Christmas Pictures

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Here is for family that wants to see a glimpse of Christmas with 5 little kids. It is probably not as chaotic as you may thing, but we do have our noisy times.

A Christmas Dream

Up through Tuesday we had the ideal Christmas. Then our Christmas dream became a nightmare. At about 3:00am Christmas Eve it went down hill. Jeremy woke up with VIOLENT tummy troubles. "Both faucets on" is how he put it. That lasted for about four hours before it slowed down. I was able to go to my Doctor appointment (report to follow). We had babysitting planned and Jeremy was going to go but was more worried about how he was going to survive. Our good friends were willing to take on four of our kids so Miranda could go with me to visit the doctor. By the time I got home around 11:30 I was in the midst of the same illness, although not with the same violence as Jeremy. We spent the rest of the day among the land of the dead. The kids were absolutely fabulous. They got along well, watched movies and stayed pretty calm and not needy. They were amazing. We were unable to go to our family Christmas Eve dinner, but pity was taken on us and they went and got Happy Meals for our kiddos. Nothing like Christmas with McDonald's. The kids were just as pleased although they missed their cousins. Jeremy and I tried to make the most of it and read Luke 2 to the kids while they acted it out. Then thankfully parenthood was over for the night. We put them to bed after putting out cookies and milk for Santa, and Carrots and a bowl of water for the reindeer. Those were disposed of rather quickly in a nontradional way! It was a toss up as to who had the least amount of energy.

After the darlings were asleep we had required duties to take care of. I truly contemplated telling the kids Santa did not want to come because he couldn't afford to get sick when he had so many deliveries. Luckily we had just enough borrowed energy to get things in order. We didn't, however, get our presents out. On the way back to bed I knew I was going to loose it. Well I did, all over the bathroom floor. Luckily, if you can say that, it was all on the linoleum and all that I had was water so it looked like the kids got a little crazy with the sink. When we woke up this morning we were feeling considerably better and were able to get everything in order before the kids woke up.

We had our little family Christmas with no major incidents, then went to Mom J.'s house for presents. We got there at noon and the kids enjoyed opening presents and playing with their cousins. At about 2:30 the kids ate lunch. Jeremy and I were still on the "I won't eat if it's the last thing I do diet." About 15 minutes later Haylie experienced the same lovely illness as Jer and I. Again luckily, it was over the hard wood floors. Unfortunately, her Aunt's brand new, less than a month old, Genuine Ugg boots received some splatter, UGH! Can you clean those? So our Christmas celebration came to a quick close as we told everyone of our kids to hold their breath, not to pass on germs, and get in the car really quick. Everyone was very nice about it, I can only hope that this ends with our family and we didn't infect anyone.

This has been the most nontraditional Christmas. The kiddos have been so good and we have heard "This is the BEST Christmas ever" lots of times. Jeremy and I just look at each other and laugh. It at least goes to show our kids have low expectations. As of now I just can't help but dream of a healthy Christmas next year!

Christmas

We had a great Christmas. We got to do all the typical things that we look forward to each year, although not in the same order. We watched all our favorite Christmas movies, although some have been debated as they are not REALLY Christmas movies but ones that happen t take place druing that time of year, for example The Cutting Edge...love it. It has Christmas and New Years so I have put it as one of those movies. (So Pthhhh to all you who argue!) The one that Jeremy always watched growing us was Scrooge. Amongst the typical ones like Miracle on 34th Street new and old. A first for us was White Christmas. I would label that as my all time fave now. (Thanks Hayley and Matt for introducing it to us!) It was fabulous. WE try to make it to the temple to see the lights and watch one of the performances. This year we watched a great Christmas musical montage. It was a sample of all the presentations the were happening over the following weeks. Then we went to Fenton's. Such a treat! We also make rollout sugar cookies with the extended family and save a few for Santa. Christmas Eve Jeremy and I make breakfast for his family. It is my favorite thing to do. The menu consists of Caramel French Toast, bacon or sausage, potatoes O'Brien, Scrambled Eggs, and orange juice. Then we got to hang out as everyone went their own way for the afternoon. For Dinner we went to Jeremy's Mom's house where we also do a Christmas Program. Everyone gets the opportunity to share something a thought, a story, a song, etc. I was so proud of Miranda she got up a sang Silent night all by herself. Her and Logan sang Christmas Bells. I played a game, it is a Right/Left game while telling the Nativity story. Jeremy told a story about a rusty violin being put up for auction, no one wanted to bid on it because of its looks. Then a man came and played it beautifully and the bids came and were high bids. Kind of like our savior. He makes us each valuable, and makes the difference between amazing and spectacular.

Christmas morning we had the traditional bearclaws and banana eggnog with Jer's mom and Chris. They stayed and watched us open our presents. Then we packed up and spent the rest of the day at Jer's mom's house, opening gifts, hanging out with the family and relaxing.

It was a great Christmas. I love this time of year and being able to feel closer to my Savior and the constant reminders to not only be Christ like but to remember the spirit of giving. That was our holiday in a nutshell.

We saw Ho, Ho, Ho!

On Friday night we went to see Santa Claus. They all seemed very excited in line and said they would sit on Santa's lap. When it was time Haylie and Hannah froze. They were not going to get near him for nothing. We got Logan and Lauren on his lap...well you can see the picture. Haylie and Hannah were less than thrilled by who they call Ho, ho. To you other folk he is also known as Santa. It wasn't near as traumatic once they got to walk away. Here is the picture:

On Saturday we had our Ward Christmas Dinner. It was great. We got to experience a deep fried turkey for the first time. Holy guacamole is that good! The kids got to perform in the program.

They also got to see Santa and confirm what is wished for. Here are a couple of cute pictures: Please note we do not love Haylie any less than the other four. She saw Santa, started crying dug in her heals and high tailed it out of there! She did get a candy cane just like the rest of the kids.

Word of advice ask what the kids want from Santa before you go shopping, and wait until the last minute!!!

Miranda~originally wanted an Easy Bake oven...told Santa iDog

Logan~originally wanted Blue Lightening McQueen...told Santa Drums

Haylie~originally wanted whatever we, the parents, said...told Santa...well told us to tell Santa Winnie-the-Pooh

Hannah~originally wanted the same as Haylie...told Santa a baby doll.

Lauren~as always perfectly angelic. She didn't change her mind!

We are 2 for 5!

Ohh, the memories

When I was growing up I distinctly remember one Christmas when we decided to walk the block and a half to the Christmas tree lot and carry our tree back. It was me, my two sisters, my step-dad and my mom. It was a fun thought, since we are pure city girls, to walk to get our tree even though we didn't cut it ourselves and carry it back in the snow! Well about 20 feet after carrying our carefully picked tree it started going down hill. The comedy of watching three girls and a man carry a Christmas tree down a semi-busy street had to be hilarious. As we started walking back reality set in and I realized this is embarrassing. As always things started getting awkward, I started getting giggly which I am sure encouraged my sisters to start too. Then the man who was trying to keep us together...oh the memory. (I had a similar experience with my dear hubby that caused 10 minutes of speechlessness and a look of bewilderment.) I am sure it wasn't quite like this but in a nutshell good idea at first, not so good halfway home!

Anyways now to Saturday. We live +/- 1/2 mile from a Christmas tree lot. We decided we would try that one this year. We were trying to figure out how we could get our Christmas tree back and all 5 kids with one vehicle that does not happen to be a truck. So I said well...we could walk. We thought how we could get the tree back and it came to me. We have this fabulous all-terrain wagon that screams "I can carry a Christmas tree". Jeremy was sold. Off we went. I pushed the stroller with Lauren inside. The Haylie and Hannah rode in the wagon, Logan walked along side Jeremy and Miranda limped alongside me. It was fun.

So we got to the lot. We received the standard "are these all yours?" and "wow." Then we found the perfect tree. The sales man, I think his name was Chris (isn't every body's?), chuckled to himself when we said we were walking. We assured him we lived really close. We paid for the tree, they gave each of our kids a candy cane. We adjusted our children: Logan and Miranda walked (she was no longer limping amazing how Christmas can heal all ailments!). Haylie and Hannah jumped on to the stroller with Lauren and Jeremy got the tree. We headed home.

We stopped about 4 times to help Jeremy adjust. The tree was about a foot short to hold it comfortably so he had to reach over his shoulder and grab the tippy top of the tree. He was just far enough away from the wagon that it barely missed his foot as he walked. He said he used muscles that are typically ignored. Also note he helped with a move that day too. He was still smiling as we approached our street. We, I mean he, safely got our tree home with only two minor broken branches.

Then the fun began. "Can we decorate the tree?" "No, we need to put the lights and tinsel on" "Is it on yet?" while looking at the tree!, "why isn't it on yet?" We then went and put the stuff out front. It took us a lot longer to get things done, so the kids each put on three ornaments and headed to bed. Jeremy and I finished decorating and then we hit the sack.

At about midnight we heard a crash. It is becoming a tradition that our tree falls over! UGH! So we had to clean up the mess and re-straighten the tree, and re-tighten all EIGHT screws. About 20 ornaments fell off the tree, two broke in 3 or four places. One is missing two pieces and our Christmas tree star broke into a few pieces. Thank heavens for super glue. The star still needs some attention. So how often do you get to decorate you tree twice? In our home more often then we would like! As we were both exhausted trying to figure out if we can put Logan's Toy Story ornament back together and who was going to tell him if need be, it was comical but almost worthy of tears. These are costly ornaments. It came to us separately that as beautiful as the tree is all decorated, our house decorated inside and out, the music and lights, etc. It really isn't what the season is about. We have so much to be grateful for. This is all just cherries on top. But wow what a fun story to share!