8 week to a better you!

I am starting this new challenge for the new year! My aunt did it a couple months ago and they are starting it up again so I thought I would give it a try. It's tradition each new year to say we will lose weight, get healthier, be better in general, you know the usual. I never EVER have really tried a diet or REALLY tried to lose weight, so I thought now would be a great time. I have got a lot of baby weight that is LONG over due to get rid of and I am so ready to start over. This challenge sounded like a lot of fun, yet REALLY challenging. So what is it you ask??? Well, first you pay $18 to start. Everyone pays this and it is put in a "money pot." At the end, everyone who gets all their weekly points splits this money. My aunt won $60 in the last challenge they did. So if you pay the money you can earn it back, plus more! This time the challenge is a little harder so I think their will less people who get all their point which means you could possibly win even more money. Oh, and I think they do random drawings for fun prizes too! Anyways, there are a bunch of things you have to do on a daily basis to get all your points. Here are most of them:
1. Excersize atleast 45 minutes a day.
2. You can't eat ANY sugar. This includes any sugary drink,etc.
3. NO junk food/fast food.
4. NO white flour, only whole wheat. (This one is gonna kill me)
5. Read 15 minutes of uplifting material. Like scriptures or ensign.
6. Write in your journal each day. (Another REALLY hard one for me)
7. Eat 2 fruits and 2 veges a day
8. Drink 64 oz. water a day
I think that's most of them. They are all things I should be doing everyday, but I don't. This will be a major change in my habits, but will really help me stay on track. Oh, and you get one FREE day a week. This will help me get through the week knowing I can eat some fun things on one day. If you want all the details and want to try check our their blog at www.8weekstoabetteryou.blogspot.com. (Sorry my computer won't let me type in a link) Anyways, wish me luck! In a 8 weeks I am gonna be sexy, skinny, and a better ME!! Ha, Ha!!!

tooth fairy...

Missy here just lost her first tooth!! I could not believe it when she came up to me a couple weeks ago and told me here tooth was loose. I thought it was way too early for her to be losing a tooth already. Sure enough, it was loose and the new tooth was already coming in behind it. She finally wiggled it out and the tooth fairy made her visit! The tooth next to it is already loose and the new tooth is coming in behind that one too! My kids are just growing up too fast!

Christmas!

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas like we did. We were all so spoiled and had a blast. The whole week up until the big night was a fun week. Monday night for FHE we drove around and looked at Christmas lights and ate ice cream. We do this every year and I think its one of my faborite traditions. Wednesday night we went over to my parents house and we each dressed up in a character from the baby jesus story. I was the Angel, Ashtyn and Camden were Mary and Joseph, Collin was baby Jesus, and Chris was the donkey, ha, ha! My family were the other people. It was really cute and fast, but really fun. On Christmas Eve we gave the kids each a pair of pajama pants that I sewed for them and a new shirt. I thought it would be fun for us all to wear our jammies to our big Christmas Eve dinner with my Dad's extended family. This year we had it at the church since it was the place that could hold all 45ish of us. It turned out really fun. First we ate dinner and had a little talent show. Some of the grandkids sang Christmas songs. Camden actually sang "O Holy Night" in front of everyone and he knows all the words. It was really cute! After the talent show we opened presents. Each family rotates who to buy for each year. So we each recieved one gift. Then most of the kids played a game of basketball speed which was a blast!
Christmas morning was probably my favorite one since we've been married. I think the ages of our kids are just so perfect for the whole santa thing and they just made it so fun! They were so excited for santa to come they could hardly stand it. Santa found them and they were spoiled!!! Ashtyn got her doll bunkbed, a kid lap top (or LABTOB as she calls it :), barbie and barbie furniture, doll, bubble gum machine,games,dress up, pillow pet, shoes,and a few more things. Camden got an airplane, geotrax extension for the one he already has, football, ball and glove, moon dough, train, helicopter, play football tent, etc. Collin got a thing that you sit on and ride that sings songs and some cars. Chris got some cologne, pajama pants, and a golf shirt, remote control motorcycle, and a PS3 game. I got some dishes, pajama pants, cricut cartridge, an electric sander, YES a sander, I really wanted one for my crafts! I told Chris to start saving for next years gift cause I want a scroll saw next Christmas. Then, Chris' dad, Grandpa O'Connor got the family a WII!! It is so fun. We got 4 controllers, and a couple games for all of us to play. He really spoiled us this time! Needless to say, we were spoiled rotten but had so much fun.
After we opened our gifts we exchanged gifts with my family and then had lunch over at my parents house. We hung out and relaxed until it was time to visit Grandma Johnson and then over to my mom's cousins house for dinner and games! We were all SO tired by the end of the day. Thanks to all our family who helped make it an awesome Christmas!

Before:

Elf on the Shelf Tradition

So I am probably a little behind all you out there, but I just found out about the Elf on the Shelf tradition. For those of you who don't know what this is, let me tell you.

I bought ours from Barnes and Noble and it is this box that comes with the "Elf on the Shelf- a Christmas tradition" book and a little elf. (I paid $25 with shipping, worth every penny. Plus we will use it for the next 15 years alteast) I wrapped the box up and labeled it- To: oconnor kids From: the north pole. We pretended like there was a knock at the door and the kids found the package and opened it up. They were SO excited to get a package from the north pole. We next read the book which is a really cute book that rhymes and tells the story of how the whole thing works.

It first tells that there is a secret of how santa knows if you are good or bad and that it is an elf that comes to report back to him. Then you have to name your elf. So we chose the name FRED. You set him somewhere in your house that the kids can see. Each night when the kids are sleeping Fred flies back to the north pole to tell santa if they've been good or bad. Christmas magic helps him to be fast. He comes back before they wake up and he is in a different spot in the house. Just like if he had REALLY left. Let me tell you that Ashtyn especially went crazy with the idea that Fred was a REAL elf. She keeps saying that she sees his eyes move and how he can really fly. In the morning she JUMPS out of bed to see where Fred is next.

The one rule is that you CANNOT touch Fred. if you do, the magic will be gone and Santa won't know if you were good or bad. (I love this rule becasue I think my kids would be dying to play with Fred otherwise) Also, that Fred cannot speak, cause Santa says so. But he will listen to your wishes for christmas. (Ashtyn has been telling him her LONG list of things). Then it tells that Fred will be gone Christmas Eve night, but that he will be back next year at the beginning of the Holidays. Isn't this just the CUTEST tradition. Our kids are just at the PERFECT ages to totally get into it. It is so fun to put Fred somewhere new each night before we go to bed. Then to see them find him in the morning. It is a little like Christmas morning to them, just having a surprise each morning. When they are being bad I just say "Fred is watching." I hope that we can enjoy doing this for many, many, many years to come because it is just so fun.

Perfect and just in time for Christmas!

SOLD!!!!!

FOR SALE $20

My husband made one of these adorable doll bunkbeds for Ashtyn for Christmas. (SHHH, don't tell her!) He had enough material to do another one so we could sell it. It is the perfect size for dolls up to 18 inches tall. Very well built and super cute! Let me know if you want to buy it!

*Another Christmas Craft*

I made something like these presents last year but I didn't get them quite right, so I wanted to make another set. Last time I painted them, this time I decided to put paper on them and I think they turned out super duper cute! They were super simple and I love projects that are so quick. Enjoy!

Days til Christmas...

I am sure you''ve all seen these types of countdowns, but here is mine. I thought they turned out really cute! All you need is a couple of 3 1/2" blocks, a piece of a 2x4 and some paper, and look how cute. My kids love turning the blocks each day to countdown til the big day. (Yes, I am aware that the numbers are not correct for todays date!) And just to let you know, there are 31 days til Christmas. You better get your shopping ON! I can't wait for Christmas!

Miss Ashtyn turns the big 5!

Last week Ashtyn turned 5 years old. I just can't believe how fast she has grown. She is my little miss smarty pants and always keeps me on my toes. This girl is going somewhere in life. She knows what she wants and knows how to get it on her own.

Here are a couple things about Ashtyn:

*She has always seemed older than she is. Even at 2 months old she didn't act her age.

*She started talking at 8 1/2 months old. NO JOKE! I thought it was so cute when she was so little, but now, I am not so sure. J/K. She was saying mama, dada, goggy (doggy), and bye-bye.

*At 2 she was singing about 5-6 primary songs, all on her own, and to the right tune!Songs like "I love to see the temple, I am a child of god, popcorn popping, I belong to the church of Jesus Christ, teach me to walk in the light." She could also sing the ABC's and spell her name by herself.

*She loves girly things. Actually that's an understatement, She LOVE LOVE LOVES girly things. She has been obsessed with dress-ups since about 2 1/2. She went through this crazy phase around age 3 where she would change her clothes/dress-up dresses about 10 times a day. NO exageration! She loves jewelry, make-up, dresses, skirts, shoes, anything girly!

* She loves to learn about anything! She likes to know what words mean and remembers it all. Also, she likes to learn facts about random things and loves it.

*She is one who will try and push the rules EVERY time. She likes to tell others what to do and how to do it. (Like most girls who are the oldest!) She knows what she wants and will do anything to get it. I hope she stays like this her whole life because it will really pay off.

*She loves her little brothers and would play pretend all day. She loves her friends and bugs me to play with them every second of the day.

She is such a fun little girl, full of SO much energy and we are so glad she is in our family. I wouldn't change her for the world!

She was such a beautiful perfect baby!

8 months old

About 18 months old


Just turning 3




4 years

The BIG 5

She had a really fun 5th birthday. She had a friend party first and then my family came over later that night for presents and cake. One funny thing I want to remember is that I told my mom that she loves tape. She is always using my tape for completely random things so I thought she might like her own tape. My mom wrapped her up a roll of scotch tape along with her other gifts. Ashtyn wanted to open it very first. So she opens it up and says,

"TAPE, all you got me was TAPE?!" She was pretty disappointed but it was really funny to hear her response.

Then it was time to open a present from aunt Candice. Before opening it she said:

" I hope this isn't one like the tape!"

You probably had to be there to really get just how funny it was!

I may get around to posting her party pictures, but we only took pictures of her opening the presents. Maybe someday though....

I have had so much fun doing these birthday posts looking back at all my pictures of the kids. It is just so crazy how time flies and how things change so fast. It makes me a little sad, but each stage is so much fun too!

TrICK or TrEaT!

This year's Halloween was a lot of fun. Ashtyn was Tinkerbell, Camden was Peter Pan, and Collin was a frog. I made Tinkerbell and Peter Pan and I thought they turned out pretty darn cute! I was going for cute, but cheap. I made them both for about $20, which I feel like is really cheap for TWO costumes. Collin's was one that I made for Camden when he was one year.

We started out our Trick or Treating at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Then we went down to Grandma Johnson's. After, we went to our wards Trunk or Treat. They had soup and rolls for dinner, and then the trick or treating. The kids had a lot of fun, and it was short and sweet. We were home by 7:10. The kids dumped out their candy and ate till they were sick. My theory is the faster it's gone, the better! Then we all watched the movie "Hocus Pocus," Which is the best Halloween movie of all time! Camden calls it "The Hocus and the Pocus." Ha, Ha.

Pan and Tink

Peter Pan, even though lots of people called him Robin Hood. He loved his costume and surprisingly kept his hat on the whole time.

You won't find a cuter frog around! He too kept his head piece on the whole night.

Assessing the damage.

Major Catch up!!

No one probably cares about these long over due pictures, but here are a couple of the pictures I recovered from my memory card. I was BEYOND excited that I got so many retrieved!

With Princess Tiana

In the Farris Wheel, one of our FAVORITES!

Ashtyn and Ariel

With Cinderella (I am so bummed it is SO dark)

With Belle

On Autopia

Camden was too scared to get in the picture alone, silly boy!

The dessert plate at our character lunch. It was so yummy! That sea shell is white chocolate!

Ariel again.

Also, I have been meaning to write down a couple of things that Ashtyn said. I swear that girl is on a whole other level than I ever was at 4/5 years old!

*So we were having family scripture reading and it was Ashtyn's turn. I was helping her read her verse, so I would read a couple words, then she copied. So it went like this:

Me: :..."were to flee from Jerusalem"

Ashtyn:..."were to LEAVE from Jerusalem. " "I just said LEAVE because FLEA is just a little bug that makes you itch. So I just said leave cause thats what it means anyways."

Seriously, she just picks up on stuff so fast, and I really didn't think she paid attention to the words, and just copied what I say. I am glad she understands a lot of what we read though!

*Then, we were sitting at the table and the remote control was sitting on the table. It was upside down so all the buttons were facing the table. She pulled it toward her and said:

Ashtyn: "This remote has FRICTION."

Me: "What? What does that mean"

Ashtyn: "It's like rubber can't spin or move very good because it has too much friction"

What the heck, I am 26 and I would never think to use that word (in correct context,too!) in everyday life. I was so impressed that she totally understood that. I think she saw it on "Sid the Science Kid" and remembered it.

Just a funny: We got my brother a 750 piece puzzle for his birthday and when she saw the number of pieces on the front of the box , she said:

"Whoa! Look how old you have to be to play this puzzle!" Ha, Ha

*Last one: She heard the word ISRAEL on TV and said:

"Hey, that's like number 10." (Meaning the 10th article of faith!) She just remembers so much, and LOVES to learn.

This is for Janae

Remember when I said I deleted all my disneyland pictures, well, I actually got a bunch of them back with this site! It was amazing. It scans your memory card from your computer and you can preview all the pictures it recovers. It has thousands of testimonials of how great the product works. Then, if you want to pay for it you can. Well worth the price. I am gonna post all those disneyland pictures, but I have just been SO busy. (Actually, that's an UNDERSTATEMENT!) Anyways, this is it:

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/recover_deleted_pictures_photos_digital_camera_flash_card.html

Click on the top of the page : Recover lost photos
Click on the GREEN DOWNLOAD button and you are on your way!

Collin's 1st Birthday!!!

This handsome boy turned ONE year old on Monday. I seriously cannot believe it! Here are a couple of things about Collin:

* He is really small for his age. I think he is about 16 lbs. We'll see at his check up on Tuesday.

* He is so happy and content

* He has a blanket with silky edges and when he's tired he sticks it in his mouth and chews it while he sleeps. Wierd! He's never had a binky

* He has been sleeping through the night for a couple months now. He sleeps from about 7:30-7:30

* He loves the bath, He actually cries when I get him out

*He is a quiet baby... I think his brother and sister make enough noise

*He loves his mommy!

2 weeks

4 mos.

8 mos.

Here are a couple I took on his birthday! He is so cute!!!!

We had a little party for him with my family. We ate dinner, cake and ice cream, and presents, of course! He didn't really care about much, but he was so cute! I feel a little guilty because it was so low-key. For the other two kids, I threw 2 first birthday parties for them (one friend, one family party) I hope he doesn't hold it against me :) Hopefully I am not the only Mom who does this either. I think with each kid I have gotten lazier and lazier!