Leslie Ward Christmas Party

Collin was so excited to go to a Christmas party with grandma and grandpa Christensen this past Wednesday. He couldn't wait to see Santa again and remind him to bring his Squawkers McCaw parrot. Unfortunately for me Collin and Carlee were so terrible that night! They were fighting with each other, Collin was back talking, and Carlee didn't want to stay in her seat. I was already feeling horrible so their behaviour didn't help at all. I was ready to go home but I let the little onery ones see Santa anyways. After Collin talked with Santa I told him that Santa knows if he has been good or bad and if he acts bad he might not get his parrot for Christmas. To that he said, "Santa can see me?" Hopefully he'll be good until Christmas.

Carlee was very excited to see Santa. She ran up to him with her arms out smiling all the way. It was so adorable!

Carlee had everyone laughing while she performed an impromptu dance routine while we were singing Christmas songs.

Free donuts! Carlee was is heaven.

Christmas Cookies!

Every year my mom and I spend days making our special Christmas cookies. Most people think we're crazy for spending so much time on something that is gobbled up in just a few bites, but we love them. It gives us time to spend together although every year we make more and more batches and it still doesn't seem to be enough! This was the first year we made them at my house and will probably be the last. Mr. Grinch came home and saw the mess and said, "This is ridiculous!" You can't make these cookies without making a big mess too. Oh well, next year back to grandma's house we go!

Collin loves getting in on the fun too! Below are a few of his cookies although he probably ate more frosting than what he actually put on the cookies.

All That is Kaitlyn

Ten things that describe our cousin Kaitlyn:
1. Imaginative
2. Creative
3. Girly
4. Funny
5. Adorable
6. Thoughtful
7. Wild
8. Caring
9. Lovable
10. Wonderful!

Christmas Decorating

I absolutely love decorating for Christmas. This year I probably went a little too far and put everything up before Thanksgiving. I know it's too early but I don't care! Besides I don't have any Thanksgiving decorations yet. This year Eric wanted to start a tradition so that every year the kids could put a special ornament on the tree with thier name on it. Collin loved it! He placed his ornament on the tree (and Carlee's too) and was so proud to have contributed. Unfortunately Collin is in his underwear again for the pictures decorating his Christmas ball. I made him put on clothes though to take pictures by the tree.




Collin the cutie (fully clothed) by the Christmas tree!







Eric worked hard this year! This is our first year with Christmas lights up. Last year we only got them up on the garage. Thank you Eric! I love having Christmas lights up and the kids enjoy them even more.

Elf Yourself!

Mom found a site that you can upload pics of yourself onto elf bodies so she had to "elf" us. Here's the result:




http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9630602705

Carlee with 7-Up 2

This is Carlee's reaction to pop, she's not too sure about fizzies. Her reaction isn't as good as the first time she drank it but you can still see what she does with it, the silly girl!

Collin's Silly Photo Shoot

Predator 101

Last night when I was going through some of my stuff I found six free animal pictures I received once in the mail. Collin went crazy over them. He loved hearing where each animal lived, what they do, and especially what they eat. His favorite was the tiger although he kept calling it a jaguar. After I told him a little about each animal he "read" the pages back to me. Here are some of the comments he said about each one:

1. Sharks: I don't want to get in the water with that one 'cuz he'll eat me but I swim fast like this whooossshhh and go faster than him.
2. Tigers: Tigers eat bulls. They like to play with each other and their claws go in and then they go out.
3. Bald Eagles: He eats mice? Ew gross! If he stands on our roof he can see all the way to South America.
4. Crocodiles: His mouth looks orange and mine looks pink. He likes to eat zebras and they fall down and the crocodile gets them and bites their heads. Then they have lots of blood!
5. Snakes: Look at his tongue! It looks like a wrench! Some snakes are nice and you can put them on your neck.
6. Polar Bears: Polar bears live at the North Pole. They don't live with Santa Claus because they'll eat him.

Holey Teeth and Holey Balls

On Tuesday Eric, Collin, and I loaded up in the car for a trip to the dentist in Challis. This was Collin's first ever trip to the dentist so he was still a little apprehensive. We've read Collin a book about Dora the Explorers' trip to the dentist so he wouldn't be scared of the "explorer" tools the dentist uses. Daddy got whisked away to fix his cavity while Collin watched the assistant clean my teeth. He asked lots of questions about what everything was and what everything was for. He loved it when the dentist squirted him with the air hose. They took Collin to get his teeth x-rayed but it took a lot of convincing since mommy had to wait in the other room. Finally he agreed and he was so good the whole time. Then the bad news came. Eric had another cavity, I had a small one, and Collin...well he had 5! I couldn't believe a little boy could have so many. Too many holey teeth. Little Collin won't be getting as much sugar from now on!

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Holey balls, bowling balls that is. That's what we did after the dentist. We had lunch at the bowling alley (no milkshakes for us though!) and then bowled two games. I really wished I would have had my video camera because watching Collin bowl was so hilarious! He would put his hands in the air and say, "Oh yeah, oh yeah! I'm the best bowler!" It was so cute. I did have my camera but the batteries were dead. Oh well, next time I'll get him!

Collin and Carlee with Santa

We went to the Festival of Trees today so Collin could tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas. "Squawkers McCaw" is what he told him, the bird that dances, squawks, and can repeat what you tell him. He wanted it ever since he saw a commercial for it. (He watches too much TV.) Carlee actually didn't cry when she saw Santa. Alot of improvement from last year when she just wailed at the sight of him.

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This is the first video I have taken with our new camera. I like it! I just need better practice at where I'm aiming it. I'm so excited that I can put video on the computer now! I'll have to take a lot more video from now on.