Christmas Morning 2013

Christmas morning was finally here!  This is what we woke up too!  Everyone was excited but Jordan especially had been waiting for nearly 2 months!  Jord was probably my favorite part of the Christmas season.  She found and thoughtfully wrapped 3 or 4 gifts for each of her siblings and Jeff and I.  It brought such a special spirit into our home!

 Jord made this poster for the fireplace and hung it up in mid-November!  She had been patiently waiting for Christmas morning since then!

I was so grateful that Chase was with us!  We weren't sure if it would happen.  He started a new job in Texas and time off can be hard to come by.  I was so happy he was with us!  I absolutely LOVE when he is home!  He and Jeff got a good day of skiing in before Christmas.  Then we celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and spent a day with Mitch and that was it!  It was time for him to go back.  Chase got super boring stuff for the most part..  Some under armor, clothes, socks, dress clothes… like I said boring!  He did get a Redskins Jersey!

 Jeff and I had a great Christmas.  Jeff spoiled me as usual.  I got clothes, some awesome boots, a new Kindle, more shoes (shocker) and some Pandora beads from the kids!  Jeff got some new shoes, some new clothes, a set of "drop-stops", and a temple picture for our room. 

 Chase also got a Beard-Ski.  Here he is sporting it!

 here is sweet Jord with what she gave Jeffey.  You can't see this but she had put all of it in a pink lunchbox.  She is so delightful!

 Tay got clothes, a Broncos jersey, new ski helmet, more clothes and this medal hanger for all of her soccer medals.  Those are pictures of her team in it.  She loved it!!

 Jordan got all things American Girl Doll.  I was just eating this up because it may be my last year of "toys"  She got a new American girl doll and the following things for her American girl dolls:  bike, bike trailer, pets, cello, tent, sleeping bags, suit cases and clothes!  She also got a few clothes for herself.  Here she is biting the ear of the 5 lb gummy bear that Chaser gave her.  What a perfect gift!!

 T made it last Christmas Eve.  She got new clothes, a Buckle gift card, new glasses and new contacts.  She got some new make up and a suit case.

Belle even got spoiled.  She got some dog treats and this sweater.  Love her!

Here is Chaser with the gifts he got for the girls.  5 lb gummy bear and 1 lb chocolate bar.  No wonder they LOVE him so much!!!

We had an awesome relaxing Christmas morning.  We ate our traditional breakfast of cinnamon rolls and breakfast casserole.  It was a wonderful Christmas!  We missed Mitchy and wished he could have been with us!!

Christmas Eve 2013

I love Christmas Eve!  It is so fun and exciting and exhausting!  We had the party at our house this year.  "Santa" got sick which was a little bit of a bummer but Jordan's elf Elle delivered the gifts instead.  We had my Mom and Dad, Lance, Tonia, Ryker and Hayden, Jeff and I, Chase, Taylor and Jordan at our party.  Taesha had to work and Mitchell was at his Mom's house.  I didn't get many photos but we had a great time.  We ate (shocker) and exchanged a few gifts.

 Jord got some 1D stuff, the new DVD out and a book from "Santa" and Taylor got make up.  Chase, Ryker and Hayden got gift cards.  

 I love big family parties but small is nice sometimes too.  The kids get to spend extra time with Grandma and Grandpa.  How blessed are they to have these 2 as grandparents.  

Since our numbers were so small we decided to do some service.  We all got in the car and went to Hyde Park to someone the Dattage's new.  The kids made a special delivery and it was awesome!  Then as we worked out way back through Wellsville Jeff gave each of our 3 kids some money and they were able to give it to anyone they wanted.  Taylor walked into Carl's Jr. ordered a Diet Coke and then handed the cashier the money and told them to have a Merry Christmas!  Jordan did the same at Burger King.  The look on the face of the boy Jordan gave her money to was priceless!  Chase wanted to find someone getting gas and give them his money.  Well, we soon found out that not many people get gas on Christmas Eve!  So, after we had stalked out the 7-11 to the point it was scary Chaser walked inside and found someone to give the money!  The kids loved it so much and it was SO fun to hear their stories!!  What a great idea and fun tradition!  

The kids all got their Christmas Eve Pj's.  This is actually Christmas morning but you get the idea.  Seriously  Jeff?  Photo Bomber!!

Team Lili Christmas Delivery

After nearly 2 months of working and saving money Taylor's soccer team had raised nearly $2500.00.  The girls did all of the shopping and wrapping for Lili's family!  They did a fabulous job!  It was an awesome experience for Jeff and I to watch as parents.  There is so much said about this generation being entitled, lazy, etc.  These girls were a breath of fresh air!

 Kim and Reagan were on her one-on-one and Shea was with Hunter at wrestling so we were lucky enough to take Kinni with us.  Can you tell that he gets NO attention??  What a blessing he is in our lives!

 Here are all of the girls wrapping the gifts.

 Jeff made a DVD for the girls of the entire process and we showed it to them.  He did a great job and I am so grateful he did it!  Now Taylor can remember this forever!  Look in the back of this photo..  Chase was here!!  He was able to come for 5 delightful days!!  Look for more in a later post. 

 After the girls had decided to get Christmas for Lili one of Taylor's teammates had a family emergency.  Her Dad had a brain tumor and had to have emergency surgery.  So the girls kicked it into overdrive.  They were able to give this family quite a bit of money.  Here they are hugging "Flippy"  Love them all!

 Here is Lili (standing) and her sister opening a few gifts. 

 This is Lili's mom.  She was so grateful and she just stood in her living room and cried!  We took a picture of all of the girls with Lili and her family but it was super dark.  When we were getting ready to leave I said "okay, we will get out of your hair now"  Lili came back with "no hurry, I don't have any hair anyway!"  What a beautiful, sweet, spunky girl!  Our Father in Heaven prepares these children so well for their trials.

Here are the girls after.  Their coach asked them to remember how they felt as this very moment and to remember that this feeling is better and more important to seek after than the feeling of winning any game or tournament.  What a great experience.  One I will forever be grateful for.  

Salt Lake Shopping Trip

Every year one of the kids (and mine) favorite tradition is the Salt Lake shopping weekend with all of the cousins.  This year did not disappoint.  The kids swam and shopped.  We had ice cream sundaes Friday night late at the hotel.  It is not very often that the ENTIRE family gets together so I try to soak it up when it happens.  We had everyone there except Chase and Taesha.  Hunter and Shea were intermittently there because Hunter had a wrestling tournament.  We made our usual temple square stop!  It was beautiful as usual.

 Love all of these kiddos.  Next year we will be going without Ryker as he will be serving his mission! Wow!!

 Jord and Sam both look thrilled.  I guess at that moment the babies were not best friends. 

Jord and Taylor, how beautiful is Temple Square???

The kids all loved the shopping!  Jordan bought an easy bake over and some clothes.  Mitchell got a Nerf Gun and a Lego set.  Are you surprised??  Me neither!   There is a new Lego store in the Fashion Place Mall and Mitch was in heaven!  Taylor got some cute clothes!

We are so grateful that we have the chance to spend this weekend with the family!  Love them all!

Jordan's 1st Orchestra Concert

Jord started playing the cello this year.  She loves it and works really hard at it.  I must say the cello is must easier on the ears in the beginning years than the violin was.  Jord is part of the MountainWest Orchestra which is basically all of the elementary school students in 4th and 5th grade on the south end of the Valley.  Her teacher at Mountainside is Laura Morgan and we love her!!  It always amazes me what can be done with 200 4th graders!!  Their Christmas concert was beautiful!  Jordan looked beautiful as well!

 Grandma and Grandpa came to listen to Jordan.  They are the most wonderful support system!

 Tay and Jord after the concert!  

Jord with Jeff and I.  Jeff and Taylor brought Jordan flowers

I love this sweet concert every time I go!  I was so proud of Jord and how far she has come in such a little time!  I am so happy that Jordan wanted to join the orchestra.  It is a wonderful learning and social experience.  Go Jord!  So proud of you!  

"Team Lili" Soccer Camp & Shopping

One of the things Taylor's soccer team did to raise money for Lili was host a soccer camp.  It was scheduled the same weekend that we had scheduled our annual sisters  Christmas shopping trip.  Jeff was so AWESOME and took soccer camp duty!  The girls had a great turn out!! They raised nearly $800.00 that day.

 Taylor had great support from her family as usual.  Reagan, Samantha, Kinnick, Jordan, Maelee and Andrew all attended the soccer camp!  Thanks everyone for being awesome!

 Below is a photo of the entire group.  Jeff said it was a really neat day!  

While Jeff was working hard I was playing with my Mom and Sisters.  We left Friday after the kids got on the bus and shopped our way to Salt Lake.  That evening I met Jeff at the Zagg Christmas party.  It was a really fun evening complete with Jeff doing a toe touch (on video) for everyone to see!  

After the party I met back up with my mom and sisters and we spent the night laughing while looking for a changing table (doll size) for Maelee.  The only photo I got the entire time was of Kim brushing her teeth in the trough sink at Costco… Yes a little OCD!!

We usually shop until Saturday night late but a giant snow storm moved in so we headed home about 7:00.  My suburban is SO good in the snow but even with that I was glad we headed home.  There was a lot of snow and a lot of wind!  We had a great time and this weekend is one of my favorite events of the Christmas season.

November Fest and Nutcracker

As I referenced in the previous post Jordan and I left St. George to come to Logan so she could dance in the November Fest.  She danced so awesome!  I didn't get any great photos!!

I did video both dances but I can't get them to play on the blog.  Jord is a really pretty dancer and LOVES to dance around the house and do the splits in public!  She is so darn cute!  After the performance we went to the Nutcracker and dinner!  This has become an annual tradition.  It was Maelee's first year and she was pumped!!  All of the girls look so beautiful!!   We did miss Taylor!

We went to the Coppermill after and had a great time!   Thank you Grandma for keeping this awesome tradition alive!  Since Jordan and I had the house to ourselves we came home and wrapped presents and watched a movie.  Delightful!!!!