Christmas Day

Santa found my crew at their Grandma's house.  He brought the dress Macey asked for and the "cowboy" that Henry asked for.

 This was our first big "Santa" year and I'll be the first to admit, it was a lot of fun.

 Kimball, Sam, and Bryant.

 The messy chaos.

 Fancy water proof gloves from me.

 Sam had a camera that wouldn't work, so Thomas spent the weekend tinkering on it.  He loves jazz like that.

 We made out way into Zion the day after Christmas and did the short hike to Weeping Rock.  I love Zion and I love being so close to it.  I bought our annual pass of all national parks too, Merry Christmas to me!

The rock weeping turned icicle.

 Weeping Rock, Zion National Park.

 Huge ice collecting on the chain.

 Rock tears caught in sunshine.

 More rock tears.

Some of the crew.

 Can you spot the fox?

And last, but not least, wild turkey.

Merry Christmas wild fowl.  You made it another year.

Christmas Eve Pagent

Christmas Eve is always fun.  We go to the church for the town program which has been happening for over 80 years!  We then eat and act out the Christmas story!  Macey and Jane.  They sure love/love to pester each other.

Henry the dirty faced shepherd!

 Ready for action!

 Crazy shepherd clan.

 Mary and Joseph.  Aren't they cute!  Now, that is a baseball helmet under Mary's outfit, but she will indeed look like that in a few months!  

 Wisemarla, Shepherd Jane, and Josh the Bull

 Who said the wise men were the only ones bringing gifts?

 Wiggly baby Jesus.

 More wise people and Terry the spectator.   Lucy and Misty were angels.

 Oh what a motley crew.  It's fun, even if we laugh more than we hear the story!  I'm going to buy some fake beards and wigs for next year.  That's the only thing that could improve this pageant!

Christmas in a Box

 My momma lives far far away in the land of the horses.  She likes it there, but I know she misses me now and  again.  She sends up Christmas in a box because we are so far away.  She out did herself this year!  Here are the details!

The kids wanted to open the box right away.  I wanted to wait for Thomas.  When Thomas was due to arrive I let them open the box.  It was taped shut. Lots and lots and lots of taped shut.  What a sneaky stalling plan  on my part!

 How is this so hard!  Muhaha!  Notice how carefully Henry is keeping his fingers back...  he's a good listener!

 Dad arrived, we opened the box!

 Dirty face and messy hair.  Who is this kid?

 My mom is super talented.  She made this "grab-it" ball for Kimball!  Isn't is cute!

 Macey got pajama pants with a matching blanket and pillow for her Care Bear.

 Mom made Henry a little backpack out of a pair of my jeans with a nice train to go inside it.  He loves wearing it and keeping his treasures inside.

 Mom sent me some killer "vintage" sewing/crafty books.  The ideas for the 80's rock!  She's been a HUGE help on my fancy blog and we have some super fun stuff planned for the coming year!  Be excited.

 Wearing her jammies, snuggling with the bear.

Sleep tight little Care Bear.

And T got a fancy gift card to his favorite Home Depot.  Thanks Mom and Dad!  We loved it all!

Do your children ever run away from you after their shower, refusing to get dressed?  And THEN stick their tongue out at you, too?  Mine either...

We've had a few different people drop of paper goods instead of goodie plates this year.  I think they found out I don't have a sink.  I'm not a paper plate woman, but if it's handed to me I'll use it.  I have been loving it too!

 The kids made a gingerbread house with their dad (while I worked on my own).  They got the roof done but not much else.  They asked to eat it and I indulged, but they had to take it outside.

 Macey said it was too hard to get anything off so she threw it. Can you see her crossing her arms?  Take that gingerbread house!

I swept it up and threw it in the yard for the birds to eat.  Do birds eat Smarties?

Middle of No Where

 You know you live in the middle of no where when you have to stop to wait for sheep to cross the road!

 Kimball is an expert crawler and is now pulling himself up to standing...  Oh my.  He's not 7 months old yet!

 While I craft Macey likes to us my stamps and I've discovered that Henry loves to cut.  I acquired a few old magazines and a pile of paper for him and he'll cut all day.  He has a pair of little blue scissors that he has and cries over when he can't find.  It's pretty funny and pretty messy.

 Kimball's mobility gets him into all kinds of fun.

 His favorite is finding "treats" his siblings left on the floor.  He ate half an apple yesterday with his 2 teeth!

We had our family gift exchange last night for Family Night and it was a load of fun.  The weekend before we went out to dinner and then to the Dollar Tree.  I went with Macey and Thomas took Henry though the store. The kids were supposed to pick out 2 things for the other parent and their sibling.  It was a lot of fun to have them pick things they thought the other child would like.  It was also good for them to not get something for themselves.  It was a learning experience! 

Macey and I wrapped presents this weekend and she's been counting down the minutes until Henry would open his gifts from her.  It was fun to watch them be kind to one another.  I also got a new bottle of nail polish out of the deal!  Never a bad thing.

Merry Christmas to All!