Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that you will enjoy your New Year!

Here's the story of how our holidays went down...

Eric's dad got tickets to a BYU Bowl game that was to take place in Las Vegas. They had a place to stay in St. George, so they didn't have to drive too terribly far. Friday, the 21st, noon time finds me dropping Eric off at a gas station around our home for his dad to pick him up. We actually all arrived at the same time, so there wasn't any waiting. We sent Eric off with goodbyes and a hug and a very hopeful heart that Sunday would come quickly.

Eric's dad was very generous and gave the kids and I some money to do what ever we felt like doing with it. I had to head to Wal-Mart to pick up a couple last minute gifts that Eric just got too busy to think about. I really hate going anywhere with all the kids because they get rowdy fast! However, I was able to get them lunch at the McDonald's inside the store with some of the money and that seemed to stem the tide from the older two at least.

We then headed home so that I could finish up the calendars for my grandparents (by the way the finished layouts are now posted on the website) and wait around for most of the night to meet up with my parents who would be dropping off my little brother to stay with me for the weekend.

Around 8 at night, I decided I was hungry and my parents would probably be about an hour from finishing up what they were doing. So the kids and I headed to Subway. We had been sitting for probably 5 minutes when they called and said they were done and said they were probably about 20 minutes away from meeting up with me. So once again I headed to the same gas station I had been at earlier to wait from my family. It wasn't too long of a wait and we came back home for the night.

Sunday morning did come fairly quickly and Eric arrived home around 11. He was so tired, but had gotten little gifts for all of us. They were all from M&M World as I really highly doubt there was anything "taste worthy" anywhere else he may have visited. He brought Tanis some dominoes, Shaylyn a pair of earring with the green M&M on it AND butterflies. Lex received a couple of balls. As for me, I got a nightshirt that says "I Don't Do Mornings" with the green M&M on it. Eric knows me all so well. ;)

I had to sub a Sunbeam class and give the Christmas lesson. I am so glad there were only 4 kids. I forget how wild 4 year olds can be...AHHHHH!!!!!! But it is always nice to hear the Christmas Story "dumbed" down for kids. I also had the opportunity to hear a great story about the candy cane in Sharing Time. I forget the name of the book, but I will track it down. It literally brought tears to my eyes. I don't even know if it was a "church" book, but it meant that much to me.

Christmas Eve came and I was a little depressed about it. Ever since I can remember we have spent Christmas Eve at my Mother's Mother's home. There has never been a year that we haven't done this - except for this year. My grandma had gotten sick and still wasn't feeling real well. I think it was a difficult choice for her to make and for some of us to handle, but she didn't want to make anyone else sick.

My mom decided that she would do the same thing at her house for her family that we would have done at my grandma's - this meant soup and rolls for dinner AND a program. Bless my mom's heart, she did a great job. My older sister also did fantastic as she had to figure out how to get my kids involved in telling the Christmas Story. Pictures are the kids telling the story.

Some positive did come out of my Grandma being sick though. I took the opportunity to go visit my dad's parents - Eric & I don't usually get to their house around Christmas - and tell them Merry Christmas. It felt good to be able to do so.

Before we ever left for Christmas Eve things, I carried on a tradition my parents (or more so my mom) carried on. The kids got 1 gift and it was pajamas. Now, my mom always made the pajamas so the girls matched and the boys matched, but I never took up sewing, so my kids had to have store bought.

I also got a gift on Christmas Eve. Eric really put thought into it. He got me a locket with an image of a mother & child on the front. He even went as far as getting his mom to email him the pictures she took of us and the kids during our "photo shoot" and he printed them off and put them in it. Talk about tears falling everywhere!

Christmas Morning we took our time opening gifts and prepared to head to Eric's parents at 2. We had a good time at his parents house, but it is so different than my parents house. Eric only has two brothers and one is in Washington and doesn't really come down for Christmas often. So that left his one single brother, his parents and his "adoptive" mother. Very quiet, but so much fun. Eric's parents totally spoiled the kids and they had lots of fun!

Later that night we headed back to my parents for gifts and games. The kids got spoiled AGAIN by all their aunts & uncles and by Grandma & Grandpa. I really love being part of a large family, though it can get a bit wild & crazy. It was also so much fun to see my little brother who lives in Wyoming.

This past Friday my Dad decided to have a "Sleep-Over" party. Talk about fun! Especially since it was my Dad's idea. Eric wasn't feeling very well, so he came back home after dinner, but the kids and I stayed and had lots of fun. We played 80's Trivial Pursuit and then some of us played Rock Band - we got my Mom to play the drums. So much fun!

By about 1:00 in the morning we decided to play another game (can't think of it at the moment) and about 15 minutes into it, Sleeping Alexander starts throwing up! This stresses me out tons. I give him a bath while my mom and sister clean up everything else. This effectively ended the game. We all decided to head to bed and I don't sleep well. (#1 - I am worried my kid will puke again, #2 - my brothers decided to play Rock Band and didn't keep it very quiet)

Lex is awake again around 7:30 and wants a drink. (He made it all night without throwing up again, so I give in) I give him some 7-Up and we lay back down for a bit. Around 8 he wants a little bit more, so I give him more...Within minutes he is puking again...

This does nothing for my stress, so we eat breakfast and I decide to get ready and head back home. We get home around 1 in the afternoon and just take it easy. This little stinker never throws up again...I am thankful for that, but wow...What a night.

As for tonight, we are headed to see National Treasure! Yeah...Nicolas Cage is another one of those old men that I still think is good looking!

Sorry for the novel. Hope your weekends were fun like ours!

What Happens Next...

Another Busy Weekend...

So, last weekend started off with the kids having rehearsals on Friday. Tanis was scheduled at 4:00 and Shaylyn at 5:30. I knew we would be cutting it close with Tanis as he gets out of school at 3:30 and it takes at least 15 minutes to get where they were rehearsing. Luckily for us that day things were working in our favor and we were able to get him there on time.

I didn't really want to turn around and go home after Tanis' just to head back to the other school where the rehearsals were for Shaylyn, so I asked Eric to come get the boys while Shaylyn and I waited.

Saturday morning was the recital. Tanis had to be there at 10:00 ready to perform as he was the preshow and then Shaylyn was in the actual show. We actually made it on time! And because of that we got 3rd row seats, which was nice.

Tanis' singing group did their preshow - which was a medley of 5 or 6 sings that they had rehearsed and rehearsed. I think his favorite song was "Feliz Navidad" even though he still doesn't quite say the words right, but then again, I don't think I do either. ;)

Shaylyn was #4 in the performance. They did a shortened version of "The Nutcracker" and I was glad that Shaylyn was in a part I was familiar with. She played a Soldier in the Battle of the Mouse King and the Prince. She looked so cute with her hat and sword on. Sadly though, these were props we didn't have when I took the snapshots of the kids before the performance. Today, though I am taking them to the studio where we can get "professional pictures" done and she will be able to have the hat and sword again.

After the recital we headed home for some lunch and to check show times for "Alvin & The Chipmunks". I really enjoyed the cartoon growing up and was anxious to see the live version. The kids LOVED this movie. It turned out better than I thought it would, but I still don't think it's a blockbuster or anything.

Sunday after church we headed to Eric's parents house. His mom loves to get family pictures and pictures of the kids every Christmas season. His parents buy the kids matching outfits every year. (Okay, so the boys match and we try to find a dress for Shaylyn that is similar) Eric was thrilled, as always, to have pictures taken. I think we had a couple that turned out cute enough, though all I have at the moment is this one of the family.

Monday night found us at Temple Square with some of my family to see the lights. It was FREEZING and very crowded. But it was still nice. We hadn't been to see the lights for at least 2 years and Tanis is the only one we've ever taken and he was really little when we did. I wanted to get more pictures than I did, but Tanis & Shaylyn were with my speed walker mother most of the time, so all I really had chances to take were of Lex. The picture posted below is of Lex with my little brother. These two share a birthday and Lex just loves his uncle Logan.
Hope everyone else had a nice weekend. As for this week I have GOT to FINISH the calendars. Only 12 pages to go - 4 different layouts. It should go pretty fast. And I will post finished pages when they are all complete. I leave you now with the picture of our upside down snowman. We just love him!

What Happens Next...

Because I Wanted to Share....

I ran across this on another blog as well and WANTED to repost it. It is originally a "tagged" thing, but I don't care...It is a tagged thing about the husband, so I wanted to let you all know more.

1. What is his name?
Eric Duane Hardy
2. How long have you been married?
9 Years as of a few weeks ago
3. How long did you date?
We dated for about 2 years through High School before we got married.
4. Who eats more?
It really just depends on the day and what is being served.
5. Who said 'I love you' first?
He did, I wasn't about to say it first!
6. Who sings better?
I dunno, someone else would have to be the judge of that one.
7. Who is taller?
Uh, Eric no contest!
8. Whose temper is worse?
Eh, we both have a temper, but I think Eric's gets worse than mine.
9. Who does the laundry?
Me, I don't think Eric has any idea HOW to do laundry. His expertise is limited to pulling stuff out of the dryer and that's about it.
10. Who does the dishes?
Me
11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
Me, yet again.
12. Who does the cooking?
I win again! And once again, Eric has limited expertise. He has made Mac & Cheese a couple times...
13. Who is more stubborn?
Eric
14. Who proposed?
Eric
15. Who is more likely to admit when they are wrong?
Me
16. Whose parents do you see the most?
Probably his, but that's just cause we usually have Sunday dinner with them weekly.
17. Who pays the bills?
I pay some and Eric pays some
18. Who wears the pants in the family?
Neither one of us really. We are fairly laid back and both have a say in most things.
19. Why do you love your husband?
For so many reasons. He is very patient with me as I am so very emotional. He knows what I need most of the time even if I don't say anything. He will call me just to see what's going on. He is very considerate of my feelings and always makes sure I am okay with him doing stuff. He will let me sleep in on the weekends and tries to keep the kids away so I can do so. If I am sick, he will stay home and take care of the kids and a sick wife. He works hard so that I am able to stay home with our kids. He is just amazing. "You know exactly what I'm going to say before my mouth even makes a sound and that's why we make a good you & me.....We both laugh at the most random situations, that's the key. Baby, don't you agree?"

What Happens Next...

Wowza!

Weird, I know. I haven't posted in quite a few weeks, but that's cause nothing major of note has really been happening. It's just been the same old thing for awhile.

This weekend we had a fun weekend though. Friday night Tanis had to perform with his singing group for a Ward Christmas Party. I made Eric drive as the weather on Friday was getting scary. We took Tanis to the party he needed to perform at and waited about a half hour in the foyer because we didn't want to "invade" on a Christmas Party that wasn't our ward. When we heard them announce that his group would be singing, we snuck into the back of the party to watch.


He looked like he was having lots of fun up there. He looked a little odd because he was the only boy around a ton of girls. This won't be how it will be for the real performance this Saturday, however. There is another boy in his class and Tanis told me there is a boy in the older class as well. So that is good news.


Saturday I spent the most part of the day working on scrapbook calendars for my grandparents. It is their Christmas gift. It is a major project and has kept me busy. This follows my project that I did for my family, which I won't mention as they read the blog. :)


Saturday afternoon we headed to my parents house for a yearly party thing that we do. We each draw a part of a meal and then draw groups. Each group has the job of finding that part of the meal even if it doesn't go together.


This year however, it ended up well. All the "men" in the family ended up in the same group - Main Meal. So we knew what we would be having - Little Ceasar's Pizza. So the rest of the groups arranged accordingly. The group with the Appetizer got Mozzarella Sticks, Jalapeno Poppers and Mushroom something or other that is similar. The group with salad got some pasta salad. The group I ended up in was drinks/desserts - Tanis and Lex were with me and we got four 2-liters of soda and ice-cream. We were celebrating a few birthdays as well so my mom had already made Cinnamon Rolls for the birthday people.


After dinner, some people played games, while my mom had a couple crafts planned for the kids. The first was little snowman bags that were filled with candy - the next was little penguin bell decorations - all so cute. Shaylyn did hers without any help and it turned out almost better than any of the rest of ours. Of course, I didn't take my camera to get any pictures - so I have nothing to share.


All in all it was a great weekend and we all had fun. Because I hate not having a picture posted in my blogs, I will leave you with a picture I ran across doing yet another project for my little sister. It is a picture of Eric & I at her wedding in 2006. I had never seen the picture before, so I was excited to see it.

What Happens Next...