Life's Greatest Blessings

Monday, December 29, 2008

Christmas Day!!

After opening presents and having a yummy breakfast with Mom, Dad, and Robert, we all went over to Clint and Sherri's and spent the day!! We have done this for several years now and it is a fun tradition that our kids LOVE!! It is fun for the kids to play with each other and of course we all enjoy visiting!! Sherri always has a YUMMY lunch on--she had a ham, funeral potatoes, and FRESH rolls, and then A TON of snacks!! It was GREAT--we pretty much ate ALL day!! Tyler, Brandon, and Craig played GREAT and then of course Kara and Corey have a blast together. Emily just wandered around and got into everything!! (Sorry Sherri) Brooke LOVED being snuggled by Sherri and Amber. After eating ALL day, we played Apples to Apples and then Troy and Clint watched a movie, the girls of course just hung out and chatted! It was a GREAT day!! After leaving there--we headed home--kids were asleep before we were 5 minutes away from Sherri's. We came home and went to bed!! Thanks Sherri & Clint for letting us crash your house Christmas Day!!

Christmas Morning!!

Tyler was our first one awake!! Brooke woke me up at 5:40 and so I was took her out to the living room to feed her. As I passed Tyler and Brandon's room, I glanced in their, expecting to see them sleeping peacefully. Tyler was sitting up in bed just looking around, I told him to lay back down and go back to sleep. I fed Brooke, and then got in the shower, by the time I got out of the shower, Tyler was in our bedroom, asking to go see if Santa ate the treats we left out. He wanted to make sure he really came! Brandon, Kara, & Emily had not even stirred at all. It was 6:00 now and Tyler had already got dressed and was ready to hit the presents!! I had Tyler help me bathe Brooke to kind of kill time while the others continued to sleep. He had fun with that, but he was then ready to get down to business!! At 6:40, we decided to wake everyone up and get down to business!! Tyler wanted everyone to get dressed since he did, so we got everyone dressed and then headed out!! As we were walking down the hall, Tyler announced to everyone, "Santa CAME!!!" Kara stopped dead in her tracks and looked at me with a concerned look and she said, "Well, is HE GONE?" Kara thinks Santa is a 'nice guy' but Kara does NOT want anything to do with him. I just laughed, but before Kara would move forward, I had to reassure her that Santa was NOT out in our living room.

Santa brought Tyler a remote control jeep, Brandon a remote control truck, Kara a baby and highchair, Emily a Leapfrog Doll, and Brooke got Diapers and Lotion. They were all tickled!! We really had a great Christmas and feel VERY BLESSED!! We are very grateful for this time of year that we have to reflect the Birth of Our Savior. We have enjoyed spending time with our family this Christmas Season.

Brooke's FIRST Christmas!!

Emily's 2008 Christmas!!!

Kara's 2008 Christmas!!!

Brandon's 2008 Christmas!!!

Tyler's 2008 Christmas!!!

Emily's Pink Pony!!

Looks like Brooke is 'The Favorite!'

Tyler modeling his feet jammies!!

Beautiful Dish Towels made by Debbie!!

Brandon & his Truck! Tyler & his Jeep!

The excitement of Christmas tuckered Brooke out!!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Treat for Santa!!

So this year, we were a little lazy and did not make our cookies from scratch!! Santa got brownies made by Pillsbury--but he liked them just the same!! Tyler, Brandon, Kara, and Emily of course liked breaking them apart and putting them in the pan!! Simple is GOOD!! We cooked them before we went over to Nampa to our Christmas Eve Party so when we got home we just set them out with some Chex Mix and Mt. Dew of course!! Our Santa drinks only the BEST!! As we set it all out, Tyler asked, "Does Santa eat or set out our presents first?" I just had to laugh!

We are little LAZY this year!

Good little Helpers!!

Ready to throw in the oven!

Kara sneakin a bite!

Ready for Santa--do you think we've been GOOD enough!?

Tyler's Letter to Santa!

Brandon's Letter to Santa!

Kids tucked in bed and Stockings ALL stuffed!!

Santa's been here and Left!!

Christmas Eve!!

We got together with the Thompson Clan for Christmas Eve and they always put on quite the party!! It was AWESOME!! This year we had it at Grandma Debbie's house. (Her house by the way was beautiful inside--she had just painted and redecorated and it looked AMAZING!!) Jamie and Mike and their kids came from Ogden, it was good the roads opened back up!! Mike we are glad you made it in time for the party from your 'quick' trip to Walmart on Christmas Eve--two hours before they close!! Jeremy and Rachel and their kids were there. Jeff, Shauna, and Kyler were there and so was Karen. Laurel also flew up from Vegas. Grandma Thompson did not feel well so she did not come over. We missed her!! It was really fun to see everyone. Karen, Laurel, and Debbie put on an awesome party!! Karen of course had activities all outlined for kids--they played games and were entertained for hours!!! They played the different games and even got prizes--ours kids thought that was the BEST!! We then ate mashed potatoes, turkey, lamb, stuffing, salads, YUMMY rolls, and of course the appetizers!! It was ALL soooo GOOD!! After eating, we had our little program and the kids then put on the Nativity--while Troy read it! Jamie did a wonderful job with that!! (Thanks Jam!!) By then the snow really began to fall and the wind was blowing like CRAZY!! We started to pack things up. We usually play 'the game' with everyone, but we had to skip out this year. 'The game' is directed by Karen--she is amazing with entertaining people--there is a huge pile of presents in the middle and everyone sits in a circle. There are 2 bowls with 2 dice in each and you pass it around, if you roll snake eyes or your dice totals 7 you get to pick a prize. Of course, if someone else has a prize you like better you can have that one!! It gets pretty heated and quite fun!! It is hilarious!! We were bummed to miss out on that this year, but with 5 kids and Christmas the next day--we figured sleep was needed!! We quickly opened the presents from Grandma Debbie and Grandpa Lynn before we left and the kids were ecstatic!! They loved them!! Thanks Lynn and Debbie--We LOVE you!! Thanks also to Karen and Laurel for all the hard work they did to put on the fun evening!! We had a BLAST!!

'Locked' up in their Room!!

I was trying to get some presents wrapped and everything finished up for Christmas so I had the kids play in their room!! They got the blocks out and they were having a contest of who could build the 'coolest' thing!! I would have to say it was a tie!!

Brandon, tall and PROUD!!

Tyler's Truck!!

Cute Kara showing her tower!!

Can you tell Kara likes PINK!!!

Bubble Bath!!!

At the Brinkerhoff Christmas Party, Santa gave the kids some bubble bath and bath wash. The minute we walked in from the party that night Tyler, Brandon, and Kara stripped and jumped right in the bath tub!! They of course LOVE bubbles but the bath wash of "their very own" was their favorite!! They think it is pretty cool, especially how it makes them a different color!! THANKS SANTA!!!

LET it SNOW!!!

The kids are always a little more excited to see the snow than we are. I think it is really pretty as it falls and the ground all pretty and white--but that's about it!! Last Sunday and Monday we got quite a bit of snow--well at least enough to go sledding and of course play in it for the day. Monday, we went over to Grandpa Brinkerhoff's and he pulled the kids around with his four wheeler. The kids had a blast--they would have done it ALL day. Grandpa was a great sport!! It was a beautiful day and the sun was out so that helped!! Thanks Grandpa--you are GREAT!!!! Jessica was a great sport too--the kids had a BLAST!! After Grandpa got 'sledded' out, of course quicker than the kids, they happily played outside in the yard!!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Family Picture Attempt!!

This past Sunday when we got home from church we decided, well "I" decided we should take some quick pictures by our tree. We set the trusty try pod up and here is what we got!!! Excuse the personalities shining through!!

Brandon & Tyler

Kara was being a real delight that day!!

Kara is going to see these when she is the MOM!!

Another GREAT one!!

Keep Shooting--maybe there's hope for a cute one!!

Are we doing any better?

We give up!!

The BEST we can do!!

Random poses by THE TREE!!!

Our kids love to pose by the tree. I will be working away and they will come in and find me wherever I am and say, "Come take a picture of me by the tree!" I LOVE it!! So we have taken several on all different occasions, some with santa hats, some in jammies--just all pretty random. There are some serious ones and of course goofy ones!!