our christmas

our christmas celebrating starts like it always does

with christmas eve mass in emmett

with almost the whole family

it was a beautiful mass

with a christmas message 

dedicated to the children lost in Connecticut

then quickly back home to watch

a charlie browns christmas

and off to bed

the boys were so excited christmas morning

they all slept together in a room

ryan came in our room at 11:30 saying he heard santa

then again at 2:30 because he couldn't sleep 

and then finally around 5:30 we heard them talking again

so we got up

 christmas was a lot of electronics this year

a laptop, ipod touch and nintendo ds, oh my!

the boys loved all of their gifts

and even got in a christmas morning play date with the girls

before we left for my parents

luke was so obsessed with all of his new beyblades 

that he didn't even care to keep opening the rest of his presents

at our house or my parents, crazy kid

ryan is all about his ds, the other boys think it's pretty cool too

and like luke we had to keep telling him it was his turn again to open a present

poor cody was sick with a sore throat but he was a trooper

and papa's little buddy

he loves his new laptop and was shocked that he even got one
we still give the three gifts per person for us and the boys
but after grandparents, aunt and uncles and cousins
everyone still comes home with more than plenty

RYAN

LUKE

CODY

ME

HEATH

we arrived at my parents a little after ten

for round two of presents

sadly tucker had to work so he didn't get to join us until later in the afternoon 

after brooke and ricky already had to leave to get to another relatives

i don't like when we are not all together

we all had a great time opening presents

youngest to oldest 

around and around we go

Matt pushing us along so there is not a delay

until the final present is unwrapped

lastly we open our exchange gifts to each other

always something a little special 

for the person we drew

 the rest of the day was spent

eating a simple non traditional dinner

lasagna-bread-salad

and a little dessert

cheescake-apple crisp

watching tucker open all of his presents at once

no having to wait for others when you are the last one there

enjoying our time together

thankful for the family we have 

and another christmas of memories

cotton headed ninny muggins

good bye Cotton

it's been fun

actually, it's been a lot of work

but

you will be flying back to the north pole tonight

we will see you next year

...maybe

MERRY CHRISTMAS

does it get any better

last weekend was our annual candy exchange day

this year we added a little something to it

come wearing a holiday themed shirt

of course the uglier the better

everyone arrived by noon

we ate Heath's yummy homemade soup and subway sandwiches

decorated over 100 sugar cookies

exchanged our candies and goodies with each other

then headed out for a little bowling

there wasn't an official vote taken

but my pick for best holiday shirt winner was

Heath's bahhumbug sweater looking t-shirt for the boys 

and Brooke's snowman turtleneck shirt for the girls

now granted Hailey had the matching turtleneck but didn't keep hers on all day

  the cookie decorating is getting pretty competitive these days

Ricky topped Matt's decorating skills this year by making a 

quadruple decked candy cane sugar cookie covered in frosting

his new nickname is Buddy the Cookie Boss

Matt says he already has some ideas for next year and they include lights

 i haven't been bowling in years

and our whole family has never been all together

it was a good time

and I learned a few things

 i learned that my two older boys did not like not being good at bowling

there were a few tears 

after a few lessons from Heath and their uncles

then they were back to smiles again

and having fun

i learned that my mom totally kicks butt at bowling

strike after strike after strike

i learned that Ryan was just out to have a good time, he had no worries

 i learned that Tucker can throw the ball really far and crazy

crazy like skipping a whole lane and landing in the one next to that

i learned that we need four bowling lanes to fit us all

i learned that Kimberly makes a really heartbreaking sad face when she wants her momma

 what i already knew was

that even though we were full from soup, sandwiches and sugary treats

we still can eat more

and filled up on wings, nachos, drinks and beers

that we are a loud bunch

laughing and joking all day long

we find ourselves fairly funny

that we can have a good time no matter where we go

that we are extremely blessed to have each other

and to call them family

it's the little things

It makes me so sad

to know that I have all of these new memories to share

and that there will be no new memories made

for all of the people that lost loved ones in Connecticut 

I cry for them

I pray for them

and I try really hard not to take the little things 

for granted.

Little things like

a day of crafting with a good friend

laughing at how Luke decided to sleep in his closet all night long

Grammy making fudge with Ryan

 Christmas shopping at the mall with all of my boys

you can see their enthusiasm

Cody in his glasses

he is doing great with them and even says that things don't look

just like blobs anymore

 a little bit of snow  

 watching Ryan's Christmas program at school

listening to their little voices singing "Christmas Is"

the words 

"it's about peace, it's about joy

it's about every girl and boy

it's about family

it's about caring

it's about people giving and sharing

it's about peace

it's about joy

it's about love"

it was just too precious, my favorite program yet

 good friends that will always be there 

 reading Ryan's Christmas chain that said

he can vacyoom the living room to help

 being there to cheer on Ryan at his karate promotions

not only did he earn his third stripe but he also earned

an award for most improved Tiger 

my loving family

december so soon

I was feeling good about the holidays

until today

december first 

how did that happen?

 The tree is not up

the decorations are slowly coming out

but we did start our tradition 

with our elf 

"cotton headed ninny muggins"

to see the mischief that he can get into each night.

 Since the chess board was already out

the boys were wanting to play

Cody is learning chess at school every friday during lunch

so he got to test out his skills on Heath

he lost but they had a good time.

 We also made it to our school

for breakfast with Santa

The kids had each written their letters to deliver.

Ryan asked for some stuffed star wars angry birds

Luke told Santa that he's just been so so good

and Cody opted out of visiting with Santa

but did go in for the group picture. 

Next up on the days to do's

were family Christmas card pictures

it was cold and windy but we managed to get one.

Do you know that this boy will be wearing glasses soon?

We all had our vision tested this week

and it turns out that Cody is near sighted and 

needs to wear glasses only while he's at school.

He wasn't really loving the idea 

and was in denial 

telling the doctor that he can see just fine

but he's warmed up to the idea now

and is going to look so handsome in his new glasses.

 This boy too will be wearing glasses in the near future

maybe one or two years from now the doctor thinks

Luke was a little bummed

he wanted glasses now

he thought that he would look so cool in them.

I would have to agree 

this is one cool kid.

And to think that this is the kid that I thought

would be needing glasses.

Glasses will be a whole new thing for us

Heath and I don't wear them

(thankfully I passed my vision test too

after not having been in like seventeen years)

so we will see how it goes.

How can you not smile when you

see this toothless grin?

I know it will all get done

it always does

the boys are excited

and so am I
the holiday countdown is on.