me but I did. 3 of us went to the midnight showing of the movie here in Laie. We felt O.L.D. because most of the people there were either high school students or the young variety of college students. I won a poster in the drawing, but wasn't sure what to do with it. It wasn't the kind you could roll up, it was more like cardboard. It was Ron on one side and Snape on the other. Rita Skeeter took my picture when I won. On my way back to my seat, a girl with blue hair told me that if I didn't want it, she would take it off my hands for me. I said, "Okay." She looked shocked and surprised and happy. Let's face it, I am geeky enough to go to the midnight showing, but not geeky enough to have a poster in my house.
It's one of those little movie theaters with out computers but they still pre-sold tickets. I need to show these to that guy in Price! See, it CAN be done!!
Iit was a lot of fun and the best movie from a book EVER and I can't wait to see it again. I also can't wait for part II and I am thinking I should read the book again. Tyler is reading the book right now and wants to see it when he is done.

After going to the late movie, I slept in.
Hadlee is such a good little munchkin.
She entertained herself and even answered the door and told maintenance that I was sleeping and they should come back later.
I am a little surprised they didn't call DCFS, but hey, I was here.
She also answered the phone and told my mother-in-law that I was sleeping and would call her back.
Spreading the word about my awesome mom skills.
So while I was sleeping in, she cleaned her room.
This makes me think I should sleep in more often.
Way better than fighting with her to do it.
It was cute though, because she also moved this little dresser thing over by her bed and put a picture of Davey and Katie on it. She fashioned a stand out of a redbox cover. She really misses everyone in Utah (and Idaho) and talks about them a lot.

The Baker Bird Appears

In Tyler's family, it's called 'The Baker Bird.' He has cousins who can only take a certain amount of pictures before it surfaces in at least one. Calvin thinks he is a Baker, I guess.


Okay, not really.
I posted when he ran over his finger with a skateboard. The nail finally fell off and it's starting to heal but whenever he shows it to us, he does that. I think it's funny so I took a couple pictures when he came out tonight saying it hurt.

Patterns

Tyler got Calvin dressed for school this morning. I guess he was feeling pretty fancy. Calvin doesn't even wear shoes in his classroom, I am pretty sure they don't have a collar mandatory dress code.
I had to snap a couple pictures because even though it's not part of the dress code, he is stinking cute.
I guess he just got too cool for the pictures

This was his homework for last night. He knows all the color words now and pretty much did this by himself. Until he couldn't find the white marker. He was mad to settle for chalk, but he couldn't just leave it. IT SAYS WHITE.

A while ago now, Hadlee was watching Calvin color a picture. He wasn't staying in the lines as much as she would have liked. After a few minutes, she looked at me and said, "uh Mom, I don't think coloring is one of Calvin's talents."
I think, in no time, he will be coloring like a pro.

Hadlee got herself ready for the day. Complete with make-up and hairdo.

We talked about patterns for school. I have had these beads for a while, planning to do big things with them. We decided to use them to make earrings and necklaces for pattern day.
We tried a few pictures to get the necklaces and earrings in. Then she wanted me to take one more.....
What a goof ball.
I know what you are thinking, 'Man, she sure puts a lot of pictures of herself on her blog.' To you I say; What if I die and these are the only pictures my kids have of me? Then you'll feel bad for thinking that.
(and I had to document that I actually put make-up on today)

Saturday at Temple Beach

We hadn't been to the beach for a while and last time we went Hadlee got stung by a blue bubble. As a result, it took them a while to get in the water, they played in the sand a lot.






After we threatened to go home, they finally got in and started playing.

The Roller Coaster

I have noticed that I have started to have 'that look' in pictures. You know, the tired, weight of the world look about me. I know I am smiling. It's not that I forgot how to smile. I think I am just getting to that point. I need one of those masks you keep in the fridge or some cucumbers on hand. Or maybe a couple smacks across the face, or maybe to stop staying up late, blogging and get some sleep. I just don't want to. I want to stay up. I like my time when I can get something done without my kids needing something, without the roller coaster. Here was our roller coaster for today:

Up: I woke up to find Hadlee had cut up some apples and carrots for her and Calvin to have a 'healthy snack'. I thought it was so funny, I took some pictures.


Down: a half hour later, they were fighting over a computer game that Hadlee never likes to play when Calvin isn't around. Believe me, I have asked her.

Up: Calvin was writing our names down and I was so proud of him and how far he has come with his writing.

he wrote my name and then I wrote it to help him, then he said, "no." and wrote it again a different way and underlined it. I guess I don't know how to write my own name. I am officially changing it to "Amabnbm." I am just not sure how to say it.

Down: Calvin went outside and pushed some kids.

Up: We decided to got see Megamind

Down: The kids fought the whole way to the theater 45 minutes away. Ok, so they didn't fight the whole time, but they went back and forth between playing and SCREAMING to getting rough and fighting. I heard, "Moooooooooooom!" A LOT

Up: After the movie, I went to pick up Calvin's car seat (we take it to the movies with us and strap him in) and he said, "No, I get it." He picked it up and put the seat on his head upside down and held it with his hands. Walking out of the theater, he yelled to everyone sitting down still, "C'mon guys, let's go." Fully expecting them to listen.

Down: We went to Walgreens to pick up TWO things and my kids ran around like maniacs.

Up: The kids were whispering to each other and giggling on the way home, I couldn't help but think how cute they were

Down: That soon turned into screaming and freaking out. Which led to me turning the radio up to block it out.

Up: Calvin stayed in his bed tonight, didn't get out once

Down: Tyler wasn't here today

Up: He was at an interview that he said went pretty well.

I feel like everyday, several times, I go very quickly from being so happy and thinking my kids are the cutest things ever, to sheer bewilderment and wondering WHAT IN THE WORLD THEY ARE THINKING. Somedays I am sure they are out to destroy me; Calvin, one impulse at a time and Hadlee, one whine at a time. (down)

but then I look at pictures like this and I can't imagine ever being mad. (up)

off to bed. We all know I need my beauty rest to get through tomorrow's roller coaster.

Hadlee's last day of ballet

Hadlee took a ten week ballet class and today was the last day. She had fun because she got to be with her friends for a scheduled amount of time every week.

Hadlee and her friend, Klaire. I wish Maili could have been in the picture too. They are 3 of the cutest girls. Especially in dance outfits. Is there anything cuter than girls in dance outfits?

Life is not a Dream

Hadlee was singing to herself:

"Row, row, row your boat

gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

life is not a dream."

No false pretenses here people.

We teach 'em young.

Under cover Turkey

Calvin was supposed to disguise this turkey so he didn't get cooked for Thanksgiving. It was an assignment for his class. I think it just confused him though, he started calling all turkeys peacocks. Damage control time.

Friends and Turtle Beach

After Church, and after some chatting with our friends, we went to Turtle Beach. There weren't as many turtles there as last time we went, but they were all right up on the beach this time. Tyler didn't see them and almost walked right on top of one of them. The volunteers there had to stop him and explain what the red rope means. They blend right in with the rocks. He even had to look at this picture for a minute before he could see the turtle.

After turtle watching, we got some shave ice at the wrong place in Haleiwa. We really are the worst tour guides EVER! It's a good thing they didn't give us anything important to be in charge of.
When they had to leave to head back to town, Calvin was crushed. He cried the whole walk to the car. I don't think they were planning on forming such a serious relationship with Calvin while they were here, but he didn't care what they had planned. He loved having them here and so did we.