Monday, December 31, 2012

New Year's Eve 2012........

We decided to host New Year's Eve this year and it was a lot of fun. We did our monthly game night for entertainment and we had a lot of food to eat. The kids stayed up to see everyone come over and have a little dinner and then off to bed they went. And they did a great job staying in bed and actually staying asleep while all the adults played games.

Game night started back in Novemeber. We keep track of who wins each game played and then whoever wins the most gets the coveted 'WINNERS' medal until next month rolls around. My mom won for November so pressure was on for a repeat but not if I had anything to say about it. Before bed Julia got a few games of Guess Who in with Amy. Its a fun game to play with her and she loves to play it.

The adults started off with Bingo to win some prizes. Everybody won prizes and we traded and stole and swapped and complained about it the whole time but it was fun. Next was Scattergories, and boy it started to get a little heated. People started making up answers and then we all had to vote yay or nay to see if it would count or not. My dad got away with a few......The letter was 'I' and ice cat was his answer for an animal and then with the letter 'M' as weapon of war he put mace?! I think he won on both counts. Nevertheless, I came away the winner of both Bingo and Scattergories.

Next we headed downstairs to play the Wii and the new Dance Game 4. We all had the same 3 songs to perform and then added up our total points for all 3 dances. Again, we made a few exceptions. Dad and Layne got to chair dance and just use their arms,something about being sore and to old to stand up?! Anyway, Amy gave me a run for my money and came away the winner of the dance game. The last and final game we played was a family favorite, Reverse Charades. Lots of laughs and frustration come along with this game but it's so fun to see how creative people will get to make their team member to guess the clues. We got points as a team for this game and Layne, Amy, Kristy and I basically wiped the floor against the other team.

Time flew by during the night and before we knew it we needed to interupt our game to watch the countdown on TV. We all watched the ball drop and said our Happy New Year's to each other! What a fun night with family and a little friendly competition to round out the year 2012.  And I was even the over all winner for game night! So the big medal is all mine until January's game night rolls around!

May 2013 be a great year filled with happiness and health. Happy New Year!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas

Christmas morning was exciting! Julia had been wanting Santa to give her a unicorn dream lite. When she walked out to the living room she didn't even notice it. She saw the kitchen Santa left and then daddy had to point out something else Santa left or the kids. Julia grabbed it and just smiled really big. She was so happy she got her dream lite. They both use them every night when they go to bed!
Julia was really into opening presents this year and loved to hand them out and help open every bodies gifts. Another one of her favorite gifts was from great grandma Parker. It was a new baby doll and boy did she love it. She loves to pretend she is her mommy and take care of her.

We had to help Christian open his presents because he was to busy wanting to open what he previously opened. Everything he got he would just repeat over and over again, "opin, opin," it was cute. But we had to convince him to try and open the rest of his gifts. Julia was a big help with that! She is a great big sister! He also loves his dream lite and all of his new planes and cars.

Layne and I opened a few things up. Layne got his coveted Andy Williams Christmas DVD and can now enjoy watching it all year round instead of having to save the recording on the TV. He got a new Jazz jacket and I think he looks really sharp in it! I loved my Christmas ornament that Julia made for me in school. It was her hand print on a glittery sliver ball.


Layne's last gift for me was a surprise. I opened an envelop with a puzzle to put together. It had an address on it without the city and state. I took a look on the computer and I knew it was back east somewhere because of the zip code and the clues led me to Florida!? Layne told me to scroll around on the map and I said "Disney World?!" I was a little surprised to say the least. I didn't really know what to say! Layne said it was a trip for just me and him and then I started to cry....I think I was a little overwhelmed!! WOW! Merry Christmas to me! We get to go in May and we are both super excited. I've never been to Disney World let alone Florida. Layne is really good at surprising me with fun trips or get-aways. I don't know how he pulled this one off. All I can recall was a few months ago I thought something was up. I thought he is planning a little weekend trip or something but never thought anymore about it. So when I found out it was a huge surprise. Well done Layne!
                                                        
After the crying stopped we had a little breakfast and then headed off to my parents for the day. It was chaotic and crazy but so fun to see the kids open everything and be with family! Julia and Christian always get so spoiled but I don't mind. They love everything they got and it keeps them busy all day long. Julia especially loved her new scooter. She told me now Christian can have my old Buzz and Woody scooter. We had to take it away from her already because she keeps riding it around the house. She told me she wants to take it to school but there is to much snow so she will have to wait and she was not to excited to hear that.


Christian had to be prompted to open most of his presents but loved his new truck and bus. He plays with them most of the day. He loves to push the truck and bus around and have them carry all of his other cars. Its so fun to watch him play and start to become a little more imaginative and independent.

We resurrected an old tradition that started to long ago to remember when we actually started it. I remember my mom asking for slippers and my dad would always get her some crazy/weird pair of slippers. Never anything she would actually wear or wanted for that matter. When she would get the present she knew what they were just by the feel of them and she knew what was coming. She would moan and groan and try to guess what kind they would be. After a few years of her catching on we had to disguise the packaging so she didn't know they were coming. In the past she has received a pair of bear feet, a pair of blue tennis shoes, some tigers and this year we got her some very cute red jingle bell Santa slippers. We had a great laugh as she opened them.

  

After the mayhem ended we ate most of the day and tried to take naps and just hung out. Aunt Kasey and Uncle Royce even took the bigger kids sledding for a few hours. It was a wonderful day and we had so much fun being with everyone.


Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Eve.....

Well, we woke up to a winter wonderland once again. It will be a very white Christmas!! We stayed indoors most of the day until we ventured out to go get some lunch. It was fun to get out and spend time together. On the way home it started to snow again but we made it home safe. The rest of the day was just us getting ready for tomorrow and taking naps.

We did have a Christmas Family Home Evening. We got out our little manger and talked to the kids about the Christmas story. Christian loved to open up the 'barn' as he called it and talk about the baby. We read 'I believe in Santa' and then the kids got an early present from me. A picture of the Savior so they could put in their rooms to see every day! We just wanted to also remind them that Christmas isn't all about Santa and just presents.

Jingles had a special surprise for the kids. He made a special trip back to Santa to get them their Christmas pj's. They were soooo excited to open another present! And they look so cute in their new pj's.

Excitement is in the air. The kids are so ready for it to be Christmas day. Julia has had about 3 different countdown activities to do this year. She actually woke up this morning and was upset and said "Santa didn't leave any presents, dad?!" We had to tell her that he comes tonight and she wasn't to sad anymore. I can't wait till tomorrow too, just to see their faces when they come out to see what Santa has left them. It makes me excited too! Well, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Christmas Cuties......

A couple of cuties posing in their new Christmas outfits!





Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Oh Jingles.......

Our crazy elf has been up to some silly things these last few days before Christmas. Here is what we caught him doing.......


                                  
 Cutting out snowflakes
 Using daddy's shaving cream and razor
And he turned our milk green!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Our Annual Christmas Cookie Making Day......

Well, today we gathered at my sister Kristy's house to cut and decorate sugar cookies. I remember starting this when we first moved to Utah and we lived over in Pleasant Grove, that was 18 years ago. We haven't done it every year but since having all the grandkids around we started it back up, and the kids just love it!

Our Christmas Tradition
Last year Christian was to little to do much but he got to eat cookies. This year he helped press down the cookie cutters in the dough, and even got to decorate with sprinkles. He loved licking off all the frosting and sprinkles and then asking to put more on. It was cute. Julia did a great job frosting and decorating. We did have to tell her to stop putting sprinkles on because it was just to much. They both had so much fun.




It's always a great time when you get together and have food and family around. You begin to reminisce and then laughter ensues. It's a fun tradition!
Our finished cookies......yummy!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Pajama, Craft Day.......


Today was the 1st day of Christmas break and we wanted to entertain the kids and give them stuff to do. So every met out at my house and we had a great time. We find when we plan and prepare things for the kids to do the days go by much smoother. Granted we don't plan and prepare things for every single day but we do like to do a few fun days!

We all stayed in our pajamas all day and did lots of fun things. The kids made paper bag reindeer, a snowman picture, ate lunch, read a Christmas story, watched Polar Express and drank hot cocoa! They loved it and it was a great day. I was worn out by the end of the day but I know the kids had a great time.
Paper bag reindeer

Christian loved sticking the parts on the paper

The finished project

Cute snowman pictures

Reading a Christmas story

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Julia's Christmas Party


On Julia's last day of school she had a little singing program that I was able to go to. She kept telling me she was so excited to wear her pajamas to school and to sing for me. All the kindergarteners sang and then each class had their special song they also sang to us. Julia's class sang 'All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth.' They all did such a great job. Julia loved practicing for me and she smiled and sang her best!

Smiling instead of singing?!


After her little program, I got to stay and help her class with their Christmas party. I was in charge of the edible craft table. It was so fun to interact with all the kids. They are all so cute and say the funniest things. It was fun to see Julia interact with her friends and teachers. At the end of the day before we left she came up to me and gave me a hug and told me she was so happy I was with her and that she loves being together. Melt my heart.
Rice Krispie treat reindeer. Sitting next to her friend Sean.

Big smiles doing craft projects

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Pictures of the Week......

 KING CHRISTIAN AND....

OUR FAVORITE #1 DUDE!!!!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

A Snow Day.....


Today we woke up to a wintery wonderland!! It had snowed all night and continued throughout the day. The kids were so excited to go out and play but we had to have breakfast first. We finally got Christian some winter clothes this year and he was ready to play. He could hardly walk in this boots and snowpants but he had fun. He didn't last as long as Julia did but he had a good time. Julia on the other hand played all day long off and on. She made snow angels and played with the neighbors. We have more storms on the way so hopefully it will be a white Christmas!

All ready to go!
Making snow angels.


Loves playing in the snow.

Watching the snow fall!
Taking a rest after falling so much.