Dec 24th 9:29 PM

Locomotive full speed ahead into the side of a mountain.

That's me.

The month of December I had on my agenda 28 photo shoots, sew 5 quilts, 5 aprons, 6 PJ pants, 3 stockings, 2 piano pieces to practice for the ward Christmas program, 20 doz cookies, and a trip to NY to plan for.

Result? Fast food for dinner 43 days out of the month, Colby nursing Riley, forgetting to shave my armpits, a canker sore, me inquiring about a puppy for my kids, and total apathy towards the muffin turned party cake that sits atop my hips.

Now it's 11:57 Dec25th and here's how I did:
Finished all photo shoots, finished 2 of the 5 quilts, finished the aprons, PJ pants check, got 2 stockings done at 6AM this AM. Riley doesn't REALLY need one, right? Had Scarlette play the piano piece for me and I became the page turner, Christmas trip was a blast and got all cookies backed and delivered ~ though the sugar cookies tasted more like pancakes.

I don't even know where to begin.

First of all, the kids had a great Christmas, so I guess that means it was a success, but it was terrible leading up to it. Really, it was. Poor kids had to hold a cranky, crying baby so I could get everything done I needed to, we really ate out more than a human body should be subjected to, and we were still behind the clock when the kids decided to wake up and "see what Santa had brought." I was still finishing up the last stocking at that time.

Anyways, like I said, they say over and over it was the best Christmas ever, so that was good. But next year, I'm going to do things differently.

gift quilts finished in October
PJ pants made in September.
Gifts bought and wrapped in November
Cookie batter frozen beginning of December
Just say no to the rest

The last thing is the biggie. Just. Say. No.

I have got to remember that my lack of saying "No" only results in my kids suffering. That's that.

And it's late, I've got to get dinner on the table. So I'm saying "no" to this blog tonight!

Nikon giveaway

Yes, I'm a Canon girl, and will be forever, but I saw this, thought it was cool. Never won anything in my life so guess I'll just be a sucker and send traffic her way regardless! ;)

http://www.ohsoposhphotography.com/blog/?p=5458

"Hi Ho Silver! AWAY!"

Before this life we lived in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and friends and family. I was in love with a certain Matt and we decided we wanted to find each other here on Earth and be married because we just loved each other so much. Matt wanted to jump through the clouds and experience life as a cowboy on horse chasing tumble weeds. I wanted access to FaceBook.

And I guess I won the deal.

Because of it, however, I have a husband who dreams and wishes he lived back in the day of gun slingers and outlaws.

Apparently he's not the only one. Because someone produced and filmed a show called, "The Lone Ranger."

Have you EVER seen this show? You don't need to know how to act AT ALL to star in this show. You stand infront of a huge screen with some documentary of buffalo running over mountains and speak in a monotone voice about why some dude was killed. If you play the lead role of the indian, you'd say something like, "Bad man no good. Bad man no die. Bad man just say him sorry and good man say him OK."

Surprised the NAACP hasn't had a hay day with this show.

Actually, the reason they haven't is because they don't want to admit they watched it.

The other reason is because people like me would be up in arms against them.

As crazy ridiculous as "The Lone Ranger" is, it's a great show. There's a reason it's a classic. Because it's GREAT. First of all it's unique. Second it's a total feel good country western show. And third, who doesn't WANT to be the Lone Ranger or better yet, the lucky lady to finally learn his name?

The 4th reason is because my 2 year old worships this show and I love that this show exists simply to give my child something to love, worship, copy, and throw a fit over when his older siblings try and put "The Suite Life" on. Now THAT'S a mind number if you ask me! ;)

My ONLY complaint however is because of "The Lone Ranger", my 2 year old loves horses. And because Silver is white, well, he loves white horses. And there is only one company that makes white horses. Barbie's company.

So my son is desperately attached to a very feminine toy. And it kills my husband!

"Give him the guns and holster!" he says.
"He's looking for his "hey-hey", not the guns."
"It's a barbie horse!"
"No, it's Silver, the Lone Ranger's horse."

I do wish though that toy companies would come out with more manly type white horses. Or at the very least, just package them in a Ken box.

Oopsy daisy

So the other day we had the missionaries over to eat. When the missionaries come over to eat, I go all out. Why? I dunno. Out do the other moms in the ward I guess?

So on the menu was chicken alfredo. Why? It's my daughter's all time favorite.

So I went all out. Seasoned the chicken just perfectly, made some super delicious alfredo sauce, loaded the dish with tons of broccoli. Then I made garlic bread. And lots of it cuz that's always a favorite.

To drink was a choice between Cherry Gingerale (it's pink, that's why I like it, and the ginger means it's superfood healthy), water, and egg nog. Tis the season, right?

And in the fridge, for dessert, I had waiting a choice between chocolate silk pie and pound cake with blue berries and cool whip.

Out do the ward moms!

We set our table for 10, sat down, and proceeded to totally impress the missionaries. This family of 9 will carry that torch high!

Problem with chicken alfredo is it has dairy AND broccoli. And my problem is I'm a Colby and Colby's are notorious for certain Di Tract issues.

I was sitting across the missionaries, doing who knows what ~ sharing my own mission experiences, asking about investigators, can't quite remember ~ when the broccoli and the dairy met in my intestines and began to tap dance.

The tapping turned into full blown clogging.

And I have birthed 7 kids.

I figured, "this'll be silent, or at the least quieter than all the chit chat going on right now" so I went ahead and let nature take its course.

And take its course it did!

Holy hanna!

My first inclination was to blame Jess. Sitting right next to me.

However EVERY SINGLE CHILD I HAVE BIRTHED totally threw me under the bus.

"MMMMOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!"

I was laughing so hard I couldn't speak to blame anyone. I looked over at Matt who was also laughing, trying to hide his face behind his fork. So much for "through thick or thin..."

And of course the missionaries weren't your laid back, live and let live types. They were stripling warriors, dedicated to achieve, no none sense types. Love 'em, just can't be tooting around 'em.

I had no one to lean on that night.

So I just laughed. And every once in awhile, I'd get hit with a fit of laughter, hard enough that tears would come.

And the missionaries just looked on.

I don't know if they'll be able to ever take me seriously or allow their wives to birth a single child.

Oh well. So much for out doing the other moms in the ward. I totally blew 'em away! :)

"They ALL yours?"

I've decided to create a blog that'll let me have fun with the situation I've chosen to be in.

Stay at home mom. 7 kids. Photographer. Poor. Ran a marathon. Estsy shop owner. Mormon.

Can I get any MORE cliche? Any more STEREOTYPICAL? I can't stand people like me. Apparently I didn't just jump on the band wagon but totally crashed it cuz it was already super top-heavy.

Oh well.

People are forever questioning my decisions. My intentions. And quite simply, HOW I do it.

I know I'm not alone. I know I'm not the only one out there. But in case my kids decide to have larger than the typical 2-kidder family, they could see what went on while they were totally unawares of the chaos they created of my life!!