Christmas Eve

We love living a short distance from family. We took advantage of this Christmas Eve and headed to Snowflake. We had a delicious stake dinner and program.

Here is Grandpa telling a story about going home from his mission on Christmas Eve and surprising his Mom and Dad. He served in New England and called his Mom and told her to meet him in Winslow in about an hour, my was she surprised!

Will reading a story

The Nativity

Some of the girls leading the Christmas Carols

The kids all in their new Christmas PJ's. Every year they get to open 1 present Christmas Eve and I get to pick which present. Hmm, jamies again!

Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas and loved every minute of it. Here are a few pictures taken Christmas morning. Our kids at least Bridget and Dustin are usually up off and on all night Christmas Eve not being able to sleep. We told them they couldn't wake us up before 5:00. Well with being in Snowflake for Christmas Eve they went to bed later than normal (around 10:00) so they slept like babies until 5:30 and Dustin woke up and woke everybody else up.

Tylinn modeling an apron I made for her and one for each of the girls for Christmas

Tylinn with her skates on. They thought she was pretty safe with her knee and elbow pads on. After watching her for a few minutes Bruce told her what she needed was a helmet.

Dustin checking out his stocking

Kaylee with her stroller from Santa

Bruce and I with our cast iron pans. I got the huge one and Bruce got the tiny one. He wanted a little one to cook a little egg in.

The kids all lined up ready for Christmas!!

After we finished the Christmas morning festivities Bruce and I took a short nap and we headed to Joe City to visit with Bruce's parents and brother. It was a nice relaxing visit.

Days after Christmas in Snowflake

The day after Christmas we headed to Snowflake for a couple days of fun! A crazy house with lots of family, what more could you ask for?? Thirty+ people sleeping in one house. We came home Saturday for church on Sunday and the kids and I headed back for Monday and Tuesday.

We did lots of this: visiting and EATING

The men helping Grandpa build a horse corral

The boys playing football in the back yard. Clar is great to play with the boys and put up with their arguing and crying. They love him to death and always look forward to a game of football when he is around.

Girls playing on the rope swing

Bruce squeezing pipe together for the corral

We had tons of fun. The kids love playing with their cousins and spending time at Grandma's and Grandpas house.

Snow

I am a little behind on some of these pictures but wanted to post some of the kids playing in the snow. This was when it snowed a couple of days before Christmas. It didn't last long, it came and rained and melted most of the snow. We love the snow at our house and enjoy playing in it.

Kaylee, Bridget and Tylinn

Tylinn trying to help out with the shoveling, there wasn't much this time!

Bridget and Dustin with their Snow Duck they made. I guess there wasn't enough snow to make a snowman so they settled with a duck!

Happy Day!

We have lots of happy days at our house (lots not so happy too) but yesterday was a happy one. After building our house and living in it we decided we had to have a little bit more storage space and coat/muddy shoe spot so we added on a storage room/mud room just off our bedroom door. So now you can walk in from out side kick off your muddy boots hang your coat up and move on into the house. We also needed more room to put food/year supply things and wanted our freezer closer to house so we made a spot for the freezer and lots of shelf space. Last night we moved the freezer in so I guess it's officially finished except the siding on the outside. We had 5 boxes of apples we got from Utah that were taking up a lot of space in there so yesterday we tackled those and got the applesauce finished. It looks much prettier on the shelf in bottles then in a box taking up room knowing we need to get them done!

I'm sure the coats and boots are always going to look this neat and tidy, I wish!

The shelves with the freezer. There are empty shelves right now but probably after tomorrow when I do some moving and organizing there won't be any. Bruce did a great job on this and we love it.

Community Christmas Party

Yesterday was the Community Christmas Party and boy did the kids love it! This year they got a bag they got to decorate then went from table to table and put fun things in it. Some of the things were: Bubbles, coloring book, crayon, hacky sack, candy, kite, gloves, hat. After all of this they got to decorate a cookie and eat it. They also got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas and get a picture taken. On their way out the door they got a wrapped present that went with their age. Thanks to Grandma McLaws the kids were all decked out in their Christmas shirts. They had lots of fun and it made them even more excited for Christmas. ONLY 4 MORE DAYS!!!

Kaylee enjoying her cookie

Kids getting candy cane from Santa and telling him what they want for Christmas

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

Dance and Piano

The past 2 Monday nights for FHE have been spent at performances. We have loved both of them. Last Monday was Piano. Dustin and Bridget have both done very well at playing the piano and we are very proud of them. Each piano student played 2 songs. Their teacher is moving so we are starting with a new one in January. We are very thankful they can take lessons and develop this talent.

Last night was the Dance Program. Each class danced a song to go along with the Nativity.

Bridget's class danced to a song about Mary

Tylinn was a sheep

Kaylee a star (she wouldn't hold still long enough for me to take a normal picture)

After the Nativity songs were finished they did costume changes and each did a fun Christmas song. I didn't get any pictures in these costumes but they were really cute. These were lots of fun. Kaylee's class did Jingle Bells, Tylinn's danced to Santa Clause is Comin' to Town, and Bridget's did a In the Sun They Melted from Insideout A Cappella. It was a really fun song and the girls in her class loved it.

They were 2 good nights, now we can move on.
Bruce of course is running 100 miles an hour at work, fun time of year!!!

Happy Birthday to my MAN!

I am a day late doing this because yesterday was crazy but Happy Birthday Bruce!! Love ya!

Watch Out!

Oh Christmas Tree

Hmmm searching for the right tree

Bridget, friend Megan and Tylinn

Hot Chocolate and Cookies after all the hard work

Is this really how you are supposed to cut down a Christmas Tree??

The man in action

The Finished Product!

All of the Christmas Tree Decorators

Dustin trying to get the star on top

Kaylee very carefully putting an ornament on

Snowmen

All I Need to Know about Life I Learned From a Snowman

* It's okay if you're a little bottom heavy.

* Hold your ground, even when the heat is on.

* Wearing white is always appropriate.

* Winter is the best of the four seasons.

* It takes a few extra rolls to make a good midsection.

* There's nothing better than a foul weather friend.

* The key to life is to be a jolly, happy soul.

* It's not the size of the carrot, but the placement that counts.

* We're all made up of mostly water.

* You know you've made it when they write a song about you.

* Accessorize! Accessorize! Accessorize!

* Avoid yellow snow. Don't get too much sun.

* It's embarrassing when you can't look down and see your feet.

* It's fun to hang out in your front yard.

* Always put your best foot forward.

* There's no stopping you once you're on a roll.

What a Beautiful Sight