Happy Christmas!

Shea decided this year that he doesn't like to say Merry Christmas (no idea!) so Happy Christmas it is.
Happy Christmas!!!

We have had the most wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful Christmas this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you Grandma & Grandpa for spoiling us rotten. We have had the best time eating and putting puzzles together and playing with grandma and grandpa and hanging with Jaimee & Nick and shopping and eating some more and laughing until we can't breathe and reading and just relaxing and pretending we have no responsibilities or cares in the world . This. was. much. needed!!! We've even enjoyed the freezing cold Michigan weather and tons and tons of snow (a change every once in a while is good, right?!) Tomorrow we're headed to Kirtland to check out some church history sites. Can't wait.

Her name is Xandra!

And she's adorable and takes THE BEST photos. Let me know if you want her contact info.
(Sorry in advance for posting this many pics - AND for thinking that my babies are THE CUTEST in the world but ... :-)

Shea's personalized message from Santa

We've been doing an advent calendar this year w/ the little man. I got this awesome little wooden green and red train from Target with little doors that open from 1 - 25, so we've been opening one each day. Only one little gift fit into the compartments, but every day "the elves" leave a little note for Shea to either do something Christmasy (put up the tree, make Christmas cookies w/ mom, look at Christmas lights, write a letter to Santa, read a Christmas story, watch a Christmas movie etc.) or go to the red bag and find a treat or a little toy. He has LOVED this and it's been super fun for us too. I found this on my friend Mindy's blog. It was to date, Shea's favorite thing.
It's a super cheesy, but really cute little video you can personalize and put a picture of your kid into so that Santa's talking just to them. Check out Shea's and make your own!:

Message from Santa

My little sheep

I can't believe my baby is no longer a baby and now participating in the Primary! program. Geesh! How did this happen? Anyway, that's another post. But last Fri he did get to be a little sheepy in the primary's rendition of the Nativity at the Christmas party. Have you ever seen a sheep this cute??





I actually got a little teary eyed as I watched him. We worked hard (and I mean hard) on memorizing the two songs they sang. And he got Picture a Christmas down pat! But Away in a Manger was still a little shaky. But we drilled it into him that he had to sing. (There are only 10 or so primary kids so they needed him! :-) So he gets up there and he sings his little heart out. When he couldn't remember the words he just sang gibberish, it melted my heart. And because he was a sheep, of course, he was supposed to stick "like glue" to his shepherd. This is John, my sweet friend Heidi's son. He was so cute w/ Shea who almost wouldn't let go of his hand and really, really stuck to him like glue. :-) I also thought it was adorable that he really got into the being sweet to the baby Jesus, just like his mama told him. What an obedient little guy. (That's him, bending down, petting Jesus.) :-)

...and resume...

life, that is.
I've finally finished this never-ending move. Ok, I have one last closet to organize and still need to hang pictures but I'm finished. WOW! That was a drag. And now I have oodles of hours to make up and oodles of things that I've not been doing to now get done so, off I go. Pics of all my hard work soon to come! :-)

I HATE IT!!!!

I HATE MOVING!

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it (deep breath) I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!!!!!!!!! (Believe me, I've spared you, because I could go on in this vein for a LONG time!)

We have been blessed in that this will only be our second move in the almost 6 years we've been married, but still, I HATE IT!!!

The move is in 6 days Jenna, just freaking pack a box!!!

I don't know why I can't get started. I procrastinate a lot of things, especially the hard things that I know are going to take me a long time, but seriously, this is ridiculous, I really, really need to get started here.

I decided in an email to my mom yesterday that I was over this move, I am going to quit complaining and just pack up my stinking house and get it over with - well that lasted about 10 minutes and still, I did not get a box packed (but I did get the toys cleaned out.) It's just so overwhelming! Where to start? And what exactly, has to be packed for a move two buildings away? Can't we just cart it all over unpacked? (NO! Is what I've been told, by the way. :-)

So, I'm going to seriously pack some dang boxes now. I promise! The Elders Quorum will not come over on Fri afternoon and find me blogging with nary a box packed.

I promise.

Honest.

Here I go.

Oh yeah, for those not within earshot of my incessant complaining (so sorry dear friends, neighbors, ward members, family and total strangers who would listen.) We're moving two buildings down into a 3 bedroom. Glorious. An extra bedroom/office/food-craft-toy and crap storage room. I'm sure all this will be worth it. (It will right???????)

Duty Week and Dancing

My cute, wonderful friend Michelle and I are going to Dancing tonight!! I am SO EXCITED. I had so much fun when we went to the taping of Ellen, I can't wait for tonight. Huge thanks again to Morgs and Chris who got us on the list. And then, we're going out to dinner for my birthday. What an awesome evening! So look for us tonight, and let me know if you see us!!! :-)

I just finished another duty week and I think this'll have to be a tradition - that I post my favorite calls from the week. This week was S.L.O.W. (Warning: If you're an AC you might not want to read this part. :-) I most calls I got Mon-Fri was 8!!! 8 calls. Crazy. I'll take that anytime. BUT, I paid for it over the weekend - it was pretty darn busy. So, back to my favorite calls, there aren't that many this week:
- There's the guy who calls in and says that he wants to put in a work order because his fridge stinks. (seriously) and then "while he's at it" can he put in a work order for his oven too, because that thing hasn't been cleaned since way before he moved in. (again, seriously) -Sure Mr. ___ we'll send someone right out to clean out your fridge and oven. NOT! (wait, sorry, I just had a 90s flashback.)
- Then there's the guy who calls me at 12:45 am on Fri night (Sat morning) and asks how late he can call to be let into his apartment. Um, dude - how 'bout right now since you already woke me up? Nope, he decides he wants to stay at the party he's at and calls back at a little after 2 to be let in. Lame!!!

Anyway, halleluiah I'm off duty for another few months, AND I get to go to dancing and dinner tonight, my bday is Wed - I think it'll be a good week!! (Now if only I had some boxes packed, for the move that is in a week and a half! - then I'd be PERFECT!!)

Our thoughts on Prop 8

I realize that everyone in CA who does a blog has posted about Prop 8 and you're probably all sick of reading about it, but I REALLY REALLY think this is worth reading so I hope hope hope you'll stick with me here.
The election is in a few days and today about 70 of our closet friends met on the corner of Sepulveda and National and waved our Yes on Prop 8 signs for two hours this morning. It was actually a fantastic experience and I got choked up at one point, but I couldn't figure out why I should be getting emotional about it... until I came home and read something Chris wrote this morning.

"Last night I read an article in a news magazine describing how the nation is closely watching the battle over Prop 8 here in California; it seems that California, being by far the most populous state, has become something of a social and political bellwether for the country as a whole. As I lay in bed pondering the profound implications of our fight, both in California and the nation, some thoughts came to mind. I'm sure that the "higher ups" have talked about it since the beginning and that many have already realized this, but for me, it was and epiphany. So if you have already thought about this, please forgive my being intellectually and spiritually slow.

We have been taught that the U.S. Constitution was inspired of God and that one of the most fundamental and vital rights guaranteed therein is our right to freedom of religion. However, more than a right guaranteed by the Constitution, freedom to worship as one desires is our country's raison d'être - most school children can tell us that the Pilgrims came to America seeking religious freedom. Most importantly, it was a necessary condition for the Restoration of the Gospel in the latter days. I do not think it a stretch to argue that our nation was founded for the purpose of providing a place where the Gospel could be restored.

Court rulings on same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, California, and other nations, as well as voter approved alterations to the traditional definition of marriage in some places have proven to conflict with this most essential right.

Nothing new or insightful there, just setting the stage for what I realized.

We have numerous prophecies regarding the Constitution beginning in July of 1840. Joseph Smith taught (using Doctrine & Covenants 101 as a text):
“Even this nation will be on the verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground and when the Constitution is on the brink of ruin this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction.”

In a BYU devotional from 1976, Elder L. Tom Perry cited the following prophecies:

"First from Brigham Young, second president of the Church: “Will the Constitution be destroyed? No: it will be held inviolate by this people; and, as Joseph Smith said, ‘The time will come when the destiny of this nation will hang upon a single thread. At that critical juncture, this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction.’ It will be so.” (Journal of Discourses, 7:15.)

"Now another witness, John Taylor, third president of the Church: “When the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States, the elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth, and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations.” (The Gospel Kingdom, Deseret Book Co., 1943, p. 219.) This is part of the program.

"A final witness is from George Q. Cannon, former member of the First Presidency, who said that “the day will come when the Constitution and free government under it will be sustained and preserved by this people.” (JD, 23:104.)"

Elder Perry continues: "Now, I declare to you that if we are not in the beginning stages of the fulfillment of this prophecy, we are at least in the stages where we are preparing for its fulfillment." Again, saying this in 1976!

As we work today to defend this most fundamental aspect of the Constitution under the direction of Prophets and Apostles, we cannot help but realize that we are, in fact, taking part in the fulfillment of these prophecies.

John Adams, the second president of the United States declared: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Furthermore, we are warned in Mosiah 29:27, "And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land." While the vote will take place in just a few days, our fight for what is right and ordained of God, whether the family or our right to worship as guaranteed by the Constitution, will continue and we are morally obligated to participate. That it is a weighty responsibility should never detract from the joy we feel in serving the Lord and the great honor that is ours to participate in the fulfilling of prophecy."

That's what I was feeling today. I will vote YES on Prop 8 because I've been asked to by a Prophet of God. I will vote YES on Prop 8 because I feel that the law currently violates my right to freedom of religion, I will vote YES on Prop 8 because I know that God ordained marriage between and man and a woman and that children have a right to be born into a family with both a mother and a father and I will vote YES on Prop 8 because it is my privilege and right to take part in the fulfillment of the prophesies of the latter days! I hope you too will vote...

VOTE YES ON 8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween '08

Many of you know that Shea loves Star Wars. He watches it (the originals) as often as we'll let him, owns 5 light sabers, a dozen figurines and IS Luke Skywalker at least 4 days a week. So try as we might, we were extremely unsuccessful at steering him away from this....

Chris and I were both a bit embarrassed but Shea was pretty much in Heaven. The things we do for our kids. :-) Plus, there was Clare - how could we resist a Leia this cute??

Happy Halloween

Way too many pics of us in our costumes will be posted later. :-)
But for now...
Happy Halloween!!!

FHE this week was making our first ever Haunted Gingerbread Mansion - we sure had fun.

Recent Shea tidbits

The other day while having lunch (and I hadn't been bossing him around or anything! Promise :-) Shea looks at me and says, "Mommy, why are you always in charge? When is it my turn to be in charge?" (Chris' response to him later that night was "Never son, never. You should get used to it now.) ha ha ha.

Last week when I asked him to do something, I can't remember what, he stopped what he was doing and said, "Roger Dodger!" And ran to do it. Awesome Shea!! Where do I sign up for that reaction every time I ask you to do something?! And where on earth did Roger Dodger come from?

He has had a little cold (and a lot of snot) this week. When Chris got home from school Friday he asked him how he was feeling. Shea said he was feeling sick. Chris asked him if his tummy hurt or his head. Shea said, "No, my heart just stopped beating." I don't know where he heard that, but I'm obviously grateful it wasn't true!

Couponing Closet

I know I've posted about my couponing before. I had to do this post though -
I had to get a new shelf and totally re-do my closet (again) because I had so much food from great couponing deals!! I was storing all this stuff all over the floor of the closet, under the crib, even in our bedroom. It was a disaster!!

BEFORE:


Shea helping Daddy build my new shelf:


AFTER:

I LOVE the fact that everything in here was purchased for pennies on the dollar (pennies!) and that I have such yummy stuff to supplement the boring (but necessary)food storage: wheat, potato pearls, rice etc. I also love that when extra people come for dinner at the last minute or I need to take something to a pot luck, I can just go to my "pantry" and grab whatever I need. I have a whole mini store in here. I also love that we never run out of soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shampoo etc. Whenever we need anything like this? Just go to the "pantry." It makes me feel so prepared and well, just happy!!
Now, I'm certainly not saying bring it on or anything but... :-)

Playing with the famous

Today I had to go up to Beverly Hills (where I'm a part time personal assistant for a woman who lives in North Beverly Estates - the most ridiculous of the ridiculous gated communities in Beverly Hills.) So I also had to pick up Chris on campus and I knew I'd only be an hour or so in BH so we just all went up there and I dropped Chris and the kids off at the little park inside the community to play while I worked.
So I did my stuff and then went to get them. I parked the car and walked to meet them. Chris is giving me the eye and says (in French) do you see who that is? Do you see who that is? I look behind him and lo and behold, none other than....

Britney! (and the kids, the nanny, the girl holding the umbrella over her, and the bodyguard.)
Apparently Shea played with "Preston" and "JJ" for almost an hour today. And (to my shame) was also apparently not too nice. He kept saying, "Get out of my way little boy." and "It's not your turn little boy." And other bossy tidbits. But at one point he did make Britney laugh, when he was pretending the sand (ugh!) was water and was "swimming" through it. And Clare made everyone smile because she's just so cute.
So WOW!!! This is way better than just walking past a famous person at Century City or being in the same Apple store. My husband hangs out with Brit and our kids play together. Can any of you say that??? :-)

(Chris' comment? (we all know he has one) - In his ratty polo, and Gap chinos, hand hemmed by his wife , he still wasn't the white trashiest person at the park today!!!!) :-)

Oh, and as we left, parked outside the gates were some paparazzi trying to get shots of them through the trees - so look for us on TMZ! :-)

It's what I do.

A few weeks ago Chris and I were standing here talking when suddenly he goes, "Shea! Did you just wipe a booger in your hair?!" Shea looks at him and totally seriously says, "Yeah Dad, it's what I do."

I promise he did not learn it from me! :-) We firmly, firmly told him that boogers get removed from noses with kleenex (not fingers) and deposited in trashcans (not hair). I, naively, I guess thought that was that.

Then this gigantic (and disgusting, sorry) specimen was discovered yesterday.
Are we out of kleenex here? I don't think so!

Engagement Pics

Chris and Jenna Flood are proud to announce the engagement of their son Shea to Elisa...




Are these not adorable?!! They did this on their own! We turned around and they're just hugging. A few months ago when I went to pick up Shea from preschool the teacher told me that he wouldn't hold the rope on the way back from the playground because he wanted to hold Elisa's hand instead. It progressed quickly from there. :-) At the field trip a couple weeks ago, they just started hugging and we got these pics.

A few days ago there was some girl w/ purple hair on Handy Manny, I wasn't watching but saw her out of the corner of my eye, so I asked who she was:

S - That's Handy Manny's girlfriend
M - Oh yeah? What's a girlfriend?
S - Just a friend mom.
M - What do you do with a girlfriend?
S - You play outside and inside!
M - Do you have a girlfriend?
S - Well yeah Mom! Elisa!!
And we got the report from Rachelle today at church that Elisa has announced that she's either going to marry Gordon or Shea. So I guess it's not in the bag... yet... :-)

8 Months

Oh sweet, gorgeous little Clarabelle. How we ADORE you!!! These past 8 months with you in our family have been the happiest of our lives.

At 8 months, Clare LOVES food. She's a true Flood. The more the better and don't even think about eating real food around her without offering to share. She will dive for it. And man, can she dive far when food's involved!
At 8 months, Clare has 2 tiny, sweet, little teeth! She was miserable for a week, but now she can eat even more food, so she's a fan. (Look closely, there they are on the bottom.)


At 8 months, Clare can crawl! She's not tearing around the rooms in the house just yet, but she can definitely get from one place to another (especially if there's food or mommy's beads involved.)


At 8 months, Clare ADORES her big brother. She absolutely lights up when he talks to or plays with her. My happiest moments as a mom are watching them together. They love each other so much. Families are the most amazing thing EVER!


Also at 8 months, Clare has enough hair to wear two teeny tiny hair clips. I LOVE it!

P.S. The above photo is Clare being sweet (and Shea being goofy) for the camera. The below photo is the real Clare. Totally goofy and funny and of course, with the tongue hanging out. I LOVE this pic!!!
We love you gorgeous baby girl!!

Preschool Field Trip

We were so happy to go to Underwood Family Farms again this year. We went as a preschool this time and had a blast. Pumpkins, tractors, hay, animals, food = kid paradise. Clare slept most the time, so we just got a few pics of her. (And yes, her tongue is hanging out almost ALL the time!)

Finally!

Why, oh why did I wait 7+ months to do this??? (well, ok, money is why but still...) It is AWESOME!! Shea adores, and I mean adores his very own seat. (His seat is really the back one, it fits him better, but he wanted to try out Clare's in these pics.) His seat has a big sun shade that he pulls all the way down and totally hides in. He loves it. And Clare's just happy to be outside. I'm a little disappointed with the basket. It is really big, but it's so far under there that I can't get things in and out easily. I could never carry 2 gallons of milk and 4 2-liters of soda in this one. But other than that we are happy happy happy. And in a few months when Shea's too big - it turns into a sit and stand. Awesome! Anyone wanna go for a walk??? :-)

Clare is still working on the whole crawling thing...

It generally looks more like she's getting into position to start a race.

Tagged

I've been tagged many times and never done one before. (Sorry those of you who've tagged me in the past.) Tonight my darling cousin Jodi (who is an AWESOME photographer - check her site out, she's doing a giveaway (esp. Utahns) tagged me and I'm too tired to care about grading student submissions and this sounds like much more fun.

So three of my wierdest things:
1. I love, love, love to peel skin. I know-foul, but I can't help it and I'm super handy to have around in the summer.
2. I like to spell words out loud. I do it mostly when I don't want Shea to understand what I'm saying, but sometimes I do it just for emphasis. Unfortunately, I have the bad habit of misspelling those words or inverting the letters, resulting in a lot of "Holy C.A.R.P."
3. I can't brush my teeth with my eyes open.

Chris' weirdness:
1. He enters the Publisher's Clearing House online EVERY single day. (I think he's crazy, but am secretly hoping that someday it'll pay off.)
2. He will only eat sandwiches that are cut on the diagonal. I know he's serious about this because I've tested it. He will ONLY eat them like this.
3. He is morally opposed to vegetarian dishes. He doesn't get meat-less food. But I did sneak some delicious, delicious cheese enchiladas past him this week - that he loved!

A word of caution

Moms,
Be careful not to mix up the words "shoe" and "foot" when trying to help your 3 year old get his shoes on. The resulting "shit" and "foe" will be repeated for you all day long. Oops. :-)

Sound asleep

and...


Seriously son! Was your finger cold? Was your nose lonely?
How on earth did you fall (and stay) asleep like this?
He thought it was pretty hilarious when I showed him the pics when he woke up.
And well, ok, so did I. Look at that!

A grateful heart

Tonight I'm just grateful. For health, for home and mostly for family.
Shea wanted to nap today in mommy's bed so I put him down and came out to get some work done. 10 minutes later he came out so I put him back in bed and sat down again to try and get something done. He came out again, same thing and I put him back again. This time I asked him why he kept getting out and he said, "Mommy, I just want you to lie beside me." So I laid there and just held my baby. How lucky am I??? How could any amount of work be more important than cuddling that perfect little boy as close as I can for as long as I can? Tonight we read stories and sang songs and cuddled some more. I vow to cradle him to me as long as he'll let me.

(On a side note, there was a little earthquake tonight while we were sitting here reading stories. He looked up at me and said, "Why did our house shake mom?" How exactly do you explain an earthquake? :-)

Johnny Depp!!!

Ok, not really, but SERIOUSLY! This was some great casting Disneyland!! I couldn't take my eyes off Captain Jack as he was talking to Shea, he looked and sounded sooooo much like him. Shea's favorite ride has always been Pirates. He loves it so much that when we go down a hill in the car, he'll raise his arms up and go, "wee, just like Pirates."
Yesterday; however, we discovered the little roller coaster in Toon Town. Oh. My. Gosh. I can't remember when I've seen smiles that big. I love you Disneyland, that you bring this much joy.

Ridiculously handsome

A few weeks ago I noticed out on the playground that Shea's shorts more resembled hot pants and that 6 inches of belly showed when he raised his arms. After inspecting his tags, I realized that almost all his clothes were still 24 months. Shame on mom! So he got an entirely new wardrobe. (Including two slightly too large ties.) I was sadly disappointed however, as we were leaving Target, I, very enthusiastically said, "Shea, are you excited about your new undies?" He looked at me and said, "No." Well, ok then. I am not raising a girl here.

And on that note. On Sunday, to church, little miss spoiled, for the first time in her life, wore a dress twice. She has that many dresses. So this is a giant, giant, giant! THANK-YOU to all of you who donated to our cause when she was born. And know that your generosity will benefit future little girls. (Jaimee! I'm looking at you!! Have a baby! I have so much to share!)

My new all time favorite thing

I love this!!!!!! Walking into a room and seeing them playing together. Families rule!!!

Congratulations Shannon!

Our friend Shannon got baptized on Saturday. We are so happy for you and we love you!!
Good pic of Chris and Shea, Shannon and I however, closed eyes and red eyes. Lovely! - But you get the idea. It was a good day!

Look what I can do!

Happy Birthday Chris

33. Man you're old! Wait, I'm about to be 34 so I guess I can't talk. I made a list of 33 things you don't know about Chris. Most are pretty funny and all are interesting. Chris begged me not to post these. Sorry honey! It's my blog and I'll post if I want to!! :-)

1-Chris has the most ridiculously long outer ear hairs. (I trim them. You're welcome!)
2-He went to the Idyllwild music school on a summer scholarship when he was a teenager.
3-He was a drama geek in HS and college and did a ton of plays.
4-He can eat his weight in candy each week. (Yes, it's a financial hardship.)
5-He loves Halloween and coming up with original costumes for Shea esp.



6-He does not think our 46 inch TV is big enough and covets the 52 inches as Costco.
7-He allegedly walked back from Tijuana once with illegal fireworks strapped to his chest. (I do not believe this still - but he swears it's true.)
8-He learned to swim by being thrown repeatedly into the pool by an old German guy.
9-He loves scouting and is an eagle scout.
10-He is an accomplished tubist.
11-He also plays guitar, sax, piano, banjo, accordian, etc. (All of which, I'm forced to store in our tiny apartment.)
12-He knew I was supposed to be his wife the first minute he saw me.
13-Chris loves dogs and can't wait until we live someplace where we can have one.
14-He is the middle of 5 kids. There is a 9 year span between him and his siblings on both sides.
15-He can (and has) made braised lamb with mint sauce.
16-He will do anything around the house I ask him to help with.
17-He will do almost anything to get out of doing dishes.
18-While in a French PhD program, he prefers London to Paris.
19-He has been on Jeopardy! and won $2,000.
20-He has perfect vision and perfect teeth.
21-His best friend from Jr. High through college is a self-proclaimed fat Mexican named Tacho.
22-Ragtime is his all time favorite musical.
23-He believes Tommy's chili is the food of the Gods.
24-He never really liked or played video games until we got our Wii.
25-He has correctly guessed every single birthday, Christmas or Father's day gift I've ever given him before he opened it. I hate that I can never surprise him!
26-He is a really good teacher.
27-He hates, really hates having family pictures taken.
28-His teams are the Angels, Lakers and Rams.
29-His dream is to go on a cross-country trip to visit all the baseball parks and temples in the US.
I have 4 more but he's making quit posting this "crap."
So I'll end with,
I love you party pooper. :-) Happy Birthday.

(Shea at dad's party wearing all the hats!)