9-1-1, Warning: Graphic Pictures

About a month ago, Brodie called me in the middle of a surgery with an emergency. He has NEVER done this in 5 years of being an orthopedic rep. They were missing a part they needed that was in our garage - where else would it be, right?
So I woke Abbey from her nap. She had been completely healthy when I put her down. Strapped her in the car seat, and she pukes like there's no tomorrow. I was in such a hurry I would have just left her, but the puke was so chunky I couldn't do up the straps. I took her out and put on new clothes, but didn't have time to clean her up.
I raced like a mad women to the hospital, which was luckily 25 minutes away, with throw up on my pants. The whole time Brodie is calling me telling me the doctor is not happy. They are literally waiting for me to get there so they can put a nail in some poor guy's femur. Brodie ran out of the ER in his surgical cap and scrubs (looking pretty cute, I might add). The surgery was a success, and I think the doctor got over it.
That's what we do around here...we save lives!

We had a little hockey party with Bronson and Casey for the gold medal game. Earlier, Abbey cried when I tried to put this jersey on her. After she saw all the boys wearing them, she changed her mind. Then she cried and cried when I had to take it off her. Go figure.
Brodie's friend Daniel (my boss) bought a Canadian team jersey for himself, Brodie, and Payson (so nice!). Brodie is going to take him to a Ducks game so they can have Scott sign them. I think Daniel was secretly hoping Canada would win, even though he is American. It just isn't the same having a jersey signed by the silver medalist now, is it?
We were really into the Olympics, staying up late every night to watch it. The day of the Canada/Russia hockey game Brodie texted me and said he couldn't eat he was so nervous. I actually thought it was because he had 7 surgeries that day, which is ridiculous. No...it was because of the hockey game.
Brodie went to the first Ducks game after the Olympics and they did a little ceremony for the medalists on the team. One day if I can get enough notice to get a babysitter, I might actually get to go to a game!

My new love

Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos...eat your heart out! If anyone has seen Kelly Ripa's Electrolux commercial, you know why I was swayed into buying this. After a month of it taking 4 hours to dry a batch of clothes, it was go big or go home. The consumer reports were great on these babies, but I'm not going to lie... they cost a pretty penny. I spent 2 hours (no lie) on Saturday, sitting in front of my washer and dryer. Brodie didn't spend as much time, but still enough time that it could be considered embarrassing.
The washer was so quiet we thought it wasn't working, and it fit double the clothes. The dryer is the biggest one you can buy. I was either going to buy the cheapest or the best, there is no half-way for me. All it took was a phone call from Sears to Brodie and he said "get whatever you want, babe". He should have known better!

California Dreamin' on a Winter's Day

Every now and then, I like to post something to persuade those family members living in colder climates to move here or come visit. So, not only are we playing outside...but we are playing outside naked. Yes, we do this every January. I had just changed Abbey's diaper and was going to take her up to the bath and she escaped outside. She was going down the slide naked, but the pictures were scandalous so I left them out.
Earlier that day I took the kids to the park (while Brodie was at home awaiting the arrival of my new washer and dryer) and it was t-shirt weather! Just some of the perks of living in So Cal.

Priceless!

A trip to Costco with a lizard in your purse on December 23rd, because you're afraid it might die in the car...$140. The look on his face in the morning when he gets a pet lizard from Santa that Mom swore he would never get in a million years so he quit asking a year ago..Priceless! (Meet our new pet named Scales)
Monkey jams $12 (thanks Grandma!) & a baby doll set that has a stroller, playpen, highchair...that you realize at 2 AM is going to take 'til 3:30 AM to assemble... $32.
Lego train that really moves, but that your 7 year old built in a couple hours (not enough to keep him busy for our entire Christmas vacation-darn!) ...$79
The look on her face as she sits in her baby's high chair (you're going to break it Abbey!)...Priceless!
Keeping them busy enough Christmas Day to knock them out cold on Christmas night...PRICELESS!

Christmas Morning

For the second year in a row, Abbey loves playing with Grandma's chocolate box.

For the first year EVER, I actually like my Christmas tree. My old tree cost $20 at Walgreens, if that gives you any idea of how nice it was. I would set the old one up on a big rubbermaid container with a blanket on top of it, to add some extra height. It looked really funny in our old house with the huge vaulted ceiling. This year I actually spent more than $5 on Christmas decorations, which made a huge difference I think.
Christmas morning we went over to Pulsipher's for breakfast. The Webb's and Sanchez's were there and the kids (and Dads) had a blast riding Brooke's doone buggy. She was nice enough to share her Christmas present with everyone. They were getting serious air! As you can see, the weather doesn't exactly scream Christmas! I was so glad we went over there or we would have been really bored and lonely on Christmas Day. Bronson and Casey came over Christmas afternoon and we played Mario Bro's and had appetizers. That's my new tradition...no heavy cooking on Christmas Day and stay in your jams.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Christmas Eve we had our friends Erik and Chareese over and Brodie's mission companion Carl and his wife Chantel. The kids played reindeer games outside in the freezing California winter.

Callie, Tallen, Kelsee, Payson, Crew

This is our attempt at a family picture in front of the tree. You should have seen the other ones.
Our little Abbey girl was a huge grouch on Christmas Eve. She was pouting and wouldn't let anyone touch her or play with her. Her cheeks were super rosy and dry that night, kind of like mine were at her age.
Of course we had to read " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" like Grandpa Bruce always does. We weren't lonely this Christmas Eve 'cause we decided to invite some friends over. Imagine that! Brodie was sick as a dog, so I stayed up til all hours wrapping presents, etc. At 2 AM I thought I was done except for one little box to open and get out for Abbey. Little did I know it would take me 90 minutes to put it together. So I watched a movie while I did it, and got my magical middle of the night burst of energy. I cleaned everything so it would be perfect in the morning. At 4 AM I went to bed and actually had a hard time falling asleep. Its times like that that I was really wishing there was a Harker around to stay up with me and join in the craziness!