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

From our family to yours!! Think of this as one big group hug from me to you!  I don't make resolutions but I will make an exception this year for just one-- I plan on giving a lot more hugs this year so if you know me watch out.   Oh and the picture is courtesy of Wendy G you can see more of her work here .  

This was such a great photo catch.  I was inside where it was WARM and I looked out the window and this is what I saw.   For more Wordless Wednesday posts from me click here .  For other Wordless Wednesday posts head on over to 5MinutesforMom and link up.

Provide lots of extra activities to keep them occupied and their minds off Christmas ! Be sure to travel to a warmer climate with NO SNOW so as to distract the children from knowing what time of year and season it is. Be sure to be dressed in appropriate team colors and cheering for the winning team is certainly a bonus.  It is also a good idea to bring a father-in-law to assist with bathroom trips during the game!

We have returned.  We are refreshed and our spirits are renewed and I just want to wish everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! I spent some quality time with these people. We had such a nice trip.  More on that later.  We are now anxiously awaiting the arrival of this fellow,  as I am sure many of you are as well.   While I was gone my friend Lolli graciously allowed me to guest post on her blog Better in Bulk .  She is a mom of 5, a fabulous blogger and photographer.  I met her through BlogFrog (of course) and while she was out of town I was able to post over there.  So please go visit her and say hi.   I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Yes she is reading scriptures (upside down) and sitting on toilet paper.  Go on over to 5MinutesforMom to see more Wordless Wednesday posts.

I know I talk about the blogfrog a lot but it is because I LOVE them and what they are doing for the blogging world.  Particularly blogging moms like me.  I just want to talk a little about communities and why they are so cool.  I will keep it short because I don't like to read long posts I am too easily distracted. Okay first anyone can join blogfrog--you don't even need a blog.  Second if you have a blog and you join blogfrog you can have a community.  It is free.   What your community can do is connect your readers in a way that your blog alone can not.  It is a place for you and your readers to discuss all kinds of topics.  There is no limit to what you can discuss and learn about each other.  Some larger communities even have open live chats which are really fun.  I have found many blogs from these communities and many other bloggers have found me.   So click here and go look at my community.  Look around if you want to join there is a spot for that in the upper right

Hi all!  I am going here .  I am not saying when cause I don't want any crazies trying to steal my stuff!  I am taking these people with me, so wish me luck! I am taking them on an airplane and while discussing this Dalton said "Oh good I will be able to look out the window and see a better view of the mountains.....Hey wait a minute...I am scared of heights!" I was laughing so hard I had to pull over.  We were in the car of course! I will also be going to this and also taking these people with me. Are you sensing a theme here!  Wish me luck!!

I saw this and thought it was perfect for the Sunday before Christmas. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. It helped me remember why I love the Christmas season. I love those little moments that remind me of why we celebrate Christmas. May you all enjoy this season and have the true meaning of Christmas in your hearts year round.

action photo! Our new favorite Saturday activity.  Dalton's first year of youth basketball.  Very entertaining to say the least.  I recorded some of the game last week and I am already that annoying mom in the stands that yells all kinds of tips to her kid.  Oh please help me now!

Peyton's first Christmas.  Seems like it was yesterday.  She is about to have her 6th Christmas yikes!!   Click here to see my other Flashback Friday posts.

Today I am joining up with Kmama over at The Daily Dribbles .  It is free therapy Thursday.  Go check her out!! -Thank you very much In-n-Out for finally gracing the northern part of our lovely state.  We are so happy to have you!! (No sarcasm here) But you should have positioned yourself much farther than just 3 small miles away.  I am tempted daily to visit you and consume burgers and fries!!  Thanks for that!! -Thank you Christmas for staying on the 25th of December even though a few weeks ago I asked you to move to MAY.  I am not prepared and now the anxiety has set in!  (I know I should really be thanking myself!  But why take responsibility at this point?) -Thank you to my children for making me act like an absolute lunatic this holiday season!  I appreciate all the opportunities to yell and threaten to take away Christmas.  I have threatened to call Santa about 1000 times and it is still not working.  So if any of you have his number I would love to make that CALL!

Every year Peyton has a Christmas Dance program and Santa comes!  This is the REAL Santa.  Yes I believe!!  He knows all the kids names and just look at him doesn't it just give you the Christmas spirit!  These pictures are from last year but we are going tonight to see him again.  I can't wait maybe I can get a picture with him this year!!

Scary Mommy! Do you ever have those days when you know you really LOST it with your kids?  Had one of those yesterday!! (Can't believe I am posting this!) Anyway hoping for a better day today!  That is my tackle for the day!  I don't want to be a scary mommy today.  We are going to see a movie and try to be NICE to each other.  Got any tips?  You can leave them here or go over to my community and discuss it there too! To see more tackles head on over to 5MinutesforMom .

I am not awake right now writing this post because I can't sleep.  You want to know why I can't sleep?  Probably because I did not take a nap at 6:00 p.m. while my kids did not tear up the house.   Oh and my husband was also NOT dozing on the couch right next to me.  And then I did not drink an entire Diet Coke right before I went to lay down for the night because that would just be ridiculous!! Other things I did not do this week....  I did not stay inside my warm house while my sweet neighbors came over and shoveled the foot of snow out of my driveway so I could be on-time for church.  That is just rude why wouldn't I put on my warm clothes and at least just go out and offer to help. I am sure I could go on but why not just click here to see my other "not me" Monday posts and then go on over and visit MckMama and see what others are NOT doing today!

I have been struggling to get the spirit of Christmas this year. Not sure why probably just too much going on but my sister asked me to help her with the accompaniment of this song and I had never heard it. So I found it on youtube and it made me cry so I thought I would share it with all of you!

We finally got some Christmas decorations up yesterday, and because I am having issues coming up with blog posts I thought I would post these.  Maybe it will help me get into the Christmas spirit a little better! I just love this Little People nativity.  It is so cute and the kids can play with it and I don't loose my mind over something getting broken! We have had this village forever and I keep thinking one day I will get rid of it or replace it and I never do.  When it is dark there are lights under the snow and the kids think it looks really cool and that is what it is all about anyway right?? (the kids and the spirit of giving of course!) Head on over to my community and tell me what kinds of decorations you love.  I  really want to know!!  Oh yeah and it will help benefit the Children's Hospital (see post below)

Come interact with other readers of this blog and help The Children's Hospital at the same time!  BlogFrog is sponsoring the "Give the Gift of Community" challenge to its members to inspire blog readers to connect with their peers in communities this holiday season.  If this blog gets 20 new participants to start or reply to a community discussion, BlogFrog will donate $10 to The Children's Hospital , one of the top 10 hospitals in the country for kids and teens. Don't be shy, hop on over to my community and meet your fellow readers!  Happy Holidays! 

1. It is the most challenging thing you can do (and if you are up for a challenge by all means go for it) 2. You will withstand all kinds of change physical, mental, and spiritual (not all for the best) 3. You will be reminded of your limitations daily. 4. You will see and hear and smell things that no other person has ever experienced 5. You will feel pride and guilt at the same time (it is a little crazy) 6. Exhaustion takes on a whole new meaning! 7. Sleeping becomes a skill  8. Although you will still appreciate your husband you will also envy him because he gets to leave everyday for work. 9. You will accomplish things that you never thought possible. 10. You will learn the true definition of "Protect your young" I got this idea from the great people over at the Blogfrog .  They have some really great advice!  You should check them out. Come over and discuss in my forum here .  I am also having a contest you might find it very interesting!!

She cracks me up!  That is all I can say.  To see more Wordless Wednesday posts go on over to visit 5MinutesforMom and link up.

Some pictures from our annual family Christmas party.  The kids all dressed up and acted out the nativity while my dad read from the scriptures.  It was pretty cute.  Dalton kept saying "Mom, I have a towel on my head!" Brylin really got into the role as Mary and the shepherds and wise men were all about the photo ops!! I recently joined up with the wonderful bloggers over at SITS .  It is a great blogging sitsahood that encourages comments and so much more!  The reason for the post today is so we save money on stamps but still get cyber Christmas cards.  Sound interesting??  Well then head on over and check them out.  And everyone have a very Merry SITSmas!

As I was searching my photos for sleeping shots I realized that I take A LOT of pictures of my kids sleeping.  I had such a hard time choosing but I really LOVE this one.  He just looks so comfortable and peaceful. You can see more "Sweet Dreams" over at I heart faces . 

More silly kids in pajamas and less men and women in suits arguing over healthcare reform. I borrowed this idea from CJane.  Go visit her here .

Joining up with Julie again today for Letters of Intent go visit her and see what others are saying too. Dear Winter, I realize that I am not going to stop you from coming but really could you lighten up a little.  Seriously if you are going to be so cold could you please give us some snow?  I really can't take one more trick day (a day that looks beautiful with sun shining but is about 25 degrees). Sincerely, Longing for tropical climate living Dear Christmas, I am going to need you to move to a different month.  Don't get me wrong I really like you and all but December seems so hectic.  So if you could move to say May or even October that would be great!   Thanks, Pulling My Hair Out Dear TV advertisers, You are brilliant.  You make commercials simple enough for a two year old to memorize, and repeat multiple times throughout the day.  Oh you blessed people targeting young minds.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Stop it!  Just stop it now.  If I can't combat you how am I going

No it isn't the 80's Peyton has dance class once a week and once a week Kayton has to dress up like big sister! Okay she actually throws a huge fit and cries about putting on her pink one and going to dance class too.  It is my fault for buying the outfit in the first place but what can I say I am a sucker for cute little girl stuff! Side note.  The poses were not coached just in case you wondered!

Go on over to 5MinutesforMom for more Wordless Wednesday posts and join in!!

My friend Lolli over at Better In Bulk did a post about what to do with your leftover turkey and I thought it was a great idea so I am going to tell you what I did with my turkey leftovers tonight. The picture isn't great but you get the idea. I made Tasty Turkey Tatrazzini (recipe from Pampered Chef ).  For the full recipe go to my blogfrog community.  I posted it here .  Please leave me a recipe that you use for your turkey leftovers.

I am trying this again.  I never win but it is fun to enter and see everyone else's photos.  Go on over to I Heart Faces to see more entries.