Christmas Morn 2008

Here are some pictures from Christmas morning (from facebook, see where my priorities are nowadays!).

Also, here is a priceless video of the magical excitement of Christmas morning from our house. I love seeing them get so incredibly stoked over the silliest of Santa's gifts (like a slinky!). It is awesome.

We had a fun, if frantic, Christmas with the Stayner siblings, kids, and Maama & Baampa. It was sort of out of hand but memorable and fun. I've said it before, but this year with the boys at these ages is truly magical and fun, and most of their cousins are at the same stages. We loved the 3 drafts of letters to Santa, the shopping and returning and more shopping, the neighbor treats, caroling, giving to others, having the kids really know what Christmas is all about, hearing them sing their beautiful Christmas lullaby (thank you Morinda!) even if I missed every singing performance this season (school and two sacrament meeting performances including one in which the primary sang with the choir! at least I caught a bit of a rehearsal and they sounded amazing, harmonizing and everything!), the Messiah, Peter Breinholt Christmas concert, Zoo Lights, holiday parties, and more. It was a truly fantastic Christmas. And I love my new snowshoes!!! On this glorious past Saturday Holden and I went on a wicked cool snow hike with a borrowed set of kids' snowshoes for H, some poles and a few ladies (and lots of other snowshoers!). The snow was deep and H had a blast! He even said it was more fun than sledding! I am now looking for a few pairs of kids' snowshoes (just went to REI and they didn't have the Tubbs I would like). Bonus, I just found out HWT got snowshoes for Christmas too, so we've already set a date to snowshoe every Monday morning, and Andy is even looking into getting me that Burley ski kit attachment to take PJ and the Taylor kids along.

I am seriously just typing and typing because this 2 minute video is taking forever to upload and I am waiting...

We love the new Wii. We got the Wii fit, Shaun White's snowboarding, and MarioKart. Although the reality of my Wii fit stats are humbling and frightening, I am having a blast, as are the kids. Now we have the Xbox set up on the kids TV (the kids TV and playroom is pretty much adjacent to the adult playroom re: bigger TV separated by a set of double doors that are rarely closed) so I can play with the Wii and they can play Lego Star Wars and a host of other games Matt and the gang just unloaded on us.

Wow, this is taking FOREVER!

What else, I can't stop buying Penelope boots. They are so cute, I can't resist. I wish I could find some for me that were as cute and not $200! I think that is why it is so easy to overload her.

Seriously, this video is worth it!

Peter Breinholt Christmas Concert

(Ryan (#1 fan), Rachel, Peter, Moi, Kate, Harrison, Bailey, Sue, Zach, & Kay, not pictured: Matt, photog, & David B.)

This was taken last night at the Peter Breinholt Christmas Concert at Rose Wagner Hall (incidentally the same hall Holden's 1st grade opera was performed in, a very beautiful place, and yes I said that like 10 times last night). It was a fantastic time. I saw the concert on facebook and knew the Phelps (Peter's #1 fans) would be in town so I jumped at the chance to get tickets. Dad and Matt were also in attendance and Andy joined us for dinner beforehand (he would have loved it, and I guarantee would have bought me a piano today if he had gone). The talent was incredible and I love that because it shows these incredible, cool guys singing, playing piano, fiddle, banjo, bass guiter, etc. and showcasing their incredible hard work and talent in such a fun way. I really want the boys to pick up violin (I know equally, if not more expensive than piano, but it is so beautiful!). I also love how selfless Peter is with sharing the stage and showcasing his talented friends. I think it's truly humble and great for an entertainer to be this way. It was a fun night. I laughed, clapped along, and even cried. Thanks for sharing this special Christmas event with us.

Astronauts

It's been 4 hours and 28 minutes and they have come up with this. We have 2 more weeks of this fun stuff. Holden came up first and we couldn't figure it out, and then were deciding whether or not to be disgusted (but I knew they were clean per all the clean unfolded laundry scattered throughout the downstairs), and then AK & I just laughed. Owen followed and insisted they looked like Astronauts. These photos may haunt them when they are in Law (Owen "the memory")/Medical School (Holden "the scientist math whiz") at Yale and Penelope is engaged to a Rockefeller.

We like to call them Earl (H) & Randy(O).

Blue Bird Sled Day

Dude, that kid is STOKED! Holden.

Owen hitting the jump.

Wooooeeeeee!

Brothers Sledding with Dad at 5 pm (dusk/dark!)

Earlier in the day with D. Owen totally posed this shot by the way, with the board in that position. FYI.

Owen "snowboarding". I couldn't be more proud. He didn't eat it as hard as it looks. And did this a few times. No bindings. The kids may be ready to board this year...uhm.

Owen & the Miekle gang quickly tracked out the Knight sled mount. But the kids never tired of it, even going at dusk/dark with Dad to Sugarhouse for a few good runs. Here are some action pics.

Fun Christmas Parties

We had a riot of 2 fun parties yesterday! Our ward party was off the hook. The food and decor and PJ dressed guests was fabulous. I hadn't showered in a few days (wanting to preserve the professionally styled 'do for a few days) and so I showed in my home PJs (jeans). The funny thing is I got home and put back on PJ pants (andy's of course). It was quite catching and looked so comfortable. Anyway, then the kids put on a great and peaceful nativity (the pictures did not turn out, for the flash was not great enough I guess, sigh, someday). Then we had some friendly competitions. The different quoroms took turns pulling Bishop Hall "Santa" on his "sleigh" (a blanket). It was hilarious. Luckily, Bishop Hall is young and slight. The winning time was about 9.75 seconds (to the end of the gym, around a cone, and back) by the Young Men. The Young Women were 2nd with 10.something. Then there were a few more games including filling up hose with small balloon we had to blow up and then someone putting the "antlers" on their head and leading "Jingle Bells" & racing to put random things in "Santa's bag" (temple recommend was found most quickly by a YM, isn't that impressive!). Then Santa came. The kids were in awe and got a great goodie box of stuff. PJ didn't want anything to do with him. It was awesome.
Pictures here
Then we rested, watched the snow, Holden went to a swimming birthday party, and Owen & Dad went sledding, while P napped and I hung out on facebook & e-shopped.

In the evening, AK & I attended the fantastic Taylor Christmas party. The food was fantastic (yummy Salmon!), we had a good gang circle in the den, and fabulous entertainment. The boys, JB, Paul E., and AK, who had helped clear out the furniture the night before (it took about 30 minutes tops, but they were there until 1:30 or so!) and recorded a song "It's Christmastime" based on the tune and mannerisms of "It's Business Time" by the Flight of the Conchords. They had a lot of set-up going on, keyboards (AK's gig), amps, and microphones, so the wives (Amy, Hill, & I) nervously giggled and secretly hoped it would be worth it. It was. It was hilarious and I so wish we would have recorded it and I would totally show you, it was really fantastic. The lyrics were hilarious and it was quite a performance. Other talents included a nose whistling family, a sextet"Baby It's Cold Outside", a great piano solo, a beautiful violin, voice, piano number (I can't recall the name, The Infant Child???), and of course Erin's amazing 'O Holy Night', and of course all the caroling/singing along led by the Taylors and played by Stephanie. I brought my camera (of course) but I left it in my coat!!! I already regret it. Susan always takes photos, we'll have to see...

Now I feel like decorating our "lights only" Christmas tree.

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! Crazy and incredibly readable and an amazing author story. Funny and a wild trip.


View all my reviews.

Re: Not suitable for children and/or Relief Gang book clubs.

Monday

After the 4 Family Caroling night. It was chaotic, but a beautiful, fun to play in the snow night for all and we got to carol to 7 pleased people (Carol Raymond, Nik & Suzy Looser, Bettilyion, Eldon Hunt, Wagstaffs, Hansen, & Maryetta Yakamoto, just so I remember!). We sang Jingle Bells, Silent Night (where on cue we would lose the kids from the front and center position on the steps), and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. I wish everyone could come and we could go to every home in the 'hood, but Andy honestly thought that our floor would cave in with the invited 30 or so (it would not, he was being very dramatic).

When Holden got home from school, there was a break in the snow fall and the boys headed out in there gear for some fun...

Caroline had come over to play with Owen (they drew lots of pictures, put them in manila envelopes as Christmas presents or in one lucky case, an early present (mine). Liz and Jack joined the play group and PJ & Jack seemed to be having a good, pleasant time playing downstairs (Liz and I were upstairs eating and chatting, it was awesome!).

First time PJ wears the previously Sabine's snow suit and loved it! It is 3T and I'm thinking it might fit her for 2 seasons? I think Sabine (who is 5) was wearing it last year! She is also wearing hand me downs from Tessa, size 10, yes they are big and she does have others, but aren't they cute?

Christmas Season 2008

Funny faces. I desperately wanted to get this one on the card, but didn't, so for your facebook and blog pleasure...probably our true favorite.

It was Wednesday night, my Mom was visiting while Dad was teaching his last Economics class of the semester, Andy had come home sick, I had a beef stew cooking, and all was a flurry of frantic energy already, when I decided to take the kids' pictures for Christmas. I ripped open the packaging (of the boys' internet purchased new clothes) and declared a "Merry early Christmas, now put these on!), got the dress out and Penelope ready, brushed some hairs, the boys dressed down to their shoes (seriously, they did it all themselves, I love it!), and situated them on the chair. If I would have given myself more time, I would have found the red eye light, and backlit the scenery a bit more, but P was sitting and the boys were smiling so I snapped away. Thank goodness Maama was there to get P to giggle and smile by tickling and funny faces, after a few minutes, we got a decent one, that they all appear to be looking near the same point, smiling, while looking like themselves. They were darlings, and to explain the absence of Mom & Dad, well, I desperately need some hair color and a trim which hopefully will happen this week (too late for the cards) and we simply cannot afford to dress ourselves in new clothes like we can our kids, seriously. Oh and Andy was sick. I am only kind of kidding, I do have my new favorite merino dress and AK always looks dapper, maybe we'll take a New Years shot for y'all.

P.S. I have yet to give a proper blog thank you to Trevlyn for designing and implementing my new blog design. Thank you! You are fantastic. I love you!

P.P.S All this frantic energy with no caffeine! I took the "no-caffeine" self challenge this week and did great. Saturday I had about a can worth of Diet Coke. It was good. But no headaches, so it wasn't that bad for me, but I do like my pep.

MeMe from CiCi

Here is a list of things to do. Those ones in bold black are the ones I have done. Just a little about me to share: stole this from some blog, but it is something to post.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check [not on purpose]
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Fly-fished in Argentina
101. Competed in a triathlon