Traditionally, the children wait at the top of the stairs while Bob or I go down and turn on the tree lights. They were so excited they were squealing!
"Santa Rocks!" These were Will's words as he saw his loot from Santa. I have never seen a kid rip through the gifts like this one! Honestly, he was done in 5 minutes!
FAVORITES
:: Remote Control Helicopter
:: Spiderman Web Blaster
I had convinced Maddie she would not be getting a Wii this year due to the lack of them available. When she saw that Santa had not come through for her, she was very suprised to unwrap one from Bob and me! We saved this gift for last and she was very excited!
FAVORITES
:: Wii (duh)
:: i-dog
:: roller blades
It was a wonderful Christmas. We have so much to be grateful for.
We spent our first Christmas Eve with just the four of us. Bob and I decided we wanted to make it as memorable as we could for the kids. They were really missing Grandma and Grandpa, aunts and uncles and cousins! Maddie was especially concerned about no extended family around..."Christmas is about being with your family". I said "what are we...dog meat?"
We went to The Cheesecake Factory for an early dinner and then went to see "Alvin and the Chipmunks". The best part of that movie was watching the kids laugh. They really enjoyed it. We then came home, ate our cheesecake, wrapped presents and the elves came bearing new pajamas! The night was a success...with just us dog meat!
Tonight we went to the Hale Center Theatre Orem to see
Dicken's Christmas Carol.
The show was wonderful! Maddie and William both sat in awe the entire time...even though there were some pretty scary parts. You know that Ghost of Christmas Future is pretty creepy! The music was great and I actually cried when Tiny Tim died-Bob Cratchet sang "What Child is This?" at the gravesite and I could not help myself from getting emotional...imagine that!:D I love this classic Christmas Tale. It reminds me that the true spirit of Christmas is giving-not just of our wealth, but more sincere compassion and love for others in our daily lives. We should all enjoy the Merriment of Chritmas and share that with others all year long.
Maddie saw in the program that the Hale Center offers acting classes for children. And there were several children in the performance. Maddie has chosen two parts she wants to play next year-the beggar girl and the Ghost of Christmas Past. (She has such lofty ambitions) She could not stop talking about the play the whole way home. And William was worried he was going to dream about the "ghosts" just like Scrooge did.:D It was quite a magical night for them. We will definetely be making this a Christmas Tradition.
So I'm in the kitchen and in walks William wearing a green tee shirt of mine and croaking like a frog. After a few minutes I look at him (I mean really look at him) and he's also wearing my green chenille gloves on his feet...like a frog! So dang funny!
My mom and I have been making candy for the past two days...caramel-chocolate pretzels, toffee and caramel. YUM-O! It was so much fun to spend time with my mom making these fun treats for friends (and ourselves, right Mom?) My parents are going to be gone for Christmas so it will just be the four of us until we leave for New Mexico a couple of days after Christmas. I'm glad I got to spend time with my mom making our traditional holiday treats! Thanks for all the help Mom.
So many pretzels...milk chocolate, milk chocolate with mini m&ms, white chocolate, white chocolate with cinnamon sugar
Making the yummiest caramels on the planet...so buttery!
Is there anything better than a preschool program? I mean seriously, the cuteness of it all and the sheer laughter watching those darling little kids sing and dance. I could have watched all day long! Watch how Will shakes his little buns...oh and that's Isabelle...his "girlfriend" (He has kissed her on the lips!) Don't you just love the way she moves him around too...girls are so bossy! :D
p.s. I got the videos loaded for Maddie's program and the ward party...check them out!
Today was our annual cul-de-sac Ladies Lunch. This gathering has been taking place for nearly 30 years-longer than I've been here! I have been for the past 15 years. Traditionally, we make gifts for each friend in the neighborhood, past and present. This has truly been one of the highlights of living here. This group of women is amazing. The talent within the group is beyond words...quilters, painters, crafters, singers, teachers, spiritual leaders, cooks, performers, just to name a few. I am so blessed to have moved here and to be able to call these women my friends-I miss those who have moved away :(
This year we decided to do things a little differently...we chose someone to give service to. It just happened that one of our former neighbors was in need of a helping hand this year-Carol Moore. Carol lost her father this year, started dialysis three times a week and her overall health is not good. We truly felt that she was someone we could help have a Joyful Christmas! We all pitched in by quiliting, donating money, shopping, wrapping and giving in any way we could. The highlight was giving Carol the quilt. Diane and Kathy spent hours piecing this beautiful quilt and we all helped tie it and the party. Giving these gifts to Carol has truly been the best part of my Christmas. I hope this becomes our new tradition.
And of course, the lunch party was at Bianca's beautiful home (that alone can get you in the Christmas Spirit)!
Check out this Pinocchio collection...it is amazing!
The Nativity went great. It was pure chaos all the way up until it started and I was sweating like a pig! A huge thanks to Bianca. She had all the props and helped orchestrate the whole thing-what a pro! I honestly could not have done it without her help. I truly would not have known where to begin. Maddie was the narrator and William was one of the shepherds. You can see him wandering around the stage. I am so glad it's all over!
I spent the day getting ready for the party: setting up at the church-twice, shopping for our Sub for Santa family (that was fun...we went to Target to choose toys and clothes for a family). I was explaining to Maddie that these would be the only things they are receiving for Christmas. She wanted to keep purchasing things for them. She even bought one of the presents with her own money! And then she said "Doesn't Santa go to their house?" I said "Yes." "Then they will be getting other presents." What could I say to that?
Dean picked up all the children in the ward on his trailer. They were soaking wet and frozen by the time they got to the church. The kids love this part of the party. We did it last year too.
These are our friends Matt and Lori . They have twin boys Will's age and another son Maddie's age.
Today was one of those days where you have so much to do, it's hard to know where to start and you wonder if it's really all going to get done (the worst is when it carries into the next day-which mine will!)
I offered to help with the ward party tomorrow night by putting together a live nativity with the primary children. What was I thinking? Of course, I waited until the last minute and have been scrambling around trying to gather children, props and costumes-UGH! So I fretted and stewed all day about this task. I actually woke up wondering how I was going to accomplish this task. I also have to decorate a table and make a salad for the party!
I am decorating a friend's house for the holidays (something I do each year). But it was on the busiest day ever. I went over in the morning to do it, but she wasn't home and had told me she might not be home but the code to her garage was - - - - . Of course, I forgot it. I tried her on her cell phone, but had to leave a message. I knew I couldn't really go anywhere because I would soon be leaving for Maddie's school program! And also, if she called, I wanted to be able to run right over! She didn't get back to me until it was about time for me to leave for the program-totally my fault. I should have written her garage code down! Anyway, the block of time I had set aside to do this was now gone-YIKES...when was I going to get this done?
Maddie's Winter Program was great! Grandma and Grandpa came to watch. She is so beautiful! Isn't she just wonderful! I love her so much and I am so proud of her.
Mrs Johnson-Maddie's wonderful, amazing teacher!
I brought Maddie home after her program, took her to Activity Days (she didn't want to go, another story,) but went anyway and had a fun time. It was a babysitting activity so Will actually got to go and I had the hour and a half I needed to get Bonita's house done! Yipee for Activity Days! I picked them up at 5:00, ran to Harmons because I had to take rolls to our Neighborhood Christmas Party and also get something for the kids for dinner (chicken drumsticks-YUCK!), then picked up the babysitter, ran in the house, tried to make myself presentable for a party, wrapped the white elephant gifts and ran next door to enjoy myself for a couple of hours! WHEW!
The party was over by 8:30 (the party is getting shorter and shorter each year!) So, since we had a babysitter, Bob and I decided we'd go to a movie and went to see Dan In Real Life. I absolutely cracked up. And Bob was laughing so hard-I rarely hear him laugh like that-(Seinfeld will do it) and it's one of my favorite things about him. He has such a great laugh and when he laughs hard, you know he means it! Go to see that movie-it's great!
reminds me of this below....is this not the funniest thing ever!
I'm going to bed now, knowing I will dream about that darn nativity! HELP ME...I have poop stomach!
Last night for FHE, we got out all the Christmas Decorations (doesn't that make just the biggest mess ever)! The kids were so excited to put up the tree. And William was beyond excited. He couldn't keep his hands off anything. We had one broken ornament...Maddie had to get on him for that to which I told her she's broken her fair share and to leave him alone. We finished with the tree and went to bed with a huge mess downstairs-ugh. I knew it was all mine in the morning. Anyway, it's all done now (with the exception of a few things I think I must have-I'll know them when I see them :D and some fresh greens for the mantle). Will was so cute this morning-dying to help me. I have this tall skinny santa that he used as a gun, walking stick, bow and arrow and a few other props-so funny! We also had lights put on the house, red and white. They look so great-it's been so long since we had lights on the house. Bob just does not have the time to do it (and truth be told, I'm not sure he has the skill to do it either-don't tell him I said that). I found these two men putting lights on someone's house down the street and flagged them down and said when can you do this at my house? They were there in a couple of hours and it was done before Bob got home from work-great price too! If I knew how to take pictures outside in the dark with my camera so the lights would show...haven't quite figured that out! But here are a few pics of the inside.
::The tree
::The stars on the mantle (mantle not quite finished)
::Snowmen with glitter (I love glitter)
::How cute is that caroling lady!
::I love my santa collection
::And the ornaments from Pottery Barn Sale last year
This morning, we woke up to a few inches of snow. Our first "real" snow. You know the kind, the white fluffy powder that makes you just want to go outside and play. And if you're William, eat it! Will put on my boots and a sweatshirt and sweatpants and played outside for about a half hour. He came in soaking wet and my boots were wet inside and out! By 9:00 am Bob left for a full day of tithing settlement and Maddie was on her way out the door to go horseback riding with our neighbor, Von Schwen. Will and I headed out to the mall to get him some snow clothes and boots of his own so he doesn't have to wear mine. (He's been wearing Maddie's pink ones)! Pulling into the driveway, William was putting on his boots and digging his coat and pants out of the bags. He was "dying" to get in the snow! Needless to say, he is currently outside having all kinds of fun!
Today is a great day for Mads. She went on her horse riding lesson in Lehi with our neighbor and friend, Von. Maddie has been going riding with her for about a year now. She is going to be going riding every Saturday. I asked her if she wanted to go in this weather, knowing what the answer would be and I was right. She absolutely loves horses and is quite a natural so I've been told. I've never actually seen her ride...can you believe it! Von tells me that she is amazing-no fear and very confident on the horse. Von says she is so much fun to watch because you can tell she loves the horses and they love her! One of these days I will watch her ride! I can't wait. (BTW, Maddie is starting her own blog and she will tell you all about her day)
Do you remember how your parents, especially your mom, would always say she wants nothing more than for her children to get along and love each other? I remember asking my mom what she wanted for Christmas, birthdays, etc. and she always told me this. At the time I thought it was a ridiculous request. Why would anyone care about that and what a stupid gift! Well, I now completely understand...of course we care and it is just about the best gift there is-nothing stupid about it! William and Maddie definetely have their moments of "not getting along" (that's putting it nicely); however, lately they have been "true friends". Yesterday, they danced together, played computer games together, Maddie helped Will with his Christmas list, Maddie giving Will the last chocolate covered strawberry and they wanted to sleep together in Maddie's bed. Maddie even brushed Will's teeth for him. As a parent, it is such a beautiful thing to see your children being friends. It touches me to see Maddie watching out for her little brother and to see Will truly looking up to his older sister. I pray they will always be friends and always be there for each other. So this Christmas they asked me what I wanted...yup, you guessed it!
I snuck in and took this picture after they were asleep!
