Oh, it's on!

I opened up my email last night, and look what I found...

Registration Confirmation for:
2009 Ironman 70.3 Boise
Dear Robert,
Congratulations! You are now registered for 2009 Ironman 70.3 Boise. Please check the event's official website for updates: http://wwwironmanboise.com/

So, I guess he'll be doing a whole lot of this...

And we will be doing a whole lot of that!

I must admit, I am nervous for ya, Bob. That is a beast of a race. But, I know with a lot of hard work, you CAN do it! I just wanted to let you know how proud I am of you for setting this goal. The kids and I will be behind ya 100%! We love you!

Kristi

Time Wasting

What have Robert and I been doing every night this Christmas break after the chilluns are fast asleep in their beds.......No, No, and No.....get your filthy minds out of the gutter peeps?!

We have been watching episodes of the ever so popular, fantastically humorous.....The Office.

We just finished season 2 late last night. Jim walked up to Pam and just flat out, no holding back, told her he LOVED her! Wow! Just when I thought it couldn't get any better than that, he found her later in the office, crying on the phone to her mother. He walked right up and started kissing her. That's right, just landed a long, romantic one, right on her. That's what I am talking about, Jim!

I know this episode catching up thing is really a huge time waster, but I did read that watching something "funny" boosts blood flow to the heart and is actually a helpful health tip! Seriously.....30 min. a day might just keep the Dr. away! Hmm.....then we'll just keep watching. Season 3....See ya tonight at about 10 p.m.!

Computer hiatus

Due to the fact that I work from home on my computer, I told myself I was putting it away for the Christmas break. I lasted an entire week. Yesterday I was blog, email, Facebook hungry, so I plugged in the laptop. Hmmm.......I don't think the little ones were quite ready for their mom's time and attention to be given to something else besides themselves.With Owen insisting to sit on my lap and Avery bouncing around on the back of my chair, laughingly I pleaded, "Seriously, Avery, get off me!"
Then laughing became growling for Owen to quit banging wildly on my keyboard.

Followed by more laughing when Owen kept kicking the table causing us all to go wheeling backwards on a nice little ride in the computer chair.
Just when I thought I had the two little ones under control....
It became completely unmanageable. I stood up, kids hanging tightly to me, and walked away from my computer....STARVING! (Check out Avery posing like a rock star.)

Pay, I wasn't happy at the time when you picked up my camera and were snapping shots of your struggling mama, but kudos to you for successfully capturing a small glimpse of my world mothering these two little heathens!

MOM

Christmas Piano Recital

Pay had her very first piano recital Thursday night. She practiced and practiced Jingle Bells for weeks beforehand.There she is playing her piece....and afterwards with friends, Hunter and Tanner, and her teacher, Tori.

Pay was feeling a little down because her dad, brother and sister couldn't make the recital. Both Avery and Owen were under the weather, so Robert and the kids had to stay home. However, her spirits were lifted and she was all smiles when the two of us had a girl's night out afterwards. She chose her favorite restaurant, we went and ate and did a little shopping too!

Pay, you are growing up way too fast, but I sure enjoy the little lady you are becoming. Thanks for the fun night out. I always enjoy spending time with you!

Loving you much,

MOM

P.S. I don't know if you can tell in the pic., but I totally chopped my hair off. Not that there was a lot to chop, but it is REALLY short now!

Friday's Funny

It started to snow the other day. Owen and Avery were pretty excited and were dying to run outside in the fresh, new flakes!

So, even though they were totally not dressed for the weather (Owen is in this weird phase where he wants to wear his swimsuit all day), I let them go.They didn't last long. I told them to run get on some shoes and they could crazily run around some more.Owen came downstairs wearing these lovelies. Hmmm........not really what I had in mind.But, he loved the boots. Sure they were difficult to walk around in at first..... Then he became so good that he continued to prance around the house in them. You know, walking around, checking the Christmas trimmings.So, I totally intended to use these shots for my Friday's Funny.......until last night. Before I crawled into bed, I checked on the kids. I went to pull up Owen's covers and noticed he had put on the shirt he had worn that day. Wondering what ensemble he had on, I pulled back the covers to find this...

Owen, wearing the day's dirty shirt, his swim suit he pulled from his top drawer, and his snow boots. Now where were those boots when you needed them, boy?!

Owen, you are daily entertainment! I love you!

MOM

The Biggest Loser

The Finale was awe inspiring! The transformation these contestants made was simply......AMAZING! They really worked hard, sacrificed, sweat blood and tears.....lost weight, became healthy, look incredible and, I am sure, feel FABULOUS! So, I was motivated too while watching, oh boy was I ever. Now I am up late grading papers and eating the Cherry Cordials I bought at Wal-Mart today because they looked so good!

$%^&!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas cards

Suzy Carlson from JackandJillphotography did our Christmas cards this year for FREE! All I did was advertise for her photography studio on my blog. She did a great job and I wanted to thank her! I also wanted to post this because we didn't send out Christmas cards to everyone this year. We didn't even do our annual "McBride Top Ten" Christmas letter. I know, I know, we are getting lame, but I like to think of it as, SIMPLIFYING!

This is not staged

I PROMISE!

Owen was taking a little longer in the bathroom than I thought necessary. So, I went to check on him and found this. I snuck away quietly, only to go grab my camera and take a precious shot of my little man doing exactly what his daddy does! Boy, they learn early don't they?!

A great way to start the Christmas season.....

Disneyland, the week after Thanksgiving, was fabulous! The Christmas trimmings were spectacular. The people in the park were sparse, and the lines were short! The weather was just right, and the rides were, as always, out of this world! We had an awesome trip, minus a few melt downs from our terrible two yr. old, and out of control four year old, but one thing was for sure.........Disneyland was magical, and we were so happy to be there!

I took over 400 pics. so, this is just a short view, or some highlights of our trip in no particular order!

Visits with Santa!

We were amazed at all the Christmas decor!The Chapmans came the day before we left, so we were lucky to have an afternoon in the park with our good friends!We brought the double stroller, but Owen wanted Robert to hold him at all times. By the end of the week, Robert's back was ACHING!
The girls and their painted faces!It's a Small World.......all lit up at night!Owen, happy?!

Breakfast with Lilo!
Lunch with the princesses.


Candy store!


Snuggling with Minnie! Swimming in the pirate ship pool.


Riding the roller coasters!


Screaming down slides!

Showing Minnie the mini -babies.

Riding fun rides!

Laughing at their crazy dad!

Playing in Mickey's Toon Town!

Being a good big sister!

Riding the Madahorn, again, and again, and again!

Doing a little jive with Brother Bear!

Building at the Lego store!

Hugging Minnie.....again!

Watching 3D shows!

Pictures by the enormous Christmas tree!

Owen, loving seeing his buddies, Hunter and Tanner!

Avery and Owen each chose a baby Minnie and Mickey and loved them the whole trip!

Admiring Snow White! Avery and Owen were a little nervous!

Having fun in Minnie's kitchen!

Wishing Mickey a Merry Christmas!

Dancing along to the High School Musical presentation!

Riding the old fire truck through Disney's Main St.Enjoying the views while riding the Monorail!Dancing with Goofy at his kitchen!

Admiring the spectacular, nightly, Christmas parade.

Ahhhhh........the castle at night!

More parade action...... Enjoying the view at night from our hotel room!

Owen, crushing on Ariel!
Me, loving the candy store......and going back every night for a bag of candy!

Stitch, stopping by our table for a photo! Owen, loving the candy store too!

Payton, cruising down the water slide.

Us, leaving the Boise airport.......ready for our adventure!
Avery, swimming so hard, she ended up puking and shutting down the pool for an hour!

Robert surprised us with a limo ride from the airport to Disneyland! Woo hoo! We loved the view of California Adventure, from our hotel room window.

I am grateful we were able to take the kids to Disneyland this year. It is such an amazing place. I think Robert and I enjoy it more than the kids! I am sad that the trip is over, but will enjoy viewing the pictures and remembering all the fun things we were able to do and see together.