Learning to Fly

As part of the mission to give cousin Katie the best time ever here in Utah, we took the fam to Ogden's Solomon Center to participate in some pretty adventurous stuff. This was Dylan's second time in the iFly tunnel and Katie's first.

Katie and Dylan waiting with their group for their turn to fly.
Dylan was able to smile this time around.

Katie got the hang of it right away.

While waiting for their slot to fly, they decided to tackle the big rock at iRock downstairs. Dylan (in red) made it to the top (Lou refused to let him give up). It was so worth seeing that pride puff that little chest up once he got down.

Katie the Brave took on the highest wall and made it the top in no time.

Hercules!Hercules!Hercules!

Note ** for you locals...

Monday is the best time to go as it is family night. A full price first time flyer ticket for two minutes of fly time is $49, but if you do it between the hours of 4pm and 7pm, a child 12 or under can fly for the same amount of time for free!

Need for Speed

We took our guests down the street for a little excitement. Speed Street Racing was a cheap way to have a great time. Even better, children as young as eight years old can drive their own cars. Lesson learned: wear the race suits and bring some gloves....it is COLD although it is indoors.

Katie, a fierce competitor, blew the rest away and finished with the checkered flag after twenty laps.

Dylan was cautious at first, but got the hang of it, and enjoyed the race.

Competition

"I am number one, two is not a winner, and three nobody remembers." --Nelly

Okay, so I have discovered I don't like to lose. In anything. BUT, I have considered myself a very very good sport. I've gotten very skilled at laughing at my own failings. I love nothing more than a good friendly competition of...well, anything, really. Last night caught me a little by surprise.

In a game of Phase 10 (of all things, right?), our friends the Hep's, the twins, niece Katie, Lou and I sat around the dining table for a late night game. Maybe it was the round of Cranium the ladies team lost earlier, but I was NOT about to lose again. Worse, the twins have made it a mission to annoy the crap out of me that day. Even worse, Lou wanted to join in on the festivities. I think that was it, my very own husband lost all sense of "Team Och" and banded with his brothers to tease and inspire homicidal thoughts.

Ugggh! Needless to say, I caught up with everyone else after being stuck in the first phase since I was endlessly served with Skip after Skip card by none other than my enemy brother-in-law Donald. Lou would jump in and make some smart ass remark about my losing streak so many times, I could have cared less who witnessed if I had reached over and decked that smug little smirk off his Ochoa face. But by the time I had redeemed myself, images of stuffing pillows on their sleeping faces continued to brew in my mind.

I refused to converse with my suddenly remorseful hubby that night, and went to sleep with the heavy feeling of annoyance. I awoke this morning, refreshed, and forgiving. I walked into the bathroom and found this:

Bahahahaha! Apparently, I had given the impression my anger was tantamount to that which deserved a bouquet of remorse and reconciliation. Love it! Teaches him not to side with anyone but the wife! Priceless!

TV, Video Games, and Football, OH MY!

I love nothing more than to curl up in the quiet of my house and read a good book. Board game nights, involved activities with the kids, engaged in social chattering with friends...these are the moments I cherish in my home. Anything involving television, video games, and football (although I try REALLY hard to share other family member's enthusiasm for the sort) can only accomplish an irritating restlesness. With the twins over, as crazy football fans as Lou, and it being the last Sunday to decide the playoffs, I have an overwhelming desire to escape the testosterone. Thank goodness, my niece Katie is here. Off to the mall we go! Maybe I can squeeze a long-needed haircut in also. Tootles!

Merry Christmas!

The twins and Katie have been here since the 23rd, and it has been a full but definitely fun house since. We only get to spend time with them at the most once a year, if that, and so these holidays are a special time for Fam Och.

After bakind and decorating cookies to leave for Santa to snack on when he stops by, the clan enjoyed some serendipitous frrrrozen hot chocolate.
Then it was time to watch Polar Express and It's a Wonderful Life.

The girls are ALL about cousin Katie. I don't think they've left her alone this whole time.

Christmas morning.

Liv's big present was the bounce and spin zebra which she calls her "doggy." Sophie likes to think the gift was meant for them to share. Our dinosaur girl shrieked in delight when she saw Spike appear from under the gift wrap. All mom and dad's presents for Dylan (to include Santa's) were overshadowed by the uncles gift for Dylan...A PSP and Ratchet and Clank game bundle.

Lou got a PSP also to replace what he broke in Iraq last year, although Dylan's model was better.

And...drumroll please...ALL those presents could NOT match up to my sterling silver beauty that came in an equally beautiful teal box. Thank goodness I didn't peek in that package beforehand...the wait and surprise was definitely worth it Christmas morning. Isn't it pretty? I heart my husband.

Why is it always impossible to get just ONE single decent picture with ALL of my babies?

This is about the best we could come up with. Individual pics were so much more doable.

Although...we still have to resort to the photojournalistic style photos with Liv since her purposeful "cheese" makes her look as if she's in pain. lol.

Lovely Sophie in her pretty green dress. The thing didn't last long. She kept kneeling on the floor and tearing at the waist seam when she stood up. Sigh. And I was hoping to re-purpose the thing with Liv.

My handsome boy looking so grown up.

We had such a great Christmas this year. Hope all of you have had the same!

Traditions

This is my absolute favorite time of year. A lot of it is because of all the Fam Och traditions we have followed through the years. I love hearing of everyone's holiday practices, and so I thought I would also share ours (and also because I haven't posted in a couple days, and my "fans" have been wondering why so).

Thanksgiving comes and goes and one of the first things that signal the Christmas season is the making of peanut butter balls. Lou's mom used to makes these during the holidays, and has led Lou to wax nostalgic whenever he pops one in his mouth. We usually end up making several batches since they go so quickly, and this has also been Fam Och's contribution to the neighbor holiday treats giveaway.

Fam Och is a family of movie buffs, so it is only natural to whip out the holiday-themed movies. We have quite a bit, and we try to watch at least one every other day or so. It's A Wonderful Life is a classic and is about the only black and white movie the kids will sit still to watch. That is always on Christmas Eve. Of course, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a must-see. Ever since watching this movie, I've wanted a Fam Och version of their advent calendar (I found a place online that makes it for $500...uh, no thanks). And here's a strange one...Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas. See, I've never heard of this one, but Lou and his brothers supposedly grew up watching this thing every year. It's a cute little show, real old, but cute enough that I end up humming the tunes for the rest of the day.


Anyone remember that movie Serendipity with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale? Or maybe have gone to New York City and visited the famous cafe called Serendipity? Their famous drink Frrrrrozen Hot Chocolate can be ordered online. Since the fam (Dylan and I are the only exceptions) doesn't drink hot cocoa, we have adapted the colder version of the drink into our traditions. We blend the mix, finish off a whole can of Reddi Whip and we bundle up and watch Polar Express.

Of course, the kids get to open a present on Christmas Eve, and it is always a pair of jammies to provide for picture perfect opportunities come Christmas morning.

Our new tradition this year, is the annual visit of our elf, Eric "Bobbert" (don't ask) the Elf. This little red-cheeked little person has worked wonders with the children's behavior.

And the annual standing prime rib roast dinner for Christmas supper. Yum!

What are your family traditions?

Watch what you Say

As a member of B&N, I occasionally receive coupons for their store. This week, we got a 50% off for a board game. We headed over and purchased the Monopoly Onyx Edition, a spiffed up version of the basic board package, for half the price, since the play money in our original box made its way into Sophie's play purse.
Yesterday, Sophie was eyeing the sleek black box sitting on the dinner table. "Mom, can I play with that?"
I shook my head, "No, these are for adults only! These are not kid toys. They are for adults!"

Okay, so what's the point?

I didn't think there was any until today...

Thank goodness, I wasn't there since Lou and I had split up at the mall to sneak buy a few presents for each other. Lou had taken Sophie and Dylan. I had Liv.

Dylan, apparently, had been discussing toys with his dad. Sophie, butts in from nowhere, and says, "Mom likes ADULT TOYS!" And because of her perch seated on Lou's shoulders, she was in prime position that the WHOLE store overheard my smart little runt's comment.

Again, I need to watch what I say.

Knock Knock

Sophie: Knock knock!
Lou: Who's there?
Sophie: Banana
Lou: Banana who?
Sophie: Banana just walked in and broke through the wooden doors.

Eh?

Countdown to Xmas!

You would think with our little resident elf on watch, and those pretty wrapped presents sitting under our tree, these kiddos will get the message and be extra extra good. Nuh-uh! It seems the closer we get to the big day, the more my girls lose their sense of hearing. Previously effective soft-spoken admonishments no longer take precedence in this household. "Sophie, please don't do that. You'll fall." Simple and usually does the trick. Yesterday, it had to be followed with,"Sophie! STOP IT! You're gonna crack your head open!" Momma more agitated. Still being ignored. By this time, my little fireball is jumping from the lounge chair to my bed to the lounge chair, then onto the arm of the lounge chair to the floor, banging against the wall and then the door and back on the chair. All the while, the baby attempting to mimic big sis' antics. Then it all ends with me screaming at the top of my lungs, "SOPHIA ROSE!!!! IF YOU DON'T STOP RIGHT NOW, SO HELP ME!" They eventually stop when they catch a glimpse of their livid mother. But, my goodness!!! The chaos starts up again after several minutes. A busted lip later (Liv jumped and landed kisser first on the edge of a toy), they finally calmed down.

This morning, Liv tore the space key from this laptop! I snapped it back in place,but it doesn't respond as well anymore. Typing this out has become such a hassle already.

Lou came home safe and unhurt from the training exercise. Today may be another story, as it is the day of the battle exercise. I'm hoping it ends fast so at least he'll be home before nightfall.

Yesterday was a bit crazy...BUT I must mention I won the biggest victory of all. The girls were successfully put to bed at 7pm, both sound asleep at 7:15. This is unheard of in the Och household, with Liv usually fighting off sleep until 10 or so. But last night, I won out. BAHAHAHAHAHA.

Soap

I'm on edge today...mostly because my hub is participating in live fire training today and tomorrow that involves simmunitions. This is only the second time the base is utilizing these things...and with all matters new and potentially dangerous, I am nervous. Basically, the M16 rifle gun is taken apart and outfitted with a paintball-like barrel that can accomodate soap bullets.
It is supposedly non-lethal. But so are blanks...and how many stories have you heard of those freak accidents when some moron thinks it would be cool to shoot at you point-blank and ends up killing the guy. WAY too many. And the hubster's propensity to attract bad luck...well, let's just say it's not a pretty equation.
So, forgive me if I'm kinda out of it for the next two days. You may call me paranoid...but yeesh...I can't help it.

Blog Award!

Mizz Cammie from Life in the House of No Sleep passed this on to me. How touching! She is a fellow military wife who writes the most genuine posts. Thank you, Cammie!
The award states "This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships!These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."
I guess the rule is to pass this on to eight fellow bloggers who I feel befit this honor, but I have three:
Meanest Mom -- I ALWAYS look forward to her wit and sarcasm. Her posts are a great read!

Stay at Home Something -- This lady is hil-a-rious! Lurve her stuff!

Simply Family -- My lovely neighbor friend Jill has the sweetest material and is the key source for all things family. (Sorry, no link, folks, she has gone private.)

Of course, if this award didn't come from Miss Cammie, she'd be on this list as well, since I love her musings on dark o'clock and such!

Encounters with the Third Kind

While strolling through the local B&N store, I had an interesting conversation with my middle child.

Sophie: Can we go back to play at the trains?
Me: No, we're going to pay now. Do you know where we go to pay?
Sophie: Yeah. **She points to our left.** It's where all those humans are in line, right?

I'm sorry, I suppose I should be aware that my own daughter came from another galaxy!

Whew!

I've been stressing on a major level because of all this baby fever (not on my part, of course!). Needless to say, I don't think I have been quite myself since Lou dropped that bomb on me. We made a decision together! Then he rips it out right from under me!

I DID consider his suggestion. The thought of another tiny little baby Och in my arms with those huge brown eyes and curly-ish hair was heart-warming. We've always wanted at least four, you see. But then, of course, there's the reality of how much one can handle. And apparently, my limit is at three.

The more I entertained the idea, ghastly images of that cute little bundle of joy projectile pooping onto the walls and projectile vomitting into my mouth. I can picture that little runt cannonballing itself onto my sleeping form, pulling my hair, and using my cashmere sweater as a dirty dishrag. That would mean additional hours of quality time with Mr. Clean and his magical white sponge scrubbing hot pink masterpieces off the walls, and buying yet another new couch since months of drool, urine, milk, and vomit are all too much for a steam vaccum to handle. Grocery shopping would have to be dealt with on an every-other-day basis since that's about all I can fit into a grocery cart already filled with children. Yikes.

It's a daunting picture. As much as I know all those trivial inconveniences are SO worth bringing another life into the world...I think about those times when I would have to go through it alone. Lou has less than a month with us right now. I'll be a single mom yet again for five months.

Nursing sick children, shooshing them back to sleep and telling them it's alright while they're screaming for daddy, resorting to unconventional methods to keeping the household in proper order...all by myself...I barely kept my wits about me last time. It would be INSANE to even think about adding another into the mix.

After a lengthy discussion, it is official once again. We are done. Lou, as crazy as his ideas may be at times, has the biggest heart of anyone I know, and he completely understood. Whew!

Foiled Plans

Fam Och went with Fam Hep to the base Xmas party in the hopes of seeing Santa roll by in an F-16 jet. Unfortunately, with the mounds of snow that came in this weekend, the jet cruise was canx'd. Instead, Santa just popped in the hangar door. LAME! Anyway, the kids still had a good time chatting it up with the Clause and getting a book from him as a pre-gift.

Mister D was WAY stressing getting to see Santa. "I'm too big to sit on his lap." He worried (over and over) aloud. He even expressed his concern to the big man himself who waved it off and pulled him in anyway. "Nobody is too old for Santa's knee!"

Soph hopped on excitedly and just smiled as Santa did all the talking.

Of course, WHO misses the festivities, as ALWAYS? Look at that sourpuss! I'm gonna have to take her to the mall to get her a pic with Mister Ho Ho Ho and hope she doesn't zonk out on the way this time.

DO I want more?

And the truth spilled out...Lou and I had decided that he would get *er* fixed once we had Liv.-- 1) the pockets have shrunk in half since I separated from the AF-- 2) my physical therapist swears on her grandmother's grave my pelvis will whack out if I subject myself to another 9.5 months--3) we wanted to keep our sanity--So one can only imagine the impression of an a-bomb dropping from the heavens when, protected from the cloak of the shower curtain, the lathering Lou casually mentioned, "I know we said we'd stop with Liv. But what if we have another one?"

Eh? What? Say again? Huh?

Is that why that appointment with the snipping doc never got set?

A guilty face peeks out of the shower sporting a sheepish grin. "I guess that's why I've been putting it off. Would we really not be able to pull it off?"

Truthfully, I can see Fam Och getting away with another one. The presence of another blessing like the three we already have would be just that--a blessing. BUT---there are so many BUT's. I have been pulling off this stay at home mommy thing. BUT I just don't want to reach that threshhold from being a great mother to one who is just simply overwhelmed. I am enjoying it right now. I'm afraid to push my luck.

Who knows??? I suppose it'll happen if it's meant to happen, right?

Random Pics and Updates

Here's Mister D in all his ski outfit glory, courtesy of Grandpa Jun Pogi. Once I get a hold of his teacher for some real skiing pics, I'll have them up.

Lou plays some awesome ball. The first game of the season on base.


I think this is the only time these three weren't running up and down the bleachers during the game.

The Fam went out to watch cousin Maddy's holiday concert last night. It's amazing to see how much this little lady has grown. Maddy had spent the majority of her first years with Fam Och, she's practically an Och herself, so this child is very very dear to us. She was in her element in that performance. Her voice could be heard over the throng of the others, and she enthusiastically performed the hand gestures and actions with vigor. Great job, Maddy-Maddy!

Armed with a bowl of ice cream and his trusty hat, Mister D faced his mom and dad for a game of Scrabble. OF COURSE, MOM came out champion for both games, despite dad's "cheating".

Apologies

After re-reading the previous post, I gotta admit that was one shitty lame-ass post. My apologies. I am having a difficult time stimulating the creative juices flowing with Jump in The Line (Shake Shake Senora) by Harry Belafonte on a constant loop blaring in the background.

Liv, my twenty-month old, is OBSESSED with the song and insists that it play whenever the laptop is unfolded. Couldn't it be a song I like, at least?

Baby It's Cold Outside

The first BIG storm of winter is scheduled to hit us sometime late tonight and stay until sometime Sunday. I am scrambling to get blizzard-prepared by (finally) putting up the patio set that is still sitting out on the deck, and imposing some sense of urgency into my preternaturally chill hubby to dump that trailer full of basement junk that's keeping the vehicles from occupying their rightful place in the garage.

Other than losing my mind over the endless list of to-do's, I'm actually very excited about this upcoming snowfall. The neighborhood is one big competitive family, with one fam resorting to using a ten foot ladder to construct the world's tallest snowman last year. This year, Fam Och has decided to join in on the fun and construct....well, let's just say it'll blow the snowmen out of our circle. It won't be worthy of an entry into the Sapporro Snow Festival by any means, but it'll be freakin' cool if it all works out right.

This year will also be the FIRST time Fam Och will hit the slopes. SO SO SO excited. Mister D got his first skiing lesson through a class field trip and he's itching to get back on.

Anyhow...there's the update.

What plans do you have for the winter season?

I Wasn't Ready!!!

I vaguely recall that day in fifth-grade class when Ms. Simmons threatened us with extra homework if we became too rowdy during the nurse's upcoming presentation on puberty and sex education. We didn't get extra homework that day. Come to think of it, we didn't get any homework at all. In hindsight, it might have been dear ole Ms. Simmons' silent way of sympathizing with her shell-shocked students' reaction to the highly technical but still borderline inappropriate slideshows.

As momentous as that day was in the life of an innocent child, I somehow failed to associate it to my own son's current age and grade and the subsequent curiosity that comes with it. Sure, Lou and I had discussed discussing it with him, but the deadline for that talk was scheduled for way way later (or so we thought).

Sophie had been asking if she could sleep with Mom and Dad that night, and before I could deny her request yet again, Mister D answered for me, "No! Mom and Dad need private time," followed by a giggle. I glanced at him questioningly, and he said, still giggling, "I know what you guys do in private time! s-e-x!"

At this point, my inner mommy alarm was furiously ringing in my ears, urging me to keep cool. My supposed ally for this subject was still at work. I was being bombarded unprepared and alone! A wrong reaction at the moment could mean the difference between a close or distant relationship with my future teenage son! I remember informing my father about that day in fifth grade and the nurse's encouragement to discuss the topics presented with our parents. My dad stared straight ahead at some show he wasn't watching and simply said, "Sex, don't do it. Drugs, don't do it. Just say no!" And that was that. I didn't approach the subject ever again.

A part of me had crumpled in despair at the realization my first-born is no longer a baby. Somehow, I managed to adapt a look of "wise mom" and aptly answered his questions and left the door open for the official talk that would have Lou in my corner.

It seems to have been successful considering I wasn't ready. Talk about blindsided!

A Soldier's Christmas

This one always manages to make me cry.

*******

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

'SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS.'

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE, WHISPERED,

'CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE.'

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND!

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.'

Charlie Brown and Dookie

As part of Fam Och's holiday traditions, we start watching holiday-themed movies/cartoons starting the day after Thanksgiving. Last night, Charlie Brown's Christmas was put in for the kids' viewing pleasure while I went out to yoga.

Sophie: Dad, where does Dookie live?
Lou: Who?
Sophie: Dookie! Where does he live?
Lou: Who's Dookie?
Sophie points impatiently at the screen: That dog!
Lou: Oh! That's SNOOPY, Sophie.
Sophie: OHHHHH! I thought his name is Dookie.

Hmmmm.

SNOOPY....DOOKIE....SNOOPY...DOOKIE...

Ohkay.

Our Elf is Here!

Neighbor friend Ms. Jill gave Fam Och the news via blog post that the North Pole assigns a friendly magical elf as an in-house holiday sentinel to observe the children's behavior during the day just as long as one is requested. He then flies off to the North Pole once all the children are asleep to report to Santa and update either a "naughty" or "nice" status on the list. Before the children awake the next morning, the elf returns and stations himself in another location in the house.

Lou and I loved the idea of the constant but gentle reminder to be good. We had announced to the kids of his impending arrival and answered any questions they had...

**********

Fam Och Elf FAQ's

Q: But can't Santa already tell if we're good or bad?

A: Yes, he can, but he doesn't know details. The presence of the elf can observe specific behavior and can provide detailed feedback to Santa. Ex: If you are extra extra nice, Santa could consider gifting you the toy at the top of your list.

Q: Can we play with the elf?

A: No. You can talk to him, but the elf must NEVER be touched! A human's touch depletes the poor elf of his magic and would prevent him from returning to the North Pole to give Santa the update. If the elf doesn't show up on schedule, then you are automatically marked "Naughty" on the list.

Q: Do we get the same elf every day?

A: Yes, we do. The elf, once assigned, will have the duty of observing that family for the rest of his life. He stays with the family throughout the holiday season and enjoys his personal time with his friends and family at the North Pole for the remainder of the time leading up to the holidays.

Q: Why does he go to a different spot every morning?

A: Sometimes, sitting in the house all day can get a bit boring. This is his way of having a little fun with the little ones by playing a short game of hide-and-seek.

Q: How can the elf see what I'm doing when I'm in a different room?

A: That is the magic in the elf. Once he is accepted into the family, a magical bond is formed between him and the children. This link allows him to observe all children wherever they are, even when they are out of the house.

*******

Even Dylan, our oldest at ten years old, bought the idea just fine. He still believes in Santa, and I'm desperate to keep that sweet innocence as long as possible. Sophia keeps talking to him and insisted his nickname to be "Eric the Elf." (She's a bit obsessed with Little Mermaid at the moment.)

Eric the Elf's FedEx box came in today, with "postal stamps" from all over the world. Inside was a festive green cardboard box sealed with a gold foil stamp that states "Official Seal of Santa's Workshop." It looked so amazing, even I wanted to believe.

If anyone else is interested in starting this great Christmas tradition, your family elf can be found in Hallmark stores or through their website (although ordering from the website gets you the cute packaging).

Click below.

http://www.elfontheshelf.com/

Filipino PRIDE!!! Wooohooo!

Okay, first thing's first. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Oscar Mr. Hotness De la Hoya. I have loved the Golden Boy since I was 14 and cried when he won the gold medal at the Barcelona Summer Olympics. Now that's outta the way...

I usually don't go for ordering PPV for any event no matter how much Lou keeps ranting about how we NEED to watch it live. But the fight between De la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao (the most famous Filipino athlete in the world) was too once in a lifetime.

As loyal a fan I have been to Oscar, Filipino runs in my blood, and so I figured I had an obligation to root for my kababayan and the believed underdog of the match. Everyone else in the household, including our friends who joined us for the fight, cheered for Oscar.

Guess what? Manny SCHOOLED the former hero. It was such a spanking, especially considering Manny had a four inch height DISadvantage, that it was painful. Especially painful since Oscar had to fall from grace in such a humiliating way. As much as it pained me to see my Mexican boxer hottie lose his crown, it was overshadowed by my jOY to see a Filipino celebrate SUCH a big win.

The downside to this...Filipinos in their native country will believe in this boxer so much that they'll vote him as their next vice president. Sad...

A Simple Wish

While being tucked in bed by Daddy, Sophie took on a very sad face complete with pouting lip.

Sophie: Dad, I really really want a trash can and tv in my room.
Lou: Well, we can pick out a trash can, but we can't get you a tv.
Sophie: But you can just put it on with screws and nails!

My gosh! Not only did she want her own tv (the girl is 4!) BUT she wanted a flat panel mounted on her wall also!!!

A Mother's Idiocy (and Fam plus Friends Night Out)

Most of you know how fiercely protective I am of my children and that I look out for their safety slash well-being slash comfort and all that jazz like a hawk, right? I get irked beyond words when I have to witness children not being looked after as they should. So I guess, in total humility, I am admitting to my own brain farts last night when Fam Och went to accompany the Hep's to view Temple Square in all its lighted (3million to be exact) splendor.

Pre-trip Situation Assessment: Cold, Exposed to Elements, Cold, and Cold.

So what did mom extraordinaire do? Stroller--check! Warm boots--check! Layered clothing--check! and that was about it. No hat, no gloves, no scarves, no thick stroller blanket, no thick weather appropriate winter coat. Nada.

For the night, Missus Och had failed as a momma.

I withered in embarassment in front of our friends as I clearly demonstrated a complete lack of parenting skills and how NOT to dress kids for a winter night out. And more importantly, I struggled with seeing my kids slowly freeze before my eyes, snot relentlessly dripping down their faces.

In short, we didn't stay long...and it was a sad thing. In the five winters Fam Och has been in UT, we had never bothered to check out the famous Temple Square, with or without lights. (Maybe it was this subconscious religiously associated intimidation thing?) And my goodness, was it ever a sight.

With the promise of returning again so we could actually witness the telling of the Christmas Story while sporting warmer attire, we headed home. On the drive back, I inundated Lou with a checklist I was furiously ingraining into my brain for the repeat outing: "We need to buy one of those stroller cocoons for Liv!"..."Oooh, how about those hand and feet warmers, too?"..."We need to go shopping for thicker coats!"...and so forth, while Lou repeatedly attempted to dismiss me with, "Hon, we'll just do better next time. It's okay!"

Anyhow, so there's the post that was an attempt to fend off any lingering guilt I can't let go off. For your viewing pleasure, here are some pics before the kids turned into ice blocks.

Before we started forming icicles from our noses.

Aren't they just dah-ling?

On the Trax to Temple Square.

Perpetual goofballs.