Festival of Lights

Last Saturday we took the girls to the Festival of Lights on Spanish Fork. We didn't tell them where we were going, and of course we went at the WORST time and had to wait a good 45 minutes to even get in. LAME!!! Elwyn cried and complained the whole time, then she was quiet while we looked at the lights, and then cried and complained the entire drive home. That night she puked all over Rich while i pretended to be asleep in bed. haha:)

Getting ready to leave

Elwyn pretending to sleep

Cute Willow

Words of Wisdom...from Elwyn

Elwyn: "Can i watch TV?"

Me: "If you go poopy in the potty."

Elwyn: In a very whiney voice...."But....I went poopy ladd (last) year."

Glad to know she only has to go poopy once a year:) Thanks Elwyn!!!

Annual Christmas Card

It's that time of year again. Christmas Cards. I don't mind sending xmas cards...and i especially love getting xmas cards, but i do hate writing our annual christmas letter. When we lived in Wisconsin, i didn't mind writing it so much, because i was mailing it to people that lived very far away from us, and didn't always know what was going on in our lives. Well now we live alot closer to many of the people (family) that we send this stupid letter to, so do they really need all this information??? Anywho, Rich wants to send a lame letter every year, and he claims he will help write it...HAHA. If pigs could fly...right.

Anywho, i thought i would post our lame letter on our blog along with the VERY CUTE card that we sent this year. This isn't the exact card, but i forgot to save the one that i had printed, so this is my second attempt at recreating it:)

If you feel you should be receiving a christmas card from me each year...there may be a reason why you don't receive one. a) you live too close to me...as in my neighborhood or ward, b) i don't like you that much or c) you were on my xmas card list at one point, but since you never sent me one in return, i have removed you from my list. There are actually many people still on my list, which i would LOVE to remove, but since they are FAMILY or OLD, i am apparently obligated to keep them on my list:)

Happy Holidays!!!

I cannot believe it is ‘that’ time of year again. It seems like I was just writing last year’s Christmas letter!!! Life is speeding by faster than I ever imagined.

Elwyn is continuing to cause trouble around here. She turned 3 in October and has grown up quite a bit this past year. It breaks my heartJ She is very animated and loves to make people laugh. She even laughs at her own jokes…which makes me so proud!!! Elwyn doesn’t listen to anyone but herself. She and I have a good time laughing while Willow is at school. She is more of a problem causer than a helper…but I think we will keep herJ. Elwyn started preschool this year. A few of the other mothers and I are taking turns teaching once a week. Elwyn loves it and she loves to learn. I love it because I only have to teach once a month!!!

Willow completed Kindergarten in May and is now in 1st grade. It is weird…but mostly nice to have her gone all day. She is doing so well in school. She is reading on a 5th grade reading level and loves to learn. We are so proud of her. She is our little performer. During her Kindergarten graduation she decided to do the ‘robot’ on stage. I about died of laughter. She is our little mommy. She helps me around the house and takes care of Elwyn when I need her to. She is very caring and loving. We are so lucky to have her and she is such a great example to her little sister.

Rich switched departments again at Sam’s a few months ago and now oversees the Fresh departments…somewhat of a blast from the past from his first year with the company. Rich’s business continues to grow which means one step closer to financial independence. If anyone wants to get out of the rat race and achieve time and money together, Rich has the perfect opportunity. Contact him anytime to get details (http://www.spthd22.acnrep.com/) about his business. Rich went to his first scout camp in almost 15 years this summer as Scoutmaster…what a way to get back into the game. He also helped me with the landscaping around our townhome complex. He did all the weed whacking…because let’s face it, that is not a job for meJ

I am busy yelling at the kids and putting them in timeout. Just doing the regular mom stuff. I have been doing the landscaping this past year at our townhome complex. I love it!!! Don’t worry that I broke my first lawnmower and had to buy a new one. Then I ran over a tree stump with my second mower and took out the front end. Why would I waste my time going around the stump??? I am slowly learning and I love being outside. I have only hated the past month or so because I have to rake up the leaves…and it is butt cold outside!!! I have had a few opportunities this past year to use my dance experience in judging and choreographing solos. I am grateful for these opportunities because apparently I’m not getting any younger!!!

We have had a wonderful year. In March we went on a super fun vacation to San Diego. The girls and I were able to go to the aquarium at UC San Diego. We also went to the San Diego Zoo as a family. In June we took a short…but needed little trip to Park City. We did a lot of shopping and a lot of staying indoors. It was FREEZING!!!

We miss you all and wish you a Happy Holiday!!!

Rich, Liz, Willow and Elwyn Wilson

Wowsers!!!

This might be a long one...watch out:)

So i had wanted to go to the Forgotten Carols last year...but ended up not going. So i made sure to buy my tickets early this year. I was excited to go, but hoping that it wasn't too 'churchy' because i'm not really into that type of thing. Anywho, it was butt cold outside and i had decided to buy myself an actual pair of shoes. Well...most of you know that i don't wear shoes, i either wear flip flops or flip flops with socks...so as you can imagine i couldn't walk fast enough in those dang shoes. Plus when i tried them on the size 6 felt a little snug...so i went with a 6 1/2...bad idea, the 6 1/2 is huge on me...i can hardly walk!!! Then we sit by the most annoying couple.

Dear couple that i had to sit next to at Forgotten Carols,

Please stop talking, you are bothering me. I don't care that you are on your third date and you guys think you love each other. I just want to sit here and wait for the show to start in silence. How often do i get SILENCE!!!! Can't you ignore one another...like my husband and i do. SERIOUSLY!!!! STOP TALKING....did i mention you are bothering me!!!!

Sincerely, ME

Whatever....Rich and i left during the last scene because i didn't want to get stuck in traffic. I wonder if i missed anything. I thought the show was great and funny, but not exactly what i expected. Oh well. When we got home Willow was awake on the couch crying. She ended up with an ear infection. I felt bad for her, and i felt bad for our babysitter:(

Saturday was my 24th birthday. Gosh i am getting old:) Willow had been up the night before with major ear pain, so i knew i would be taking her to the doctor. Now to find out if your doctor is available on Saturdays??? We decided to get up and go to our ward xmas breakfast. Willow was feeling better and she and Elwyn were great for me. Of course Rich was working, so it was all up to me. Anywho, i got Willow into the dr around lunch time and she has an ear infection (2nd one in a month), and an eye infection. LOVELY!!! Since i had to take Elwyn with me to the dr, i'm sure she will be coming down with scurvey or some other deadly disease this week. Anywho, my bday was busy, but wonderful. I love FB...and that so many people tell you Happy Birthday...it just made my day so much better. My sister and her fam drove down and spent the afternoon with us...which was also a wonderful suprise. Rich got me the new Dan Brown book, which i am excited to read, and he got me a $100 gc to a spa...YIPPY!!!!

Sunday i woke up feeling like garbage. I get migraines at least once a week...usually they are bearable, but sometimes i get them so bad that i can't even get out of bed. Let's just say that i am so glad that Rich was home. Oh and since he wasn't home that much on my birthday, Sunday was a continuation of my birthday. He didn't like that very much...but hello...make me feel special!!! He and the girls put together a gingerbread house for his work. All of the managers were asked to make a gingerbread house, then it will be auctioned off for charity.

The ending product. Obviously these pictures are not in the right order...but i get so frustrated with the way you have to upload your pics on your blog.

Rich working on the gingerbread house...by himself. He is a perfectionist and doesn't want help.

Look how sick Willow looks. Poor little thing.

And last but not least...my adventure this morning.

So when i got up this morning, i didn't feel all that great. I wasn't sure whether to send Willow to school or not. She said she was fine, but with the weather outside... i didn't want her getting sick again. Anywho...Willow took her SWEET time getting ready. I told her i wasn't taking her because of the snow, so if she wanted to go, she needed to get on the bus. When we opened the door to run outside, the bus was already there picking up the kids. I told her she just wasn't going to go, but she informed me that she would run, and make it. Well i let her go and she ran as fast as those little legs could take her. The bus pulled away and she missed it. There was a dad out there that finally flagged the bus down and she was able to get on. I felt like the worlds greatest mom at that point. Well i turn around to go inside and Elwyn had locked me out. There i was in my flip flops and pj's and 3 inches of snow...with more coming down. She couldn't unlock the door. I was yelling and screaming at her, and i just know my neighbors think i beat my children:) It was 15 mins before she finally let me back in. I dragged that little troublemaker up to her room and she spent a good 30 mins in her bed. SERIOUSLY!!!!

Pictures...again

It's picture time again!!!! I love my friend Julie...she takes incredibly cute/beautiful pictures of my girls...and she is about the nicest person i have ever met. I am so lucky to have her as my friend!!! These are by far my favorite pictures that Julie has done for me, and i am super excited about them. There are way too many to post them all, so you can just enjoy the few that i have added.

Willow and her beautiful smile.

Another cute one. Seriously...am i the only one that thinks she grew up overnight:(

I don't think we have ever taken a 'bad' picture of her:)

Miss 'Trouble' working the camera with one of her many facials:)

Sitting in mud:)

What a cutie!!!

Happy Halloweenin'

Another fun Halloween has come and gone. I make Rich take the girls' out trick or treating...because if i do it, we only go to about 10 houses. We only got a total of 15 trick or treaters this year...so i am stuck with bags and bags of leftover candy. Good thing i bought gross candy so i wouldn't eat it. The girls' came home with more candy than i gave away. Somehow Elwyn ended up with more candy than Willow...and she went to less houses. Funny girl!!!! They had fun, now to get ready for Christmas!!!!

Elwyn is a princess with pink hair. If you ask her which princess she is...(as in Snow White, etc.)...She will tell you that she is the 'Red' princess. Willow is a vampire with purple hair. She looked totally freaky with all that makeup on.

Freaky purple haired vampire!!!

Sweet little pink haired princess!!!

Presenting....my awesome costume!!! If you can't tell, i am a cowgirl. This was one of my dance costumes from when i was 10 years old. HILARIOUS!!! i had to sew a new elastic waist band on the chaps because i couldn't get the old one over my fat butt!!!! (ps...Rich is jealous of my awesomeness).

Rich and the girls. He is a vampire too. It scared Elwyn, which i think is funny:)

Halloween parade and pumpkin painting

It is time for the annual Halloween parade. It seemed a little unorganized...maybe that's just me. Willow looked super cute and had a great time. Elwyn had a great time watching all the kids pass in their costumes.

My little princess

Willow walking past telling me her cape fell off. She is a vampire....with purple hair. She didn't really care what she was going to be, just that she had to have purple hair. Don't worry, Elwyn had to have pink hair:)

Willow in her classroom during their party.

Mommy and Elwyn. My costume is awesome. I will post pics of Halloween so you can all see how awesome i am:)

Willow painting her pumpkin. She picked this one out all by herself at the pumpkin patch. She wanted the smallest one they had.

Elwyn making a mess of her pumpkin.

The kiddos, making a mess like usual!!!

Elwyn's birthday...just a little late!

Finally, i am posting pictures from Elwyn's birthday. It was only 3 weeks ago...no big deal:) I guess we have been busy around here. Doing what you might ask. I'm not quite sure. Willow has been busy with school. Elwyn has been busy causing trouble. And I have been busy cleaning up after my two little rascals. We recently got their 'birthday' pictures taken, so i will post those when i get them back. The girls spent this past weekend at their Grandma and Grandpa Cannon's house while i choreographed and taught a couple solos to some high school girls. Let's just say, it has been over a year since i have danced...and my body let me know. i ended up with a bad cold, and i thought for sure i had pulled something. Needless to say, i am much better today. I guess i'm not 18 anymore:)

My sweet little Elwyn on her Birthday!

Elwyn with her new Barbie. I am having a really hard time buying stuff for her. She plays with everything Willow plays with, but i haven't ever bought Willow a Barbie. Poor Willow.

Elwyn with her puffy ball. The girls love these things. Everytime we are at the store they find these and play with them. Don't worry that it was popped and thrown away by bedtime:)

Opening more gifts!

Elwyn with big sister Willow:)

Rich and the girls watching the BYU game.

My girls in their jammies.

Cutie little Ella-boo.

Happy Birthday Elwyn!!!

My baby girl is turning 3 today. I swear i just birthed her:( We have had a wild ride with our sweet little Elwyn. She was a horrible baby, colic and all. She wouldn't sleep through the night, and wouldn't sleep without being held. She would cry and cry and cry. People told us, just let her cry, well that didn't work because she NEVER gave up. She is still that way. She will cry, complain, scream, whatever it takes to get what she wants (this is especially the case when chocolate is involved)...and she does not give up!!!

Besides all the horrible things, she is the funniest, sweetest, most cuddley little girl. I know i will be laughing the rest of my life, just because of her. She is a crack up:) She still loves to snuggle with mommy, and i love it. I don't love it so much in the middle of the night when she wakes up and wants snuggle. Seriously, can she just sleep through the night already:) She is actually doing alot better than she used to be, but i don't think that i will ever get a full nights sleep again.

Happy Birthday Ella-boo, we love you!!!

Elwyn Millie Wilson 7 lbs 2.8 oz and 19 inches long

This picture cracks me up. She is one year old and being a flower for Halloween. Willow was a bee. So cute!!!

Elwyn at 2 years old. She has some of the funniest facial expressions.

She isn't actually 3 in this picture, but it was taken this year, so you get the point:)

For the love of the game....what???

Me: "Willow, what was your favorite part of your game tonight???"

Willow: "The Capri Sun and bag of Dorito's."

Wow, I'm glad i spent $40 to figure out that her favorite part of soccer is the snack. Go Willow!!! HaHa!!!

Run run run....kick....run run run....kick.....

That's right folks, it is outdoor soccer season. I gave in and signed Willow up for soccer this year. Yes folks, i attend her games and sit on the sidelines, wondering what in the world is going on. (this is a continuation from when i would sit in the stands at Rich's football games and wonder what was going on). Oh how i don't like sports!!!

Anyhooter, last night was Willows' first night of soccer. She didn't know what was going on either!!! The poor little thing was so worn out. She kept wiping the sweat from her brow, and could hardly keep up with all the boys. She is one of two girls on her team. Personally, i think they should make an all girls team, but I don't care that much to make a scene about the whole thing:)

She had fun, and hopefully we can survive the next 4 weeks of games. Luckily i have Elwyn to keep me busy on the sidelines. :)

Willow getting all set in her soccer gear.

Willow is #10. The coach is trying to tell them what to do. I just laugh:)

This is what Elwyn thought of the whole thing:)

Willow at the end of the game. She had a good old time and that's all that matters:)

Rich giving Willow a little pep talk. Willow just wanted to kick the ball, but she couldn't keep up with it. Rich just about had an aneurism on the sidelines wanting to get in on the game. Rich is VERY competitive. I have heard him tell the girls that it's all about winning. Good parenting:)

I love that girl:)

Off to 1st Grade

Willow is off to the 1st Grade. I can't believe the summer is over and Willow is going to school for the full day. It will take a little getting used to i'm sure. Not only for me but for Willow and Elwyn. Poor Elwyn only has boring old mom to play with now. Should be loads of fun...cleaning, laundry, organizing. The things i love to do:) Elwyn keeps telling me, "I'm hungry." She keeps saying it over and over. She must be REALLY bored. She also has consoled me many times and said, "don't cry mommy, it's okay." I'm not even crying...i'm just sad that i won't be able to boss Willow around all day anymore:(

On another note...i sure hope Willow comes home okay, i don't know what bus she is supposed to get on to come home. I'm sure her teacher will help her:) If you were wondering......yes, I'm such a good mom!!!

Willow and Elwyn posing for the camera

Another great shot. Check out my awesome shadow. No i'm not fat, or pregnant.. that is my purse, i swear:)

Willow at school. She was so excited to get away from me:)

The Birthday Girl:)

So Willow had an awesome birthday. She was able to celebrate her birthday with my family on Sunday, and then her official birthday was on Monday. I felt like i didn't do a very good job celebrating her birthday this year...but i guess i will just have to make up for it next year. She didn't seem to notice, other than i never made her a cake:( I am so terrible, i know.

Willow looking at her set of 6 pairs of new dress-up shoes from Grandma and Grandpa. These are a huge hit around here and there are even enough to share with Elwyn. AMAZING!!!

My two little cuties. Elwyn is always making the silliest faces. She cracks me up:)

Willow, on her birthday. The girls (and mostly Rich), love Kungfu Panda. Look at Elwyn, she is SO excited:)

Willow walking outside, suprised to see....

A new bike. (okay, technically it is not new. It is my bike from when i was a kid. Thanks dad for fixing it up and giving it a new paint job. I'm glad we didn't buy her a BRAND NEW bike. You should see the way she falls all over the place on this one.) Grandma and Grandpa gave her a pretty white basket and really ANNOYING horn to go on the bike. What a lucky girl:)

Daddy and Willow at dinner

Mommy and Elwyn at dinner. I don't know why we go out, no one ever eats what they order!!!! LAME!!!!