Christmas Morning Mayhem

What a fun Christmas morning. This year we had the girls team up to get each other a present. Gracie got this cool sled...

Here are the girls coming down the stairs...

Checking out the stockings and presents from Santa...

Time out to play...

Sophie with one of her princesses...

Kes with her Tinkerbell...

And Garrett finally got a bubbie, thanks to my sister KT for helping...

Christmas PJs

The girls and their cousins in their cute jammies they got from Grandma Shannon and Grandpa Mike. Love it!

Why we do it...

Sometimes I wonder why we give in to the commercial side of Christmas. Here is why I think it's fun...

Ogden Lights

This year we did something new. We went to downtown Ogden, where there are little houses decorated by different businesses and organizations. There were lots of pretty lights and the decorations were so cute. The family favorite was one where the scene of a 50s diner was set and two snowmen with ice cream sundaes in front of them, stared in horror at the middle seat that held nothing but a puddle, two pieces of coal, and a carrot. In front of that seat...a bowl of chili. There was a cute ski shop, and Dora and Diego on the half pipe, and, the best, a manger scene. We went early but the girls still got pretty cold, especially Kes. We went to Denny's for hot chocolate afterwards, they had run out. We got warm and made the fortunate discovery that kids eat free on Saturdays. We went with our friends, there is one picture of Kes with her little friend Zerin. It was fun and the girls got to see Santa.

Kestlie's favorite song from the program

Kestlie's Program Pictures

Kestlie's Christmas program had the theme "We all shine" Each of the kids showed a trick they could do or a picture they had drawn, one boy told a very dramatic Nutcracker story. Kestlie did a backbend that beat all. She loves her teacher, who is quiet and understands Kes's personality.

Sophie says her part

The kids in Sophie's class each said a line from "Twas the night before Christmas." I have to say, Sophie was the best one there. I'm her mother I can say that. I love that she overcame her little bout of nerves, then totally killed it.

Sophie's Christmas program

Here is sophi and her class singing up on the house top. I love the way she snaps.

Seeing Santa

We went to the lights in Downtown Ogden last week. It was almost like in the Christmas Story movie, when Ralphie sits on Santa's lap and just stares. All of the girls seemed to lose thier train of thought as soon as they looked at the face of St. Nick. Gracie, who has been singing the praises of horses, asked for a baby doll. Kestlie got all confused and said something about a dog and swimming or barking. Sophie just looked at him and us then him, then us. He finally asked if she liked dolls, and she reluctantly admited to liking princesses. They each got thier candy cane and left happy.

The latest fashion

Sophie loves to dress up and play fashion model. She picks some crazy stuff sometimes. No matter which outfit she chooses, this cute pink vest she got from her aunt lindsee is always the finishing touch. It must be the most fashionable thing she owns.

100 things

I've seen this list going around lately on some blogs so I thought I'd do it also. The things I've done are in BOLD.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (If pumpkins are vegetables)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (5k is my limit)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language(does pig latin count)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (Gravity)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (This is next on my list)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life (Derk, remember when I saved Henry from falling down the stairs, I’m counting that)90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Sabra from sytycdance)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (wasp)
100. Read an entire book in one day

Trimming the Tree

The girls were finally granted their wish to decorate the Christmas tree. They have a surplus of Christmas spirit. That is good because Christmas at the home of an employee of the package delivery business, is not the most happy relaxed time of year. We know deep down we love Christmas, but it would be even better if we saw Dad between December 15th and 25th. The girls loved decorating, especially after I gave up my idea of what it should look like and let them at it. They went crazy with paper chains today and are putting them on too. Ah, the enthusiasm.

Taggings
Here is my response to my beautiful friend April’s tag.
Tag Your It Rules: Post rules on your blog. Answer the six "8" items. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving them a comment.

8 Things I Did Yesterday:
Took kids to school, laundry, cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, had friends over for a late bday celebration, laughed, hugged.

8 Things I Look Forward to: Garrett Finishing School, our cruise to Catalina and Mexico, Summer, going back to school when all the girls are in Elementary (1 ½ years), Designing and building a house, The next time all my sisters can be together, a long bath with a book and no kids knocking on the door, writing.

8 things I am grateful for: All my kids are potty trained, Healthy kids, Dance, The best husband in the world, a body that works well, a home, The Gospel, and security and peace.

8 Restaurants I Like: The Roof, Los Hermanos, Demae, Bombay House, Souper Salad (I know it’s weird to like it, but the kids can eat something besides chicken nuggets and fries), Wendy's, Red Robin (the chicken sandwich with pesto on it), Bucco de Beppo.

8 Favorite TV Shows: So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With the Stars, What Not to Wear, Designed to Sell, Office, Pinky Dinky Do, Iron Chef, Good Eats.

8 People I Tag: (Your It!) Derklann, Naomi, Amy H, Bekah, Amy P., Kim M, Lizza, Wendy,

BDAY

I had a wonderful birthday thanks to my family and friends. I love you guys. It was a pretty monumental one this year, but I came through OK. Funny how when you're 12 all you want is to be older. I am determined to be happy and not waste time wishing for something that is not going to happen. After all, aging is better than the alternative, right!

A letter from Gracie to her mother

Gracie has been learning a lot about word in her computer class, she really loves working with the clipart and wordart. She wanted to show me what she can do by herself and she wrote this letter to me. I will treasure it always.

good news and bad news

I had to laugh this morning when Sophie ran down the stairs right after she woke up, "Mommy, Mommy, I have good news and bad news!" "Tell me." I said. Her response: "Police and pink clouds."
It took me a minute to ask what she meant after I stopped laughing. She had looked out her window and someone had been pulled over down the streets, but at least the clouds in the sky were pink.