Nativity

O.k. So I finally got my Nativity up. It seems like that may have been the cause for much of my stress. I just don't feel right unless it is up.It is the reason for the season after all. Not only for me, but I want my kids to know. In the years past I have been able to put it up and each year a different kid seems to be interested or around. Each year it seems to be some one on one time with a different kid. This year it was Eli. He was the only one home and I asked if he wanted to help me put it up. He didn't know what I meant by "Nativity" So it spiked his interest. Anyway I told him the rules. Like certain Christmas songs had to play, Only I could unwrap them but he got to choose where he thought they would've stood. (With suggestions and guidance from me) I told him about what role each character played in the event. It seemed like each time I got a new piece out I would say "This one is my favorite" And tell him why. Then he would say "Oh, mine too.- Where is the baby Jesus." Jesus was of course the last one out. He was so excited and loved listening to the story. I am so glad I got the opportunity to share this with him. I have had a chance with each of my Kids through the years and always fill the spirit so strong. I also got to tell the story of how I got the Nativity that we have. I searched and searched for what I thought was the perfect Nativity. I don't think we had any children yet. I couldn't find one anywhere. I refused to buy one until I fell in love with one. Anyway, we were as poor as church mice and I decided to go to a craft fair down the street from where we lived. There is was! It was $60. It was such a stretch for us to afford it but I had tried so hard to find one. I knew I needed to get it. There were only two that this lady had made. So I went and got Chris and we decided to buy it even though we couldn't afford it. Turns out I got a steal of a deal. Similar ones go for much more than that. But to me, it is priceless and I have received much more than the $60.00 we payed all those years ago.- Back to the original story. After we set it up we sat there and listened to music and cuddled. Sounds kind of cheesy but it made my whole Christmas. A little while later I saw him put a piece of paper in the nativity. When I went to look closer he had made the word Joy (with the j backwards) out of holes from a hole punch. Behind our Nativity I have the word Joy in wooden letters. I guess he just wanted to be a part of that and show his love by making something to add.

AAAAAAGHHHH!!!!!

This is my girl in her first choir concert ever! She did great and was so stinkin cute!
O.K. So I know Christmas is a busy time for everyone and stressful. Some of us handle it better than others. You know who you are. The super organized, on the ball, kids are out of the house type. But I am not one of those kind of people. In fact my brain is so mushy right now I might need to cork up my face holes so it will not leak out.( By the way I am laughing as I write. I may be a little loopy with stress.) So any way I thought I would vent here and if I get it all out, the hope is that I might feel a little more "together" So most of you know my sickness of needing to have my hand in everything my kids are involved with. Most of the time I can handle being roommom in all three classes without batting an eye, or preschool is no big deal. But this time of year all my good intentions blow up in my face. I have 4 class parties to plan and delegate, Activity Day girls present making activity, My kids have their school Jingle Jam and Adam tells me he and his buddies tried out for the part of 4 calling birds and by the way we need costumes. Abby was in the Choir for school and had practices and performance. Plus Oh yeah am I also supposed to decorate the house and by presents for Christmas?!?! My house is a mess, my dishes aren't done Laundry is washed but not folded. Plus I still have to run the kids to sports, birthday parties, scouts, playdates. I know evolution is not accurate or clearly I would have way more hands by now. Anyway I do get that I am not alone in my troubles I just wanted to vent. Tonight I am going to make a point to set up my Nativity and listen to my favorite Holiday music. That is my very favorite part of Christmas. That is when I feel the spirit of the Holiday and remember why I am doing what I do. My goal is to have everything done by The 20th, so I can enjoy the rest of the Holidays. By the way I usually only Christmas cards out every other year. Guess what I sent them out last year so I wouldn't hold my breath for one this year. I wish I could, in my heart (and most likely in my car.)I am thinking of you all and wishing I could see you and visit with you. I do hope you all have a Wonderful Christmas!

3D continued......

I wasn't lying when I said the glasses were "goofy"!!!  Check out Amee here!  She was so gracious to be our model for these one of a kind awesome glasses!  

By the way, this picture was taken with Chris's cell phone.  He pretty much took this blind folded because it was so dark in the theater that he couldn't see what he was taking a picture of.  But, he did a pretty good job anyway.

Giggling in 3D

Last night we took the kids plus Adam's friend Blaze and Amee to see a 3D movie at an Imax theater. Chris had gotten some free tickets so we went. It was a cute movie about Santa vs Snowman. My older kids I think have been to a 3D movie but it was a long time ago. I wouldn't think they could remember. Same with an IMAX movie. Eli had never been to either. It started out a riot just looking at each other in those goofy glasses. They weren't the disposable cardboard kind either. They were goofy plastic. We looked good! In the beginning of the movie they had a guy (all in animation by the way) on a ladder. And he was flinging paint everywhere including at us, then he ended up falling of course right on top of us. It was SO fun to watch all 4 kids giggling and flinching and moving out of the way. Heck even Chris, Amee, and I were probably doing that too. At one point Santa said there was someone in the room that had been bad and would receive a lump of coal this year. Then he said "and it's YOU!" And he pointed. Of course it looked like he was pointing at me , but to Eli he was pointing at him and to Abby it was pointing at her, ect. You get the picture. The kids really thought Santa was pointing only at them. It was some of the purest, funnest, giggling I have seen in a long time. It kinda turned back the clock for me too. It was fun to feel young again and to have my kids laughing and giggling together. No fighting, no leaving one of them out. It was something new and exciting for them. Even Adam and his friend were not too cool or mature to just let go and enjoy! I highly recommend 3D movies for kids! There is not much in this world that can thrill kids anymore, with all the technology but YAY!!!! for the 3D Movie!

NOLA

Adam and I (Chris) took a trip to Louisiana to see Mom and Dad and Family. Oh yeah, we also went to watch a LSU football game and it was awesome, even though the game started out rough for LSU it ended up being awesome. As a matter of fact we witnessed the greatest comeback in LSU football history. A big thanks to Andy, who found the time somehow to go to the game with us. He knew exactly where to go, what to eat, and what to do to make the day truly awesome. We had a great time visiting and seeing everyone. Kelly, Kevin, and Jared came over from Florida for a visit and to go to the game. Oh yeah, we ate po boys almost everyday. I do not know what they put in those things, but man you never get tired of eating them. I should by stock in the short stop. Although I must say there are other po boy shops in the area that are pretty darn good as well, but no one can beat the roast beef at the short stop! Anyway we had a great time and I just wanted to share some photos of the trip.

Kevin, Jared, Kelly, Chris, and Adam before the big game!

This picture was taken at Chimes restaurant across the street from the LSU campus. I highly recomend it, the food and atmosphere was awesome!

This is Adam and I in front of the most awesome sight in all of college football. I am getting goose bumps just typing about it! Tiger Stadium, GEAUX TIGERS!

My Big Bro. Kevin scored us some LSU basketball tickets. The basketball game was the same day as the football game. It was a great day to be a Tiger Fan! They won the game, of course!

Once inside of TIGER Stadium, Death Valley and home of the 3 time national champs, it was goose pimples all over again! It was awesome!

The Tiger Marching Band!

The tailgating before the game was unbelievable. It was just like Mardi gras!

This shot was taken right after the game right behind the Tiger bench. We were so close to the players Adam got the attention of one of his favorite players, Brandon Lafell. Lafell gave Adam one of his recieving gloves he wore in the game! Adam was way excited. we found out on the way home that it was Lafell's best game as a Tiger and he was player of the game. Sweet!

Adam and I enjoyed the day so much we went back to Baton Rouge a secon day to revisit the campus of LSU. We visited Mike the Tiger, the Tiger's mascot. Mike was pretty impressive and is the coolest mascot in college football!

We went to the LSU sports museum. This a must see for any LSU fan, it was really cool. Here is a picture of Adam pointing out Brandon Lafell.


The trip was not all LSU! We took a plantation tour as well. Adam has been studying plantations in school so we decided to go see one for real. This is not the actual plantation, of course. This picture is actually part of it.

This is another picture on the plantation!

Turkey Bowl Pics

Adam Quarterbackin'

Eli, too young to play with the big boys, so hopscotch will do.

The crew, minus a few who left early

Adam had his Turkey Bowl on Wen. He had a good turn out and I think they had fun. Sometimes it is hard for me to tell. They are so competitive that sometimes it doesn't look fun to me, but I guess that's what they like. His team won, but I think the team ended up a little stacked when 2 good players came and ended up on an already slightly superior team. But it was fun to get them out to play. The parents enjoyed it too I think. So now I am going to attempt to post some pictures. Drum roll please!

Black Friday Madness

We just got through with our nap after doing our part to help Black Friday stay Black. Chris and I are crazy enough to do this every year-either that or we just can't afford not too. Luckily this year our kids are old enough to leave alone in their beds while we go brave the early morning cold, long lines, and a little pushing and shoving. So it was easier too just take off without the worry of who will stay with the kids. For us it starts after Thanksgiving Dinner, when all is cleaned up we study the ads. The first round is the elimination round. All ads that we know we won't use go in one pile, the rest go in another for a second round. Then next round we compare prices and see which store is our first stop-Its always Wal-mart by the way. Then we have to prioritize the savings of each item and popularity. Then we try to go to bed and sleep for a few hours. My mind is too busy contemplating our plan of attack to sleep that much. Then we wake up at 3:30, slap on a hat, brush our teeth, and we're off. Lucky for us, our Wal-mart is open 24/7 so we go in grab the stuff that isn't off limits until sale time. Pick up a map of special bargains and designate who will go stand by the items that will disappear in seconds , to get our loot. Then depending on who is closer to our second and third choices, we run through and grab all the other items we need. This is the closest thing to "Super Market Sweep" without actually being on the show. We meet back up and usually wait in line to pay. Then off to the next store on the priority list. We always get everything on our list, so I think we have this shopping sport down. This probably sounds miserable to most people. Heck if I didn't know better you would have to drag me kicking and screaming to get me to go based on everything we hear. I was especially sad this year to hear about a stampede death in New York at a Wal-mart there. It makes a person sick to think that people act that crazy over a few saved bucks. But, we always hear the bad and never the good. I would like to share some of the good things we experience on Black Friday. While we wait we talk and become friends with those around us. In some places that is normal but in Utah, we don't talk to strangers in the store, in general. (There are a few exceptions.) So it is nice that we form a sort of camaraderie. You will see people helping each other all over the place. People will say "will you grab one of those for me and I will grab one of these over here for you". Or "Oh you need that. My husband is over there waiting for that. I'll call him and have him grab an extra." Or you will see people holding up items. "Anyone need this? We decided against it". There is a real sense of "We're all in this together, lets help each other out." It's rarely like that here in Utah with strangers, very common amongst friends and neighbors-just not strangers. I like to see and experience that. Plus there is always the thrill of the hunt, the elation of getting what you set out for, Plus lets not forget the beauty of a well laid plan! So there are things that are good about the Black Friday Chaos. I just hope people will not loose their humanity to the animalistic hunt.

Nothing to Blog About!

So people keep saying stuff like "Oh you are always so busy you should have lots to blog about." That seems to be the general consensus. But I have been struggling. My kids say and do funny things but I can't ever remember them. I am busy but I guess I just have trouble seeing past accomplishing whatever task I am doing. Boy do I need to stop and smell the roses! Any way if I post it on here maybe I will try harder to enjoy the things while I am doing them. So that's my goal.
On an unrelated note. Tomorrow Adam is having a 5th grade Turkey Bowl. It should be fun and seems to have made quite a stir amongst the fifth grade class at Fox Hollow. I think it makes them feel older because until now all they have seen is the men in the wards playing or Chris's work playing another company, ect. Amee (and I) are a little disappointed that she has to work so won't be there to capture it on film. So maybe I'll have to take my own pictures! We'll see. Stay tuned for more

Ok. Here is an old picture, I am just trying to get familiar with all this blogging stuff. We took this about 3 or 4 years ago in Gatlinburg, Tn. Back when we lived in Nashville. Eli and Abby were upset that they didn't get a big gun like Adam and Chris.

Missing my boys

Hey Chris and Adam is in New Orleans this week! Fun for them, not so much for me. I hate being away from them that long! I know Charee, I have nothing to complain about and I will learn soon enough what it means to miss a kid!:( But I do have some spare time and decided I would play around on here to see if I can figure it out. I am really not that stupid I just don't have time or motivation. Plus Amee has all my pictures. There is a downfall to living with a brilliant photographer! Codependancy! Anyway I think I have some pictures somewhere so I am going to try to post one. What do you all think! I'm getting crazy now. I don't know what picture I can find but if it seems random-It is!

Still learning....

Amee's teaching me some new tricks!!!  We'll see how it goes!  It depends how fast of a learner I am! :)

This is my girl following in my footsteps!  We both love soccer!

Krewe of Sorensen

Hey so I guess if Jk and Tia can do this, I guess I'll give it a try. So this is us. If any of you are wondering about our name-"Krewe" is a group or a club that does a parade at Mardi Gras. So for instance one parade is calles Baacas. The people who put on that parade are called "the Krewe of Baacas" So that is it. The picture is us at Arches National Park.(I'm sure that was obvious!) We just went there in the beginning of May.