Seperation Issues

I swear! My bed has serious seperation issues...It did NOT want me to leave it this morning...

You Better Watch Out...

You better not CRY...(Sing with me now...)Santa Claus is coming to town...

Santa Claus came to our Primary Christmas party this morning! I think Santa has a very tough job! I took pictures of all the kids in Primary with Santa and towards the end, it was a crying frenzy...my child included...I have to admit, I had hope that Carly would be ok being held by Santa, but unfortunately, that hope soon diminished as Sheri (my friend) brought her into the room...Ahhhh, another crying baby being held by Santa Claus picture to add to my collection!









And below is the newly called Primary Presidency who organized and ROCKED this killer Primary party...Yes! We are super cool...

Love

It is so fun to see a newly engaged couple and watch how they interact with each other. It brings me back to when I was newly engaged. Love changes over the years and the tummy butterflies are few and far between. The love I have for Patrick is far more deeper than I would have ever imagined it to be 11 years ago yet I sometimes long for that giddy new love we once shared where I loved all his little quirks and never once thought that the grammar corrections or burping or farting would EVER bother me. Times have changed, but my love has grown ten fold. It's grown to a new kind of love...one that is amazing!

So I was asked to engagement pictures of Patrick's cousin Jessica and her fiance Benjamin...We went up to the Wash House and Downtown Oroville. The session was quick but I got a lot of cool shots...So here is your teaser Jessica...I am trying so hard to get the rest of the photos finished but I have to schedule teeth brushing into my schedule these days...They will come...I promise...In the meantime, enjoy these few photos!

Blog Slacker...

Ok, so I've been a blog slacker...sue me...or better yet, read my catch up posts below...

A Monster Bash!

Ethan had a blast at his 4th Birthday Monster Bash!

We celebrated Ethan's upcoming birthday scary style...ok, so the monsters weren't scary at all, they were so very cute, but they were monsters none the less. When asked what kind of birthday party Ethan wanted, he quickly rose is hands to face level, curled his little fingers, and with a scary 4 year old little boys voice said "A Monster Party"...I said "Ok, we can do that" and so we did.



The decorations were as simple as decorations can get...streamers and balloons...both in black and blue colors. The cupcakes were topped with little monster suckers and blue frosting which made for some great monster pictures.



We had a bunch of little monsters running around. They yelled, screamed, cried and even hid while sneaking someone else's candy.



We decorated monster cutouts with stickers




and for the older kids like this one:



we had sharpie pens.

Ethan wanted to play hopscotch at his party...and so we did...



or at least we tried.

We sang and played guitar:



and we turned blue like monsters do:



Ethan received many fun toys...Spiderman bubbles, Spiderman wrist web spin, a remote controlled car, batman figurines, hulk monster gloves, batman jammies and band aids, clothes including batman underwear, cars, Spiderman 3 the movie, paint, puzzles, and this:



It's called a Skuut and it helps prepare your child for bikes without training wheels.

I made Ethan's awesome shirt which says "Ethan is having a blast at his 4th birthday monster bash"



Each child got a shirt very similar in an awesome goody bag to take home.



We had a great turn out being so close to the holidays. Ethan had so much fun with his friends and probably even more fun with all his new toys. Thanks to all of you who came to help celebrate my little monster's birthday!

Poindexter Palooza

Every year around the holidays, my family gets together to share what we've been up to for the past year. We play, eat, sing, and listen. It's a time to strengthen our bonds with eachother. This year would mark our 13th year. The past few years we've been doing it on Black Friday...We jokingly say that we are celebrating Black Friday but we are actually having our Native American Ceremony. We have Osage Indian in our blood. My dad and brothers have made medicine bags for each of us and we have special blankets. We have a Sacred Circle and get smudged as we enter into it. Everyone looks forward to it every year. This is how we celebrate the holidays.

This year we did the sacred circle a little bit different than normal. We had Tiki Torches lighting it up. It was nice to have the extra light and it totally reminded me of Survivor (yes...my favorite show)...




I was able to take a few pictures until my battery died. I was a little erked by that, but it's the memories of the togetherness that will always be cherished. I love my family. Each and every one of them. We all have very different views about life, politics, and religion, but when we get together, we are accepted as ourselves and loved unconditionally. This tradition isn't going to end anytime soon, it's only going to get longer and longer in length because every year there someone new in that circle...this year, among some honored guests, it was Carly, the newest member of our family, who had a medicine bag made just for her.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great. We were originally going up to Oroville to be with Patrick's parents and brother, but because of many circumstances, Patrick and I decided to host Thanksgiving dinner at our house.



I enjoyed getting ready for the festivities. I actually decorated with the 80% off fall items from Michaels that I purchased. The table decorations were AWESOME! And the kiddos made sweet place mats, each telling an item that they are thankful for. Patrick got all into the decorations too. We bought new plates and glasses. I actually found plates and bowls that I liked at the Dollar Tree and Patrick found the glasses he liked at Ikea. We probably spent a little more money than what we really would have liked, but we now have these items for future shindigs.

We had my parents and their significant others, Patrick's parents, his brother and his brother's wife as well as his brother's wife's dad (did you get that?) and all their children and of course, my brother too. So we had a full house and we were able to seat every one of them.






I made a killer turkey...It was soooo good and I don't normally like turkey...I made some other yummy food and everyone brought something to share including the best homemade cheesecake EVER! We enjoyed each others company and of course the debates with Patrick's brother on numerous political issues...








I am grateful for so many things and it's unfortunate that I have to have a holiday to reflect on those things. I will not bore you with all the things that I am grateful for like family, friends and Christ. I will however, give you a little chuckle with what Ethan is grateful for...He is grateful for the Temple, for Fun, for Turkey and for Pancakes...and Malia is grateful for showers. I am grateful for all those things too.



Of course we had to get a family picture done outside by all the fallen leaves. The struggle to get everyone to sit and smile pretty is one of those challenges that I have given up on. Maybe one of these days we'll have that pretty posed cheesy picture, but until now, kids will be kids. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.