Our Christmas Baby

John with his hot date Miss Zaylee Jane. She calls him Johnny. Something no one else is allowed to do. =)

Can you tell how excited he is to be the center of attention?

Christmas 1981 was one of my best Christmas's ever. On December 23rd my Mom delivered my first and only brother, John. I can still vividly recall our trip to the hospital to pick them up on Christmas Eve. We girls were so tickled when my Mom brought him out in a red stocking. Best present I ever got in a stocking! Those were the days when you did not know the sex of your baby until they arrived. We were all so excited to have a boy in the family after three girls! Yesterday we celebrated his 28th birthday. I had been teasing him about starting to loose his hair now that he is an old man, but he still has a full head of luscious hair. Happy Birthday John!!! We are so blessed to have you in our family! You have finally made it onto the world famous blog!

Christmas Photos

Landon was so thrilled with his new shoes, I had a hard time getting him to look anywhere but at his shoes! Lesson learned: introduce new shoes prior to attempting a photo shoot. This little guy has something of a foot fetish. He loves his own feet and the kids have found if they put their feet within his reach it will keep him entertained for quite some time. The germaphobe in me couldn't stand this and I had to put a stop to this practice. He loves his sleepers with the little animals on the feet and will spend lots of time trying to get them. The older three were good little models for me, even Ashlyn! Yay! I had bribed them with pizza and ice cream which might have had a little something to do with it. =) I turn into something of a beast when in the pursuit of the "perfect photo" and have to apologize in advance and after photo sessions.

Tradition Resumed

Me and my girlies ready for our GNO.

When we lived in Colorado Wit and I started a tradition of going to see the Nutcracker. The first year I took her she was almost 4. It was a first for both of us and a magical experience. When we moved to Alabama it was just too far of a drive to keep up this yearly tradition. This year I saw an ad in a local paper for a holiday concert that the Tucson Orchestra Symphony was doing. I asked Chris to get us tickets since he can usually get us great seats for a deal. He totally came through for us and we had some of the best seats in the house (we were front and center in the 5th row) at half price. I had debated long and hard on whether or not to bring Ashlyn with us. If it had just been a performance of the Nutcracker I would have taken her for sure. But since it was 2 hours of mostly music performed by the choir and orchestra I didn't think Ashlyn would do well. Chris went ahead and got Ashlyn a ticket too. I think he thought I was mean to not include her. She was enraptured by the ballet numbers which only took up about 20 minutes. She spent the rest of the time yelling that she wanted the ballets, rolling on the floor and trying to climb around the seats. Did I mention that about 75% of the people there were over the age of 50? I'm sure they were wondering what on earth I was thinking to bring a 4 year old along and cursing me. =) Whitney loved the whole thing and was fascinated with the playing of the violins. They had a southwest spin on the Nutcracker costumes and a Mariachi band from a local high school also joined in for a few numbers. It was a great performance and I am looking forward to enjoying more of their performances!
I asked Chris to take a photo of Ashlyn and I. Then I wanted one of Whitney and I. This was Ashlyn's reaction. She did not want Whitney and I to take a picture without her. Yes, she is struggles with a jealousy issue.

Landon at 7 Months

Oh, how I love my Baby Bear!!! He is 7 months old today. I have been calling him Baby Bear because he has fallen into a pattern where he wakes up around 7 a.m. by 10 a.m. he is down for a nap after eating a 6 oz. bottle, followed by a jar of baby food, followed by another 6 oz. bottle! He is like a bear getting ready to hibernate. =) He usually naps until 2-3 p.m. Then around 6 pm he repeats that eating schedule and it is in bed by 9 p.m. Growing so fast takes lots of food and sleep! He went to the doctor on Tuesday. Here are his stats:

19 lbs. 7 oz. 50%

29 1/2" 97%

Head circumference off the charts!

Since this was a new doctor they were concerned over his huge melon. I had to explain that his father and I both have huge heads and this is normal for him.

He is extremely social and loves nothing more than for people to notice him and pay attention to him. He will smile and stare at people until he gets the attention he craves.
Yesterday he got a little trim on his hair from Aunt Hollee. His hair was starting to grow over his ears and he was growing a bit of a mullet. She also took a tiny bit off the top. He is so wiggly I had not dared attempt it on my own.

He loves splish splashin' in the tub.

The Commissary

I really should be doing 100 other things but. . . For those you have been in the military you will know that the Commissary is just the grocery store on post. Chris and I are devoted Commissary shoppers. I think we are in the minority in this area. I know a lot of people that refuse to shop there or hate to shop there for some of the following reasons:

-It does not always have the widest selection or latest products.

-It is chock full of slow retirees. (This is actually a bonus for us. Chris and I both really love senior citizens.)

-Around paydays it can be ridiculously crowded.

-It is not unheard of for them to be completely sold out of a common item such as bread.

-The baggers work only for tips, therefore you feel obligated to tip them.

-I'm sure I could add a few more reasons but I think these are the most common complaints.

The biggest advantage is that it is way cheaper if you buy name brands. Also if you live on post it is convenient because it is the closest grocery store. Chris and I were delighted to find that there is an Air Force base here in Tucson and thus a commissary!!! It is a bit of a drive for us but worth it to us for our bi-monthly big shopping trips. Now the Air Force has the best of everything where it comes to the creature comforts of its families so this commissary is huge.

Yesterday, we made a trip to the commissary and it was a particularly fun trip! The retirees were out in full force and full of the holiday spirit!

Ashlyn was singing a song she had made up that basically just repeated I love Christmas over and over. This was greatly appreciated by our fellow shoppers. Particularly one lady who joined in for a duet with her. Ashlyn, being the unfriendly little gal she is, promptly stopped and and looked annoyed. Apparently she wanted to sing a solo and this lady was stealing her thunder. I am afraid she is usually a bit of a disappointment to these folks. =)

Ashlyn was lovingly holding a bag or festive green and red marshmallows while sitting in the cart. When an older gentleman whipped by in his motorized shopping cart and with much glee mock snatched them from her. He said, "Oh, are these marshmallows for me?!?" Now Ashlyn was not nearly as amused by this as he and I were. She gave him a look that could have killed a lesser man. Then went into a fetal position around the bag of marshmallows. We shared a hearty laugh though!

Next was a little lady who was trying to snag the last bottle of maraschino cherries on the top shelf with her cane! This act stopped me in my tracks because it was a comical sight as she hopped up and down trying to get that jar of cherries. (I am often called on while shopping to help those who are vertically challenged.) I really was rooting for her and wanted to see if she could succeed. But my better sense won out and told me this would probably end messily or even possibly in injury. This is where I stepped up and came to her rescue by getting that much wanted jar of cherries. =D I was profusely thanked and wished a Merry Christmas.

Then there were just the usual various individuals who love small children and are looking for a little conversation. It is always a great reminder to slow down and smell the roses. I have had so many ladies wistfully tell me to fully enjoy the time while my children are small because it passes so quickly. And that I will look back on it as the best time of my life. (What?!?!? I thought that was supposed to be high school?!? Just kidding.)

Chris was particularly thrilled to be there after a recent trip to a local grocery store chain called Fry's. He became unhinged over the prices. He vowed never to step foot inside this store ever again and I was forbidden to ever shop there. Periodically he would joyfully shout out prices to me and remind me of what they had wanted at Fry's. The bread we buy was $3.50 at Fry's. At the commissary it was $1.50 AND there was a nice vendor handing out coupons for .50 cents off!!! What can I say? We love a good buy! I guess we are just old people at heart and like being surrounded by our peeps.

34

Yesterday I turned 34. Yippee!!! Another year older and wiser too. At least I hope so. =)

Chris always goes out of his way to make my birthday special. He bought this cake at a local bakery and it was super yummy! Even Chris who is not a big cake fan loved it. Let me tell you the effort Chris went to to light those two candles. We did not have any matches in the house. I told him not to worry but he said, "my wife is going to make a birthday wish"! He took some paper towels twisted them up and then held it to the heating element in the oven. It took a little patience but he was eventually rewarded with fire. I still can't believe he got the candles lighted and didn't suffer any serious burns cause once that paper towel lit it went up in flames fast!
After my breakfast of donuts, I got to open my gifts. Chris had taken the kids the night before to pick things out and said he was really impressed with Wit and Gavin's selections. Gavin said he wanted to get me a book and some black licorice. My boy knows his Mama! There is not much I like better than reading a good book while eating treats. Ashlyn got herself, I mean me some chocolates. As soon as they got home from shopping she had immediately told me she had gotten me flowers and chocolates. We have taken to calling her Loose Lips Ashlyn. =) Last week we had taken the kids to pick out gifts for each other and she immediately gave a detailed description to Whitney and Gavin on what she had gotten them along with what they had got for each other. Whitney got me a pedi-egg! Maybe you have seen the infomercial on TV? I had wondered aloud several times if this invention could possibly be as great as it seemed. It totally is!!! Worth every penny!!! Chris described it as a cheese grater for your feet. Lovely image, is it not?

Whitney also got me this cute apron she is modeling in the above photo. You might notice that is fits her perfectly. Since I am just a smidgen bigger than a size 2 in juniors it is not fitting me so well. it sure looks cute on her though!!! And it came with one in Ashlyn's size too so they can be twinners. Then Chris handed me an envelope, inside was a letter that said Dec. 16th at 1300. Wouldn't it be really (really was repeated for two pages of type) nice to never wear glasses or contacts again? He has set up a consultation appointment for me to see about having Lasik eye surgery. We shall see if these eyes of mine can be fixed to 20/20 eyesight! I have worn glasses since the third grade and cannot see a thing without corrective lenses. To wake up and be able to see the alarm clock? To go swimming and be able to see? I can only imagine the wonder and delight of it!!! I was also treated to an excellent meal at Carrabba's.

Visit With Santa

Saturday we visited the mall so Ashlyn and Landon could see Santa. Ashlyn had been very excited to see him but got a little shy when she got up on his knee. She told Santa she wants a Whoopsie Doo baby doll. Whoopsie Doo can be fed and needs her diaper changed. Really??? Don't we have the living and breathing model already?!? Whitney and Gavin did not want to visit with Santa this year. I told them that was fine. Chris told them kids who didn't visit with Santa wouldn't be getting any presents. They saw Santa. We did pay for a photo with all 4 kids but my scanner is still MIA. They told me I could only take 1 photo with my camera but I cheated and took two. Every now and then I like to walk on the wild side. Later that night we went to our ward Christmas party which was incredible! All we knew was that they were having one and it started at 5:30. It had "A Night in Bethlehem" theme. Whitney said it was the best Christmas party she had ever been too. They had Santa there afterwards. We totally could have saved ourselves a long wait and 17 bucks for 1 5x7! Though Ashlyn and Landon were pretty dirty by that point of the night. Whitney and Gavin wanted to see this Santa. I think it had a little something to do with the candy canes he was handing out. =)