Birthday Dinner for C & L

One of my favorite things about living in graduate housing, is all the amazing women I have gotten to know that live within walking distance.  There is no better way to get to know your neighbors, then to cross paths with them once, twice, three times a day.  You can't help but share your live with each other.  Then add to that the fact that their husbands are also in school and most of them attend the same program together.  That pretty much guarantees you become friends for life. 

We love to get together for ladies nights out for all of our birthdays.  It is the perfect excuse to dress up cute, eat yummy food, and have a great time without the children interrupting our conversations.  We missed out on Candace's birthday on New Years Day, because she was still out of town for the holidays.  So a few weeks later we knew that we had to take advantage of Laura's birthday and do a dual birthday dinner for some of our favorite TP '14's!  We had lots of laughs together and bribed our server to take this picture of all of us.  I think he was pretty bummed when he found out right off the top that there would be no alcohol served at our table. :)

I will miss these B-Day dinners a lot when we move.  They have buoyed me up when I am having a hard time.  They have kept me afloat with something to look forward to.  They have allowed me to step out of my homebody persona and enjoy a night out on the town.  And they have given me a chance to bond with a bunch of wonderful ladies.

From left to right: Candace, Laura, Stephanie, Michelle, Andrea, Maren, Tiffany, Amy, Catherine, and Ashley

Candace was a having us all laughing so hard when she modeled her new scarf. 

In this picture, C is showing off her "best side"

Winter Carnage

Our poor snowmen have taken a turn for the worse as the fickle New England weather has gone cold, warm, snow, rain, cold, warm, snow, rain........ 

Go away rain and bring back some more snow please!!

Just a couple of baldies

This is what happens when Jesse {aka Daddy} gets his hands on the clippers....nearly bald children--particularly Robby.  We finally pulled the clippers out again for a "little haircut" after noticing our boys looked somewhat shabby today.  This is a new pair of clippers that Jesse had never used before.  He took one swipe at Robby and realized with dismay the setting he had chosen was much shorter than intended.  The end result = one child with a nearly bald head.  He did fix the setting somewhat with Eli and as you can see, his hair isn't quite as short.  

After I realized just how short Robby's hair was, I couldn't watch any longer and left to go to the store  Apparently Robby was pretty upset that he was "bald" and so Jesse did make the clippers a little bit longer, but tried to have it short enough that Robby could see Eli's hair was short like his.  I keep repeating the mantra "it will grow back...it will grow back...it will grow back" repeatedly every time I look at Robby's poor head.  

I guess all those new beanies we got for Christmas will go to good use on Rubba's head this year. Sigh

*in the last two pictures Eli is standing on his tippy-toes.  This was his response when I told to stand tall and look at the camera

Ski Day #1

I have been looking forward to this day for a long time.  The day when my children would all be old enough to learn how to ski.  Guess what?  We are finally there. For the first time EVER, we took all the children skiing with us at the Dartmouth Skiway.  The best part is that this is just the first day of doing this.  We bought annual passes today, so we will be going many more times this season.  

Already I am amazed at how quickly children learn.  Eli went from never putting on skis, to making it down the magic carpet hill, semi-on his own and can now ski straight without falling on little hills.  Robby has gone from barely being able to go down a small hill, to snow plowing down the J-Bar hill with a few little turns added in.  Maddie has gone from a total beginner with only 5 after school lessons last year, to handling the J-Bar hill at the skiway like a champ.  I am excited to see how they all progress throughout this season.

I am also looking forward to spending some time on the hills for myself.  Today was the first time I have skied in nearly two years.  It felt great to get my bearings on skis, and I am already trying to find more time to get back out on the hill.  I have a feeling this is going to be a great skiing for all of us!

*Jesse even admitted to me that if we end up moving somewhere cold, he may transition back to skis to give his knees a bit of a break.  Snowboarding is sure hard on those knees of his*

 Rubba was so excited about going on the J-Bar and had a great time flying down the hill.  His turns are really improving and I was so proud of how hard he worked.

Miss M went down the J-Bar hill probably twenty times this afternoon and is looking so effortless on this hill.  I am expecting great things from her this year with skiing.

*No picture of Eli this time.....he only went on the J-Bar lift with me once.  Let's just say that it was serious work getting that child back down that hill.  He really isn't quite ready for that hill.

Puzzle Nerd

I grew up in a family where we were kind of nerdy.  We liked puzzles and games like no one's business.  Every year for Christmas we would get new family games to play together and we would spend hours each night playing them.  Monopoly, Trouble, Life, Skip-Bo, Phase 10, Pizza Party were all games I played many times in my childhood.  We also would get at least one new puzzle as a family gift from Santa every year.  We would pull out our large puzzle boards and watch movie after movie while we put together these puzzles.  When I hit my teenage years I decided I was "way too cool" to do any of these things anymore, and I proclaimed to my family more than once that I didn't like puzzles or games anymore.  It took many year to figure out that deep down, I really do like puzzles and games.  Yep, I just put in print.  I am in fact, a Sheffield nerd through and through.  

I have now passed this gene on down to my children as well.  I officially jump started the puzzle and game tradition this year and each child received a new game for Christmas and I got a puzzle set from Jesse {he may or may not have been shocked when he saw that I bought a puzzle for myself for Christmas--he in fact is too cool for games and puzzles} 

A few weeks after Christmas we pulled out my puzzles on a lazy Sunday evening and began the fun.  Luckily I had Eli and Maddie with me to document this experience.

And do you know what makes me even cooler?  I stayed up after the children went to bed and finished this puzzle.  Oh and I did another one also!  I have officially become what I thought I would never be....just like my Mom :)

Mr E

Eli says that he is ready to eat dinner "just like Daddy"

He is a pretty silly kid.

NYE Layton Style

We {I } was so excited to have New Years Eve off of work for the first time in four years.  And then before that I have only been off on New Years Eve two other years in the 9 years I have been a nurse.  So needless to say, there was some fist pumping going on when I checked my schedule a few months back and found out that I had the night off.  Lucky for us we all live so close together that there was just the matter of getting all the children in bed and then it was party time!  We played games, ate lots of yummy food and rang in the New Year in style thanks to Maren's party goods.

**disclaimer: all these photos were "stolen" from my dear friends blog**

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HAPPY NEW YEARS!

I am not really a New Years resolution type of girl, but I have been reflecting upon some changes I would like to see this year. 

 Some of my goals for the year include: 

*More scripture study personally and with family:  We didn't quite accomplish a goal I had to finish the Book of Mormon children's version with the kids in 2012, but we have now picked it back up and are reading again at night time.  As soon as we have finish the Book of Mormon picture book, we will move onto another one of the standard works.

*Work Out:  I did a great job last year running and staying in fairly good shape until November when the workouts ceased and the goodies began.  Let's just say that November and December were a little rough on my body.  I am now ready to run and work out a little better.  I am looking at some races to do this Spring as some extra motivation. I will be running the St Patty's race in Lebanon in March, but would love to do another Half-Marathon or Ragnar-Relay around April/May.

*Make bread with my new Kitchenaid: I would love to overcome my fear of baking bread this year.  I now have the tools to help me accomplish this.

*Pull out my sewing machine and practice:  I was so excited to get my very first sewing machine from my Mom last year for Christmas.  Unfortunately I just don't have anywhere to store the machine other than the case it came in.  It's a lot of work to pull it out and set it up so I tend to not do it.  I did pull it out in August when my Mother-In-Law came and we worked together on some projects.  Now I just need to try on my own.

*Quilt with some friends:  I was just invited to be a part of a group of women who are each making their very own quilt from the same pattern.  I still have to go to the meeting and search for fabrics but I am excited to try something new!

And before I completely overwhelm myself, I will stop right there.

I have a feeling that 2013 is going to be great year for us!

Sledding in a Snow Storm

Today has been a really great family day.

We were initially intending to take the kids skiing, but the favored family owned/operated ski place near our house hasn't opened yet and they were grooming the mountain today, so instead we went sledding.

What a great choice that was.

We braved thick snowflakes falling down all around us and had a marvelous time.

Who would have known that the hills next to Occom Pond would be so much fun?!

New plan is to ski on Monday and/or Tuesday and work on collecting more equipment in the meantime.

Love the beautiful blanket of snow all around us in NH.

Love a big mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows after a cold winter day outdoors.

Love this cute little family of mine.

XOXO,

Tiff

 *this kind of reminds of little Ralphie in "A Christmas Story"

 My official "hubby of the year" for carrying Eli and the sled up the hill over and over again

 Jesse has this really cool "Go Pro" camera that can be strapped onto almost anything.  He shot some pretty awesome videos today of the kids going down the hill on their sleds

Another favorite picture of Eli.  I love love love that you can only see his eyes due to the "Ninja Ski mask"

 

 Face full of snow after sledding with Mom

Chocolate Chip Cookies are an essential treat after a cold day in the Snow.....that and hot chocolate upon returning home

 I have way too many pictures of Miss M, because she eventually tired of sledding and spent most of her time hanging out with me {I went down on the blue saucer and caught a big jump with E, and landed hard on my tailbone}.  She really enjoyed gathering balls of snow and eating them

Right before we left, we pulled out one pair of skis and Maddie went down the smaller hill a few times. Now we can't wait until lessons start next week.

Bring it on ski season, we are ready!

Santa Came

This year the kids were extremely naughty on the day before Christmas.  So naughty that Santa almost didn't come to our house.  In fact it took Santa quite some time of pondering after the kids went to bed.  Ultimately he decided that the children were pretty good most of the year which somehow made up for all the bad.  Note to self: NEVER let the kids stay up as late as we did on Christmas Eve.

1. *I love how magical everything looks when it is set up*

A Frog, Swimsuit, and Giggles

To say that Eli is funny, would be an understatement.  He is an absolute crack up.  He does the funniest things around our house.  He always has some hysterical comment that he will say that has nothing to do with what we are talking about. {or sometimes completely related to the conversation, but nearly always is funny}  I can just picture him as the class clown as he grows older.  Those poor teachers that will have to endure this behavior--hopefully he will get some that will appreciate his humor.

 Some of these include comments he throw out include:

"Mom, look at me shake my booty!"

"Na-na Na-na Na-Na-Na-Na Na-Na Afro Circus!!" (theme song to Madagascar 3 that he runs around singing and dancing about)

"I can't go outside, it's like 100 cold out there"

"Are you crazy?!"

"Mom, that's FANtastic"

"Are you kidding me?!"

This picture has my DYING.  Eli has his swimsuit on underneath his boxers and jeans "just in case we decide to go swimming".  Apparently he didn't get the memo that it is now December and pretty much the LAST thing to do in NH.  It's quite apparent that I have Arizona born children through and through. 

Eli has decided that one of my large "lazy Susan" style cupboards is his shop.  You never know what kind of treasures will be hidden inside here.  Today one of the main features is E's froggy bank.  He says it is essential for when "someone needs to pay me".  He likes to stand inside the cupboard and wait for me to "buy" different items. 

--I love this kid so much.  I am so grateful to have him at home with me for a few more years.  He keeps me entertained with his creativity and humor.

the celebration

Here are a few pictures of our small family celebration with our E! 

Eli, how old are you this year?

Mommy: "Eli, can you please look at the camera so I can take your picture?"

Eli: "Mom, how 'bout I just be a dog?"

Eli: "I want a mountain cake that is the color of green"

-this is what you get when you ask you five-year old son to take a picture

 {still shows how E is my huggable, snuggable little guy}

Mom: "Lets show Eli how much we love him"

Robby: "Okay, how about we just kiss him then"

Mom: "PERFECT" :-)

**One of my all-time favorite pictures....thanks Maddie for your excellent photography skills**

four and counting

As we have now completed our second and FINAL fall in the beautiful state of New Hampshire, 

I am pinching myself with disbelief that my youngest child is now four.  Yes really, four.  I can hardly even

stand to say it aloud and keep wanting to repeat that of course he is three (just ask some of my friends....just last week I was saying "he's only three" and they looked at me like I was crazy and reminded me E would

be turning four in just a few days). 

Nevertheless, the day came and went.  And now I officially have a four year old running around my house---and a five year old AND a seven year old as well.  

Eli continues to be our regular class clown and is always coming up with silly things to do and say.  Occasionally that happens at the most inopportune times: prayers, bedtime, sacrament meeting at church, etc.  But really most of the time he has a real hoot with his hilarious one liners, imaginative play, and infectious laugh.  

Now that Mr E is four, here are four things everyone should know about him:

1. Obsessed with Power Rangers  

--he could seriously be content spending hours a day watching these dumb, time-wasting, seriously stupid, shows on Netflix.  He also loves to play Power Rangers as well and either chooses to be the red or green power ranger depending on if Robby is home {Robby ALWAYS seems to get to be red}

2. Loves to eat buttermilk pancakes, apples, Peppa-oni Pizza, and "Mommy's brown soda"--aka Vanilla Coke

--yep, I am pretty sure I shouldn't be admitting this, but I do have a slight addiction to this deliciously unhealthy drink and now my child also loves it.  To make myself not sound like such a bad parent I will say that normally he never takes more than a swallow or two, before it is promptly taken away and replaced with a better drink choice.

3. Prefers warm weather over the cold

--it's always interesting to find differences in your children and in this way Eli has to be the tail opposite of his siblings.  Maddie in particular would do just about anything to be outside all day long regardless of rain, snow, wind, or sunshine.  I literally cannot keep her in the house.  Robby has a similar enthusiasm for snow and love to shovel, throw snowballs, sled, and play whenever a layer of snow lays on our ground. Eli on the other hand, HATES to be cold and will flat out refuse to come outside.  He would much rather stay indoors and play legos or watch movies.

4. Loves to laugh/make others laugh

--I love to hear Eli playing alone in his room because he will tell himself jokes and start laughing at them  He loves to do ridiculous things that make us laugh and has the cutest bell giggle when he watches Yogi Bear on our Kindle.  He also does the same laugh through his all-time favorite book collection of Berenstein bear books. His faves include Bear Family Picnic, Spooky Old Tree, The Bike Ride, The Bear Family Vacation.

As we celebrated Eli's birthday today, I wrote down some of the funny things he told us:

"Mom, you are just going to have to have another baby. Cuz I'm four and then next ber-day I will be five"

"I can't be your baby anymore now that I'm FOUR!"

"I guess I can still be a baby big boy, when I want to be"

"I want green mountain cake, cookies, and marshmallows for dinner"

"Dad, that's just NOT going to work, she's mine" 

(in reference to Daddy saying that Mommy belonged to him and not to Eli)

"I loooooove it!" 

As I was putting Eli to bed, "Mom, can you say Goodnight Birthday Boy?"

"This is my best, most favorite-est birthday ever!"

**One more thing to note, Eli just weaned himself from a pacifier completely independently last week.  I know he is really way too old to need one, but it has totally been his comfort item at bedtime that helps him fall asleep.  Several nights ago we were trying to find the paci at bedtime and he announced that he had thrown it away because a little piece of it broke.  He had a slightly sad look on his face for a moment when I told him that that was the last one left, but hasn't asked me for another one since**

The Holiday Program that I totally Missed

Guess what? I am such an awesome Mom that it took a friend sending me these pictures to realize that I totally missed the Morning Sing holiday program.  I couldn't even justify missing because of work.....I was completely off work and just spaced it.  Well, thank you Maren for actually attending your child's program and then going ahead and taking pictures for me.

 -Robby is front and center in a maroon long sleeved shirt-

Cookie Crawl

December was such a great month with tons of activities throughout the month.  So much, in fact, that there were a few weeks that we had some kind of party of activity every single day.  Exhausting? Yes. But also oh so fun.  One of those fun parties we had was a "Cookie Crawl" with some of the Tuck Partner women.  Two friends organized this and held the first part at one house and then we "crawled" over to the second house to continue our festivities.  We talked, laughed, smiled for pictures, and tasted to our hearts delight.  Yum is one way to describe the evening.

Love these ladies so much!

One week later, we had another "Cookie Exchange" with the women in Lebanon Ward. I am part of the activities committe at our church, where we organize a different activity each month for the women to participate in.  It has been so much fun to get to know the women on the committe a little better, and to be involved in the organization of these activities.  We ended up having everyone bring 2 dozen cookies with them, and we had a lovely Christmas devotional by a fellow lady, listened to some beautiful Christmas music, sang more songs, and in general enjoyed the company of one another.  I left feeling uplifted and inspired to make our Christmas a little more simpler.  To focus more on the birth of Christ instead of Santa.