My Kids Think This is HILARIOUS

My Kids think this is SOOOO funny that they have to share it (even if it is a few days late). Snowball fight: Little guy and Pip-squeak Vs. Mom, Dad, and Uncle Randy

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Un-documented Christmas Fun

Last Thursday Jon and I took the kids with us to deliver several food boxes for the Utah Food Bank. In true "Taddei" fashion I forgot my camera, but it was such a nice experience I had to write a little something. On Thursday we bundled up the kids and drove up to the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City. Collecting a weeks worth of groceries for three elderly ladies almost filled the trunk of our little compact car, but we got it in, turkeys and all, without smashing a single egg. All three ladies were in a senior living center. From the moment we parked the car we were greeted by some of the nicest "old people" the little guy had ever talked to. They all loved the kids. It was so nice to see my two little ones having a great time delivering groceries and Christmas turkeys to these sweet ladies who hardly ever get visitors. My little guy asked questions, said "Merry Christmas", and carried the milk into every apartment. The pip-squeak smiled and said "Merry Christmas" in her most angelic voice possible. It was such a nice experience and we won't be waiting until next Christmas rolls around to do it again. In fact, I've decided to set up a schedule with the food bank to do it once a month.

On Saturday my little guy went with my parents to "A Christmas Carol" preformance at the Hale Center Theater in Orem. I read the book to him the week before and he was SO excited to go. He thought it was amazing that several people played more than one part in the play. He also loved when the carolers came out between scene changes and sang Christmas carols. He's been singing "I Saw Three Ships" ever since. In true "Taddei" fashion, my parents also forgot the camera so another Christmas activity has gone by with out documentation. The little guy absolutely loved it though and told me he has the best grandma and grandpa in the world. (That might have something to do with a trip to McDonalds afterwards which has been on mine and Jon's boycott list for years.)

We also did our annual Christmas Light Drive. The kids loved looking at lights and this year we popped popcorn to bring with us. I've since decided popcorn will not be joining us for any other Christmas Light Drives. By the time we got home it looked like a movie theater had exploded in the back of our car. It's been all vacuumed out and I'm still finding pop-corn. Our car is just too small to hide that much popcorn, and yet it's managed somehow.

So three Christmas activities without any pictures to show, but wonderful experiences that have really brought the spirit into our home and into our lives. Add to that making Christmas treats for neighbors and delivering them with the kids, and we've had a very successful Christmas season thus far. Four days to go and here I sit as excited as the kids.

A Little White Stuff

We've had snow for a couple weeks now but the first week it was so cold we weren't able to pack the snow enough to make a snowman. Last Saturday was the perfect day so Jon and the kiddo's bundled up and headed out to create the neighborhood's first snowman.

Finally "Captain rock-eye" (thus named for his eye made of rock) was complete.

He also has an eye patch and some "scary teeth". He was a scraggly pirate snowman, but you can't really blame us, we didn't have any carrots, and none of our trees are big enough to sacrifice arm-branches yet.

Apparently our little guy has quite a snowball-throwing arm. He hit me at least ten times. I'm not too shabby myself, and I learned there is an odd sense of satisfaction when you hit your 6-year-old in the back with a nicely formed ball of snow.

Jon learned you have to watch out for 2-year-olds in a snow ball fight. They are just the right height to cause some serious pain.

They were so warm and snuggly in their snow clothes they stayed out much longer than I did. Awww. . . just look how cute they are. I love them SO MUCH!

And here's just one more picture (are you still reading? Did you make it this far?)
My little pip-squeak loved the snow! Last winter I had a broken foot (poor me) so she really didn't spend any time outside at all (poor her). She's been out in the snow every single day since the fluffy white stuff first started to fall. I think we have a snow bunny on our hands.

He Said/She Said

Since the inception of my blog I've quoted funny things my kids have said. I've collected them all. And here they are (I know you're excited), a recap from March to December. My kids keep me laughing with their great one-liners. Hopefully some of them will make you smile too. Enjoy.

Not so much fun in the water

Regarding play food: "This tastes hard."
-Pip-squeak (March 2009)

"Mommy, yo 'tinky, go take a shower!" (Isn't she sweet?)
-Pip-squeak (April 2009)

"I wouldn't want the curse of deadness."

-Little Guy (April 2009)

Little Guy: "Mom, you can't eat a cantaloupe.
They need to live in the wild."
Mom: "What are you talking about? Cantaloupe is yummy like watermelon."
Little Guy: "Oh, I thought you were going to eat an animal."
Mom: "That would be an ANTELOPE. I will be eating a CANTALOUPE. Big difference."
(May 2009)

"I love you TOO much."
-pip-squeak (June 2009)
mmm...his first green olive
"I almost always love you."
-Little Guy (July 2009)

"Mom, can I watch Snow White and the Hi-Hos?"
-pip-squeak (July 2009)

"Bein' naked is the best!"
-pip-squeak (August 2009)

"Mom, makeup is to make you beautiful . . . you might want to try this."

-Little Guy (August. 2009)

"Are you listening to me? Or do you have muffins for ears?"
-Little Guy (August 2009)

Auditioning for the circus??

"I won't take a nap! Blah, blah, blah..."
-Pip-squeak (August 2009)

"Knowing you is a dream come true."
-Pip-squeak (Sept. 2009)

"Mom, I sorry I just hit you. It's OK, I'm not hurt."
-Pip-squeak (Sept. 2009)

"Fake Spanish is the easiest language to learn"
-Little Guy (Sept. 2009)

"Sometimes you just gotta barf it all up."
-Little Guy (October 2009)

"If I was tired I'd already be asleep."
-Pip-squeak (November 2009)

After groggily waking up: "I can't believe you made me leave the party. I want to go back." Then he went back to bed.
-Little Guy (November 2009)

"Mom, can I wipe my boogers on your shirt?"
-Pip-squeak (November 2009)

The antithesis of a good hair day

Pointing to her farmer's hat: "Do you like my hammer's fart?"
-Pip-squeak (November 2009)

"It's so dark in here I can't see my eyebrows."
-Pip-squeak (December 2009)


It's hard to believe that it's already December and another year is almost here. Last year at this time my sweet, little pip-squeak was barely talking at all. Now we can't get her to stop. She is so funny and smiley and happy. I LOVE it! My little guy is now quite the thinker. So the quotes we get from him are very deep and mysterious. We'll have to see where that takes him in life. . .
Here's to another year full of laughter and "Did he just say that?"

I enjoy a nice bath now and then, but not so much when I get pushed in.
Isn't my hubs a sweet guy?

The Start of a Little Christmas Cheer

Another Christmas season is here and for the first time in a LONG time we have enough room for a big tree! It was a lot of fun to watch the pip-squeak pull out the decorations and strategically place them on the tree. (Did I mention she strategically placed them all in a row?) This picture was taken after some rearranging, but before I finished it all. If the tree looks a little sparse it's because we now have a 7 1/2 ft. tree, with decorations for a 4 ft. one. I was actually really impressed that the decorations filled it out as much as it did.

The finishing touch

Check it out! For the very first time, our stockings are hung by a chimney with care. The kids are so excited but wonder how Santa is going to get through the glass. I told the Little Guy that if Santa can fit down a chimney a little thing like glass won't stop him. Isn't magic awesome?!

Christmas is like a wonderful new adventure for the pip-squeak. I love watching her look through books, play with the tree decorations and love our Fisher-price Little People nativity. I need to take a picture of her playing with the nativity. It is so cute and she loves to bring baby Jesus and Mary around the house where ever she goes.
We've had this nativity for several years and I still love it! It's the perfect "decoration" to keep little ones away from all the pretty breakables.