Catch Up

I have done a few posts about the past few weeks but there are some things that just didn't fit. I would call it Sunday Smiles but it is Thursday and if I wait until Sunday, I won't get to it until next Thursday anyway.  So, here are a few more things to share. 

Before school was out for Christmas, Julia and Brigham had a sing-around.  This is where each grade prepares a song and then gets to go up on the stage and sing for a few of the other grades and a few parents.  My kids love these and since I have to drive back to the school for them, I don't go very often.  But this time I went and I was so glad.  Julia and Brigham both did a great job and Porter and Martie loved it.

Here is a picture of Julia and Martie in their Christmas Dresses.  Both Julia and I were so excited to have matching dresses for them.  I got a great deal online but they came without sleeves so I have Lisa Evans add them for me.  (I am in awe of people that can do that.)

Another great moment this break was Jessica's "wedding shower."  I never thought I would hear myself say that.  I'm sorry but I have never liked them, but this was great.  Instead of opening toasters and playing games with clothespins, she treated us to a day at the spa.  They had manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, and even leg waxing.  I chose the facial, my first, and a massage and had two of the most relaxing hours ever.  I look like death in the picture because of all the stuff they rub in but it was worth it.  Best shower ever.  I can't wait until she has a baby shower!

Here is our Christmas tree.  The kids decorated it this year and Julia got to put the star on the top.  I thought they did a great job and they only broke one ornament.  Peter says we have plenty to spare.  (He hates them and when we lived in our apartment with tile floors, he used to shut the door extra hard to see if he could make one fall.  Good thing my mom and I got them in bulk!)

When everyone was in town we took a trip to Thanksgiving Point's Dinosaur Museum.  My kids are fascinated by that place every time we drive by.  Since so many people were buying tickets, we decided to pay extra to get a family pass and then the other tickets were only half price.  We can't wait to go all year.  They have family home evening activities every Monday and lots of our neighbors have one so we can join them!

My mom gives us a rather insane amount of money for Christmas and this year we decided to put in a bit extra and upgrade to an HD flat screen.  Peter justified it by saying it is a large picture frame because it can scroll through our family pictures.  It will be used for that but I am sure we will watch one or two movies on it.  The nativity picture was taken because my nativity goes where he wanted the TV  I told him he had to wait until after Christmas to put up the TV because it was blasphemous to move my nativity for that.  He said he would take a picture of the nativity and put it on the screen.  Cute.  I agree with Amy in that we have way too manyTVs in our house considering we don't watch TV.

We got to meet our niece Rebecca!  Rachel and Rob, two of my favorite people have been married longer than Peter and me and they were finally able to have their first.  We were so excited for them.  I have watched pictures on face book (they are posted VERRY regularly) but I have never been able to squish her personality riddled little cheeks!  Until December 26th.  I picked Rachel and Rebecca up from the airport while Porter and Martie were napping. When we got home I put Rebecca in Martie's Bumbo.  Porter woke up, came out to the family room and started playing with the baby toys.  He handed a couple to Rebecca before he noticed something had changed.  He looked at me and asked, "Mom is dat Mottie?"  Stinking cute.  Anywho, it was great to see them and everyone else.

This was Martie's best friend for the Christmas break.  Rainer is 13 or 14 but he loved Martie.  He was always willing to hold her and play with her.  He would take her for over an hour and she LOVED the attention.  They were best friends right off.  Don't tell Martie he loved all the other babies as well.

This is one of my favorite pictures from the whole weekend.  After the dinosaur museum, we went out to lunch.  When everyone was one, we turned around to see Rigdon drinking the fry sauce straight from the cup.  Smart kid.  I have always wanted to do that but I have never had the guts.  I wish I was comfortable enough with myself, and my waistline, to do that.

One of the last things we did before everyone from out of state left was have a party for the 4 babies that turned one in December.  Bonnie's Owen, Michael's Blake, Vixie's Morgan, and Heather's Mason all turned one in December.  They each lined up and had a cupcake of their own while the rest of us played paparazzi and took pictures.  It was cute.

Shrinky Dinks!  I loved Shrinky Dinks when I was a kid and guess who got them for Christmas?  Julia and Brigham.  I was so excited.  One of the first things we did after getting home from Aspen Grove was break out the Shrinky Dinks.  Everyone loved them, probably me the most, but none the less, we had a great time. 

It was a great Christmas break and now I am blog caught up!