Christmas Giving

Here are some of my favorite presents to give this year:

1. New aprons to all five kids. The boys' were in coordinating khaki/burgandy/blue fabric and the girls' were reversible in fabrics that matched their personalities.

2. A Chef hat for Spencer. Actually, this was Brady's present to give, but I helped him make it and I knew Spencer would flip over it. He was so excited he would have done a cartwheel if he could have! We draw names among the family and exchange a homemade gift on Christmas Eve. Brady was wondering what to make for Spencer and I told Brady I thought he would love a chef hat. His smile was so big and he said over and over, "I love it!"

3. I made a banner to hang on the wall for all of the various scout badges Tucker has accumulated that don't have to go on his uniform (such as one from the Pinewood Derby, two from scout camp, a few from Family Fest, his whittling chip badge etc.). He really liked it! (Jordan is showing off the homemade sword and shield Spencer made for him.)

4. Brady has wanted a Bose CD player/radio for as long as I can remember. I was never really sold on the idea until I heard one playing at a friend's house a few month's ago. Then I found out there was a factory outlet store in Orlando not far from where we live. So I saved a chunk of the money I made from the craft fairs I did this fall and surprised Brady with this Bose. It was so hard not to tell him because it was the biggest secret present I think I've bought! I sneaked away during the day when everyone was at school/work, drove myself to the heart of tourist land to the outlet mall, bought the stereo, then came home and stashed it at my neighbor's house until Christmas Eve. Then I wrapped it all up fancy with a big heart made of bows on the front.

I think he loved it!

Christmas Eve

We've got to enjoy these Florida winters while we can. The temperature on Christmas Eve day just happened to be about 80 degrees - too perfect not to enjoy so we headed out to the beach with lawn chairs and books in tow. Our plan was to enjoy some time reading, but the kids couldn't resist digging in the sand.

Well, some of us got to read.

It was a great way to spend Christmas Eve.

Christmas Concert

Every year we've been in Florida we've had an outdoor Christmas concert where Brady brings his synthesizer and amplifier outside, we buy lots of Krispy Kreme donuts and make yummy peppermint hot chocolate, the neighbors come with their lawn chair and we have a little concert. It is quite fun, but last night it was quite chilly too. About 43 degrees chilly. Now that's cold! (Okay, for those of you in the teens it's not so bad, but it's still pretty cold to be standing around listening to music and chatting).

So we got out the fire pit and made a fire to keep us warm and had a good ole' time. The lighting on these videos is terrible, but here's the girls singing, "Santa Baby" (a little Taylor Swift doing back up vocals) and the boys singing, "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" with Spencer on the keyboard. My kids think this is about the funnest night in all of December (just about the funnest).

McDonalds, Anyone?

So, tonight as the smell of these beautiful babies begins wafting through the house:

and as I begin chopping vegetables for homemade turkey noodle soup, COMPLETE with homemade noodles:

(five points if you recognize that box in the corner of the picture)

(aren't those funny looking noodles on the cupboard? They look much better in the soup!)

(continue story) Tucker says, "Mom, what's for dinner?" When I tell him homemade turkey noodle soup COMPLETE with homemade noodles AND cinnamon rolls for dessert he says,

"What??? I wanted McDonalds!"

I had to deduce that McDonalds at our house = a real treat. A delicious, home-cooked meal? Not so much...

p.s. found the cinnamon roll recipe on foodnetwork.com - it's the Paula Deen one and it was DEEEElicious! I mean really. And not too hard either.

My Indy

I have been cleaning off my flash card (in preparation of the big picture-taking day this week) and when I came to this little photo montage, I just couldn't bring myself to click on "move to folder" and let them sit in "Halloween 2008" without being enjoyed one more time.

These were taken back in October when Jordan was in full swing Indiana Jones mode. He was posing on the front porch for me, showing me all of his rope tricks. Some are fuzzy and not too professional looking, but I just love the way he was giving all he had for he camera.

And finally, my favorite. Even Indiana Jones needs his sleep. He was so tired he couldn't even finish his popcorn (what a waste, huh Annice?).

Thanks, Adrian

Kudos to my cousin's wife, Adrian, for creating a fresh new look for my blog. I gave her some pictures and within hours I was looking at her gorgeous creation! Isn't she amazingly talented? AND, she's opening her own photography business so if you're in Utah, look her up!

Christmas Present

Since I don't have a scanner at home, I am going to type this letter that Tucker brought home from school today. He said he couldn't wait until Christmas and he just had to give Brady and me our present early.

It was this lovely, laminated letter - complete with magnets all over the back so we could hang it on the fridge.

Here's what it said (so you don't have to try to read it from the picture)

"I am so thankful for my family, even though one of them has marked me for life. Just kidding - no seriously.

I'm thankful for my sisters, even though they totally overreact. Overreaction is more of my oldest sister's problem though. Her name is Meghann and according to my dad she's "flurteen." My other sister is more of the athletic type. A definite leader in my book. I'm so thankful for them. They have made me explore the adventurous world of sports and books, but I have to ask myself where does Meghann get her taste in books?

My parents, they're the best! My dad has taught me the piano, and how to work in the yard! My mom she is caring, loving, and cooks our delicious food. In other words she's technically our maid. I couldn't have asked for better parents.

Brothers, let's just say don't upset them - EVER. Jordan, well he is obsessed, first with Star Wars, then Indiana Jones, now Harry Potter. I take the blame for the last one. Spencer is playful, and an attacker. There is a woeful tale regarding me and him, marshmallows and a fake war, and 911. That however, is a different story. Still they always have my back. Also they'll obey me like I'm their parent. It just takes a little bribing on my part. That's all.

Overall, I've got a great family who helps a cursed kid get to the hospital on every single vacation. My incredible family couldn't be better and where would I be without them? I am so thankful for them this holiday season!

Love,

Tucker

I laughed and laughed and laughed when I read this. His sense of humor cracks me up. After that gift, what more could a mom want for Christmas? (maybe four more love letters!)

Things I Hope My Children Remember About Christmastime

Here are some things that I hope my children will remember about Christmastime at our house - some of the tradtions and decorations that are fun to think about long after childhood has evaporated into adulthood.

First: the advent calendar I worked so hard to make about eight or so years ago. My parents had one very similar to this growing up and oh how we all loved it. It was so exciting to see what would come out of the little pocket each day and so fun to see the tree get more and more decorations on it. That meant only one thing: Christmas was getting closer with each decoration! My kids definitely love this advent calendar and EVERYONE wants to be the one to put #24 on the top of the tree.


So thank goodness for this advent calendar Melinda made us a few years ago so at least TWO kids get to have the honor of placing the "treetop" on the tree.

Here's a new addition to our Christmas decorations. Brady has an early-morning seminary teacher with one of these Marching Bands and he always likes to visit her class in December so he can see this decoration out on her mantle. Several months ago he began looking on ebay for one for our home and found a MICKEY's Marching Band! Even better than just a regular old Marching Band because this one matched our Mickey-themed decorations. So, this little baby came to our home in about October and the kids fell in love with it the minute they heard it. The pictures don't do it justice, hopefully the video will give you a taste of how fun it is.

Since we're on the subject of Mickey Mouse, that brings us to the TREE. The Mickey Tree that existed well before thoughts of living in Florida ever entered our head. This tree has been in existence for 17 years in fact, with decorations being added each year. Since we've moved to Florida, it's been lots easier to find decorations. Almost too easy! Here's some cute bulbs we added last year:

Just look at all the Mickey ornaments!

Here's Jordan putting the Mickey tree top on. Don't ask me why I cut the Mickey off...I'm famous for cutting the top of the photo out. I was trying to hurry since Brady looked like he was in pain leaning into the tree with a five-year-old on his shoulders.

And under the tree has to be a Mickey tree skirt. We bought this last year and I just love it. Before that for 16 years we just had the generic red with white fluffy trim tree skirt but this one, this is the finishing touch!

And finally, the Walt Disney World Railroad that circles the tree. We bought this a few years ago (thank goodness for a friend who takes us shopping with her discount!) and our kids SO look forward to getting this out every day-after-Thanksgiving. They could probably skip the tree but NOT the train. The most frequent passengers on the train are Lego people:

Either they're riding train or getting plowed over by the train (see video).

That concludes my lengthy post about what I hope my children remember about Christmastime. Hopefully we'll continue making memories and I'll add to this post year after year (wonder just how long you can make a single post!). Oh, here's one more thing: we're starting a Christmas journal this year - thoughts, things we received, things we gave, traditions, etc. Each of the kids (mom and dad too) will write in it at least once or twice over the holidays, then we'll pack it away with all the Christmas decorations and get it out again next year. Then we can read about all the things we got for Christmas THIS year (that have long since been forgotten by NEXT year), plus read about the joy Christmases past.

Okay, now I'm REALLY done! Goodnight!

Seventeen

Years. That's how long we have been married. We celebrated 17 blissful years of marriage on Friday. Actually, we celebrated on Thursday but our anniversary was on Friday, so really, we got to celebrate for two days!

To commemorate 17 years, my husband planned a surprise for me (I love it when he does that!). He arranged a sitter for the kids after school and whisked me off to Disneyworld for the day, the place where we honeymooned many years ago. Here are some THEN and NOW pictures:

Then

Now

Thanks to the stranger who took this picture (fuzzy and all):
Then

Brady looks so cool in his sunglasses and we look awesome in our denim jackets, don't you think?)

Now

(we had been very rained on at this point - more on that later - so when I asked Brady right before this picture, "How bad is my hair" he said, "Pretty bad but that's okay." Ugh. Didn't make me too excited to have my picture taken.

Then

Now

Can you believe we found Sombrero Donald all these years later?!)

Okay, now here's a bunch of pictures from Thursday. Brady is in the Coca-Cola Cool Center where you can try soda from around the world. No offense Brandon (or the other Hydes) but the soda from Italy was the worst! It was so bitter and I almost gagged!

Here's me with my hot chocolate (that was a life saver! warmed me right up.) and the big Christmas tree.

Isn't this a lovely Cinderella castle? It's for sale. If you can't read the price tag in this picture, scroll down.

Do you think Santa will bring that for me? :)

This year Disneyworld has been having their "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration. I think what that means is they give random gifts out around the park to people who just happen to be in the right place at the right time. When I chapperoned a field trip to Epcot last spring with Meghann we were the recipients of such a gift - a Disney lanyard with two trading pins already attached.

Brady and I were in the right place at the right time on Thursday. We were standing in line for Soarin' (the most awesome ride ever) and we heard two workers announcing it was the "year of a million dreams" and they were about to make some dreams come true. This time they were giving out a Dream Fast Pass - basically a pass to walk on the six most popular rides without waiting in line). Awesome! They had so many passes to give out and it just so happened that Brady and I got the LAST TWO! How lucky is that?! What a nice anniversary present from Disneyworld! We were able to ride Soarin' three times thanks to that fast pass (we didn't use all six of them though, because a few of the rides just make you downright sick. Remember "Mission Space" Dallas? We thought of you, but didn't ride the ride!)

Anyway, here is the REAL reason we went to Epcot Center on Thursday...to listen to their Candelight celebration. They invite a guest narrarator to read part of Luke 2 from the Bible about the birth of the savior, combine it with a choir and lots of pretty lights and decorations, and it makes for a nice Christmas program that centers on Christ, something you don't find much of outside of a ward party. Our guest narrarator was Marlee Matlin, isn't that funny for a deaf person to be the guest "narrarator?" So they introduced her as Marlee Matlin with Jack Johnson (who was actually the voice while Marlee signed). She was a good signer though, showed lots of emotion and was enjoyable to watch.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, we got soaked in the morning from a downpour, and by 1:00 we actually drove home and changed out of our wet clothes so that we could go back and enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening in dry, warm clothes. By the time we got back to Epcot the rain had cleared and we enjoyed blue skies and sunshine after that, but what a bummer to be rained on! Oh well, it's all memories, right? And what fun memories they will be. We had a great time being together for the whole day and night without a worry about the kids. I know Disneyworld is for kids, but it's a great place for adults without kids too!