taylor

We got to have Taylor for a bit while her Mom was snowed in at Sundance! While Julie's stories are a lot more exciting than ours. Hayli Loves having Taylor over. They played their ds games, wii games, board games and anyother type of game you can think of. They even put themselves to bed at night! They have such a great time together I hope it never changes. Thanks for coming Tay!

new room

For Christmas the main thing Hayli wanted was her own room! So we moved the bunk beds into the purple room and let Hayli have the pink room all to herself. I am sometimes caught of guard at how grown up she has become. She fell in love with this owl picture and so we based her room around it. With the matching comforter and such. Originally we wanted to paint but she decided to move in (or Kate to move out~) Christmas day, when she got all her new stuff. So bonus for me no painting right now! She had so much fun organizing, what to put in her nightstand. Where would you put this or that, and being able to utilize the entire closet. :) I have been surprised how much time she spends in there, it always seems to have a Taylor Swift cd playing and she is going through the room spray, awfully fast! But Merry Christmas, my way to cool for me, big girl.

christmas day

Christmas day we had a early start! Hayli started asking if we could wake the others by 5:45 am. Uh, that's a no. Finally, I consented to wake Gentry at 7:20 I had told Hayli 7:30 but I think it was literally killing her, so tired Gen and the others pose nicely at the top of the stairs waiting for Dad to get the video camera to work....no such luck with the camera, but Casey did succeed in giving all three girls small anxiety attacks making them wait so long, SO close yet SO far away!

I love to see the girls wishes come true and they definitely did this day, Lots of Barbies check, Barbie house check, Hayli's own room check, wii games, ds games, scriptures on cd, books, a shiny new computer for the Mom :) and a castle for Gentry, check, check, check. Hayli wanted to start redecorating immediately, by 9:00 am we had the house torn to pieces bed frames and mattresses everywhere! And we saw a lot of this from Gen.

Grandpa and Grandma came by in the afternoon. They didn't know what a mess they were coming to. When Clyde walked in he said the place looked like a hurricane hit. Not the usual impression you try to make when your in-laws come over. Fortunately, they got right to work and helped us finish up. Casey and Clyde hung shelves, loaded the car with DI donations, put beds together and took the crib apart. Yep, I have had a crib up in my house for 9 years. And someone has always been using it. A weird feeling to me to have that phase over but I am excited for the new phase too. Lorraine went right to work too, making turkey noodle soup for dinner out of what ever she found in my cupboards. I think that takes skill, to make a kitchen your own! And we finished the night with Homemade Ice cream! My parents gave us the maker on Christmas eve, and we had to give it a try. Strawberry cheesecake....yum!

christmas eve

We started Christmas Eve festivities at Grandpa Great and Aunt Cynthia's. Paige organized it so we all showed up at the same time, brilliant! It was really good to see Grandpa I don't take the time enough. (note to self: be better at that) Aunt Cynthia was darling, taking the time to visit with each of the children who would hold still long enough. Telling them how beautiful they are and learning what she could from them. Grandpa and Dad told stories of when Dad was a child. Interesting to hear stories from what seems like a different world. Eight boys in a tiny home, horses and dirt roads, tree climbing and remodeling the over 100 year old house. Grandpa will turn 86 next week! 8 boys, 36 grandchildren (all with the same last name, Grandpa seemed to find that very important. :) ) and he has lost count of the great grand kids. Fun to get this picture of all eight of our great grand kids with Grandpa and Dad. (And for the record, Dad, I agree they all have your amazing blue eyes! Take credit where credit is due.)

Wish I could have got the perfect shot, but eight kids, eight and under. It proved to be impossible! Not to mention Dad never looked at the camera once!

party

Christmas eve dinner was a Nativity progressive dinner . Good food, a GREAT story and testimonies to share!

I notice that the foods I found picture worthy were the "sweet ones". Somethings never change!

Everyone worked so hard, to prepare their part of the meal as well as their part of the nativity and a Christmas tradition to share. We ate like champs but more important everyone had a opportunity to express their feelings about the Nativity or sometimes the Savior all by himself. I found this to be a terrific addition to the evening. Ending with Paige presenting the greatest gift ever, the gift of the Savior. All the kids got a picture of Christ. Don't worry, incase you think we forgot, we did have lots of fun and tons of presents to spoil us all.

We then raced home to get into bed quickly as possible hoping Santa would soon be there. Hayli tried to put out cookies and milk, but with the hustle and bustle, the Mom, never thought about that till it was too late and there wasn't a cookie to be found. Gratefully, Santa didn't seem to hold back his generosity, even though he was only offered crackers and milk :)

it's christmas

Hope you get to hug on the ones you love!

We have had such a fun 2 days, more to come I have A LOT of pictures to choose from!

snow

Nothing like waiting for the last minute, we finally got some snow just 4 days till Christmas .....And we couldn't be happier! The girls played happily while I shoveled the driveway, (thanks Michael for helping) And then later that night they got Dad to take them to the sledding hill while I snuck away for some last minute shopping. I wish Casey had pictures sounds like sledding was a hit! We are a snow family hope the good stuff hangs out for a while!

nativity

Last night for Family Home evening, we went to a Live Nativity. I was so excited, I really wanted to see the girls "get it". I wanted them to see the difficulties that Mary and Joseph went through, to understand the confusion, turned excitement of the shepherds. To feel the urgency of the Wise Men to travel far and long to seek the truth. Even, just to see a camel, and a donkey used as the only form of transportation.... To KNOW what a miracle this TRUE story is.

On the way home as I was asking the kids to tell me what they thought as they watched the young "Mary" place her "Baby Jesus" in the manger on a cold winters night. I asked Gentry if she saw Baby Jesus and Gentry in her perfect 2 year old words, said " Yes, and Donald Duck!"

So I guess we have a long way to go till they, get it.

Thanks Paige and Dave for a fun night!

she slept

all night and we ALL are thrilled!

It seems like it has been forever, but may I say it was BLISS!

family

On Saturday we had Casey's Family Christmas party. We had a fantastic holiday meal, Casey thinks it was his best ham ever, and I have to say we have been loving the left overs. We played fun games including minute to win it. I had never heard of this game and I have to say I laughed till my cheeks were sore! And at the end of the night we were spoiled with more presents than we deserved! Including a set of princess dress ups my girls have been fighting over or I mean playing with ever since!

We are so grateful for the friendships we have with family! ~Merry Christmas!

it's all fun and games...

...till someones ear explodes!! Yes, see that tiny little ear, Gentry's ear drum burst today. I have to admit I over reacted quite a bit but I have never seen blood coming out of my kids ear before. The nurse assures me she will be just fine. So glad to hear that. Feel better soon baby girl.

pig

Casey works for a large company who (for the record) are good to us all year long. At Christmas time they give all the employees a ham. We have cooked it for Christmas dinner since... forever.
this morning
Hayli: "What is the big mountain thing in the fridge?"
Me: "a ham"
Kate: "that's not ham, it's pig meat."
Oh, the joys of being married to a hunter! Casey doesn't sugar coat his hobby and insists on telling the truth of where our food comes from. But just once, can't it just be honey baked goodness without the visual of a carcass?

What are you having for Christmas dinner?

cousins

Why doesn't it look like I worked as hard as I feel like I worked? Never the less Cousins---check!

snowflakes

We made snowflakes for the sliding door, while Casey was at meetings yesterday. After a while Dad came home and helped us finish the door off. Kate loved opening them, it was Magic every time. I love to watch things through their eyes!
Now lets see some real snow please!