51 Rules to Live By: Mothers Edition

My sister always does Rules to Live By blogs and I thought I'd do one about being a Mom since she wouldn't know. P.S. her blog is hilarious!!!


1. When on a binky hunt, check the obvious places 3 times before checking the non-obvious places.
2. Do not say words or phrases that you do not want repeated when your MIL is present. 
3. Always pack a snack and water when you leave the house.
4. Do not judge other people's kids because your kid will probably end up with that same problem. Karma.
5. When in doubt, have him/her tested.
6. When in doubt, get it x-rayed. 
7. If you motherly intuition is telling you something, its almost always right.
8. Own a nice stroller.
9. Lock your van doors or said stroller will be stolen.
10. Don't buy every toy for your first kid because then you'll have nothing to buy your second kid.
11. Leather seats are highly recommended.
12. Don't let your kid watch a DVD in the car on the way to Target or you'll never be able to listen to music again.
13. If you dress your kid up cute then other people can look past the fact that you yourself haven't showered lately.
14. If you don't shower in the morning, you'll never get the chance.
15. You can have high hopes of being the perfect mother at the birth of your firstborn, but prepare to have them dashed.
16. Don't say you will never go natural, because you just might. Whether you want to or not.
17. If you let them get away with it once, its harder to make them stop the next time.
18. Read a parenting book at least once a year.
19. Treasure the late night feedings. They don't last forever.
20. Subscribe to the Baby Center emails. Lots of good information.
21. Play outside for 15 minutes every day. Or try to at least.
22. Don't make a separate dinner for your kids or they'll always be picky.
23. If you try to sneak avocado into his sandwich, he will discover it.
24. Own at least one membership to somewhere fun (gym memberships don't count).
25. Get over yourself and own a van. I promise you will love it.
26. Preschool is expensive but worth it.
27. Keep a gosh dang journal so you can look back on these crazy precious times.
28. Date night is a necessity.
29. GNO's are a must.
30. And so is playgroup.
31. A therapist might be necessary too.
32. The pull out method is not an effective form of birth control. 
33. You know you're a mother when: everyone in your family has sucked on your boobs.
34. Study up on your vaccines so you can make an informed decision.
35. Doctors know a lot, but not everything.
36. Your body will never be the same. But its so worth it.
37. Take lots of pictures.
38. Beat your kids.
39. (Just Kidding)
40. I've been told that saying the F word might help vent anger or frustration. I haven't tried it. Yet.
41. Say your prayers (and repent for saying the F word). 
42. Don't read sad blogs. But if you do, at least you will be grateful for your life.
43. Keep going to church. Someday you will hear what is being said.
44. Pinterest is your friend. 
45. Keep up on your laundry.
46. Things that used to gross you out probably won't anymore.
47. Take a chill pill.
48. If you own nice things, your kids will break them.
49. Take your kids to Disneyland at some point.
50. Read to your kids every day.
51. Just love them. You won't be their whole world forever.


Added by Readers:


~You will always love your kids, but don't feel bad that there are days you really don't LIKE them.
~Find amusement in the slew of unintentional rules that will come out of your mouth on a daily basis. Things like "no amount of water will turn the play room carpet into a mudpit. Please stop trying."
-Brooke


~If you're trying to go someplace cool, the kids won't be impressed. They will however get excited about the dirt, sticks, and cool bugs they see on the way there.  -Ben

 ~I would add don't rush any stage or milestone. Just enjoy the one your child is currently in. -Whitney

~ If there is a killer flu bug virus lurking around, your kid will find it and eat it...then spread it to the whole playgroup the next day. (It's not a rule, it's a law.)
~100% of the time I go to the store without a diaper bag, my kid will have a dry heave worthy blowout that the entire grocery store will be able to smell and enjoy. -Abby

~Don't plan on your baby arriving early, they'll make you wait :

-Christy

Christmas Festivities

Better late than never...

We had such a fun December. Now that Canyon is getting older and understanding Christmas a little bit more, I tried to plan some fun activities for us to do. One fun thing we did (with no pictures) was getting a ton of Christmas books from the library and we tried to read one a day. Some were Christ-centered, others were Santa-centered but they were sure fun to read!

Our first activity was getting our Christmas Tree and putting up our decorations. We got a teeny tiny little "Charlie Brown" Christmas Tree this year because we were poor!!! It only cost us $24 and was as tall as me. I thought I wouldn't like it and that it wouldn't "feel like Christmas" but it did and we actually got lots of compliments on it. It was cute and was definitely a tree to remember. 

Canyon helped put the ornaments on the tree.

 And Greyson crawled around under the tree and 

helped to UN-decorate it! 

 He made this silly face all night long! I don't know where he got that from.

 Our next "fun" activity was making gingerbread houses out of graham crackers. The first night I we tried using canned frosting. BAD idea. So the second night I made some homemade frosting and it worked like a charm. Canyon maybe put 2 candies on the house and about 50 in his mouth! Allen and I did most of the decorating. It was still fun.

 Allen was very proud of his snowman.

Canyon's Christmas Program at his preschool was so much fun to watch. Much more fun than his Halloween Parade! They sang several songs. He sang but he wasn't super animated like the girl to his right!

 Then Santa surprised the kids and came to take a picture with them and pass out candy canes.

 After the program we went back to his classroom and he gave us the gift he made us. It was his cute little handprint.

Then we got a picture with Miss Anna. He also has a teacher named Miss Heather but we didn't get a picture with her:(

After the program we came home and had a Christmas Party with Playgroup at our house. We decorated cookies and read The Polar Express. 

 

 

 If you think these are messy faces, you should have seen my basement after they dumped 2 bottles of sprinkles all over the place. (And while I cleaned that up they went upstairs and Canyon dumped water all over the kitchen floor by getting cups of water out of the front of the fridge and pouring them on the ground and all the kids played in it. So much fun...)

We made a popcorn garland.

 Well, I made it....

 and he ate it...

 Then we made paper snowflakes. WAY FUN! He loved this activity. He was so intent on cutting his paper that he would NOT look at me to let me get a good picture!

 What a goof!

 We had my Webb family Christmas Party and the Davis Christmas Party at my Dad's office building on back to back nights. We got to sit in the same chair and sit on the same Santa's lap!

 The week of Christmas we went down to Temple Square to see the lights.  COLD and SOOOO crowded. 

 We went on a carriage ride. It would have been more fun without Greyson because he was all funned out and squirming all over the place so it was hard to relax and enjoy it.

 On the 23rd we had the Campbell Christmas Party with Allen's immediate family. Santa came and gave us all gag gifts and....

 we learned that Matthew and Katie are having TWINS! They are due with identical boys on Canyon's birthday!

 We had the cutest little nativity

 Canyon was so cute with Baby Jesus. It made Grammy cry.

 

 Canyon got a Spiderman toothbrush and 2 games from Grammy and Papa

 Greyson got Clifford the Big Red Dog and book

 I got a beautiful Santa Clause

Allen got money towards new golf clubs.

The next night, the 24th, we spent Christmas Eve at my parents house for the first time in 6 or 7 years! We ate a yummy dinner and Canyon dressed up as a shepherd.

 Cutest shepherd I've ever seen.

 Then I was Mary and Greyson was Jesus and Canyon was Joseph.

 But then Canyon wanted Daddy to "come be my Mary."

 So Daddy was Mary. And they kissed.

When Grandpa asked Canyon if he could be Mary, Canyon said, "No, you're not a girl." hmmm...

Christmas Morning was so much fun! Canyon was spoiled (once again). 

 Greyson got a phone and a ball popper from us, and a small pillow pet from Rachelle and a play table from my parents.

Its a very serious phone call he is making.

 Cute little Lillers opening the purse we gave her.

 Canyon's favorite present was his Rudolph.

 But he was most excited about his DVDs!!!

 Allen gave himself Mountain Dew.

 And I gave him the U of U Swoop pillow pet and fixed the boots that his Dad gave him that were from his mission.

 Allen gave me my traditional stocking in nylons. I love it- its such a fun tradition even though he thinks I don't like it. I also gave myself a camera but I returned it.

 After opening gifts we went to church and I sang in the choir. Then we went to my Grandparents house and ate Brunch and opened gifts. Then we went to the Campbell's and visited. Then we went home completely exhausted.

What a fun Christmas!!!

Thank you to our Savior who was born so long ago in a humble stable and made it all possible. We love Him very much.