Christmas 2011

Taylor's school Christmas program. Santa came afterwards and once again all my kids sit on his lap and no one cried. YEAH!



We spent Christmas in New Jersey this year! We love being with extended family for Christmas but traveling is getting more difficult every year and with the more kids we have. We realized there was no way we could get all Christmas gifts and children in our van and tools (Dave had some projects to do in New Jersey and need his large tools). So, Dave's parents were so kind to come get the kids two days before we headed down. That was nice because we were able to finish up some projects.

Christmas Eve was wonderful. We did the tradition with the Bramhall family by having a favorite foods dinner. Everyone gets to bring their favorite food for dinner. We get a wide range of food and it was great. Taylor took ravioli, Drew took Edamamae, Lana took chips, Dave took Philly Cheesesteak, and I took Candy Cane Popcorn. Then we did the right left story and the Christmas story from Luke. The kids where so cute acting out the Christmas story.

Christmas day everyone slept in a little but once Taylor woke up he came in so quick and was ready to go and got everyone else excited. Taylor asked Santa for a race track that hooked to his Hot Wheels track, Drew asked Santa for a Lightning McQueen race track, and Lana wanted a "dawhouse" or dollhouse. They all got what they wished for and so much more. Thanks to everyone for gifts. Everything went over great and we had a lot of large gifts and we were able to get everything back to our house in the van due to a gift the in laws gave us. We got a large canvas bag to put on top of the minivan, it was great and it can fit so much stuff. We loved it.



While in New Jersey we got to go bowling, go to the Cape May zoo, the Philadelphia Aquarium, make gingerbread houses and play with cousins. Dave learned how to tile and tiled his brothers kitchen and redid some closet shelves for his parents.

Thanks to the Bramhalls for a wonderful Christmas time. The only thing lacking was snow, but they didn't have any in Utah so it didn't hurt too bad. Lana and Taylor were very upset though. They kept saying it wasn't Christmas because it hadn't snowed. Poor kids-I felt the same way.

Prep Time

I love prepping for Christmas. I love getting out the decorations, I love picking out a tree and I love love love Christmas music.

The kids were so great this year. It was fun to have three kids who were really into Christmas, especially our elf, Sticks. The kids loved running around the house in the morning looking for him and talking to him. I loved telling him was naughty and who was nice.

All the kids got to sit on Santa's lap a few times and tell them what they wanted. This was the first year that Taylor even would sit on Santa's lap and all of my other children decided to follow his example. Not one of my children cried this year and I was so so happy about that. Taylor, in the beginning, asked Santa for a Dollhouse for Lana or a Jeep for Dad. He didn't care if he got anything he just wanted gifts for others. It was so cute. After realizing that Santa needed to hear from him what he wanted or he was going to be surprised he decided on a race track that had fire. Drew wanted a Lightning McQueen racetrack. Lana wanted a dollhouse.

We got our tree from a tree farm not far from our house. We had a really good time walking through a field finding the right tree and then cutting it down. Taylor was so proud of himself for picking a great tree. I must say it was one of my favorites that we have had. I thought it fit perfect and was beautiful. Dave agreed with the exception that it was so pokey. It scratched his arms up, so bad.

It was a wonderful holiday season.

Thanksgiving 2011!

We headed to New Jersey for Thanksgiving Day. The drive was horrible as usual, 7 hours of driving with four kids in the car and no movies (I forgot the laptop). After the long long drive we were excited to be with Dave's family and I was excited because some of my family (Casey, Lindsey and Jack) were coming over for Turkey dinner. I love being with my In-Laws but it felt like a piece of home was there with me.

Thanksgiving morning Dave got in some football and ultimate frisbee while I dressed kids and then took them to watch for a little while. Taylor and I raced around the field about 10 times, so I got my exercise too. Drew was having a hard day so he got to race with me. I raced Taylor with Drew in my arms, that is a good workout, awkward but good.

Turkey dinner was wonderful, thanks to MaryAnn, my Mother In-Law. That evening we took the kids to a park cause the weather was nice. The next day we headed into Philadelphia and watched the Macy's Christmas light show, walked through Charles Dickens village, sat on Santa's lap and ate McDonalds with the homeless, Occupy protesters, and Mormons (inside story). We got to do all of this with Casey, Lindsey and Jack. Thanks for joining us in the fun.

On Saturday, Cecily was baptised. We got to be a part of that special day and my children really enjoyed seeing her getting baptised. Congrats Cecily!!!

It was a wonderful holiday. I love being with family and that is what we got to do.

One of the pictures is from Taylor's Thanksgiving preschool program. He was so cute and so nervous with all the people watching him. They sang about 5 songs and Taylor maybe sang 5 words. Afterwards his teacher said she was amazed because during the practices he was the loudest and best singer. That shocked me, he never sings at home. We will have to see how he does in other programs.

FLORIDA!!!

My wonderful husband decided to let me come on a work vacation with him. He got to go to work from 9-5 and I got to sit by the pool and on the beach. We spent the majority of time in West Palm Beach but did find some time to visit Miami and drive through part of the Keys. We didn't go alone, Logan got to come and spend some much needed alone time with us. The rest of the kids stayed with Grandma & Grandpa Bramhall in New Jersey.

It was a wonderful, restful week and we had a really great time. THANKS to my husband and in-laws for some nice time away from home.

Halloween 2011

Halloween 2011 didn't really happen but we had a good time planning for it. Instead of a Harvest Festival at the church with trunk or treating and walking from house to house getting candy we had a historical snow storm. We got to host another family that was without power. The kids aren't old enough to get upset that they didn't get candy so they just had a really really good time with the Nicolls. They stayed for 4 days and my kids were in heaven. Many people in Connecticut lost power for days even weeks. It was crazy. I always thought it was crazy that the Eastern States would miss so much school when it stormed. In Utah we were lucky if we got to miss school with 4 feet of snow. But I understand now, its the trees! With the amount of snow we received and a lot of leaves still on the trees we had many, many, many trees that snapped. There were trees down everywhere, all over the power lines, power boxes, homes, roads, etc. They are still cleaning up from it. So, Happy Halloween!

Rice Cereal Time!!

I really do not like the rice cereal and baby food stage of life. It is such a big mess and is so time consuming. But there is no way around it and even though its a mess it is so fun to see the curious, confused, funny faces that the child makes while exploring food.

Pumpkin Pickin' & Apple Pickin'

We went pumpkin pickin' and apple pickin' at March Farms. We had a really good time. Taylor got a huge pumpkin that cost a lot but hey he is the oldest and spoiled ;) After we found the perfect pumpkins we visited the animals at the Farm and the playground. Oh yeah, we got to indulge in some apple cider doughnuts while playing at the playground. Then we headed to pick some apples. Lets just say apple pickin' in Connecticut is difficult with young kids and a stoller. The rolling hills and rocky trails were quite a task but totally worth it. The kids loved getting in the trees and picking the apples and taste testing the apples. To end the evening we found a great spot to roll down a hill and look over the farm. It was a great day!!! I have wonderful children and a wonderful husband.