Snowflake Lane

We took our annual trip to Snowflake Lane this weekend. This time we had real snow, and not just the fake stuff. We started at JCPenney, we picked up a Buzz Lightyear ornament for Dallin. We get an ornament for the kids every year, and this year I wanted to pick out Disney themed ornaments because we took our trip to Disneyland this year. We also had to make a stop at the Lego store. Next, we went to dinner at Red Robin, just like we do every year. Then we ended the evening with the Snowflake Lane celebration.

Levi, Allie and Dallin posing on one of the drums.

Daddy and Dallin. BRRRR! It was so cold outside.

Jordan and Austin. Ignore the leaf in Jordan's mouth, he is a little wierd.

The view down the street with all of the lights.

One of the drummers. Allie was excited, because we were in the "front row" this year.

We had a great time, and it was so much fun to have real snow this year.

Getting our Christmas Tree

We always cut our Christmas tree down the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's always fun seeing who finds just the right tree. Dallin and Steve found the tree this year. Later on, I asked Dallin who found the tree this year, he said "It was me and my buddy." He sure loves his Dad!


Here are the kids before our actual search for the tree. You can tell it is before the search, because they aren't tired yet and they are cooperating and letting me take their picture.


Here they are after we found the tree. I was trying to get a picture of everyone in front of "our tree." That didn't work! I think they are still tired from all those Disneyland pictures I made them pose for.

Here is another fabulous photo. It seems like every year the kids have to hug the tree. It looks like Jordan and Austin really are in love with the tree. Should I be worried?

Here we are back home, we addeed the lights to the tree. Dallin is putting the star on top. Our next Christmas event is heading to Snowflake Lane at Bellevue Square hopefully we will get some decent photos from that.

The Reason for No Posts Lately

The reason I haven't been posting lately, is because we bought an entertainment center! I know what you are thinking. "Why has buying an entertainment center kept her away for so long"? Let me tell you why.


We finally bought an entertainment center, we have been looking for one for awhile and we found one we really like that was a great price. The one we chose is going to take up most of the wall we are putting it against. So, Steve says "We should probably paint the wall before we put it up". That makes sense to me. I have been wanting to repaint all the walls in the family room/kitchen area, so I am up for it! I take several trips to the hardware store buying samples, so I can find just the right color. I don't! I get tired of spending all my money on samples, so I decide to just go for it, and get a BIG 5 gallon can of what I think will work. It's OK, but it's not what I had in mind.

The more I look at my painted walls (I painted the entire family room) the more "peachy" they look. I wasn't going for peach! I decide I can't be happy with the walls. I need to choose a different color. I again head to Lowe's to pick out another sample of paint. I paint part of the wall, and put the can on the island in our kitchen. I start cleaning the kitchen waiting for the paint to dry, so I can apply a second coat. I accidentally knock the can of paint onto the kitchen floor. It makes a HUGE mess! My sweet husband cleaned it up for me. I think he was probably afraid I was going to fall apart.


Oh, I forgot to mention, Steve also said "We should probably put up the white trim we wanted to do also"? So I say, "Sure, that's a great idea". Now, when Steve says "we" he really means "me", and not because he is mean or anything, it's because he is studying for his CPA exam and need to cram in as much studying as possible. So, we bought the trim & I started painting it. I think we are taking on way too much before the holidays. I should be baking cookies, wrapping presents and singing Christmas carols.


It has been a crazy busy week for me, and all I have to show for it is a peach family room and paint stains on my kitchen floor. I am hoping to finally get the room painted this weekend in a color I like. Once it is done, I will post photos. You will have to tell me how much you like it even if you don't, you don't want me to fall apart.

In between all the painting, we plan on cutting down our Christmas tree, so hopefully I will have some fun pictures to post soon.

Getting Ready For Christmas

I love Christmas, it is my favorite time of the year. I have already been getting lots of stuff done to prepare for Christmas, shopping, making lists, buying baking supplies, and wrapping presents. I like to get as much done as early as I can, so when December rolls around we can spend time together as a family doing all the fun stuff. I made this Christmas countdown, so we will have a fun family activity to do everyday in December.

I used a piece of scrapbook paper that had all 25 numbers on it, I cut them out and attached them to self-adhesive business card magnets. I added some buttons, ribbon and bling to some of the numbers. They attach right on the front of our regfrigerator. Each day in December we will do the activity that is listed on the back.

Here is a close-up of some of the numbers all decorated. All the papers I used were from the Making Memories Fa la la collection.

This is a picture of the back of 3 of the numbers, and the activities that are listed on them. I look forward to sharing some of our Christmas activities.

This post is just to make you aware of what I have to live with (wow, that is a really long title)

I got an email the other day. It was from my goofy husband, who is apparently a little sad that I went with http://www.thebargainjargon.blogspot.com/ rather than his choice of clippylongshopping. First, I have to mention that when I write or talk to Steve I kind of go around in circles. I know what I am trying to say, but it doesn't always come out the way it does in my head. So, if his email doesn't make sense to you, it is because he is making fun of me. Can you believe that he would make fun of his wife like that?

Here is the email I received. He even went to the trouble of setting up a gmail account for Clippy Long Shopping.

Christy-

I just came across your blog. It is wonderful. I am a SAHM that needs help with understanding all the jargon associated with bargains and stuff so thank you so much for putting all this info together. Keep doing what you are doing and you will make it on the Oprah show. You must have a very inspiring husband!

The content is WAY FAB, but your blog name is a little boring and is kind of hard to remember. In any event the thing at the top of the screen with two boxes around some words that are kind of like a blog name does help me to know that you know what I think I know that you want me to know your blog is about, bargains and stuff, but if I were trying to not not be anti-negatively enticable or easily forgettable and mediocrish, I might consider a hipper name. I am probably not making much sense, but believe me that my advice is important. I don't know if you are like me, but sometimes when I am trying to tell people about the things that I know in my head are clear I don't always make the clearness of my silent inner talking phrases understandably understandable to the people that aren't in my head because obviously people can't be in my head like I am in my head even though I am not really in my head but just hear the words that are in my head, which aren't like crazy person split personality "Go kill that KITTY!" words, but normal sentences that are clear inside but somehow get jumbled up when they come out of my mouth.

Anyway, AWESOME blog. It really helps me plan my bargains when I am CLIPPING coupons so that my money lasts a LONG time when I am SHOPPING.

Well, TTFN

Clippy Long Shopping

p.s. you can just call me Clippy because I feel like we are almost BEST BEST Friends.

Disney Vacation - Day Eight (last day)

On our last day of our vacation we headed to Huntington Beach, it was so nice. The water is blue and the sand is brown. The beaches here in Washington are just grey.

Jordan and Austin are building a sand castle.

Allie trying to decide if she really does want to get wet.

Levi jumping waves!

Levi playing in the sand.

Dallin playing in the sand, he does not like to get wet, the ocean water is COLD!

The boys having fun in the ocean.

We had such a wonderful time. Going to the beach was a great finale to our vacation. Thanks so much for letting me share! I like having all the posts, because then I can come here and reminisce about our vacation and have pictures to go with it.

Disney Vacation - Day Seven

Well, I only have 2 more days of our vacation to cover, so we are getting down to the end.

If you ask the kids what their favorite part of the trip was, all of the boys say meeting "Push". Who is Push you ask? Well, Push is a talking strolling garbage can. He rolled on over to us and said "hi". The kids talked to it for awhile & then Jordan asked for his autograph. Push told him to put his book on the ground, the garbage can rolled over it until it made a mark with it's wheels. Jordan was so proud of the autograph he got. Did I mention Jordan is 15? Well, when Push was done talking to us, he said "Peace ooouuuut". I took a picture and he said "cheese" Too funny! Jordan spent the next 15 minutes trying to figure where it was being controlled from. Now when he grow up he wants to be a talking garbage can operator.

I think this picture is just too cute. We were walking through an area that had water that shot out of the ground, and it got him wet just as we were walking through. I love the expression on his face.

We decided to stay at the water area awhile, and Dallin decided to kick the water.

That is Jordan in the "R", and if you know Jordan that is really all the explaining that needs to be done. This was our last day at the parks, and we asked everyone what they wanted to make sure they did before we went home. Everyone had a special ride they wanted to go on, everyone except for Jordan. He wanted to get his picture taken in the "R" of the word CALIFORNIA, that is the special thing he wanted to do. So, we let him get his picture taken, only thing is, he got stuck. Did I mention he wants to be a talking garbage can operator?

Austin with this pirate hook.

Austin and Levi being goofy with the swords that were stuck on the wall.

I took this photo on our way out of the park, since it was our last day. I want to go back already!

They don't get much cuter than this! Dallin waiting for the tram with his very own backpack that he wore everywhere. Plus, he is sporting his favorite Buzz Lightyear hat.

Disney Vacation - Day Six - Buzz Lightyear

OK, Buzz Lightyear gets his very own post. We were in line for somthing on Tuesday when we noticed Buzz Lightyear, so we couldn't go see him. We checked the schedule and noticed that he came at a certain time 5 times a day, and we missed his last visit that day. Dallin was anxious to see Buzz, it was the only character he was actually looking forward to seeing. So, on Thursday we came to the spot about 5 minutes before his schedule time. We waited - no Buzz! I sent Jordan to check the area and see if maybe he showed up some where else instead. Still, no Buzz! We waited about 15 minutes past the scheduled time, and finally gave up. We talked Dallin into going on the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster ride instead. So, we headed out. I turned around, and saw Buzz peeking around the corner. YEAH!!

Here is Buzz peeking around the corner.

Buzz is shaking Dallin's toy Buzz Lightyear's hand. Dallin knew he was planning on meeting Buzz this day, so he just had to bring his toy.

Dallin giving Buzz a "high five". Look at his sweet face, he was so happy and proud.

Allie getting another autograph for her book.

All the kids posing with Buzz. Dallin still holding his Buzz toy. This was such a fun moment. I was concerned that Dallin was going to change his mind about meeting Buzz, but he did so great.

Disney Vacation - Day Six - Part Two

The kids were getting a little tired of the photos, and they went crazy on me.

Here are Daddy and Dallin back at the Toy Story ride.

Levi with his cool souvenier pirate necklace. He loved his Mickey Mouse ears, and pretty much wore them most of the time.

Aww, doesn't Dallin look sweet. He LOVED hanging out with his Daddy. Here they are waiting to ride on the matterhorn. Any ride that Steve went on, Dallin had to ride with him. Everyone would ask "Dallin, do you want to ride with me? " He would reply "No, I am going to ride with my Daddy." I didn't even get to ride with Dallin until the very last day. Also, do you see Steve's new Disneyland hat? That day was super sunny, and originally he was wearing a different hat. Unfortunately, he lost that hat when they took the big dip on the Splash Mountain ride. It flew off his head, and rested on top of the Splash Mountain . The kids came running back asking for the camera, so they could take a picture of Dad's hat. So, Steve bought a new hat, to keep the sun away. It's very cool, but the hat he lost was one of his favorites.

Jordan on Autopia, notice he has moved on from the "thumbs up" to the "peace" sign. Very cool Jordan!

Austin took Dallin on the Dumbo ride. The older kids were such good sports about taken the younger ones on rides they wanted to go on. Love that!

Dallin with his brand new Buzz Lightyear hat. He officially loves Buzz Lightyear. He wore his hat alot, and would ask for it all the time, which is amazing, because he is usually not a hat person.

Jordan taking Allie and Dallin on the tea cups, another sweet big brother moment.

Disney Vacation - Day Six - Part One

I took TONS (over 150) of photos on this day, so I am going to split this day into 3 posts. We started the day with a character breakfast at Goofy's kitchen. Then we headed back to California Adventure and Disneyland.

Four of our kids with Pluto, Steve is missing, because he ran back to the car to get Allie's autograph book that she forgot. I am missing, because I was holding Dallin. He still got a little freaked out at some of the characters, so he did not want to get close to Pluto.

Levi and Chip. I think Levi liked the characters more than anybody else.

Allie is dancing with Chip.

Jordan and Austin with Ballou the Bear. I just noticed that Jordan gives the "thumbs up" in every photo that he poses with a character. I think he is trying to tell us that is is a-ok to be a teenager and pose with Disney characters.

Levi, Steve and Dallin at breakfast. We all received "Goofy's Kitchen" buttons. The words "Goofy's Kitchen were straight, but Goofy was pictured sideways, because he is "goofy". Dallin had a problem with his button, he wanted Goofy to be straight, he kept trying to fix it.

Dallin is taking lessons from his big brother Jordan with the "thumbs up". In this case Dallin is telling us it is a-ok to have ice cream cones with sprinkles for breakfast.

All of the kids posing by the large Mickey Mouse at the Disneyland Hotel where we had breakfast.

Disney Vacation - Day Five

We took a break from the amusement parks, and spent some time at Downtown Disney and watching movies. Steve and the older boys went to the movie theater in the evening, and me and the younger ones went and bought the Toy Story 2 DVD to watch in our hotel room. After all of the Toy Story rides, Buzz Lightyear has become one of Dallin's favorite characters.



All of the kids at Downtown Disney.

Alllie went to Build-A-Bear to spend some of her souvenier money.

Dallin loved the life-size Darth Vader at the Lego Store.

Allie and Dallin posing by R2-D2, he is more Dallin's size.

Levi on a giant Lego.