Enjoying Christmas

This year there was snow all over the ground so the kids couldn't very well ride their new bikes and ripsticks so we took them to the church to ride. They had lots of fun with lots of room to ride and play.





It was just about time to get headed home and I decided to go in and set up chairs for Primary on Sunday so I wouldn't have to worry about it. Tylinn really needed a drink so she went in with me. I went to the Primary room and Tylinn went to get a drink. A few seconds later Tylinn comes to me and says "Mom, come here." I said OK and started walking. She said "Mom no hurry it's bad, really really bad. To be 100% honest I wasn't thrilled about seeing what it was because who knows but I knew if it was too bad Tylinn would be more upset. I went around the corner and the church was flooded. I ran outside to get Bruce. To make a long story short the Cultural Hall, Kitchen, Nursery, closet were all flooded. A pipe in the ceiling broke and water was running out of the ceiling. We think it had just happened that morning. If it would have sat another day (which it very likely could have with it being Christmas day) it would have been a huge mess. Bruce stayed to help clean it up along with Pres. Whipple, Bishop Nelson and a few other men. It was an interesting Christmas afternoon.

Christmas 2009

Christmas Morning kids lined up to run in and see what Santa brought.

Kids looking through their stockings to see what Santa left them. Looks like a few watches - Bridget, Dustin and Rhett.

Looks like Rhett found his Christmas Orange.

Tylinn and Kaylee happily digging.


New bikes - WOW!

Bridget with her new bike. The boys got Ripsticks.

Kids lined up with their cereal Santa brings them every year - their very own cereal.

Best face ever on Christmas. Excited but surprised. What was it??




Yes the kids got a Wii. They were so excited. We count our many blessings that we had another great Christmas, but more importantly for our Savior and we get to celebrate his birth.

Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa McLaws

This year we decided to go to Grandma and Grandpa McLaws' house for Christmas Eve. Lonnie and Family were there with us.



Bruce read in Luke 2 while the kids acted it out (another tradition).

Grandma watching the very entertaining show!

The Nativity

Our cute little Mary and baby Jesus.

Kaylee was the star. She was very worried because when we did the program with the Primary there were stars and they had their little star faces, well she wanted a star face. I looked around for something that was a star that might work. Grandma had this little pink star ornament on her tree. I told Kaylee she could use that. She was so happy and held that star up as high as she could with pride. The cutiest little pink star ever!

After the Nativity we sang some Christmas Carols. Tylinn and Dustin sang "The Nativity" from the Primary song book. Rhett and Kaylee sang "Away in a Manger" and Bridget with Bruce sang "Silent Night". We sang a few more Christmas songs, then home we went to get kids in bed so Santa could come.

Christmas PJ's

Another tradition at our house is every Christmas the kids get to open 1 present - the kicker is - Mom gets to pick which one. It just so happens the one she picks is always kids PJ's. This year we were going to Joe City with Bruce's family for Christmas Eve so the kids got to open them in the afternoon before we left. Here's all the kids with excitement opening their Christmas Eve Present.


All the kiddos holding up their jammies. Bridget's and Tylinn's came with little eye covers. Tylinn sleeps with hers on every night and loves it. I don't know that Bridget has put hers on since this picture.

Tylinn and Kaylee with the "eyes" on. Such excitement on Christmas Eve.

Snow Fun!

I love pictures of kids playing in the snow. Today the kids had tons of fun - great activity 2 days before Christmas. This morning Marinda called and said she would pull kids in the snow if I would take care of her triplets - what a trade! Those kids went for a long time and loved it.
Kaylee with her crazy eyes (she thinks the has to do something crazy with her eyes every picture) ready to go out and play.

The train going around our houses a million times.

Paige and Tylinn

Rhett and Tyra

Dustin, Kaylee and Bridget ready to go.

What a great day is what the kids had to say about today!

Gingerbread houses

Another holiday tradition of ours is making Gingerbread Houses. We usually make them for FHE one of the Monday's in December but it seemed like we had something going on all of them so I decided we would do them this week while the kids were out of school. Well today was the day. We use graham cracker and hot glue for the house. After the house is standing with hot glue the kids then use frosting and candy. Today I just turned them loose on it. They turned out really cute!

Christmas Caroling

Monday night we went Christmas Caroling with the Parrys. The kids loved doing this. Reece put some hay in the back of his truck that we sat on and sang our hearts out while we delivered goodies. Just another fun thing leading up to Christmas!

Candy Making

One thing I love about Christmas of course is all the yummy food. Today we made a bunch of Christmas candy. Here are my helpers:

Slaughter Time

We had two roosters that Bruce didn't want and I kept telling him to kill them. Saturday he took me serious and did it he didn't bother to tell me he was doing it so I didn't even know until Dustin comes in saying "Mom, Dad cut the roosters heads off." This was an experience Bruce and I have seen growing up but our kids haven't. We decided they needed to see what it was like.
Here is a picture after the head was chopped off and it was hanging in the tree.


Jimmy the pro came to show Bruce how to butcher it (is butcher what it's called for a chicken?)



The slaughter log.



The roosters were Sunday dinner. I was doing fine watching them do everything to them. When they broke the legs to get the feet of it really grossed me out but I still thought I could handle it. But Sunday afternoon when it was time to eat I couldn't stomach it but I did have a taste. Bruce and the kids seemed to enjoy it.

The last Christmas programs

Last Thursday Tylinn and Rhett had a little assembly at their school. Each class sang a Christmas song and they gave out 100% attendance awards to kids for the quarter. Because of so much sickness going around there were only 10 kids - they weren't mine!! I thought the program started 30 minutes later then it did so when I realized it was starting right then I ran out the door and forgot my camera. So here is a picture of Rhett at home with his cute little hat on. His class sang "We Wish you a Merry Christmas!" They were so cute. Tylinn's class sang "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer". They had to leave their antlers and red noses at school for Friday so I didn't get a picture and then she lost her red nose. They were really cute, of course Tylinn was the loudest singer - that's my Tylinn!

Cutie

Wished I looked that cute running on the treadmill!!

True Love

I made a confession to Bruce that he is my 3rd love. He didn't seem too worried - he must know me pretty good.
#1 Gingerbread Man - The perfect man, he's quiet, he's sweet and when you get mad at him you can bite his head off!

#2 Snowman - who doesn't love these cute little guys?

#3 Bruce - My real true love - who couldn't love this face?

The Nutcracker

Tylinn's little Kindergarten class did the Nutcracker play. To be honest I wondered what kind of a play a bunch of Kindergartners could do but it was really good. Tylinn has been so excited about it.

She was a toy soldier

And The Sugarplum Fairy. She loved every minute of it. They all did really good - I was very impressed. She loves school and does very well in it. She is starting to read and trying everyday to read more and more words. She is a very fun girl that smiles almost all of the time. What a sweetie!

Bridget and Dustin Concert

Last night was Bridget's orchestra concert and Dustin's grade sang a couple of songs. Bridget is doing very well on her cello and Dustin is excited to get going on a string instrument next year. I love to watch my kids perform as I know most parents do! Dustin is on the front row in the white shirt - handsome boy!

Happy Birthday Bruce

Yesterday was Bruce's 37th birthday - WOW! That morning he started out by getting a couple of presents. Here is a picture of him trying on his new coveralls. I decided if he's going to be out working in the freezing cold (which he always is as soon as he walks in the door from the PO) then he needed something to keep him warm.

I needed to go to Showlow to run a few errands and told Bruce if he could get off work I would love to have him with me. He went to work for a couple of hours and came home. We were off to Showlow. We did quite a few errands - mostly getting things for Christmas and finishing up some Primary shopping for next year. We hit Grumpy Jakes for lunch - YUMMY! Just for the record too we were eating and a lady that Bruce knows from the PO was walking out the door and stopped to say hi to him. She had to tell Kaylee she had a nice dad and told me I have a VERY nice husband (I get that quite often from strangers to me but people that know Bruce from work). We made a stop at Lowes to buy some wood and Walmart. We got home just in time to run Bridget and Dustin to their concert. We enjoyed the concert until Bruce had to make a mad dash to back to Showlow for work taking some mail that didn't get left on the truck. Kind of just another day but we enjoyed our day together - that's what counts! Happy Birthday Bruce - we love you!

Christmas Piano Recital

Yesterday the kids had their Christmas Piano Recital. Randy Wurschmidt-Pastor of the Lutheran church teaches them. They are doing really well. They all seem to be enjoying it. Not that the are dying to practice everyday but they enjoying playing. Rhett started in August and has really taken off with the piano. I'm very pleased how well they are doing with the piano. I think they are probably sick of me telling them to practice but I'm not giving in. I wish SO bad I knew how to play better - I don't want them saying that. Good job kids!