Merry Christmas!

Remember the reason for the season....

Holiday Haze

Driving around town at night, I've noticed the brilliant light displays that many have put up already. Not only have I noticed them, but so have my boys. Jake will say, "Mom! They're all ready for Christmas." When he says this I notice that it's with a bit of jealousness.

Normally, any other year, our family tradition is that we put up our tree on Thanksgiving evening or the day after. This year, not so.....Why would I want to put up a tree only to take it all back down to move to a different house?

So our house is totally untrimmed....and a bit chaotic with the boxes filling up and things being moved around.

I'm not a Scrooge, I promise....I'm just moving.

Where Has the Time Gone?

It really feels like it was JUST the beginning of 2010, and here we are staring down 2011. Time seems to fly the older I get.

Christmas was wonderful for us. The boys were spoiled rotten. And after we'd opened up the gifts Christmas morning, and they were playing with their goodies, Jake came over and said, "More?" Steve and I said, "No, you've opened it all...." Then Steve realized we'd forgotten a few gifts...some BIG ones. (Not the ones in these pictures....these pictures are of their Santa presents.)

We were able to see both Steve's parents and mine. We enjoyed our family time, and talked a lot.

With My family we played Just Dance....we ALL had a blast!

It just seems like it went by SO fast.

This new year, I have new hopes. I'm frustrated with my boys (but that could be Christmas break talking here...) and I hope to master The Total Transformation and exercise at least once a week.

Happy New Year to all!

Partying Continues....

This time it was an adult only party. Steve and I had a blast. We did a white elephant gift exchange, and Steve's first gift (since you could steal from others, and we didn't end up with the first gifts) was a digital keychain with pictures on it from this website. It was disgustingly hilarious.

Then after we had talked, exchanged gifts and ate we played Just Dance 2. I LOVED this game. I was laughing SO hard when Steve was dancing to "Hey Ya." He can really wiggle that booty!

I wished we could have stayed longer, but we didn't want to drive Grandma and Grandpa too crazy watching the two little boys.

It was so much fun! (By the way, I did NOT take these pictures, since I'm in them...They are from my friend, Mattsmom. She did a GREAT job with the pictures!)

Let the Partying Begin...

'Tis the season, right?

Saturday we had our Ward Christmas party/live nativity. It was a breakfast (different from our usual dinners in the past, but I know I enjoyed it!) and then they had horse-rides that took us around the park to the live nativity.

The people involved in the nativity bore simple testimony of Jesus' birth and how we need to come to Him. It was quite powerful. I loved it! (Poor cold people, at least they had fires and hot cocoa...)

It was fantastic!! And my boys were happy to be with their shepherd-daddy.

Oh, Christmas Tree....

A few years ago we bought a full, pre-lit tree. The only thing we don't *love* about it is that the lights are all white, but it's still pretty, and we like it.

When I was out doing errands with my mom last week, Steve and Cameron hauled up the tree and the decorations. (I was SO glad I wasn't here for that...*giggle*) Then when we were decorating, I got tired and decided to leave off my usual gold garland. It's a pain to wind around the tree, and it doesn't even match anymore. Instead we decided to cover it as much as we could with extra candy canes.

The boys put the ornaments on it the next day....Jake's all clumped at the bottom, Cam's all clumped at the top. Steve and I HAD to get into the decorating with them, just so the middle would be covered too.

Seeing my tree is bringing back all kinds of memories for me. My dad's mom would have a beautiful, full Christmas tree, COVERED in different flavored candy canes. We would go to visit her and she'd offer us a candy cane. It was one of the highlights of Christmas pasts for me. I miss my grandma, very much. She was such a fun, amazing woman. It's been 11 years since she died, this will be our 12th Christmas without her. I'm sad that my boys never got to meet her and share in her candy cane tree, or any of the other things she was amazing at.

My little tree is a small way of bringing back her memory into my home. Love you, Grandma Mabel!

Merry Christmas!

More Christmas Memories

Christmas day was always fun. We would usually wake up VERY early, after getting very LITTLE sleep and would peek to see what Santa brought us. He didn't usually wrap the presents, just set them out with our stockings next to the gift. Mom and Dad told us that if we were quiet, and didn't wake them up, we were okay to just play with those gifts. The rule was that we couldn't wake them up until after 8:00. Sometimes we took that time VERY seriously, other times we just played and didn't bother.

After Mom and Dad woke up, we'd open the gifts. We were to tell whoever gave us the gift "thank you" and then we were good.

After the gifts were opened, Mom would set about to make us a big breakfast. Mom didn't make us breakfasts (unless we were camping or it was a special day) so we were VERY excited to get this big meal. We'd have pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, juice, milk...the whole thing. Mom told us that she made us breakfast because when she woke up on Christmas morning, she and her siblings would gorge themselves on the candy they got in their stockings, and would get sick. She didn't want us getting sick, so she made us breakfast.

After breakfast, we'd just play with our new things, start getting cleaned up for the day and would just enjoy our morning at home. Mom's parents would usually come over to see us, and chat for a while. (I believe they visited every local family on Christmas day.....) We would show them our gifts and would talk to them about what they got. It was very fun.

Later in the afternoon, we'd pack our things up, only taking ONE gift per child, and would go to Dad's parents' house for dinner. It was fun there too. Grandma and Grandpa lived in another small house, but it was always filled with people and fun smells and sounds. I LOVED seeing my grandma's tree. It was big and VERY full. She always put different flavored candy canes on her tree, and would let us pick which ever candy cane we wanted. I always liked the strawberry ones, but my brothers loved the blueberry or bubble gum flavors.

After a filling dinner (yet again, turkey, salads, potatoes, pies...) we'd open presents. My aunts and uncles would tell me about all the fun things Santa brought them, and I'd share the same. It was such fun.

That night, we'd go home, happy and filled with food. I'd always try to remind myself that Christmas wasn't all about the presents or the time spent with family. I'd try to remind myself, that many years ago, a baby was born. And because of this baby, we are all VERY blessed and we can, once again, return to our Father in Heaven.

Christmas Memories

For the last month or so, I've been feeling a bit nostalgic for Christmases past.

Things haven't been the same for a very long time, but I thought I'd put down my memories into words so that I can continue to remember those happy Christmases from when I was younger.

My whole life, I've lived in the same town as both sets of my grandparents. Because of this, we were blessed to have double the holidays. I also knew all but one set of my great-grandparents. Holidays were HUGE! None were bigger than our annual Christmas Eve celebration.

Christmas Eve started pretty early, around 5:00 in the evening. We'd go visit my mom's parents. Grandma would have a huge spread of turkey, ham, jello salads, rolls, veggies....lots and lots of food. Grandma and Grandpa lived in a teeny, tiny house (which has always amazed me, because they raised 12 children in that teeny little house.) We would crowd as many of the local aunts, uncles and cousins that we could. Grandma would have us go downstairs to open our present from her and Grandpa, and often, we'd open a present from the family who had our family. (It was easier for one family to buy for another rather than everyone buy for EVERYONE in the family....) We'd always sit around and laugh. And for a special treat, the little kids would often gather around Grandpa's train display that would run around his Christmas tree. It was a magical time.

After visiting my mom's parents, we'd visit our great-grandparents. First was Grandma and Grandpa W. They had a house-full as well, and their house was even SMALLER than my other grandparents' house. We'd squeeze in the whole family and kids would sit UNDER the table to eat. And eat we DID! Grandma W would have a HUGE spread of everything: turkey, mashed potatoes, salads, jello, pies....it was FABULOUS! Then after we'd filled our bellies, we'd gather in the small room that held their tree (where I would often sit and just stare at the pretty lights and just sit and think about what Christmas REALLY meant. Even now, thinking about it, I'm feeling peaceful and happy.) Grandpa would pull out the gifts and we'd tear into them. It was always fun!

After seeing Grandma and Grandpa W, we'd head around the corner and down the street to Grandma H's. Grandpa died when I was very young, so I don't have many memories of him, but I remember going to Grandma's house. Her house is a blur of purples and happy scents in my mind. (Mingled with a little scent of moth balls....not so yummy...) It never failed, but we'd always show up at her house just a LITTLE too late. Every year one of Santa's elves would show up with a box filled with bags and bags of goodies for all of the great-grands. Those bags would have peanuts, hard candies, apples and oranges in them. The smell of the brown paper bag would mix with the other scents, and would make me happy. We'd sit and talk at Grandma's house for a while, the whole time she'd be offering food to us, to which we'd politely decline... It seems like there was always an argument of some sort at this house (the H's are NOTORIOUS for arguing....) And shortly after having Grandma open our gift, we'd head out.

After leaving Grandma's we'd drive around town looking at the twinkling lights. The radio would play those beautiful Christmas songs, and we would sing along. We would get home VERY late, and I would try my hardest to fall asleep so Santa could come, but I never managed to fall asleep easily. I still have problems falling asleep easily on Christmas Eve.

Those were fun nights, very busy, but fun. I miss those busy nights....my grandparents have died (for the most part....only my mom's dad is still with us...) and even then, the traditions have changed. I find myself wanting to drive to those houses just so it can feel as magical as it did when I was younger. I know it can never be the same, but I still find those thoughts running through my mind this time of year.

Holiday Plans

I can't believe that Christmas is THIS week! The time just FLEW by. Seriously, wasn't it just July?

This week is kind of a busy week for my little family, but MOST of the plans should be fun.

Today our big plan is to go to the District Health office and get the H1N1 vaccination. I've been waiting for my boys to not be so sick when I take them to get it. I think once we're all vaccinated it will be a HUGE weight lifted off of my back. I'm so paranoid that any little cough or fever will blow up into this HUGE flu pandemic. (Yes, I'm crazy...)

Tomorrow Cameron is getting some dental work done. It's going to be done in a surgical setting, since the boy is SO anxious about anything going in his mouth. Hopefully they'll take care of this poor boy's pain and make him a little bit better!

Wednesday is my big baking day for the week. Cameron has his last day of school and his Christmas program (which I think they call a Winter Festival...can't offend anyone...) I'll go and watch his program, check him out of school early (LOVE that part of the whole thing...) and then we'll come home and make LOTS of Christmas cookies and treats. We heard through the grapevine that Santa wants snickerdoodles this year, so we'll be making the dough for those and some other fun cookies.

Thursday is the day we're spending with Steve's family. I'm actually VERY excited about this. Steve isn't AS excited as I am. We're going to leave in the morning, pick up Steve's parents and drive to spend the day at Steve's brother's house.

I'm excited about this, because I DO enjoy talking with my in-laws, and I know my boys just LOVE grandpa. He is their absolute FAVORITE! Cameron keeps asking when we get to see them, and when I tell him how soon it is he is practically GIDDY! I love it when my boys get this way!

We'll be having a good day laughing and talking and eating pizza. (Yes, pizza is the family tradition on Christmas Eve. I don't remember the whole story, but it started when Steve and his brother were in their teens. I don't *get* it, but I don't try and push MY traditions in on them either.) After dinner, we'll be taking Steve's parents home and HOPEFULLY we'll get home before it's too dark. We hope to see some of the fancier light displays and make some Christmas cookies.

Friday....The BIG day! We're going to be pretty laid back on Christmas, at least, that's my PLAN! I always make a big breakfast on Christmas (because that's what MY mom did...and we always enjoyed that tradition.) We'll stay home so the boys can play with their new things for a while, then we'll go to my parents' house and hopefully get to talk to my little brother (he comes home from his mission next summer!!) Then we'll have a family dinner and then the BIG family get-together that evening with my grandpa and my aunts and uncles and cousins. I'm sure the phone will be ringing off the hook with family who want to talk to grandpa and wish him a Merry Christmas.

Thankfully, my plans aren't TOO involved, and I'm planning on just relaxing and enjoying my week.

Christmas to me isn't about the stress of plans, it's about going with the flow, and enjoying each activity while you have it. It's about spending time with family and making lots of fun family memories together.

Experiment Update

So far, Cameron is a much better behaved child. He was a little scared by the lack of gifts, but once he was told that they were taken away because he's been misbehaving and has been selfish, he changed his tune. He knows that the gifts will return once he has proved that he can be less selfish and better behaved.

The tree looks bare, but the lessons being learned are WELL worth it!

The Christmas Experiment

This year, we are VERY blessed. We were able to put many presents underneath our tree this year. It is humbling to have SO much.

We decided that since we have enough for our needs, we'd like to help others out, in the same way we've been helped out in the past. We went to the store on Saturday (how crazy are WE?! It was insane!!) and bought some toys for a family that we know will not be getting anything for Christmas this year. When we brought the gifts in the house to be wrapped, Cameron began crying. He was upset because he wanted the toys. They were JUST what he wanted. When I told him that these toys were for kids who wouldn't have a Christmas, he just cried that he wanted them even more.

I was in SHOCK!

I did NOT raise him to be such a selfish child. I promise.

Not only was he wanting these particular toys, but he also has been BEGGING for things when we go to the store. When he wrote his Santa letter, he kept thinking of MORE things that he wanted to ask Santa for.

I just realized how selfish and SPOILED he really is. It needs to be stopped NOW!

After thinking about it, and conferring with a parenting expert (thanks, Mom), we've come up with a solution. Not a nice solution, but one that I HOPE will open the eyes of one selfish little boy. We are taking ALL but one present of his from underneath the tree. We'll only leave him and Jake ONE present. We will then inform Cameron that since he has SO much, and is SO blessed, we decided to donate his Christmas to kids who need it. (Really, we're just trying to get a reaction, we won't be giving his things away, unless he NEEDS them taken away...) I may have a VERY sad boy on my hands tomorrow, but something drastic needs to happen.

Special Primary

Tonight I went to see the Special Primary's Christmas Program. It was SO cute!

My uncle is a member of the Special Primary, and he asked us if we'd go to see it. He was thrilled this year because he didn't have a speaking part, he just played the bells in the bell-choir.

I noticed that despite the age difference, special primary is VERY much like children-under-12-primary. There are the ones who like to speak VERY loudly into the microphone to see everyone jump. There are the ones who are antsy and have to stand and wave to everyone. There are the over-zealous singers. There are the ones who play with their costumes so that they can't see. You have the shy ones, and the out-going ones. The singing is cute and the program is ALWAYS something that makes ME cry.

While we were sitting in that chapel, I looked over to my sweet Cameron and had a thought pop into my head. I wonder if years from now I'll have to take HIM to Special Primary and we'll be involved with them. I know Cameron isn't really *special* but in a lot of ways he IS. I don't know what the future will bring, but I do know that those special "kids" are definitely some of the choicest people I've ever met and if Cameron is found among them, he'll be VERY blessed.

"Pwetties"

Now that our home is decorated for Christmas, I'm finding it difficult to keep a certain 18 month old child out of the pretty decorations.

The first night we had our nativity set out, Jake pointed to the pieces. He found a few that he liked and called our little lambs "doggies." I corrected him saying they were sheep, and he instantly repeated "sheep." Then I told him, "Those are pretties, don't touch, just look." Instantly we had a new word for the fun toys mom had set up. He poked all the little kings and said, "pwetty! PWETTY!!" The "pwetties" haven't been safe since.

He's also taken to throwing things INTO the tree, just to see what happens, and he loves grabbing the ornaments on the bottom of the tree and throwing them. (Thankfully, the hooks have been tightened and he can't pull them ALL off anymore...but for a few days it was NOT fun!)

Today, I realized that he's only little once, and it isn't SUCH a big deal that he likes to play with my nativity set, so I just let him play with them...as long as he doesn't throw them and break them. (They're not TOO breakable, but I'm sure Jake would find a way if he could...)

Tonight his favorite was the Baby Jesus. I told him, "Jake, that's the Baby Jesus. Can you give Baby Jesus a kiss?"

His response, a slobbery wet one, repeating, "Jesus!" And then a quick toss of the Baby Jesus on the floor.

Oh, joy!

Gloating...

...because.....

I'm COMPLETELY done with my Christmas shopping. Oh, I know there is ONE more thing that I really want to get, but even without it, I can still have a VERY happy Christmas, and so will my boys....all three of them! :)

Niener-niener-boo-boo!!

Christmas Fun

I could have SWORN we took way more pictures, but I guess we were too busy having fun! :P

Jake could have played in the wrapping paper ALL day if we'd let him.

Cameron got a super-cool wagon from Grandma, that mom and Uncle Daren had to put together....so Uncle Daren got one of the first rides! :)

Just for fun, here's a picture of Jake's new favorite place to roll (we're not QUITE crawling yet, but rolling around gets the job done.) We've found him under the coffee table SO many times....silly boy.

And on our picture taking night, I laid on the floor with the boys for some fun shots....here's ONE. :)

Post Holiday Blah....

Christmas was VERY fun and wonderful for our family. Christmas Eve Steve's brother and girlfriend came to visit and see the cool Christmas lights here. Then we vegged out at home Christmas morning until Cam was played out (Jake totally LOVED the wrapping paper WAY more than any of the toys he got...) and then we spent the afternoon/evening at my parents' house.

Cameron got everything he wanted, except more presents. And Jake was happy just getting wrapped up boxes. Honestly, I think the boys were very SPOILED this Christmas and will not need so many things NEXT year! ;)

Now we're done with the Christmas stuff. The carols aren't playing on the radio any more, the tree has been taken down and boxed up for next year (Jake was rolling under the tree pulling things off INCLUDING branches...and we have a fake tree!) and the snow is beginning to get old. Cam asks me constantly whether he can go back to school yet, and I tell him, "Only one more week...." He has been counting down! Silly boy!

I know the next holiday is New Year's, but really, I won't have my honey around. And I'm VERY bummed out about it. He has to close both days and I won't see him unless I stare at him while he sleeps.

*SIGH*

But I guess things could always be worse. The kids are healthy, I'm healthy and we're surviving. But I do miss the anticipation that Christmas brings!

(And just for your information, I DO have pictures of the boys with Christmassy things, but I forgot to bring my camera with me....SORRY! Those should follow shortly, I hope!)

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! :)

A Night At Home

We stayed home with a camera and some Santa hats, and here's the results:

And after ALL that work, we FINALLY got a cute picture!

How much fun can one family have? :)

Dear Santa....for Adults

So I've been thinking about what we could ask Santa for....if he could truly give us what we REALLY want. Here's my list. Enjoy.

• Bills paid in full. (Wouldn't THAT be nice!?)
• Happy, HEALTHY children.
• Peace....not just on Earth, but in my home too.
• Calorie Free chocolate.
• Housekeeper....FREE of charge! ;)
• If I can't have a housekeeper, then a self-cleaning bathroom. (Bathrooms are my WORST chore! BLECH!)
• A working computer at my house. (Have I mentioned that I really REALLY miss my computer?)
• A piano.
• A home of my own that I can afford.
• No more PMS, please!
• Obedient Children.
• A full night's sleep.
• A skinny body! ;)
• Happiness.

So if you could ask Santa for ANYTHING and get it, what would YOU ask for!?