The Main Event

My girls don't get up until 8. I know, I am blessed. So, we slowly rumbled out of bed on Christmas day. Thankfully the kids were patient while the adults tried to open their eyes. Of course staying up most of the night playing games and talking may have something to do with us being still asleep. The girls were so spoiled that got so many wonderful gifts. They would open a gift and want to play with it rather than moving on to the next gift. We had to put some gifts together, which took up most of the afternoon. McKayla said she got everything she wanted. Ariana just look overwhelmed by everything. We are so blessed to have loving family that spoil our kids. Even family that couldn't be here sent us money to buy special gifts for the kids. After we open gifts I tried to work on dinner. i was grouchy because I didn't get enough sleep and the food was not magically working for me. i normally can be a good cook, but it just wasn't happening. After was had something resembling Christmas dinner, we all took a nap. After the nap, I think I was a nicer person. I'm surprised someone didn't smack me with a piece of coal and tell me to straighten up. I love my family. We still stayed up late on the the 25th playing games and talking. We like games.

On Saturday My sister-in-law and husband cleaned the kitchen for me. I cooked breakfast and then my siblings left for Boise. It was so good to visit with them. They love playing with the kids and there are always a few laughs. My parents stayed until Monday. My kids loved having them stay. It has been hard for the kids to come down off a week of being fawned over and spoiled, but they are adjusting.

December 24

This is the day that threw me off my cooking schedule. We woke up and had some fun in the morning. I was able to cook breakfast and we kind of lounged and visited for a bit. Then my sister-in-law and her family came over. The power went out at this point. So, we played some games and the cousins exchanged gifts. Then we went downstairs to roast marsh mellows in the dark and read Christmas stories and play another game. It was a lot of fun. The power came back on and then they left so that both families could prepare for another Christmas party. I remembered as soon as they left that we needed to do the Christmas story. I couldn't believe I had forgotten. We did read it later on that night to the girls.
Then we went over to our neighbors house. Santa came to visit and he brought toys for all of the kids. It was a lot of fun. Ariana wasn't too sure about the whole thing, but McKayla loved it. We were able to visit with friends and neighbors for a bit. Then we headed back over to our house. I need to put a late dinner together because my brother and his wife were coming up from SLC late that night and they would need some food. I made baked ziti and it was a hit. Yum.
We all went to bed much later than we should have, but it was so much fun! This is why I didn't bake my pie ahead of time. I also didn't make the appatizers a head of time. In fact, I simple didn't make half the menu for lack of oven space and time the next day. So, the feast wasen't glorious, but we had fun.

December 23

So, I decided since there were no comments on teh pictures I left yesterday, that I would explain our Christmas day by day. On the 23 I got the house ready for guests. i thought my parents would be here early, but they didn't make it until late in teh afternoon. This turned out to be a good thing becasue my friend Karen came over and I was able to help her finish some blankets she was making. Who knew it could be so simple. I think I could maybe do that. Anyway, I had a great time visiting with Karen. Then my parents showed up and my kids got really hyper. McKayla has been practacing her cartwheel and she showed it off until she couldn't hold herself up anymore. (I will get a video up later.) Later that night my eldest brother Rob showed up and the girls went nuts. Ariana is especially attached to him. Maybe it is becasue he finds everthing she does cute and funny. He dosen't have steam coming out of his head on an hourly basis like I do. We had fun. My brother and I played air hockey and then my father and brother played some pool. It was fun to see my dad do a behind the back number. I just had to take a picture. We actully went to bed at a decent hour that night. Check back here for a report on our activities of the 24th.

Christmas 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Saving Money

So, my brother told me about this blog that a lot of his servers use down in Utah. It is called http://www.sheshopssmart.blogspot.com/. This blog is really amazing. It has a weekly meal plan built around the coupons. I used it last night and it worked pretty well. The plan this week was built around Smith's coupons. We saved about 25% on our shopping and we really got more than enough for the week. Also, we were able to save 10 cents per gallon of gas as well. The bill was a little higher than I am used to, but lately I have been out of meal ideas, so the blog helps with that as well. You can also choose whatever store you want to shop at and it will bring up the coupons for that store. I love it and I wanted to share with you.

So Simple, Yet So Cute

So, I saw this great idea that I have been using on every scrapbook page and Christmas tag that I make. Yep, I went a little crazy, but I have to share.

This idea requires you to cut a shape or something out of your piece of paper. This can be done with punches, using the cricut, or using your scissors making snowflakes. Next, you get some clear packing tape and put it on the back of your paper with the sticky side facing the front. Now, the fun part, get some glitter, the finer the better. Sprinkle it on the tape you have a great sparkly look. See the above Christmas tag that I am going to put on the goodies I am giving to my neighbors.

For this project I used my cricut to cut out a snowflake card. Then I ran it through my cuddle bug to emboss it. Then I did my tape trick. And there it is all cute and stuff. Have fun!

SLC

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Winter Fun

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Baby It's Cold Outside

So am of right now the tempature says it is 8 degrees but it feels like -7 below zero. That is very cold. Chad's car has been broken for a while, so I had to bunddle everyone up to take him to work. Normally I don't mind, but this morning I just wanted to stay inside where it was warm. The roads were a little slick, but not too bad. Everyone seemed to be driving nice and slow. So what do I do when it is so cold outside? i made a toasty fire int he fireplace and scrapbook while the kids watch a movie in teh same room. Goodbye outside world. We will come out when the tempature gets abouve 20 degrees.

Silly Girls

So I wanted to share with you some of the humor that goes on at my house. First, Ariana brings me a diaper this morning. Her jammies are unzipped. She takes my hand and leads me to her room to be changed. I told her that I would get right on that problem. She cracks me up.

Then, McKayla comes to me wanting to wear a dress that she has already worn this week asking if she could wear it again. I told her to choose something different. So, she comes back a few minutes later telling me "I can't get it open." I ask her what she couldn't get open. She replies "My closet door." I then reminder her, "You don't have closet doors." She looked a little sheepish and said, "oh yea". That made me laugh so hard. She did finally choose something to wear for the day.

Yea Mom

So, the other night Ariana and I were hanging out in my bed playing and laughing. She starting to jabber and I thought she was talking nonsense. Then I started to listen and I noticed that she was singing. She was singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" I started to sing with her and she clapped her hands and said "Yea Mama". She is so proud that I finally figured out how to sing with her. Chad and I wondered how long she had been trying to sing with us, and we haven't been paying attention. I'm glad she is proud of me. Silly little girl!

My Defence

To answer Sherri's question, we decided to do something special this year since we were not going to put up all of our trees and get out our breakable Christmas decor. We got a permit from the chamber of commence and we went with some friends to cut down a little tree. So, for the first and only time, we have a real tree in the house. we put a few decorations up and no lights. it's not as pretty as out normal lights, but we thought it was the best idea.

Now for my defence...I am so paranoid that my kid will become THOSE kids. You know the ones I am talking about. The really obnoxious kids that no one likes to be around. They are very busy and active. They are fun and can get into mischief, but they aren't brats. They do not tantrum in stores when they want something. They ask, but when they are told no they are pretty good. i worry so much that they will become so naughty. I want to have well grounded kids that understand things and are a joy to be around. I realize that I ma be a little harsh. So, I told McKayla that I was sorry for being mean and I took her out for chocolate ice cream. I also found some great stocking stuffers that both kids will like. I am forgiven?

The Christmas Spirit and Tears

McKayla is at the age that everything revolves around her. She is very excited about Christmas. She keeps asking me if she can have every toy she sees. I tell her no. She just smiled and told my that it was okay because Santa would bring it to her. I told her that Santa would bring her 1 or 2 toys. Nothing more. Then I tried to explain about the real meaning of Christmas. I told her that it was about family and celebrating Jesus' birth. She kept saying it was a little bit about presents. I kept saying no. Then I told her that there were children who would get nothing for Christmas and that she should be grateful for what she would get. She didn't look convinced, so I asked if she were to receive no gifts, would she be mad and she said yes. I told her that was very selfish. Then she started to cry great big tears. Yes, I felt like the worse mother ever. Then I told her that Christmas can be a little bit about presents as long as she remembered the other stuff too. She said okay, but still she was crying. Then I reassured her that she was getting presents. She felt better after that. I guess the true meaning will come later. She likes the countdown stuff and the decorations. Tomorrow I will put up a slide show of decorating and getting the tree.