Max loves Shrek

Max (mis) pronouncing Shrek.........viewer discretion advised, but it's too hilarious not to share!

Our Christmas Video

http://gallery.mac.com/jonpvanwagoner

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...........

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

My little man!

My little guy got his first "real" haircut (I have been doing mini-trims on him for a few months now) last Tuesday.  He walked into the salon a baby, and came out a little boy!  It was a little sad to see his baby curls falling to the floor, but in the end, I got a handsome little man who was so very proud of himself.  He sat like a little statue the whole time, stone-faced.  Here are some before and after pics:

BEFORE

AND AFTER..........

SIDE VIEW

THE STYLISH SURFER BOY!

A new holiday tradition

I finally have someone to go to The Nutcracker with.........last night Olivia and I went on a mommy/daughter date that will surely become an annual tradition!  Our evening began by dressing up in our holiday best.  Doesn't Olivia look adorable?  Then, we headed downtown.  It was a very bustling holiday eve downtown, so we parked close to the auditorium, then hoofed it to the nearest restaurants.  We finally decided to eat at Macaroni Grill!  Our wait was almost 40 minutes, and when we finally sat down we were both starving!  Olivia opted for Fettuccine Alfredo, and for me, the Roasted Chicken Cannelloni...........yum!  We had to eat fast, after such a long wait, and then RUN back up the hill (about 8 blocks) to the auditorium! We made it in the nick of time.  The Nutcracker was magical, as always.  Olivia absolutely loved it, she was mesmerized.  It was a late night, though, and my date fell asleep on the ride home.  Thanks, Olivia, for being the best little daughter a mommy could ask for!

I had so much fun tonight putting together my........

Play mobile Nativity Set!  I found it! Sitting all by its lonesome on the shelf at Target tonight, and it was just what I needed to lift my spirits!  This is the shortlist of why I love it so:

1.  I put it together all by myself, and was giddy doing it!

2. The little people are darling, and all of their accessories snap on perfectly!

3. The camel has real rope on his headdress.

4. The camel HAS a headdress.

5.  The cardboard backdrop is not TOO cheesy.

6.  The three kings are unique and have little armbands that color coordinate with their robes.

7.  The kings/wise men's gifts SNAP into their hands.

8.  The angel has a wand (snapped in her hand).

9.  Joseph has a lantern (you guessed it, snapped in his hand!).

10.My kids get to play with this set, and learn about the Nativity story through play!     

WHEN HAVE I EVER BEFORE HAD SO MUCH FUN FOR $16.99?

Our 2007 family tree!

Snow is falling all around!

Last weekend we took our first annual trip to the mountain to start out the holiday season right!  First stop, our favorite donut shop!  It's a good thing this shop is an hour away, otherwise I would partake on a daily basis!  Bar none, the best donuts I've ever had. Krispy Kreme, eat your heart out!

Max concurs.

And then, we hit the slopes!  It was so fun.  Tons of snow.  No wind.  We climbed up those hills and flew down them over and over again!

The kids watch big sister!

Weeeeeee!!!!

Overflowing with junk

I would love lots of comments on this one:

I am totally overwhelmed with Olivia's art stuff!  She has coloring books, crayons, markers, sticky notes, a gazillion notepads, pencils, erasers, jewelry crafts, hama beads, you name it, and they are coming out of the walls, floor ducts, and electrical outlets it seems.  It is making me crazy.  Several times per week I clean off the bar, which is where she piles them up, and put them on the shelves in her closet, and then one by one they reappear.  It's a total rat maze for me.  I feel like I am stuck in the movie Groundhog's day!

I live in a tiny house, and I need tips on how to keep down this clutter control.  If I am having this many problems with one little girl, what am I going to do when Max and Molly start having their own "stuff?"

HELP!!!

Go and see it!

Olivia and I went to see "Enchanted" today, and I not only HIGHLY recommend it; I URGE you to go see it and take everyone you know! This movie made me want to go home and dance Jon around the house.  I didn't actually do it, but I WANTED to.  I also wanted to dance Patrick Dempsey around my house, but don't tell Jon!  This movie is for ALL ages, gals and guys. So cute! So HILARIOUS! I truly laughed my head off (unfortunately, NOT my butt)!  And, I can't get the soundtrack out of my head, so I am going to download it, for $9.99 from Itunes!

I tried to upload the trailer, and failed, but you can view the trailer at www.fandango.com.  After you view the trailer, go ahead and click on "purchase tickets."  

Disney should pay me for my advertising.

So many reasons to give thanks.........

The kids were so happy to see their big brother, Parker.

Olivia and "aunt" Brooke.

Max and Tage play the piano.

Max tried to get on sweetheart, but didn't last long!  It's pretty high up there, Papa!

Molly loved my brother, Randy.  

Max, Parker and Jon whip the mashed potatos for Thanksgiving.

Grandma Maxine and her two baby boys.

We just returned from a whirlwind trip to the mother ship for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We drove, which means we spent 12 + quality hours together on our voyage there!  And another blessed 14 hours on the way home, due to a lovely snowstorm!  Oh, family bonding. Thank goodness for McDonald's playlands, or as Max says, "yea..........donalds!"

We had a great trip.  We saw both sets of grandparents, lots of cousins, aunts and uncles, Olivia's pregnant horse, Sweetheart, and the very missed big brother, Parker.  

I just thought that I would share some pictures.  It warmed my heart to see my children so loved by relatives who we rarely see.  There is nothing like going home.

I had a birthday, shout HURRAY!

I had an awesome birthday, yesterday! Actually, the fun started on Tuesday, when my most amazing friends threw me a little birthday brunch!  They made a delicious brunch and we just sat and laughed and chatted, the absolute best gift I could receive.  I have the greatest friends!  

Then, on Wednesday, my actual birthday, I was called, emailed, visited and SANG to by those I love the most!  I felt super-special! 

My sweet girlfriend took me to lunch, then my hubby sent me to get a pedicure while the kids were napping and he was working downstairs.  HEAVEN!  For dinner, we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory, where my children climbed the walls, and threw their applesauce...........sounds like another day in paradise to me!  To top it off, we came home for cake and ice cream!  And, my husband bought me almost everything on my list!   He is just too good to me!

Here is a picture of the DARLING banner that my darling and oh-so-talented gal pal Raina made for me...............I believe she is currently setting up a web site to take your orders.......

And, my birthday would NOT be the same without flowers from my Pops!  Just another reason why my dad rocks! (FYI, he has been sending me flowers to school, work, and my home every year since I can remember).
Finally, the most awesome German Chocolate cake that my dear, sweet husband and daughter picked out.  It was (and is, as I just sat down with it and a fork for my post birthday celebration) super scrumptious!

So, one year older and wiser too.  The thing I learned this year is that life is as happy as I make it, and I am working on making it happier each day for those that I love!

The scariest moment of my life

On a serious note..............

Today I ran downstairs to print a Map Quest to Max's doctor's appointment.  Max and Molly were sitting on my bed watching Sesame Street.  I was downstairs no longer than 3 minutes when Jon and I heard horns honking outside.  Jon looked at me and said, "it's too quiet up there," and bolted from the room.  I paused.  Then, my stomach sank and I ran up the stairs. The back door was open.  I looked out the living room window and saw Molly standing at the very top of our driveway, just feet from one of the busiest streets in town.  I SCREAMED, and ran outside.  I could not see Max.  I was freaking out.  Jon was 5 seconds ahead of me, and moves much quicker. I was praying non-stop in my heart, "please let them be o.k."  I rounded the corner of my garage, and saw Jon, with both of their hands in his, walking down the drive way.  He was stark white.  My knees felt as if they would buckle any moment, and as I picked up Molly and nearly squeezed her to death, I started bawling.  How did that happen so fast? As all of you know, that street is my biggest nightmare.  I have had that exact dream so many times, and have chased them as they've dodged cars, laughing and squealing, as if it were a game.  When I told Molly that the road is a no-no, she nodded her head and laughed, "no-no!" They just don't get it yet.

Needless to say, now that Houdini Max has figured out the deadbolt; (and it was deadbolted, I promise) we have secured the premises.  This was a day I sure I will never forget.  Every time I swallow and feel my scratched, sore throat from my scream, my mind starts to wander about what almost happened, and I feel sick.  But, I am so grateful for the angels who stood around my babies today and kept them safe.  I have said countless prayers that they would be watched over and protected, and today was proof that prayers are really answered.  

And it's nice to have proof sometimes.

Halloween treats for my Halloween sweets!

Here's the clan on Halloween night!  We headed to the church for some spooky fun!  The kids ate donuts off of hanging strings....tricky, and then wrapped themselves like mummies and got their faces painted.  Then, we headed out to the parking lot for trunk or treat!

Go Molly!

Trunk or treat!

Of course, no night would be the same without bubbos!

Good enough to eat!

My little "angel."  

These two M and Ms melt in your mouth, not in your hands!

Trunk or treat!

Pumpkin Carving 101

We carved pumpkins tonight for FHE. Well, Jon and Olivia did, anyway, I don't think Max and Molly are quite old enough for knives, and when I cut the top off of mine, it was green and moldy inside! I don't think the farm sold me a very fresh pumpkin! It was fun, and messy, and I can smell the seeds roasting in the oven right now...........

Soccer star

Here are just a few pics from soccer season, which ends this Saturday. It has been a great season, and Olivia improves every week. I am most proud of the fact that she gets out there and plays really hard, even though she is the only girl on her team. She is a go-getter, that's for sure!