Gingerbread House

Putting together a gingerbread house has become one of our favorite Christmas traditions. Sam thought we should eat all the candy instead of putting it on the house, and the boys wanted to arrange all the pieces this year which made it a little difficult, but we still had fun. I just love everything about Christmas!

Sam Cont.

I almost forgot to add that Sam also did some light cleaning around the house today with a pack of napkins that he dipped in toilet water. What a great helper!

Sam the Trouble Maker

I have heard of kids like this before, the kind who are into everything, making messes and causing trouble at every turn. I've just never had one of them before-then Sam came along! I knew it was too good to be true that I was actually folding laundry in peace without Sam hanging on me to be held or jumping in my pile of nicely folded clothes. As soon as I finished the load I went looking for him, and I found him lathering himself up with a tube of toothpaste. After I got the toothpaste cleaned off of him and the bathroom, I told him to go put his shoes on so we could go grocery shopping. I only had a few last minute things to grab and by the time I got downstairs he was in the garage behind the car playing with a pack of matches. Now before anyone calls CPS on me he doesn't know how to light the matches, and I did get them away from him before any harm was done. Matches better go on my list of things to put where Sam can't get them! He's trouble all right, good thing he's so cute! One more quick note, notice he is shirtless in the toothpaste pictures? That would be because he dumped his antibiotic down the front of his shirt right before the toothpaste incident. Oh joy!

Tag

OK, I am finally responding to getting tagged. Sorry it took me so long!

Tag...you're it!

I have been tagged so here we go...



Here are the rules: A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning. B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves. C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asks them to read your blog.

1. I love holidays! I get excited for each one weeks before they happen. I start to talk about Christmas in September, and when I ask Brett if he's excited, he tells me he will be when it gets a little closer, but how can anyone think of something that is still months away? Well I can!

2. I am obsessed with Golden Spoon. Perhaps it's because it brings back fond memories of my friends and I in High School when we thought a frozen yogurt and some type of bread product was a balanced meal. I am not sure what it is, but I love the stuff! I still have not found a size that satisfies me. I am always wanting for more!

3. I talk to at least one of my sisters every single day (except Saturday and Sunday, we respect family time). They solve all of my problems and make my life manageable.

4. We go to bed VERY early! I love snuggling down in my bed after a tiring day and watching TV with Brett. It's how we wind down.

5. I am overly obsessed with food. It brings me a little too much happiness in life. I look forward to each meal, and if I know we are going out somewhere good over the weekend, I spend my whole week dreaming about it. Pathetic I know!

6. I love the San Diego weather, but I miss the seasons!

A Christmas Tree for the Wimmers!

Yes, I am embarrassed to admit that after almost seven years of having children, this is the first year we have had our own Christmas tree. In the past we got away with telling the kids we didn't need a tree because we go to Utah every year and Nana and Papa both have trees at their houses. Last year Jacob told us he wanted a tree and we tried to tell him we had one, but he wasn't accepting the four foot alpine tree that sits in our entryway as a real Christmas tree. I can't imagine why not! He told us he meant he wanted a real Christmas tree like the Birds have where you can hang ornaments. We knew that would be the last year without a Christmas tree at our house! We aren't scrooges or anything, we fully decorate the house for Christmas, we just always thought a tree was a pain, especially because we are in Utah for a good part of December. We finally realized if we got a fake tree it would be ok because we wouldn't have to worry about it dying while we're gone. So-HOORAY! We finally have a tree and the kids had a great time decorating it! I promised they could each choose out a few ornaments at Target, but after we got there I realized what a mistake I had made. Jacob was choosing out all the large bird ornaments, while Carter was choosing giant blue and gold balls. So we made a quick trip to Michaels for a little tree just for their room where they can hang all of their special ornaments. Now everyone is happy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had such a fun Thanksgiving week with Eric, Laurie, Cameron, Luke and Adam! The kids loved the beach, the park, Sea World, the pet store and playing all day long with their cousins. They couldn't believe they got to have six sleep overs! It is so much fun to watch cousin relationships-I just love it! Of course Eric made everything more fun by stuffing the kids faces in the pie on Thanksgiving, what would Thanksgiving be without pie in the face?! It sure is great to have a family that we all enjoy being with so much. We were all so sad when it was time for them to leave, next time we are hoping they'll stay a month! It was crazy, but we love crazy! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Meet the real Thomas the Tank Engine

Brett, Jacob and Carter joined the Drew's this year on their annual pilgrimage to meet the real Thomas in Perris, California. They sure had a great time!

Sam and "THE GUYS"

Sam must go to bed every nap and bedtime with a whole gang of animals, two blankets, and his milk. The boys have started calling his animals "the guys," and he calls his blankets his kiki's. He is especially fond of the blue "kiki" and he has to rub the tag of it while he drinks his milk and falls asleep. He is demonstrating this in the picture. If I do not correctly place the blanket so the tag is near his hand when putting him to bed he gets very angry with me until the blanket is over him with the tag in rubbing position. As I've said before, this is one opinionated little guy and he refused anything that is not exactly as he wants it! He's trouble, but he's a cutie!

Don't Forget Scooby-Doo

As goes the song to one of our favorite episodes of Scooby-doo, "Don't forget Scooby-Doo!" Don't worry-Sam Wimmer, A.K.A. Scooby-Doo, refuses to be forgotten in anything his older brothers are participating in. Be it wrestling, shooting guns, swinging on the big swing and now trick-or-treating, Sam will NOT be left behind! He wasn't so sure at first when I dressed him up in a big puffy suit with a hood, but as soon as he learned he could get candy from every house on the block just by saying "thank you," and "bye," he was sold! The first few houses he wouldn't let me put the candy in the bag, he wanted to hold it all in his hands. Once his hands started to fill up and he realized he could still have ownership of the candy, he started to put it in his bag, but let me hold the bag. By the end of the night, I could not touch his bag and he dragged that bag through our dirty, ashy neighborhood the rest of the night. Sam has a mind of his own, and once he decides to do something, there is no stopping him! As long as I can steal the Peanut M&M's, Almond Joys, and Butterfingers out of the bag he can do as he wishes! Jacob and Carter loved Halloween as always. Carter came home with Sam and me half way through the neighborhood to help pass out candy while Jacob went back out with Brett, Adam, and Minnie. Carter thought it was more fun at home because you get to give out candy and watch Halloween shows on TV. Jacob came home with a very heavy bag of candy. Between trunk-or-treat the night before and trick-or-treating we have candy to last the year!

Pumpkin Patch

We couldn't make our annual trip out to Bates Nut Farm this year due to the fires, so we settled for the Scripps Ranch pumpkin patch. Brett and Justin claim the place is run by gypsies out to rip us off because of the prices of the rides, but the kids sure had fun! After spending all our money on rides we decided to save a little and stop by Vons to purchase our pumpkins on the way home instead of buying them at the pumpkin patch. That turned out to be a bad move because Vons was all out of pumpkins. So the next day Sunshine and I were on a pumpkin chase. Albertsons was out of pumpkins too, and Henry's only had little ones which we were sure wouldn't be acceptable for our older kids. Luckily Target had six pumpkins left-hooray Halloween was saved!

Way to go Red Sox!

Brett and I enjoyed five wonderful days in Kauai while my mom dealt with fires and three kids at home. We owe a HUGE thanks to my mom for staying so calm allowing us to continue to enjoy our vacation even with all that was going on at home. The kids had an amazing time being spoiled by Nana while we hiked and laid on the beach. She took them to Disneyland with their cousins, played on the floor, made cupcakes, read books, did puzzles, played games and gave in to their every whim. School was canceled all week which gave her even more time to entertain the kids. On top of all that she had to pack up our car in case of a very possible fire evacuation. After we got back we still had a few days left with her here, and Grandpa Wayne joined us too. We went to Sea World and then the Zoo with the boys' cousin Ashley and Eli their first cousin once removed (the boys think that term is pretty cool!) It was so great to see Ashley and Eli! It's fun to watch your niece, who was the center of your world as a kid, grow up to be such a great girl, marry a great guy, and now be a mother herself. Ashley seems so happy and that makes me so happy! I appreciate all my mom did more than she could ever know, thanks Mom, you are the best!




As you can see our house is still standing after the terrible fires that spread through San Diego last week. Our backyard is filthy dirty with black soot, and the kids aren't aloud back there until they give us the ok to spray our houses down with water. The firefighters still need all the water they can get to fight the remaining fires, so we will leave our backyard black until everything is out. They are hoping to have the fires contained by Wednesday and out by Thursday or Friday. We had several friends evacuated, but luckily none of them lost their homes. Fifteen homes were lost in our stake, in our school district 350 families and 20 teachers also lost their homes. Our prayers go out to all those who lost so much due to the fires, and we are grateful our home is dirty, but safe.

All I want for Christmas......

Is my two front teeth! (I can't figure out how to rotate this picture so you'll have to look at it sideways! Sorry, I will learn I'm sure.) Jacob lost his two front teeth this week. He lost the first one on Monday at school, which was very exciting because he got to go to the school nurse and she gave him a cute little white tooth case. The second one came out Wednesday at the park while playing football with the older boys. We think he looks pretty cute! He is learning what he can and cannot eat without two front teeth, and is adjusting to talking. The new teeth are starting to come in, I am just hoping they aren't quite as crooked as the bottom two, we still have many years before braces!

Having family pictures taken at the beach is a great idea unless the wind is blowing, it is too bright outside, or you have a 19 month old (which I obviously do). Taking Sam to the beach and expecting him to sit on my lap and smile for a strange lady with a camera is like taking me to Golden Spoon and telling me I can look without eating. Impossible! Sam wanted nothing of sitting on my lap and posing for pictures, he wanted to run in the waves, play in the sand, and enjoy the beach the way he usually does. I can't say I blame him! We did manage to get a few good shots, I especially love this one of the three boys. It so perfectly depicts each of them. Jacob my sweet boy sits and smiles, Carter my crazy kid is pretending to punch who knows what, and Sam my baby is saying, "where did it go?" Who knows what he's talking about, probably a bird or some kind of animal he saw but is now gone. As for this whole blog thing, we'll see how it goes. Laurie and Sunshine you inspired me! I would love to try to journal through blogging at least a little bit. I don't want these precious days to pass without my remembering them. They go by far too quickly and I know I will soon long for this time!