Christmas 2008

As always, it was a really wonderful Christmas. I enjoy being with both my husbands family and my own family so much, which is fortunate. Sunday after church we headed to Idaho Falls. The roads were actually great which is rare this time of year. We got to visit with Grandma and Grandpa and also Jon's 4 brothers and 1 sister and all of their families. My kids have cousins their ages so it's non-stop fun with a bit of tiredness/crankiness, but not too bad. We got to eat great food and play lots of games. We traveled home on Christmas Eve so we didn't have to haul all of our stuff up there and could be with my family for the holidays also.

This morning we got up at 6:30 (not too bad) and drove over to my parents house 1/2 block away. The kids all spent the night over at grandmas so they were anxiously waiting for us to get there. We also ate more great food and played more fun games. My 92-year-old Grandma Dewey came from St. George plus Grandma Barbara and my mom were all there so if you said grandma you had to specify which one.


I'll journal about all these pictures but it won't be in order because I can't figure out how to do that with my blog--sorry! Maddie matches her American Girl Doll pjs and Joshua (cousin) is holding her other doll dressed as a soccer player, she even has cute little shin guards and a tiny soccer ball!
Our Christmas Family picture that wasn't really planned but at least they all look happy.

Libby (our outside dog) laying on the Love sac while the kids all pet her, it's just too cold out there!!
Seth with one of his favorite books. I always read it to him in the Dr.s office but couldn't find it. Yay!
Tanner and Devin in their Slumber Sacs, one of Tanner's best presents (his words).
Max playing a Wii game, he wasn't posing for a picture he really was smiling like that as he played.
Tanner and neighbor Austin at his Band concert, it was great!
Our neighbor made belt racks for Maddie, Max, and Seth to hold all their karate belts. It's great because now they're off the floor and the kids were really excited about it.
This morning the deer came to eat out of the bird feeders. It snowed all day!!

The Festival of Trees

Maddie and I went to the Festival of Trees on Saturday. We took 14 girls from our church between the ages of 8-11. All the trees are donated and sold and all the proceeds go to the Children's Hospital. The trees are so amazing!

We took some time to look at the gingerbread houses that are also donated.

This was most of the girls favorite tree. It had 15 American Girl dolls on and around it, so cute!

This tree is made out of blown glass and sold for thousands of dollars. It was so beautiful!

This is an origami tree. Maddie loves origami so we had to take a picture of it.

The BYU tree, Go cougars!

I think this is the Jazz tree. I took a picture of it for my mom and Grandma.

Maddie and Marissa played soccer together so I took their picture by the soccer tree!

That was the last day of the Festival of Trees. Next year I'm going to take my whole family because I think the boys would really like it too.

Karate Kids

I didn't think we'd ever be a "karate family" but that's what we're turning into. I like everything about karate except it's a bit pricey. Max started karate first because he kept begging and I finally relented. After we went to his first belt test Maddie said, "I want to be in karate." She's already tried gymnastics and dance which she just didn't get into. I tried a little harder to talk her into gymnastics because that was my great love growing up but she didn't like it. She is amazing in karate also. Now, Seth started in October. He likes it when he's there, but he does complain to me when he has to stop playing to go to karate so I may take him out and let him try again later if he's interested. Tanner thinks it's cool to watch but doesn't want to be in it. It is a lot of time so it's probably good he's not interested. Right now, Max is a purple belt, Maddie is an orange belt, and Seth is a gold belt which I sometimes call "yellow" and am quickly corrected.

Brace Face (said endearingly)

Last month Maddie was so excited to get braces. She only has six right now. When I first glanced at her with her big braces smile she looked older. My eyes teared up a little. She looks so cute and hasn't minded them at all. I know it's always fun to get them on but then they get old pretty fast and you can't wait until the day comes when you get them off!






I had to take a picture of both Tanner and Maddie together because they only overlap having braces together by one month. My cute little brace faces!

Yesterday Tanner got his braces off. He was so excited. I remember it being one of the happiest days of my life! Of course I had my braces on for 8 years (major teeth problems). He turns 13 in two months. He looks like a teenager.