Christmas 2013

We had a wonderful Christmas Season.  This year we put our Christmas tree up a week before Thanksgiving.  Our neighbors gave us a hard time, but we were too excited.  

The girls have so much fun decorating.  They each have their own set of ornaments they have gotten over the years. They get a new ornament each year.  Putting their ornaments on the tree is their favorite part of decorating for Christmas.   We had to block the tree this year with a baby gate so Ty couldn't destroy it.  I was very excited to put the tree up!!  We listen to Christmas music while we decorate.  It makes me happy!!  

December is always a busy month.  But it is such a happy time spent with family and friends.  

This year we had an elf on a shelf come to stay with us.  This was a first for my kids.  They named our elf Buddy.  Buddy was a silly elf who liked to play tricks on us.  One night when we had Zoie and Zak Grigg staying with us, buddy hung a pair of underwear on our stocking nails!  

Buddy also toilet papered our Christmas tree, drew mustaches on our faces in our pictures hanging on the wall, and took a  marshmallow bath . . . to name a few. Buddy was fun to have around.  On Christmas Eve he packed his bags and left the girls a note.

Addison cried because she was sad to see buddy go, but she is excited to see him next year.  

Eden had a class christmas party.  She played some Christmas games and had a gift exchange.  

She got a cute puppy in the gift exchange.  

Her teachers gave her a mini ladybug pillow pet.  

She also got to eat Christmas treats with her class. We brought Christmas cupcakes at her request.  She had a wonderful time.  

Addison also had a class party.  She had been sick the day before her party. She only went to a school after lunch the day of her party.  But she was very glad she didn't have to miss her party because her class decorated gingerbread houses.  They also had treats and a little dance party to Christmas music.  Addy was assigned to bring drinks for the class.  We got clear cups and put one drop of either red or green food coloring in each cup.  When we got to her class we told the kids we had magic Christmas punch. We gave each child a cup.  We went around and filled the cups with 7up.  Depending on what drop of food coloring was in their cup, their drink would "magically" turn that color.  The kids loved it!!  Addison had a great time.  

Marshall and I attended an Ugliest Sweater contest at Marshall Christmas work party.  Marshall one first place.

We went to a birthday party for Edens friend Ali Clinger.  Her party was Dec. 21.  Her mom arranged to have Santa come to her party.  My girls liked seeing Santa, but Ty wasn't too thrilled.  

"Santa was actually a close family friend."  Addy recognized him when he walked in and she said "you're not really Santa!"  We had to take her aside and explain that yes, he was really Randy dressed up as Santa, but the other kids didnt know that so she had to play along.  

Christmas Eve we spent with my family in Blackfoot.  We had a great time.  The cousins had a gift exchange and the adults did a white elephant exchange.  I didn't take any pictures.  Ty makes it hard to take pictures because he has me chasing him around constantly.  He is still a destructive little boy.  

Christmas morning was so fun.  Addison and Eden both got an american girl doll from Santa.  

Addison got Saige, and Eden got Molly(not really but that is what she named her because she has glasses like the Molly doll).  They also got bunk beds for their dolls.  

I made the bunk beds with some girl friends one night.  It took us 6 hrs but it was totally worth it.  The girls also got huge stuffed animals

Addy got some new outfits.  

Eden got a wheelchair, cast and crutches for her doll. 

  And a sophia dress up outfit. 

They also got bathrobes, pajamas, doll clothes.  Addison got a voice activated diary.  Eden got some puzzles.  They got spoiled!

Santa brought Ty a little toy airport and airplane.  It came with 5 little people.  He loves the people. He carries them around all day long.  Ty also got clothes and an elephant ball popping toy.   After we opened presents, we went to Rigby and spent the afternoon with Marshall's family. The twins also got AG dolls, so it was a big doll party!

Marshall got really sick.  As the morning got later, he got sicker.  He tried to act pleasant, but he had body aches, sore throat, headache etc.  Poor guy. He spent most of the day sleeping. 

Other than Marshall's sickness it was a really good day.  

Marilyn's 60th Birthday Party

Marshall's mom's birthday is on October 31st.  This year Jarred & Val and Marshall & I decides to throw her a surprise birthday party.  It was no easy task to keep it a secret.  She is very hard to surprise.  We did it!  We invited several of her close friends and family. This is the invitation we sent out:

We had the party at her house a few days before her actual birthday.  We decorated her house while she was gone to church.  When she got home she was very surprised.  

Her cake was awesome.  We had a lady in Rexburg make it.  It was a purse with all the things that remind us of Marilyn.  Lipstick, fake eyelashes, fingernail polish, a makeup mirror, and a white hanky.  

Picture of Grandma with the grandkids right after we surprised her:

Max

Me and Ty:

Jarred and Val:

Marshall and Susan(Marilyn's sister)

I didn't get pictures of everyone but I got several. . . 

It was a great turn out and I think Marilyn had a great time!  We are so grateful for Marilyn.  She is a great grandma.  She loves her grandkids and family so much and she shows it all the time.  She cares about all of us and so it was our turn to show her how loved she is by us and so many others.  

Letters to Santa

The girls wanted to write letters to Santa.  Here is Addison's: 

She has quite the list this year! She had me write it as she spoke.  She did sign it. 

And the envelope she sent it in:

And here is Eden's letter:   

Her wish list isn't quite as long as Addison's.  she tried to write something's by herself at the end of the letter but all I can make out is the word dresser.  

I hope they have been good enough to get what they asked for!

Workin' boy

I have been doing bookwork for a small feedlot in American Falls for the last 5 years.  I started when Addison was a year old. Two kids later I am still doing it.  I usually work about 10 hrs a week which is plenty for a mom with 3 kids. My boss is really great to let me work when is convenient  for me.  I used to take Eden with me until she got to be about 10 months old and mobile.  Ty has been coming with me ever since he was a baby.  During the summer I had a friend watch him and my girls. When school started back up I decided to try to bring Ty with me again because I go when the girls are both at school. I made a little play area for him, but all he ever wanted to do was sit next to me.  So now he just lounges in his seat next to me. He is perfectly content to eat snacks and watch a show.  He is my little work buddy.  

This picture was a day when the girls were out of school so they came with me too.  

Marshall's 32nd birthday

Marshall had his birthday on November 4th. His birthday was on a  weekday so it was pretty low key.  the girls and I made him his favorite foods for dinner.  Fried shrimp, queso dip, and homemade French fries.  He doesn't like cake much, so we made him a cheesecake instead.  

The girls made him go through a spanking machine.

He told us not to buy him any presents because he wanted to buy something at the cowboy christmas in Las Vegas.  Him and I are going to the NFR the first weekend in December so he wanted to save for that.  He is hard to buy for so I was happy about his wish.  We love Marshall so much!  He is a wonderful Dad.  We are so blessed to have him as a Dad and Husband! 

Trunk or treat

Halloween night we went to our ward trunk or treat.  It was so cold this year.  The kids ran around to all the cars and then were back and wanted in the car.  They really liked helping pass out all the candy.  Our whole family was scrunched in the back of our Tahoe trying to stay warm.  

We went to a couple neighbor's and friend's houses to trick or treat and then we called it a night.  Hopefully next year it isn't so cold! The kids still got tons of candy!!