Christmasy Things

We bought our tree the traditional day after Thanksgiving.  Nathan and Benazir were still around and convinced us that if we put it in our kitchen with the vaulted ceilings we could get a 9 ft tree, so we did.  But, then we had to buy new ornaments to have enough to fill it.  Its pretty neat looking.

The lot Derek bought it from gives tree preserve (tree food) to help it stay green longer.  The day after we put it up and Carter had seen Derek water the tree with it he came into my room and said, "Mom, I feed the tree.  I feed the tree a lot.  It's all gone."  Sure enough he had dumped the whole bottle of tree preserve into the tree that morning.  Carter Starter strikes again.

No one cried this year on Santa's lap.

We coaxed Tyler Thorsted into taking our family photo just a couple weeks ago when I realized that we hadn't taken a single photo all together all year.

Free carriage rides at the Riverwoods-always fun.

We've had our first real snow over the last few days.  London loves more than anything to go outside and jump around in the snow when everyone is out there.

Carolyn gave all the kids these cute snowman shirts for Christmas this year.

Christmas Eve we bundled everyone up and went caroling around the neighborhood.  All the kids sang We Wish You A Merry Christmas and then we gave them a bundle of Mom's Rocky Road Fudge.  Then we went home and quickly cooked up a Christmas Eve Crab feast- the kids didn't love it, but Derek and I did.

Christmas jammies and all the kids ready to open then presents.  

We gave them all piggy bank safes and tithing banks.  They were pretty excited about them.  For Derek's Christmas present, I re-felted our pool table that was in the house when we bought it and has never been used.  It's kinda fun to play on.  Derek made me my own food blog.  I'm so excited and have been blogging daily in an effort to get all my recipes digital.

We read scriptures as usual before putting the kids to bed, but we were reading about the birth of Jesus that night, and I loved how all the kids climbed on Derek's knee to hear better.

Liv was so into Santa Clause this year.  She set out these cookies and milk for Santa and all these carrots for the 9 reindeer.  She could not go to bed she was so excited.  And then, she woke Derek and I up at 3 AM to let us know Santa had come and had eaten the cookies and left a note!!!  Then, she walked around all morning saying, "I can't believe he came!!!"

Santa brought Liv her hearts desire: An Anna sleigh with Christof and Sven and Olaf.  Camden and Carter kept changing their minds and towards the end Carter just kept saying he wanted to be on the naughty list and wanted a big naught list for Christmas (so the Santa be good threats obviously backfired) .  Camden ended up with a construction site duplo lego set and Carter got a big John Deer tractor with MegaBlocks in the back.

We woke up to 8 in of snow on Christmas morning and Derek had hurt his back shoveling snow a few days before, so I shoveled the driveway for the first time in our married life.  It was hard and exhausting especially with all that snow.  We had a quiet Christmas Day.  Steven and Diane came over to experience our first go a Mickey Mouse Waffles with the waffle iron they gave us for Christmas.  

Then, we loaded everyone up and went caroling to Susan and Carma.  It was actually a very nice Christmas.

The day after Christmas, Uncle Nathan and Benazir, and Dad and Lynn arrived.  Nay brought his 3D stuff he has been working on and let all the kids try it.  Liv particularly loved it.  The girls went for pedicure while the boys made a lamb chop dinner.  We had a bit of a star wars marathon over the weekend watching episode IV, V, and VI.  Introducing Lynn and Benazir for the first time.  

Nathan and Benz brought me a bunch of herbal loose leaf tea and this really neat tea kettle for loose leaf tea that you just set on top of your cup and it drains into it (or "pees out the butt" as Nathan terms it).

Sunday we went to the church while our company lounged and hit the grocery store.  That night we had a Sirloin roast and tons more.  Monday, we all went to see the New Peanuts movie which was very good and hilarious.  Carter fell asleep on Lynn after drinking a whole bottle of juice and peed his pants in his sleep.  HA!  

That night Nick and Jenny Hales watched the kids so all the adults could go to dinner at the tree room.  The food and ambiance was fabulous as always. 

 We pulled what they termed "The Kylie" and ordered one of every dessert.  We had a great time.  Then, we watched them all pack up and leave this morning.