Fun Times With The Family

We have had so much fun while school has been out and Don has been off work. We've completed a few cleaning "projects," and have a few more to do, but we've played, too. On Monday night we headed to Temple Square with our best friends, the Webbs, to see the lights. We mistakenly thought that it wouldn't be as busy since Christmas is over, but the lights are always beautiful. Hot cocoa back at our house finished off the night perfectly.

Then yesterday Kristol and I took the kids sledding at the nearby golf course. It's got a lot of great hills, but it's been warm enough that most of them were pure ice. I took Britton on a very small hill a few times, and then tried a larger one that wasn't too steep. He loved it! We're now hoping for new snow so that we can go back again before heading back to "real life."

Handsome Little Man

Just a few pictures I've taken of Britton over the last week. I love this little guy!

Looking a little too old in his new outfit.

His favorite Christmas gift.

Just after his bath.

Headed out to play in the snow with Dad.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas. Ours was wonderful! We spend Christmas Eve each year with my parents, having a nice candlelight dinner and program. This year we had Brandon & Stacie & their kiddos, Jeremy & Heather, and us all with my Mom and Dad. It was a yummy dinner and a beautiful program. When we returned home, we all got to open up one present - new p.j.'s and the kids each got a new heat bag. The jammies, at least, are tradition. On Christmas morning, the kids can get up as early as they want and get into their stockings, but they have to wait for Mom and Dad to open any presents. Everybody gets 4 presents - something to wear, something you need, something to play with, something to read. There were many cheers of delight. After presents, we do a big breakfast with special "once-a-year" pancakes, strawberries, whipped cream, pancakes, sausage, and bacon. This year, Don and I left for a bit after breakfast to go to my Mom's and talk to John Cameron who is serving a mission in Hawaii. It was great to hear his voice! We planned to spend the rest of the day at home together, but the storm was so bad that it knocked a power line down around the corner, and we were left without heat. Mom and Dad still had power, so we headed over there to get warm and had fun playing games with them and Brandon & Stacie. After several hours our power was back on and we headed home to get kids to bed after a long, but wonderful Christmas Day.

Gingerbread Houses...sort of...

I was reminded of a family tradition from when I was a little kid that I wanted to do with my kids this year. We would each get to make our own "gingerbread house" out of graham crackers and decorate it our way. The frosting wasn't perfect, but it did the job. We had a great time together and made some fun houses. Britton just had fun eating M&M's.

Christmas Tag

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for Christmas, gift bags for everything else.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real tree - I love that smell!!!

3. When do you put up the tree? I'd love to do it the day after Thanksgiving, but we don't want it to get dry, so usually the last few days of November. Of course, some years those are the same.

4. When do you take the tree down? The week after Christmas when Don is home.

5. Do you like Egg Nog? LOVE IT! Southern Comfort and the Costco brands are my favorite.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't know what the occasion was, but I got a gray stuffed kitty that lasted through high school. My mom also made me a quilt that I kept until a year ago when it finally fell apart (literally) in the wash.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad and my mom-in-law.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Don (James Bond anything or a sweater and he's happy)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? A few - 1 Precious Moments, a wood block one that Britton loves, and a wood puzzle one that my mom made for all of us a few years ago.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail - and I finally got some out this year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't have one - for me it really is the thought that means so much.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Mr. Krueger's Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday, baby!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope, unless you count white-elephant gifts.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Krantz, cheese ball, sweet Chex mix

16. Lights on the tree? The more, the better.

17. Favorite Christmas song? "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah Mclachlan (sp?)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Comet, and Vixen...

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A big snowman

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? PJ's on Christmas Eve, the rest Christmas morning. The kids can get in their stockings first thing, but have to wait for Don and me to open the rest.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Grumpy people - it's supposed to be the happiest time of the year!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I LOVE snowmen!!!

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Clothes, but Don hates shopping for clothes for me.

I tag: Chelsi, Heather, Katie, Stef, Kristol, Brigitta

Making Music

Kenzie had her first piano recital last Saturday. She played three songs and did a great job. We've always known that she had a great ear (she used to sit down and pick out songs), and it has been fun to watch her progress so quicly with her lessons. Next time I'll know to put her hair back so that I can get a decent picture :o), but here are a few shots of our little musician.

Bragging Rights

Just wanted to do a little "Mom Bragging" about my awesome kids. Syd entered the Reflections contest at the Junior High with a dance routine that she coreographed and won, so it will be moving on to the next level. Kenzie got an Honorable Mention for her poetry entry for Reflections. Emma won an Honorable Mention for her photograph (see below) and an Award of Excellence for her poem, so it will be moving on to the next level. And last, but certainly not least, we got Maddy's CRT scores from last year back. Those are the big tests that they have to take at the end of every school year in Math, English, and Science. Well, Maddy scored a perfect 100% on her math CRT! She didn't miss a single question. We are very proud of the little smarty-pants and G'pa Kidd is very excited for his little mathematician.

A Tale of Two Movies

On the opening night, I went with Don and a fairly large group to see the new James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace." LOVED IT!!! Then on Saturday I went with Syd, my friend Kristol, and her daughter, Ashlie to see "Twilight." Sydni loved it, and I'm so glad that she did. I will even let Kenzie go see it - as long as I don't have to take her. I know alot of people absolutely loved it - I am definately not one of them. My advice - spend your money on James Bond.

Buddies

Emma and Britton are great buddies and love to play together. This little "game" they were playing the other night had them both laughing so hard; it was adorable.

A Prodigy In The Making?

There are few things I love more than listening to Don play the piano. Britton has started joining him, which changes the sound of some of the songs, but is still dang cute.

Another New Face

Kenz got new glasses too!

Her New Face

Syd got glasses for the first time in her life, and we picked them up yesterday. She put them on and smiled, saying "Hey, I can see stuff." Her vision isn't too bad, but enough that they help her. Being a 13-year old girl, she's not happy about having to wear glasses, but at least she found some cool ones.

Reflections

I am over the Reflections Program at the elementary school, and that is what my week has been filled with. This week was turn in for 3 of our tracks, and we got a record number of entries this year - 334! Hooray!!! The theme this year was "WOW," and it has been fun to see what the kids came up with. Emma, Maddy, and Kenzie all entered photographs, which I will post below.

Kenzie's - "WOW - I ate too much!"

Emma's - "WOW - What a storm!"

Maddy's - "WOW - It's cold!"

Halloween

Tiffani and Emma as Goths.

Maddy as a flower-child.

Britton as a spider.

Proud To Be An American

Check out the video at this link. It's pretty powerful.
www.campaignamerica.blogspot.com

Another First

Look what Britton did when we told him it was time for prayer! Now if I could just get the girls to keep their eyes closed, maybe he would learn to do that during prayers, too.

Look Chelsi - We did it!

We have German Pancakes for lunch EVERY Sunday, and my little sis showed me a new way to make them - in a muffin pan. The girls loved them! Thanks for the idea, Chelsi!

A New Look

This was my "costume" for our ward Halloween party. We were late, and I stayed after to clean up, so I didn't get any pictures of the girls or Britton, but I'll get some on Halloween. This was after, so my lipstick was starting to disappear, but you get the idea. I got a few votes for "scariest costume," but Britton just laughed at me.

111,111 Miles

While in St. George, we found out that we have to replace the engine in our van. (I won't get into all of the thoughts and emotions that brought up) Anyway, my little sis and her hubby are letting us use their Pathfinder for the week while the van is repaired. On our way home, we hit 111,111 miles. Don thought that it was an event that needed to be recorded. Of course, he wouldn't be in any of the pictures, but you can see how excited the kids are about it.

A Festivus For The Rest Of Us

Last Thursday we headed to St. George for the Leavitt Family Reunion, 2008 Edition. Don's brother, Mike, was in charge this year and decided to make it a holiday extravaganza. We had a New Year's Eve party Thursday night to begin the reunion. On Friday, we started with an Easter Egg Hunt, followed by a Memorial Day/July 4th/Pioneer Day/Labor Day hike and picnic, and ended the day by celebrating Halloween. We spent Saturday celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas, and even had a visit from St. Nick himself. We all had a wonderful time and are so grateful for the love and friendship we share with the Leavitt family.

The older kids had to do the Easter Egg Hunt "tied" to a cousin.

Britton and Maddy enjoyed the hike...

until Britton got too tired.

That's what you call "relaxed."

A view from the underside. You can see his head resting on his arm which is resting on his leg.

Marathon Weekend

Okay, so I'm a little slow posting about the trip, but Maddy, Britton, and I went to St. George last weekend to cheer my little sis in running her first marathon. We went through Koosharem to see my maternal grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Wickham, where Britton started walking. Chelsi did a great job in the marathon, despite the constant rain, and I was so proud of her.

This is my Grandpa Wickham, my mom's dad. I adore him!!!


It was raining enough that we tried to keep Gracie and Britton protected in the stroller (designed for one). They didn't appreciate the close quarters...


Britton fell asleep in the stroller, and Gracie had to check in on him.

This is Chelsi's fan club after the race. We were all a little soggy (Chelsi was soaking wet), but we were so proud of her!

We had a chance to visit with Don's parents. Britton just loves Grandma Jani.