So tired, so tired.

How is it that it's 6:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve and I am SO ready to crawl into bed and go to sleep right now? Madison, Porter, and Lane are ALL asleep and Brant is working the big holiday tonight.
Today has just been so tiring. It started with Lane's Super Duper Pooper. The twins ignited their "Wonder Twin Powers" and had an all-time Mischievous day. I think all of the excitement from Uncle Nathan coming home just caused too much excitement. And, unfortunately two year olds like to get negative attention when they want attention. Why can't they do good things when they want attention. Like clean their room, fold their clothes, or NOT spill any food when they eat. I would be surprised. I would ooh and aah. I promise I would give them lots of attention if they were unexpectedly overly good.
So here's the list of my day:
Lane Pooped all over the floor and himself.
Porter pooped his naptime diaper, but tried to change it himself. I guess he WAS trying to help me. Madison pooped her nap diaper. (However, asked for help to change her diaper.)
I put them in the tub to wash off all of the poop. They dumped buckets of water out of the tub onto the floor.
Then, they went out into the loft and the library area and peed on the carpet. They're totally potty-trained. I followed them to that mess and dumped baking soda on the wet areas. Mind you, that every time I was cleaning up a mess I would make them stand with their noses on the wall in time out. They couldn't leave until I was done cleaning up the mess.
So after all of this, I made them sit on their bed while I cleaned up their room. That way I could keep an eye on them. I had made them help clean up their room earlier and usually try to teach them to clean their room. But, after everything they had done, I just wanted them to stay put and let me clean it up. After cleaning their room, I let them down. It must have been right away that Porter returned to the loft area and smeared the baking soda all over the carpet. Then, he took handfuls of it and dumped it on the bookshelf.
While I was cleaning that up, Madison was in the bedroom stretching gum across her neck. She also got it into her hair.
Brant came home and said, "Have you had a bad day? You look like you have." He was home for less than 2 hours with a short time to shower, catch a small nap, say hi to the kids and leave for his all night job.
Exhausted. I am exhausted. I'm going to bed. I'll wake up next year.

We Have A Winner

It was a last minute entry. Came in just this morning. But still in time to be picked as the 2008 Worst Poopy Diaper of the year. Congratulations, Lane, you win! He likes to poop at 5 am every morning. He wakes up like an alarm has hit his bowels. I usually wait it out a bit to make sure he is all done. I've had the misfortune of changing him in between his final output. This little number he did today left a trail on the carpet. That's how I discovered just how bad the damage was.

Just stuff

* I am busy working on the yearly Embarcadero coupons. I have done this project every year for over eight years now. I can't believe it's been that long. It's a nice little bit of extra cash at the end of the year.
* Lane is so close to crawling. I know he's going to do it any day now. He can pull himself up on things. He tries to crawl on his feet like a little stink bug. He has discovered that he can roll over and sometimes does it just to show me. It's cute. He gets a big smile on his face.
* My BIL is coming home from Korea today. We are very excited to see him. He's been gone for two years.
* Kim's baby is getting blessed on Sunday. I wish we could make the trip to see her and the baby.
* Heather's baby is also getting blessed on Sunday and she asked Brant to bless the baby. It will be his first. I am more excited for him than he is.
* BTW, Brant was mortified that I blogged about the kids bad behavior. He didn't know why I would tell everyone. I told him I wanted some suggestions. Thanks to everyone who said something. All of the comments helped.
* Brant is working New Year's Eve as a Bar back. Good money. Lots of hours and a very tired husband.
* We start teaching nursery on Sunday. I am kind of excited. I have put together a non-stop fun program. Brant is burning a song CD for me to use with the kids. However, we start at 1 p.m. I hope all of those kiddos get an early nap.
* I start weight lifting with Rhonda today. I am so excited about our weekly goal meetings. I have been so infused with positive energy and can't wait to get everything done on my list.
* We're still planning to move at the end of January, so it will be time to start packing.
* All of my Christmas stuff is boxed and put away. I reboxed by tree so well there was almost 20 percent of space left in the box. Yeah, I was way proud of myself. I wrapped and numbered all of the tree branches. Only an organization freak like myself would be proud.
* I noticed that Madison looks like a little girl yesterday. She had one ponytail on the back of her head and zip up hoodie. Porter has always looked the same. He hasn't changed much since he was a baby. It was sweet, but sad. They're growing up. Madison is also very smart and so much like me. I am in for it.
* Brant came home yesterday and folded ALL of the laundry. I had a massive pile on my bed.
* Now I've got to clean, clean, clean.

New Year's Resolution Just around the corner

My MIL and SIL, Heather, are forming a Strategic Alliance. We are getting together once a week to hold each other accountable to our 2009 goals. I am so determined to achieve the success I want in life, I am very excited about this. I have some personal and professional goals that I am hoping to see happen.

Twinner Trouble

The twins are 2 years 5 months now. Though they have become better in some ways, they are more troublesome in others. They understand so much more of what they are and are not supposed to do. Yet, they seem to push the limits more than ever. Sometimes they are defiant because they think it is a game. Is this a stage they go through? Do they get worse? Do they get better? Is it because there are two? Hmmm....

Primm trip cancelled : (

Money? Quality Time? What's more important? We decided money was more important for now. We planned a one-night getaway to Primm and had to cancel it. Brant's second job called and asked if he would work tonight. The UFC fight is going on tonight--and it's a big one. Six major contestants. I was so excited to spend some time alone. But hey, the money will help pay for our insurance that we have to start paying in January. So Brant's making more money; and, I am getting "quality time" with the kids. All's well that ends well.

Miscellaneous Christmas Pics

The twins put out the cookies and milke for Santa. Our humble little tree. (Needs more decorations.) Our stockings were hung on the kids dresser--with care. The twins were so excited to open their presents on Christmas morning. Me and Madi--I had on her new Hannah Montana wig. Brant sporting his Raiders pajamas. (And--notice the short, short haircut. Yeah, I did that.)

Christmas was so much fun

This was by far my best Christmas ever. It was so much fun watching the twins get so excited over their gifts. I really enjoyed it. They were so excited.
I could hardly get them to go to sleep on Christmas Eve. We spent the afternoon deliverying cinnamon rolls to people. I took the twins and left Lane with Heather. Brant was still at work. I just wanted the kids to give something to someone.
Then, we had our traditional pajama gift that we opened. Porter got a Batman outfit and Madison got a pink Princess outfit. Both picked out and purchased by Dad. Brant bought me a peppermint and candy cane set. The shirt has a blinking light and says, "Sweet." Lane really like the light. I got Brant a pair of plaid flannel pants--with pockets. (Must have pockets.) And a long sleeve Raiders shirt.
We read several good Christmas stories. Grandma Rhonda led the "White Stocking" exercise that we do every year. Later, we made cookies and milk for Santa. Brant fell asleep early. I got the kids to bed and finished up last minute wrapping.
I couldn't get Porter to go to sleep. I told him he needed to go to sleep. He said he was waiting to talk to Santa. I said, "Why?" He said, "I need to talk to him. My stomach hurts. He can fix it." I have no idea where he got that from.

The hustle and bustle comes to a close

You know I am really busy, when I don't have time to blog. I love writing and it's great therapy, so when I skip it--I'm busy.
Today I courageously decided to head to Target to shop for next year's Christmas wrapping paper and any other "great" deals on Christmas stuff. I thought I could handle all three kids and it would be no problem. To start, I sent Porter and Madison to the bath. Madison pooped in the bathtub. It was soupy-poop. Not large, easily-extracted kind. Yuck! I made her clean it up. (And then I re-cleaned it.) So disgusting. I asked her why she did it. I explained that she knew she was not supposed to do it and did it anyway. Then, I said I wanted her to start listening to the feelings she gets when she is doing something wrong. She said, "Okay, Mom. I won't do it anymore." We'll see.
We finally got out with all three kids. I took them through the drive-thru at McDonald's for water and a hash brown. Then we got to Target and made it all the way to the back of the store where the Christmas items are located. No sooner were we there, than Madison exclaimed, "I have to go pee!"
I turned on a dime and headed back to the front of the store. I am still nervous about taking them out. They have been potty-trained for some time now, but I haven't taken them away from the house alot. On the way to the bathroom, Porter announced, "I have to go poop!" At least with them yelling, the crowds cleared a path for me.
I unloaded the two of them and Lane (in his carseat) and trudged to the bathroom. I had Lane in one hand and they each took a different stall. People would come in and I was trying to juggle between the two toilets. I got sympathetic smiles. I just laughed and explained, "Twins. They had to go at the same time."
We finally got our stuff. Nothing much. Just paper, bows, a few ornaments. I still only have leftover ornaments that Vicki gave me two years ago. So I added to that. The only other thing I got was a cute "Countdown to Christmas" house.

For Vegas Residents Only

You can get a FREE night stay at any of the Primm Resorts in Primm. There's no catch. My husband and I are doing it and I've talked to people who have already gone. They're "catch" is to give you a free room so that you'll spend money gambling, dining, and shopping. They are not booking the rooms because the season is so slow and this is a way to attracts patrons to their other stores. Go to http://primmspecials.com and select the "freecation" banner. Details follow. You simple book the room you want and put in the special discount code: TRLV01. Hope someone can use it. We are this weekend--and, of course, I'll report back. It's only good until December 30th.

Surprise! You ARE the Nursery teacher

About a month ago, Brant and I were asked if we would accept callings to the Primary. We both said yes and as we were walking out to the car Brant said, "I hope they give us the worst class." I said, "Hold your tongue!"
Yesterday morning at 5 a.m. Brant got home from his part-time job. He had worked 10 hours--all night. I didn't have the heart to wake him up for church, so I decided to go to church with all three kids by myself. I thought, "Hey, I just have to make it through the first hour with them and then get them off to nursery."
I went to the nursery room to drop my kids off and there was no teacher. I sat and waited with another gentleman who was also waiting for the teacher. Other parents would come in and drop their kids off and leave. The room grew with more and more children. After some time, I volunteered to go ask the Primary President who was supposed to be in the nursery. They were quite pleased to see me, but surprised by my question. I said, "Is there going to be someone in the nursery?"
They said, "You're the nursery teacher."
I said, "I am?!?"
They said, "We were told you were already set apart for it."
I said, "No, we agreed to serve in the Primary, but we didn't know where we would be put."
I just laughed and thought this is too funny...and I'm going to kill Brant 'cause he's home sleeping. In their defense they said they had left two messages on Brant's cell phone. He probably didn't tell me or call them back because he has been so busy.
Needless to say it was quite interesting. Thank goodness there were two other women helping in there. I had to go out to feed Lane and the twins clung to me and whined that they were tired. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what I am supposed to be doing, but I'm sure I will be able to come up with something. And...next week, Brant is not skipping church.

A Night Out With Grandma & Grandpa

The twins went downtown to a few different Christmas sights on a night out with Grandpa and Grandma Smith. They were so excited to go. They are so lucky to have their Grandma and Grandpa close by. They told Santa they wanted toys and candy. Rhonda said they loved the singing, the lights, and the chocolate

Madison the Angelita

Geneva and Rhonda planned a Christmas program to teach the kids about Jesus' birth.
Madison played the angel. Porter, was supposed to be Joseph, but he fell asleep.

So about the great husband...

...he went to get a haircut tonight because of his part-time job. He came back home because it was going to cost him $20 for the haircut and he couldn't stomach paying that much. He asked me to cut it. I am not a haircutter--my two sisters are. And just because they know how to do something doesn't mean I do. Otherwise, I would also be a star athlete, dog trainer, runner, etc.

So...long story short. Actually, that is the story. His hair is no longer long, it is now short. Specifically, too short on one side. Something technical about the difference between a "2" and a "4". Whatever. They're all trimmers. I think a mohawk would look kinda cute on him. Besides, their very trendy. Although it may not be a good idea to look to "skin-headish" in a North Las Vegas bar/restaurant. Like the Red Sovine song, "...it'll grow back."

To the end of the story...I am thankful that my mother-in-law can fix hair messups. It looks pretty good. You can't even tell. I don't think I can get him to let me take a picture of it for my blog. So if I trick him, I'll put it on.

Quiet Time!

Brant is working at his part-time job tonight and the twins just left to go see the Christmas sights with Grandma and Grandpa Smith. So what am I going to do? I think I'll clean up the house. It's a mess. Maybe wrap some last minute gifts. And, if I get enough done I finish baking the cinnamon rolls I need to get delivered.

My husband is so great

He's been working overtime and just took a part-time job on Fridays and Saturday nights. He came home 8 p.m. after working since 5 a.m. yesterday morning. I felt so bad for him. I know how tired he is. Of course, yes, I'm Mom tired but that's just life. I gave him a backrub, then he gave me one. He said, "I've been meaning to do that for you for a long time. I just haven't had time."

The next morning, at 5 a.m. Little Lane woke up. His usual time. Madison woke up a little later. Brant said, "Why don't you go back to sleep in the kids room with Porter?" I crawled into their bed and fell asleep. Only waking briefly when Porter woke up. When I told him Dad was here, he took off. They don't get to see him alot and are always so excited when he is home.

When I woke the second time, there was a plate of food with scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon, toast and jam, and sliced apples. And...a glass of orange juice. It was a little cold, but tasted so good. He is so selfless at times. Makes me love him.

Other than that...busy, busy with Christmas stuff. Just like everyone else is, I am sure. Donations came in at $400. Thank you everyone. It's such a nice gesture and is greatly appreciated it. Brant's going to do the run tomorrow.

Six Days Until Christmas

It is exciting to have children for Christmas. Yesterday, we wrapped presents. The kids were so excited about the presents that they were running all over the house. I think part of it is that they are learning so much so quickly and they are overloaded. While running back and forth through the loft, I said to them, "Why are you guys so excited?" Madison stopped in the middle of a dead run and yelled, "Because I Love you Mom!" Then she made the sign for "I love you" and ran off saying "I love you! I love you!"

Donations

Thanks to everyone for donating. To date, I have $260.

Here's the info again if you still want to donate: Donate $1, $5, $10, or more if you have it. Because it is such short notice, Paypal is the quickest way to send it. My Paypal address is lizlane717@gmail.com. It's easy to send money. If you have a Wells Fargo you can transfer it instantly to my account or you can deposit it to acct# 2016701688.

Catchup

It has been a busy time of year. I am enjoying it so much. I can't say that I did it enjoy that much when I was single. Kids make Christmas so enchanting. Not just because of the worldly traditions, but because of their fascination, joy, and overwhelming ability to seek to learn about the reason for the season. The kids are wide-eyed with anticipation each night when we pick a new Christmas song to sing. Songs that are as old as the hills are so intriguing. They want to know what is going to happen to Frosty the Snowman. And they wonder why Rudolph had a Red Nose. They also love the quiet calm of "Little Drummer Boy." Away in the Manger is also one that they love to listen to. They try to repeat the words, but their two-year old minds can only remember a phrase or two at a time. It's so fun. I have so many things to write about, but not enough time.

Let it Snow!

It snowed in Las Vegas! Can you believe that? It hasn't even snowed in Alaska--at least not in Ketchikan were Vicki lives. It just kept coming down all day long. Although it was pretty wet, some managed to stick. It's gone now, but it was fun to see a little snow.

Donations

Thanks to everyone for donating. I know it has been a huge sacrifice for some people. I didn't expect something from everyone and I know each person's situation is unique. To date, I have $210. I did have people pledge to donate money, but I haven't received it. If I do, great. If not, we will deliver what we have. Due to Brant's work schedule, we are planning on taking it on Saturday. Here's the info again if you still want to donate:

Donate $1, $5, $10, or more if you have it. Because it is such short notice, Paypal is the quickest way to send it. My Paypal address is lizlane717@gmail.com. It's easy to send money. If you have a Wells Fargo you can transfer it instantly to my account or you can deposit it to acct# 2016701688.

The Full Moon Theory

I remember I was in my twenties when my Mom was telling me that I was born on a Full Moon. She also told me that some people thought more babies were born on Full Moons. It was just a belief, but I was fascinated by the notion. I did some research to find out if more babies were born on Full Moons. What I found was interesting. Someone actually did a study on this and they discovered that it was not true. However, because of this superstition people would talk about and perpetrate this as a truth. With the focus on births during a Full Moon, people tended to believe this was true.
This reminds me of Christmas and the whole notion of a Christmas Spirit. As I have been contemplating this, I have come to the conclusion that the Christmas Spirit isn't really unique to the Christmas season. It is only highlighted and sought after during this time. The people I know who are giving all year really don't change much during this season. It just seems like it, because their is so much attention focused on it. It causes me to reflect on myself and wonder if I buy into the hype and try to get on a bandwagon or if I carry the Spirit with me all year. I hope it is the latter.

Donations are still welcome

Thanks again to everyone who has donated. Someone pointed out that it is hard to find out where to donate when you're reading the blog on a daily basis. So I will include the info everytime I post until December 15th.
Donate $1, $5, $10, or more if you have it. Because it is such short notice, Paypal is the quickest way to send it. My Paypal address is lizlane717@gmail.com. It's easy to send money. If you have a Wells Fargo you can transfer it instantly to my account or you can deposit it to acct# 2016701688.
We are currently at: $210 collected; $55 pledged. Keep it coming!

Little Lane

Lane is so funny! He is just such a happy baby. He is a bit of slow poke of a few things. He can still only sit up. He rolled over from his back to stomach for the first time yesterday. He still can't figure out he crawling thing, but he wants to stand up! He has started this head shaking thing he does. He just starts bobbing his head. I finally got it on video yesterday. It's something only a mother would be so impressed with. He's a little chunk, too. He is wearing pajamas that the twins were wearing a year ago--they're 22 months older than him. If he keeps this growth rate up, it will look like I have triplets instead of twins.

Donation update

Okay, so I have $85 in actual received funds and $55 in funds that people have indicated they would like to send. So, if you still want to do this--send it in! I am going to deliver it around the 15th so we've got four days left. Thanks again to everyone for their generousity.

My first gift basket of the season

This sounds so silly, but I have to share it. I have been wanting to send baked goods to work with Brant for so long. But, every time I ask him he tells me he is not gay and he is not bringing cookies, bread, or any other goodies to work. He is a manly-man type and also a mechanic working with other "manly men." I keep telling him these guys will love it and he can blame it on me. It doesn't have to be from him, it can be from his wife. And, I reason, if he has a wife, then he is definitely not gay. (Okay Vicki, don't argue with me on this. I know you have examples of why this is not necessarily true--so just work with me.)
I also wanted to send our cute little family Christmas cards to work with him. I was met with the same response, "I'm not gay." However, a couple of days ago he called me and said, "I changed my mind. I need 5 cards." I thought, I hope this doesn't mean he's gay. But, I didn't say anything. So I got five ready. Yesterday he called me and asked if I would make some banana bread. I said "sure, why?" He said he wanted to take it to work. I was so excited, I didn't even make a big deal about it. I decided to make banana nut muffins with cream cheese frosting. They tasted so good. I got rave reviews from everyone in the house. So I'll post the recipe at http://www.mommydazerecipes.com/

Peanut Brittle

A holiday favorite that is so easy to make. Nothing like microwave baking. Check it out at:

www.mommydazerecipes.blogspot.com

Poop, there it is!

Porter has discovered a new way to get out of going to sleep at night. He has done this for the past week--no matter what time he goes to bed. He will come and tell me he has to poop. So, of course, I let him go to the bathroom. Last night, he sat on the toilet for at least 20 minutes pooping intermittently. I think it was so he could continue talking to me and keeping up his comedic antics. Every time he would poop just a little, he would say, "Poop, there it is!" Then he would ramble, and ramble about whatever things were going through his mind. Other than the fact that I am very tired and want to go to bed, it is quite entertaining to listen to him.

Quote for the Day

"Successful and unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential." - John Maxwell

Donations for Christmas Gift

I had an old friend (who hardly looks old) from my hometown contact me yesterday to donate. She said she is already doing a lot of other Christmas projects, but still wanted to help out. Thank you! She was always a very nice person and still is. I know people have a lot going on. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by good people in my life and it is likely that those good people are already doing something this year. So thanks for going the extra mile. With her pledge of $50 we have a total of $135 with 6 days to go. It's going to be a wonderful gift. Thanks as always to those givers out there. And, if you thinking about doing it, remember even a small donation would mean something. I've had several people give $5 dollars and when you add up all of the five dollar donations they have make a nice contribution. Merry Christmas, hope you are enjoying the holidays.

Holiday Recipe Exchange

Have a great family recipe you make for the holidays? I would love to share it. Please email your recipes to: lizlane717@gmail.com

I am starting with this recipe:

Angel Kisses
http://mommydazerecipes.blogspot.com/2008/12/angel-kisses.html

Thank You For Your Donations

To date--I've received $85. Thanks so much. I know times are tough and everyone has a lot of their own service projects they are involved with. I just want everyone to know that I do appreciate those who have so willingly donated. It will be to a beneficial cause and used well. Merry Christmas to everyone.

Play Dough Cookies

We made Play Dough cookies on Saturday. The twins had a lot of fun making them. The colors looked cool, but the cookies weren't too tasty. I'd use a different recipe next time. It's fun for kids.

By the way, if you blow this picture up you can see Madison's cut and bruised eye from her encounter with the stocking holder. She is careful to warn all who come near how dangerous it is. She even took Grandpa into her room to warn him. (Even though he stands taller than the dresser and is unlikely to be below the holder.)

You can see the recipe for Playdough Cookies and better pics at mommydazerecipes.blogspot.com

Ward Dinner

These pictures are from the Ward Christmas Dinner. Brant and I stayed home and Grandma and Grandpa took the twins. Brant worked so much all week he just wanted to rest. We kept Lane. Grandpa said Porter was singing with him on the way home and had perfect pitch. He doesn't get that from me.

They were so excited when they came home. It's amazing how much they can grasp about the Christmas story already. Apparently there was a live Baby Jesus and real angels. They were so excited to tell us about it. I asked Porter to sing for me and he sang, "Ooh, La...La, La."

Random Pics from Thanksgiving

These are some of the pictures from a few weeks ago. I did a horrible job of taking pictures while we were in Utah for Thanksgiving.
So I only have a few.

The top is of me and Jaymi. We were all sitting around in Mom's room talking. Kimberly was having mild, occasional contractions. We were hoping she would go into labor before we left, but that didn't happen. The middle is Lane in bed. He would wake up so happy. He slept really well even though he didn't have his usual bed. I was so glad.

And the bottom is Bobbi's third daughter, Brianna, and Jaymi's only child, Krew. The twins had so much fun with their cousins. I wish we could see everyone more often.

Thank You For Today's Donations

I received a $5 donation for the Christmas donation today. Thank you. Every little bit will count. I sincerely appreciate all those who are trying to help. I know most people are struggling or trying to get by or are already donating to projects.

Thank you for today's donations

Today, we received $55 dollars and a pledge for another $5 for the donations and one anonymous angry email. I was really excited that people are participating and cannot wait to anonymously deliver the cash. I know it will mean so much to her family and will help her out. She is a good woman and will be on her way up.
Please forward the link to anyone you know may want to have an opportunity to give this Christmas. Or, post the link on your blog. The more people that know, the more money we can give her. Thanks a ton everyone. I know she will be very grateful. Here's the link:
http://lizlanehibbard.blogspot.com/2008/12/do-you-have-christmas-spirit.html

Madison "Rocky" is back

I never fully appreciated the design of our skull as it pertains to protecting our eyes. Madison gave me a very good lesson in Biology today. She pulled at one of the stockings. As she did so, the stocking holder came tumbling down on her. It was a very heavy piece and banged her up in three places around her eye. She has a red mark and bruise on her brow; outer eye; and a cut underneath her eye. We're very lucky her bone part of her skull protected her eye.

Would You Like to Give This Christmas?

Dear Friends and Family,

It has always been my hope that I would raise children who would feel compelled to give and think of others. Especially when times are tough. Brant and I have talked about this at length many times. As early as October of this year, we were brainstorming trying to think of something we could do to help someone during the holiday season. Our finances are tight and we don't have a lot ourselves. However, we both have a sincere desire to help someone in need. We both agreed to pray for an opportunity to come along.

I have recently spoken to a wonderful new friend of mine who is a single mother of four children. Recently divorced, she is struggling to make ends meet this year. She isn't worried about getting much for her children this year, she's worried about being able to pay her bills. She was near tears as she expressed to me the heartbreak she is feeling watching her children have to do with so little. Her youngest son was so sweet as he jumped into her lap. But, I noticed he was wearing no socks and his pants were a little short.

I am so glad I was able to speak with her, as I feel like this is an opportunity for me to help her and her family. I have an idea, but in order to make it work, I will need help from you. There are alot of people that read my blog. I know you may have wanted to do something to help somebody around Christmas time that may be in need. This is your chance. Talk to your family and explain how much this would be helping someone else. Your children can help too and learn how important it is to give. They can even donate a dollar.

I would like to collect donations from anyone who reads this blog. I guarantee one hundred percent of the money will go to this family. I am going to email, blog, and recruit as much as I can until December 15th. That's about 10 days from now. If I can get $50 per day, we can anonymously give her $500. That's alot of money, but not alot to pay bills and buy things for a family of five. So, here's what I need from you. Donate $1, $5, $10, or more if you have it. Because it is such short notice, Paypal is the quickest way to send it. My Paypal address is lizlane717@gmail.com. It's easy to send money. If you have a Wells Fargo you can transfer it instantly to my account. If you want to do this, please email me and I will give you the account information.

I also need help getting the word out. If your friends or family would like to help someone in need, please copy this post and send it to as many people as you can. I'll keep my blog updated to let you know how the collections are going. Remember, even $1 will help. I would love to help this family and make their holidays a little brighter.

Thanks,

Liz Hibbard

Madi has Daddy...

...wrapped around her little finger. I warned him about this BEFORE she was even born. He didn't listen to me. He thought he was going to be able to resist the mesmerizing spell a little girl can have on her Daddy. Today, he smiled so deep and so genuine I know she's got him for the rest of his life.

He was getting ready to leave for work and I was saying goodbye to him. Madi came at a full run yelling, "Daddy wait! I have to tell you something."
As she approached him, he squatted down to her level and put his hand on her back. "What honey," he said.
She said, "Come here!" She meant come closer.
He leaned in. She leaned toward his ear and held her hand up like she had a secret. Then she planted a kiss on his cheek and said, "That's what I had to tell you."
Then she ran off just as quickly as she had shown up. He melted like chocolate M&M's on the asphalt at noon.

Check out and add recipes at mommydazerecipes.blogspot.com

As a busy Mom, I am always on the lookout for meals that contain ANY of the following:1) Easy; 2) Fast; 3) Nutritious; 4) Tastes good; 5) Cheap; 6) Will feeds lots of mouths; or 7) Can save for later.I love to cook and especially like it when my family likes what I cook. As I come across great recipes I have always liked to share them. There are six girls in my family and we all like to trade and share great recipes. I wanted to use this site as an opportunity to share some of our favorites.Please contribute your recipes and comment on the ones posted. If you have a recipe to submit, email it to lizlane717@gmail.com and I will share it with everyone. Watch it at: www.mommydazerecipes.blogspot.com. It will grow!

No TV...how will we ever survive?

A couple of weeks ago we started caving under the high cost of living and decided to cut back on our expensesthat we don't need. We had the cable turned off. We were both dreading how we were going to be able to get by. I am a political/news junkie and can't go through the day without hearing from my good friends, Sean, Bill, Glenn, Greta, and Nancy. Brant watches (or used to record and watch) Sons of Anarchy. I know lots of people do not have 100 TV channels and the good news is they don't die. Now we have nothing--we haven't even one out to buy an antenna so that we can get the basic stations.

Here's what's I don't know anymore:
I have no idea how the recession is going. Is it up, down, or turning around.
I don't know what the President or President Elect are promising that probably won't happen.
I haven't heard about the latest gruesome murder, kidnapping, or traffic accident.
Worst of all, I don't know who lost the most weight on the Biggest Loser.

Here's what I have done more of:
Play with my kids.
Clean the house.
Read Books. (An ancient method of communication our ancestors used to pass on stories, self-help, non-fiction.)
Set goals.
Think, ponder, evaluate, and improve myself.
Looking up recipes.
Found something to do in bed with my husband, besides watch TV. (Backrubs and talking...you dirty minded people.)
Oh, and a little more blogging. Hence the rapid-fire, lengthy blogs the past two weeks.

I know people say this can happen, but I actually do feel happier. The world has now become my world, not the world the media is filtering into my home. It's a pleasant feeling.

O Christmas Tree

We are getting the tree put up in the twins room today. I cannot believe how much more fun the holidays are with children. They are so much fun to watch. They still aren't quite sure what this holiday is all about, but they know that something exciting is about to happen. It is so much fun to help them learn about the different traditions and their meanings. It's also very interesting how much interest young children seem to have in Jesus. I don't think it matters what denomination you are, children are attracted to his light. I am thankful for this special holiday that gives us an opportunity to teach our children about Christ's life and what he did for us.

Pregnancy...not mine, thankfully

Kim has been in labor (experiencing contractions) for the past week now. I am anxiously awaiting to hear she has had her baby, but nothing! I guess she is having contractions on a regular basis, but can't hit all of the numbers you need to get going. You know, dilation, effacing, consistent contractions. What a major event to get "birthed" into the world. I am so glad I had schedule c-sections. It was so easy...minus all of the suspense. I hope to post the baby news soon and will be thoughtfully thinking of Kimberly and little Kaylor that will be here soon.

Simple Revelations

I have had a few miraculous "aha's" lately that have made me so happy. First of all, while in Utah, I saw the inside waistband of a pair of Emyly's pants on the laundry room floor. I saw this cool little elastic attached to a button. The purpose of it was to expand or tighten the waistband as your child grows. I was looking at it and thought that is was so cool! Boy was I amazed. I thought they were special pants and wished that my kids pants had those. I just bought my kids belts to help them through the growing period. Then, I noticed my kids pants had it too! All of this time, and I wasn't even using this little feature. Talk about something being right under your nose. I've never been too keen on the obvious or common sense. It makes me wonder what else I may not be noticing. I am looking everywhere for that next obvious invention. It seems small, but it just goes to show you there are little miracles everywhere. BTW, I love my kids jeans now. They having worn jeans every day since my discovery.
The other thing is my Ipod. Well, it's not really my Ipod I am just taking over Brant's because he doesn't use it anymore. I have been wanting to copy audio books onto it so that I can listen to books on tape since I don' t have as much time to sit down and read as I would like to. I kept waiting to get to Utah so that I could have one of the computer geeks in the family help me. I asked my brother Jake, but he never got around to it while I was there. Here's how our conversation went:

ME: Jake, can you show me how to put audio files onto my Ipod?
JAKE: What do you mean show you? (Asked incredulously)
ME: I don't know how.
JAKE: How can you not know how? (Asked emphatically)
ME: Uhhh....I'm 38 and technologically challenged.
JAKE: Oh my gosh! Are you serious. You don't know how.
ME: Yes, I'm serious. (Like I would make it up or something.)
JAKE: Do you have the Ipod?
ME: Yes.
JAKE: Do you have the cord?
ME: Yes. (Excited that we might get this fixed.)
JAKE: Do you have Itunes?
ME: Yes. (I hope I am giving him all of the right answers.)
JAKE: Then what's the problem?
ME: I don't know.
JAKE: It's not hard.
ME: Yeah...I can't do it.

Jake laughs, rolls his eyes, and thinks I must not be serious or cannot be this stupid.

Anyway, he never did get around to it. A little bruised by his comments, I thought I would try again to figure it out. And, I finally did. So yes, I'm a little proud of myself. I did categorize the book as music and can't figure out how to put it under audio, but it works. I can listen to it.

Thanksgiving Holiday

I wanted to write a lot more about our trip to Utah. It was so fun to see everyone. We haven't been able to go back to Utah for over a year now. There are ten children in my family and everyone except Vicki was able to make it back. What a fun time we had. The cousins played and played together and there was not one fight among them. (Except for the time that Madison and Porter cornered Krew and tried to twin fight him. Poor guy.) BTW, a twin fight is when you bring your twin with you--Krew didn't bring his twin so he lost.
My mom has a cute little porcelain toilet in her mud room that is actually a watering bowl for her poodle. Porter thought she had toilets for little people and helped himself to using it. He just couldn't figure out why it wouldn't flush.
We had a huge dinner. There was a total of 34 people and two pregnant women. Jaymi was smart enough to give out assignments to everyone so that Mom did not have to make everything this year. We had pies coming out of our ears. Travis is the unofficial activity chairman for the family. He kept everyone busy. There was basketball, paintball, picture taking, dirt bike riding, Halo playing, WOW marathons, and lots of women sitting around visiting.
The twins played with Krew the most. At one time Jaymi, Mom and I were in the dining room. I could hear the twins and Krew playing through the baby monitor. I assumed they were upstairs outside of the room Lane was sleeping in. (Where the monitor base was located.) Unbeknownst to us, the threesome had slipped out the front door. The reason we could hear them was because they were playing below Lane's bedroom window. All of a sudden we hear Madison screaming bloody murder. I ran up one set of stairs and Jaymi went towards the other. She discovered they were out front. We both got there as soon as possible.
They had meandered over to the electric fence where the horses were kept. Apparently Madison had made contact. As soon as I got outside Porter started crying. I said, "Why are you crying? Are you hurt?" He said, "No, Madi scared me." Later we were talking about it and I said, "Madison you don't touch the electric fence with your hand do you?" She said, "I didn't." I said, "Where did you get hurt?" She said, "I put my mouth on it." Someday down the road I can hear myself saying, "You know, she's struggles with school. It must have been from the time she put her mouth on the electric fence." She's never going to live this down.
The weather was very cold compared to what we are used to in Vegas. Today, the kids were out in the backyard barefoot and in t-shirts. In Utah, they were dressed from head to toe in warm clothes. Anyway, it was certainly a fun time. I love being with family.

Christmas Card

We finally got our Christmas card done. I am so excited--that it's done. Not necessarily about the actual photo. I don't think it's the best picture of me, but oh well. At least everyone else looked decent. It was very hard to find a picture that most of us were looking at the camera. It's always such a chore. Even before we had kids, I had to pull teeth to get Brant to take a picture. But it is done and recorded as our yearly family photo. Yeah! We took this picture in Mt. Pleasant using Dona's barn as a background. I wish we could have done more photos. I love taking pictures, but it was too hard to get everyone to cooperate.