Christmas Bliss

Cheesy title?  I know!  I have no idea how to put into words how wonderful this Christmas was.  Definitely, the best ever!  There are so many reasons..  Jeff and I had all 5 kids together, which rarely happens.  We were able to spend precious time with friends and family but most of all Jeff made me the luckiest girl in the world.  On Christmas day he surprised me and proposed!  The ring was beautiful and he picked it out all by himself.   I seriously feel like I am the most blessed person alive.  Jeff and I have been dating A LONG time, 2 1/2 years to be exact and I still was not expecting a proposal.  I have known for a long time that I would spend forever with Jeff but timing is a tricky thing.  Jeff has been super patient with me while I work through issues related to trust and independence.  Once you have to be independent it can be scary to give that away.  He deserves a medal, seriously! 

On Christmas morning after we had opened all the gift, Taesha brought me in the family room and played a song she wrote for me on the guitar.  She is really talented and it was awesome.  I will keep the words to that song forever.  Then she directed me to one last gift under the tree.  Even as I was opening the small box I did not full expect an engagement ring, and there it was!  What an incredible moment to have Jeff propose with all 5 of our kids there.

Here are a few other photos..

 

We headed over to my parent’s house after for a party and I told the kids not to say anything and see who noticed first.  We all took bets with the front runners being Kim, Tamra and Elden.  WELL, none of them did.  I practically had to sit on Kim and Jill’s lap before they noticed.  Then they both responded in usual style with lots of yelling and screaming.  I think we about gave Grandma Gayle a heart attack!  The only person not absolutely thrilled by the news was Samantha, now she can no longer marry Mitchell!!

So with that said here are some photos from Christmas Eve.  I love it when the kids do the program.  As the kids got older Tonia and I decided to work into the program some of their talents.  Taylor played the violin and piano, Hayden the piano and Ryker  the drums!  Mitchy was a Wiseman and Jord made her debut as Mary.  Check out the middle right  photo, life is never boring with Jordan.  Luke and Seth (okay, mainly Luke) sang the cutest songs.  I absolutely love Jen’s boys and feel so blessed that we get to spend so much time with them.

 

Santa arrived as usual and there was lots of presents, games and great food!  Mitchell is always saying funny things.  When Santa asked him about how he was doing in school he said “I would have to say only about average.”  It was so funny, so honest!  For Christmas Taylor made me that cute scarf! 

When we got back to Jeff’s house the kids sprinkled reindeer food and left cookies for Santa.

Christmas morning was so incredible.  All of the kids got lots of incredible stuff.  To highlight a few, Chase got a skate deck and lots of clothes.  He tried to put everything on as he got it!  Didn’t work. T got an acoustic guitar and lots of shoes.  Taylor got a sewing machine, clothes and a giant Hershey bar.  Mitchy got all things STAR WARS!!  Jord got frogs, an easel and princess stuff.

Every Christmas Jeff makes a movie for each child of the year’s events.  Here we are on Christmas Eve afternoon watching all of them!  I love it!!

Christmas Blessings

I have not posted for a while because I have not made time!  It’s a pet peeve of mine when people say they don’t have time to do a certain task or go to a certain event.  The truth is, we make time for the things that are important to us.  So, in the “making time” this past week for the most important things blogging has been put on the back burner.  In the past week both of the girls had Christmas parties at our house.  Both of the girls had parties at dance, we  made and delivered 25 neighbor gifts, planned the Christmas Eve program, Jordan had a program at school, I was in charge of Jordan’s class party and all of the Christmas shopping is done and gifts are wrapped.  It has been a great week and I am TIRED!  But not too tired to  ski tomorrow with Jeff, Tay, Chase, Reg, Hunter, Tonia and Hayden (look for future post)!!

For the first time ever both of the girls had their friends over for Christmas parties.  Last Friday I was questioning my sanity but the parties turned out to be fun.  Jordan had several friends over, they did a few crafts ate some treats and watched a little movie.  I recruited Taylor and her friend to help and they were a huge help!  Can’t you just see the attitude on these cute girls faces!!

Taylor had 12 friends over and they were WAY more intense and loud than the little girls.  We had a chocolate fountain and the girls had a blast with it.  We also painted ornaments and made fridge magnet reindeer.  I post all of this so when Taylor is a teenager and tells me “you are the meanest mom in the world.”  I can make reference to this!!

The girls played “truth or dare.”  One of Taylor’s friends was dared to dress up like a boy and ask me to “marry her.”  Poor Taylor, having a single mom!!  What cute girls.  Once again I was reminded what an incredible community I live in and how blessed my girls are to have such wonderful friends. 

 

Finally, here are a few photos of Jordan’s class sing-a-long.  Please take note of the extremely large pink moon boots!  I make Jordan wear them to school because the bus is so cold.  Well, she neglected to change out of them into her cute silver shoes!  So, here she is all dressed up with very large pink boots on, standing front and center!

This is Jordan’s teacher Mrs. LaMont.  She is the best.  Above is Jord on her way to the annual “Tueller’s School of Dance Christmas Party.”  All of the dancers dress in red and green, perform talents and bring treats.  I didn’t get a photo of Taylor before she went but this is her 6th year of dance there and she looks forward to it every year!  This is Jordan’s 2nd year of dance and she loved the party!

Taylor’s Christmas Piano Recital

Taylor had her Christmas piano recital.  I love Christmas music so this was especially fun.  She is getting so good!  As usual she had lots of great support.  We were really blessed the Great Grandma Pickett was able to come.  She gave me her old piano and was also my piano teacher.   The bottom right photo is Taylor’s piano teacher Camille.  I love her!  She used to be our next door neighbor then moved to Logan.  We miss her lots!

Winter Orchestra Concert

Taylor has started playing the violin this year.  She goes to school two mornings a week early and is part of a county wide orchestra program.  Last night she had her first concert.  There were 400 elementary aged school children playing on the stage at one time and they sounded great!  I am so proud of her and the work she puts in.   What a wonderful evening.  Jordan and Jeff also came to support Taylor!