Leaves, Leaves, and More Leaves!

Our neighbors must love us! It took getting to this point to get us to clean up our leaves. But the kids had sooo much fun...it was tempting to just leave them.

Shelby? Is that you?

Remember the part in Steel Magnolias where Shelby decides to cut her hair. Short. Her mother, Malynn, says that would be "precious". And then Truvy does this hatch job on her head. And everyone in the audience is going, "What the...?" And not even her mother likes it, but she says she loves it anyway. And then Malynn just smiles and nods. Aaaawkward. It's best not to say anything. And maybe this is just my interpretation of the movie, but this is what I think about when I see this:

That's right, let your eyes get their fill.

And if you have to ask, No, I do not like it, not on my eggshaped head at least. No, Bret does not like it (although he won't admit it. But he's a bad liar. Always has been). But it's hair. It'll grow back. And I can laugh (and blog) about it. And in about 2 months time, it will be the length that I actually wanted it cut. Until then, just tell me it's "precious", smile, nod, and walk away.

At least my dad's not around to see this. I did this once before (yes, that's right) and he teased me for a month wondering why our co-ed softball team was allowed to have an extra guy on the team. Hey, I have my brothers for that though! There's always a silver lining.

Are YOU smarter than a first grader?

Since you enjoyed the last post sooo much, Derek, here's some more banter for you. I thought it was funny.

Aiden: Dad, which do you think is the powerfulest weather?
Bret: A tornado because it can pick up cars.
Aiden: What about an earthquake, because it can shake the whole earth?
Bret: Well, a volcano is pretty powerful, too.
Aiden: That's not weather, Dad.
Bret: Neither is an earthquake, so...

FACE, Aiden!!

Watch out Wonder Woman!

A few days ago I was asking Aiden if he was sick of his cast yet.
Aiden: No, it's cool because it's hard.
Me: That makes it cool, huh?
Aiden: Yeah, if someone throws a rock at me, I can't feel it.
Me: What if it's not at your arm?
Aiden: I just (he moves his casted arm around as if warding off rocks being thrown at him).
Me: Wow, just like Wonder Woman.

PHEW! and Consider the Bar Raised.

Another Gingerbread party done! It was a lot of work, but I did it and it was well worth it. I really enjoy doing these parties and I hope all the guests had as much fun as I did. So you're all waiting to see the houses, I'm sure. The competition was intense this year...lots and lots of good ideas.

Here was the first place winner:

Todd and Christina (and newbies to the party I might add) with "Polar Express"

Second place:

Rachael (sans John) with her "'Deck' the Walls" house

And Third place:

Peter and Connie with "Christmas Cabin"

The rest of the HONORABLE mentions:

Noah's Ark-Ryan and Tracy

The Station- Mike and Rene'
Where Christmas Ham Comes from (gave me a giggle)- Kevin and Gennifer

The house that Crack built (another giggle)- Tim and Nancy

The "Green" House- Shane and Kayleen

School House Rock- Dave and Sherri

Arizona Christmas (yet another giggle)- Jay and Kendra (featuring Mr. Ev)And our house was Whobilation Celebration.

I really wish I could have gotten close ups of all of the sides of every house...there was some SERIOUS detail on all of these but that would have been SERIOUS blog overload. I really don't know how the judges (THANK YOU John and Rose) did it! John even pulled a dad this year and came up with his own scoring system...like father like son ;).

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

I(t)'ll Make You Famous

So if you haven't yet heard, Aiden broke his arm on Saturday. He fell off the neighbor's trampoline. Here he is at the hospital that night

The ER never casts we learned, so they splinted it and told us to see a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon later. We were able to get him into the Orthopedic today. He picked a red cast (probably to match his hair).

A few good things about his broken arm:

1) He keeps listing all the things he won't be able to do, like get stuff for himself, write, and go to school (I told him about the error of his ways on the latter, although we did let him stay home today).

2) It makes him look tough.

3) We let him wear the same shirt for 3 days (Gross, I know. But you try moving his arm and having him scream bloody murder the entire time.)

4) It made him quite famous. Everyone wanted to sign it!

Three weeks of this. We'll see how much he loves it after one...

Consider this my Christmas card to you!

You better watch out

You better not cry

You better not pout

Pictures from our ward's breakfast with the big guy!

I don't think I need to tell you why...

Aiden is getting his two front teeth for Christmas already. Santa's really on the ball! I keep playing the "Santa won't bring you any presents if you're naughty" card. It doesn't really work. I've used it too often. He's sweet for about the next fifteen minutes and then asks if I think Santa put him back on the nice list. Aiden is in the first grade. He has been taking a Let's Play Music class and seems to really enjoy it (except when it interferes with his play time with the neighborhood kids). He's learning the fundamentals of music and it's really laying a foundation for piano lessons. He's really got an ear for music.

Gray is so excited for Christmas this year. Every time I tell him it's time for a nap, he pouts and says, "But I will miss Christmas." It was cute. It's been going on now since Thanksgiving. It's getting old. We've been to two parties with Santa now and every time he has to go say Goodbye before we leave and he always tells Santa, "I love you, Santa!" Awwww! Grayson is 3 now. He's my little fireball these days (I know it's the age). He is really smart but becomes completely oblivious when it comes to punishments...interesting. He still loves puzzles, cars, and tormenting his little sister.

Mabel, of course, is terrified of Santa. She's almost 18 months (nursery here we come!). She's getting a mind of her own now. I mean really getting a mind of her own. She bullies the four year old girl I babysit...go figure. She's becoming quite the parrot these days (I'll have to start watching what I say). She loves her big brothers, candy, and sleeping (she's her mother's daughter).

Bret is working hard in the bishopric and at Nikko.

Hollie is hardly working at home.

We wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS and all that jazz!