Christmas Day

All I can think is that we must've done a really good job of wearing the kids out on Christmas Eve. They crashed early and Christmas morning came and no one moved. Jer and I waited.. and waited.. and at about 8am woke them up. I love Christmas morning! And can I tell you how much fun it is to have a four year old? I love her!

He actually posed for the camera!

Do you think she got what she asked for?

Erin: "Mom! Santa knowed! This is what I've been wanting!"

When the kids finished opening all 2000 gifts from Santa, they noticed something over in the corner with an envelope and a bow on it. It was a letter from Santa. It was "hinting" around taking care of something.. giving them a good home.. When they uncovered the "something" there were two gerbils in a cage! Santa is so sneaky! The kids were freaking out! Emma kept saying "I can't believe Santa gave us real pets, mom!" She told Jer and I later that if she hadn't gotten anything else, she would be happy with just the gerbils! They are two boys so the kids decided to name them Zac and Cody. . . one is smarter than the other.

Another tradition we have is going to the J's Christmas morning for breakfast. It's always so fun at grandma J's when everyone is there. The four kids that were born within one year are all 3 turning 4 this year. It's so entertaining with all of them together. It gets a little crazy.

The whole crew!

Josh.. another happy picture!

Since Grandma J. is the mother of boys, she loves to spoil her granddaughters. Every year she gives each of them a Madam Alexander doll. The girls look forward to it because they know that means they can get all of them out and look at them.. that only happens once a year. (I have to keep them hidden or they would be played with like all the other babies.)

This year Emma got this cute doll from the book The Secret Garden. Some others she has from grandma include: Heidi, Goldilocks, Little Red Riding Hood, Pollyanna, and some from different countries.

Erin, Emma, Hanah (Sadie is our other sweet girl)

The four 3/4 year olds!

(Erin, Hanah, Noah, Aiden)

Erin got a PlayDoh ice cream maker. It was quite a hit with all the grandkids!

Josh, Seth, Noah

Brady with his cute boys.

Christmas Eve at Grandma's House

Kailee, Emma, Cambree, Erin

Since we live so close to both sets of grandparents, we get to see them all throughout the holidays . . lots. Traditionally, we spend Christmas Eve at the B's. This is something the kids look forward to every year. Christmas Eve is about as good as Christmas Day. We start early and go late with our partying. This year, Grandma got a Gingerbread House kit for each grandchild. They had so much fun decorating their own.. and there were a lot less arguments this way. :) The grandkids exchanged gifts, the sisters exchanged gifts and we tried to play games. We played a little Rockband (as we usually do at family get togethers.. love it), played a little bit of an 80's game, did some gift wrapping and secret delivering, and ate lotsa food. By 10 o'clock, the Internet said Santa was already in Colorado and Erin was already asleep. So, we hurried home and by 10:15, the kids were all asleep! Grandma and Grandpa B. always give the kids matching jammies on Christmas Eve. Look how cute they all are in front of the tree!


Kailee and Emma

Emma, Erin, Josh

Care and Erin

Do you think this is the favorite aunt? She likes to claim that title anyway.

Cambree and Erin

Snow Fun

Look how rosy their cheeks are! It was stinkin' cold!

This year has been a great snow year already! I hate the cold, but I love the snow. I am going through serious withdrawals. I usually ski with my sister (well, I ski, she boards) but this year she is spending her winter being pregnant! What am I to do? I tried finding someone in our ward to go with, but didn't get much of a response. So, every time it snows, I am like a little kid. I sit and stare out the window until someone goes out and plays with me.

I decided to make a saweet slide on our front porch. This did not earn me any points with Jer. Wow.. he was so not happy with me. He was waiting for me to come running in to tell him that we were headed to the ER. But, fortunately, we had a great time without injury. The kids love being out in the snow.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

A lot has happened this month and I haven't been very good about staying current with my posts. I don't know why, but I am starting the winter out with constant sickness. I have gone from a cold to the flu to a cold. Not to mention the root canal that put me out for a day or two. I haven't exactly been "mom of the year." Mom's aren't supposed to get sick. I can't call in sick or take some time off to get over it. Though, I have anyway thanks to a great hubby that takes care of things when I am unconscious.

For Erin's Birthday, we were planning to take the kids to Temple Square and see the lights. After watching the weather, we decided to go the day before her birthday to beat the storm. I am so glad we did! The kids love this tradition. We take Trax into downtown and really it's only a short jog from 2100 South, but oh how they love the "train ride." We got off at Gateway and had dinner at the Skybox. From there, we headed over to Temple Square. The kids think it's great that you can ride Trax from one stop to the next. It's funny how much they love it. Fortunately, the weather was pleasant. I used to hate going to Temple Square as a kid. For some reason, I thought my parents were trying to torture us with cold weather and too many people in one place. So, I am constantly asking my kids if they are having fun because I don't want them to feel like they are there for me. But, I am quickly learning that it is a stage with kids. Josh is currently in the "I hate doing stuff with my family all night" stage. I thought this was a teenage thing. The funny thing is that he is always begging us to do something as a family.. play a game, go to a movie, etc. I guess walking around in the cold with his sisters isn't his idea of a good time.

It seems like Temple Square gets better and better every year. This year, they had Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus on the water in the middle of the pond. It was beautiful.

Josh was avoiding the camera. He frustrates me, but what is a mother to do?

The next day, December 13, was Erin's fourth Birthday! My baby is 4! I can't believe it's been four years since my baby was born. She is our angel. When Erin was born, so many things in our lives changed. She brought a little bit of heaven with her and life has only gotten better and better with her in it. December 15 is Jer's birthday (we won't say how old) and he never wants anything. He says Erin was the best gift ever and you can't top that. I do usually try to at least take him out to dinner and a movie, but needless to say, this year we didn't even do that! I owe you a date night, babe!

(Emma, Erin and Ella)

That morning, she and Emma had a performance for Tumbling. We had to be there at 9am and the snow was really coming down. It was an adventure. They both did a great job. I was freaking out inside when Erin actually got up there and did it! She is so shy! All those nights of sitting at the dance studio paid off. (If April, Ella and Neve weren't there, I don't know if we would survive Tuesday nights.)

(Erin and Neve)

The rest of her special day was not exactly "special." This is where the guilt comes in as far as being a sucky mom. I went home and went to bed. Yes, I spent her entire day locked in my bedroom with the flu. So, Jer played Barbie's with her and helped her potty train her Baby Alive baby. Thank goodness for daddies that love playing whatever it is his little girl wants to play.

We were planning to have the family over Sunday for cake and ice cream. We decided to call everyone and put the party off. I was worried about exposing everyone to the flu bug right before Christmas. But, grandma's and grandpa's toughed it out and came anyway. And Aunt Cari. I don't think Erin feels too bad about everything since she is still being showered with gifts ten days later.

And, the last thing to blog about before Christmas (since it snuck up on me and is here) is my Grandpa. I talked about my cute grandparents in my Thanksgiving post. And, as I had suspected that Grandpa's days were numbered, he passed away on December 19. My sweet grandpa was 88 years old. While I am heartbroken over not being there for the funeral (of course, it's today and I am sick), I am so relieved to know that he is happy and healthy again. The last couple of years were really hard for him and all of us that love him. He had Alzheimers

and watching him go through all that the disease brings on, wasn't easy. My grandpa had the best sense of humor. He used to tell Lynsee that her hoodie was on backwards. He'd tell her to "turn it around and cover up that ugly face." And, he was quite the card player. I think everyone is still arguing over his "cheating" skills. A favorite memory of mine with grandpa, is of him letting us squish into the basket that was on his motorcycle. He would give us a ride around the block in Springville (oh how illegal). The funeral is right now, actually, and I am missing it. But, I know that he knows how much I love him. And, I know I will get to see him again in his perfectness. I am so grateful for all he taught me but mostly for all he taught my dad. My dad is so much like his dad. I love that. He has a great sense of humor, but mostly has a love for his kids and family that is indescribable. My dad is amazing and I know it has so much to do with his parents. Love you all!

BFF

My girls truly are best friends. They drive each other crazy but, one couldn't live without the other. Sometimes I wonder how Emma went almost four years of her life without Erin (she had Josh, but a big brother does nothing the same as a little sister). Tonight, they were screaming and crying and kicking and fighting the entire way home from tumbling, but this is how their night ended... (as do many of their nights)...

The Wise Man Built His House Upon a Gingerbread Cookie

I don't always do the "coolest" things for Family Home Evening, but this week I was trying for some brownie points. I got the kids a Gingerbread House Kit at Sam's Club. Thought it would be fun and you can't beat $9 for a whole night of entertainment and "quality" time together. Ha ha. From the moment the box was open, it was fighting and arguing and pushing and grabbing. . . need I go on? So, two or three days later, when the kids started asking if they could eat the darn thing, I didn't stop them. Figured it was no big loss if they wanted to destroy it. But, my kids don't know how to simply take a piece of candy off and eat it. They take the knife and start "carving" away. Then, they decide it would be amusing to "collect" the crumbs it makes in cups. How many cups does it take to hold an entire Gingerbread House? Jer called the whole incident "gross." I'm not sure what to call it.

a WEEKEND full of THANKS

Our Thanksgiving weekend was great from start to finish. I'm not quite sure where to begin with this post.

Before getting into the events of the weekend, I want to tell all of my family how grateful I am for you. All of you. This is hard for me to put into words, but I have thought a lot in the last week about my late sweet sister-in-law Staci. I am going to try and do this without crying, because sadness is no longer what I feel. For those who may not know, Staci died two years ago last Friday after fighting cancer. While I miss her terribly, I have learned and continue to learn from her example and her experience. I was reading through some of my e-mails from her just a few weeks before she passed. It was hard to get together towards the end so we communicated daily through e-mail. In one note, she asked my opinion on FHE ideas as far as teaching the Plan of Salvation to her 2 and 4 year old boys. In another, she laughs at her sweet boys and their growing testimonies - "I'm glad Heavenly Father made McDonald's for us, Mom." And, in one she tells me of her progress - "I have been getting myself bathed and dressed, and even walked from the chair in the living room to the bathroom (about 25 feet).." But, most of all, she wrote of everything that she was thankful for. I watched her in awe for almost a year. She was so amazing. Always upbeat and always fighting. So, at this time of year, it is hard for me not to think of her great example. I have been moaning for the last week over a root canal that I have to have done next week and I often lose patience with my children... but at the end of the day, I am grateful for what I have. I am grateful for my family and for my friends. I am grateful for relationships that grow and develop over time. But, mostly, I am grateful for Jesus Christ and His Atonement. I am forever thankful for His sacrifice for me.

Now that my eyes are full of water, I want to share with you our wonderful Thanksgiving. We had Thanksgiving Dinner at Joel and Jamie's this year. I have talked in the past about her creativity, but her Thanksgiving table put the rest of us to shame. It was beautiful. Too cute to eat at. And, the kids were all thrilled to be eating at the table with the adults. I think I ended up with more pictures of the tables than I did of the people.

from left to right: Atley, Emma, Alexa, Kailee, Erin, Josh, Cambree
(the only grandchild missing is Gauge and he is at the end in the highchair)

A taste of the decor.

Erin and Cari

Emma and Atley

The Host and Hostess (joel and jame)

After dinner was over and the kids had had some time to play, we loaded up our H3 (that's a Hummer just in case you weren't sure) and headed for St. George. Josh played in the Dixie Invitational with his soccer team and the first game was Friday morning. So, to save our van a thousand miles or so, we rented a car to take down. We had requested a Jeep, but when they hand you the key to a 2009 H3, what are you to do? It was fun to watch people stare. We felt cool. A little immature, but cool none the less.

Upon arriving in St. George, we realized the address we had for our condo didn't have the building number or condo number. So, we made it just fine (with a little help from VZNavigator) to the complex, but from there had no idea where to go. Thank heaven for our Blackberry's. Between the two of us, Jer and I found the e-mail with the phone number and called to get our exact address. Finally, at about 8:30p.m. we unloaded the car. At this point, the kids were starving and about to eat each other (I assumed hunger was the reason for their behavior). So, our next goal was to find something to eat. I am totally making this sound like Jer and I are completely clueless around St. George. But, keep in mind, it was dark, we had a car full of feisty children, and it was a holiday so no one was open. Rewind, Del Taco was open. And, Wal Mart. Del Taco had a line of about 15 cars and no parking to go in. So, to the Wal Mart Deli we go. Hmm. Only to find NO food. Gone. Cleaned out. So, to the freezer section (which always makes kids happy. Why is that?). Eventually, we made it back to the condo, ate, broke my tooth (thus the root canal coming up), slept and arose early for soccer.

Josh played in three soccer games between Friday and Saturday. It didn't go as well as we had hoped so they didn't advance to the finals. Needless to say, he loved playing and it was great for the team. Jer loves coaching, I love stressing about off sides and saves, and the girls love giggling behind the sidelines. It helps when it's 65 degrees outside. It was great soccer weather. I hoped a little that I would get a sunburn. That didn't happen, but it sure felt good to let the sun shine on my face.



I think this is what I look like from Emma's view.

Team USA

While in St. George, we spent as much time as we could with my cute grandma. She would laugh at me if she knew I called her cute, but she is. While the adults were visiting, the kids were in the other room going through the toys. Grandma kept saying "Is there anything in there you'd like to take home with you?" She was set on the kids having something from her toy box. Josh kept telling her that if he took something with him then it wouldn't be there next time for him to play with. She insisted that it wouldn't be there next time even if he wasn't the one to take it. That night, we got back to the condo and Erin came in with her goodies from grandma. She said, "Mom, you be the kid and I will be Grandma Helen, K? Now, what do you want? Is there something in my toy box that you would want?" It was so stinkin' cute! I am so glad my kids have a relationship with my grandparents and Jer's. That is something I never had - living great grandparents. We took Grandma to Chuck-a-rama (a senior citizen favorite as well as Josh's). I snapped some classic pictures of my girls intently listening to grandma talk (or vice versa). I love watching them together. Emma is such a lovey little girl and Grandma was soaking it all in. Unfortunately, Grandpa Helen (his name is actually Bob, but Erin calls him Grandpa Helen and I find that too cute to pass up), was asleep when we went over to the care center to visit. Grandma kept saying "he can sleep any time but he can't see the grandkids any time." But, he was out. So, hopefully we will make it down again to see him before his days are up. I know they are few, but I am hoping that's not the last impression my kids have of him. He was rather peaceful in his sleep.

And, lastly (since this post seems like it's never going to end), we took the kids around St. George to show them some of my favorite things from when I was little. We showed them Grandma and Grandpa Helen's (LOL) old house and we drove through Snow Canyon and played at the Sand Dunes. The kids wanted an entire day there. I can't believe how different St. George is. I showed them where Angie (Taylor) Sumsion and I used to camp over Easter. We tried to climb the red rocks but, between my afraid of heights child and all the signs that say "stay on paved pathway" we were outa luck there. That was always a favorite of mine.. climbing, discovering, exploring.

Erin was singing "Lead me, guide me, walk beside me.." because she wanted to be the leader. I think she was looking for "follow the leader" but this one worked just as well.

What an awesome weekend. And to think I didn't do one ounce of shopping. Wow. I deserve a big pat on the back for that. :) To end this post, I wanted to share this ray of sunshine with you. I love my kids! (I can say that - they're all asleep). I am so grateful for them and all that they teach me. And, I am SO thankful for Jer and all that he does to make sure our little family has all we need and want. He is such an awesome dad and my best friend. I feel so blessed to have them all for eternity.