Christmas was AWESOME! We went to many wonderful family parties and loved every minute of it. On Christmas Eve we attended the Bruce Hall family Party. At the Hall Party we have dinner, sing songs, and the older grandchildren perform a talent. Of course, if there is music the smaller ones feel they need to dance. Rio participated in every song. She even knew some of the words as we sang. (As for dinner, she couldn’t quite focus on eating she just had to talk to Kaitlyn) We drove home that night and slept at Grandpa Pat’s and Grandma Julie’s, so we could spend Christmas morning with Cameron’s family. This was the first year Rio really understood ‘Christmas’. It was so fun to see Rio get excited and try and take it all in, she didn’t really know what to do. Krey just thought is was fun and walked around visiting everyone, while Rio helped open everyone’s gifts.
In October while we were visiting Grandma Julie, Krey was up to the usual climbing and exploring everything in reach. Well this time he got hurt. He was scaling up the back of one of the bar stools when it came down on top of him. One of the bars on the backrest hit him on the bridge of his nose right between his eyes. He immediately got a big bump. (It was very scary for me.) Krey was crying hard, and blood was coming out of his mouth. Later we found out that he had cut the inside of his mouth but at the time I thought the blood was from hitting his nose. Grandma Julie said that with him being so little and hitting that part of his face so hard something really bad could of happened so we took him to the doctor. Well they said he would be OK and at this age if he did do something really bad it would not be noticeable or known until he was at least 8 years old. We thanked the doctor, gave him a quarter of a million dollars, and left with our son having a second nose on his face. Yet I'm glad nothing was really wrong but even now in December he still has a bump where he got hit. I wonder how family pictures will be?
Snow!! We have it so we had to go out and play. Cameron went out to shovel and planned to build a snowman with Rio. Unfortunately, the snow was too fluffy, not good snow to build a snowman. BUT the next day more snow fell and it was perfect for a snowman. We made a snowman and went sledding. Rio did great out in the snow for 2 and a half hours. There was no crying because she was cold. She did have to go potty once but I told her if she would go potty like a deer then she would not have to take a nap. It worked, within seconds we were back to sledding. Don’t worry we were up in the hills sledding and no one was around to see her go potty. I would show you pictures of the snowman but he is no longer with us. Grandpa Pat had a little magic that made the snowman turn into a snowman firework. It was cool to watch!
The other night we made a ginger bread house and had a good time. Rio liked putting the candy on and Krey liked eating it. The next morning when Krey saw the house he got a chair, pushed it over to the counter and tried to reach the house so he could have more candy. I took a little bit of candy off and gave it to him because I was on the phone and when I got off the phone he did this….
I had to give him a little more candy and then move the house to a safer place.
Krey has learned to bite. First he started biting on toes, and then he moved on to biting whatever he could while he was ‘squishing’ (see older post). Other things that Krey has put in his mouth are: his hands, a sippy cup, a spoon, q-tips, Rio’s toes, my toes, my tooth brush, my tooth brush after he put it in the potty, a duck, and Cameron’s razor. he (This was all in one day and it was just the stuff that I saw.)
About 5 weeks ago I was having a hard time with Rio going poop in the potty. She used to be good at going poop in the potty but as of 5 weeks ago she just would go in her pants. So about 3 weeks ago I started getting mad and would say things like “If you go in the potty, then you can have this”, or I would say, “Because you choose to go in your pants you choose to have a time out”. Well it was not working and I kept trying different things. Finally I told Rio that every time she goes poop then she can have a BIG fruit snack.
Well later that day she pooped her pants. She immediately told me that she had an accident instead of me having to ask her. So instead of getting mad about the accident I told her that I was VERY happy that she came and told me about the accident right when it happened. She replied with……‘Are you so happy that I can have a big fruit snack?’ I tell her….. ‘No’, trying to hold back a smile. Then she says… ‘I don’t want one but you are sooo happy hu?’
The good news is now she is doing much better and I’m glad. I thought and hoped it was just a stage. (I am still hoping that it was and that we are passed it.) But just so you know, I think she might have been a little backed up.
One time when Rio had an accident and was sitting on the potty, I was texting a girl friend about how I needed a girls night out. During this time Rio said to me, “Go get me new panties”. I finish the text and look at her and then she yells, “Do what I said”. Oh, we had a little talk about not yelling at your mother and also about not pooping in your pants.
Well as you know Cameron and I LOVE ReAl Salt Lake! By now you should also know that ReAl was in the playoffs for the Major League Soccer Cup 2009. Well ….. they WON. ReAl is the 2009 MSL Cup Champions and Cameron and I saw it with our own 2 eyes!! After much thinking, calling on the phone, and looking up information on the internet Cameron and I flew to Seattle late Friday night. We got to the hotel at one o’clock in the morning and went to bed.
Saturday morning we went to the Space Needle and to Pikes Market. We ate at this awesome sushi place for lunch, which was followed by watching New Moon! Saturday night we went to our favorite place to eat in Seattle, Place Pigalle. It is a little restaurant just right by Pikes Place that over looks the ocean. We love it, not only is the food wonderful but the atmosphere is romantic. They have dim lighting and little candles at each table. The restaurant is very small and the tables are quite close to one another. It is the type of restaurant that you should dress up for and look like your going to the ball, but not us, we were wearing our ReAl Salt Lake clothes and they let us in. I know that three years ago when we went there we were not dressed to par but again they let us eat there.
After a nice dinner we walked FX McRory’s to meet up with other ReAl Salt Lake supporters. (FX McRory’s is restaurant right by Quest Field.) It was really fun to be with so many excited fans that love ReAl just like us. These were not the first ReAl fans we had seen in Seattle, not at all. Everywhere we walked we saw people with their ReAl gear on and they would yell ‘Hi’ to us or we would yell to them. It was fun to walk around the city and at almost every other turn see more ReAl fans!!
On Sunday as we were getting ready we would say stuff to each other like “Next time we come to this room we will know who won the game.” It was very exciting but we were nervous. We ate lunch and said stuff like ‘this will be the last meal until we know’. Then we went outside at this funny parkish area and waited for more and more fans to come. Once it was time we marched down the street to the stadium with tons of people. The Seattle Sounders Marching Band lead the way (yes the Seattle soccer team has a marching band). We walked about 4 blocks to the stadium. On the way to the stadium I saw Don Garber, commissioner, aka the top person in Major League Soccer and shook his hand. Also, once I go to the stadium Drew Carry stood in front of me and I told him hello. We arrived to the stadium, found our seats, and then realized that we were there almost an hour before the game was to start. Wow that was a bummer, I wanted to game to start just as soon as we took our seats.
Well this is how the game played out…
First half: We used 2 of our subs, they scored. Second half: they used at least one of their subs and we scored. Overtime was nail biting and the score remained one to one. Then it went in to penalty kicks and WOW was that a rush! I can’t remember each goal and miss but I do know that Cameron would say if they miss then we win, and if we make this then we win. Ahhh, it was crazy because then we did make a goal after Cameron had said “if we make this we win and it is over”. I was so excited; I wanted to be closer. (Our seats were on the third level so I could not run down onto the field. This was good because I’m on probation for doing just that in October). I ran to the isle so that I could have a better view of the team celebrating. I guess Cameron fell to his knees and some random man picked him up and hugged him. Then Cameron came to hug me, I was sitting on the hand rail in the isle and as we hugged (not taking our eyes off the field) we said, all of this trip and money was worth it. Even spending the day in the airport on Monday to try and fly home on stand by would be worth it too. Oh that was such a great experience. By the way we actually made it on the first plane out of Seattle at 6 am on Monday. That trip could not have been any better!
Here are some pictures of Rio squishing Krey (Rio’s favorite and what happens the most) and then there is a picture of both kids waiting for the other to squish them. I didn’t get a picture of Krey getting Rio because Krey is starting to bite and Rio has learned to quickly remove herself from a “Krey Squish”. But I did get a picture of Krey on Rio’s lap.
Just to let everyone know how COOL I am, I just won a year supply of ice cream!! I know I’m very excited too! Each week for the next year I receive a free bar of ice cream. How might you ask did I win? I attended the Grand Opening of BOARDWALK ICE CREAM in the South Towne Mall. I entered my name in a drawing and Voilà ! They chose me! It was great! My favorite concoction is a bar of vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate then covered in little bits of butter finger! Oooo, so good.
This is a picture of the candy train that Rio and I made in December. I had to hurry and take pictures because we were about to eat it. Because of a fun play date with cousins and friends we even had this at our house.
For Thanksgiving we went up to Plain City. It was the “in-law” year but we weren’t able to go with Cameron’s mom and dad to Kansas so we stayed in Utah. My Aunt JoAnn and Uncle Jerry invited us to join them for dinner. What a blessing to have family (and I did not have to cook). We enjoyed a good visit and a wonderful meal. Afterwards we met up with the Ballard Team and played a little kick ball. We then headed back to Jerry and Joann’s for pie. It was a very nice trip, nice enough that we even stayed for 3 more days!!!! While on “vacation” we visited the Tree House Museum and also attended the Christmas Parade in Ogden. At the end of the parade we saw Santa and Mrs. Claus. It was then that Rio found out Santa had a WIFE? I guess I forgot to tell her.
Krey is walking really good and fast now! He has been getting his back teeth and is not too happy about it. These are some pictures of him eating and being sooo careful not to get anything on him or the highchair. Also these are pictures of him in Cameron's hat, just funny and cute.
Rio is into DOING HER HAIR, your HAIR, my HAIR, and Krey’s HAIR. She loves to spray it down and then comb, comb, comb. If you’re lucky you can get her to use the brush so it does not hurt your head as much, but she only uses it for a few seconds and then back to the comb.
Also she is into cooking, mixing, helping, washing, and cooking (did a say that twice, well I needed too).
I’m not sure if anything we did at the park was safe but there were no injuries to report, so I guess it was safe enough. I had Rio hold Krey as the two of them went down the big slide together. I also got a picture of the top of Krey’s head and all of Rio’s. Overall it was a great day!
When Rio and I came down for breakfast I knew that she was in one of her STRONG mood, so when she asked for salt and pepper on her cheerios I knew this would not be easy. I told her, No, and that is would not taste good. She said “Yes, it will” with a edge in her voice so I thought, Not big deal let the girl learn, and I will just toss out the small bowl and then this will be over.
She put salt and pepper on her cereal and then ATE IT. I didn’t say anything as to not draw attention to the situation. Then I poured myself a bowl and she asked for more cereal. After I gave her more, she then asked for salt and pepper. I stopped it here. I told her she didn’t need any more and that she was fine.
As of now she is eating her seasoned cereal and all is well.
I was making dinner and Rio was trying to help, but really was not so I asked her to feed Krey. Krey can feed himself BUT in order to get out the door for scouts I needed both of them busy. Rio really like feeding Krey and most of the yogurt got into his mouth. Krey loves to eat and thought that is was fun to see his sister helping him out.
and that is all Im going to say. BUT In my defence I was so excited, I love ReAl Soccer.
Rio hiding while she is in her brother frog outfit.
Rio and Krey just rying out their clothes.
Miss Josie, or as Rio calls her, Dozie. Is she not cute? I think she is a doll.
Josie in her bug outfit.
The Group take one.
Take two.
Cameron with Josie and Krey at Grandma and Grandpa Richins
On their way out to get some CANDY!
On the 27th we had play group at our house and we have all of our friends over the make some cookies. Eveyone helped make this day fun and as you can see the cookies were GOOD!
