Christmas Traditions

I've been thinking a lot lately about Christmas traditions. Last night, while out to dinner with my mom and hubby and kids we started chatting about Christmas traditions and my mom told us about a conversation she had with a friend about which Christmas traditions she just couldn't do without. So this spurred a conversation of our own about it. Before I tell you which Christmas tradition we just couldn't do without, let me give you an overview of our Christmas traditions.

We have a lot of food traditions. Fudge, shortbread cookies, sugar cookies, carmelitas, slush, scotch stew, gingerbread house (which we don't eat but still falls into the food category). YUM!

But here's what we do Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

Every Christmas Eve, in no particular order, we read the story of the Savior's birth from the scriptures, watch the cartoon version of Grinch, have the kids open up their new Christmas PJ's from Nana and tell the story, "Teach the Children." Then we have family prayer and set out cookies for Santa, and carrots and water for the reindeer. Somewhere in there the kids sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn too. Then the children are sent off to bed where they typically all sleep together (except for the baby) and hopefully have visions and dreams of sugarplums! (ha ha ha!)

On Christmas morning the kids wake up and come into our room where we chat for a little bit, say family prayer and line up youngest to oldest to go see what Santa brought. The kids file out into the family room where they find their stocking set up beside the gift that Santa brought. They get about 20-30 minutes to explore their stockings and new Santa toy, then the opening of the presents begin. This next part will continue to be modified as the kids get older but we prefer that each member of the family open presents one by one. This, of course, doesn't always work with little kids but we do the best we can. We figure by the time Reece is 4 or 5 this will work out as planned. So then, depending on how many people are together for Christmas morning, we either take a break for breakfast half way through, or we have breakfast after every one has opened their presents. Breakfast then consists of Scotch Stew, Toast and juice if we're with my family, and Scotch Stew, Toast, Breakfast Casserole, Cinnamon rolls and juice if we're with TJ's family. Then after breakfast is cleaned up and all the kids are happy playing with their new toys we all sack out and try to sleep!

So that is a rundown of our basic, core traditions. We modify from time to time, like this year we're going on a sleigh ride on Christmas Eve, but everything I wrote about is always a must. Now, what is the tradition we just couldn't live without you ask? We decided all of them. We couldn't live without one single Christmas Tradition! Its all so fun, and I hope we're building family memories and ties that will be carried on into our children's families!!!!

I love this time of year! Even though it took us about 45 minutes to get out of the Target parking lot today, I really love this time of year! I'm so grateful for the birth of our Savior and the life He lead. I love that He set a perfect example for us to follow and that He was willing to give His life so that we can have live with Him again someday. I am thankful for my knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the joy it brings into my life. Merry Christmas to all of you!!!!

Small Acts of Service

My heart is happy tonight. I feel like there is hope for this world. I feel like there are still good people out there! Here is why...

I woke up early this morning to go clean my mom's house. We got quite a bit of snow this weekend and without going into too much detail I got my car stuck in front of her house. I left it stranded while I cleaned and when I came out into the light a few hours later I saw that it was really stuck. I called TJ to come help me and started digging the snow out around the wheels. A very kind lady in a large Ford Excursion came driving up the street. She stopped and asked if I needed help. I told her that my hubby was on the way and she offered to go back to her house and get her tow rope to tow me out when TJ got there. I thanked her and off she went. (act of service #1) TJ arrived with another shovel and we both started to dig. All of a sudden a huge 15 seater van pulled up and out jumped 3 or 4 strapping young high school age boys. Without a word they ran around the back of my car and started to help TJ push the car. They were able to get me unstuck in a jiffy and without a word, but with smiles on their faces they ran back to their van, jumped in and sped away! (act of service #2) Thinking back it was actually really funny!

Fast forward a few hours. I picked up my mom from the airport and took her home. The plows had come again since I was there this morning and the snow was piled even higher. My mom, Jackson, Natalie and I started to shovel her driveway and front walk when I saw my friend and my mom's neighbor Stephanie drive by. Not 5 minutes later her 2 boys, Cody (10) and Luke (7) came walking down the street carrying shovels! (act of service #3) Those cute little boys helped clear a path for so my mom would be able to get her car in and out of the driveway. And let me tell you it was no easy task...the snow was HEAVY and WET!

Fast forward a few hours again. TJ got a call from a friend who has a 4-wheeler with a plow attached to the front. TJ had given him a call to ask if his son could help clear the rest of the snow from my mom's driveway. His son wasn't available but he said he would do it. So our friend went over to my mom's house where he cleared the rest of the snow! (act of service #4)

Fast forward a few hours again. The doorbell rang. Standing on our porch was a friend's son holding a beautiful basket. Inside the basket was a bunch of delicious looking cookies! (act of service #5)

And now its 8:47 and I'm waiting for a knock on my door. When I answer it there will be a surprise of some sort for the 3rd day of Christmas! Someone is doing the 12 Days of Christmas for us and it's making me feel so loved! (act of service #6)

I feel so blessed and grateful to live in this area where there are wonderful people that lovingly give service to one another. I hope and pray that I can follow the example of our friends and neighbors and pay it forward! I like to think that my little community is just a small pocket, a reflection if you will, of small acts of service that are being performed all over the world!

Yawn!

I have a problem. When TJ is out of town I stay up too late. Like I'm talking 2 a.m. late! I do this for 2 reasons.

1. I hate going to bed without him. Our bed just feels so big and cold and empty without him snoring away next to me!

2. I have too many T.V. shows to catch up on when he's not here. He doesn't like Grey's, Private Practice, Desperate Housewives, Biggest Loser, The Good Wife, Mercy, Law and Order and various other shows that I enjoy. (I am totally aware of the fact that I watch way too much TV so please don't point it out to me! All I have to say is thank heavens for Tivo!)

Unfortunately I pay for it the next day. I have sandpaper, heavy eyes and all I want to do is lay down for a nap. What I will do instead is clean out our toys, run to target and take care of my people! Then I'll have good intentions to go to bed early but that probably won't happen because TJ will be home and I'll want to hang out with him!!!!

Like I said, I have a problem!

Fun in the Snow

I headed out early yesterday morning to go to the gym. It had snowed the night before, the first significant snow that is, so right after the gym I went to Target to get my kids some snow boots. I called TJ to let him know. Our conversation went something like this...

Me: I stopped by Target to get boots for the kids. Do we need anything else?

TJ: A snow shovel.

Me: Okay!

I got home with all my winter necessities and the following conversation between my husband and I took place.

Me: I bought you a sweet snow shovel

TJ: You mean you bought YOU a sweet snow shovel.

Me: I don't think so. You better start shoveling.

TJ: I've got to take my car in to get the mirror fixed.

Me: Oh crap!

So you might be asking yourself why we are just now buying a snow shovel when we've lived in snowy climates for the last 4 years. The answer is that we had a shovel but it wasn't specific for snow. Since we're "don't buy it till you need it" type people we didn't go and buy a shovel until our first snow in Illinois. By the time we got to the store that first time all the snow shovels were gone so TJ bought some other piece of crap shovel that we've used ever since. Last year we tried again to go buy a real snow shovel but again, they were all gone! That is why we are just now buying and actual snow shovel!

Anyways, since having a snowy driveway and front walk drives me CRAZY I bundled myself and the kids up and went outside to accomplish the shoveling of the snow!

It took me about 45 minutes to get the snow shoveled but Reece and Brady stayed outside for another 45 minutes after I was done. They LOVED being out there! Especially Reecey! They had a blast and it was so so cute!

And for all you who think my husband is a lazy butt for not shoveling the driveway himself let me say 2 things about it.

1. I don't mind shoveling. I looked it up once and you actually burn a lot of calories doing it.

2. He went out again later in the day to shovel some more snow off and he's usually pretty good about doing it! (notice the use of the word USUALLY! HA!)

Gingerbread Houses

Every year we do a gingerbread house. I buy the kit from Costco and put it together with the kids. This year we invited our friends Andrew and Annie and their kids to come over and join us in our gingerbread house making. They didn't have their own kit so I pulled out an extra that I had. A few minutes into the construction I realized that our house had some serious problems.

Problem #1--I put TJ in charge and he messed up the icing dispenser thing. He ended up slopping and glopping frosting EVERYWHERE!

I was upset about that until he showed me...

Problem #2--we had some MAJOR pieces of our house totally broken. WHAT? I seriously want to take it back to Costco and get my money back. LAME!

So while we were having major problems with our house Andrew and his kids were constructing a perfect house of their own. My kids even betrayed us and migrated over to help him with his beautiful gingerbread house. Now, in all honesty his house would've kicked our house's butt any day of the week but with our broken pieces and glopped icing the difference was that much more glaring.

So with our further delay, here are the results of the gingerbread houses!

ps--cute, sweet Brady kept coming over and telling me that he thought our house looked great. When I told him that gingerbread houses aren't supposed to have holes in the roof he told us that it was okay because then the gingerbread man he made could go inside our house. Hence the gingerbread man sitting on top of our house. I'm so glad I have a kid who is a glass half full kind of a guy!

As Promised...

Some picture from Thanksgiving!!!!

Me and my Girls on Thanksgiving morning.

Brooklyn asleep on the couch. I sometimes envy children and their ability to sleep anywhere!

Reecey asleep in a big girl bed. I was a bit nervous that she would want to sleep in a big girl bed when we got home but she hasn't even mentioned it!

I just love this picture of her.

An attempt at a Grandchildren picture with Papa and LouLou. Ummm, can you tell we love the Broncos??

Our family!

The whole clan. All 19 of us!

3:30 a.m. Black Friday! Even Natalie came!

The line in Kohls. If you're familiar with Kohls then you know the registers are down that line of people and around the corner! CRAZY!

Natalie was happy once she got to ride in the cart at Target!

My sweet parking spot at Target. This was about 6:45 a.m.!

Breakfast after! I promise I was there. I was just taking all the pictures!

Our family Nertz tournament!

This picture makes me laugh for 3 reasons.

1. My nertz playing hair looked RIDICULOUS (even though Brady told me it looked pretty) and I have absolutely ZERO make-up on!

2. The look on TJ's face. He's like...GET OFF ME WOMAN!

3. The look on Lindsay's face. I wonder what she's thinking here!

Matt and the FANTASTIC trophy that he fashioned from a Hot Wheels car, which happened to be a pink Cadillac, a clear box, a wall anchor and a light saber!

The winners of the tournament, but only cause Colton's a cheater! Hahahaha!

The acceptance speech. As you can see Colton was overwhelmed with gratitude for the win!

Reecey without a front tooth. Hopefully this will be fixed with in the next 2 weeks or so.

She loves her new snowman gammies and her new hat! She wears them around the house just for fun!

Hope you enjoyed! I know we did!

Thanksgiving '09

So I slacked this last week because of Thanksgiving, but no worries! I'm back! (HA! like any of you were worried)

We had the opportunity this year to spend Thanksgiving in Denver with TJ's family. It was so much fun and it was great that we were all together!

Here are some of the highlights...

-seeing everyone the night we got there

-going to the BRONCOS GAME

-going to see "The Blind Side"

-shopping at Park Meadows

-buying Broncos gear at Dick's Sporting Goods

-going to the BRONCOS GAME

-the family Nertz tournament of champions that Lindsay and Colton won

-seeing the final result of the trophy that Matt was able to fashion for the Nertz tournament

-thanksgiving dinner (yum yum yum!)

-going to the BRONCOS GAME

-my first Black Friday shopping experience

-eating at Red Robin...TWICE

-hanging out with the fam

-seeing Taylor play basketball

-going to the BRONCOS GAME

-eating

-the thanksgiving day turkey trott 5K (props to Lindsay who ran it in under 30 minutes! She beat all of us! Keep in mind she's 15 weeks pregnant!)

-and did I mention...GOING TO THE BRONCOS GAME!!!!!!!

So a shout out to Torrey and Lou who were so patient and tolerant of all of us and our crap! It was so much fun to hang out and see everyone! I love being with family and this year I am THANKFUL for my wonderful in-laws! EVERY! LAST! ONE! OF! THEM!!!!!!!!!

(note: pictures will come on the next post. I'm just too tired right now! yawn!)