Rudy Family Rukus~Parenting tips and humor meet in one big "rukus"

I think this is our first official snowman at this house.  We made one at the grandma house last year (thanks Uncle Brandon).  But this one had a weed for one arm and a Christmas tree branch for the other arm. His eye's and buttons are made of Hershey kisses and his nose is a carrot of course.  He did have a chef's hat that Dalton crafted from snow but that got knocked off before I could photograph.  The snowman also got demoed by two rambunctious children!!  Now he is small, small, small!!

We started a new Christmas Eve tradition this year thanks to a neighborhood gift.  We put out food for Santa's reindeer that had sparkles in it so that they would know where to land.  It was pretty fun!

Okay so apparently I am having some technical difficulties with this post.  The movie is The Women with Meg Ryan , Eva Mendez, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Jada Pinket Smith, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen.  IT is really great. First of all thanks to my husband for granting my Christmas wish and getting me this great movie.  It was so refreshing in this give up, throw away, selfish world we live in.  I laughed, I cried, and most of all I was renewed!  I am thinking of having a showing here on my new blu-ray player!  Anyone interested let me know!

December 2008 So I just finished my way too fancy homemade Christmas cards and realized that I did not want to spoil them by writing on them or even by adding a bragging letter that no one really reads anyway.  Do they???  What I did include was an adorable picture of three really cute kiddos and a note that referred everyone I know to my BLOG.  I am such a cheater. Needless to say because I have a BLOG I brag (and complain) daily about what goes on around here but for those of you who are just visiting for the the first time let me catch you up. Dalton started Kindergarten this year.  He LOVES it!!  I am not surprised really but I am grateful that he has a fantastic teacher who adores him and thinks he can do no wrong.  He is starting out young with the whole charm thing (good for ya! dude).  He played t-ball this year which I coached (seriously what was I thinking?)  I spent most of the season trying to convince him there is NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!  (gotta love the movie reference the

So I got tagged to pick the fourth picture in the fourth file.  I have  a MAC and it doesn't file my pictures like that so this picture had the number 4 in it and I am pretty sure it was in the fourth month (I could be mistaken).  Needless to say it is a pretty cute picture and I just noticed I have taken almost 10000 pictures of my kids so it is pretty hard to choose a favorite.  This was obviously me and Dalton at my cousins wedding reception.  It didn't realize it was that long ago, but see how Dalton has changed!

Just a little leary of what Santa might have to say! Entire class with Santa. Peyton is in the cutest little dance class.  She loves it and her teachers Miss Diane and Miss Becky.  These are just a few shots from this years Christmas preview and visit from Santa.  Notice all the balancing poses!  Such an improvement from last year all she did was cry and beg for ice cream.  

a mess really.  But here are some shots of me and the kids getting into the Christmas spirit.  Of course there was Christmas music blaring in the background and lots of helping to unload the Christmas bins.  But the best part of this year is that we sprung for a real tree.  I love real Christmas trees it just gets me into the mood for Christmas.  I love everything about them .  The smell, the mess, the huge sagging bows.  We always had real trees when I was little in fact we used to cut our own. I have such great memories of cutting Christmas trees and fire wood.  Maybe one day my kids will get to have those memories as well. For now the memory of walking through the lot at Lowe's will have to suffice.haha!!

Grandpa spoils them rotten and for the past week I have been trying to convince her that my juice (diet coke) is not her juice.

There was under armour back then.  Make no mistake about what is important around this house.  (in case you don't know it is football and the sponsor that clothes the family!!)

Happy Birthday to my dear friend Jolie.  I hope this birthday brings her a better year.  We have been friends for a LONG time and I am so grateful for her friendship.  Here's to many more years.  I would have posted a picture but since the change to the MAC I can't find any pictures of her should would approve of!!  Love you Jolie!

I am a blog stalker.  I admit it and I even post the blogs I stalk on my BLOG but today as I was catching up on the blog stalking I ran across a few things that sparked my interest.  I am extending a challenge to those of you (and to myself) who stalk or openly read here to LET YOUR HALO SHOW.  I know we all have them after all we are all children of God. (Don't believe me ask my 6 year old who gave a talk about it in primary).  This time of year in particular is a great time.  If you wouldn't mind comment on how you have or plan to show your halo.  I always need ideas for service and random acts of kindness.  Besides that it might make me appreciate my friends and family a little more so my halo could show a little too!