Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Snow Cave

With the kids being out of school, there has been a lot of playing outside. It is the only way for me to survive. Gentry and the boys built a very large snow cave and they played in it for a few days until the sun finally melted it enough to make it unsafe. Tate kept telling me that it was warm in the cave, but I would still make them come in when I thought they were good and cold enough.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Christmas Day

Isabel recieved her first baby, Peach got everything Tink, Tate got a portable DVD player for the car, and Court got ROCKBAND II for the Wii.

Lucky kids.

Friday, December 26, 2008

We spent the season...

Christmas Eve. What a beautiful night.
Kevin and Robin graced us for Christmas Eve and stayed over for much of Christmas. We had a fantastic time. We got a Nativity Box as a gift this year and read, sang and acted out that glorious night. We had a pretty great time too.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Christmas Eve

One of our family traditions is opening one gift on Christmas Eve. It is always Christmas jammies. The kids love opening something and we always talk about the first gift of Christmas. We are so lucky to have a Heavenly Father that loves us enough to give us his son. What a wonderful gift. I know these pictures are crummy, but that's how they turned out. :(

Shout Out to Joanna

As per your request Joanna....
Peach has a Christmas Do.
Love You!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!
This like most is my favorite time of year and each year I still feel the same excitement and love for the season. I am looking fore ward to Christmas Eve when Kevin and Robin will be here to celebrate here for the first time. We are planning on making goodies all day, cutting out snowflakes, playing chimes, reading and acting out the nativity, having yummy food, and then kids to bed so they can wake early and happy for the rest of the day.
Christmas day is full of traditions. We will wake and no one will be allowed to go downstairs until everyone is together and we are able to give a prayer of thanks. Then from youngest to oldest (this year that will be Kevin) we will march down the stairs to see what Santa brought. After a couple hours of that play we will have Swedish Pancakes for breakfast adorned with Marion berries and homemade whipped cream. After clean-up it will be present time. We open presents one by one, taking breaks whenever requested by the kids to play with the toy in hand or try on what ever outfit they received. This goes well into the afternoon because no one is in a rush. We laugh and have Christmas music playing, the fireplace is glowing but nothing is as warm as our hearts. After the gifts are opened we will prepare for a sleepover at Grandma's. I think I will let each kid choose one gift to take with them and I will try no to forget the camera. At my mom's we will have a Christmas feast where everyone eats too much and leaves the table moving just a bit slower but completely satisfied.
It is a wonderful time of year. I hope your holiday is as good as ours and full of peace.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Christmas Concert

Court joined his schools choir. I was so proud of the time and practice he put in. He learned new songs and learned a bit more about performing. He gave his all at the performance and knew every word. We were so proud of him.

Let’s Play In The Snow

I am so glad that winter is here.
Finally snow!
Let’s Play!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

O Christmas Tree

It is amazing how one small event can bring a rush of memories from our youth. Shopping for a Christmas Tree is one of those events. Last week we went took the family in search of the perfect tree. We went to one of those little places that sell trees in an empty lot. Upon opening the door of our car the smell of evergreens and a wood fire tingled my senses. The kids got out excited and hopeful for a perfect tree. Gentry was hoping to get out of there for less than fifty bucks. I was hoping there would be no fighting or crying. We looked around and it soon turned into a game of hide and seek of where everyone was. I would go down one isle, following Tate, while Peach was an isle behind me. Why fight it? So the kids went wild and I just said be careful. I found Gentry and we started looking together, but they all looked good and so we rallied the kids and had them choose the closest one. I waited by the fire and the man who was selling the tree’s made a fresh cut, and then trimmed it up to our liking. He helped load it onto the car while the rest of us piled in and on the way home we listened and talked over Christmas songs. Everyone’s dreams came true and I hope we will all remember this event for Christmas’ to come.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Renovations

I am going to overhaul my blog. I can't seem to add or remove the people I read (and don't read) on the side. Just about everyone is taking there blog private. Please tell me why? I am wondering if it is important to take it private, or if the reasons are more personal. So here is my call. If you would like me to continue to check on your blog, leave a comment. If I decide to go private, I will let you know so I can add you to my readers. Thanks.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Mexician Cruise

This was my first time on a cruise and my first time to Mexico.
It was romantic, relaxing, fun, exhausting, crazy, surprising, and I had a really good time. If you are considering trying a cruise, I would say go for it! We had a blast. We are already planning on going again next year. : ) Enough talk, picture time.
Landon and Jacey are not only our family, but some of our best friends. I hope they know how much they mean to us. It wouldn't have been the same trip with out them.We played mini golf almost every day on the boat. This day Gentry and Taylor played in a competition and Gentry won. You go boy.Dinner was always good with lots of choices and great presentation.
Our boat, The Spirit, had a water slide on board. Here is Landon after yelling like a girl all the way down. It was so funny.Here we are watching Karaoke.Acapulco was our first stop. Landon, Jacey, Taylor, Gentry and I went parasailing. One of these guys told me my favorite line, “You beautiful eyes” Jacey rocked it.Beautiful surroundings.Kara and Greg are the cutest couple. Newlyweds in love, here at the waterfall.Everything was fun, even taxi rides. This one we all piled in and then a man who was “iinterpreting” for us jumped in too. We asked the driver to put on some music and a party erupted!
That evening, we watched AMAZING cliff divers. Afterwards, Jacey and I took pictures with them.

Our next stop was in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. We were welcomed by these guys.No, No it was really nice.We went to a little island and snorkeled, loved up baby turtles, had some yummy food and hung with friends.Then we spent the rest of our time “in town”. I was missing my kids so I spent some time checking out the local children. This boy is Courts age.In Manzanillo we were at the beach for the whole day. Boogie Boarding was so fun!!!

On the boat we did lots of fun stuff my favorites were ping pong and a coin dive.Gentry rocked it! We walked away with $60.00 in one dollar coins. The whole thing was so fun to watch. We had a great time on our trip and we didn’t even need these.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Back from Vacation

We are back from Mexico and I am ready to get back into the blogging world. First I have to get all the laundry done and get going on my Christmas projects. Friday is a busy busy day. I have an eye appointment, it is Gentry's birthday, he is going to a work party around 3 and then from there out of town for the weekend, I have to buy Emily's Christmas present, and I am watching a friends kiddo's. So I guess it is all about getting through the week. I hope you have a good one, and I will post all about my trip soon.

counter