Happy Christmas!

We had an amazing Holiday! We've been having so much fun this past week. Kensie had her school program on the 20th. The first grade sang Must Be Santa, Christmas Lullaby, and Oh, I'm The Happiest Christmas Tree. Once I can get my crappy computer to download the video I'll put it on {don't get me started on my computer! It's having issues}. On the 21st we had our annual family dinner at Market Street Grill {YUM!}. It was great. We even had a surprise visit from Santa, who brought us all some fun games. The kids were so excited! Kensie was last to receive her present and told me later that she was worried that she had been bad because it took so long for her to get one! After dinner mom & dad watched the kids while Spencer, Andrea, Danny, Leah, Matt and I went to see The Foreigner at Pioneer Theater Company. It was a blast!! On the 22nd mom, Andrea, Kensie and I went to see Ballet West's The Nutcracker. This has become another family tradition that we all love! I still have most of it memorized from working at Capitol Theatre, and it always brings back so many memories for me. Kensie is always in heaven, of course! She just loves the costumes and beautiful dancers. It was Andrea's first time which made it extra fun! Christmas Eve was a long day. Both my car and Matt's broke down {what are the odds} so we spent the day dealing with that. Luckily we got my car working, thanks to my dad. Matt's, however, was dead as a doornail. It was stuck in the parking lot by his work until we got it towed on the 26th. ANYWAY, after all that madness we headed to the folks house for Christmas Eve fun! We put on the traditional play, complete with authentic costumes {Ha!} and a real baby Jesus this year! Christmas day was just as fun and busy. The kids had so much fun seeing what Santa brought, and even more fun seeing what all their grandparents' brought! They were spoiled, as usual. Kensie lost a tooth on Christmas Eve and was surprised to find a dollar and a note in her stocking from Santa, who had delivered it for the Tooth Fairy {even SHE gets time off for Christmas, we found out}. We had a great Christmas & hope you did, too. Sorry for the novel! I'll stop typing now & let you look at pictures! {if you want to see them better click view all images}

Flashback Friday

A classic for your viewing pleasure....

Winter Wonderland

This is what we awoke to this morning...

Matt opened the garage door to find he had his work cut out for him. He's glad he has the day off {as am I- he's been in Logan & I've had my fair share of snowblowing in his absence. His turn!}. We're singing praises to the used snowblower we bought last year, though after today I'm sure Matt will be dreaming about the ultra super heavy duty version, or an ATV with a snowplow attachment. Dream on!

Sigh.....

Presents are wrapped and under the tree....

Neighbor gifts are done....

Driveway is shoveled....

Cards have been mailed....

House is clean....

Christmas lights are on....

Mistletoe candle is burning....

Christmas music is playing....

I am SO ready for Christmas!

Christmas Edition

I stole this from Betsy!

The "Christmas Edition" of getting to know your friends.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper unless the gift is larger than the paper, then I cheer for the gift bag!
2. Tree--Real or Artificial? I'm a "real" fan but the husband won out and we have the Costco version {at least it looks real}
3. When do you put the Christmas tree up? Thanksgiving Day {the only day Matt has off for the rest of the year!!}
4. When do you take the tree down ? New Year's Day
5. Like egg nog? Yes! Straight up. None of the adding milk nonsense!
6. Do you have a nativity scene? One. Got it from my Aunt who lived in Pakistan for awhile. It's mini, however. I'm always searching for a good one but can't find one that's not cheesy.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Matt {we only spend $25 on each other. It's hard to find anything for $25!!}
8. Tinsel or Garland on the tree? Neither.
9. Worst Christmas gift? anything that's a necessity, i.e. socks, underwear, deodorant....
10. Mail or email a Christmas Card? Mail 100%
11. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a tie: Scrooge {not to be confused with Scrooged, which is Matt's favorite} & Christmas Vacation
12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? As soon as I see something that I think would be perfect. This means I'm always looking....365/24/7.
13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Christmas, no. Wedding, yes!
14. Favorite food to eat on Christmas? Hot Chocolate, Chex Mix, Grandma's breakfast casserole.
15. Colored or clear lights? Clear.
16. Favorite Christmas Song? WAY too hard to decide.
17. Travel during Christmas or Stay home? STAY HOME!
18. Can you name Santa's reindeer? Yes...only while singing them.
19.Star or Angel on tree top? I prefer a star but the hubby prefers none. He wins again {I pick my battles}.
20. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Pajamas on Christmas Eve and then rest in the morning.
21. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Crowded shopping

Party On

Been to your Ward Christmas Party Yet?

Read This

Can I get an "Amen"?!


side note: Jackson's stats from his 6 mo. check up were not very impressive {at least in Matt's eyes}. Here's the break-down.....length- 25 3/4 inches, weight- 15 lbs. 12 oz.........30th percentile in both {head was 50th but I never remember the number}. Matt has some obvious disappointment, but "they can't all be linemen" I tell him.

A Snowman, Mr. Bean, and Salmonella

The kids have been enjoying the snow lately.....mostly at Grandma & Grandpa's house because I haven't ventured out with them {grandpa & Danny will}. I remember how much I loved playing in the snow growing up. I could stay out there for hours- probably because I never had to 1) shovel it 2) drive in it 3)clean up the mess I made when I came in from playing in it, and 4) make my own hot chocolate. Playing in the snow now.....not so much. Maybe it's because I don't actually own any "snow clothes" and therefore get soaking wet the moment my foot touches the snow and then proceeds to sink down, down, down until I'm up to at least my knees {in our backyard, anyway}. Also, I think toting around a 6 month old in sub-zero temperatures has something to do with my aversion to snow play this year. Ah, well. Daddy's better at making snow forts anyway.

Last night Matt & I went with my family to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert at the Conference Center. Amazing! Even in spite of the fact that we were WAY up in the balcony and sat in front of a 102 year old lady {okay, maybe she wasn't THAT old} who kept talking on her cell phone in "old lady whisper", a.k.a. shouting. It was still amazing! The most amazing thing was that The King's Singers performed as well. I grew up listening to this group & have always loved their voices. HOWEVER, I did not realize that Rowan Atkinson was a member of The King's Singers! Come on, you can't tell me he doesn't look like Mr. Bean. Just a little. His accent and British humor made me even more sure that they must be somehow related.

Today I did a demo at the Ogden {gasp} Dillard's. Ghetto. Sorry if I offend any Ogden readers, but seriously. Ghetto. I was demonstrating how to make homemade pasta with the pasta attachment, and I had one employee who would not leave me alone. Whenever there was a lull between customers she was all up in my business.

Her: "Show me how it works again."

Me: "I just made some. I can't use up all my dough just for you."

Her: "Can I taste some?"

Me: "Only if you want to get Salmonella."

Her: "Oh, I eat raw pasta dough all the time. I love it."

Me: "I doubt it."

Her: "Well, just save everything you make & come find me when you're done. I'll take it home and have it for dinner tonight."

Me: "I think that customer over there needs your help."

Sundry Photos

Long time no blog

Wow. It feels like I haven't posted forever! Here's what I've been up to: Christmas shopping, Christmas wrapping, Christmas card addressing, Christmas cookie making, Christmas party attending......I love this time of year! Super busy, but super fun. We've also had Grandma & Grandpa Holbrook visiting for a few days, which means my kids have been spoiled and now are trying to get used to the idea that mom doesn't give as many treats, take part in the wild wrestling and head butting, tickle as well {no fake nails}, and put up with ridiculous behavior. Jackson's also adjusting to sleeping in his crib again after a stay in the luxury suite {aka our closet}! Pics to come. We're off to dance class!

About Christmas

Christmas is my favrite season of all. Christmas is when you get presints. I love christmas. Christmas is so fun. Christmas is when you selabrate when Jesus was born. When I am good santa will put me on the good list. When I am bad santa puts me on the dad list {ha ha!}. It is fun geting peresints on Christmas eve. It is fun puting bows on presints. When santa gives you presints that meens you'v been good. I like geting presints. I like puting ornamants on the tree. I like Christmas because santa comes. Santa claus is magic because he can go throo the chemney. Just a while ago I got one of santas helpers named ede the elf. He is watching us until Christmas.

By- Kensie