Christmas Day!!

Finally, the day we have all been waiting for has arrived! The boys were sooo excited. They just could not believe everything they got! Kaebryn? She was happy with the wrapping paper! Troy loved his quilt and I was so glad I had spent so many late nights working on it. It is not easy trying to hide a project that big! His Great Grandma Grace made the top and gave it to Peggy. A few years ago, she gave it to me to finish. So, Merry Christmas, Troy...your Great Grandma's quilt all done. We all received very nice gifts. We had a nice morning. We went to church and then headed to Grover's. We ate brunch at Grandma Grover's and then headed to Richard and Peggy's. We opened gifts and ate prime rib and twice baked potatoes...and a ton of other yummy food. What a wonderful day!

Cookies for Santa

After the Harris party, we rushed home to get ready for Santa to come! We left chocolate chip cookies and milk for him. Daeson made this great gingerbread house, but it was sad it disappeared with Santa. It would have been fun to keep ahold of. The kids were very excited. We all opened jammies, read the Nativity story and headed to bed...sleep tight!

Harris Family Christmas Eve party

Another party, the last Pre-Christmas celebration. It was super fun and we saw a lot of family we only see once a year. This is Troy's mom's family. We ate and visited then did a gift exchange for the kids. This was the highlight of the night for them. Everyone brought twenty five 29cent presents and gave them to the kids. We gave note books, pencils and erasers. It was so fun to see their eyes light up with 25 presents! It was great. Then the adults do a gift game. It is fun, too. Troy got a ping-pong table net...we donated it to one of the cousins with a table...and I got one of those head massager things that looks like an octopus. I was thrilled! After the party, we headed home to get ready for SANTA!

Paper towel mischief

I was busy working in the kitchen and when I turned around, I found Kaebryn having fun with the paper towels!

Two days until Christmas

Two days before Christmas and all through my house,
everyone one was as busy as a little mouse.
The stockings are hung on a craft-fair shelf,
The one I bought to please my self.
The presents are wrapped and tied up with care,
Most of them delivered, but some were not there.

Washing and folding of all the clothes,
Cake baking and fondant making for Rudloph's red nose.
The kids cannot wait, two days still, they say.
Tonight a nativity we will see, and sit on the hay.

Tomorrows festivities are parties and such,
I think that this season is filled with sooo much.
A quilt for Troy I must hastily sew,
But I cannot tell the kids or he will surely know.
For years he has been asking for a quilt made of jeans,
Finally years later I am giving his dreams.

The boys and Kaebryn are getting jammies and toys.
She won't realize, but I cannot wait for the boys
To open their presents and see what the get,
We hope all their Christmas wishes are met.

From our house to yours, we wish you good cheers!
Not only this year but for all the coming years.

An early gift

My mom and dad recorded their voices reading Frosty the Snowman for the kids. They love it. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Smith family party

Tonight was the family party at my Aunt Deanna's house. We had a great time...our third party in a row. We had good food and it was, once again, great to see everyone. I didn't get very many pictures. Those who came: Uncle Kip, Aunt Mitzi, Shad, Shade, Shalese, Shawntel, Shailee and her boyfriend, Brett, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Keith, cousins Katie, Nick and Jenni, Justin, Hailey, Jax, us, Jaden, Jess, Brooke, Carson, Aunt Dee, cousin Eli and his girlfriend Jen and their kids Mia and Jason, cousins Mikayla and Tucker, and last but certainly not least, Gram. We missed those who were not there, but we hope to see you next year!

We are family!

Tonight was my family Christmas party with my brothers. We always have a good time, and this year was a little different due to some changes in our family. However, it was a ton of fun. We ate, ate and ate...opened presents, ate and, oh yeah, ate. We played games and the kids had a great time playing games of their own. Thanks for coming, family! We took a new family picture...one without Carlie. She is no longer in our family due to a recent affair. We hope she is happy with her new boyfriend. Thank you to Hailey's dad, Vince, for taking our picture! It is great.

Rockin it with "aunt" katie

This is my cousin Katie...but years ago my boys didn't understand the concept of cousins, so we called her aunt Katie. We love her and hang out a lot when she is around here...right now she is far, far away and we miss her tons! Kaebryn decided to hang out with the grown ups this night. I am sad I didn't get pics of Nick and Jenni, they stayed this night too! It was great to see them!

Special visit from Santa's helper

Tonight we got a special visit from Santa's helper. My kids have figured out that Santa isn't Santa if his beard is fake...so this is his special helper. It was our Grover Christmas party at Grandma Grover's house. It was a ton of fun and great to see our family members!

My kids

Peggy took these pictures for me...I think they turned out cute

A million things to do...

Christmas. Christmas time is quickly approaching. Most have their trees up and decorated. Some have the stockings hanging by the mantle with hopes that St. Nick will come Christmas Eve and leave goodies in there. Some have lights adorning their roof tops and yards. Some may have delivered Christmas goodies and treats to friends and loved one. Some probably have their shopping done, gifts wrapped and delivered. Some are busily shopping for the holiday dinner that some have on Christmas Day. Some have their family pictures taken and Christmas cards addressed and mailed.

I am not some.

Having said that, I do have my tree up and shopping done and gifts wrapped. That is the extent of it. If you came to my house today, you will find laundry folded and ready to be put away. Laundry that needs to be folded. Laundry that needs to be washed. Laundry that needs to be ironed. You will find sheets that need to be put on beds. You will find piles of craigslist items or DI items. You will find totes and trim in the garage waiting to be put away in the appropriate places. You will find my basement a complete disaster because I decided instead of an hour on the treadmill I would rearrange and deep clean my area. Troy was very patient and helpful after moving my craft desk several times and unhooking my computer and printer. Only to redo it a couple of times for me! He is helping with the children too. You will find lunch unmade and dishes that need to be put away from the dishwasher.

Normally I would come to my own defense stating that I am not a messy person. Reasoning that I am a very organized and well managed person. Today, however, I am not coming to my defense. It is a mess. It needs taken care of. So, for the next few hours, I will be doing the tasks that await me. I will shower tonight...around 10 p.m. I will get it done...why? Because finals are next week and I have Troy for today. That's it. Today for the next two weeks!

This week we have dentist appointments, Pampered Chef parties, Papparazzi parties, chocolate making, our ward party in which I am making all six sheet cakes, and Daeson has a trip to the Nutcracker. I am excited for the fun days ahead. Next week we have the Relief Society dinner here...I am in charge of all the decor and set up and the chicken salad with Michelle's help. I am hoping I get this very messy garage cleaned well enough. It is the only place big enough in any of our homes to have a dinner for 50. I also have 13 pairs of pj's to make before Christmas...along with more projects. I need to got to the house I property manage and take care of things over there and get the tax stuff together. There are a couple other things next week but I cannot remember what they are. So, I am off to get busy so that I might be able to become one of those earlier mentioned people.