Christmas

We spent Christmas in Monticello with Tige's family. Taylor has an ear infection last month and was on an antibiotic over Thanksgiving. Apparently it did a number on his tummy, because just 2 days before we left to Monticello, he got diarrhea and a terrible diaper rash. So we had to deal with that the whole time we were there. Also JaNae & Matt spent christmas with Matt's family, so we only got to see them for about an hour of the 5 days we were there, but other than those 2 things we had a great holiday!
We made little reindeer out of mini doughnuts. The kids got to eat some, and we left some out for Santa.

Tige's mom has this little Santa thing that reads books to the kids. They loved it and wanted to listen to several stories.

When Tige's parents were here last month for Kason's baptism, his mom said "do I have to set up the train?" I said "of course you do!" And this is why. My kids love it and will just sit and watch it for hours. Even wiggly baby Taylor sat and watched it. We need to get one of our own.

On Christmas Eve, the kids got to open 2 presents from Grandpa & Grandma. Their pajamas, and their book that Janet made.

She made each of the 7 grandchildren their own hardbound scrapbook. I can't even imagine the time spent. Thousands and thousands of hours! What a treasure they are.

Kason's book was all about turning 8, being baptized. My grandma Bev wrote a poem about some of the things he's experienced in his first 8 years of life, and I gathered pictures that matched the poem, and Janet compiled it all together. It is really amazing and we love it.

Christmas morning we went over to Kirk & Shalisa's house. That's where Santa came. This is the staging room before going into the main room. We started at 6 a.m. because we had sacrament meeting @ 9:00. Janet was in charge of the program. Kason sang a solo in sacrament meeting which I accompanied called "Could I Hold the Baby?" It was so special! Calvin also did a solo, Lyon was the narrator to the program, and Janet lead the music, so it was the Hazleton production and it was great.

Abby got a chest full of dressup stuff. One of the outfits is a gold colored skirt & shirt, and at New Year's she put it on for my mom. My mom said "who are you?" And she said "gatorade!" LOL! So funny! She also got some scriptures with her name on them, some stacking cups and some magnet dress-up dolls.

Kason got a bb/pellet gun with a scope and some targets. He's been telling people "I got a sniper rifle!" Uh, no buddy, it's a BB gun. He also got a football, some video games, and a remote control helicopter.

This was the look on Tige's mom's face when she opened her surprise present that all the kids and Lyon went in together to buy her. It's a Kindle Fire.

I had a surprise look of my own when I opened Tige's present to me: a Nook Tablet! He's so sneaky. I had no idea.

Tige got a remote control helicopter like Kason's. At first he looked at me like I was insane, but they've had a great time flying them together. I knew they would! He also got an exercise mat for under his bike trainer, and exercise mat for under his treadmill, a front wheel elevator for his bike trainer, and an autographed book of President Monson's biography. All surprises! Man, I'm good.

Taylor got some sensory balls, some stacking foam blocks for the tub, another stacking toy, and a gyrobowl.

The last 3 years, Tige's mom has prepared a bingo game for the kids, and one for the adults with prizes we get to choose. It's become a fun tradition.

The boys went out to shoot Kason's new BB gun a couple of times. They had a blast and I hear that Kason is a very good shot!

Thanks to Tige's family for housing us, feeding us, and showing us a good time.

Temple lights

For FHE, we went out to dinner and then went to see the Temple lights. It was a darn cold night for St. George so we broke out the coats and hats. We had a good time walking around and seeing the lights and nativity. We sat for a few quiet minutes in front of the statue of Christ at the vistor's center and pointed out the wounds in the hands and feet to our kids. Abby looked at the statue for a few minutes and then said "he loves me." Brought tears to my eyes. I said "he sure does."

Abby love the temple. Whenever we drive around town, she looks for it. As soon as she sees it, she yells "there's the temple." It never gets old to her. We let Abby get off the sidewalk and go touch the temple. She thought that was awesome.

On our way home, we drove by a house that a friend told me about. She said it's the best decorated house in town and has been dubbed "the Christmas house." When we turned the corner, there was a collective GASP in the car! It was amazing. The picture couldn't possibly do it justice. It was decorated 360 degrees around the house, both sides and back. The roof had a full size santa sleigh with 9 reindeer with moving heads! In front there was a huge nativity and a countdown calendar to Christmas. We hear there were 500,000 lights. Amazing. Cant' wait to see it again next year. When we got home, we had yummy hot chocolate.

Ward Party/Santa

We had our ward party last night. Had a turkey dinner followed by 2 songs by the primary kids, followed by a visit from Santa. Abby joined the primary kids on stage. When I tried to get her down (because she's in nursery and didn't know the songs), she wouldn't come. She swayed a little and danced to the music and was pretty cute. She's in purple and Kason in the striped shirt beside her.

Abby wouldn't sit on Santa's lap. She's been asking for a "star" for Christmas, but told him last night she wants a Barbie doll. Kason asked for a giant lego set. Taylor was a little creeped out by Santa for a second when I set him on his lap, but as soon as Santa handed him a candy cane, Taylor was 100% focused on that candy cane.

We left the ward party early when Abby peed her pants. We put her and Taylor in the tub when we got home, and he pooped in the tub. Ah, the joys of parenthood!

Early Christmas

Since we'll be in Monticello for Christmas (and my sad parents will be alone), we got together 2 weeks early to open presents with my mom & dad, Grandma Bev & Clark's family. My dad read a touching Christmas story and Grandma Bev practiced her talk for Sacrament Mtg the next day. We all opened our presents from my mom & dad and had doughnuts and hot chocolate.

The girls cooing at baby Katie.

Josh & Abby enjoying the chairs

Abby got awesome telescoping crayons and some coloring books. The crayons include glittery and metalic colors. They are so cool.

Kason with a crystal growing kit and brock with a lego set.

Gingerbread Houses

This week for FHE, we made gingerbread houses. I helped Kason with his, and Tige helped Abby with hers. Taylor was only good as long as we kept him supplied with a steady flow of gumdrops and other candy. He consumed way more sugar that night than any human should.

Tige got VERY into the decorating. He made beautiful icicles all over Abby's house. I never knew he was such an amazing decorator!

And he made a bike for Abby's gingerbread man to ride!
The finished houses.

The kids have been nibbling on them all week! I keep finding the step stool over by the bar where the houses are, and they look like mice have been at them!

Christmas Decor

Tige is not at all fond of decorating for Christmas. He grumbles about it more and more every year. But this year I had a secret weapon that I didn't know about. My parents had their lights up when we were there for Thanksgiving. So did several of their neighbors. When we were pulling out of their driveway one night, Abby said "Look at all the stars!" I said "Those are Christmas lights! Aren't they beautiful?" She said "YES! We need some at our house!" Tige immediately accused me of putting her up to that, but I am truly innocent of any conspiracy. Those were her own words. So daddy ended up putting some lights up just for his girl! :)

Still a few grumbles though.
Abby was so helpful holding dad's feet on the ladder so he wouldn't fall.

Kason helped too.

Tige helped me assemble the tree, and then the kids and I decorated it. Tige wasn't sure he wanted a tree with decorations for the baby to pull down, but why should the older kids get penalized and miss out on the magic of Christmas just because you choose to have a baby? Put your trees up people! We have enjoyed ours and Taylor has been surprisingly good at leaving it alone.

Misc pics

Just some miscellaneous pictures taken in the last week or two...

Kason and Abby ready for church. Kason in his new suit from his baptism, and Abby in a dress my parents gave her for her birthday.

We got a treadmill today and no kids have ever had more fun in the big boxes. Made me rethink my Christmas purchases. Should have just got them all empty boxes!

Climb up, slide down, throw balls in, etc. Way too much fun!

The other day I was baking for a PTA dinner, and realized Taylor was very quiet. I went to see what mischief he was into and found he'd climbed on top of the toilet in the kids bathroom. He's too little for things like that in my opinion, but apparently he has other ideas! I got him down and closed the door. A little later I discovered this piece of soap by the bathroom sink with a big old bite out of it. Yuck! Now I know what he was doing after he'd climbed up there.

Taylor on the rocking horse. All smiles.