Christmas 2008 and the Toilet Paper Mummy

We had a GREAT Christmas!
Just the six of us (as usual)...
We always try to take the kids somewhere on Christmas Eve
and have some activities to fill the day.
This year we went out to the Ballagio to the Gardens.
They were really pretty, but somehow, I was expecting more of it.
And it was SUPER crowded. But we had fun and someone took
a lovely family photo for us.
We followed it up by Gingerbread making.
The kids each got there own house this year.
That was a hit and we will continue on with that.
No more sharing houses for these guys!

Jack amazingly managed to pick out his own pkg. and

proceed to help himself

to the opening of presents on Christmas Eve.

Nathan reported the crime in fits of laughter

(I'm sure he had nothing to do with it!)

we just put it back together under the tree.


A few years ago we started an old family tradition

with our kids and play the 7-11 game.

It involves dice and gifts.

Obviously a hit!

They receive a variety of crazy, silly, and tasty gifts.

The annual Christmas pajama photo.

Ahem......morning did not come as early as usual. It really was a blessed day! We told the kids we didn't want to hear from them before 6am (hey, that's the most we could ask of them) and for the first time EVER! they actually obeyed. In fact, we even had to wake the boys.

Santa brought a group gift this year...the ever famous Wii

Here's Samantha...in shock...who just the night before said she wished she had asked Santa for a Wii. I told her that was too bad because she had already written her letter long before.

tee hee hee.

Then there's Kristen telling Nathan "i told you it was a Wii!" she had made her guess earlier when she saw the wrapped pkg...but we all insisted it was too big to be a Wii.

Then the morning moved on from Santa to the rest.


Here's Jack on his new tricycle.

He knew this was coming.

He'd spyed it long before and has been asking

"i get my bike for Christmas?"

"Santa bring my bike?"

"I can have my bike for Christmas?"

Honestly...I can't get ANYTHING past this kid!

Kristen the "school teacher"

in front of her favorite gift...

a dry.erase.board...

seriously, look at that face!

You'd think she won the lottery!

Samantha had only 3 things on her big list...

(although she was resigned to knowing she wouldn't be getting ANY of them)

an Ipod

a cell phone

a laptop

(really, she IS only 6!)

Here she is opening a gift she's not really sure what it is...

then I explain to her that it is an MP3 player...

Just like an Ipod.

She was cool with that.

Nathan's little present...

it started ringing...

do you think he got what he wanted???

He probably nearly wet himself

over a cell phone.

I didn't get a phone till my mid 20's, and even that brick was short lived.

I was really in my 30's before it was a constant.

My how times have changed.

Jack getting a good look at some weaponry from his Buzz Light Year toys.

Really, can you say youngest child...

Already knows how to work the lazy system,

hitchin a ride from his sister!

He's too cool in his upside down Diego shades.

And now....

I introduce the mummy.

Samantha won a roll of toilet paper (with a treat stuffed inside)

from the 7-11 game the night before.

I didn't think she'd actually want the TP,

but obviously she had something in mind.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Oh and...

as for me.....

check

check

a n d ....checkkkkkk

i must have been good this year

;)

...and we made it

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I really do love the Christmas Season.

I love how it feels.

I love the opportunity to do things for other people.

I love the excuse to shop!

I love how everyone (well most) is nicer to each other.

I love the lights, the decorations.

The feeling of peace that I have amongst the chaos.

The love I feel for my Savior.

It IS the most beautiful time of year.

*And now with EVERYTHING done

ALL the wrapping (for the first time ever).

All the activities.

The dozens upon dozens of cookies and candy that we've made.

The cards were mailed and received before the big day!

I am ready to enjoy this day and tomorrow

And focus on my family and what it is all about.

*We've had a very busy month, lots of parties, lots of concerts. Girls home on track break.

It has been busy but fun. It has gone by way too fast.

*The kids had several concerts this month. The first was their piano recital. They both started lessons in the fall and are doing very well. Nathan & Kristen played a duet at the recital, along with individual pieces. They played Good King Wenceslas together and did great. At first they fought whenever they practiced but eventually they worked it out and it was a good opportunity for them to work together.

*Kristen had her school choir concert. Which was more like a singing dance party with the whole school in on it.

*Nathan then had his band concert at school. He is playing the bells right now and will start on drums next year. He did great. No pictures.

*We've started basketball season. This is Nathan's first year playing on a league and he is doing so good. We are so proud of him. He has never been a very competitive player and in other sports he really holds back. But with basketball he seems to be finding his stride. He is learning to be more aggressive and confident and I couldn't be prouder!

*We've had snow! As if you haven't already heard that story!

This second batch though was much more genuine than the first.

The kids had a blast collecting whatever they could and making (ice) snow balls.

We didn't get anywhere near what the rest of the valley got, but we'll take what we can get.



And there you have it.

Our month in review.

Today we are going out on the town with Daddy to see some special sights.

We'll be making gingerbread houses.

Cooking our feast.

Playing our games.

Reading the scriptures.

And hopefully not being up late.

Cause if history has anything to do with it,

We will be up BEFORE the crack of dawn!

Hope you all have a beautiful Christmas

A Girl Can Dream....RIGHT???

All the kids have written their wish list so I decided to come up with one of my own. Like I said, a girl can dream right!

Shall we start the wish list with this . Every pretend photographer should have a GREAT standard lens.

and something like this would be nice for those indoor shots.

And really, I am the only person on EARTH who doesn't own one of these???

Any scrapper worth her salt should own one of these, for real!

Then, while the dreaming continues...how about a new living room (in chocolate)

And really, now that we are in complete LALA land, lets get those hardwood floors in.

Ok, back down to reality. How about just a couple of these shelves for my bedroom.

Ok, really, those who know me, KNOW that even a few of these will make me really happy!

I hope all YOUR dreams come true this year!

Proof of Snow

It's the big story in town! Snow in Las Vegas. We never get the big fluffy stuff at our house, but word is there were inches of it elsewhere in the valley. But for my kids, it is exciting, nonetheless!
Here is the proof...can you see it on Jacks hat?
Do you see the ice crystal on Kristen's thumb?
(NO??? well, trust me it's there!)

They tried to consume it.

How sad for them, they are SO easily entertained at even the thought of it.

Now, Samantha here is NOT stoned...she is blowing her breath to see it.

Do you see it??? It's a little foggy over her hair on the right side.

Jack just checking' it out.

Really, it just rained more than anything, but we did have about 10 minutes of tiny flakes mixed in. It was fun while it lasted.

The Story of 3 Trees...

These are the trees...and this is their story.

Styrofoam cones were in abundance at the Monson house {that's ANOTHER story}

lets make more trees thought my friend and I.

Just use what we've got around the house

Simple and quick!

Took some styrofoam glue...it said it dried clear.

Painted the cones with glue, covered with glitter and set out to dry.

Worked on our music paper cone to bide the time.

Checked on our cones and what did we see????

Streaks of glue that did NOT dry clear!

Ugghhhhh! Now what are we going to do with these things????

Ok fine, lets run to Joanns (well not really run, it's like 20 minutes away) with like 4 kids between us.

see if we can find some fabulous things to spruce up these sad trees and find some new glue and glitter!

SPRAY styrofoam glue! That should be great.

Home again home again, now with more kids running around between the 2 of us.

Decided to paint the cones green to cover up the last glitter nightmare.

Went to spray the glue and it came out like SILLY STRING!

I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself.

At this point this quick and easy project was taking All. Freakin. Day.

Sanded off (kinda) the silly string and went for good old mod podge!

Covered my little tree and SMOTHERED it with new chunkier glitter.

At last....SUCCESSSSS!

Ended up ordering buttons online {that's another story too!}

cause Joanns had crap for cream buttons! and wanted a million dollars for them!

Although we did find that fabulous green trim on Mr. Medium tree.

Me thinks it was like 8:00 at night when my little friend left.

We had a totally fun and crazy adventure of a day

making our quick and easy 3 trees!

Oh and we just finished off the button (for real, did i just use buttons) portion of the tree.

But hey, me thinks they were worth it, eh!

Oh ya, and I have unfinished actual button trees awaiting some attention too.

The tree is trimmed, the mantle (wall shelf thingy) set, boxes put away (mostly), and the Christmas spirit is somewhere in the air. I'm itchin' to do some shopping, but these little ones underfoot...they are weighing me down! Puttin' a cramp in my plans. Oh well, they are having fun on their track break. Making cookies, decorating, putting together our x-mas puzzle, playing with friends...all the good stuff kids dream of for Christmas break.

According to Jack we live in the Christmas Tree House. He asked as we were pulling into the driveway yesterday "daddy, this the Christmas tree house????" Followed by "it Christmas time? Santa gonna come our house and bring me presents??"

He's totally got this Christmas thing down! Well, the Santa part of it anyway. Guess we should work on the real part, eh.