Christmas

It's taken me a week to post about Christmas and if I go any longer, it will never get done. Santa was especially good to us this year. We had a great Christmas and everyone was so happy and content all day.

First, we enjoyed a great Christmas Eve dinner with the Hawkins', then baked and frosted sugar cookies for Santa, and listened as Jeremy read the Nativity from Luke. Then it was off to bed with a quick reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The kids all slept in Jake's room and were given instructions not to come upstairs before 7:00 am. They fell asleep and it was off to work. Jeremy worked most of the night (until nearly 4:00) putting together the new trampoline. He was absolutely exhausted, but in perfect Jeremy fashion, didn't show his tiredness the next day and was as happy as always.

The kids were elated with their Christmas. I swear every year that I'm going to simplify Christmas, but then when all is said and done, it's not so simple or cheap. But I love the look on the kids' faces on Christmas morning.

We spent about 20 minutes tearing our gifts open and the next several hours playing with our loads, until it was time to get ready for 2:00 church. Then it was off to Mesa for the Goodman family Christmas party. The girls were so happy with their Barbies and Jake his dog tags. Then the White elephant gift exchange, not the best year of the WE, but still fun.

Here are the pics from the big day:

Our fam on Christmas Eve

Abby showing off her new boots

Hannah with her new Barbie clothes

Annie with her new Rapunzel doll

Jake with his new Cowboy's shirt and Captain America parachute guy

Jeremy surrounded by all his loot

This is how Annie and Hannah spent their morning - playing with their new Barbies by the fireplace in Annie's "room"

This is how Jake and Abby spent their morning - downloading music from itunes for their new ipods

A glimpse of the chaos at the Goodman family Christmas party. The room is definitely too small for how big the fam has gotten.

It was a full Christmas season. I'm grateful for my Savior, His humble birth his perfect life and example and especially his atonement for me. I'm thankful for the blessings that are mine because of Jesus.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

We're Ready for Santa

It is Christmas Eve. The kids have all planned where they're going to sleep tonight (Jake's room with an extra air mattress). They've cleaned their rooms and for now, they're all playing together so nicely. Kids playing creatively together is one of my greatest joys as a mom. I love it when they like each other.

Last week we went down to Mesa for the annual Platt family Christmas party. Homemade soups in bread bowls - heavenly. That, accompanied with great conversations, a fabulous Nativity read by Drew at his finest, and the new Christmas PJ's from Grandma Platt made for a wonderful evening. Not to mention, I got to hold baby Chet - a lot. He's a sweetie!

Sunday, our ward had their Christmas program during Sacrament meeting. The choir began with O Holy Night. That did it. It's one of my favorite songs and it really set the mood beautifully. It was great, uplifting and the Spirit was so strong in that meeting.

Tuesday night we went to downtown Prescott to look at lights at the courthouse. It was awfully chilly, but oh so pretty.

Then last night we headed to the metropolis of Cornville, AZ to watch the neatest Christmas house EVER! It was a 40 minute show of lights set to music. It dwarfed the Kip's home. We enjoyed good friends, hot chocolate and donuts.

After that, it was off to Sedona to see the lights at the resort. We walked around the parking lot ranking our favorites. The kids got to see the friendliest Santa ever, tell him of their ridiculous lists, and enjoy more hot chocolate. Then it was the official voting of the best display. Most displays were kid friendly - Sesame street, Precious moments, Smurfs, Cars..., but the one that won with 2 of the kids was the one called "Every Knee shall bend before him" It was the nativity in lights. I was impressed with Jake and Abby for their maturity. It was definitely a good choice.


Now with all that said, I only have a few pictures from the entire month of December and festivities to post, so sad. There should definitely be many more pictures from tonight and the big day tomorrow.

The Platt grandkids and Devon. Hannah was Mary for the first time, with Oliver as Joseph, Chet as baby Jesus, Jake, Devon, Eli and Simon as Wisemen, Hannah, Abby and Emie as Angels and Michelle and Brakelle as Shepherds.

All the grandkids in their new PJ's

Claire

On Thursday, I had my follow-up ultrasound. It wasn't diagnostic, just a fun 3D ultrasound. We brought the family along to see for themselves that Claire would in fact be Claire, not Ben. And there she was, a bit modest, but Claire none the less. We all thought the 3D pics were cool, though some were quite creepy, and lumpy. So here's Claire, to be born likely March 6th.

Jake's 10

It's really hard to believe that I have a kid in double digits. Where does the time go? I still remember vividly when he was born. As I was telling Jake the other morning about his birth, it seemed like yesterday that we were preparing for his arrival. It seems not long ago that I took the day off work the day before my induction was scheduled to go see Enemy of the State with Jeremy as our last day without kids. It's still so real the fear I felt when Dr. Layton told me I needed a c-section. I hadn't even considered that as an option for even a second before that. I remember his arrival and his loud healthy scream, his mouth huge and his ears absolutely perfect. He was such a perfect baby and he is still such a great kid. He was an amazing toddler, so much fun to hang out with. He's grown into quite the boy. He teases his sisters incessantly, plays sports with all his soul, is the most competitive child I know, gives the best hugs, practices the piano without much complaining and is improving so much, his schooling has also improved as he made the Principal's Honor Roll this year for the first time, he is a respectful kid and I'm so lucky to be his mom. (Quite the run on sentence, huh?)

Annie these days

Annie's favorite place in the house is right by the fireplace. I mean, when Jeremy goes to work in the morning that's where he finds her. When he gets home in the evening, there she is. So he's started teasing her that she is going to sleep there and it has now become her "room". She cracks up when you tease her to "Go to her room!" when she's already there, or threaten to lock her in her room. I think she's drawn to the snowmen and the Jingle Bell Rock Santa that live there during the Christmas season, as well as the obvious warmth it offers. I told her today to get outside and get some sun and vitamin D because it was so gorgeous, and she refused because she wanted to stay in her room.

Bonus - A few things Annie has said today:

As I finished making cookies today, I hollered for the kids to come scrape the dough. I had left a generous amount of chocolate chip cookie dough in the bowl. Annie was the first one to me since she was just in her "room" and saw all the goods in the bowl. Hoping to get it all to herself, she started whispering, "Mom, say you're just kidding. Say you're just kidding. Say you're just kidding". Abby made it upstairs and started laughing, "Annie, I heard that!" It was pretty funny. Darn it, she had to share.

Then later as we were frosting sugar cookies - it was a huge baking day - she started to be all philosophical with questions such as, "What would trees be if there wasn't any green?" "I don't know, probably brown I guess." Then she stumped me when she asked, "What would pickles be?" She got me there. I had no idea. Then we went through most colors in the rainbow wondering what would happen to different objects if there was not that color.

I love Annie's developing sense of humor. She can be super grouchy around adults, but man, when she's in her comfort zone she is a total kick in the pants.

The Polar Express

For years, people have been bugging me about taking my kids to the Polar Express. Jeremy has also always wanted to go, but I've always resisted. I mean really, it's a lot of money to spend at the poorest time of the year. But Jeremy won out, reasoning that this would be the last year they probably would all believe in the Jolly Ol' Guy. He got tickets back in Aug or Sept so it was set and this weekend was the big event.

I have to admit, as leery as I was about the PE, I got pretty darn excited as it neared. The kids had no idea we were even planning on going. The night before, we busted out the movie The Polar Express and gave them an early Christmas present of slippers, snow gloves and snow boots (the latter two being necessities up here this time of year- we just wrapped them up and made it seem even awesomer that they were getting a huge early gift). We broke the news and they went bananas - all of them, even Jake who I thought would be too old and cool for something like that. In fact, in hindsight, I would have waited til the day of to tell them, because they all were too giddy to sleep that night.

We took off Friday afternoon and made it to Williams in time to get our tickets, check in to the hotel and then to find a hill to sled. My kids have traditionally hated sledding. They get cold and don't have any fun. But this year was different. I guess they are a year older, they were better prepared for the cold and we had awesome disc sleds. They had a great time.

Abby eating snow

Hannah posing with the dog that hung around us - it was awesome, I wanted to take him home and leave Bodgie in his place

Jake with the pink sled - he's so studly he can pull it off

Jake cruisin'

Jeremy and Annie

Jeremy and Hannah - note the look of terror on Hannah's face

Abby - always havin' fun

Then it was on to dinner at Pizza Hut and then the North Pole.

We boarded the train headed for the NP. We got a humongous cookie and then some delicious hot cocoa. We sang songs, wrote on the steamy windows, listened to the reading of the PE and waited to arrive at the North Pole. The kids were disappointed that they didn't get to get off the train, but that all was forgotten when Santa stepped onto our car with a special bell for each kid. It was wonderful. The snow made it all the better. I can't imagine how lame it would have been if we arrived at the North Pole and it was 50 degrees outside and there was no snow. But alas, the weather cooperated and it was incredible and oh, so white.

And to top it off, we got to stay at a hotel that served a hot continental breakfast, my favorite! (the room - not so great, but the food - yummy!)

Our family waiting to board

Our whole group - the Platt fam plus Chris, Karen and Justus

The adorable Platt children

Hannah and Karrie

The kids' slippers - they all love them so much!

Jeremy, Hannah and Jake

Just waiting for Santa

Justus and Jake

Jeremy, Abby and Annie

Jeremy and Annie - precious

The kids with their bells - the bells made the whole trip worthwhile!

We are now so excited for Christmas over here, but it will be a miracle if the Jingle Bell Rock Santa will last that long before it mysteriously disappears.

It's now officially the Christmas Season

Last night we kicked off the Christmas season with a wonderful FHE. By wonderful, I mean, Jeremy only fell asleep for part of the lesson, Jake and Abby only did a few near summersaults on the floor, Hannah only interepted a couple of times with questions and I only yelled at the family once or twice.

I was in charge of the lesson. I stole a story, The Last Straw, that I had heard in primary the day before and read it to my family. It's a tear-jerker about a family that learns to serve one another to bring the spirit of Christmas into their home. Then I extended the same challenge to our family. We drew names to see who we'd secretly serve this week. I imagined it would be a flawless hit, but we had to re-draw a bunch of times because people would keep drawing their own names, then I heard the moans. My family is apparently also a bit competitive because I heard things like, "I already put 3 pieces of straw in the manger" or "I've done more than you." In the end, the family was okay and we are all working to serve each other without advertising it.

Jake was in charge of the activity, so we decorated the tree. It is always fun and exciting when the kids see old ornaments they made years ago and the quick reminiscence that follows.

(This year was Hannah's year to help Jeremy with the Angel)

We finished the night with Abby's treat - hot chocolate made with milk (not water), with marshmallows and way too many dollops of cool whip and candy canes. Talk about a rich and delicious treat.

As we sat around sipping, I realized how really blessed I am. I have a super cool family that I love with all my heart, a home to shelter us from the worries of the world, the gospel, and especially The Savior. It's moments like that, that I want to bottle up and hang on to forever.