Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas day (I was feeling about 85% healthy by then). We headed downstairs between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. the kids were very patient because they had been up since 7:15 a.m. but they never complaned. We headed downstairs and they ran to their stockings - they seemed to love EVERYTHING that was in them (way to go santa, give yourself a good old pat on the back and wipe the sweat from your brow). They then noticed the little gingerbread house that santa has been using to put clues in - sending us on a scavenger hunt (there are 5 little houses and he hides all but the first one,,, what a tricky santa). so we head off for the scavenger hunt. the clues were a bit more difficult this time, but it sure did not stump Trent, he is as quick as a whip. finally, the last clue led them to the laundry room. In side the dryer were 4 new pairs of slippers for the kids - - - how ever did santa know they needed slippers?!?!?!



when we got back downstairs with our pigs in the blankets and apples from the stockings, the kids noticed the air hockey table. it took a few seconds to realize there was a hockey table in our family room, but then the kids got all excited and we played for a little bit. After that we endeavered to unwrap the many presents under the tree. the kids got all sorts of things from new shoes, home depot tooks and work hat, 2 different drum sets, watches, coloring books, games, movies, pirate legos, etc. they just has a blast opening presents and they could not decided which one was their favorites - - - awwwwww what a life!



after presents Donald and I spent a lot of time enjoying the kids, opening and dismantling the death gripped securely sealed boxes, and did some cleaning up. we watched some basketball and made dinner. it was a nice low key and fun day. here we are now, almost a week since Christmas day, and there are still presents that have not found a new home, so they just sit on my familyroom floor so we all can trip over them.

batman smells video

Donald put the batman smells video on my blog. when you try to view it -- it takes about 2 minutes before you actually get to any footage. what I did when I viewed it was I moved the little curser bar until it came to actual footage.

Anyway, it is horribly funny, I probably should be a bit embarrased, b ut I just can not stop laughing at myself and my family. We had a great time putting it together, and next year we will do one even BETTER!!!!

Bat Man Smells

Fun for the Holidays

We have had a great time this December. We have done many different things to celebrate this year, focusing on the true meaning of Christmas, the giving at Christmas, and the magic of Christmas. We had alot of fun making our batman smells video, we delivered nativities kinda like the 12 days of Christmas to two different families, we decorated sugar cookies, we did a good deeds Christmas chain, we took cookies to our neighbors and sang carols, we watch videos and read the scriptures about Jesus coming to the Earth, we made reindeer food and marshmellow snowmen. We also had our annual Lowe Christmas bash, and our ward Forgotten Carol program and Trent's 1st grade Christmas program and Kolby's preschool chrimstmas program. And then to add to the fun and excitement of the month of December, I did lots of baking and shopping and wrapping and mailings. But even though our month has been pretty packed with activities, we have really enjoyed it and it really has not been to much or too overwhelming.

Christmas time must mean sickness time

well, I am hoping that I will finally get this blog thing figured out. I started this blog back in October and I got frustrated with it, but I decided to take another stab at it. I sure hope I will be able to stay with it and not get to frustrated.

Nonetheless, we had a great Christmas. We did not travel anywhere this year so it was low key and relaxing I guess. Donald and I were discussing just today that we need to relax MORE and do more fun things with the kids before they go back to school. If seems that if you are home, you just want to get things done, like laundry, cleaning, organizing, odd jobs, etc. I told Donald that Sunday thru Tuesday we are only allowed to do "house stuff" for one hour, and the rest of the day needs to be about enjoying the family. Ok, Ok, back to Christmas. so the week before Christmas we had tons of sickness in the house. we started off with Kolby having a really bad cough,, but no fever and no other signs of illness. well, about a week after that Tanner came donw with an upper respitory infection. two days after that, Brooklyne had one. and two days after that, Tanner had a double ear infection. Meanwhile, Donald had an upper respitory infection and was not doing well at all. then a couple days after that, Trent starts to not feel so good and throws up. We take him to the doctor, and the doc said he did NOT have an infection. well, then 3 days later, I get a stomache flu!!!! so I was sick all day on Christmas eve, it is a good thing that stomache bugs usually are only 24 hours or so. And to add to the sick frustration, Kolby thru up on Christmas eve as well - but afterwards, he was totally fine and continued being a happy and healthy kid. thankfully, Christmas morning I was feeling ok enough to make our traditonal breakfast and I was able to enjoy the festivities of the day (unlike the year before when I was 8 months pregnant with a horrible flu. we had cold cereal for breakfast and frozen lasagna for dinner. I spent most of the day drugged up in bed - it was a horrible Christmas day.)