Christmas 2012

 Christmas was really fun this year. As our kids get older it becomes more and more magical. We still had to wake up our kids at 8:30am, because we were ready to get started and didn't know how long they'd sleep. I bet that was our last year doing that :) Emmett walked out to the living room and saw that new horse and immediately said, "thats mine!" Adah went straight for her giant Pooh Bear. She loves stuffed animals and anything she can cuddle. We looked through our stockings, made breakfast, and then opened our presents. Later that night we went to Emily's house for a little Christmas dinner and did a gift exchange. The kids all brought their favorite presents and did a show and tell with the family. It was cute watching them share their favorite toy. Emmett took his cows and chute and showed everybody how to put a cow in the chute!

Christmas Eve Jammies

Christmas Morning

He said," That's my horse!!!"

Adah loves Pooh Bear

Adah's Stash! Pooh Bear, Blanket, cash register, elephant/ball toy, tutu, cowgirl hat, clothes, hair bows

Bret's Stash, wranglers, guitar, and George Strait concert tickets

Amy's Stash, Running jacket, Garmin running watch, slippers, money for a mini vacation without the kiddos.

Emmett's Stash, Horse, Hungry Hungry Herd, bow and arrow, clothes, puzzles, cow chute, cows

Family Pic

Loves these people!

Cody & Carly 2012

This picture makes me giggle.

My stud muffin

She likes having her picture taken

Ben's Christmas Party 2012

 There is nothing I look forward to more then Ben's Christmas party. He starts preparing and decorating in October. We all have special assignments and it's not to be discussed with anybody else in the family. This year Bret and I were assigned to sign a Christmas opera. There are prizes given out for Best Performance, Best Costume, Best Food Dish, and Best Christmas Spirit. Bret and I took first place in best performance and we tied for first in best costume. We had so much fun. It's an adult only party, which is fun because we never get out without our kids. We really missed Kurt this year. It wasn't the same without him. Last year he played the guitar and sang Christmas songs for our family. (he won best performance that year).

Mike Warren, Tayla Warren, Big Der, Jeff Heaps

Nana & Jude

Ben's decorating

Winter Wonderland

This is where you can take somebody else from the party and confess something to them. If you've wronged them, had immoral thoughts, etc... lol. Ben also had a courthouse this year at the party. He was the judge(of course) and you could take somebody to court and dispute your differences. Ben has always found joy in helping people solve their differences and he laughs at the drama. Court was really fun. I took Bret E to court for using some of my canning jars without paying for them. Cowboy took Emily to court for trying to kick him off the family softball team this summer. It was so funny. Ben is very creative!

 

 

Sisters

Christmas & New years Eve 2010

We went to Minersville for Christmas this year. Bret got off work early at 11:00pm on Christmas Eve, so we packed up the car and drove to Minersville that night. The fog was really thick so we had to drive slower then usual ,but we made it and by the time we unpacked the car and set up Christmas it was 4:00am. Bret is used to staying up that late but it took a toll on me. Emmett understood the concept of opening a present but didn't get the magic of Christmas. He loved his toys and also fought with his cousins over the toys. One point during this weekend, Grandpa Calvin was watching the kids and said, " I've never done so much refereeing in my life." (hard to believe). Emmett got a tricycle, doodle board, Ice Age movie, a few farm animals, clothes, etc... He loves those hard plastic animals from IFA or CalRanch. They're expensive suckers but they'll never break. Max and Maverick both got these big stuffed horses to ride and Emmett wouldn't get off of them. This was the number 1 toy they all fought over. At one point I thought Emmett was going to fall asleep on it.

Ireceived a new camera from Santa ;) I got a Nikon D3000. I have no idea how to use it but I'm learning. I know nothing about photography but I wanted a camera that will take a pic fast enough to catch the moment or have a picture with Emmett's eyes open.(the flash on my old camera bothered him so he always closed his eyes)

We went sledding down by Milford on Monday. The kids loved it and it was fun watching them.

We also did some horse carriage rides. These horses are huge, the picture doesn't do them justice.


New years Eve was fun, we went to Emily's house and Shayne made Stromboli. I wasn't feeling that great that night so didn't eat as much as I originally planned. I love that dish. I stayed at Emily's house until about 9pm because Emmett was tired and asked me if we could go home. How cute!!! Bret had to work but surprised me again when he got off early and made it home at 12:02am. Isn't Max the cutest baby? I think he looks like Emily more and more everyday. I just love his brown eyes, which you can't see in this picture due to the tears. I'll find another picture of him to post soon.

Grandma Jude with the Emmett, Carly, and Max

I was working on the puzzle and Emmett yells at me from downstairs, "mom...hold you". Meaning he wanted me to hold him. I walked to the stairs expecting to carry him up and found him laying on the stairs. I walked down to get him and he said, "night night" and then kept saying "home". I guess walking up 13 stairs is too much when you've been partying that much.

Later that night Carly kept telling Emily, "Emmett made me nervous." Emily asked her why and she said,"he wanted to go night night on the stairs."

Incase you're wondering...yes we do workout!!!!

Best Christmas Present

Tonight I opened a special gift from my sisters and mom. It was completely unexpected and I cried. I'm so happy and excited for my gift. After I opened it my brother-in-law(Bret) said, " Now, that is the type of gift you want to give." I love that he said GIVE rather then Get. I got a new Bernina sewing machine. I've been borrowing my mom's machine for the last 6 years and I really wanted/needed one of my own. I'm not somebody who occassionally uses a sewing machine, I use it often and I love to make things! Shayne even got teary eyed watching me open my gift and he said, " look how happy she is". I think it was the highlight of everybody's night, but especially mine! Thank you girls!