Christmas...

Our Christmas season started off with a trip to our mountain lot to fetch a tree. We learned two things on that trip
1. Trees growing wild on a mountain lot are not pretty triangularly perfect pointed picturesque things. They're kind of like big crazy bushes. And...
2. Trees growing wild on a mountain lot appear to be much smaller before you bring them indoors.

But it was a fun experience and we really love our ginormous crazy tree.
We have really been enjoying our Christmas holiday as you can tell by the fact that I haven't blogged in forever. We took a fun trip with all of Rick's family to the polar express (got pictures but didn't post), we went to Tucson for my family's annual Christmas party (so fun, love seeing my family), and we had our traditional go out for Chinese food Christmas eve dinner (last time for that tradition. Only one Chinese restaurant was opened and it was EXPENSIVE! It was a much easier tradition to have in the city. We'll have to come up with something new for next year.)
But Christmas morning was lovely.

We had action heroes...

Waylon loves "the Hook" (Hulk). He talks about him constantly. "Mom can the Hook pick up our house? What about our town? Can the Hook pick up our whole town? Can Superman beat up the Hook? Can all of the superheros together beat up the Hook? What if my dad was the Hook?" And on and on and on. So you can probably guess that he L-O-V-E-D his present.

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real live heroes...

My kids are amazing people and expressed such sincere gratitude for their gifts even though we had a much smaller Christmas this year. In fact they told us that we didn't have to get them anything at all. But of course I had to get them something and they loved everything they got, which is one of the many reasons I love, love, love them (they're messing around with some of the younger sibs' gifts in this picture).

favorite gifts...

Paige got a new doll for her doll collection (LOVED!) along with the surprise return of her beloved Sam the monkey, her favorite since she was itty bitty, which was believed to have been lost in the move, but was recently found and hidden away for Christmas. So fun.

more favorite gifts...

Jamie loved her soda and special "soda cup" more than the Heelys that Santa brought her. Of course that has since changed as she has been heard to say, and I quote, "I am addicted to Heelys."

and happy hearts.

Easton loved her heelys right from the get go. Of course even if she had gotten a lump of coal she would have exclaimed, "Woo-Hoo!" and gone out to use it as sidewalk chalk. She is a delightful child with a happy, grateful heart.

I on the other hand am a little more spoiled as I received all of these amazing gifts in my favorite shade of red. A teddy bear, a new dress, some shoes, a new KitchenAid, a Polaris Ranger, and a convertible Mercedes. Okay, well it is the thought that counts, which is exactly why Rick and I decided to save our money and give each other pictures of what we would have bought for each other if we could. It was fun and sweet and when you've already gotten the gift of the best guy ever, what else do you need?


I got Rick an xbox 360 and Fable II (my picture is not as nice as his, but I don't have access to all of that fancy smancy sign making equipment).
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It was a wonderful, wonderful Christmas and I thank my Savior for his continuous gifts to me. He is my joy, my hope and my peace. He makes my heart soar at a time when the world would tell me that it should break. What greater gift is there than that?
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I must also mention that my precious little guy turned 4 the week before Christmas. What a delight he has been to my life. What a gift. He makes me smile everyday and I am so thankful for him.


He wanted a doughnut cake for his birthday so we just piled them high on a plate. How fun is that? And easy too.

Happy Birthday Buddy-roo

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And a very Merry Christmas and

Happy New Year to all of you!