Tuesday, December 30, 2008

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!



Well, the 2008 Christmas season has come to an end. The toys are in the playroom, the leftovers are all eaten and the decorations have been returned to their boxes until next year. My bank account is depleted, I guess we will just eat top Ramen and Macaroni and Cheese for the next month...LOL... Seriously though, nobody can blame me for a lack of profits in the stores. I did more than my share of shopping.



Santa was more than generous with the girls this year. They of course got everything they asked him for and then some. I had to purge toys from the toy room in order to fit in the new stuff. It was a big year for Barbie and the pretty ponies at our house. Anything pink, purple, sparkly, ruffly or princess inspired is a hit! They also got a lot of nice art stuff, including an easel from Grandmom Judy & Papa Lyal. Grandma Deana, Papa Brian and Uncle Jason helped to dress all the new Barbies in the latest fashions. Papa bear was a huge hit with his Einsteins rocket he got Abby. She has wanted that toy for months. Ever since she saw it at Luke's house. Aunt Jan and Uncle Brian did fantastic with a huge treasure box full of princess dresses and jewelry, always a big hit at our house, as most of you know. Uncle Josh and Aunt Ambyr also seem to know our girls well. They earned points with them by giving them cute pink pajama's and books.




We had a fantastic prime rib dinner at Grandmom Judy's house on Christmas day and we did lunch and sugary Christmas treats at Aunt Ambyr and Uncle Josh's house on Christmas Eve. It was a great holiday with lots of great gifts and to much food. I probably gained 10lbs the last week.


I still need to mail out all my out of state gifts, I just never got to a post office, SORRY if you are awaiting a gift! :) I guess I will have to deal with being a less than superhero mom this year...LOL



Well I guess that about wraps it up. I hope you all have a Very, Very
Happy and Blessed New Year!!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The rest of the weekend!






The rest of our weekend was busy. We of course had gymnastics on Saturday followed by lunch w/ grandmom and then gingerbread houses at uncles house, and then we drove around the neighborhood and looked at lights. On Sunday after a brief time laying around on the couch, we got up and went to see Santa Cause and do a little shopping. Then we went to grandmom's house ate lunch hung out a bit and then headed to Littleton for Tavish's 2nd b-day. We had dinner, presents and cake at Tavish's grandma Kaye and grandpa Jay's house with his other aunts, uncles and cousins from moms side. Life is busy, but good. We are so blessed by the family and friends in our lives.

Look at all that drama little mama!

This is the response I got when I said it was nap time. You'd would assume i just did something horrible.
And let me just say that, taking pictures of her while she is crying and throwing a fit, did not rank high with her, she kept saying, "No mommy, no camera, stop it mommy". LOL

Sleepy Sunday morning!

This is what our house looked like this last Sunday morning. Lazy morning, it makes you wonder why they woke me up so early, if they are both so darn tired...LOL


If you didn't know better, you'd think the two of them were out late drinking and partying. I mean, come on look at them, why are they even out of their beds? Crazy girls...

Monday, December 8, 2008

Gingerbread House Building Contest!

On Saturday, afternoon we went to my brothers house for our annual gingerbread house making contest. The twist to this is that the houses are built from cardboard frames instead of gingerbread. But beyond that it is very traditional. entirely decorated and landscaped in Candy. This year there were three teams. It is a mix of couples and kids.

It is very competitive, and there is a lot of trash talking and accusations of cheating. All in fun of course. There are rules, like you have to use ALL of the cardboard provided, there are certain candy items you must use completely, and you may not use anything that was not provided for everyone from the start.
Each team is a mix of kids and adults, although normally the kids do more candy eating than candy decorating. Also of course the teams with older kids usually have more help then those of us left with toddlers and preschoolers. When the houses are done and time has been called, my brother reigns in a neighbor and has them mosey on over to judge the final products.
The house looks like the gingerbread man tossed "cookies" (LOL) all over. There is candy on the floor and counters. We usually have traces of frosting in our hair and on our faces. And the kids balance on the edge of sickness from the amount of candy they have consumed in 2 1/2 hours.
Every year the houses get bigger and more creative. the ideas have gotten so creative in fact, that I am not sure some should even be considered houses anymore. this years winner should have been disqualified for just that reason. They built heaven with the Lamb of God as their focal point. That is not technically a house...LOL
This is the winning team, the creators of "Heaven".

This is one of the losing teams, the creators of the Clock Tower".
And this is my team (minus me of course along with our three preschool helpers who had left to play already.) I could not get in at all to help with building the structure, the men were on a mission, that meant it was easier for me to just take pictures.
This is our allotment of candy and supplies. It starts out so neat and orderly...LOL

Monday, December 1, 2008

Our Long Thanksgiving Weekend!

We had a great 4 day weekend. We had Abby's Papa Bear and Brianna's Grandma Deana over and had a traditional turkey dinner. We watched the parade in the morning and Grandma Deana spent the night.

On Friday morning Michele and I got up at 4:45 in the morning because we decided that it was a good idea to go to Wal-Mart on Black Friday to try and get a Leapster for Abby's Christmas that was discounted by $20.00. Grandma Deana watched the girls. It was an insane asylum with angry, tired looking people. I could totally see how people get angry and fight over toys in these situations, because there are body to body people, lines through the store and people are tired. I was so irritated by the situation that I could easily have been provoked into an argument with a total stranger. By the time we made it to the toys, the Leapsters were already gone. After that we spent most of the day shopping. We hit Target, Kohls, Gap, Gymboree, Children's Place, Borders and of course Wal-Mart. I got ALL of my Christmas gifts but one, and I have already wrapped all but 4.

On Saturday we cleaned up the house and put up the Christmas tree and other decorations. Due to the snow we still have not done the outdoor lights, but we will get to them soon. Then we ordered Pizza and watched the movie Elf with the girls.

Sunday we just had a relaxed do nothing kind of day at home. We enjoyed the pretty snow and cold weather by the fire and had warm toasty chicken corn chowder and hot rolls for dinner. A perfect end to a perfect holiday weekend. Busy, productive and lots of time with family. Life could hardly get any better. I am so blessed!