Tuesday's Top Ten

My Top 10 Favorite Christmas Party Photos
(2 different parties, Jared's family's and my family's Christmas Parties)

#10 My Sister Susan and I (she's 10 years older than me, doesn't she look great?)


#9 Jared and Uncle Rick acting like....well like Jared and Uncle Rick


#8 Cousin Zach holding Natalie "Hostage" during the Charades game.


#7 Aunt Robbi showing us a Yoga move during the game, Charades


#6 Aunt Lorina sitting on Santa's Lap


#5 Uncle Tom getting a Barbie Doll in the game, "Santa Spilled his Bag"


#4 Kelsey getting Great Grandma's False Teeth as a Gag Gift


#3 Cousin Hayden giving Porter a Hug


#2 Porter with Keven and Lucy. Porter wearing Mr. Potato Head Santa's Beard and mustache


#1 Jared and I enjoying a party together

The Mom Song

Wednesday's Words For MOMS!

Christmas Has come at last. I saw this video over a year ago and my good friend Becky e-mailed it along with a Mom's letter to Santa. This mom is my Hero and pretty much sums up my life as a mom especially this month.

Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my own doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bar s to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out -- over several Christmases.
Since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles; and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years, so now - -

*** Here are my Christmas wishes ***

* I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (-in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

* I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

* If you're hauling big-ticket items this year, I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

* On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

* I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my childrens hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

* If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

*If you don't mind, I could also use a few miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

*It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing, and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his red crayon back. Have a safe trip Santa, and remember to leave your wet boots by the door, and come in and dry off, so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours always with love and appreciation,
A Mom

P.S. One more thing . . You can cancel all my requests, if you can keep my children 'young' enough to believe in Santa.

To All You Moms out there...
I hope you had a very Merry Christmas!!!

Tuesday's Top Ten

Top Ten Christmas Memories
#10 Watching mom and dad make homemade fudge (the only time I ever saw them frustrated with each other)
#9 Grandmas Christmas Train. Still a favorite with my kids
#8 The only Christmas where Santa came early and we had to wait down stairs while he unloaded his gifts. Then we opened as soon as he left around midnight. We never did that again.
#7 Caroling with the young men and women on a tractor pulling trailer through the streets.
#6 Caroling with the family with home made chimes
#5 Riding on the sled behind Grandpa's Tractor, up into the canyon to find Christmas Trees.
#4 Having my very own Christmas Tree in my room
#3 Performing as singing Christmas Elves with my siblings
#2 Pizza for Christmas Eve dinner.
#1 listening to my dad's favorite Christmas album all month of December..
"Mitch Miller and the Band"

First and Last

My First Child.......

Kailey and Chris

Christmas Ball, 2008

And My Last Child.....

Porter lost his 1st tooth.

(I hate the tooth fairy! Right up there with the Easter Bunny! Another Blog for another time!)

Wednesday's Wall Words

A Frequent Conversation With Kelsey.

setting: Any given Day!

Kelsey: "Please Mom?"

Janalynn: "No."

Kelsey: "Why?"

Janalynn: "I already told you why."

Kelsey; (a little louder, and an added whine) "Please?"

Janalynn : (a little louder, and a touch of annoyance) " I said No!"

Kelsey: (Whine) "Please?"

Janalynn: (a DUH type tone in her answer) "A... No!"

Kelsey: (A lot more Whinnier) "PLEASE?"

Janalynn: (Ignores this question and rolls her eyes)

Kelsey: (Draws out the question) "PA-LEEEEEEZE?"

Janalynn: (A lot Louder and draws out her answer) "NNNNN-OOOO!"

Kelsey: (Asks with a voice like she is in pain) "Please?"

Janalynn: (snippy) Ask me please again, and You won't be doing ANYTHING!!"

(Quite for about 10 seconds)

Kelsey: (more controlled) " So can I?"

Janalynn: (drops whatever she's doing and walks into her bedroom and locks the door to keep from screaming)

(knock on Janalynn's Bedroom Door)

Kelsey: (quite, and sweetly) "So was that a Yes?"

Janalynn (yells through the door) "GO ASK YOUR DAD!!"

Tues. Top Ten #3

Top Ten Favorite
Christmas Songs

#10 O Holy Night

#9 Little Drummer Boy

#8 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

#7 Must Be Santa

#6 Silver Bells

#5 Let It Snow

#4 Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer

#3 Sleigh Ride

#2 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

#1 Do You Hear What I Hear

Thursday's Thoughts and Theories

Thought: Is It Worth Shopping on BLACK FRIDAY?
My Theory: If you don't mind BLACK MOODS.
Ok so I got all excited to go out and SAVE BIG!! I have only done this one other time, and like giving birth, must of forgotten the pain and misery you are in, and repeated the same act. My sister goes every year and is so organized and swears by this her method of shopping on this day. Unfortunately I tried her techniques and failed miserably. Yes I got what I wanted, Yes I ran to the check out and was even out of the store just 15 min after it had opened, only to realize when reaching my car, the checker had not scanned the main item I went for. This meant I had to go back in to pay for it. By this time the lines were at least 45 min.LONG! After an all day Shopping event, I spent the evening and into the night wrapping all the presents, numbering them and putting them away until Christmas eve, (My sister's tactic). Long story short, I have spent this week returning 10 items because, I either found something better, wrong size, it was broken, or I just plain didn't need it. Three of the items were already wrapped (good thing I numbered the gift!) While returning, I found that a lot of the "savings" wasn't all that much of a savings, and even found a few of the same items I "rushed" to get were still the same price a week later. I also wonder if some of the stores jack up the price, so it looks as if you're saving big. I'm not sure. I am sure however, some people love this day, and somehow can pull it off. Me? either I have to find an easier way, keep practicing, or just avoid "Black Friday" all together!

On a cheerful note....Thanksgiving was enjoyable. Held at the church, and Hosted by my family this year. The gym was open for basket ball and games, the kids ran free, and the kitchen large enough to "not get in the way".

Wednesday's Wall Words

A Conversation with Porter

This is what a fly on the wall would hear.

(setting: Janalynn bringing in groceries. Porter going through the bags to see if Janalynn bought any treats to eat.)

Porter: "Yea! you bought Dr. Dew!!"

Janalynn: It's not Dr. Dew, It's Dr. Pepper.

Porter: "Oh, I get it....Dr. Dew is Dr. Pepper in French.

(Janalynn just smiles, and thinks, too cute to correct.)

Tues. Top Ten #2

Top Ten Reasons I drive a Minivan
#10 Sliding Doors (a must when you have to share the garage with the husbands car).
#9 Built in Car Seats. (Do you think 16 is too old to still be in them?)
#8 Easy to separate fighting kids. (they get their own bench.)
#7 I love to see if I can out speed a SUV at a red light. (Sometimes I actually win. You Go MOM!!)
#6 I love the sound of soup cans, soda cans, balls, and even milk jugs roll up and down the floor of the van when returning home from the store.
#5 The bench seats make nice lawn couches when they are removed for yearly cleaning.
#4 Nothing says "Car Pool Mom" better than a Minivan. (There is always room for one more.)
#3 To embarrass my kids. (I lived through the station wagon era, and I survived, and so will they.)
#2 A dent in a minivan looks natural, no one asks, horrified,"What Happened?!"
And the #1 reason I drive a minivan...
1. My teenager doesn't ask to drive it!!!