The Best Christmas EVER!!!!

Really, it was the Best Christmas Ever!!!! We had so much fun leading up to the day, and we were ready to celebrate. We had a big Christmas Eve dinner, followed by the Christmas story and Christmas movies. I made my first turkey and it turned out so good. The best part was just before we went to bed, we set out cookies and milk for Santa. However, it was a little different this year. Dave and Dawson were going to try and catch Santa. They mixed up a little concoction that was meant to put Santa to sleep so that they could collect extra presents. The idea of catching Santa made Cait very upset so she wrote him a little warning letter to not drink the milk. Well, Christmas morning came and the milk was still there but it was pink, along with a note that reminded the boys that Santa can not be tricked and thanking Cait for warning him.

The kids were up early. Dawson by 5:30 and Cait by 6. I got up when Cait did and we all went to wake Cora up. We started singing Jingle Bells and she didn't like that much. She quickly covered her ears and rolled over. It wasn't until we told her there were presents that she finally jumped up.

The kids all had a great time opening presents, and as far as I know they all got what they wanted. I however, had only gotten really cheap-o weird gifts, which was odd being that David has never let me down on Christmas before. Now this is where the best Christmas Ever comes in. When we were all done opening presents, and starting to play, David grabs me, puts his new coat over me and we all head outside. Unknown to me (yet suspected) there in the garage was the best present ever. A brand new high capacity, red washing machine. I instantly started to cry. I couldn't believe that he had actually gone through with buying it. He N-E-V-E-R does that. I was so giddy though. As soon as I could, I went to the store and got some HE laundry soap and did loads of laundry on Christmas. Weird I know, but it was so fun and I am still so excited. Sad thing is however, instead of taking a picture with me by the washer, I took a picture of my family. Oh well, they are cuter.Well I hope your Christmas was as great as ours (all though I doubt it :) ). Have a very Happy New Year!!!

And because I always get my kids new church clothes for Christmas. Here they are Sunday morning. Gosh they are beautiful children.

Christmas Advent Activities Catchup.

Before I get to the Christmas post, I wanted to share what we did before the big day arrived.

We made Gingerbread houses. Which was so fun. I found a little village set at the store, and it perfectly had 5 little houses in it. One for each of us. Dave and Dawson spent most of their time building weapons out of candy, while Cait and I tried to make ours look pretty. Cora, well she just had me put frosting on and she stuck a few candies and she was done. They all turned out pretty cute.

David and I had the opportunity to go to the Mo-Tab Christmas concert on the 19th. It was the Sunday morning broadcast so we didn't get the whole concert, but I think including the mini concert after the broadcast we heard all the songs except 2. It was beautiful! David Archuletta sang with the choir and Micheal York was the narrator. We were on the balcony dead center so really great seats and great music. Plus President Monson was there which made it even more special. Except for the walk in the rain and the high heeled boots, it was an exceptional morning.

After the concert, we got to celebrate Christmas with my family. Everyone was at my house and we had turkey, and all the trimmings, opened presents, and found out the my sis-in-law Tanae is having her third baby (lets pray for a girl). Super fun and everyone got great gifts. Dave and I got a camp stove and an Abelskiver pan from my parents. We were so excited we couldn't stop thanking them. We love dutch oven cooking and camping!

And our last activity (okay the last one with pictures) was a trip to Temple square on Christmas Eve Eve. Warning, not the best time to go to Temple Square. There were so many people that it wasn't even fun. We were trying so hard not to run people over with the stroller that we didn't even see the lights. Oh well, tradition and I got a really pretty picture of the temple.

Christmas Letter, 2010!

It's that time of year again to dish out our year in review. I hope you enjoy!

Cora Belle. She's not a baby anymore. She turned 3 in July! How crazy is that? Really it should be the terrible 3's not the terrible 2's. She has been so busy and naughty and so darn cute this year. New discoveries, lots of climbing, and lots of talking. It almost seems unreal that she's 3, more like 13. She took swimming lesson's this summer and was fish out of water. She never listened to her teachers because her head was under the water the whole time. But she did well and did eventually swim under water by herself. She also started dance this fall. She loves it and is learning to listen to her teachers (helps there is no water to go under), but she is doing well. She doesn't even miss me when I leave. She is in love with Tinkerbell and my favorite thing is when she sings the song from the Tinkerbell movies. It's hilarious.

Dawson. Buddy is a good boy. He turned 5 this summer and is 100% boy. Baseball was his favorite part of the summer. He learned to play catch and hit the ball pretty well. Say Yankee's around him though and you will get the look of death. Next year will be fun when he starts T-ball. I can't wait. He started kindergarten this fall and loves the school, his friends and his teacher. He is learning lots and learning how to remember what he learns (we ask him every day, and then tease that we are going to call his teacher if he doesn't tell us something).

Caitlin. Miss Cait. She isn't a little girl anymore. She turns 8 in April. I cry every time I think of that. It was just yesterday... you know. She's as busy as always. She finished her first year of soccer in the spring, started the second grade and her 5th year of dance in the fall, and also started piano lessons. What a busy girl. She is also loving her new teacher, school and friends. She is a huge helper and I don't know what I would do without my little nanny. :)

David. Dave is still working on his master's. One more semester and he is done (I can't wait). He got a promotion to supervisor at work, only down side, he has to work nights. We are adjusting and it's not so bad. After 5 and 1/3 years in the bishopric he was finally released. It is so nice having him on Sunday's and not having to sit alone during sacrament meeting. He's a hard workin' man and I love him so much!

Me. What's new with me, not much. Life is pretty much the same. I have learned however, how to be quiet during the day. I am everything my family needs and great chauffeur. I have learned to love crafting even more and I am getting better at sewing, oh and I turned 30 this year, what's with that? That's all.

That's us. I hope you enjoyed the read, and Please have a wonderful Holiday Season.

Love,

Young Folks At Home

Date Night!

Oh it was about time. David had a really hard semester come to an end yesterday!!! I was so excited I planned a fun date to celebrate (hey, that rhymed). We went to Olive Garden for dinner and to the Hale Center Theater to see A Christmas Carol.

It was so fun and so nice to get out. The kids loved their babysitter and I loved the break.

Zoo Lights.

Every day in December til Christmas we have a fun family activity to do. Wednesday's was a trip to the zoo to see the zoo lights. I had planned on it being just the kids and I, and that didn't seem to appealing to me so I called 4 other's to see if they wanted to join me. All said "Sorry can't tonight" so I had resigned myself to go alone. And it was probably very inspired that no one could go, because when David got out of bed he decided that studying could wait and he would come with us!!! Yea!!!! I was so dang happy and it made the trip so much more enjoyable. It only took us about an hour to walk through the whole zoo, but hey it was a fun hour. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so we had to do with the cell phone, but you won't mind will you?

Comet or Vixon I am not sure which one, they were there with Santa.

This one was animated. See the star, the animals were passing it forward to go on top of the tree.

She is Oh So Talented

Monday night was C's first piano recital. She has been taking from the sweetest lady in our ward for about 4 months now. She is doing really well and her teacher absolutely loves her. The last couple of times after lesson's she has let us know that Miss C sight read a couple of songs and played it perfectly. Now I know she isn't a prodigy, but she is really doing well and I love it.

This is C and teacher playing Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.

Catch Up Post.

I have bored you all too tears, haven't I? Geesh, I guess I am just not in a posting mood or my kids just aren't making picture moments happen. Who knows?

I did find a few pic's on my camera that I haven't posted about.

Dawson built his first by himself snowman. He was so proud and so disappointed that it only last about 2 hours. But hey an accomplishment is an accomplishment.

In a few days from that it snowed really well and the kids finally talked David into pulling them on the sled. The fun didn't last long because, well it was dark, and daddy had to do homework (I can't wait til he's finished). But the kids had fun, and have since had fun in the snow.

The day after Thanksgiving, we set up our Christmas decorations. I finally consented to a fake tree. My whole life I had a real tree. I was a die hard. But circumstances have left us with a fake. I am pleased with the one I picked however and hopefully it will be a good tree for years to come. I do love the ornaments I purchased for it. The tree has little red berries stuck into it so I just could bring myself to put blue and silver ornaments on it. The rest of my house is decked too so if you want to come see it, come anytime.

Dawson had to be in the pic. He's so handsome.

Well that's all, today we are going to make Christmas cards while we watch the Christmas devotional. Yea for relaxing Sunday's.