MeRry CHristMaS

Brunch at Dad and Nancy's

 The Nativity

Hayden would only be Joseph if Maddie was Mary. Smart boy, she is a looker!

 Hayden opening his present. An xbox.

Amb and I waited in line for over two hours for that baby on black Friday.

 Libby loves her dolly.

 Do you think Ethan likes his present? A 3ds. Hmmm maybe a little. I'll have to try harder next year.

 Christmas morning pull apart, a must for Shawn.

 A Christmas dinner.

 Cousins. Ethan, Maddie, Becca.

This was the best Christmas. I might say that every year, but its true, it just keeps getting better. We usually stay home for Christmas, and have family visit us. But my Mom invited us to spend Christmas with her. My Mom and Darryl have been renovating their house for the last year. Their goal was to have the ultimate grand kids house that is both beautiful and worry free for the kids. Their house turned out more gorgeous then imagined, it is warm, inviting, and comfortable. And childproof! It was such a treat to be able to spend Christmas with my family, and have all the cousins together! It was so festive.

We had brunch at my Dad and Nancy's home on Christmas Eve. And the kids got to open their first (of many) presents. Shawn and Aaron loved their gifts, a headlight, and immediately put them. The boys each got a paper guitar, and rocked out for us, it was quite the show. Christmas Eve we spent at my Mom's and Taryn's family came over for dessert and to reenact the Nativity. The costumes were fabulous.

Christmas day the boys woke up at 5:30 and started to open up presents in their stockings, until I put the kibosh on that and sent them back to bed! At a a more reasonable hour we opened our presents. Libby loved opening her presents, and even opened a few that were not for her, oppse! It was lovely having Christmas on Sunday. How appropriate that we go to church to hear a special message and sing Christmas songs on this special day to remind us of the real reason we are celebrating Christmas. I loved it. After church my Mom and I spent the afternoon in the kitchen preparing dinner. Both of my sisters and my Grandpa Wilson came over for dinner and to open gifts from Lovey and Grandpa, and cousins. It was such a wonderful day. I loved being with everyone. It was a perfect weekend.

The best Christmas present was that my Mom kept my kids! Shawn and I have the rest of the week to ourselves, oh what to do! I miss them, but a little break has been blissful!

teachers gifts

We still have a whole week more of school. So what does this mean? I have a few more days to figure out what to buy the kids school teachers! I am sure they get a lot of really cheesy and lame gifts, and I don't want to be grouped into that category! So I usually stick with gift cards for the movies, or Barnes and Noble. But I am loving these pictures/ ideas!

The first image and idea is from hostessblog.com I love this idea, where can you find the cardboard drink holder? The second image and idea from thecreativemama.com the website also has the tutorial! So clever, but does the recipient have to actually break the jar to get the gift out? That doesn't sound fun. sounds messy, but it is so cute.

Pre Christmas Frenzy

 Sorry I know these pictures are terrible and grainy. But dont look at that. Just look at the 3 adorable kids in my bed!

This picture was taken Sunday morning. We have had 8am church all year, and it has been a killer all year! We had to have date night on Friday night all year, because in order to get to church on time we had to be all organized the night before. Showers, clothes laid out, lessons actually had to be prepared prior to Sunday morning, and everyone in bed at a reasonable hour. But this last week was our first Sunday in our new church building, in Anthem. And because there are only two wards meeting in our chapel, our time changed from 8am to 11am. (Ahhh, a sigh of relief!) The building is beautiful, and everything is brand new. Its so cool. So this last Sunday morning we actually got to have cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and leisurely get ready. It was amazing. After breakfast our kids all jumped back into bed, my bed actually. They were so cute, all cuddling and talking sweetly to each other. Well that lasted about ten minutes before they started to pound on each other...but I had to capture the sweet moment. Its these moments that melt my heart, and reminds me to slow down and how precious every moment is and to treasure it.

Speaking of slowing down and enjoying the moment....

I don't know how it is mid December already, this month is totally passing me by. I had such high hopes for December, but we haven't been able to do much of anything. December started with everyone being sick in bed, and I started working part time (a whole other post, that I'll get to, maybe). Our only Christmas tradition that we have followed through on is watching the movie The Nativity and decorating the Christmas tree. But its OK we have another week to do Christmasy stuff. So on the plan for this weekend is to take kids to store to pick out presents for their cousins, and to make gingerbread houses, from graham crackers, and eat pizza. Tomorrow we are either going to go to the movies, or roller skating (not very Christmasy but fun). Our friend Justin, that spends the weekend with us every few months is going to join in on our festivities. And Shawn and I have a Christmas party we are going to tomorrow. So it will be a busy weekend, but hopefully we can just enjoy being together and celebrate the jolly season.

So Happy Weekend!

A Race

 the culprit, and me posing before the big race. You can tell by the big smiles... We don't know yet what we are getting ourselves into!

 My fan club... Shawn, Libby, Hayden, Ethan is at home sicker then a dog, Terry, Candy, and Noah...thanks for coming guys...xoxo

 hurry, fast! change. Shawn was urging me on.

Oh there are so many titles I had for this post: Killing myself, Peer pressure, A Triathlon, Hard work, Why. All of these titles could have been very appropriate. Back in August, my bestie, Shannyn, suggested that I do a triathlon with her. If I had only known then how hard it was going to be I might have have answered differently. No I am just kidding it was totally worth it, and I would even try it again. Shannyn and I worked out several times a week. We met at the gym at either the crack of dawn or after we got our kids in bed. We would swim or run or bike. Honestly it was actually more talking, laughing, and having fun, with a little bit of working out mixed in there somewhere (maybe that is why I am so tired and sore now!) The actual race was fun, really REALLY hard though. I am not one that usually works out. My idea of exercise is walking Libby to the park. I've never enjoyed running. But from the beginning I set my mind that I was going to do it, and I was totally committed. And you know I am proud of myself. And surprise, surprise I love working out. Some days I was even obsessed with it, and would work out in the morning and night. I feel like I am in good (better) shape now, and I know Shawn has enjoyed that! Shawn was super supportive of me working out every night, and never complained once, like I would have (he's so much nicer then me!). He was a great cheerleader today, and he made me feel so good about my accomplishment.

Did I mention yet that it was freezing? As in so so SO cold. My goosebumps had goosebumps. It took at least an hour to thaw out afterwards.

A few of my tri bloopers were diving into the pool and remembering that we are not supposed to dive in, so mid dive I belly flopped, yup a great start. Then on my last swim lap I forgot to move over to the next lane and started swimming head on to two swimmers. Yikes, that was embarrassing. Sorry ladies. And then my last one was that my rubber band broke when I started running, so my whole run I had wild hair flapping in the wind, so annoying. And it wasn't beautiful sexy hair in the wind, no it was chlorine, helmet dried hair, not my best look.

Old Town

Every time we go home to visit family we always have to go to Old Town Temecula. Its our favorite place. We eat at Rosa's, window shop, and let the kids run wild in the grass around the beautiful new fountain and City Hall. Its become a little bit of a tradition. Its always a highlight.

A thanksgiving day

 I had to include this picture because I thought it was so funny. We are in the car driving to California, and our car was so packed, as you can see. I was driving and everyone is asleep. Shawn is using Libby's doggie blanket as a pillow.

 Zach, Kristain and Hayden playing a Hulk Smash play dough game.

 Libby loves cousin Noah. And notice Libby's cute turkey shirt I whipped up for her?

(Just don't look at it up close, I literally whipped it up.)

 My beautiful niece Kayla, Ethan, Libby and Noah hanging out on the stairs. Libby loved the stairs at Grandma's. She kept going up and down. And she only tumbled down them once! Yikes!

We spent Thanksgiving at Shawn's Moms house. My sister in law, April, made dinner with her Mom, who was visiting from Texas, and Candy. It was delicious. Turkey so moist, and lots of mashed potatoes and gravy! Yummy! We had a great time hanging out all day. There were lots of Jenga challenges. Auntie Jean taught Ethan a cool card trick. Ethan and Noah played on their favorite game Minecraft for a really long time sharing tips. And we did a lot of eating. It was such a great way to celebrate the holiday, to be surrounded by people we love and are so grateful for. We are so blessed.

The Wild Wild West

Camping in the wild west was a new experience for us. Instead of worrying about poison oak we were worried about cactai! We crashed John's birthday camping trip to Superstition mountain on Friday. We had a great time doing the camping thing. S'mores, camp fire and stories (thanks to Jack!) an amazing dutch oven breakfast (thanks to John). Hayden made friends with jack's cousins and had a blast playing in the wash. It was a freezing night, and we were all dressed in several layers, but it still didn't feel like enough! On our way home we stopped at the little mining town and Shawn took the boys on a mining tour. It was sooooo fun camping in the wild west! Thanks florez fam for letting us crash your party!

Whip Cream and Sporks

Every year the boys school has a Thanksgiving lunch that the parents are invited to. Although the lunch takes on a mushy yellowish hue (it is cafeteria food, with the popular questionable meat!...jk) it is surprisingly delicious! I swear. The boys loved the pumpkin pie the most.  And I enjoyed using a spork immensely, oh brings back memories of my cafeteria days. I love being able to see them interact with their friends and being able to get to know their friends myself. Hayden and his friends were so silly. I loved watching them laugh and have a good time. It fills me with so much joy to see my kids happy at school. Ethan and his friends were pretty goofy themselves, but in a much more laid back cool way, he is a sixth grader after all. This luncheon is probably one of my very favorite things that their school does. I am so glad they did it again this year!

A whole new world

After Nurse Nancy sent home a letter informing the parents of Ethan Hancock that he failed his vision test I finally took him to see the Doctor. Oppse I had no idea he couldn't see! After Ethan put on his glasses he tells me that everything looks different, and clear! A whole new world!! Well I think he looks handsome. A young kent clark? I told him I'd make a superman undershirt for him to wear, he just laughed at me....but now he has super vision!

Veteran's Day Parade

I always love the parade. Ethan was able to be in the parade again with the other eleven year old scouts, and cub scouts. I know its a lot of work for the scout leaders to pull together their float, and I usually have to drag Shawn there. But for me its all worth it. I love it. I am so proud to be an American, and I think that sometimes that sounds cliched but its true. Watching all the older men that have fought, and the younger men that maybe just returned, and the high school ROTC, its touching that all these people care so much that they are not only willing to risk their lives for our country, but to live their lives every day for our country. I am so deeply grateful for them and their sacrifice. The parade is just one small way to celebrate them, because truly they deserve more then that.

Hayden and Libby enjoyed the parade too. There were the unicycles, always Shawn's favorite, camels, and horses, marching bands, cheer squads, cool old school cars, and so much more.