Spoiler Alert! Spoiled kids ahead!

So Santa came and dumped his sleigh at our house...so did aunts and uncles...so did grammas and grampas! And, so did Mom and Dad. I don't usually do a BIG thing for Christmas and Birthdays, because, really what do they really need!?! But this year, they did get a little spoiled. But, that's ok. Like Dustin says, they're just kids once!

So, I was out of commission by 6 o'clock on Christmas Eve...stomach flu! Dustin had to fill in and entertain kids after he got home from work, and then he had to get ready for SANTA!! I guess it didn't matter who helped because he came anyways! I actually feel bad because of my lack of creativity or diversity of pics, but, I wasn't feeling so hot at 6:30 in the A.M. either.

Look What Santa brought!

She just loved the Doll House! I wish I could have captured the look on her face. I think Dustin got it on video.

Christmas jammies from Gramma and Gramp G. Coopers are a little big, he kept walking out of his pants! Ha Ha!

Evey Barbie needs a wardrobe! I wish I could buy clothing and accessories like that for myself. All packaged up so nicely! (20 minutes to undo to get all the pieces though!)

A Big Thankyou to Daddy!

Thanks Aunt Kelsey for Toy Story the game!

Even Dad go a toy from Gramma. Cool Transformer!

Cooper loved his Moo Cow bowling set. The ball moos when you roll it! He likes setting up the pins too!

By far, Brody's favorite thing this year was his hot Wheels 'obstacle course', as he calls it.

I am alive! Felt better by the end of the day. Like my husbands bushy lumberjack beard?

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

They did get many presents from all our family and we appreciate them all so much! They really enjoyed reading quietly with their Tag books as well. (As did their mother! Quiet is wonderful!) I hope you all got spoiled as much as my kids did and enjoyed your wonderful Christmas morning! Bring on the New Year!

My new niece!

I get to brag a little, even if I'm a little late. My sister had a baby on December 8, a little girl. So now I have 3 nieces. But Megan's a little older so I can't spoil her or make her girly things! But we have another girl on my side! I am so excited, but so sad because I won't get to see her till summer....but meanwhile I enjoy the video chats and pics and soak up the bit of baby girl I can!

This is my sister, Jeri-lynn, just before they went to the hospital to be induced...she's so tiny, can't believe that this little peanut fit in there!

Lauren Jean Heggie...December 8, 2009...8 pounds 8 ounces...21.5 inches long!

Here she is with her Daddy and her big brother Levi...he was so excited it was a girl! I kept asking him what they should name her and he said "Honey." and when I asked him what they should name her if its a boy, he just said "Its a baby sister!"

I love little baby smiles!

Welcome to the world Lauren! Even if I can't squish those fat little cheeks, i know you are surrounded by friends and family to love and spoil you! Can't wait to meet you in person!

Holiday Lights at CALM...

When we talked about whether we should go home for Christmas or not, we weighed out the pros and cons and decided that we would stay in Bakersfield for Christmas. I was really sad about this, but I made my husband promise me one thing. If we stayed here, then he had to pretend to not be such a Grinch. He replied that he's not grumpy around the kids. And I said that I knew that, but I wanted him to pretend for me as well. So he said he would and he's done a really good job, too. One might almost forget that we have a Scrooge living under our roof.

He put up my Christmas lights without too much fuss, even when it took him two weeks to get them working properly. He got my tree down without me asking a million times. He suggested we go look at Christmas lights around town and even suggested we go out to the zoo to see the lights, so we did!

Bakersfield zoo, is not really a zoo its a Living Museum, more or less, of animals that live in California. We've only been a couple of times and 3 years ago when my family was down for Christmas, we went to see the lights. It was really pretty and I think they had even more lights this time. They even had a musical display where the lights on the trees 'danced' to music. It was pretty cool.

They had a carousel that the kids really liked, but mom thought might take off since it was going so fast!

They had a little train ride and you could see the lights of the museum and other displays.

Even had displays lit up of the Bakersfield sign and oil derricks.

This one's for DJ...when they came 3 years ago and we went through this display, he looks around and says "Hey! Its snowing!" Not really, just a snow machine. They are bubbles. Here's Gracie trying to catch one on her tongue. Brody caught one on his hand and says, "Its not snow Grace, its just fluff!"

Even got to talk to Santa again. He is really going to know what my kids want this year! Gracie told him, again, "I want a house for my Barbies" and Brody just said "Well, I got a whole list of stuff I want."

Cooper is not a huge fan of Santa. But he sure loves his Daddy. He really liked the lights and the music.

Brody just loves to take pictures. He's getting to be quite the photographer!

One last picture to just melt you heart. They do get a little crabbier the closer to Christmas we get, but then they do something like this and I can't help but smile and be glad for the wonderful children I have!

I'm gonna rant a little...

Just a question that I don't understand. Why exactly is Christmas offensive? Its a holiday, right? A holiday that I celebrate because I believe in Jesus Christ and the fact that He came to Earth to save mankind from Sin. I celebrate the love that my Heavenly father has for me. So what is it exactly that people find offensive? I don't find it offensive at all that others may celebrate Hanukka, or Kwanzaa or even not celebrate it all. That's the beauty of living in a free country. You can do that. So why can't I celebrate Christmas without offending people?

I don't understand why it has to be hush hush in the schools. Its the Winter break, not Christmas break. I was so glad to see my child working on Christmas related items this year. She did last year as well, but I was worried. I mean how do you tell a kid that we Celebrate Christmas, but its not ok to celebrate Christmas at school? Personally I wouldn't even mind if they learned a bit about other celebrations at this time of year. I mean they have to learn to live with all different people someday. Might as well learn a little when they are young so they understand a little why Johnny is different, and that different is ok.

Political Correctness offends me. When I say something is stupid or retarded, I am not referring to people with Mental Handicaps or Disabilities. If I tell you you are shorter than me, am I offending you because you're vertically challenged? Heavens, someone of color might even refer to me as pigmently challenged! Actually anyone might think that. If I say black, indian, white, hispanic....I don't mean to offend someone. I am just trying to describe someone or something. That way when my daughter asks why little Susie has different skin than ours I can say "Because Heavenly Father made us all different. He made some people with White skin, brown skin, black skin. Just like he made you with blue eyes and your brother with brown eyes. We are all different, but we are all children of Heavenly Father."

I am so grateful that we have so many friends and family that believe in God and Christmas...even if we aren't the same religion. I am grateful that there are others who share my faith in my Heavenly Father and His love for myself and all others that we celebrate. I am grateful that we are not totally alone in a sea of Political Correctness, trying to tell my children that its ok to be different and not everyone is trying to offend you just because they point out that you are different.

A little post about my little man...

I haven't written about my littlest man for a while. Here are some things he's been doing lately...

• He's trying to talk...well, he has some sounds and little words for certain things.

1. He knows Mama and Dad.
2. Hailey is Ha-ee,
3. Aah Daa is All Done to which he throws his hands in the air. He does this alot, especially when he doesn't want to sit and eat anymore.
4. Dando -thankyou.
5. I YOU! - I love you. He points to his chest and then you. Sometimes it comes out I ya YOU!
6. He also jabbers alot and points to show you things he wants you to do. We just nod and talk back like we know what is going on. He likes that.
7. Ho Ho Ho for Santa. Or anything with a Santa hat.

• He likes to fold his arms and try and say prayer..really cute except he growls and the end "AAUGH" which I think he thinks means Amen.
• He's really into copying. Wants to do everything that the other 2 do. Yesterday Brody was mad and he stomped off into his room. 2 seconds later there goes Cooper with his head down and stomping right after him.
• He doesn't like not getting his way and sometimes its quite a drama case. Which usually involves kicking, screaming, crying and throwing himself on the ground. He's a little stubborn about it. He wanted to walk in Target the other day...Dustin wouldn't let him...he cried for 30 minutes while his dad pushed him around. (Talk about heads butting!)
• He gets Cheese and Please mixed up. I don't get please very often, but once in a while when I say "What so you say?" He grins a cheesy grin and says "eeese!"

So Merry Christmas little man! I can't believe how big you are getting. Last year at this time you were just starting to crawl and pulling yourself up. Now we can hardly keep up to you and you are jumping off the furniture with the best of them. We love you Cooper!

Just a little something...

Not a big post, just had to write it down before I forgot! I was exploiting child labour laws today and making my children clean the house. Which usually works out fine and they are usually really good helpers. But today we did an overhaul cleaning of the bedrooms so it was taking a lot more time than normal. We were just about finished, and Gracie just had to make her bed. Yes I know, she's only six, but I don't use top sheets. Just blankets over a fitted sheet. So she just has to lay out her blankets and as long as they are laid out fairly nice, that's good enough for me. So she has 4 blankets to lay out. Most days takes her 10 minutes. Well, today Cooper was 'helping' her and he kept running out with her trying to 'get' him. So I kept getting mad at her saying "Please. Just get your bed made!" I just finished making lunch and went down to see if she was done. (Its been about 20 minutes) Gracie and Cooper are jumping on the bed. When she sees me walk in, she jumps off the bed and says:

"Mom, you have to help me! I can't control myself! I just keep playing!"

Now what do you say to that?!

You know you've gone overboard when...

I told you about my new hobby. Couponing. I am by nature cheap so it is great for me. But just today I wondered if I have gone overboard...

My husband is also very frugal. (Most call him a tight @%$#, but that's not nice !LOL!) And when we have gone grocery shopping in the past, he has taught the kids about the price tags and how some stuff in on sale etc. They can spot that green tag in Winco every time. He also is very picky about leaving lights on, with which I am terrible with, and with letting the water run. So this summer when we were at home in Canada, my sister in law was giving her boys a bath and forgot about the water and the tub was REALLY full. When Brody saw it he told her, "Aunty Kelsey, that is wasting water you know." So his Dad has taught him well in that department.

Well, I have to take my kids shopping with me. I take them every where, and they see me getting lists and coupons ready all the time. And printing them, and clipping them. Brody is very observant and when I ask him to get things off the shelves for me, he often asks, "Is it on sale? Do we have a coupon?"

So today the kids were talking about getting some new toy or something. Now it really bugs me when they do this, especially this time of year, because 1. they are getting something for Christmas, 2. they usually change their minds 80 times before the big day, and 3. that is not the point of the season I'm trying to install in them. So I told them that if they wanted something, that maybe we needed to start saving their allowance towards the things that they wanted. And when they had enough, we would go to the store and they could buy it. They thought that was a good idea and then Brody says to me "Ya! And Mom, you could maybe print out a coupon or something for the stuff we want to buy!"

Hello. My name is Jessica and I'm addicted to couponing.

For my Kids...

I have not written just about my kids and the crazy things they do everyday to keep me entertained. Here are just a few things going on at our house lately...

Gracie: is loving school, and her piano lessons. She is doing really well with the piano and I am glad I have hired someone to teach her instead of going on my first instinct to teach her myself. We fight enough about her practising somedays! I'll try and video her and post it so you can see the young Mozart in training. She is also VERY excited about Christmas. And all she wants is a Barbie house WITH and elevator...I told her that was a pretty big gift so she would have to be extra good this year she told me " I'm always extra good Mom!"

Brody: has an imaginary friend, which he actually calls his 'partner'. His name is Luker. He had another one a few months ago but he informed me that he got run over by a truck. (Nice) Anyways Luker has been coming around more and more frequently. The funny thing is, Brody doesn't play with Luker like a usual imaginary friend. If you ask him about it, he says that Luker is at school or at work. But he shows up or we talk about him alot. "Luker has a car like that one." Luker likes to read books like this." And last night I was informed that Luker had taken over Brody's body and that was why he said the bad word to Gracie. I told him Luker had to leave him alone or he had to go to bed early, especially if he was making him say bad things. Brody says to Luker "Luker, if you don't leave me alone, my Mom says you will have to go to bed early, and I don't want to do that." And amazing enough, he did.

And Brody likes to say Aportunately. (Unfortunately). Aportunately, it doesn't always work but it sure is funny...like when he tells me he can't finish his dinner because "Aportunately, I don't want to eat that."

Cooper: Well he is quite the character and he really thinks he is just as big as the other two. We keep telling them not to do certain things, like jump off the couch, climb things because their brother like to follow them. He has even learned to use stools and chairs to climb up things and today tried the wipe container as a boost. He also has just a wonderful attitude (hear my sarcasm!) Last week in Sacrament he actually laid on the floor in the back of the chapel and kicked and cried and threw himself a little fit because Mom wouldn't let him throw the crayons, or the hymn book. And we get this at home any time he is told NO. I am so looking forward to the TWOS!!(again hear my sarcasm!)

But thats whats new with us. Getting ready for Christmas and so excited to share the holiday season with my kids. I'm so glad my husband has Christmas off this year. We had such a nice lazy weekend the last couple of days, I 'm really looking forward to some R 'n R with my hubby and kids!

Again, MERRY CHRISTMAS! Only 11 days till Christmas Eve! Are you ready?!

I don't wanna brag, but...

I have a new hobby and the cheap person inside of me (and the one I live with) are sometimes pretty excited about this. I found out that you can clip these little pieces of paper out and hand them in at stores and its like giving them a little bit of cash...and they give me stuff! We have always used coupons for restaurants and things, those are pretty easy to find and also because in Canada, you can't coupon like you can down here. Manufacturers coupons are harder to come by, it at all. So I tried couponing a couple of times, but I never stuck with it. But now....

I'm addicted...

I started out with one of these little cases, then two, but that wasn't working when I couldn't do them up anymore and it was really hard to find things, so now one of these holds all my restaurant coupons and...

I upgraded to a binder. I had the zipper one lying around doing nothing, but soon found I was outgrowing that so I just bought that pink one (only $9 at Big Lots!) and I'm so excited because it has a handle and way bigger.

This is what my kitchen table, or coffee table, looks like a couple times a week...clipping sorting coupons and making lists, but it does pay off. Especially when I can go to Rite Aid...

...and score all this for $4.62!

So, I am feeling pretty good right now, I even impressed the cashier! I have only had a couple of these Crazy Coupon moments, but coupon by coupon I am saving money and I've got a stock pile in my closet that should count to a 3 months supply! Ya Me!

Getting Ready for Christmas...

So are You Ready For Christmas?!?

I'm not. I had this big goal this year to be done by December 1st..at least my shopping. Well, getting sick all Thanksgiving week kind of put a stop to that. So I'm not done. Almost, but not quite. I'm getting there. I have got my pics ordered, here are some samples of Picture day. Cooper was not impressed and really not co-operating, but the night before the ward party I finally got a good one!

These two cheese balls are usually pretty good for pics, and as you can see, the best of friends even if we fight once in a while!

We went to Dustin's work Christmas breakfast and got to stand in line....

...for a REALLY long time...

...but we finally got to see Santa! Cooper was not too impressed. Either that or he's scared he's gonna get dropped!

Here's my good pic of Coops! He even said "seees!"

My Four year old is too big. Quite a little man!

And my little girl, growing up way too fast!

Only a couple weeks left to get ready! I better get on the move. In case I forget:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!