A Quick Recap

Take a deep breath and prepare yourself for the rest of a whirlwind December. We took the kids to see Santa at the mall. The policy is that you are allowed one photo with your own camera. I understand that it helps keep the line shorter and makes it a bit more enticing to buy their photos, but it's still a lot of pressure. Especially with three kids, what are the chances that our one and only shot would be a good one? Luckily, fate was on our side. It turned out great.

Just before the kids' turn to see Santa, Allie turned to me and said, "Mom, get me a dollhouse next year. I'm asking for chapstick." And she did. Kyla asked for a Barbie and candy. Damon asked for a yellow sled.

We went to see Damon's class program on the 21st. That was fun.

I did his class party on the 22nd, but no pictures of that event. I was a bit too busy spinning kids around as they attempted to Pin the Nose on Rudolph. That night Jeff and I went to SLC and met up with our friends, the Law's. They were in ortho school with us in Jacksonville and recently moved to Austin, TX. It was great to catch up, and we enjoyed some wonderful sushi like old times. Greg and Noel also made it, but were delayed because of the snowstorm.

I had been wanting to do a journey dinner with the family, but the nights were so busy, that we ended up doing a journey lunch. We ate homemade tortillas, dried fruit, jerky, olives, cheese and nuts and drank grape juice. Not exactly the way I envisioned, but the kids seemed to have fun. We had a good discussion about Mary and Joseph. And the kids learned that olives fit on fingertips!

Christmas Eve we spent with Jeff's family at his sister's house (again no pictures, dang it), and then back home for the night. The kids knew the pajama elf was supposed to come, but we didn't get home until almost 10:00, so they were afraid we might have missed him. Luckily, as they were getting ready for bed, the PJ elf delivered, and they all got to go to bed in new footsies.

Allie had an upset tummy and all the excitement was too much for her. She threw up once before bed, and we prayed that it was just a one time thing. She had to change into another pair of jammies (fortunately, she had another pair under the tree that she could unwrap) and she was fine the rest of the night.

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. It was our first one in our own home as a family. Allie was the first one up, around 7:15 (shocker). We made the kids pose on the stairs before we let them at the presents.


Damon got a BLUE sled with yellow on it, and the girls got a dollhouse. Kyla seemed to be most pleased with the clementine from her stocking.


Christmas afternoon we drove to St. George, where the party was really going strong. We spent the next few days eating way too much, staying up way too late, and changing way too many diapers. Kyla had the same tummy bug Allie had, and had a serious case of diarrhea for a few days, which also led to a nasty diaper rash, and a miserable girl. Fortunately, a prayer from grandma and half an imodium crushed up in applesauce finally did the trick and she was back to her happy self.

Damon loved playing with my cousin, Caden, and the two of them spent a few hours Sunday morning up in a tree in the park.

They do clean up nice, though, don't they?

We got to be in the temple with my brother, Jonny, as he took out his endowments after Christmas. The night before, we had a mini testimony meeting, where we all talked about our feelings of the temple, the Savior, etc. It was a very special night and I was so amazed at how grown up my family is getting. I love them.

Tara and Wayne weren't there for the picture, because Tara had to rush home to nurse her one month old baby, but this is the rest of my family after the temple. 5 of the 6 kids were there (Kimmy's turn will come in a few years).

Jonny leaves Jan. 27th for Mendoza, Argentina, and his farewell is on the 17th (Kimmy's 16th b-day).

Jeff, Wayne and my dad took the kids hiking one morning and Jeff took this cool shot.


We came back home in time for two parties with Jeff's family and we rang in the New Year at 10:00 pm New Year's Eve.

Really, that is the briefest of recaps, as much more happened that really should be documented. It was a great holiday, and it's so hard to get back to real life. And detox from all the sugar we consumed. Here's to 2010!