Surprise Surprise!

Last week Tyler said, "Surprise I am taking you to New York without kids and we leave Thursday." WHAT????? It's not easy for me to leave our kids and he had babysitters mostly arranged but it still took some convincing and a lot of coordinated efforts to make it happen. We had to leave a day later but it actually worked out. I still can't believe it and we are definitely grateful to all those (Tracy, Grandma and Grandpa P, Grandma and Grandpa J, Grandpa S, Sara, Erika, and Kristi...I wasn't kidding about the coordinated effort) who graciously took such good care of our kids and allowed us this trip. Without them it would not have been possible. Thanks again everyone!!!!

We absolutely loved New York and could totally live there someday. I will post pictures of where later. I loved the energy, culture, excitement and no city says Merry Christmas better than NY. It was way fun and a great time being free from kids.

So here is a sneak peek of our trip. There will be more to come.

Rockefeller Center

Central Park.

The view from our hotel.

Thanks babe for a fantastic trip. You are awesome!

"Mom, When I Grow Up

Can I be a Rockette?"

My response: Sure

Taylor: Okay but I need the costume.

Taylor asked me this question after learning the line kick dance (technical term, I'm sure) in Dance Class today.

It's late...

and I can't sleep so....Thanksgiving was how long ago?!

Here's a glimpse into our Thanksgiving celebration.

We went to my Grandma's House and
made turkeys out of oreos..even the "big kids" had fun with that one.

Played in Great Grandpa's "clubhouse" that he constructed in the rafters of his garage. Attempted a family picture. WHY don't these ever work?

I have high hopes that one day they will.Before...After!

Won money at Great Grandpa's dart game. Every family get together you can expect some sort of dart throwing match to win money. We let the kids cheat this year.

Had craft time with the youngest generation of Corrigans.

Saw some planets: Saturn and Mars, Saturn and Jupiter...I don't remember.

And we went out on Black Friday for the 1st time. I can't really say that this will be a new tradition for me as I stood in line at Gymboree for over an hour for a sweater but at least I can say I went out.

Winter Quarters

On our way back to the airport we stopped at the Winter Quarters visitor center. It is a really special place. You can feel the spirit of those early pioneers as you tour the visitor center and the cemetery. There was a monument with the names of all those who perished during that time. My sister in law pointed out how many of those lost were babies and it reminded me of the struggles and trials the early saints had to endure. I am certainly grateful for all that they sacrificed so that we can have the gospel today and be able to worship how we choose. I feel forever indebted to them.

Just in case there was any question as to how exhausted our kids were, this is how Ashlyn spent her time in the visitor's center...on the floor throwing tantrums.

Aren't we glad that this is not our method of transportation? I was certainly born in the right time period. Winter Quarters Temple.

And that concludes our trip to Nebraska.

We had such a fun time with the Drapers and sure wish we could see them more often. We love and miss you guys!!! Thanks for a great trip.

More Nebraska...

While in Nebraska we went to a mall and rode a carousal...pretty exciting.

It was then off to an indoor play place to have a family party for Allie's birthday. Our camera died at this point of the trip so I didn't get many pictures but it is definitely a fun place and the kids LOVED it. There were bounce houses, swing sets, cosmic golf, basketball, and Andy's favorite thing EVER...a train table.

The End of the World.

Poor Taylor had her 4 year old well check visit with the doctor today which meant 3 shots and a prick on the finger to test for anemia. It was a pretty traumatic event for her. Tears and sobs occurred on and off throughout the evening as she remembered being held down and shot 3 times in the arm. In between hysterics she would say, " I don't like that doctor. She does bad things." At our dinner prayer, I thanked Heavenly Father that Taylor could get shots so she can be healthy (trying to show her that its all good) so she said our family prayer which consisted of this line, "Thank you that I could get shots and Thank you that I can never get them again." She couldn't take a bath or wear a long sleeve pajama shirt because it would hurt her owies. It really was quite the dramatic afternoon. I ended up just laughing at the things she was saying because if you didn't know better you would think something awful happened to her. I guess in her young mind, something did. She now has a fever and one arm she can't move. Poor thing!

I would like to thank the nurse girl for creating fear in my child about Kindergarten. She told Taylor she needed the shots in order to go (NEXT YEAR!)...well guess what, Taylor doesn't want to go to Kindergarten now. Thanks!

What is with ALL the baby dolls?

Today I had the luxury of going Christmas shopping all by myself...so nice... thanks mom and Reid! I wanted to buy Ashlyn a cute baby doll. Little did I know that the baby doll isle is extremely creepy. There are dolls that laugh, cry, giggle, grow teeth for heaven sakes, wear and use diapers, and require regular feedings. It is like having another child!!! It took me awhile to find a doll that didn't make noise or that wouldn't require my assistance in any way. As I stood in front of the one I liked, other dolls sensed my presence and cooed and giggled the entire time I was there. As if that wasn't enough, all the other dolls I had touched while I walked down the isle were also making noise. I felt like I was in my own personal horror movie.

My stroll down creepy, horror movie isle was successful though. I found a very cute doll that doesn't make any noise and that totally looks like Ashlyn. YEA!