Merry Christmas, Josiah

This year for my gift to Josiah I went with the "Boy Band" theme...it turned out better than I could have imagined. I customized a picture for all of the items (t-shirt, mug, key chain, mouse pad). Watching him laugh so hard he was almost crying was worth every cent.

I hope to see him sporting his new gear in the future.

I got some lovely meat themed gifts...Flame Broiled perfume, which took forever to wash off after I tried it that night! We got some bacon air freshener, this will go in Andy's car. :) and a wonderful piece of meat art that coordinates with my kitchen colors, it is now proudly displayed in the kitchen.

Can't wait for next year.

Christmas Morning

On Christmas morning we scooted all the furniture to the edges of the room so we'd have plenty of space to make a mess. The boys were really excited when I told them they could eat a piece of chocolate before we opened presents. Jack managed to pick the biggest piece in his stocking and make a big mess.

Avery was so cute and excited about every gift he opened, he said things like "Oh, a _____ I've been wanting one of these!" , "It's what I always wanted!" and "a ______, it's just what I asked for!" it was so fun to see him so excited.

 

I think he was most excited about the pillow pet (knock off...it was so much cheaper than the real thing!) and the bakugan.

Jack wasn't so much interested in the actual gifts as much as he loved tearing the paper off any present he could get his hands on.

 

He did get excited about a couple things, like the Mickey Mouse finger skateboard (he has a star wars one he carries around everywhere and calls it his roller skate), and the bat cave we got them to share.

It always makes me happy and feel extra good when I see the boys so excited about the things we pick for them. They'd be happy with wrapping paper wrapped in wrapping paper, they're easy to please. But I do love picking things out I know they'll love.

 

Christmas Eve

Every year on Christmas Eve my family gathers at my parents house. We eat food, visit, sometimes we play games, sing songs and we open presents. For as long as I can remember we've coordinated Christmas clothes. Sometimes we'll pick a color and everyone shops for or sews their outfits, sometimes someone has found a pattern and we all get new homemade dresses. The boys often get matching vests or ties and pretty often parents (ok, the moms) will find matching clothes for the cousins. Needless to say on Christmas Eve we have to keep the kids clothes clean through it all so we can get our big family picture.
It's a big deal, but as you can imagine with near 50 (maybe we're past 50?) people in the family it gets harder each year to do all that.

So...this year we decided to go a different route. I suggested something more...low key? My inspiration was this sweater Josiah gave to me a couple years ago. We talked a few people into it and it took off from there. It was possibly the best Christmas Eve ever.

The Goodwill store was very good to our family this year, pretty sure it provided most of our outfits. I made Avery and Jack's pants out of a table cloth, and added triangles to Andy's pant legs from the same fabric. It was pretty hilarious to see everyone get into the spirit of retro/nasty. We had big bangs, side pony tails, penny loafers, bell bottoms, greasy facial hair, big belt buckles, ugly sweaters, men wearing women's clothing, suits (well, really just one) that made us all uncomfortable, broaches, sandals with white socks...it was great. And, no one cared if the kids messed up their clothes before the pictures!!

Nauvoo with the fam

The first weekend of December we headed to Nauvoo with my family for a baptism and a baby blessing.

We stayed in a house right across the street from my brother, and a block from the Temple. We could see the Temple from the dining room, which served as the game/craft/second family room. And from the bedroom we slept in the lights of the Temple served as just about the best night light ever.

It was so fun being there with so much family!

After the baptism and baby blessing on Saturday morning we grabbed some lunch and then pawned our kids off and went to the Temple with my Mom and Dad and Mable. It was a much needed trip.

My only complaint for the weekend was the freezing temps! I don't especially like cold.

 

 After the kids went to bed, we pulled out some craft stuff and worked on Christmas presents and other fun things. I took my cricut and we made some cute vinyl tile things. It was a fun relaxing weekend, and surprisingly not as crazy/crowded/hectic as I thought it was going to be!

Avery's preschool Christmas Program

Avery has loved going to pre-school this year. We are sad to have to find him a new school since we moved. He loved all his little friends, and his teachers were great.

About a week before Christmas break his little class put on a Christmas Program for family come watch. They learned Christmas songs for a month, at least, before the program. He loved singing them to us at home, and he sounded so cute singing "Mr. Grinch" and "Jingle Bells".
In a letter to the parents his teacher mentioned that some kids like to dress up for the program but it wasn't required.

The day of the program Avery insisted that we all "dress fancy", it was so cute. So we all dressed up and headed over to the school. Grandma and Grandpa Westover, Grandma Joleen and Aunt Sarah and a few of her kids came to watch and support Avery in his first performance.

They sang a bunch of adorable Christmas songs, and we got to walk around and see some of their work displayed. One of Avery's was a drawing of a snow man who was apparently supposed to be Harry Potter with a magic wand. Cute.

Also, one Saturday morning before Christmas we went to a 4-H fundraiser breakfast that my sister and her girls were involved in. Santa was there, so we got some pictures of the boys with him. I think Avery asked for some shoes that would make him run faster. :) Which makes me remember a few random things Avery asked for for Christmas - one time I asked him what he wanted and he said "candy corn, and a new friend" another time he asked for a "DS", when I asked him if he knew what that was he replied" I think you play games on it or something..." and last one that I remember well was "a real wand that casts real spells" too much Harry Potter?

Ginger bread houses x2

With both sides of the family living so close we get to do a lot of things twice. This year one of the many things we doubled up on was making gingerbread houses, minus the actual gingerbread. Graham crackers are easier!

The boys and I went to my sisters house where there were approximately a thousand kids and made the first of the season. Jack did surprisingly well, I put his house together and he decorated it all by himself. Of course by the time all the other kids were done he had undecorated it and eaten all the candy, but he had fun and that's what counts.

 

Avery also did really well decorating his, he left the candy on it but managed to consume a ridiculous amount of candy in the building process.

The next week we got together with Andy's family at his brothers house to do it all over again. Much of the same happened with Jack, except this time he decorated, undecorated and instead of eating all the candy he filled his house with it. Whatever. :)

Avery loved seeing all the other houses and copying some of them, he just loved having his own and doing whatever he wanted without mom hovering over the mess...


It was fun both times, even if we all ate way too much candy.

Yikes...

No excuses for the lack of blogging...except buying, moving and settling into a new house, CHRISTMAS, and lots of family get togethers. Regular blogging will continue...soon. {hopefully!}

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

here are a couple pictures from our retro/nasty Christmas with my family, to keep you busy.

Merry Christmas!!!

Last week Andy and his brother Steve were lucky enough to ring the Salvation Army bells at Walmart. The boys and went to say hi and unload a bunch of pennies into the bucket.
Avery was just curious how they got in that box.
I felt a little silly taking a picture, so the one picture isn't great, but it was funny to see! :)