Oh Christmas Tree: Part 2

Well, Johnny informed me that I sounded negative of our tree finding experience and so after some reflection I want to say-that better planning on my part next year so Ithat I am not stressed and could enjoy the experience better and actually spend time with our friends hunting through the woods and that while my tree does not smell (I gave it Mt Dew tonight to shake it up a bit)it does not drop any needles which is a huge plus!

Vegas Baby

Johnny and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary apart due to work and still really wanted to get away. Last week Johnny's older brother, Stan called him to see if he wanted to go to Vegas to watch BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl-well that fell through, but it got me excited and secretly wanting to go so when Johnny asked if it would be something I was interested in I through financial responsibility out the door and said "Yes!!!" so a qucik phone call to my Mom and brother who also wanted to come and we were headed to Vegas. We let Sydney chose the hotel-she picked the Exclaibur (the whole princess castle thing) and overall had a great weekend (maybe next year BYU will get a decent kicker) here are some pics from our trip

Oh Syd. . .

Well just like Bill Cosby (I think it was him) kids say the darnedest things and Sydney is one of them. here have been 3 of my favorites the past few weeks.

Stockings: Sydney loves to move the Christmas stockings (or socks as she calls them) around and change up there order. Note: we have 4 hooks for stockings, but have 5 stockings (including Rosco) so someone has to double up-my personal set-up is that Cash's new stocking (thanks Mom) covers Rosco's. Well, Sydney put my stocking on Johnny's which is fine, the classic part is that while doing it she said, "Mommy you go on top of Daddy because you were married in the temple"

"I'm nice"- so for anyone who listens to me talk or blog about Syndey this holiday season there has been a lot with Sysney and being naughty/nice and Santa Claus. Well, last week I warned Sydney that she was being naughty and she better watch out or I would call Santa and she informed me with her hands on her hips, " Go ahead- I just saw Santa (at our ward social a few days prior) and he said I was nice!" AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! then she added with equal attitude, "and Mom you are still the thumb!" I am in some serious trouble when she is a teenager.

Microphones: Like all kids Sydney loves to speak (more like yell)into microphones. So tonight at our house Preston (one of Johnny's former Young Men) brought his mic and guitar so he, Johnny and Sydney could practice some Christmas songs. They are planning on coming up to my work tomorrow night to sing to the patients. Well, Syd kept getting in trouble for yelling into the mic and after repeated requests from Johnny she turned to him and said, "i bet you yelled into the mic when you were a kid!" and truthfully he probably did.

Step by Step

Well for those of you who view my sisters' blogs you may think that this is post about the wonderfully amazing New Kids on the Block concert we attended a few weeks ago at the E Center. No, this concert was performed by Sydney and kids from her Lutheran Day Care as they "Step by Step" told the Christmas story. Our little sheep sang, yawned (she refused to take a nap today) and step by step fixed her faux sheep headband thing.

O Christmas Tree

A few weeks ago Johnny's friend, Jason, called to see if we wanted to get a permit to go out and cut down our own tree. It has always seemed like this perfectly romantic way to get our tree, driving through the woods, finding the perfect tree, chopping it down and bringing it home. Well. . .we loaded up in Johnny's truck and headed out. I was so excited at the thought of creating a new family tradition and before we hit Provo my dreams were starting melt away like marshmellows in hot chocolate! First Sydney (without her DVD player) was already asking to get out of the car ( little did she or us know it would be 3 more hours of driving!) and we got lost as the result of a poor map. So four hours in we were finally chopping down our tree. The result a beautiful tree full of sap and pitch, but lacking the wonderful pine tree smell. Oh well-next year we'll probably be back to the Home Depot to pick up our tree.

You're the Thumb

Johnny and I have to laugh at the things that Syd says like today telling the cashier at Wal-Mart "Yeah he came out of her gina" when she asked Sydney if Mommy had a baby! Prior to our trip to Wal Mart, I finished decorating our tree and during the process Syd found herself in a few time outs. Well like most parents this time of year, I played the "Santa" card telling Sydney that I was going to call Santa and tell him that she was being naughty. To her response of "No Mom you are (naughty)-Santa is bringing presents to me, Cash, Daddy and Rosco (as she is gesturing to each of her fingers) and he only has room for 4 and you're the thumb-sorry!" Classic Syd!

Things I Love: Kristin's pictures

Ok- one of my earlier posts mentions the wonderful pictures Kristin Kanenwisher (Johnny's cousin and my old roomate) took of Cash as a new born, well I bribed her with dinner at the Cheesecake factory for some family pics. Here are some pics of us "borrowed" from her blog on Thanksgiving at her parent's cabin in Eden, UT. We had so much fun-thanks Mark and Liz and of course Krisitn.

Things I Love: Naps

I love and I might add need my Sunday afternoon nap. Johnny was a sweetheart today and kept the kids quiet so I could enjoy a nap. It is because of this nap I have been able to post tonight. So in keeping with my track record of posting once a month-here are just a few of the many things I love. . .

Things I Love: My Mom

Another obvious one I know- but my Mom is an amazing person. To me she is my Piglet- I love how involved she is in my kids lives and as their only grandparent she willingly comes to Utah to play with us and I love it.

Things I Love: Footie Pjamas

It seemed to obvious to say my kids- I truly love my kids. I love Syd's crazy side, her silly side, her happy side and her mad side (wording compliments of one of our favorite books I love you through and through) and Cash's sweet side- his fingers and toes, his ears (aren't they cute) and nose. I love what an amzing big sister Sydney is and I love how Cash's face lights up whenever she is around. They bring so much happiness to my life and I love them in their footie pj's

Things I Love: Johnny

We have been together over 11 years and I can honestly say I still love him- while he can drive me crazy at times- he makes me laugh and smile (I was having a rough day and Johnny aka Utah Johnny dressed up and went to Home Depot dressed in his sandals with socks) The truly scary thing- the worker at Home Depot had no reaction!

Things I Love: Gerber Daisies

Since high school I have loved daisies so from corsages at dances to my wedding bouquet-daisies are it. Johnny was out of town for work on our 10 year wedding anniversary, but he sweetly sent me my daisies.

Things I Love: BYU

Growing up I remember my Dad singing in the morning "Rise and Shout the Cougars are out" from the BYU fight song. So from watching BYU football on satelite in our chapel (hopefully that was ok) to watching it live- I love college football specifically BYU. So any U fans out there can say what you want- I still bleed blue! and now I am carrying on the tradition.

Things I Love: Johnny and Sydney's Relationship

When Syd was just 3 months old-Johnny went back to school full time and became a stay home Dad. The result (other than the bachelors degree) is an amazing father daughter bond that I love and am grateful for.

Things I Love: Utah

So, as any of you know who check this blog- I struggle with updating it on a regular basis. I have a myriad of excuses ranging from- no time to lack of a working computer in my house, but really I am trying. So. . .as the leaves change and I reflect on the things I am thankful this year-one of them is where I live, not only in the USA, but more specifically in Utah. Now, so of you may be shocked by that statement and I must admit I am too. Now I reserve the right to recant this statement when it starts to snow! Things I love about Utah. . .

Being able to hop in my car and within 15 minutes I am up one of my favorite places: Millcreek Canyon (here is a pic of the fam )

"Cash" of the Day

So as my older sister told me tonight as I once again told her I would be posting pictures on the blog-"You are like a guy having an affair always telling the mistress he is going to leave his wife, but never does! So, instead of uploading pics from the month of September I am starting fresh with Saturday Night. I love Halloween it is my favorite holiday (according to Johnny Halloween is not a holiday because you still have to work, but it is still my favorite). Since Sydney now has an opinion on what she wants to be (this year a Mariposa aka a butterfly fairy) Cash was at my mercy. SO with the amazing help from my Mom- Cash became a fish with Johnny as the fisherman. As you can see from the pics he looked really cute as did our mariposa.

Our Blue Eyed Girl

pic compliments of Kristin



She loves to jump and was taking advantage of our hotel room beds

Our Beautiful Boy

Kristin Kanenwisher (google her blog kristin kanenwisher photography) Johnny's cousin and my former roomate is an amazing photographer- so on a recent trip to Utah she came over, stripped Cash down and started snapping away- these are some of our favorites

David Cash, Cash, Casher, Cashman

Wow time has flown in his short few months (he is now 2 1/2 months) Cash has traveled to Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado, Tennessee, and Alabama. He is a good baby who loves to be held. Here are some pics of our Little Man. . .Sorry I could not figure out how to rotate the pic

Just a Good O'l Boy

This summer has been filled with trips to California and down to the South in an attmept to see as much family as possible before my maternity leave ends. So on our recent trip to Dixie Johnny and I were excited to find the Dukes of Hazard musuem owned by Cooter himself. As fans of the show we had to stop by and Johnny charmed himself into sitting in the General Lee.

Like Grandmother, Like Mother, Like Daughter

On our recent trip to Tennessee and Alabama, Johnny captured Syd in action-talking with her hands at the Grand O'l Opry Resort

His Name

For those of you who have ever had to name something from a pet to your child, it can be difficult. Growing up playing "Life" it was so easy to name my "children" but reality has been a lot harder. With our daughter, we could only agree on one name-Sydney ( thank you Jennifer Garner) and last minute at the hospital we used Johnny's middle name for her middle name-Jay thus we have our Sydney Jay. Now while we struggled to come up with her name, we both love it and it fits her . Ironically while pregnant with Syd, Johnny and I agreed on several boys names, so when we found out we were having a boy we both thought that naming him would be easier-how wrong we were. First off, Johnny and I both are named after family members. Johnny is named after his Uncle Jay and I am a fourth generation Laura, so we want our kids to have at least one of their names to be after someone. Second, with a last name like Hollingshead, Johnny likes the middle name to be one syllable. So we went to the hospital with a list of names we both liked and the baby name book. As soon as he was born-we knew we were in trouble, nothing fit. We literally stared at him for 2 days and said every name in the book and nothing fit. We finally started calling him Jonah and went to bed with plans to finalize his middle name in the morning before we left the hospital. Well, during the night I had several dreams with my Dad in them. When I woke up that morning I did not say anything to Johnny about the dreams because we had already decided not to name him David. So I started writing different name combinations down and at one point while holding him Johnny looked at me and said-"I don't know why but his name is supposed to be David." Note: for the last two months when asked, Sydney would say her brother's name was going to be David. Even with all of this we both were still really hesitant (and to some extent still are) to name him after my late Father, not only emotionally, but because David is such a formal name that it doesn't really fit a baby or at least not our baby. So then we had to pick a middle name that we would call him by. Now we both do not like the idea of naming your child one thing, with the intention of calling them by their middle name, but we did it anyway. Now, the reason behind Cash is simple- there is none. It was a name Johnny has always liked and it fit him. So for the time being until he grows into a being a David he is our Cash. So for those of you who wondered- that is the story behind his name and on what to call him? For right now - Cash.

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