Little Kelton's Christmas

Christmas

Christmas

Gingerbread Houses

We have made it a tradition that every year, my brothers come over to my house around Christmas time to build and decorate gingerbread houses. This year we waited until the last minute because my brother Derek came into town just before Christmas. My parents came this time. We watched the family Christmas standby movies, "Christmas Vacation" and "Mixed Nuts." We love this movie and we now lovingly call my dad "Clark." Dad and Dalton worked on one gingerbread house. Derek, Harvey and the kids worked on the other. Can you tell who did which house.

Gary the Finger Snail

Today in church, we were having a great time listening to the Christmas music program put on by the ward. My parents came to church with us and Kyra was all snuggled up with uncles Derek and Dustin. She was having a great time pointing out her not so newly painted fingernails when she exclaimed in a very loud voice, "Look, this fingernail looks like Gary the Snail from Spongebob." It was of course on her middle finger and she spent the rest of the meeting pointing out her anomaly to anyone that was within the sound of her voice. Now, we won't show you the pictures of her showing off her nicely painted nail, but a close of up of the Gary Finger Snail. She is a creative little thing.

Brody

In the past two weeks, several people have commented on the fact that they had no idea that we had a dog. Well, for those of you have not yet had the great pleasure (haha) of meeting our pet, this is Brody, our two year old Yorkshire Terrier. He is a little yappy things that loves to be around people. I was looking at him last Sunday and noticed how badly he needed to go to the groomers. Instead of waiting and making an appointment, I went ahead and shaved him myself.

Franco Family Christmas Party

With the holidays upon us you know that you will soon be partied out. We continued a tradition this year with the Franco Family Christmas Party. We got together on Saturday afternoon and all went to lunch together. What a group!! Afterwards, we retreated to my house for the five dollar gift exchange. Everyone brings a wrapped five dollar gift. We put all the gifts in a pile and eveyone draws a number. When it is your turn you can either steal a present that someone else has opened or you can open a new one. It was great fun. Andrew had the final number and has his pick of anyone's present but he chose to open the one remaining unwrapped present. Lo and behold in his he received a set of coasters, a chocolate orange and a ceramic kitty. Way to go Andrew!!! Of course the winner of the most appropriate gift goes to Eric and his brush set. It was later stolen by Tasha. Harvey stole the fountain from Sergio and then Consuelo stole it back. Darn!! Can't wait till next year. Let's get together more often guys. Great $5 gifts by the way.

Santa

Ok, let me tell you how thrilled I am at this picture. First of all, Kaeson was in the mall for nearly an hour with white pants before the picture was taken. Look at how white they still are. Second, Kyra cut the front of her hair off a couple of weeks ago and look... you can't even tell. Third and most important... NO ONE IS CRYING. This is the first picture with Santa that I have ever gotten back where no one is crying. What a proud parent moment. Isn't it funny that as we hit this stage in life, the simple things are the things that are the most fun.

Kelton's Smile

For such a mellow baby, it is next to impossible to coax a smile out of this cute chubby elf. To date, the only one that can truly pull a constant stream of grins from Kelty is my dad. He is the baby whisperer. Today was a rare occassion. I was getting ready to snap the picture of his santa booties and his little face lit up for about 2 seconds. It made my day. He has the cutest little grin in the world.

Nena's Surgery Day

Yesterday Kyra was up at Primary Children's Hospital to have her adenoids removed and new ear tubes put in. She has been failing hearing tests so this has been our attempt to help her to hear better. She was so cute and actually kind of excited about her surgery. She knew what was going to happen. She was thrilled to be in the waiting room where there was more toys than she knew what to do with. Dr. Tagge was so cute with Kyra and even played ball with her for a while. We walked down the hall with Kyra and handed her off to the anesthesiologist. She lost it and started to cry saying how much she was going to miss me. The anesthesiologist was so nice and let me suit up to walk Kyra into the operating room. I found out later that this is unheard of. Dr. Tagge has done thousands of these operations and the mom has only been allowed to come in for a couple of them. It helped Kyra a lot. She was very serious when they gave her the laughing gas. The doctors asked if she was ok because most kids start to laugh when they are given the gas. Kyra took the mask off, said "Mom, I love you." and was immediately sound asleep. It was the sweetest moment of my life. I then left the operating room to wait for her. She came through with flying colors. As soon as she woke up and realized where she was she excitingly exclaimed, "Mom, I can hear." She isn't feeling very good right now but she will be up and about soon.

Kelton's Blessing

Kyra and her fairies

We all know that Kyra is obsessed with fairies. I wish I knew where she got it from. Anyway, we redid Kyra's room to match her personality. She now calls her room Pixie Hollow. The pictures are not the greatest and she has a couple of things out of place but it will give you the general idea of what we are up to. Oh, and yes, she is wearing a bit of make-up. It was our mommy/ daughter activity of the day. I am envious of her long eyelashes.

First Snow of the Season

Ok, a week ago we had the first snow of the season. I was painting stencils on Kyra's new fairy themed room and looked out the window. It was evening and the sun was setting and the snow on the trees was amazing. So, I dropped the paint brush and ran for the camera. I was hastily trying to open the window to not lose the "moment." I was a little too over eager because I broke the screen giving Harvey one extra job to do. It was worth it though.

I've Been Tagged

Ok, thanks to Sherrie, I have been tagged. I guess that that means that I have to list to the open world, six things that you probably don't know about me. I am not a very secretive person, so I am sure that you already know most of these but I will search to think of ones that may be lesser known.

1. My newest phobia. I have developed an anxiety over the past several years of speaking or performing in public. Ok, public can even mean a group as small as 6 people. I used to be extremely outgoing with playing the flute and such. I played many concerts and solos in Abravenal Hall and other places over the country when I was in my "prime." Now that my life has shifted to Kindergarten and diapers, I shake terribly when I get up to play the flute, piano or even bare my testimony in church. I had to teach in Relief Society a few weeks ago and I was a mess. Any suggestions as to how I can return to normal?

2. I am quirky when it comes to my favorite things. I have a ton of very particular favorite. I love brand new white socks, Brummel and Brown Yogurt Spread, Simply Limeade, La Creme Yogurt, Air popped unbuttered popcorn (sorry Sherrie). I would rather eat a Training Table than anywhere else in the world and I always order the same thing. Target is my favorite store.

3. I am a DI enthusiast. I love to go and see if I can find a treasure. I don't usually but it is fun to go and look. On rare occasions I have found some pretty cool things that I have been able to incorporate in my living style. I figure that if I give some nice stuff to DI so other people must too. I have even gotten Harvey on board with me. That did take several years though and he is more of a closet "DI-er". Although not after this blog hits the net.

4. What I want to be when I grow up. I went to school forever to get my degrees in music and education. I then went on to get my Masters in education. Now, if I could do anything I would be a children's or doll clothing designer, especially hats. I LOVE HATS. I spend hours looking through upscale doll and children's apparal catalogs for ideas. I have nearly every pattern in existance. I have more fabric than anyone that I have ever known. The thing that is keeping me from pursing my ambition is that I have 3 little ones and by the time they are in bed, I crash. I do keep up a little on my passion by posting my little fairies on Ebay. They are doing quite well right now and it helps me destress.

5. My favorite place in the world. I love to travel. I have been to the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, New Zealand, Mexico, etc. However, my favorite place in the entire world is a small woods on the campus of William and Mary in Virginia. Nestled in this wood is a really slow moving stream and a bridge. In the early morning there is a mist that settles on this bridge and it is like you are entering a fantasy world. I think that is one of the most invigorating spots on Earth. You can go and sit back and just think. I can't wait to take my kids there someday.

6. Feng Sui. I have gotten into the study of Feng Sui lately. Not all of the etherial parts of it but the states of organization and decorating. I have some very good friends who base their entire lifestyle on Feng Sui and they gave us a book on it. I am trying to incorporate some of the visual aspects into my home. I have really noticed a difference in the way that the house flows in the area where I have used it. It has actually made some of the spots in my home sanctuaries for me. Then, as you all know there are tons of areas that still need tons of help. Maybe a wrecking ball will help more that Feng Sui.