On the 12th day of Christmas - Christmas morning!!

I didn't take a single picture of our Christmas morning!  I must have been having too much fun.  Riley and I woke up early so we didn't miss the boys wandering out of their room.  I heard Taite around 7:00 and went in to get him and a sleepy Haydn was laying in bed and asked if the sun had come up.

We made the boys wait in the hallway while Dad got his video camera ready and I turned on the Christmas music.  Then told them it was time to see if Santa had come.  Haydn ran straight to the tree, Taite wasn't quite sure what all the fuss was about he just wanted to drag his blanket around the room.  Once we started opening presents everyone was in the spirit and having a good time.  

After we enjoyed a lovely Christmas morning we loaded up the truck and headed to Brian Head where an unexpected second Christmas started.  My kids are so lucky to have Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins that love them.  I did remember to snap a few pictures this time.  It was kind of crazy with 7 kids all wanting to help, but that's what family is all about.

Thank goodness we made it up when we did, because for the rest of the day the wind blew and blew and their was more snow than I have seen in a long time.  This is the sight we woke up to the next morning.  

Poor Steve, Riley and Eric spent hours shoveling snow!  

Later that day the kids tried to go out and play in the snow and do some sledding, but it was oh so cold!  Every time the wind blew that would be blasted in the face with snow.  They were troopers and lasted a few runs down the driveway.  

 

Since the ski lifts were closed we spent the remainder of our time relaxing, playing games, eating yummy food, and fat dogging!

On the way home we stopped in Cedar City where is was above freezing and went sledding.  We all had a great time.  There is something about sledding that just brings the kid out of everyone.  I love it.  

 

We had a wonderful Christmas with the Snow's.  We missed Garrett, Dayna, Cannon, and Roman, but were able to Skype with them following there Christmas in Japan.  I also missed my family.  It was hard to hear them all together laughing and playing games.  Maybe someday we will all be together for Christmas again!  

We have had a wonderful 2008 and look forward to many new adventures in the upcoming year.

On the eleventh day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, Christmas jammies!

Taite can go from pout to laugh in seconds flat!

We have had so much fun doing the 12 days of Christmas. Tonight we had the Snow tradition of taco salad for dinner, followed by the Christmas story out of Luke read by dad. Now my kids are snuggled up in their beds with the glow of Christmas lights to give them sweet dreams. It really is a magical season. We hope that you all have a Merry Christmas!

On the tenth day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, Reindeer dust to sprinkle on the lawn Christmas eve. Make sure those reindeer have a treat while Santa is putting the presents under the tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, a subscription to the Friend magazine. Something fun to come in the mail every month and help mom & dad out with FHE.

It's a Christmas miracle!

We interrupt the 12 days of Christmas to bring you a Christmas miracle. To fully appreciate the magnitude of this miracle it requires a little back story. In July our Verizon cell phone contract was expiring. I had my eye on the new 3G iphone for some time and was trying to convince Riley that they were a must have. You see ever since getting married I have never gotten a new phone. I have received several of Riley's hand-me-down phones as he tries out the latest and greatest.

After several negotiations I convinced him and we took a trip to Salt Lake to what can only be compared to the FAO Schwartz for adults, the Apple store at the Gateway. We got our sleek new iphones and I couldn't be happier. I was checking my e-mail and blogging in the car on the way home from the store. We have since LOVED our phones. They have opened us up to the world of texting, given us directions when lost, provided recommendations of where to eat and provided endless hours of entertainment for the boys with the downloaded light saber application.

This brings me to last Tuesday. We were out getting the boys haircuts and after Haydn was done I took him to go to the bathroom before we headed home for dinner. I didn't bring my purse in, but had slipped my phone into my back pocket. As I squatted down to help Haydn pull his pants back up I heard the horrifying sound of a clunk and then splash!! My beloved iphone had fallen into the toilet!! As I quickly grabbed it out (luckily we had already flushed) I watched the screen flashing in horror as it eventually shut completely off. I frantically dried off all the water from the outside and then tried opening my eyes as if it was all a bad dream. No luck!

I waited until we got home to spill the beans to Riley. The brilliant man that he is, he went straight to google for answers. Seriously what would we do with out Google?! After finding out I was not alone in my quandary we debated which method would be most beneficial in helping us dry out my phone. Blow dryer, submerging it in a cup of rice, air dry? We left it alone and said we would see if it would turn on in the morning.

After a night of tossing and turning I awoke to find no such luck. My phone would not turn on and show me it's famous apple logo. After several days and nothing happening we decided it was time to face reality and decide to get a new phone. Oh the horror of the possibility of getting just a cell phone. I mean who can really go back after having the crown jewel of cell phones. Since St. George doesn't have an apple store we called Riley's parents to help us out in our time of need. Riley's dad braved the Apple store the Saturday before Christmas and the 45 minutes it took him to get out of the Gateway parking lot, just to get me an over priced replacement to my phone. As soon as we heard the news that a new phone would be coming to St. George the next day I went to send my water logged phone to it's burial grounds. In a last ditch effort I pushed the on button one last time and to my surprise it turned on and the beautiful chimes were like angles singing!!

I know there is some huge irony here, but I am so grateful that I don't have to spend $400 for a new iphone! The iphone that came back to life will go down as the Christmas miracle of 2008.

On the eigth day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, cookie mix to make those cookies for Santa.

* I don't know why, but it seems so hard to keep my kids in their clothes after church. Sorry for the half naked child.

On the seventh day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, a new game to play as a family.

On the sixth day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, a trip to see Christmas lights followed by hot chocolate with marshmallows and candy canes.


This day didn't quite go as planned. Haydn has been sick and as soon as we got into the warm car he was out and snoring while we looked at lights. By the time we got home they were both asleep in the car so we saved the hot chocolate for another night. At least Riley and I enjoyed it. Oh how we miss temple square.

On the fifth day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, a Christmas book to read before going to bed.

On the fourth day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love money to buy a toy for Toys for Tots




The browsing




The drop off

On the third day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, a new Christmas movie (Polar Express). Hope you are all enjoying the 12 days of Christmas. We are making some wonderful memories.



Last night Riley was helping a tired mom finish up what should have been dinner when he sliced open his thumb. Trying to be the brave soldier he didn't do anything until this morning when it started bleeding all over again. After a trip to the insta-care he had 5 stitches, a tetnus shot and a pertussis booster. Poor guy!

Isn't it purtee?! Who wants to come and visit?

On the second day of Christmas . . .

We bring to you with love, stationary to write a letter to Santa for all your wants and needs.

It also snowed today in St. George! We usually get one snow day a year, but never before Christmas so it was a real treat. In the afternoon me bundled up to go and tromp around in the snow.

Haydn catching snowflakes

Mable in her ski parka!!

On the first day of Christmas . . . .

So after church the doorbell rang and the boys found this box on the porch!!


On the first day of Christmas we bring to you with love, a new ornament to hang on the tree!