Christmas 2009

Christmas this year was a little hectic. Alex, Carlie and I drove out to Salt lake the week before Christmas and were driving back the day before Christmas eve. We got to Larime Wyoming when the weather got really bad. We drove about 30 mph all the way to Cheyenne. The road was a solid sheet of ice. When we finally made it to Cheyenne I found out the roads were closed to Denver. The wind was howling, the roads solid ice and it was still snowing. The temperature was 10 below with wind chill. The waitress at the Village Inn where we stopped to eat told me there was a back way to Denver - I had to work at 8am the next morning! After looking at the roads - the main ones were all closed - I decided that wouldn't be so smart to go on the "back roads" with two little kids in a blizzard, late at night, where there's no cell service. So, we hunkered down and found a nice little motel. I had all the kids luggage, presents, DVD players, toys, food etc in the car. You know what they say about staying in a motel, never leave anything in the car. So, I gave the kids insrtuctions to stay put in the room while I proceded to unload the car. Eight trips later, up two flights of stairs in 10 below temperatures, in the snow, we were unloaded! We went to bed. I woke up at 5am to RE-PACK the car and get us on our way before 6 so I could make it to work by 8:30. The roads were open, but they were terrible! We finally rolled into Denver around 10am. (it's only 83 miles from Cheyenne to Denver- it took 4 hours!) I drove straight to work after dropping the kids off at grandma's. Afterwork we went to dinner at Grandma's and THEN I finally got to go home! Whew! So Christmas morning I was pretty tired. We had a good Christmas though. The kids got what they wanted from Santa. Carlie got rollerblades, Alex got clothes. Here are a few pictures...I hope you all had a great Christmas too!

The treeAlex Alex and Mom

Alex opening presents

Mom and carlie opening presents

Carlie with her Rollerblades Santa brought her

Alex with Maggie

Carlie with her Barbie Castle

Margaret and Rita's house

Christmas morning

Rodeo

Carlie looking the part at the Rodeo

Matt and Carlie went to the Rodeo last night. Matt was excited to see Miss Rodeo ans Carlie was excited to see all the beautiful horses! Carlie told me all about the fireworks, horses and the bulls. She was most impressed with the fact that there was another girl rider there with the name Carlie. WAY cool in her book! They had a great time!

After watching some of her sister's videos, Carlie wanted to make her own movie so she could be famous! So here is her debut!

Big enough yet?

Ollie is just seven months old here, and as you can see he's a lot bigger than his 40 pound mom! He's a super sweet, cute dog! He looks like a big bear, or a sheep, or a Wookie!

He doesn't shed at all, not even one stray hair. It's awesome! I can hug him and I'm not allergic! I've never been able to do that. I love it!

Just threw this one in, Carlie is ready to tackle the snow.......

More of the Big Dog!

Poulton Party

Every year Uncle Jim and Aunt Donna host a party at their home for the Poulton side of the family. There were about 20 kids there under the age of 16. It was amazing. No running, no crying, no one was hurt! At the end of the evening I went down to the basement to retrieve my kids from the fun and I was shocked to see the place was spotless! All the kids things had been put away, all the trash picked up from opening presents. The kids had picked up and kept the place clean all night. We had a great time. It was great to see everyone. Big families are the best! Here are a few pictures from the big night...

Uncle Jim and Aunt Donna - the hosts Bob - my dad
Bob and his cousin Kim

Pam, Bob, Gina, Jim, Kim and Tuck

Bob, Gina, Jim, Kim and Tuck

Orin and June's kids, Bob, Gina and Jim Poulton Carlie opening presents from Jim

Alex in a sea of kids opening presents at Jim and Donna's house

Carlie showing off her present Carlie and Reid eating dinner at Jim's

Bob and his brother Jim. (My Dad and Uncle) Gina, Aunt Marge and Uncle Cy Aunt Donna (Jim's wife), Gary and Emily

Jackie, Uncle Cy, Uncle Jim and Bob

My Cousin Heather (Gina's daughter), her son and Me

How time flies!

I thought I'd better post, it's been so long! Time sure does fly buy this time of year. I have several pictures to post, but I'll have to do that later- I'm at work without a camera right now....

The quick version is here, I'll elaborate later!

Main thing I'm excited about right now......
My job FINALLY let me go part time! I've been asking for 2 years now, it's not something they've ever done before with my position, anywhere in the company! This is such great news I keep holding my breath and thinking I need to pinch myself. I'll be working Thursday, Friday and Saturdays. They gave me more money than I was asking for, which is also great news. I have someone to thank above for watching over me, and I'm so extremely grateful and thankful for this opportunity.

We're taking a trip......
Carlie, Alex and I will be driving out to Salt Lake next week. We'll be staying almost a week. The kids are sooooo excited! I'm excited for the drive. I love driving and road trips. I've got a couple of books on tape for the kids to listen to and the trusty DVD player. Alex has some hand held game device- I have no idea what it's called- DSP, or PS or something? I think I should know the answer to this one, but I hate technology and computers so I really can't remember any of it. (pretty funny that I blog! But, I never have the time at home to sit and write it all down...)

Everything at home is breaking....
If you know me you know I am sort of weird anyway, so this won't shock any of you....
The microwave broke about 2 years ago and I decided not to replace it. I think they're bad for you and the food really and truly tastes better cooking it the old fashioned way. Matt at first was a little upset- he asked how we were going to eat. I showed him this thingy called a stove and he's been good ever since. The other day the dishwasher broke- I told Matt if he can't fix it we are going to hand wash all the dishes. (if you know Matt you'll especially find this amusing) Matt actually got down and fixed the dishwasher! I was impressed! So, handwashing has been put on hold until it permanently breaks. We're still down to one full bathroom- Matt will be more motivated to get the other one fully operational when Alex starts putting make-up on and doing her hair. A teenage girl needs at least an hour of bathroom time each day! Our kitchen floor needs to be redone - more of an I want it thing, but it does look old and beat up. At least that's still functional! The windows desperately need replacing! There is a breeze by some of them, and a few are leaking. I do ahve a plan though.... I figure soon it'll seem like we're living in a yurt, so why not just do it???

Carlie.....
Carlie is going to preschool 2 days a week. She's doing great! This morning she said "mom, is 4 + 2 six?" I said yes. She then said "well, then 6 take away 4 is 2, and 2 take away one is one, and one take away one is none" I was pretty impressed, it was sort of a complex math problem for a 4 year old!

Alex.....
Alex got picked to go on a trip to Washington DC for being an outstanding student at her school. She too is doing great. She's getting so big, and she's such a sweetheart.

Amy.....
Doing yoga and really liking it! Started running (wogging) with Ollie in the mornings - mostly for him to get exercise. I've been getting up around 5am to wog with him- but only if it's above 25 outside! We go about 4 miles each morning.

Matt.....
Still working at Smart car and he really likes it there. Sales are slow, but that's typical this time of year. Fixing dishwashers in his spare time! ;o)

Ollie, Maggie, Hans....
Ollie is soooo big now! About 50 pounds or so. He looks like Sandy on Little Orphan Annie. Maggie is about as neurotic as ever. (anyone need a Whippet?) Hans is as cool as ever, and as hungry as always!

I'll post more later!

Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009

Alex

Carlie - I mean Wonder Woman!

Cookies Carlie and I made Halloween 2009 Carlie with all the loot
Big snow!
Maggie saying please do NOT put me outside

Ollie on the other hand LOVES it!

Carlieisms....

This morning Carlie asked Matt if you have to wait for someone to die before having a baby. Matt asked her why she would ask this question, she replied; "Because if you don't wait for someone to die there will just be more and more people on the Earth."

Matt asked here where she got that from and she said nowhere, "I was just thinking about it."

Then she asked if you have to get permission to have a baby, or if you can just "get to it." Once again refering to the population control thing.

Picture of the inside of Carlie's new school

Carlie also started going to "school" two days a week last week. She goes to Crem de la Creme Tuesdays and Wednesdays. What trauma! This place is the coolest daycare in the Universe! They have an outdoor waterpark with little water slides for the kids, mini tennis courts just kid sized, soccer, dance, gymnastics and karate lessons, computer class, Spanish class, art class, their own mini TV station for the kids to put on Newscasts, a store onsite for the uniforms etc...

Anyway, coolness and all it's been traumatic for Carlie. This is the first time she's been away from her family EVER! Either her Ga watches her or Matt or I are home. So, Carlie does NOT like her new school, at all. Yesterday she told me she's figgured out why she doesn't like school. Carlie said she doesn't have anyone she loves at school. At home she has her Mom and of course she has her Ga at Ga's house. Pretty insightful for a 4 year old!