I love kids

Tyla: "Chris Angel cut someones arm off! "
Halee: "I don't know who Chris Angel is."
Tyla: "He cuts peoples arms off. I almost threw up!"

Christmas Craziness!!!

I have kind of been a slacker on the postings lately and really have no excuse for it. I finally finished with physiology and am happy to say I got a B whoo hoo, I always try for an A, but come on I gave birth 2 weeks into the semester, so I'm not beating myself up to much. I waited til after finals to begin Christmas shopping so the pressure was on the last few weeks, but we got there and had a fantastic Christmas. My Dads side of the family all chipped in for a Sub for Santa again. We were able to help a very deserving family. They decided to do this instead of a gift exchange between all of the cousins about 6 years ago. I was in charge of it this year and enjoyed a wonderful shopping day with my mom and grandma. Grandma help by pushing Vance around in the shopping cart watching my mom and I go nuts in the toy section. She kept peeking in the car seat to make sure Vance was still alive. I think she had a hard time believing a baby could be that good, but seriously its scary how good he is, I feel really blessed.
The Saturday before Christmas we had a small get together with our friends and exchanged White Elephant gifts. I hope to make this a tradition because it was so much fun. My instructions were to have very random no cost items that are found around the house. I was in tears the whole time Caroline was opening the gift from me which was a wonderful made with love pair of maxi pad slippers. I got the idea from an email Sammy sent me. They were beautiful! Other gifts included toilet paper, old work out videos, hats straight out of 1980 and gummy hand cuffs with the origional girls gone wild video!
Christmas eve was at Jim's aunt Jeanie's this year. Wonderful food, good company, and craziness. I love this tradition, it is the start of the whirlwind that is the next 24 hours... busy, but so much fun!
Christmas eve and our house was great. Grandma Pat spent the night with Halee and I think got about an hour of un-interrupted sleep! Sorry about the air mattress grandma. After Pat got Hal to sleep it was time to play Santa. It was so much fun to have 2 kids to set up for this year. Even though Vance is to young to know what is going on it was nice to see both boy and girl toys set out. Halee got a new bike, helmet, tons of clothes, books, and some movies, her favorite gift ended up being a $3.00 am fm radio that looks like and i pod. I think I know what to get her for her birthday next year. She is really in tune with the whole Santa thing this year and has been asking allot of questions about the Big guy! She snuck a letter in her stocking at some point and Mom was in such a hurry to fill it that she did not see it in there! When Hal opened her stocking she said " I guess Santa did'nt get my letter." oh crap, what letter? think mom think. "Well no honey he does'nt need to take it, he just knows." I really hope I can keep it going for a while. I will be so sad when its not this way anymore.
Vance had a good first Christmas. We tried to stay more practical for his age this year. He got a jumper ( like a stationary walker), tons of clothes, and toys. Halee opened most of his gifts for him.
After we opened gifts we welcomed Jims brother and sister and their families over for a gift exchange and breakfast. Jims and his mom cooked while I tried to organize as best I could. Pat really out did herself this year. She said it may be her last year here. She has plans to move to the new house in Clawson eventually. Next on the agenda was my Aunts house for the Jensen family get together. We love to see every one, but boy it gets hard to keep up on most of them. Its amazing what can result from 2 people getting married and having 6 kids! It makes for a really big group and the Jensen motto is he who has the loudest voice wins!
Next was my Mom and Dad's which was slightly less chaotic than the last party, but not much! I always look forward to both. My mom goes all out every year. She never ceases to amaze me at how thoughtful she is about her gifts and we so appreciate every bit of what she does for us. She manages to get the perfect gift for all 12 grand kids.
Next stop was Bakers, where we were of course spoiled rotten. Grandma Sharron went crazy with clothes for Hal, and kept the Christmas Bear Tradition alive with a 2008 bear, that makes for the 11Th one. I have bought one every year since Jim and I started dating.
We ended the day with dinner at Russ and Laurie's were we again had some great food and laughs. It was a fantastic way to unwind from a wonderfully chaotic day! So until next year it was crazy, but always worth it!

Visit to santa

We did our annual visit to Santa at the Gateway! He is an excellent Santa if you are looking for a good one. He has a real beard and a kind voice, with a hint of an accent of some sort that I can't quite place. Vance cuddled right up to him, and my shy Halee wasted no time in telling him what she wanted. Scott and Melissa joined us this year for Marli's first Christmas. After Santa we made our way to Build a Bear. Halee was her wonderfully indecisive self ( She gets it from me...it's a curse) We finally decided on the frilliest brightest blue dress you ever saw, and high heels. After a world class fit in the middle of the mall over not waiting in a huge line for hot chocolate we headed home ( ah memories!!!). We usually spend more time there, but the snow was getting bad and kids were getting cranky...So until next year! I didn't get really good pictures and I can't figure out how do scan in the pic from santa, so sorry this is all I have. I promise I will get better at this!

Snow Day

Tuesday I had my nephew Wyatt for the day. I loved it! I bundled all the kids up and went out into the snow... well what was left of the snow! After about a hour getting ready we finally got outside. The kids played for about 5 minuets and had a quick attempt to jump on the tramp then it was time for hot chocolate.

Christmas get to know you!

This came across my email, and I very rarely fill these things out, but i'ts christmas and I figured I would lighten up! So here is my Christmas addition of getting to know you.
ENJOY!

1.) Wrapping paper or gift bag?
Bags, sorry I'm lazy and most of the time they are recycled!
2.) Real tree or artificial?
Fake! with a pine scented candle,
3.) When do you put up the tree?
This year was the sunday after thanksgiving Its some kind of record!
4.) When do you take the tree down?
Around New Years
5.) Do you like eggnog?
well just think of the name "egg-nogg" whats a nog? just the thought of sucking down nogg sounds really grose, so honestly I have never tried it. and I don't plan to
6.) Favorite gift received as a child?
my tiny terquoise radio, it looked like a mini boom box! and am AND fm stations
7.) Hardest person to buy for? My MOTHER I don't know why she is far from picky, and loves anything you get her, but for some reason she is hard to shop for!
8.) Easiest person to buy for? Halee cuz she wants everything
9.) Do you have a Nativity scene?
Nope! not that there is anything wrong with them. I'm down with jesus and all, but never bought one!
10.) Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Oh yeah when you are an adult you do christmas cards, I just didn't get that memo. So since you wont be getting a card from me, MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE MCKEE'S
11.) Worst christmas gift you ever received. Well lets see...... the mens leather jacket that was 4 sizes to big for me and nothing even close to what I wanted from my darling husband!!! He meant well! (Don't tell him I put this on here he would feel really bad)
12.) Favorite Christmas movie? Home for the holidays with Robert Downey Junior and Holly Hunter. if you havn't seen it, rent it!!
13.) When do you start shopping for Christmas?
In theory June, but this year only a few thigs got purchased early!!
14.) Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift?
Why would I give away that secret. If I said yes then everyone would wonder if the gift they were getting was a regift!
15.) Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Hmmm... anything
16.) White Lights or Colored Lights on the tree? White on my tree.....but I nevery really cared either way
17.) Favorite Christmas song?
The Porkey Pig version I'll have a blue christmas. It makes me laugh really hard! am very very easily entertained!
18.) Stay home, or go away for Christmas?
I would love to stay home, but we become the traveling circus every single year!!! Hey but I'm not complaining I am very lucky to have so many places to go. I love all my family and actually love seeing everyone!!
19.) Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Sleepy, Happy, grumpy, dopey, sneezy, bashful, doc,
20.) Angel on the tree top or a star?
A santa
21.) Open presents Christmas morning?
Yep!!
22.) Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Stress of getting all my shopping done!
23.) Favorite ornament, theme or color?
The snowmen with all of our names on them!
24.) Favorite part of Christmas dinner?
Food!
25.) What do you want for this Christmas?
I need new clothes
26.) Who is most likely to respond to this?
Everyone
27.) Who is most unlikely to respond to this?
Everyone

I'm three months

Vance will be three months tomorrow if you can believe it. This was one of my favorite outfits for Hal and would not let go of it until I had another child, but today I decided that it is just plain cruel to put on a boy not to mention its a little to small for him. Ha ha oh well this will be a pic we show his future girlfriends!!!

love you Vancy pants!!!

Halee's Birthday

Well we are one year older, wiser, absolutely more sarcastic, opinionated, stubborn, and on the pathway to full blown teenager! Halee turned 6 on November 20th and I cannot believe how fast time goes. Staying home with her these past few months has really shown me how precious time is and how much I missed out on, but without all the time at day care she wouldn't have had the social interactions she experienced and wouldn't have the fun little aspects of her personality! L for loser, one two skip a few ninety nine - one hundred. Pok e mon cards, she had no idea what they mean, but she knows they are cool. Mom had figured out they are a great source of bribery. We love her so much! She is an amazing big sister to Vance and loves every bit of him! She is doing great in Kindergarten and just received her first report card! and certificate for perfect attendance!! She makes me laugh every day with the crazy things she comes up with. Her party this year was at Bouncing off the Walls and oh boy did we ever! Thanks to everyone who was able to make it, she had a great time, and got lots of presents. I am really grateful to have such a wonderful family!

So big

sledding

yeah snow!!!

I found my smile

Vance's Blessing

We had Vance Blesses last week. Everything was wonderful and my Dad did a great job. He blessed Vance to be everything we hope he will be, strong healthy have a good sense of right from wrong and to be a peace maker. I believe he is that already. I haven't wanted to rip my hair out when it comes to Halee nearly as much now that he is here! We feel very blessed to have such a terrific beautiful baby boy!

My dad is on the left and the bishop on the right! My Dad plays santa at R.C. Willey every year,

2 months

Halee had a blast this year because we let her go with her older cousins and walk the whole neighborhood for the first time. By the time she finnally arrived back at Heathers she had a whole grocery sack full which she decided to put all over Vance, but as you can see my sweet little Vancy pants did not mind at all!

Trick orTreat Street

On friday we went to "Trick or Treat Street" at the expo center. Laurie had seen the add and we decided on a whim to check it out. I was very happily supprised. The kids got dressed up and went door to door trick or treating in a very cute make believe town. All that answered doors were in costume and gave out pretty decent treats, afterwards the kids got their faces painted! We got some great pictures and had allot of fun, and most of the proceeds go tho toys for tots. We will be going back next year.

Daddy's little plumbers!

I swear I did not do this on purpose. Vance was showing crack yesterday and Hal today! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Dancing Queen

Man she cracks me up! Don't you wish sometimes that you could release all inhibitions and just dance around the kitchen like that! Well I do it often but only when accompanied by alcohol!

Im 1 month!!!

Pimp Daddy pumpkin pants!

Ahhhhhh mid terms

My kitchen table has been taken over with Physiology paraphernalia!!!

So this week is mid terms, I can't believe its here already. I am struggling with the first couple of chapters because my mind was elsewhere, like having a baby!! I know that this will all be worth it when I become a nurse!

I decided that I need a day of rest during the week when I am home so Friday has been declared fun day! every week Halee gets to decide somewhere fun to go after school. last week we went to the discovery kids zone at the gateway! is was really fun, but I suggest going with two or more kids. Grandma and I weren't that great of playmates. Its amazing how little imagination I have now that I'm a boring adult. It kinda sucks I used to be so crazy. All was well when she found a friend though, fellow mail man Logan! They had so many things for the kids to do and learn about! I will be going back soon but this time with more kids!

My favorite part of the place was of course the life flight chopper, My goal is to be a flight nurse so this was cool. The had a noise simulation of the helicopter taking off! It scared the crap out of Hal. She thought they were going to take off!

Hal's new do!

Halee finally let us cut her hair, and it looks so much better she is getting braver and braver about staightening and curling her hair. she held perfectly still at the salon and let the lady cut it wiht out one tantrum! Yeah Halee!

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We miss you Grandpa

Today is the 2nd year we have been without Jim's Dad. Sometimes is doesn't seem real. For those of you who knew him I don't need to explain what an amazing person he was, but if you didn't know him you were missing out on one of the best people I have ever known.

We miss him so much, I wish Halee would have had more time to get to know him, and that Vance would've gotten to know him at all. It breaks my heart, because children were everything to him. He brought everyone together and made all of us laugh. he was a good sport about everything. I see allot of him in Jim-minus the butt crack! We love you Dad, Pixie, Big boy, Chuck whatever you want to call him!

If you cant see it the name on the front of the hard hat is Fat Lil bastard compliments of uncle Grem!
Nice 70's afro do, this never goes away!

Gateway

Last week we went to the Gateway to watch the Elephants walk down the main street, those of you that already viewed my old blog already know the story, but my brother sent me some better pics and I wanted to post them! Halee had a blast in the fountain, and found a new way to ride in Vance's stroller I got some odd looks from other people when they saw a childs legs hanging out from under the infant seat!