Safety Advice

We recently attended the funeral of a friend who died of a heart attack. It was both shocking and tragic due to her age (she is a year younger then I am), and that she left behind 4 year old twin girls. This caused me to begin thinking, you can never be too prepared for an unexpected emergency.

You see, Alex and I spend all day together, and I am not sure he would know what to do if something tragic happened or there was a real emergency. I guess I just took it for granted that those kinds of accidents would not occur when it was just the two of us. The thoughts that run through a mind once it gets going about accidents, death, and strangers can make a person crazy, but I implore you to teach your little ones about safety in an emergency. Alex now knows if there is a fire, or mommy is "asleep" and doesn't wake up, or somebody he does not know comes into the house he is to call 911 and tell them "there is danger at my house." I know, sounds paranoid, but I would rather be safe than sorry.

Resolutions

Every January, just after the holidays, our family sits down and we talk about goals. I guess about 3/4ths of the rest of the country are probably doing the same, but it is a great opportunity to really listen and challenge the children to come up with some "resolutions" of their own, family resolutions, and what we can do to help each other achieve our goals. We usually speak with the children the morning before we are going to make our "New Years Resolutions" and ask them to reflect on the changes they want, or need to make in their lives and our family life. I was really impressed with what they came up with this year! Then we post the goals up in our kitchen and review them periodically...to check and see how we are doing.

Here are a few from each of us: (the kids came up with theirs all on their own)

Dad: Ride bike to work more often, run more 5k's, and save more.

Mom: Improve healthy food options around the home - for everyone, do more deep cleaning and organizing.

McKaleigh: Get my YW ribbons, put money in my savings every month, be more active and healthy throughout the day.

Colton: Balance media time with active things, workout with dad, take veggies to school instead of unhealthy options.

Alex: Clean my room, be nice to Colton and McKaleigh, brush my teeth.

Family Goals: Keep yard and home clean (if you see it, pick it up), make dinner for mom once a month, make time for more bike rides, walks, tennis, basketball and other active things.

All in all it was a successful goal making night and I am hopeful we will be able to have fun while working on them together!~

Conversations with Alex

Today I had to run some errands - one of which was to look for a certain package of "Skylanders" for the boys new PS3 game. Brett had searched the internet and was coming up with either outrageous prices or unavailable characters due to their high demand, so I thought i'd try the local stores. After a morning of running in and out of stores - many many stores...I asked Alex a question and this is the conversation that followed:

Me: Alex, you have been such a great shopper today, what do you think about getting a Jamba Juice and your favorite hot dog for lunch?

Alex: Mom, that idea is just delightful

Me: Alex, you are just the most polite kid (after laughing about "delightful")

Alex: Then we can check one more store, O.K. - ToysRUs with the different colored letters and the star on the front of the store - I just know they will have the pack we need. OH, and when we get home you should switch your purse for a different one, because you have had that one out for a long time!

and you know what, they did, and I did!

Week 2 - Winter Break

O.K., so we did officially make it all the way through December and into January with NO snow. Its sad because its not ever really gotten to be winter yet - just dirty and chilly - I am so ready for snowy, sledding, firebuilding weather!

Here are the last shots we have of our 2011 Christmas break and some of the things that we did included:
Temple Square visits
TraxTrain rides
Basketball practices
Lunches with friends and family
Parties
Playdates
Figuring out of electronics for the kids high tech presents
Playstation
DS
Computer
WII
Gone With the Wind Marathon
Studying
Math Midterm - mom

Here are some of the pictures of our family out visiting Temple Square - in years past we breezed thorough the square because we were all so cold, but this year we took our time. They boys played and chased each other around the lights and we really enjoyed some of the nativities they had set up.
Mom and dad ready for a night out with the kids to see the lights and have family dinner downtown. McKaleigh and Colton picked "The Blue Lemon" O.K. for bigger kids and adults, but Alex was not really impressed!
Riding the train makes you really really sleepy -
Here we are waiting for the train - we missed the first one. While we were waiting the kids loved it when Brett quizzes them on train times and stops, and whether or not they could make it around on their own. I really think Colton could figure this out all by himself if he had to!
A final shot leaving the square - Dad and the kiddos- with out pink noses!

We always video record Christmas morning with the kids, but it is really hard to remember the camera and take lots of pictures of the event. This year Alex was the first one up and was really excited that he got to go and wake everyone else up. The bigger kids would have slept late if given the chance, but by 7:15 everyone was up and ready to open. We try to hand out one gift at a time to savor the moment and see what everyone has gotten under the tree! It always seems to go so fast, no matter the opening method!

They boys with the latest NERF gun. It is really powerful and has to sit on that stand type thing to shoot. They built all kinds of Lincoln Log towers to shoot down - I will seriously be finding darts in different parts of this house until I die!
Colton with some of his faves! Skullcandy headphones and a 3D-DS
McKaleigh picked out her faves! The Nook and a 100 piece makeup set.

After all of the festivities at our house, we got ready to go to Grandpa Rod's and Grandma Deb's for more fun, family and lunch. Here are the kids with cousin Tyler ready for another round. They really made out like little bandits with all of their loot from everyone!
Just before Christmas this year grandma had a knee replacement, here she is with her walker - and grandpa watching all of the kids open gifts.