Christmas Eve & Christmas Morning

As some of you may already know this year we had a giant sleep over at my sister Cala's house. Their was 12 adults and 12 kids. Before we went over to Cala's we opened our presents from G & G Baird. The girls got some pillows and dora pillow cases, colored bath foam and some magic dora towels. Collin got a camo fleece blanket and Bruce and I got matching Guitar Hero pj pants.

Jordon opening her gift from G&G Baird





Sienna super excited to open her gift





The girls watching their magical dora towel expand in the water



The girls and their pillows



Afterwards we headed over to Cala's for our traditional hogie sandwich dinner. The meat my Dad & Ellie brought was SO good! We had tons of dessert as well. We did the cousin gift exchange and then sent the kids upstairs to watch The Polar Express while us adults did our gift exchange. First we do a white elephant exchange and then a 'real' gift exchange afterwards. Once that was done we got the kids ready for bed and us adults watched Christmas With the Kranks. Finally around 11pm Santa came and exploded all over the living room.

The kids opening their gifts from the cousin's exchange









The kids watching Polar Express




The explosion of Santa gifts!





Collin's Nintendo DS



Jordon's Princess Play Castle



Sienna's Interactive Doll House



The Morning CHAOS!



I would bet to say most everyone didn't get much sleep, but that didn't matter because the experience was so worth it. In the morning all the kids came down to see what Santa had brought them. It was so much fun to see ALL the kids excitement in what they received this year. We had an amazing breakfast of french toast, breakfast casserole, cheesy eggs, hash browns and monkey & orange bread. It was quite the feast! Thank you Cala for hosting such an advent (adventure & event). It was lots of fun!

Once we got home we finished opening presents and the kids played till noon. We all layed down for a much needed nap. It's been a very relaxing day. Tomorrow we head out to Mud Lake to visit Bruce's family.

Christmas Memories

This time of year seems to be a bittersweet time. As much as I enjoy watching the excitement from my family I really miss my Mom (tears). This was her favorite season and we had many family traditions that aren't carried out as much these days. We would spend all day together baking all kinds of goodies. We would listen to Christmas music and I can still see and hear my Mom dancing around snapping her fingers and humming to the songs. We would spend Christmas Eve with the Purcell's and eat hogie sandwiches. Then afterwards we would have a Christmas devotional. It was truly a special time and we always looked forward to it. Then after the Purcell's went home we would open our presents. This time was filled with so much laughter and love. I wish my girls knew their Grandma Kynaston and how much fun she was. I'm thankful Collin remembers her and I know one day we will all be together again. I look forward to that day.
This year we will still carry out the hogie sandwich on Christmas Eve tradition and spending that evening with my siblings. We are also going to have a sleep over at Cala's house with everyone except for Kim's family who will be missed since they live in Jerome now.
Tis the season to make new and fun memories and remember old ones. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thanksgiving & Weddings

We have had an eventful last couple of weeks. Jordon and I have been sick for over a month. We both had to take 2 rounds of antibiotics to get better. Thankfully we finally are now.
We wanted to go to Mud Lake for Thanksgiving but I wasn't sure if we should considering both of us had been sick because there was going to be a new baby there. We decided to go anyway, since we were feeling a little better and on antibiotics again. We had a great time hanging with Bruce's family and it was SO hard for me to not hold the sweet little baby girl. The girls did great both the drive to and from. We came back home on Friday so that I could help with setup for Karlene's wedding.
Friday night was spent doing just that. Afterwards us girls went over to Tasha's and had pedicures done and helped Karlene with her flowers.
The drive to Mud Lake


The drive home from Mud Lake


Saturday was Karlene's wedding and it was beautiful! The ceremony only lasted maybe 5 minutes. Quick and to the point! Cala, Tasha and I all got babysitters for the reception so that we could enjoy the dancing without keeping track of kids. So we all went home and got the sitters and came back to enjoy some dancing with the hubbies. I must saying it was nice to 'play' with my husband. We don't get to act like dorks very often and get away with it.
Bruce flew out to Utah on Tuesday morning for work. I drove down with the kids on Wednesday so that we could go to his work Christmas party and another wedding on Friday. Once I got to the hotel we picked up Bruce and drove to a jump house place called Jumpin Jacks. The kids had a blast and were able to let out some unused energy from sitting in the car all afternoon.
On Thursday while Bruce was at work I took the kids to the new Boondocks in Kaysville. It was really nice! It has a bowling alley, rollerball, laser tag, arcades, eating place and of course all the outside stuff as well (which we didn't do even after all the pouting from Collin). We spent 3 hours there. That night Bruce's parents watched the kids so that Bruce and I could go to his work party at Carver's Steak House. It was nice to finally meet the guys he works with. Not to mention the food was fantastic!



On Friday we went to Bruce's nephew's wedding. It too was a short ceremony (maybe 15 minutes) which is great for us because I don't think the girls would have lasted much longer. We stayed for the luncheon and then drove back to the hotel. The kids were really tired and I didn't want to put up with them during the reception that wasn't for 2 more hours. We made it back to the hotel and the girls wanted a 'tubby' so we got them all ready for bed. Lights were out at 8pm.
Greg's Wedding

The drive home from Utah Saturday was crazy!!! We took off at 10am and there was a slight cover on the roads from snow. We passed 11 car accident before we even reached Ogden. Then when we got to Glens Ferry we saw what was left of a clean-up from a 22 car pile up. Thankfully we made it home safely and kids were done with traveling. As am I for a while. We were able to get a babysitter that night so that Bruce and I could finish up our Christmas shopping. So we are all ready for Christmas now and hope it comes sooner than later.

Family Pictures

We had Cala take our family pictures this year. She has a really nice 'fast' camera. Here are some shots we were able to get from the shoot. Thank you Cala!!!

Twick or Tweat!

Daigen was Chicken Little, Bosten was a Giraffe and little Payten was a Bee

CJ didn't want his picture taken. He was tigger.

The kiddos and Grandpa Kynaston


He had a good Halloween again this year. The weather cooperated with us. We didn't have to put on jackets until we were more than half way through. Jordon was Belle and Sienna was suppose to be Ariel, but she changed costumes about 4 times. We tried Cinderella, then Aurora and finally settled on Tinkerbell. Collin was a zombie slayer.
We went to my Dad's to trick or treat there. Got pictures with the cousins and then headed back home to make our loop. We had bought 6 bags of candy and set the bowl outside. We did this last year and it worked out fine. This year not so good. We were only gone an hour. By the time we got back at 7:30pm our candy was gone. I was so bummed! I was looking forward to handing out candy. We had to shut our lights off for the rest of the night. The girls and Collin had a good time. We have 2 haunted houses in our neighborhood so Collin and I went in those.

Frightmares

Over the weekend we drove to Utah to take the kids to Lagoon's Frightmares. We try to go each year but it's been 2 years since we've made it. All the kids had a great time. We couldn't believe even little Sienna loved the rides. The weather was amazing. Grandma & Grandpa Baird came along with Mary, Hannah & Maren. Collin enjoyed being a 'big kid' and he and Maren went off by themselves and rode the rides.

Pumpkin Patch

So for the last week we've been sick with the flu here. Collin started first last Wednesday. He came in at 6:30am and told me his throat hurt. Well since the swine flu is running ramped here that was a red flag he was staying home. Come that night he had a fever and just laid on the couch. His poor eyes were so red. You could just look at him and tell he didn't feel good. He was the same way the next day. By Friday we was feeling somewhat better. Then Sienna got it and a few days later Jordon did until finally it was my turn. I ended up getting it Wednesday. Yesterday was the worst day. I had the WORST sinus pressure, cough, sore throat, fever, body aches & pains. I would be freezing all day and when my fever broke I would have sweet dripping down my back, legs ... etc. Anyway, not fun to say the least.
Well, the kids have cabin fever. So we took a trip to the pumpkin patch tonight. It was really windy and cold but the kids had a great time. We went through the corn maze, walked through the pumpkin patch, played in the corn box, went on pony rides, rode the cow train, jumped on jumping pillows and froze our butts off. Nothing like good ole family fun!