Christmas PJ's

Everyone loves getting pajamas for Christmas! I TRY to make everyone pj's every year so that we can have cute new ones for christmas morning.  Our tradition is to put out our stockings and then open one present from under the tree...it is always pajamas!  This year we (Emily helped me) picked a theme for the boys. Go BYU!  We know BYU's football team blew it this year, but we are still die-hard fans.  I even completed the outfits with sleep masks! (just in case you were wondering what the heck is on their heads)

I cannot believe how big my kids are getting.  I think Alec must have grown a foot or two since August because he is now as tall as me!  I have such a sweet, beautiful daughter and look at those handsome boys! I am very blessed to have such a wonderful, healthy family.  Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!!!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

We woke up Christmas morning to snow!!  And it just kept snowing and snowing all day.  We didn't even think we would make it to grandma and grandpa's for christmas breakfast because of the snow, but we piled into the 4-wheel drive and hoped we would make it.  The roads were awful, fire engines wailed past us, we slipped and slid through a foot or two of un-snowplowed roads... but the thought of  eggs benedict and family kept us going.  As we got closer to grandma's, the snow started to stop and the roads got clearer.  This is an event that does not happen very often...the west side gets snow and none on the east side on the benches?  It was funny...a freak of nature that only happens once every few years. 

When we came home from grandma's, this is what our house looked like!  It looks like a gingerbread house.  Sami and Emily's gingerbread house with powdered sugar on it...life sized!

Instead of our usual tradition of skiing on Christmas Day (we thought the canyons would close) we decided to build a snowman.  It was so cute and we had so much fun. 

Cody and Dylan took a break from shoveling the driveway to help us.

Almost finished!  So cute!  We even used coal for the eyes and buttons.  Too bad some stupid kid came by that night and knocked the head off and peed on it.  (I hate our neighborhood.)

A Christmas Story

'Twas two weeks before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds (or so we thought)

While visions of "war games" danced in their heads.

And mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out in the Excursion there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the front door I flew like a flash,

Grabbed my sweats and a bat, all ready to bash.

When what, to my wondering eyes should appear,

2 little teenagers dressed up in warm gear.

The mischievous elves turned around with fright,

As I rubbed on my eyes to clear such a sight!

Up so late in the night, with fingers so quick

Playing x-box 360 so loud and so slick.

Then I headed inside, while shaking my head,

And laughing so hard while I went back to bed.

Concerts, concerts...and more concerts

This season brings wonderful Christmas music!  So, if your child plays a musical instrument, you are very likely going to be spending the season trudging to all their "gigs".  This saturday Alec played with his orchestra and quartet at the Capitol Theatre where the audience from "The Nutcracker" got to hear them play.  

The quartet played during intermission

The orchestra played before the ballet started while people found their seats, etc.  Then we were off to the Golden Living Center to play with the orchestra again for "the old folks".  For an orchestra filled with mostly children, they sound really good.  His quartet is amazing and he loves it!

Yesterday evening we were able to hear Alec's school orchestra play along with Emily's band. They did great too!  The final number was orchestra and band combined playing a funky version of "Carol of the Bells" and it sounded wonderful!  We are so grateful for our school's music program!  The kids LOVE their teacher and he does a great job.  There were so many band students that the auditorium was standing room only.

So, I guess it is good that during the hustle and bustle of this season, my children force me to sit, listen and enjoy Christmas music.  They have one more performance...church on sunday is a musical number with Alec and Emily playing together.  It will be beautiful!

The Result

The result of all our hard work.  Our beautiful tree.  The holidays have begun and I am in the heart of our busy season (my photography job).  Good luck to all this month in preparation for Christmas.  I hope to be able to pause and appreciate the beauty of the season.

Favorite Traditions

1983:  Cutting down trees in Idaho

 A wonderful, time-honored tradition...cutting down our Christmas tree.  I can't remember a year that we didn't go to Idaho for Thanksgiving and then cut down Christmas trees the next day.  I remember one year taking the whole crew...grandma & grandpa, Uncle Delray and Aunt Lois in the motor home, jumping off the motor home into the snow and coming inside to a hot bowl of mom's homemade chili.  We warmed our frozen hands by sitting by the heater vent. (and then got fresh "squeeky cheese" in Blackfoot at the dairy)

My family has carried on that tradition and we love it.  Cody and I have been together for almost 20 years and we have bought a tree from a lot once (and we will never do that again). We almost always cut one for a friend and for a family in need.  Cody is the best at picking the right tree and we have an amazing one every year.  We love the smell in our home and the look of a real tree.  Cody has taught Dylan how to pick the right tree and chop it down. We carry it to the car and cart it home, ready to help us celebrate the beautiful Christmas season.

Dylan cutting the tree down

This year, Thanksgiving was in Vernal with Cody's family so we went up to the Uinta mountains and got some great trees!

A handsome boy

I guess I should have at least gotten out of the car and taken some pictures.  Cody took these.  I was lazy this year, and sat in the car either crocheting or napping.  The last time I chopped down a tree Cody gave me a saw and put me to work.  Little did I know, I was using a keyhole saw (used to cut drywall and about as easy as cutting a tree down with a steak knife).  But I did it and Cody still can't believe I could cut a tree down using that saw (it was not easy)!  So, I decided to skip this one and leave the tree choppin' to the men!

Time for a Pedicure

On Saturday morning, Emily and Lillie gave themselves a pedicure.  It was so cute!  They are such good friends and have so much fun together.  (Emily will kill me for putting this picture on here, but it was too cute not to share).

Babysitting our little Xadi-bug

Lillie, Xadi and Emily

Ready for the party!  Toga! Toga! Toga!

These things are so hard to walk in.  I look fabulous, though.

We finally had the chance to babysit Xadi.   She was so cute and so much fun...but, I didn't get to see her much.  You see, Emily (who is prime babysitting age, at 12, by the way) and her friend Lillie took the job of entertaining Xadi and she just didn't want anything to do with me.  She had a great time doing "big girl" stuff...including being dressed up.  Sweet!  A real life DOLL! But...a toga?  They did her hair, too.  Cute little ponytail.

quotes for the night....

Lillie:  I want a Xadi at my house!

Matthew:  (after watching Xadi eat an apple)  How can she eat an apple, mom?  She's a vegetarian!

Thanks Dave and Melissa for letting us borrow her for the evening.  She was all the entertainment you promised us! and more!