Christmas Disaster!!

I guess that I will catch all of you up from Christmas till now. I have been such a slacker lately, but I have been spending a lot of time with my kids that was so needed.
So our Christmas started out awesome! My dad and my sister Katie were here and spent Christmas Eve with us where we had a big dinner and program at Merrial's parents house. Brenden was the first one up the next morning at 7 which is so unlike him, he's usually my one that sleeps in, he must have been excited. This year our tree was a charlie brown Christmas tree, it wasn't one of my favorites.


My kids know that they can not go out and see what Santa has gotten them until everyone is awake and they come and get us. So here is the kids standing in the hall waiting for me to finish taking pictures. It was actually really funny trying to keep Addison in the hall, if you can tell by her face.


Here are Brenden and Brooklyn's piles, their big presents were in little boxes. They both got Nintendo DS from Santa.

This is what Santa got Addie, she was so excited when she saw it. But it didn't take long for her to see all the wrapped presents and she came running.


She was kind of still half asleep, because Brenden woke her up.
Then she really got into it and loved her play house.

Brenden getting started on his presents. He was very specific this year with what he wanted, I think that Santa did very well. He asked for acouple of Transformers, Bumblebee, Mega Tron, Sideswipe, and Optimus Prime. He got a blue Nintendo Ds with 4 DS games, both Transformer movies, Wii NBA2K10, an awesome two hoop arcade basketball game that takes up a lot of our basement. There was a lot more, but I can't remember it at this time.
Brooklyn also got a pink Nintendo DS with 4 DS games, a couple of littlest pet shop toys, a baby alive doctor doll, some cds and movies. Hannah Montana barbie and board game, some webkins that she loves playing with. She got a Liv barbie doll, coloring stuff, clothes, books and a whole bunch more that I am drawing a blank.

Addison was really fun this year, she just went from one present to the next until they were all ripped open. She was like the Tasmanian Devil, it was really cute! Addison got the little cottage like you saw above, she got a couple of baby dolls, food for her kitchen and pots and pans. She got some clothes, stuffed horse and some books.
The day before Christmas, I had been bragging that my tree was so healthy. It was still drinking like a pitcher of water a day and at the beginning when we put up the tree it was drinking 2 pitchers a day. So as I got under my tree to get the last of the presents out, it was all wet. The presents were wet, the tree skirt and the plastic underneath the tree. So we ripped out the tree, the carpet, the pad and the wood underneath was all wet and moldy. So we got some fans and started drying the wood and carpet. It smelled so bad, I was going crazy! I was so mad at myself for not noticing that it was wet. Then after all this carpet mess, Merrial put a hole in our wall going down our stairs and then my car wouldn't start, I had to take it to the shop and they had it for 2 weeks trying to figure out why it wouldn't start. I will tell you it was a wonderful Christmas up until this point. I lived with my carpet and living room torn up like this for almost a week.

Welcome Griffin Shane!!

My brother Shane and his wife Hailey finally got their baby boy today at 3:30 this morning. He weighted 8 lbs 11 oz and was 20 inches long. After being a week over due we are excited that he is finally here healthy and happy!! Congratulations Shane and Hailey!! We love you!

Christmas Tree Hunting

This year we ended up missing Merrial's family tree excursion. They went on the Friday after Thanksgiving and we were still up in Park City. So my Aunt Erin and her family went with us on Saturday, they cut down like a 20 ft tree and tied it to the top of their car and drove it all the way to California. They put the whole tree in their house and didn't cut anything off of it. It was a really pretty tree.
Merrial and I looking for a tree.

Tom and Merrial holding up the really big tree.

Tom, Erin, Connor and Kendra with their tree.

Merrial, Me, Brenden, Brooklyn, and Addison with our tree. Ours wasn't so pretty this year.

Polar Express

This year we did Thanksgiving a little different. Usually we are home and we spend it with Merrial's family. But my Aunt Erin called me and said that they were coming up to Park City to go skiing and spend Thanksgiving with us at the condo. So we headed up to Park City on Tuesday. Wednesday just Erin and I went and saw New Moon which I had been waiting for since it opened. Erin and I actually had tickets to the midnight showing in California but I didn't go, so she decided not to go either and we went together up here. Let me tell you how hard it was not to go with my friends. But I am glad that I waited, it was really fun going with just Erin.

Then Wednesday night we headed to Heber City to ride the Polar Express. It was a little pricey but I think it was good to experience it at least once. It is definitely better for the kids, than the adults.

Posing on the train.

Addison wouldn't get off the train after we took their pictures, she was having a fit.

Brooklyn and Kendra waiting to leave the train station.

Connor and Brenden also waiting for a fun excursion through the snow to the North Pole.

Nana and Addison waiting for the train to leave. Addie was really restless and wanted to run around. But we were told not to do that, so she had a rough time.

Erin and Tom getting cozy on the train ride to the North Pole.

Our elf named Gingerbread, walking up and down the aisle while they read the story.

Kendra and Brooklyn getting their tickets punched by the conductor.

Connor and Brenden also getting their tickets punched. Just like in the story.

Mrs. Clause came and saw us before the big guy himself did. She brought us a copy of the cookie recipe, and talked to the kids for a few minutes.

Addison was getting really tired by the middle of the train ride, this is her almost a sleep.

Just a few minutes later she looked like this, very tired baby. Nothing woke this child up, not even santa.

Cute picture with Santa. Too bad Addie wasn't in it. But she was a sleep. Santa gave each child a bell, just like in the story. We had a good time just enjoying each other. We sang Christmas carols, they gave us warm hot chocolate, and 1 chocolate chip cookies. But we were sitting right next to the cookies and Erin kept stealing them and giving them to everyone. It was pretty funny!
The next day was Thanksgiving and everyone came up to the condo for dinner. Erin, my mom and I did all the cooking. We had my brother and his wife, my mom and Jeff, us, Erin and her family and that was it. It was really nice, we watched football for Merrial and played games. Then at 4am Erin and I hit Walmart. I have never done shopping on black Friday before, it was crazy but a lot of fun being able to spend time with just Erin. We got alot done and there was some really good deals. Then after we got done shopping we had to check out of the condo and we headed down to my house.

Eclipse

I just wanted to let everyone know what the new Eclipse Poster looked like and that they have released the official date the movie comes out. June 30, 2010 baby!

Thankful!

I saw this on my really good friends blog and loved it! Totally agreed with what it says, so I borrowed it.

Things I am thankful for:

The mess to clean up after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends and family.

The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

A lawn that needs mowing, gutters that need cleaning, and windows that need washing because it means that I have a home.

The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot becase it means that I am capable of walking.

All the complaining that I hear about our government because it means that I have the freedom of speech.

The lady in church who sings off key or the guy at the game who yells too loud because it means I can hear.

My heating bill because it means I am warm.

The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.

All of the frustration, stresses and joys that my children add to my life because it means that I was able to have them and they are alive.

Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.