California

 New Year's Day, after church, the kids and I drove to California.  My parents kept up their Christmas decorations for us.  We had dinner and opened presents Sunday night when we got there.  I was a little nervous to drive being so tired, but I really did fine.  We stopped once at a rest stop to use the restroom and that was it.  We had tacos and they were so good.  Griffin and his fiance Leola were there that night and it was so fun.

 Monday we went to the park with Tiff and her kids.  Bekah didn't have school that day so it was fun to hang out with them all day.  Cousins just love being together- so fun to watch.  That night we had pizza and went looking at Christmas lights- thankfully a lot of people still had them up.  When we got home we watched "A Muppet Christmas Carol."  I love that movie!

 Tuesday: no pictures.  Carson went in the morning with Grandma Karla to watch her bowl in her bowling league and I took the girls to go pick up cousin Jaina from preschool.  For the afternoon we just played games and played outside.  In the evening we met my grandparents and my uncle, along with my parents, at Home Town Buffet and enjoyed dinner with them.

Wednesday: no pictures.  We went in the morning to Grandma Bosley's and met her for a morning at the beach.  The weather was gorgeous.  Brooke, Jake and Kate met us at the beach and it was heavenly.  Probably one of my favorite days!  After the beach we went to Grandma's for lunch and Brooke, Jake and Kate went to run some errands.  We played Yahtzee with Grandma and then went to Brooke and Jake's to go in the jacuzzi.  For dinner we went to Cafe Rio.  It was a wonderful day.  Late that night my sister Brook got to my parents with her three kids, we loved having them come for a couple of days to hang out with us.

Thursday:  We took a picnic lunch to a park and fed the ducks.  The kids each brought a scooter and had fun on those.  While we were feeding the ducks quite a few of us ended up on top of the tables.  There were really mean geese trying to bite us.  It was pretty scary.  That night Tiff, Tim and their girls came over to act out the Nativity.  We waited that long so Carson could have some other boys to share the male roles with.

 Friday: no pictures.  In the morning Brook, Tiff and I went to get pedicures.  After that we played and then ended up giving everyone, except Abbey, either a haircut or trim.  It was pretty fun.  That night we had IN-N-OUT for dinner and I went with my dad to pick it up.  We listened to Christmas music, something I had been longing to do all season.  I just had a big desire to drive in the car with my dad and listen to Christmas music- I remember doing that so much with him as a teenager and loving it!  Mom, Brook and I went to a baby shower that night, when we got home we played Polish Poker and then Brook took her kids back home.

 On Saturday we went bowling with Grandma Karla, Tiff, Bekah and Jaina.  On the way we bought Disney Sing It and really had fun playing that together that night.  I tried to be more relaxed about letting the kids stay up later and they thought that was great.  We had a spaghetti dinner that night and played games.  Sunday morning we said goodbye to G & G, went to 9am sacrament meeting with my sister and then drove home.  Some friends invited us for dinner and then Carson and I went to Stake choir practice.  We had a wonderful time in CA, as always, and no matter how long we are there it NEVER feels long enough!

New Year's Eve

 We hosted New Year's Eve this year, although we did not provide the entertainment.

 The Jensen's came armed with sparklers and Disney's Sing It Wii!

 We had a really fun time, eating, talking and laughing.

I barely made it to midnight, I hadn't slept well the night before and got up REALLY early to go to the temple.  It was great to ring in the New Year with people I love!

Carson's Birthday Party

 On Thursday Dec. 29 we had Carson's birthday party.

 The cookie cake was awesome!

 Mom's homemade pizza was good!

Playing video games was fun!

Carson is now 11 and we love him a ton!

Christmas Day 2011 or Pure Delight

The tree was decked.

The stockings were filled.

The children were excited.

The stockings were emptied.

The Santa gift was discovered.

Before church four presents were unwrapped.

This is where the story begins.  The morning was perfect.  Stockings and the the Santa gift followed by our traditional Christmas casserole breakfast- a true favorite.  Having Christmas on Sunday is officially my very favorite day to have it on. 

 This was helped by the fact that our good Bishop arranged to have us combine with another ward at 10:00am, so we did not have to go to church at 8am.  That might have been my best Christmas present :).  Carson and I sang in the combined Christmas Choir.  I knew it was going to be hard to get through my solo the moment we started singing the first few notes of the opening song.  I was so overcome with emotion as I looked out and saw all of these people that I love.  The ward we combined with was the one we were split off from a year and a half ago.  I totally wasn't expecting that level of emotion.  The choir performed for all of sacrament meeting and it was perfect.  I love Christmas Sundays with musical programs.  I did make it through my solo, but had to put my hand up to my heart at one point so as to calm myself and not go totally into the ugly cry, while singing "Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born."  

Christ is the BEST part of Christmas and I am so thankful for my testimony of Him.  Everything good in my life is from Him and our Heavenly Father.  I am humbled by their love for me.  I only hope to show that same kind of love to my children and husband.  I know my Father lives and loves me too, the Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true.  I also know that our Lord and Savior, our brother, lives, loves and died for us.  I am grateful for the knowledge that because of His sacrifice, there is a chance for me to repent of my sins and be made whole through Him.

Next up, changing out of our church clothes and opening the rest of the gifts:

A joke gift for Ryan- a new ironing board cover- we've needed a new one for three years ever since I tried to use sticky, iron-on adhesive for Carson's Cub Scout patches.  Since Ryan does his own ironing this gift was for him!

A "Cuttlebug" a cool embossing and die cutting tool for me to use to make cards and scrapbook. 

Cambryn with the cat that Morgan picked out for her.  Ryan and I take the kids out one on one for ice cream dates every Wednesday.  We switch off months and December was my month to take them.  So when I took them for ice cream, with the exception of Carson who shopped at his school's Micro sales, we also went and picked out the  gifts they wanted  to get for each other.  I LOVED watching them choose out what to get for everybody, and when they saw it they KNEW that was just the present they HAD to get.  They were very excited to watch their siblings open what they had picked.   

Morgan with her red notebook, that I confess I did have to threaten that if she asked to go to the store to show it to us one more time, if we had bought it I just might take it back!  She is so sweet, and was definitely being a broken record about this notebook.  I just couldn't take it anymore.

Carson with his Mario Kart Wii- hours of fun this has provided- for Carson and Ryan.

My slippers from the kids- I have worn them pretty much everyday- I love them.

A fire pit for Ryan- he wasn't very surprised- note to self: next time take cash out so the purchase cannot be tracked.  Darn that joint checking account and a husband that works at the bank so he looks at the account!

A huge teddy bear Morgan saw and fell in love with!

Cambryn's doll with button eyes that she put on her list.  I wasn't sure exactly what she meant, but when we were at FRY'S she showed me what she meant.  This request cracked me up, but she was super thrilled!

Bristyn with her big red ball the only thing on her list that was clear, otherwise she just put things like a purple toy, fun toys, stuff like that- it was super cute.

Carson with his gift from Cambryn, a magic set, she knew he would love!

This is the picture where I get to brag about myself a little bit.  And for those who know what this means- please take note of the zero-head-tilt involved in this picture.  My husband is pretty great, you already knew that, I thought I would remind you, in case you forgot.  Anyway, I wanted to get him something he really wanted and would not be expecting.  He has been talking about and i-pod touch for a couple of years, so I knew he really wanted one.  One of my friends posted a link on FB for a coupon that gave you a $10 gift card if you spent $50 or more at Target.  I quickly printed it out and checked Target's ad.  Target was offering a $25 gift card with any i-pod touch purchase- sweet.  I thought- I'll just check the coupons on their site also- score- I found a coupon that was for 10% off an i-pod touch.  I went the next day armed with my coupons, and learning my lesson from Ryan asking questions about my purchase at Lowe's, I got cash out and went one step further and got Target gift cards at our grocery store- giving us quadruple points towards our gas savings.  I was feeling pretty smart!  To increase the drama- I made sure that this present was saved for the last one.  His expression and reaction were exactly what I was hoping for- he deserves so many things for the hard work he puts in for our family.  This was a very small gesture to show him how much I appreciate what he does for us.  He is a wonderful father, who loves and is involved with his kids.  He is a generous and giving husband.  I guess this is as good a time as any to announce to blog-land that I am pregnant with our fifth child- such a giver this man- I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!!!!

Everyone, except me, on Monday, enjoying Santa's gift.  I will have to wait a while before I can enjoy it.  But boy-howdy it looks fun!