Christmas 2009

We had a great Christmas! We had dinner with my parents on the 21st. They have a separate Christmas celebration with each child's family. They made us a great dinner, and then gave the girls their Christmas presents. "Super-Princess Capes!" Katie and Elayna really have fun with them.

Christmas Eve was hosted by Amanda and her family. We ate, talked and played some games, then exchanged white elephant gifts. By the time we got home, it was past time for the girls to be in bed. I sewed pajamas for the family. The girls got long night shirts, and Ryan got some pants. I hadn't wrapped their pajamas for Christmas Eve yet, so I just gave the pjs to them as they were getting ready for bed. Then, in the morning, we took pictures:





We had forgotten to tell Katie that she wasn't supposed to go into the living room when she woke up in the morning. So Ryan and I heard her get up at about 8:00 and go to the bathroom, then we didn't hear her go back in her room. Soon Katie came into our room, and told us what each person had in their stocking. After much persuasion, we got dragged out there, and opened our stockings. Then we started opening presents. Katie would open something, and want to get it out of its box, and Ryan would say, "No, let's just open them all first." I think Katie really enjoyed Christmas this year. It was so much fun to watch her be so excited for everyone to open their presents.
Katie got a doctor set, (we are considering calling it a PA set, since we have 2 in the fam.) a tool set ("now I can work up in the attic!") and a beauty set with a hairdryer, brush, fake makeup, etc. She loves them all.
Elayna got a big set of fake food, some little bug car things, and a drum that plays different beats on one side, and is a regular drum on the other side.

Then, we went to Bowman's at about 10:00 am. Irma made the yummy quiche that she makes each year. Then we exchanged presents. Irma had crocheted some baby dolls that are "stuck" in their blankets. They are great, because the hat, bottle, and blanket are all sewn together, and can't get lost. I had one like that when I was a little girl that I loved, and it is packed in my trunk. Matthew gave us a beautiful chime from the Philippines. Ryan got a "tux" t-shirt, and I got a lovely platter. Irma also made a collection of all her favorite recipes. The best part is, they all have comments about the reason she likes the recipe, or when she remembers making it for the first time, etc. Clarissa gave Katie and Elayna some Sesame Street books that Clarissa remembers reading when she was younger. Katie loves them. We have to read at least 3 (because I'm three!) a day, but most days we read them all. Irma and Jerry also gave Elayna a talking/singing dog, and Katie a start on her college fund. The container "counts" how much money is put in.

Next we went to the Evans' house at about 1:30. Elayna was actually still asleep at the Bowman's, so Ryan went and got her later. We had hoagie sandwiches, then exchanged presents. Dennis and Naomi's family got us a nativity block set that the girls can play with, plus some yummy homemade chocolates, smelly stuff for me, and jerky for Ryan. We sent the kids to play downstairs while the adults opened presents. Mom had sewn aprons for all the women, and Dad gave the girls these cool soda-top purses. The men got Sudoku books and a gift card to Olive Garden. GG and Grandpa Joe also gave each family a black plague that says "Count Your Blessings".

At 4:30, it was time to go back to Bowman's to party with the extended family. We ate some more, talked more, and sang some carols. Then we went home and put the girls in bed.

New Year's Eve was at John and Emma's house. Emma made Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas that were great! We played games, talked, and ran after kids. There was a night-long game going where you couldn't say certain words. We were each given a "Good Luck Bag" , but if you said "Happy" ,"New", "Year", "Eat", "Ate", or "Game" someone could take your bag away. Then whoever had the most at the end of the night won. And it was Ryan! Yay! The girls both stayed awake and pretty pleasant until we rang in the new year. They fell asleep about 10 minutes after we started driving home.

New Year's Day we had breakfast at my parent's house. Crepes, Orange Rolls, Cinnamon Rolls, a Sausage/Egg Casserole, Chocolate Milk and OJ. Yum! The adults spent most of the day talking to each other, while the kids played downstairs or watched a movie.

We got to spend most of the week before Christmas with the Bowmans. Jonathan, Gillian, and Peter were visiting, and we loved spending time with them.

Then, the week after Christmas, Mike, Kristine, Kylie, Zach and Blake were at my parent's house. We tried to spend as much time as possible with them also. Ryan was great and let me stay late a couple of nights so I could enjoy visiting with them longer.

After reading through this post, it sounds like most of what we were excited about were the presents. Although we enjoyed them, we loved spending time with our family even more. Also, I love what President Monson says, (paraphrasing, because I couldn't find the actual quote) "Instead of asking 'What did you get for Christmas this year?', Ask 'What did you GIVE for Christmas this year?'" Unfortunately, I think it is hard for us to tell others what we have given. It sounds boastful, or as though we are looking for someone to thank us.

I just want my children to be able to look back at this and see that we did give to others too. Ryan and I decided months ago that if he got a Christmas bonus, we would use part of that to help others. Ryan was excited to give to "Toys for Tots" because he loves toys so much, and wants others to experience that joy. Our ward has an "Angel Tree" each year, which is basically a Sub For Santa. We decided that those 2 charities were what we wanted to contribute to this year. Though we didn't give a lot, I still think it is important for my girls to know that we are trying to live as Heavenly Father would have us live.

Concerts and Parties!

Dec 10:
Ever since my Dad has been in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, most of the adults in our family has been able to attend the annual Christmas concert each year. Dad was released from the choir in March 2008, but luckily, he has been able to get us tickets for the last 2 years. Hopefully the tradition will continue!
This year the guest artists were Natalie Cole and David Mcullough. Ms. Cole's voice isn't something I would listen to a lot, but it was a very enjoyable evening. Mr. Mcullough told stories about "O Little Town of Bethlehem" which involved Winston Churchill. We ate at Olive Garden and had I fun talking with my family and enjoying the evening. Dennis has a 12-seater van, so we were all able to ride up together.
We were gone from 4:00 to about midnight. I'm grateful I have a good babysitter in Aubri Coughanour. She is very dependable, and the girls love her. Katie will frequently ask me "Can we have Aubri babysit tonight? You and Dad can go somewhere?"

Dec 12-morning:
We had our Ward Christmas party. There were breakfast burritos and cinnamon rolls. There was also chocolate milk.... Katie dumped a cup of chocolate milk ALL OVER Elayna. Poor thing. She was soaked. I got her clothes all changed and brought her back to the table. Just in time for Abby to spill HER chocolate milk all over the table. Children are so fun! The party was short and fun. It was nice to have the party in the morning, since this time of the year there are so many parties, especially at night.

Dec 12-evening:
Ryan's work party was at the Marriott again. Johnny B was the entertainment. He tells stand up jokes and hypnotizes willing victims. We had lots of fun laughing at people that had volunteered to be hypnotized. I can't imagine wanting to do that. Ryan's supervisor, Bret, won a Blue Ray player. Last year him and his wife won an iPod and a digital camera. We are taking their seats/tickets next year. :)
Each year they have a new way to choose the winners. And they are pretty close mouthed about it too. Understandably, since there is probably about $5,000 in prizes given away. That is plus the bonus we got, and the extremely nice dinner. Dan (the owner) is so generous, it is such a great place to work.
Mom and Dad were nice enough to watch Katie and Elayna. They also brought the girls home and put them in bed while we were at the party.

Dec 13:
Ryan and I are both able to sing in the Community Christmas Choir because Jerry and Irma were kind enough to watch the girls for the rehearsals (and the performance).
The performance went really well. I think we all felt good about it. Irma commented that the choir seems to get better each year, and I agree. This year, there were so many men, it sounded very powerful.

Ryan volunteered to play a piano solo. He played Carol of the Bells by George Winston. He did a fabulous job. He is very talented, and really enjoys playing. He is already trying to come up with a piece to play for next year.

Snow and Christmas Decorations

We got so much snow on Dec 7 and 8! Here are some pictures:

Note the tricycle handlebars:


The chairs were overflowing with snow:


The snow on the table was very impressive:


Ryan came home from work and shoveled the driveway for about an hour. There was a lot of snow to move. As he was coming in, he shut the garage door, and there was an awful sound. The broom had somehow leaned into the groove of the door, and it forced one side of the door to stay where it was, while the other side kept going down. Ugh. It looked awful. So crooked and twisted. Ryan worked on it, and banged on it, and rewound the cable that lifts the door, and did all sorts of stuff to it. And voila! It worked again. Hurray! He's so awesome! He tells me we will still need to replace it, but it isn't as vital as I was expecting it to be.

Here are some of our Christmas decorations. We have lights downstairs, in Katie's room, and in the front room. Then outside, Ryan put some lights above the garage, around our front window and door, and on our tree in the front yard. I haven't gotten a picture of the outside lights because it is so cold! Once the sun sets, I'm not very excited about being outside. It has been below zero most of the week at night.



These are the stockings that I have decorated: (very reminiscent of the ones my mother made for us when I was growing up)



I have a wonderful friend named Jenet that let Ryan and I come decorate gingerbread houses for her Christmas present to us. She makes the gingerbread (she made 52 kits this year!), then invites friends and families to come over and decorate them with all the candy and chocolate she has piled around her kitchen. It is really fun. This was Ryan's first year to come, and I think he had lots of fun.

This is my house:


This is Ryan's house. I think he has lots of fun, original ideas. I really liked the window decorations here:




His front piece was broken, so he made a neat design with it. You can't even tell where it was broken, can you? He made a candycane "tree" and a nice river/lake/waterfall thing.

Katie and Elayna

I found this picture on my phone. It was taken in August. Elayna and I were in the shade of the tree, because it was so hot. And this is what Katie was wearing:


Katie asked for Ramen for dinner last night. But as she told me, "You make the noodles great, but the sauce is not so great. Daddy makes really great sauce." Ryan puts all sorts of spices in the broth, and I just open the little package that comes with the noodles. I'm happy though. That means Ryan can be in charge of a meal or two each week, if Katie wants to eat it.

My mom was reading a story to Katie about Santa Claus. Mom asked Katie, "Is Santa going to bring you a present?" I guess Katie just laughed and said, "no". She thought it was a joke.
Since then, she has learned that he should be bringing her presents, and gets upset if we tell her he isn't. I don't even know where she learned any of this stuff!

Ryan has an aunt that we call Mickie. Katie was telling me about Mickey Mouse (I can't remember why? a movie, or a story?) and she said, "not our Mickie. Another Mickey." Then I said, "Mickey Mouse?" and she seemed relieved to know that I figured it out.


The girls have lots of fun in the tub. I usually let them just play in there while I do stuff on the computer or cook dinner. (I'm always within ear-shot) Katie was calling for me to come see them. Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles. A kid's best friend.



I was "resting my eyes" on the couch downstairs. Elayna kept whining about something, so I finally turned around to figure out what the problem was. She was stuck, and couldn't get down. She had climbed up there all by herself. Notice how far away the chairs seem to be. I don't know if she pushed them away while she was climbing, or what. It is just a funny picture:


Elayna never crawls anymore. She's running and chasing Katie all over. Those girls have so much fun together.

I told Elayna her bottle was under her bed, then asked her if she would go get it. She crouched down, saw it was there, shimmied on her tummy till she could reach it, and brought it to me. I think that is the first time I recall her following instructions that were more than one step.
I was braiding Katie's hair, and she sneezed (or "blessed you", as she says). We told Elayna to go get a tissue, and she headed into the bathroom and pulled the toilet paper off until it was all off. (thankfully the roll was almost gone) Then she brought the paper to Katie.
She is getting better about coming when we call, or not doing something when we tell her no. She will cry for me, and I'll tell her "I'm in the living room", or wherever, and she will come find me. It is amazing how children learn and grow every day.