Santa Fail

So I just had to share this story with you guys. There is no picture in this post, keep reading to find out why.

So on Saturday December 23rd, I decided I better get the kids in to see Santa. We had been waiting for Ariana to come over, but she ended up having other plans and did come over. Anyways we always go to the local sporting goods store to get Santa pictures. The Lions club does the pictures and it is a $20 donation and they just email you the pictures so you can do what you want with them. The only other Santa that I know of is at the mall, and I think the smallest picture package you can buy is $35 and there is usually about an hour wait to see him. Yeah not going to happen.
I called Yeager's and they said that Santa would be there until 7pm. Perfect it was a little after 4. I had an upset stomach all day, but chose to ignore it for sake of the Santa picture. Well since it is a donation to the Lion's club they only take cash. Of course I didn't have any so I needed to find an ATM. Well I pretty much refuse to pay an ATM surcharge so I set out to find an ATM from my bank. The only 2 that I could think of were inside stores, and I was not going to haul the kids back and forth in the wind and rain to go to the ATM. So I googled it and Chase had an ATM in Barkley Village. Well they have been redoing that area a ton and I pretty much got lost driving around. It felt like I was in some big city, it was ridiculous. So after driving around for 10 minutes I finally found the ATM. Only problem was it was inside the bank which of course was already closed. Tell me what is the point of having an ATM inside a bank. Grr.
So by then I am so frustrated that I decided to just suck it up and go to the credit union ATM which at least only charges me $2. I get my money and head across town to get the pictures. I get them out of the car and into the store. The pictures are taken inside the store in the toy section. When we get to the area there is no one there, just a sign saying "we will be back shortly. Please see schedule on the table" There is no schedule on the table! I went to set Hayes down so he could walk around while I figured out when Santa would be back, and I realized that he was completely soaked through all of his clothes. Awesome! At this point I really didn't care, I figured I could just put my sweatshirt under him and no one would know the difference. (haha sorry Santa) There were some other people standing around with their dogs and they were frustrated so they went and asked the cashier when Santa would be back.
They came back and let me know that apparently the person that had been answering the phones was incorrect and Santa had left at 5. So after I threw a mini fit, I grabbed Hayes and took the kids back out to the car. By then the wind was howling and I could barely get the car door open. I get Hayes all buckled in and step back from the car and something hit my foot. I look down and realized that Hayes had carried out a hacky sack from the store! There was no way I was going to unbuckle my little thief and go back in the store. So being the mom of the year that I am, I sent S back in the store to give it to the cashier.
We finally got all loaded in the car, and I only made it across the parking lot before I started crying. I stopped and called Chris and tried to explain the horrible experience that I had just endeared. He didn't understand why I was so upset. Please tell me I am not the only one who completely gave up on taking Santa pictures this year. (I know I am so going to regret it)

2012 Year in Review October-November

 

 This is the last of the 2012 link up, so there is still time to join. Sorry this is a little picture heavy. I didn't have internet so I haven't blogged about a lot of this.

October- Our family gained a new member. I am still not able to blog about that yet, but hopefully soon! 

Here's a hint

We moved into our new house. 4 bedrooms, a living room and a family room, and we have it completely filled! haha

Hayes had spaghetti for the first time. He loved it, of course.

November- Hayes met his new BFF Jackson, and even shared his highchair.

We had Chris' brother, his girlfriend and daughter stay with us for Thanksgiving.

We celebrated Thanksgiving and all 3 of the kids' birthdays at my in-laws.

 

 

 

And he's done!

December- Hayes had his first cold, and decided that daddy was much better for snuggling. =( haha

We decorated our house and set up the Christmas tree

I took Hayes swimming at the Aquatic center and he had so much fun!

We celebrated Hayes's first birthday rounds 2 and 3.

Hiding from the company

Round 2 was for our friends.

Hayes and Jessica

Hayes and Blair

First picture of Hayes as a 1 year old

Round 3 was my dad's side of the family

Everyone enjoyed passing around the sleepy birthday boy

Daddy got the last snuggles of the night

Christmas was a hit. Chris caught Santa just as he was leaving up the chimney.

So close! =)

Hayes loved his teddy bear from Santa

Hopefully I will get a chance to actually put together a full Christmas blog later.

Hmm now for my 5 goals/hopes

1. Have court finalized so I can blog about our family addition

2. Cook dinner at least 5 nights a week

3. Stick with healthy eating

4. Move more and be more active in general

5. Go to church more and be the best mom and wife I can be.

Wow 2012 is almost over, hope you all have a great New Year!

Christmas Blog Swap Show and Tell

Today I am linking up to show what I received for the blog swap! I was linked up with  Leigh Anne at Simply Swarbrick

 

Leigh Anne sent me such cute stuff! I got an oven mitt, pot holder, towel, acrylic straw cup and Ghiradelli chocloates. I have been eying the acrylic cups but I have just never bought myself one. I was so excited to get it! I use it everyday at work Chris and I had the chocolates polished off the first night. haha. The towel and mitt and pot holder are all in my kitchen and look super cute. 

Thanks so much Leigh Anne, and thanks girls for hosting this. I had so much fun.

2012 Year in Review July-September

Welcome back to our recap of 2012

July- We spent lots of time just hanging out as a family.

 

Hayes went swimming for the first time and developed a love for the water

August-  The middle of the month we went on a chilly trip to the beach. Oh yeah not what most people think of when they think beach. This is a typical PNW beach though,  big rocks and lots of seaweed. haha

Towards the end of the month we went camping in Eastern Washington with cousins

Labor Day weekend we went camping at our river property with Chris' brother and family. 

 

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 September- Chris decided that he "needed" to rebuilt his truck and spent way too much time and money on his little project =) haha

 

The end of September Chris and I took a little mini vaca to Soap Lake.

 

So I realized while writing this post that I hadn't blogged about half of this stuff. Ooops

Check back next week to find out the stuff that we did in October through December that I never blogged about. haha

P.S. Blogger was not cooperating with me today. The pictures would not stay aligned and then I think I ended up deleting a couple of pictures. Good news is we finally got internet at home so hopefully I will actually be able to stay caught up with what we are up to!

Day of Silence

Please pray for these families, and those precious lives lost.

2012 Year in Review April-June

Well you all should be happy to know that we did get out a little more last spring, than we did in the winter.

April- Mom, Hayes and I continued with our Costco shopping trips. 

 

We went to opening day of the farmer's market. 

We even made it out for a couple of walks with friends. Apparently we had pretty nice weather. Haha definitely a surprise for Washington.

Hayes celebrated his first Easter and Chris was still working out of town.

Chris was less than thrilled when he saw this picture of his boy! haha

May- Chris finally came back home to stay! I was rough living without daddy.

I had two exciting milestones in May. I turned 30 on the 26th and that same day I cut a foot off my hair. It was my first big girl hair cut.

Before

After

Hayes was in a phase of pulling my hair all the time and it just had to go. haha. Now I might just be growing it back out.

June- Hayes said mama for the first time, which just so happened to be his first word! =)

We took Hayes on his first trip to Cabellas. Really not too exciting with a 6 month old.

Chris celebrated fathers day by going fishing with his friend. 

The end of June we celebrated two of our nephews graduating high school. Chris's brother Kevin and his daughter Hannah were visiting from Montana. 

That was our April through June. What were you guys up to? Link up and join the party. Oh did I mention that by linking up you are in the drawing to win a bunch of cool stuff? Well you are, so go do it!

Oh and come back next week to see what we were up to last summer.