Holidays

My, there sure is a lot to write about this time of year, as there has been a lot of fun, and a lot of blessings.
Last Sunday during the church musical program, both of my girls were very ansty and fussy. I had to repeatedly stand and walk with Berkley, and Braelyn would not hold still. She kept running out both doors, climbing on chairs, and talking loudly, making me crazy. It's hard to sometimes not think, that everyone is wondering at these times why I can't handle my children, but that thought quickly changed, when a man in the row behind us held out his arms to Braelyn as she was running through their aisle. She quickly climbed right onto his lap, layed her head on his shoulder and was asleep! He gently held her the rest of the meeting while she napped, and I couldn't help but be touched, as I have worried about my shortfalls as a parent at this time, but have seen many step in without even knowing and fill needs that they may have not known were even there.
I also survived my last primary class with this group. I honestly thought I wouldn't make it, or that one of them may not make it. It is a fun age to teach as they are getting baptized, and every once in awhile you see a light click on for them, and that is wonderful to be a part of. But I think they will probably all remember the day we talked extensively about cigarettes. Oh no. . .
We went bowling for the "company party." (My dad owns his own company, so we do a dinner & activity as a family and call it that). I won the second set, and I broke 100! At dinner our waitress asked Taryn for her number for one of the other guys. It's a wonder that girl stays single, she has guys at restaurants hitting on her, and other guys following her off the freeway to get her number!
We went to the Christmas lights at Thanksgiving Point. Braelyn is going through a phase where she hates her booster seat and I let her get out so she could see the lights on both sides. I made her promise she wouldn't scream when she got back in, but I forget that 2 year olds don't think in the future tense, and there were many tears after she got buckled back in. But I stopped after just a minute! Berkley is just starting to make expressive noises, and she would look at the lights, go "Ooohh," then look at you, like, is this cool for you too?
Christmas Eve we went to see "Australia," good show but long. Then we had a yummy dinner of different appetizers, and Berkley would not stop eating brie cheese. Then we acted out the nativity, with Braelyn directing everyone to what they should be doing, but she was very gentle with her baby doll Jesus. After that was over we had a Wii tournament. Of course Taylor won, and got a sparkling new trophy, but if you have never watched someone play boxing on the Wii, you need to put it on your list of must do experiences. I kept thinking they were all a bunch of spazzy goofs, until I got up, and did the exact same thing. I thought Taryn was going to fall off the couch laughing. We have to give props to Dad for winning the boxing, not too bad for an old guy with bad shoulders!
Christmas morning, I was up with Berkley, and soon everyone was up but Brae! She is usually out of bed very early, but she kept sleeping, and sleeping. We decided to start breakfast because we had to call Greg at 9:00. Braelyn finally woke up, so she opened her present from Santa, and got. . . a dollie! Just like she had been telling everyone. She got a sweet little baby doll, who we named Holly. She was thankful, and kept telling me her doll's jammies were beautiful, her bunny was beautiful, eveything was beautiful. We got through to Greg easily, and he was supposed to talk about an hour, but efter we each had our turns, it was about 90 mins! He sounds wonderful, and we all miss him dearly, especcially on holidays. He is a great missionary, and says time is moving quickly for him.
During the phone call Berkley had gone back to sleep, but we couldn't wait so we got into the presents. Everyone got lots of fun things, and Braelyn took forever to open everything, so it helped make it last. She was very patient, and just loved everything she got, and had to put on her Sleeping Beauty stuff right away. Berkley slept through it all, so we did another round with her gifts after she woke up and had lunch. By then Brae had gotten the hang of it, and wanted to open everything for her. Berkley seemed pretty overwhelmed, but did get into eating the wrapping paper if she could get it in her mouth before we grabbed it.
Because it had been snowing so much we weren't sure if we would be able to drive, but the plows came through, and Kevin was able to get us that afternoon and we went to his parents'. Brae gets a little shy with too much attention so she was a little embarassed about all the people watching her, but she got some more fun things. I think her favorite was some princess make-up, and I've had to get her some for her birthday, because she was mad when she had to leave it there! I got a Cricut machine, and have no idea what it does, so if someone knows please help me use it!
What a fun holiday, and it is such a joy to see it through the eyes of children.

We ended the week with runny noses and barking coughs, so Saturday morning, I loaded both girls up and we headed to the doctor again! Since Braelyn got her flu shots, she is terrified of the doctor, and all she says is "I not get a shot, I not want shot- it hurt me!" I repeatedly explained that she wasn't getting a shot, but that did nothing to calm her fears. She hollered and yelled the entire time the nurse was checking her vitals, and I was trying to get Berkley undressed since she was getting checked as well. I finally had to lay the poor baby, naked in her car seat, so I could wrangle Brae. The doctor came in and the screaming continued, while he checked both ears. When he went to check her throat, he quickly scooted back and exclaimed, "Oh no!" I just thought he meant her tonsils, but then I felt the gagging come on, and she proceeded to puke on us. He tried to grab me a basin, and when he pulled them out of the drawer a smaller one went flying through air towards my head. Luckily I have quick reflexes and caught it with the hand that wasn't cupping throw-up. As I tried to capture what was still coming out, I suddenly thought my lap seemed very warm and wet. Then I realized we were leaking out both ends. I jumped up and stood her on the ground while she continued to pee all over the carpet. I had a little freak out moment, where I just wanted to take my pants off, then realized that wouldn't have worked, so we cleaned up what we could, calmed Brae down, and continued the exam. Turns out Braelyn has two ear infections and croup. The good part is that to give her the steroid medication, they mix it with chocolate syrup, so she was very happy, that she got chocolate, and we may have her convinced that the doctor isn't completely evil. If we only knew what some of the requirements of Mom would be- good thing we can laugh about it.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We got slammed with snow this Monday, and spent the morning outside playing. Taylor was homef rom school and couldn't drive to work, so after breakfast, he got Braelyn all dressed in her snow stuff, and they headed out. The first time up the hill, Tay threw a snowball and caught her in the face, but after a hug she was ready to go. She rode the sled down the hill, and pulled it up again, and again, and even tried to pull Taylor up the hill. We brought Berkley outside and she was thrilled to be a part of the action, but did not like the snow on her bald head! You could hardly see through all the snowflakes, and when Dad plowed it , the drifts were higher than the four-wheeler! Braelyn rode around plowing with him for a long time, even after the snow started blowing straight in her face. She loves just riding. We were sure glad we didn't have to go anywhere this day, and I am excited it will be a white Christmas!

More Santa and his elves

We got to see Santa again at the Primary party, and again Braelyn waited patiently until it was her turn, and again told him that she wanted a dollie, so I am still on track. Both girls have been very sick this week, Brae has severe strep throat and 2 ear infections, so we had to come up with some ways to keep entertained at home. Mom was cleaning out her hope chest and had this bin sitting close by and Brae wanted to sit in it with Berkley, and since Berkley gos along with anything she does they both ended up in this bin. Friday Brae was feeling good enough for preschool, but after she took her bath she insisted that Papa comb her hair. This is usually a major fight between she and I, but she just stood quietly while he carefully combed out all the tangles. It was very sweet, and when he tried to let me put in the barrette, she was determined that he finish the job, and that I not touch it. It actually looked very good and now she makes sure we put the clip at the top of her head, not the side, just like Papa did.
Braelyn has a piggy bank named "Chubby" and she knows where I keep my change, so she goes into my room, takes all my money, and tells me, she has to feed Chubby. The other day I told my parents I wanted a drink, so they gave me a dollar, and I said it was fine, I just took money out of Brae's pig. They looked at me horrified, that I would steal from my daughter's change, but she stole it first, so really I was just reclaiming. Another proud mother moment.
I asked my Grandma Roberts if she could help me make an apron for Brae. I had seen some cute ones at a boutique, and Braelyn loves to pretend to cook. My grandmother is a wonderful seamstress, and had one whipped in about a week, and it was much more adorable then the ones I saw. I showed it to Brae, and as soon as we got home she wanted to put it on. Problem was she insisted on wearing only the apron. I promise that I never once cooked in only an apron. (Ha, ha, you probably don't think I've ever cooked!) So this was the ensemble until we could convince her to put on pj's, and she even made friends with some nice people who came over to buy some furniture from us. She sure does make an impression.
Last but not least, growing up we always had Santa's elves come visit us on the 12 days of Christmas, something that continued even when I went away to college. They would leave a little present or a fun activity to do, so this year I thought Braelyn would enjoy that. It has only been two days, but it's been more fun than I thought. She is so excited for the little toys, and I think it would be a good way to pass the winter blahs we are all feeling. She got some hair things this morning, including a little curling iron, and had fun getting dolled up for "the ball." I love their little imaginations!
Our love of the snow shovel is continuing, and 30 mins before church, in her dress and bow, she wanted to go dig the snow with Taylor. She stayed out there shoveling until it was time to go.

Roberts' Christmas Party

We got to start the season out this week, at Grandma Roberts' Cousins Christmas party. There are so many of us she has to do parties in groups, but we this year all the grandkids were together. We ate pizza and played games, then Santa came! Braelyn was so excited. and she waited so patiently until all the little kids had gone, and she sta on his lap last, then when he went to the next room to see the older kids, she snuck in and sat on his lap again, so she could get another popcorn ball! That kid is serious about candy. She told Santa that she wanted a dollie. She has five dolls, but she saw the one that I had bought Berkley, so now that is all she wants. But I found a really beautiful one on clearance for her so I can't wait for her to open it. I tell her that she can't be naughty because Santa will not come to our house, and I guess she has heard it enough because the other day in a store I told her I didn't have enough money to buy her something, and when we got in the car, she said, "Mom, you make Santa so sad, You make Jesus so sad. You be mean to me."