Christmas Mornin'

We had such an incredible Holiday season. I was very sad to see it go. So sad, in fact, that I just barely took my tree down last weekend. I love the holidays and did not want it to end. We spent Christmas Eve at Abu and Papa's house with all the kids cousins (most of them anyway - we really missed the Townsends this year). They had sooo much fun. And they really enjoyed their gifts from Abu and Papa this year too.

Christmas morning started off as it usually does, with wrapping paper covering the entry to the Living Room (a tradition started by Grandma Lorrie). So once everyone was awake the kids ran through it to see all their presents. The first thing everyone saw was Jaxon's new golf club set. He was sooo stinkin' excited. He loooves to go golfing with daddy and now he has his own real clubs (does that mean he can't go for free anymore?). Anyway, Summer got Guitar Hero I & II. She was freakin' excited - as you can tell-, and little Miss Hallie got the Polly Pockets she has been waiting years and years for (at least it seemed like years and years). It was a wonderful Christmas morning.

After breakfast we got ready and headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Where we were greeted with more wrapping paper to run through. We spent the day with Alan's brothers and Sister. And aside from my sever allergic reaction to the cat - followed by being knocked out from allergy meds - It was really fun. We played lots of Guitar Hero and the family favorite - Pounce. Later that night Ben and Jen came and slept over. We watched a movie - pirates maybe. Anyway we had a great time with them, we always do. . .

I love the holidays - the smell of my Christmas Trimmings candle - spending time with family. I am sad to see it end, but I'm sure it will come around faster than I think this next year.

Christmas Program

Hallie and Jaxon go to the best preschool ever - at least I think so- and every year they have a Christmas program at BYU (they go to Learning Dynamics). I also sent Summer there and I love it. They teach the kids to read before kindergarten and they have amazing teachers. Both of them have perfect teachers for their personalities. Jaxon has Mrs. Mulliner who thinks he's great and loves to see him come out of his shell and miss Hallie has Mrs. Schaack who is the most darling teacher. She absolutely loves Hallie and Hallie loves her too. Hallie likes to bring her pictures that she colored for her all the time. She is so sweet. I only wish she was teaching 4 year olds next year, but that's OK. Hallie is excited to be in Mrs. Mulliner's class too.

(Jaxon and McCoy)

Anywho, the program was soo cute this year. It's so fun seeing all these little kids waving to their parents from the stage. I was so proud of them. Jaxon had a speaking part to do with his best buddy McCoy and I was worried he would get too shy - he is my shy one- but he actually did it and I was a proud Mama. Hallie was so cute sitting right on the front row doing all the actions. It might have seemed like a lame program to some, but to a proud mom it was the cutest program in the world. I love my little Irish twins. They keep me on my toes and I just love the ages they are at right now. They are so much fun.

Summer and the Bee. . .

Summer was in Noah Webster Academy's first annual Spelling Bee this year!! She and Joelle where the two girls that went from their fourth grade class. She practiced a lot and she was really nervous. But she did great. We were so proud of her!
Summer is a great speller and I think it's from her love of reading. I always joke to my sister, Carolina, that she is more like her than me. Caro always had her nose in a book growing up. I remember she would go out and read up in the tree in our front yard every day. Summer is very much like that. Granted we don't have a tree to sit in and read, but Summer reads just about everywhere else.

Way to go Summer!!

Let it snow!!

The snow finally started coming down a few weeks ago. Alan and the kids spent an entire afternoon out in the front yard creating a snow cave that many passers by soon came to envy.

It was so strong that it held Alan and all three kids at the same time without breaking. . .WOW! Those are some serious snow cave building skills. I'm sure Alan must have taken a snow cave building class at BYU at some point, because apparently he is good...

They had so much fun rolling around in the snow, making the cave, and of course (their favorite) - having a snow ball fight!

Oh what a wonderful day it was.

The kids have really taken to sledding also. They will go any chance they get and they are more daring than I am. I'm glad they are enjoying the snow while it is here.