Christmas 2008

Writing our presents to Jesus.

Opening Stockings

Rachel got a rocking chair of her own. She ever knows which one is her's. I wonder how?

Kyler got a new Little People Fire Truck

Trey got a Hot Wheels Town.

Rachel only liked opening presents for a little while...

then she just wanted to play!

We took the tree of the table and it didn't take long before Rachel was in it.

We just love Cars at our house!

Matthew McConaughey is so dreamy!

Rachel loves Little People, too.

I just love the tissue paper floating in the air. What an action shot!

LeRoy smiling for the camera.

The theme of the day was, "What did you get?"

Rachel was too into her MagnaDoodle to care about the Doll House.

Who's more excited Grandma or Kyler?

Dad got a new TV from my Mom and Dad. Last night he watched TV and play video games at the same time fulfilling a lifetime dream! Good thing that TV is going to his office.

After Trey received this present, he was through opening presents. Kyler finished the rest for him.

We had a very fun Christmas and hope that all of you have been able to feel the joy that Christ's life brings to this season. May we try harder to remember His example every day of our lives.

And the moral of the blog post is..........

NEVER go to Hawaii for Christmas! My mom's neighbor is a local news guy who went to Hawaii for Christmas with his family. I told LeRoy today that if I was him I would just stay there until June. I have no idea how he is going to get to his house!

Kylerism.........

It snowed more today. This morning I went back inside to check my phone before Ward Council to make sure they hadn't called and cancelled it. The weirdest thing was the freezing rain which made it really fun to drive while not being able to see! Anyways, we ended up only have Sacrament Meeting. Kyler was devastated about not having Nursery class. We had to wait for LeRoy anyways so we let them play in the nursery room for a little while. Kyler was starting to get a little too wild. LeRoy pulled him aside and reminded him that this was Heavenly Father's house. "But he isn't here," Kyler quickly replied, " I didn't see his car in the parking lot."

I don't really have anything else to say..........

Global Warming, My Eye!

Well, at least in Cheney. This is from my front door. There was no way I was going any farther! I heard we've gotten like 18 inches or more since about ten o'clock yesterday. We're looking to break a 24 hour period record! Oh yeah, it's still snowing!

Whew....what a week!

Wow! Boy, am I glad last week is over! Most of the week was spent getting ready for Sounds of Christmas. Our stake here as an annual tradition of an evening of Christmas music performed by members of our stake and community. Though I was noticing this year there weren't as many members of the community. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that it was only like 5 degrees outside and less with the wind chill factor. And anyone who has ever been to our Stake Center knows that the wind out there is crazy! I was very blessed to be able to participate in a couple roles. I played the piano for two ladies to sing solos. Those went off without too many mistakes. I really enjoyed being able to turn pages for my dear friend, Suzy. I was exceptionally glad that I didn't have to play the song with four sharps! And then I got to sing in the Stake choir which I just love. I've said for years that I can't really sing. I have what my dad and I refer to as a choir voice. I can sing the right notes, but it's not really pretty. It's fun and it gives me an opportunity to get away and what better way to feel the Spirit than singing songs about the birth of Jesus Christ. There were some amazing numbers including a young missionary who played a couple classical guitar songs. Wow, he's definitely gonna be able to pick up some girls when he gets home! And Suzy and family plus a couple sang Homeless from the Forgotten Carols by Michael McLean a capella. They were amazing! Two teenage boys who will also certainly be able to pick up some girls someday. It was a super fun night! I am thankful for a husband who was willing to put the kids to bed every Sunday night for six weeks. I am so lucky! The night was a great addition to our Holiday Season!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We had a really fun time decorating our Christmas tree this year. Each year I realize how much bigger my kids are getting by how much they remember and enjoy getting ready for Christmas. We are focusing this year more than ever on the birth of Jesus Christ and what His life means to the world. I am so grateful for my knowledge of Him and His love for us and I strive harder everyday to be like Him.

LeRoy holding Trey up to put baseballs higher.

Publish Post

Kyler was so pleased with all his work. It was so sweet.

Wow, what would the boys do without a big dad?

I see a theme here.

Cheesing for the camera!

In case you can't tell, Kyler's upside down. Trey is manning the camera.

What a ham!

Two hams!

The boys were at it longer than I was. Adult ADD, I tell ya!

Mom gets in on the action.

I was reminded by my friend Dianne that we put our tree on a table when Kyler was Rachel's age. So, we did it again. I'm so glad she remembered!

Ever have a day that makes you forget 'one of those days'?

I am so blessed. Today was great! I watched a friend's two kids this morning and they were great. My daughter and her's are stinkin' adorable and sweet together. I got some good girl phone time in with a dear friend. My mom came over with my niece and nephew who also played so nicely with the boys and Rachel. We made gingerbread cookies and the kiddos thought it was great. I made dinner instead of succumbing to my desire to go to McDonalds. The dishes are done and the sink is empty. Clothes are in the dryer. Toys are picked up. I can see the carpet in the living room. I feel awake enough to get some more scripture reading in. Life is good.

Ever have one of those days?

Today, I am ready to throw in the towel. Primary was insane, Rachel has an ear infection, my house is all cluttered after a Saturday of playing instead of working (though it was really fun playing), Trey's listening ears are disconnected from his brain and I am just pretty much done. I feel like there are too many things to do and not nearly enough time to do it. When I have the time, I don't have the energy and when I have the energy I don't seem to have the time. What a nasty cycle. I'm hoping that by writing all of this down, then tomorrow it will all seem like not that big of a deal. Someday I will learn to say no that I just can't do it, but in the mean time I try my hardest to do everything for everyone. I really would prefer to live my life that way, but I think I am just going to have to learn that a girl can only do so much! I really am grateful for all that I have and I keep telling myself that the Lord only expects the best I can do. But then I ask myself, am I really giving my all or am I just being wimpy? Wow, what a day!

Kyler's 3!!

Kyler's birthday celebration actually started the Tuesday before Thanksgiving with Grandma on her way to Seattle to help out my brother. She brought him a pumpkin pie and one of his presents.

He was very excited!

He was singing to himself.

LeRoy decorated the table for him for breakfast.

Kyler LOVES eggs but not the yellow. So, for his special day I separated the yolks and just fried up the whites. He's such a weird eater.

Here he is ready to eat!

Trey the cheeser!

Just a family of monkeys!

We let him open one present in the morning.

This is a clue to our new goal at our house.

Ever since we went bowling for LeRoy's birthday, Kyler has wanted to go bowling for his. I thought for sure that at the last minute he would change his mind for Chuck E Cheese, but he held strong. Boy, was I grateful. Not only was it cheaper, but way less stimulating!

Trey thought he was pretty hot stuff!

Kyler ran back to see how many pins he knocked down.

The ball almost stopped once it hit the pin, but continued on the knock down on the the 1 and 5 pin. I'd never seen anything like it!

Kyler changing it up a little.

Anybody who has ever seen Kyler run has a greater appreciation for this shot than those of you not fortunate enough to witness his sprinting form.

I seem to have missed adding the pictures of Kyler making his cake. Despite his lack of desire to eat, Kyler loves to cook. I thought it only appropriate that he be able to make his own cake. He loved it! He picked out the cake mix (someday I'll help him do one from scratch) and he wanted blue frosting with Curious George.

After searching far and wide for a Curious George to put on it, we finally just printed a picture off the computer and Trey volunteered to color it. Grandma cut out construction paper balloons which I then decided to stick around the sides. I thought I was pretty clever and I think it turned out pretty cute! We are really trying hard at our house to prepare for potentially hard economic times in our country and around the world. I called this cake Great Depression worthy which is probably blasphemous compared to the reality of what those individuals went through, but it was made with things we already had in our home. I was proud and Kyler loved it!

Rachel did more damage on this cake than on her own two weeks ago!

Grandma, look what Kyler got!

All in all, it was a very fun day! I am so lucky to have such a fun little Kyler at my house. He makes us laugh everyday and he is just as smart as his brother! We love you, Kyler!