Merry Christmas!!!!

New PJ's

Happy Birthday Jesus!

We had a very Merry Christmas and hope all of you did as well! We celebrated with family, friends, and traditions. On Saturday Mike stuck to his "tradition" of doing all his shopping on Christmas Eve (well, kind of since it was the 23rd, but he didn't want to do it on Sunday). On Christmas Eve we went to church (only Sacrament mtg, 1 hour) and then went home and built and decorated our gingerbread house. Then my siblings (Leah & Nate and their kids, Krista & Kimberly, & Griffin) all came over for pizza, one of our family traditions. We played games, watched movies, and opened presents from each other. It was crazy and fun, the usual when we all get together. After everyone left our kids opened their new p.j.'s, another family tradition. On Christmas morning the boys woke us up and we had to wake the girls to go see if Santa had paid a visit. Of course he had made it and the kids were all very excited. We opened gifts, which were plentiful. Each year I try and cut back and I think I did so good then Christmas comes and we are so blessed. We then ate cinnamon rolls and fruit for breakfast after we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. Some people I know think this is a little blasphemious or something, but it is another family tradition I loved growing up and isn't the whole reason for celebrating His birth? We spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon playing with new toys before we headed down to Mike's parents to spend the rest of the day with his family, another tradition that I guess got started since my parents are so far away. We love spending time with the Martins and Christmas is especially fun! We ate appetizers and opened gifts and then ate dinner and watched movies and just relaxed. The kids all stayed the night at Grandma & Grandpa's so Mike & I got to sleep in the next morning, it was very nice. Overall a wonderful Christmas!

Santa

Lastnight we finally took the kids to see Santa, they have been waiting patiently for weeks. I think the picture turned out pretty good. Jenna was a little nervous, notice her hand hanging on to Rylee.

The Beginning...

Well, Christmas break has officially began. Yesterday the kids had parties at school and exchanged presents with teachers and friends. Now we get them home for the next 2 weeks and I am trying to decide if that is a good thing or a bad thing.... Both, I guess. I am glad to have a break from getting up early and doing homework, and packing lunches, etc. I am also glad to spend some time together as a family with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Savior. The bad part is keeping them entertained so they are not trying to kill each other. I am lucky because my kids seem to entertain themselves most of the time. This mornig they have already played hide and seek, danced, and right now I hear Rylee reading to the rest of them who seem to be sitting very still and quiet to listen. Later we are going Christmas shopping for them to buy gifts for each other, to visit Santa, and to a movie. Mike will be able to join us for the movie which will be nice.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Many of you are familiar with the book "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," do you know they also have a play based on the book? Well, they do and my neice, Eliza, and 2 nephews, Taylor & McKay are in it this year at the Bountiful Performing Arts. We went lastnight to see it and had a good time. Rylee has been reading the book at school with her class so she especially enjoyed it. Luckily we decided to leave Jenna home with Mike, I was worried she wouldn't sit through it and I know she would have been a disruption. Anyway, all of my siblings (except Sara who lives in Vegas) went together and then went and got ice cream after. Way to go Eliza, Taylor, & McKay!

Jenna's Gymnastic Show!

So lastnight Jenna had her gymnastics show at Flip's and loved it! Her & I went alone while the rest of the fam was at Ry's Choir Concert. Anyway, it was fun to watch Jenna play and have a blast with all her friends and her coach! She loves Flip's and so do I, for her. I am actually thinking of putting Cole & Noah in a tumbling class there as well. Way to go Jenna!

Rylee's Christmas Choir

Rylee has been going to school early 2 days a week for 6 weeks to practice for a Christmas Choir. It was a fun extra activity for those children (about 75) who wanted to participate. Mrs. Hill, the principal, was the director and one of the teachers was the pianist. Rylee had so much fun! They performed for the school yesterday morning and for the parents lastnight. Luckily they did 2 performances because I was able to go to the morning one while Mike attended the evening one at the same time that I had to take Jenna to her gymnastics show. Anyway, it was a great mix of Christmas songs that really got me feeling even more like Christmas! Way to go Ry!

Cole & Noah's New Shirts

I found these shirts at Target last week and had to get them! Cole's says "My brother is the naughty one" and Noah's says "It's my brother's fault" They thought they were pretty funny, but both of them wanted to wear the one Cole has on. I told them they could switch next time they want to wear them.

Rylee, Gymnastics Show

Rylee had her Christmas show for gymnastics on Monday night. Here are some pictures of her getting her ribbon and doing a flip on the trampoline. She loves gymnastics! I took her yesterday to a new gym. They are a little more structured and disciplined than where she is now. Now she will go 2 days a week for 2 hours each time and they think she will move up quickly to the next level which would be 3 hours twice a week. She enjoys it so much and has a lot of potential so we are going to try it for now.

LIGHTS!

So we have never put Christmas lights on our house. We bought some like 5 years ago at an after Christmas sale but have never hung them for one reason or another. Mike decided this year was the year. So the day after Thanksgiving he put all the lights up (as well as my new shutters I've had for months, thank you Mike). Well every time he turned them on they blew a fuse. After trying different things and still blowing fuses, then running out of fuses and finding no replacement fuses at any store he gave up for awhile. Well, yesterday he was able to get more fuses and fix the problem and we now have a home with beautiful Christmas lights. It really makes it feel more like Christmas and tonight it is snowing which makes if feel even more festive!

Cat Bath?

I am so glad I keep my camera in my purse. Jenna & I were leaving yesterday to run some errands and heard Prina (the neighbors cat that likes to come visit us) meowing. We couldn't see her at first, just kept hearing her. Jenna & I were laughing hard when we finally saw where she was hanging out...in our bird bath!

Just Life...

So, I have been slacking again, well in the blog updates department anyway. Rylee and Jenna have been sick, both have strep. Poor girls! Friday was our 11th anniversary, wow! We went to dinner and a movie (Shut Up & Sing, a documentary about the Dixie Chicks and the infamous insult about Pres. Bush).
Mike helped move 2 families in the ward last week. We had our ward Christmas party on Saturday night which was really nice but crazy getting things ready. Monday was Mike's dad's birthday and his mom's is on the 20th. We all went in on a beautiful picture of the whole family at Jacque's wedding for them. Lastnight Rylee & I went to see Unaccompanied Minors (free preview movie that was pretty good). Tonight Mike & I are going to see The Holiday (another free preview movie). Friday night we have a Christmas party and another on Saturday, etc. Tis the season. I also have to finish Christmas shopping (only 3 things left to get), Christmas cards, take the kids to get pictures with Santa, etc etc etc. I love this time of year even though it is so crazy busy because we get to spend time with family and friends and do things for others and focus on Our Savior, I love it! I feel like my life right now is good, crazy, hard...just life!