You think you can do these things, but you just can't, Nemo!

I think I still have that movie memorized from when Bailey was obsessed with it!  And that is the phrase running through my head as I wait for the Tylenol to kick in and take away my lovely headache.  For future reference:

-You cannot take three little children to join your son's class at Hometown buffet during their naptime
-You cannot assume that substituting your regular slim fast breakfast with a sugar cookie will allow your brain to function the same (thanks ever so much Slimfast recall!)
-You cannot think that you will be able to actually eat at the restaurant with said three young children (again, sugar cookie does not last that many hours!)
-You cannot think that ice cream is enough of a lunch for a 3 year old who is whiny and growling at you like Gollum in Lord of the Rings

BUT!


-You can stop on the way home and spend a dollar for a spicy chicken sandwich you actually get to eat while everyone is strapped into their seats
-You can put all three little children down for a nap at the same time
-You can take two Tylenol and sit down and blog about it for a good laugh later 
-You can be reminded as you record these wonderful memories of your friend Melanie's blog who also quotes from the Great Nemo-- "Just keep swimin', just keep swimin', just keep, swimin', swimin' swimin'...."

Full Day!

Our morning began with Breakfast with Santa at Bailey and Emma's school.  (no pics, sorry)  Emma then had her birthday party (post below) and then we had our Ward Christmas party.  In between, Ben and Bailey started making his pinewood derby car (more of that in the coming months). 

Emma with Santa.  She asked for a Hannah Montana wig.  Guess Santa* wink, wink will be trying to shove that in her stocking.

Bailey asked for Legos (um, huh?!)  That was the first time I had heard that.  OK, so that will probably show up in the stocking too somehow.  We really try to keep the Santa thing going.  Emma almost doesn't believe anymore, and Nathan could care less yet.  But Bailey still believes, so we are still running with it. 

I finally got him to go to Santa.  He wasn't scared, just didn't care.  Plus, he had pooped so I didn't want to torture Santa (which is why he isn't on the lap)  Nathan didn't ask for anything.  Just took the candy and ran.

Picture #1 of twins with Santa.  Kate was not digging it.

Picture #2--She at least stopped crying.  Addie just wasn't impressed.

He DID NOT want frosting on his cookie.  He only wanted the sprinkles.  He will also only eat the bottom of cupcakes if they are frosted.  Who is this kid and how is he related to his dad?  Some wires were crossed somewhere.  He does look happy to be eating cookies though.

Party like it's your birthday!

Emma's 6th Birthday party at Byer's Gymnastics

So what happens when your parents do not do friend parties for their children at bounce places, pizza places or other such places, but your birthday is before Christmas and last year your mom was in the hospital after giving birth to twins who will now also share that time of year for birthdays with you?....

You get a friend (including school friend!) party at a gymnastics place because your parents feel bad.   

Emma loved it!

They had an hour in the gym with a gymnastics coach doing obstacle courses and tumbling.

A whipped cream and chocolate cake

Loads of presents...

And your friends there to tell you Happy Birthday and surround you with a group hug (Emma is in the middle somewhere!)

They had a great time!  And mommy didn't have to make or do or clean any of it. 

Pinochio and stinky girls

One of these girls was the culprit.  I do not know which, but they were all in my warm car driving to the field trip and it was a stinky ride!  I am guessing that whoever it was also was the stinky one at the theater.  But they sure are cute anyway.

Nana braved it at our house with the three youngers all day so I could go to see Pinocchio at the B Street theater with Emma's class.  Only a few parents could actually go in since there was limited seating, and Emma's teachers picked me:)  The benefits of knowing them for four years pays off.

Emma and Isabelle.  Still best friends after all these months...Isabelle even gave Emma a Best Friends bracelet that day.  It is currently lost so we are on the search.

We got there early and the teachers were entertaining the kids with songs.  Emma got to be a helper.  This is also a good picture of her new dress.  FYI- JC Penny's 50% off clearance of holiday dresses plus the $10 coupon they send in the mail= Happy Emma and mommy. 

This picture is just because we print the blog and save it for our children to look back and see their silliness....

Does this look like someone happy to be done?!

Ben after his last final. The weight lifted...

Did I mention we are happy?!!

This is how we celebrate....

Every semester when Ben takes his last final, he brings home In and Out burger.  We thought for the momentous occasion of taking his LAST final, we should go to the restaurant and eat instead.  Uncle Curtis and Aunt Laurie came over to put the kids to bed and stay with them while I met Ben at In and Out.  It was pouring rain and cold, but waiting until 8:30 to eat dinner was worth it! 

We are McGeorge

I was starting Kindergarten the year Daddy started at McGeorge.

I was small and sassy when Daddy started at McGeorge.

I was living in Mommy's tummy when Daddy started at McGeorge.

We were a big funny surprise Heavenly Father was planning when Daddy started at McGeorge.

I was sane when Daddy started at McGeorge.

(OK, so this was a loooonggg time ago, but you get the point.  I was preggo with Nathan and probably looked less sane than I do now)

We started as a family of four and a half.

And finished as a family of seven.

Goodbye McGeorge.  You shall be remembered by the license plate frames that will adorn our cars, the monthly student loan payment we will make each month, and Daddy's gorgeous gray hairs. We are your poster family, the reason Daddy gets gasps when it comes time for introductions in classes.  We love you more than Sac State (which isn't hard) and less than each other. In this last 24 hours that we exist together, may your buildings stay warm, your power not go out and your tests be easy. 

Snow Day

This only happens in Sacramento every decade or so... For that reason, it must be documented! 

Bailey was so excited to run outside and see the "snow"  He later decided it wasn't as cool as snow in Utah.  I agree...you can leave the snow behind when you come back to California!

There were people from Auburn who had a TON more snow packed on their car while driving on the freeway, but this was good enough for me!

The kids wanted to put gloves on and have a snowball fight after school...Unfortunately the snow was gone thanks to Mr. Sun by the time they got home.  We might have to do a snow trip one of these days.