hu hu, Hi!!!

We're still here. It rained all day yesterday. Poured actually, check out the pants. Mmm, yeah. Happy Day after Christmas... from Disneyland.

the reason.

Remember Him.

Merry Christmas everyone.

my life at under five feet.

It snowed today, sideways. Ugh. I drove home at about 3 miles per hour. It took me an hour and a half to go 10 miles. Before that, I went to several stores, and spent an hour in Jiffy Lube. By the time I got home every muscle in my body was shaking. It's a lot of work to drag three children in and out in the snow. Their coats increase their mass by like 3 times. My arms aren't that long. This is one of the rare times when I remember that I am puny. Most of the time it doesn't bother me. But, I am not the kind of person who likes to be encumbered by anything; least of all my physical limitations. My height has always been an interesting love/hate thing for me. I spent half of my childhood trying to decide if I loved being so small, because it made me unique, or I hated that no one ever took me seriously, and boys couldn't think of me as anymore than a little girl. I can't really blame them, I looked like a little girl. And I don't really care now, I only needed to attract one... the right one. (I did, by the way-- in so many ways I can't even explain) And so now that I'm grown (haha no pun intended) and people HAVE to take me seriously because I tote 3 kids with me everywhere I go, I think I've decided that I like my size, just fine, thank you very much. It's so much a part of me I can't even imagine what it would have been like to grow up NOT being the smallest person in the school, (even when I was the oldest). Not that I'm saying my height defines me, but rather the experiences I've had as a result of my height--or lack thereof-- have help mold me into something that I otherwise might not have been, had I been born with the genes to grow to a healthy 5'4". How can I deny that hearing jokes about how I look, and being teased because I was a late bloomer and had NO CHEST, taught compassion. How can I regret that being the physical underdog, made me learn to work twice as hard, and think twice as fast so I could keep up with the "big kids." I'll never forget the year I spent on the 8th grade basketball team. Me. Cori. At that point a mere 4'5" and 63 pounds. Don't be fooled though, I spent more time playing chopsticks on the bench then playing Basketball on the court. But, dang it, I was on that team (I have the pictures of me in my uniform-- about 8 sizes too big-- to prove it) and I scored the last 2 points of the season. Learning to push myself has helped me survive growing, having, and caring for the 3 little munchkins who at present weigh combined about as much as I do. I may be small, but I am strong. All the times I was babysitting kids who were half a foot taller than me, taught me to speak up, and be sure of myself. Never let anyone see that I was afraid. Little kids can smell fear. That helps me now to feel like an adult even though I have to look up to give my babysitter instructions. Nice. Figuring out creative ways to reach the top of the cupboard, the roof, the ceiling, taught me to be inventive. You would be amazed at all the different things you can use as a stepping stool. So I'm glad I'm short, it's made me a stronger person, in more ways than one. Just because you're the runt, doesn't mean you're weak.

That's me. The midge, on the right. A foot shorter than everyone else.

milestones...

So I'm sure you've all been just holding your breath to find out why my kids are so fabulous, as I promised to explain (see previous post) and then, flake that I am, wrote nothing. So I'm finally going to let you all in on the details from last weekend where we passed several milestones... get ready to live.

First of all, and perhaps the most important. Carter is potty-trained. YES, after months, and months of fighting it, he wore underwear everyday last week without a single accident. No peep (my kids word for urine) on the floor, no poop underwear to gag at as I wash them out. Nothing, just clean toileting. Yes, my life is goooood.

And while we're focusing on Carter's magnificence, he went skiing with Craig last Friday. SKIING. My 3-year-old. Yes, he's a stud, just like his dad. Skiied all afternoon, and only cried when it was time to go home. And I'm like 90 percent sure that after one afternoon on the slopes (or well, bunny hill I guess) he skis better, and more confidently than me. He's going to be an olympian, oh yes he is.

My baby started walking. Not all the time, but he is taking steps. Last friday he walked across the entire Kitchen without looking like he even noticed what he was doing, then sat down and crawled off. I was screaming and jumping up and down. He laughed at me--like I was insane. I am. He goes back and forth between crawling and walking, but I'm not complaining. I'll keep him small as long as I can. In too short a time he'll be a little toddler mouthing off to me. :-(

Which brings me to Hannah, who I finally realized isn't really a toddler anymore. She wrote, WROTE her first letter to Santa Claus on Friday. And she did it. Ever single letter, all by herself. My girl is growing up. It's exciting. Her letter:

Dear Santa,

I'm going to disneyland. I want dress ups.

Love, Hannah.

My little novelist. Hey, baby steps, right?

to my children.

My children were fabulous on several levels this weekend. A post about why will follow shortly. But in any case, it was one of those weekend where I fell in love with my children all over again. This happens quite often. And I was thinking about how I sometimes wonder if I should have waited a few more years to have kids. I am a young mother. When you have three kids before you turn 25 that qualifies you for the title. I often think about the things I gave up by making the choice to procreate so young. It's bothered me that I don't have my degree yet, that I never got to go study abroad. We've made financial sacrifices so I could stay home with my children, I don't have nice jewelry, Craig doesn't have the skis he's wanted for 5 years, we don't drive nice cars. I don't have alot of extra "me" time, mostly I clean up milk spills, wipe noses, and change ALOT of diapers. And I look down at their chubby little faces and I can't make myself feel sorry. If I could go back, I would do it all the same. I will get my degree someday. Someday I'll have a nice car, Craig will have his skis, and the kids will grow up and I'll have more time to myself than I'll even want. But, nothing I do will be as important as the work I do everyday within the walls of my home. These are my treasures. They are eternal.

And so I say to my children, without regret:

You are the trip I did not take;

You are the pearls I cannot buy;

You are my blue Italian lake;

You are my piece of foreign sky.

(Anne Campbell, To My Child)

uno

Happy Happy Birthday Taylor dear...Happy Birthday to my one and only niece! The cutest little ball of cheeks you ever saw. Who walked at nine months, and can certainly hold her own against her 3 cousins and brother. You are one tough chicky Tay. We love you. Happy 1st!

the four-year-old.

Lately, Hannah has been referring to herself in the 3rd person, and not by her name. Instead, she says, "Mom, the 4-year-old wants a cookie, please." Or, "Mom, the 4-year-old would like to not take a nap today, please. The 4-year-old wants to play quietly in her room instead." Also, if she does something good, like pick up her toys, or say thank you, or clear her plate, she takes credit for it in the 3rd person as well. "Mom, the 4-year-old cleaned those toys up." "The 4-year-old said thank you, Mom." "I cleared my plated, mom" (then points to herself and says) "me, the 4-year-old." Classic. Hannah. Love it.

28 things you might not have known about Craig... on his 28th Birthday.

Craig Scott Robinson: December 5, 1980.

1. He is the oldest of 3 children.

2. He grew up in Shelley, Idaho.

3. He loves ice cream, and I mean loves.

4. He HATES chocolate, and I mean HATES.

5. He writes left-handed, but does everything else with his right. (I'm the same way, by the way)

6. He wears glasses/contacts. His eyes are so bad that he can't see a foot past his face. If he doesn't set his glasses on the night stand next to the bed, then he can't find them in the morning.

7. He got his license when he was 15.

8. He tells the most hilarious stories, just ask my sister Meghan.

9. He served his mission in Vladivostok, Russia. When he got there the area (which is bigger than the entire United States) had only been open 6 months and there were only 20 elders.

10. He's hot when he speaks Russian.

11. He's a real life Rocket scientist. Yeah, lucky me. I hope our kids get his math skills.

12. He's a fabulous rock climber, and has climbed the Grand Teton

13. He grew up with horses, hence the Carter/horse obsession. (ps. he's hot when he rides them.)

14. He once almost got arrested for trying to climb up the side of a gas station at night. He didn't even realize that it might look like he was trying to rob the place.

15. His first job was moving pipe on a farm when he was 13.

16. He played football in high school and started on both offense and defense.

17. He's been sky diving.

18. He's a certified scuba diver, and sucks through his air twice as fast as me.

19. He's got fabulous blue eyes.

20.He plays the piano and the guitar, but he can't sing.

21. He had a full academic scholarship all four years he was at BYU-Idaho, smart, smart boy.

22. He told me he wanted to marry me after we had been dating a week.

23. He hates to go clothes shopping. He won't even try things on until like 3 weeks later.

24. He sneezes louder than anyone I've ever met, Craig doesn't do ANYTHING halfway.

25. He loves to read, The Lord of the Ring books are his fav's.

26. He has a secret agent obsession and thinks that he "is" Jason Bourne.

27. He can change the oil, brake pads, master cylinder, etc. in our cars, (and does so frequently)

28. He'd rather have Birthday Pie than Birthday Cake.

I love you Craig, I bless the day you were born and every year I get to spend with you!

Happy Birthday!

i've spent the last three weeks...

doing weddings, receptions, laundry, packing, driving to and from idaho twice. Doing more laundry, packing again for the holiday and seeing Twilight 3 times in the theater. And no, I'm not kidding. I really have seen it 3 times. And I don't regret it. My head is so full of stuff, I don't even know where to start. Oh well, here goes.

Disgusting. On Saturday morning my father-in-law told us that he heard on the news that there was a Walmart worker somewhere who was trampled to death, TRAMPLED, by customers rushing the doors for the after thanksgiving day sales. That is seriously sick. What are you, animals? I'm glad you're all getting into the holiday spirit. 'Cause presents is what it's ALL ABOUT.

I had all of my holiday shopping done before thanksgiving this year. I know, amazingly, I'm ahead for once. Which was a good thing because Carter started puking thanksgiving night and continued to do so until I was supposed to leave at 4 am. to go shopping with the Robinson women. That killed that for me. You don't leave your husband alone at your in-laws with three toddlers, and one of them puking. (side note: 3-year-olds do not know how to warn you when they throw up. It just goes EVERYWHERE.) But my fabulous husband got up with me a few hours later when little Carter was feeling all better (thank goodness for the short-six hour bug-- Hannah had it 2 nights before, same deal. Six hours of throw up and then she was fine) to go shopping. I ended up having more fun just going to best buy to buy a jump drive, and then to toys r us and the mall with my hubby and the kids than I would have had otherwise. I love my little family. Also, still got good deals, and the crowds weren't too bad.

Hannah keeps saying, "Hey I've got a good idea..." every time I tell her she can't do something right now, and then usually tries to set a time when she can do it later. Also, if she asks for something and I just tell her no, flat out without the later, she goes, "Oh, I was just kidding, mom." Hilarious.

Craig was so sweet to me this weekend. He kept hugging and kissing me, coming up behind me and putting his arms around me. Or touching my neck. I was flying. I've got my own Edward, and I'm in love.

We're only doing a few small gifts for eachother this year since we're going to disneyland for Christmas. And I find that I am loving it. I'm actually being more thoughtful about what I'm getting my kids/hubby, instead of just grabbing the first junk that touches my eyes. I'm thinking that next year we do the same thing, even if we aren't traveling. I'm finding that I "need" alot less and "want" more than I thought. I don't want Christmas to be about stuff.

We watched "The Nativity" tonight for FHE. (the video that the LDS church put out a while back) It's short. I've watched it dozens of times. And everytime I sob from the second I see Mary, until the end. I was soaring as we watched it tonight, tears and all, and Hannah, knew all about it. And she kept talking about how Jesus is the most important part of Christmas, how it's his birthday, how the wise men brought him presesnts, and that's why we give presents, how she loves Jesus and he's in her heart. We're doing something right.

I talked to my sister Tashi on the phone this evening, and spent the weekend with Meghan. There is NOTHING in the world like the BOND BETWEEN SISTERS. That's all I'm going to say about that.

I still haven't put up my Christmas lights, or tree yet. This is borderline bizarre for me. I'm kind of a nut about outdoor illumination. I'm serious, I got up on the roof and hung the lights when I was a teenager and spent the money from my waitressing job to buy more strings of lights when my mom insisted that we had enough. Oh no, there's never enough. And yet, here I am, several days after thanksgiving and no lights. I guess I really do have 3 kids now.

My sweetheart turns 28 on Friday. I got his gift a month ago. Oh, I can't wait to give it to him. Oh, and when did we get so close to 30? I swear he was a 21-year-old Returned Missionary like 5 minutes ago. I'm starting to learn that this is how life works. You blink, and ...