2009 Goals

I wanted to write down my 2009 goals and resolutions. I figure if I actually write them down, and know that others have read them I may be more likely to follow through.

1. Enjoy my husband & children more, not worry so much about the things that don't matter and try to really make quality time with each of them.

2. Spend more time doing personal scripture study. I have struggled with this since having children.

3. Have a healthy new baby, and try to enjoy every moment of the new baby experience since it will probably be my last.

4. Spend less money, try to live more simply, and work on my food storage.

There are lots more things that I need to work on, but I am going to try to keep it simple this year and really follow through with them this year.

The perfect Christmas!

Savanna giving Treyton a ride on the 4-wheeler

Mitchel taking a spin

Mitchel with his new cowboy hat and vest

Treyton in heaven on the 4-wheeler

Savanna and her beauty shop

All the kids Chrismas morning

Christmas Eve

Reid playing the trumpet on Christmas Eve at the talent show

Aunt Sara playing the guitar- all the kids watching closely!

All the Sargent grandkids doing the manger scene-baby Kate is the baby Jesus

Here is a quick synopsis of our Christmas festivities! We had two wonderful days- and now the clean up begins.

On Christmas Eve we had a turkey lunch with Reid's family at Grandma Mickey's house. We had fun hanging out with our cousins, aunts, uncles and Grandparents. That Evening we headed over to my parents where we had a steak and shrimp and a fun Christmas Eve program. The kids all dressed up like the manger scene and everyone shared their talents and we sang lots of Christmas songs. It was a fun evening and by the time we went home we were all exhausted (especially me). Santa didn't have to wait very long for the children to be sound asleep so that he could get Christmas set out.

Christmas morning we started bright and early, and Treyton was the first one to notice the new (used) kids 4-wheeler under the tree. He couldn't care less about anything else all morning, he just wanted to climb on that 4-wheeler and go. (Reid found a great deal on this during the summer, and I finally gave in and told him he could get it for the kids, as long as we could wait and give it as a Christmas present.) Savanna also got a mini-beauty shop, Mitchel got a tool box full of kids tools, and Treyton got a Tonka truck (that he didn't have any use for).

After our morning with the kids, we loaded up and headed over to my parents where we had a wonderful Christmas breakfast. We opened a lot of nice gifts from each other over there and had fun with my family. Everyone was there this year which was a lot of fun.

We then came home, and I was actually able to take a nap-which made the rest of the day great for me. Then in the evening Reid's family came over and we had dinner (ham and heavenly potatoes). And opened presents with his family and enjoyed each others company.

All in all it was a really great Christmas, and I can't believe that after all the planning and shopping it is already over. Now we are working on getting the Christmas tree taken down. I am always more than ready to get rid of it, because the tree starts to die after a month.

Sunday outfits for Christmas

I bought my kids new Christmas Sunday outfits back in October, and I was planning on giving them to them for a Christmas present. But then I decided that I wanted them to be able to wear them today since they were singing with the primary for the Ward Christmas program.

I must say that they looked so cute in their new outfits, (of course, I am a little bias.) The program turned out great today, and it is nice to have it over with. We have a lot of great talent in our ward. Savanna decided that she needed to sing with the ward choir since she went with me to practice today. She loves to perform and she did a great job!

End of a busy, but good week

This week has been jam packed with Christmas parties, elementary school performances, shopping, wrapping, cleaning and preparing for tomorrow's Ward Christmas program.

I have to admit I am kind of breathing a sigh of relief tonight that the week is over. I am excited because I have all my Christmas shopping done, and all my wrapping done. Now this coming week I can kind of enjoy and all I really have to do is go grocery shopping, do a little cooking, make sure my house is clean and spend time with my family.

Savanna did her first school performance. Her kindergarten sang some songs at the beginning of the school program, and she did such a good job. I tried to take some pictures, but the gym was so packed, that we couldn't get a good shot. I hurried and went and watched her sing and then went to the Melaleuca Christmas party. Kurt Bestor performed at the party and it was a really good party.

Tomorrow is the Ward Christmas program which I have kind of been in charge of getting together. I feel like it has come together and I hope that it turns out well. I don't know what I would have done without some really good help from members of the ward. I want to especially thank Natalie Peterson who has bent over backwards to help and I know that she has done more than her fair share- Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Anyway it will be nice to have that behind me, and I know that with the help of the spirit it will be a great program.

I am really excited for Christmas and I hope that everyone has a good week!

Gingerbread houses

Savanna did her's all by herself and she did such a great job!

Treyton was being so good while we decorated his house. He just kept eating the treats!

Can you tell that I wasn't feeling really great in the picture? I guess I don't hide it very well.

Last night we had a Sargent Family Home Evening and made gingerbread houses (graham cracker ones). It was really fun for the kids. Elijah even gave a cute lesson about the true meaning of Christmas. We had hot chocolate and donuts and it was fun to get together for the evening.

Santa Clause came to town!

Grandma & Grandpa Sargent with Santa

All of us with Santa

Treyton trying to get his prize from Santa

Savanna with Santa.

Mitch and Santa.

Sunday night Santa Clause came to my parent's house to visit the kids. They kids were so excited to get to talk to him and tell him what they want this year, and I was shocked even Treyton sat on his lap and wasn't scared at all! It was so fun to see them get so excited.

Weekend in Salt Lake

Treyton at the Aquarium Mitch and Treyton got to see a shark!

This weekend we went down to Salt Lake for our niece Anna's baby blessing on Sunday, and for my sister-in-law Roxanne and Holli's baby shower's on Saturday. Reid went with all the boys to the Aquarium in Salt Lake while the girls were at the baby shower. It was fun to get away and to be able to spend time with family. The kids had fun playing with their cousins. And we got to stay at my sister Sara's house. Mitchel was especially excited that he got to sleep in the same bed with Aunt Sara. I didn't take very many pictures, but it was a great weekend! Thanks Sara for letting us stay. Thanks Corri and Brad for opening your home to all of us as well!

Christmas Survey

Danyelle had this on her blog and I thought it was cute, so I decided to do the survey also.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! I don't really like wrapping but this is the one thing that I do wrap for, Savanna has been my big helper at wrapping this year!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real, I love having my real tree, except for the falling needles and having to keep it watered.

3. When do you put up the tree? We go and get the tree Thanksgiving weekend every year with Reid's family and then put the tree up usually the following Monday for family home evening.

4. When do you take the tree down? A few days after Christmas, I am usually ready to be done with it.

5. Do you like eggnog? No- yuck, but Reid loves it and makes it several times throughout the year.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? The homemade barbie house that my Dad built.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents just because they have most everything, but they are pretty good about making suggestions. I would say this year it is Ben!!!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My husband and children, just because I know exactly what they need and want.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, 4 of them actually.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I mail them.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? If I put it down I would offend someone!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I love the Griswald Christmas Movie- it is a classic!

13. When do you start shopping? I didn't start this year until December, but it has turned out good, I find if I have less time I spend less money. If I start early I just buy more!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I have recycled some of the $10 gifts that you get at company parties- I have to admit it!

15. Lights on the tree? We do colored ones, I would prefer just white lights, but Reid likes the colored.

16. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night, Birthday of a King, Oh Holy Night, and Special Night.

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay Home- only traveled once with my family we went to Disney Land and to Arizona to see our Grandparents. I love to be home much better.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? sure can

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? we have a star

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The traffic on 17th Street. Not having enough money to get everything for everybody that you would like to and worrying about getting the right gifts.

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? We kind of do red and silver bulbs with just a variety of other ornaments. Maybey someday I will have a fancy tree.

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We do Steak and coconut shrimp for Christmas Eve dinner at my parents, and it is delicious!

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? I want some new pajamas and I need a new crockpot.

Lay off me, I'm starving!

I must be in my 2nd trimester or something, because the last couple of days I feel like I am starving all the time, and all I want to do is eat. My appetite is definately strong right now. I went to the doctor today and I have no idea how this is possible, but I have actually lost 4 lbs since my last appointment. That is good since the appointment before that I had gained like 8 lbs. I just don't want to gain too much weight this time around. It is a really hard balancing act to keep. You want to gain enough to have a healthy baby, but don't want to gain too much so that you have to lose 50 lbs after the baby comes.

The good sister!

Today Savanna decided that she wanted to put Treyton down for his nap. And I have to say she was very successful. Much more successful than I have been lately at it. She is going to be such a big help when we have this new baby!

Speech Therapy

A couple of years ago Mitchel went through the Infant/Toddler program for speech therapy. It was a tremendous help for his speech development. Well now Treyton is two and he is having some of the same speech issues that Mitchel had. So I called about it again, and Treyton was tested today and does not qualify for the program his speech is just barely above what it needs to be for him to be able to have the service. I was kind of bummed, because it helped Mitch so much. Treyton is hardly talking at all and he gets so frustrated with us because we can't understand what he is saying. The speech therapist gave me a few suggestions on how to help him, and she said if I don't see a major improvement over the next 6 months to call again.

I do have to say that this program is amazing, it is a free service to the community. They are a little slow about getting back with you, but you can't really complain when it is free. The speech therapist comes out to your house usually 2 times a week and just works with your child on their speech. She also works with the parents on ways to help their child. I remember I was so worried about Mitchel, but he progressed so well that he was back up to normal by the time he turned 3. If anyone has a child that they think is speech delayed don't hesitate to call the Infant/Toddler program, it really is helpful.

Putting up Christmas

They are so proud of their handy work!

Tonight for family home evening we put out all our Christmas decorations and decorated our tree, and had a little lesson about the true meaning of Christmas and had hot chocolate and candy canes for a treat. It was a really fun night, although I always forget how much stuff I have for Christmas. I don't even put out all the decorations that I have anymore. I need to just throw some of it away.

It was fun to watch the kids really get into the decorating and putting the ornaments on the tree. Reid and I decided that only a few more years and they can pretty much take it all over (which will be nice.) It is so fun to see the excitement in their eyes and for them to be so happy.

Now if I could just get some of my Christmas shopping done that would be good. (I seriously haven't hardly bought anything!)