'the look'

Can you guess what kind of mood Ella was in?

You can even see the tear trickling down her cheek.

'The looks' have started, watch out!

(and this 'look' was to her dad!)

Christmas Day review

I love everything about this day! The anticipation of morning, the gift giving and being with my family. But mostly I love the "spirit" of Christmas. This year was a very different and meaningful Christmas for our family. We are very humbled and have experienced so many joys from serving others and RECEIVING service. The extent of our gratitude will be written down in my journal, but I do want you to know how grateful we are to our family and friends this year!

We were awaken at 6:45 am by Morley, but we sent him back to sleep for one more hour. I am sure he was dying to 'see what he could see' from the hallway! I got up at 7:30 and started getting everything 'ready' for them...the music, cameras, and cinnamon rolls in the oven.

They had to wait for 'their cue' before they could come into the living room. Tradition is...they have to come in, with their favorite stuffed animal, (a tradition when I was growing up) and start with their stockings, then Santa's gifts, etc.

waiting for the 'OK'

It was so much fun to watch the kids open their gifts and see the genuine excitement and joy on their faces. I know the boys' favorite gift was from Santa...Mega Bakugans!!

I think my favorite all day has been Ella's excitement of her baby & stroller gift from Santa! Oh it is fun having a little girl!

Toss Across was another HIT with the boys, it has been so fun watching them play together!

Matt and I weren't supposed to exchange gifts. I sadly kept my part of the deal, but Matt gave me a special gift. A scripture that has new meaning to us during our current trials is, Mosiah 18:21. He had that scripture printed and put on a piece of 12x12 tile for me, and wrote me a very special letter that I will always cherish! I cried, as he predicted.

This is definately a Christmas I will always remember!

**I must amend my post**

It was an extra special day because we were able to talk with my little brother Tom. He is serving his 2 year mission in Tiajuana, Mexico. On Christmas day they are able to call home and talk with their families. My entire family was on a conference call with Tom. It was so neat to talk to him, hear of his experiences so far in Mexico!

Merry Christmas from Nebraska!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Ho, Ho, Ho & a ScReAm

We finally made the visit to the "REAL SANTA" this year. We passed on the Camo Santa

up at Cabela's this year! I just couldn't do it...

mommy trying to 'convince' Ella Santa is nice

Morley thinks he is too old to sit on Santa's lap, but I said too bad and he had to do it anyway. The boys enjoyed talking to him for a bit and we were able to get a cute picture.

Ella...wasn't so thrilled with the whole Santa idea. Maybe next year she won't SCREAM!

Santa is in there somewhere...

Matt consoling Ella after the drama-with her candy cane

sMiLe...

and have a great week!

Rock 'n' Roll

the COOL Haley family!

Matt's had his 'work Christmas party' tonight. The theme was Rock 'n' Roll, and dressing in costume was encouraged. The whole family was invited. We took the bait, dressed up, had a fun time and spent some quality time with the kiddos.

The kids have their 'own party' in another room but also had games and contests in the adult area. Limbo, hula-hoop contest, costume contest and a lot of dancing. Brayden was a dancing maniac, all out on the dance floor by himself-and he didn't care. At one point, an 'older woman' came and started dancing with him. He LOVED it!

Brayden 'chillin' in line for the limbo

Good Job B!

Morley workin' 3 hula-hoops at once

Brayden & Ella doing the twist together

The "3 Haley boys" won the best costume for the boys category!

What a bunch of tough guys!

Zibbies...where you can find them

Several people have emailed me asking, "where can we buy the Zibbies?".

HERE is where you can find a retailer near you. Punch in your zip code and start shopping!

Have fun!

Zibbies...how cool is that?

A few of the perks of having a 'Pa' that makes toys for a living are:

1. so many toys to play with

2. toys named after you

3. having the opportunity to 'test' toys...

and who would do that better than 3 boys!

The kids have all have a toy/stuffed animal named after them, with their birthday's etc. The 'newest' and 'hottest' items right now are called ZIBBIES. There is also a fun online game HERE that is perfect for those little people to play, especially while they are home for the holiday break! Cute, fun animals with HYPERFLEX hair and loads of personality! You can still find his amazing CASCADE TOY products through Play Visions.

All of 'Pa's" grandkids are a part of the fun. Check out all of the styles HERE!

Morley the Beaver is now retired.
Drew the Bee has been renamed, Bizz.
Brayden the Giraffe is also retired.
Ella the "ellafunz" Elephant will debut in 2009

How fun to have such a creative 'Pa'!!

Don't forget to visit the website and get a few for yourself at a retailer near you!

laugh out loud funny...

If you want to laugh out loud, click here HERE . All Mom's will appreciate this!

And if you just didn't get enough, click HERE! Just a few of 'my favorite things' by Hilary Weeks!

don't forget to turn pause the music at the bottom of the blog before you click!

tHiNk WaRm...

TODAY...it is 52 degrees. The sun is shining and we are just wearing jackets. There is NO snow...and I am okay with that.

TOMORROW...it is supposed to be high of 9 degrees...with a wind chill of -12 degrees. LOTS of snow in the forecast, I am not very happy about that!

We may just turn into popsicle's...

If you want to see if I am serious...check THIS out...

the 1st week...

My 1st week of work it over, I survived, and so did the

5th & 6th graders!

I learned a few names, corrected a lot of math homework, observed the dissection of a deer heart and lungs in science and relearned a lot of history from the 1800's. It is amazing how many details a person forgets about so many things! I am also helping students with their fluency reading. Several of them are below the benchmarks so it is fun to see their progress each time we do the testing. I've mastered the mega copy machine, a feat in and of itself!

Ella and Brayden did great away from me this week. They didn't go to the official 'daycare lady' this week. A dear friend stepped in and asked to watch them for us this week so we could save a little money. THANK YOU!

So...Monday Matt will drop them off at "Ms. Rhonda's" for the first time. I am so glad he is dropping them off and not me!

It was a good week. Only 2 weeks left until Christmas break! I will be counting down just like the kids do!

you've got to be kidding...

it is NEGATIVE 2 degrees outside right now, and it is only 9:18 p.m. It could get as cold as 10 below tonight!

BRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

workin' woman!

It is true, I have joined the work force, outside of my home!

Today was my 1st day.

I accepted a position with our local school district to be a Teacher's Assistant or a "Para" as they are affectionately referred to. I will be working at the 5th & 6th grade school until the Christmas break and then at the 4th grade school (Morley's) after the break. It will be a huge transition working full time outside the home, but I am comforted by the fact that I am "off" when Morley & Drew get out of school. I will also have all the same holiday breaks, days off, etc. that they will have.

Yes, Ella & Brayden will be going to daycare. That is

THE HARDEST thing to deal with during this whole working woman thing!

Matt and I know this is the right decision right now for us, eventhough it was a very hard decision to make. No details, no justifying anything...just the bare bones of information. Thanks for your love, support, encouragement and prayers!

AND...we will get past our obstacles and be okay!

just couldn't help it!

I usually stray from the "traditional" way of doing things, even when it comes to my kids clothes. Until yesterday, and it wasn't even officially December yet. My sister found this darling dress for Ella this summer and I just couldn't NOT have her wear it, at least once. I have something else in mind for her actual "Christmas dress" so I thought this could just be her "December dress".

HOW CUTE!!!

Then, after church she was thirsty and insisted on drinking right from the soda bottle. It was empty, except for a smitdgen of water. She is funny!

Happy December!!

today is the day to finish putting up the decorations...I hope!

our big reader

Morley finished the 2nd Harry Potter book last night! He is so excited and can't wait to start the 3rd! We are so proud of him and his desire to read and his excellent retention! I LOVED reading this whole series, and we have a fun time discussing the books together and comparing the books to the movies!

Don't you think they look a lot alike??

FaCeLiFt

Thanks to *leelou blogs* for my super cute and fun blog facelift!

Love your talent, thanks for sharing!!

wHaT a FeAsT!

Thank goodness for cameras with timers! Dinner was OHSOYUMMY!! For dessert we snacked on a little apple crisp and pumpkin/chocolate chip bread!

I STILL have a full belly (I'll be paying for that tomorrow) and exhausted.
Off to bed I go!

hApPy ThAnKsGiViNg

image courtesy of flickr

It is just a small crowd of 6 at the Haley home today! No friends, no co-workers and no extended family joining us for the feast today! I am a little sad, but we are building our own memories just with our little family! We are very THANKFUL today for so many things!

I better get back to all the bakin'!

don't forget this...

"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will--to your surprise--miss them profoundly."

~President Thomas S. Monson, General Conference Oct. 2008, "Finding Joy in the Journey"

thank you Jolene for posting this! I needed this reminder tonight...

pHeW...just in the nick of time

I just couldn't resist the FREE PHOTO BOOK from Snapfish.com! I put it off, and put it off again. The deadline is tonight at 11:59 PST...and I JUST clicked "order"!

I chose to do mine using all of my favorite photos from our family reunion this summer. Including the professional and candid photos from the week. I am so excited to have so many great photos in one book to enjoy!

YEAH!!!

Hurry...if you haven't completed yours yet!

HooooooooRAH!

FINALLY...my MILLIONTH attempt at making bread was successful!!!

Isn't it beautiful?? I changed a few things...I used METAL pans instead of my glass ones and used DOUGH ENHANCER. Combined...I have success!!

and this hopefully is the last picture of bread you'll see on this blog...

eXhAuStIoN

don't you just wish you could fall asleep in the middle of the day on the floor!?

a week in review...

phew...what a week! I can't believe I haven't posted that whole time...sorry for being such a slacker!

My Dad flew into town on Wednesday and stayed until yesterday! There was a lot talking, eating (only healthy of course), hunting (only the men), more talking and just having a good time!

Matt took my Dad hunting two different days for duck & goose. Isn't this picture just awesome! I love the way Brayden is leaning backwards in order to hold the goose up off the ground, it is nearly as big as he is!

The kids had such a great time with their "Pa" and it was a lot of fun to watch them together!

(don't you just LOVE how my kids cooperate for a picture...SERIOUSLY!!!)

*****************************************

Oh...and I don't think I ever mentioned the poor luck my van has had. Things come in 3's...right!? So...#1...in June we had a little accident and it dented our back door and it won't be fixed anytime soon. Then...#2...in August on our way to our family reunion in Idaho, our driver side tail light lens just blew off. I have had red tape over the absent area since then! And...#3... just 4 weeks ago...a freak windstorm incident resulted in our back side window exploding!! So for the last 3.5 weeks I have been driving around Sidney with a black plastic bag taped over the whole in my van! I was the ultimate REDNECK girl driving around town! FINALLY...I found a window at the local junkyard along with my new tail light. We fixed both ourselves last week and probably saved $200 in labor! YEAH!! So...now I just have the dent in the back, but I can deal with that, for now anyways!

It has been an emotional, free-ing, learning, growing, and exhausting 6 days. I am thankful for amazing parents and an amazing husband.

Family Pictures...

Our family pictures are finally here and ready to show!!! We had quite a few editing requests, and with 4 individual families, it was quite the photoshoot!! These were taken at Rose Lake, Idaho in August while on vacation with my family! The kids individual pictures are on the sidebar, aren't they just too cute!?!

ENJOY!!

our cute family

on the dock

cute Haley kids

kids close up

Matt and the kids

My family, all grown up!

Dad & brothers Will & Tom

all of my siblings

my mom & sisters; Darci & Candice

Nana & Pa with all the grandkids

the whole gang, all 17 of us!

oh no...it's SNOW

We're in for the long haul...the snow has arrived and probably won't leave until Spring! I am so glad that we had those last few days of unseasonably warm weather the first week of November.

The kids were so excited to see the snow falling when they woke up and wore all of their snow gear to school. Brayden even shoveled the sidewalks for me, WITHOUT being asked! Gotta love that!

I wish I could hibernate!

pony tails & growing up

This week was a big milestone for Ella. She turned 18 months on Monday! She attended nursery for 2 hours on Sunday, and did so awesome! Matt dropped her off and she didn't even cry. Maybe that was because he totally snuck out...but she stayed in there and was perfect. My first Sunday without her, I had to substitute in Primary, so I look forward to next Sunday when I can stay in class the entire time!

Next, I am loving the whole girl thing. Big surprise, I know! I love doing her hair every day, and yesterday we tried something new. A big girl pony tail! It was so cute, I just had to take a picture. It didn't stay in very long, Ella's fingers were just to curious!

October 2007-after her haircut by big brother...her hair grows fast, thankfully!

I put her on our bathroom scale and she is 24 pounds and measured 32 inches! Still long and lean!