Christmas was great

We had a lot of fun. The kids really were excited all day on Wednesday. They are super lucky because we have so much family, and they get to open their Christmas presents a day early. So at noon when Jason got up from his nap after returning home from work at 6 am, we opened our Christmas Presents at home. The kids were super excited, to both give and receive presents.
***We started something new this year. To help our kids learn about money management, we started giving them an allowance with Jason's Overtime check. With that money, they had to purchase presents for anyone who they wished to give to. They could combine and buy a larger present together if they wanted, but they were responsible for paying for their presents, saving their money, and making sure they got something for everyone. They all did great and are starting not to want to spend their money as soon as it is given to them. We also made them pay tithes on it as well.****
So, at home, we opened our presents and then started to OPEN them. (I swear, the money they spend on al that packaging must account for half the cost of the items! It sucks) Then we got picked up a little and went to Oma's for dinner with Oma, Alex, Steffi, Desi, and Darryl. We had Prime Rib (YUMMY!!!!!!) and all the other stuff that goes with it. Then after dinner, Alex did the dishes and we got everything all cleaned up. Then it was present time again! The kids were so excited! Sandra go there right before we opened presents and Manny got there in the middle of the present opening. We stayed there until about 9:30 pm, then headed home (SUCH A LONG WAY AWAY! :P ) and got ready for bed. We were tracking Santa and when we noticed that he was in Mexico, Aiden insisted they all go to bed, but not before setting out Chocolate Milk and Cookies! So, by 10:00 pm, all the kids were asleep, visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, and Jason and I headed off to bed.
3:30 am, the kids were AWAKE! By 5:30 am, Jason and I got up and then found out that Ari was still in bed (how she was sleeping is a good question, because the others sure weren't quite. So, we opened our presents from Santa and strated to put stuff together. First, Jinelle got a kitchen, so we put that together. Ari got a Vanity with a stool, so that was next to be put together. Then Aiden and Noah got Fly Boxes (Skateboard, Bike, and Skate ramps) so we went out front and put those together. Then, we all showered and got dressed. Then over to Oma's again (once again, SO SO SO FAR) and saw what Santa put in stockings there. Then back home and played for a little.
Then at 11 am, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's. We opened packages there and then loaded them up into the car, so that when the others got there, ours wouldn't get lost in the shuffle or misplaced, especially since the kids got similar things to their cousins. We ate lunch/dinner there with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Kasey's family, Grandpa Goose and Debbie (Grandpa's secretary). Then we sat around and visited while the kids all played their new DS's and Ari and Madison listened to their new Nano's. Then around 5:45, Kasey left and to our surprise, minutes later, Santa visited again and dropped off more presents for the kids, plus a Nikon CoolPix SLR Digital Camera for me. Jason left for work and found a iPod Touch from Santa in his car! What a great Santa!!!!!
The kids and I stayed until about 7:30, then headed home. We unlaoded the car and I opened a few more toys. Then off to bed we went. We slept in this morning and all day I've been picking up and opening toys. Luckily our trash day was today, so we got rid of a lot fo our packaging, and have room to put the rest that still needs to be opened. Today Grandpa Wayne and his soon-to-be-wife, Peggy (soon-to-be Grandma Peggy!) are coming over for dinner. Then tomorrow we are going to Opa's for lunch/dinner and to give him his presents we got for them. I will post some pics soon, hopefully. Keep in mind, I just got my camera at 6 pm, so I didn't get to use it yet. I charged the battery last night, so hopefully I can find time to read through the instruction book and then I can start using it! So the pics I did take were with Aiden's camera.

Bear Valley Ward Christmas Party

We had a great Christmas party at our church on Saturday night. Santa came and visited.
Noah wants a DS......
Jinelle want a DS......(a pink one!)
Ari wants a iPod, blue or pink.....
And Aiden wants a DS......
Thankfully, these kids have great Grandparents who spoil them, so Santa won't need to be that generous! Hopefully they will like what Santa does bring them, since it isn't on their lists!

Because I like to punish myself

I decided to make even more of a mess today. I told the kids that if they cleaned their rooms up enough so that if Santa wants to check on them, he can, then I would make cookies with them when I was done cleaning the kitchen. They all did, and quite quickly and no complaining. (How I wish it was always so). SOOOOOOO......I cleaned the kitchen and then started making cookies. I started with Aiden. He wanted sugar cookies. So we made the dough and while it was chilling, Noah and I made oatmeal chocolate chip. (Noah and Jinelle Rock, paper, scissored it to see who was next. Noah won six times) Then when his were done, I went back and rolled out and cut the sugar cookies with Aiden. Then Jinelle and I made Chocolate Chip cookies. Then LUNCH BREAK!!! Finally, Ari and I made Snickerdoodles last. Now my clean kitchen is anythign but clean, and we have four different types of cookies. I guess we need to make up some trays and go visit some people! I certainly don't want all these cookies sitting around here. Maybe if the snow melts a little more and I can get my car out, we can go out. Otherwise, Jason's coworkwers are getting a little snack tonight at work!

Car is still in the garage...

and it looks like it will stay that way. We ended up having a TON of snow. The previous pics were from 7:30 am and it snowed nonstop until at least 10 pm when I went to bed. I have a few more pics, but am too lazy to download them currently. The laundry alone is keeping me pretty busy. I mean, every two minutes the kids come in and change their clothes, just to go back out and get soaked again. Ok, so not really two minutes, but that is what it seems like. With four wet kids, the laundry is never ending. Not to mention how my tile floors look. Jeez..... I am just glad I didn't mop on Tuesday night like I was going to. That would have been for nothing! So, Jason finally went back to work last night after getting a few extra days off. He will be home soon, and then we have to figure out how to get our trash down to the curb since the trash is supposed to come today, since it couldn't get here yesterday. Also, we haven't gotten mail delivered in two days, so the lie they say about delivering in any weather, is just that, a LIE! I mean, put some chains on the mail truck and come on down! I want my mail! (IE all the bills have come so now is the time when I should be getting the good mail, like Christmas cards!) So, whenever I catch up on laundry and housework, I will post more pics.

It's Snowing!!!!

We've got SNOW!!! At 5:15 am (yes, I said 5:15 AM) our school called to let us know that school was cancelled. Then at 6:45 am, somebody called but hung up when I answered....half asleep. Then at 7:15, my mom called and asked if we had snow. I said no, because I was still trying to sleep. Then a few minutes later, Alex text me to see if the kds had been out in the snow. I said something outloud and Ari heard and it was over. You would have thought that little girl just got a pony or won the lottery. She was ecstatic! (If I didn't know better, I would think she never saw snow before! But she has!) The kids immediately got dressed and were out in the snow by 7:20 am. They already built a snow woman with their dad and Alex. And had hot cocoa. Here are some pics for you to see our first snow. We will enjoy the day together playing in the snow. And yes, we already have a fire going as well!

Noah's Birthday Bash

Noah had a wonderful sixth birthday party with those who love him. He was surrounded all day by friends and family! He was super excited to have his party (and he got to have it a week early! He actually won't be six until Friday!) The above pic is Noah with his new Nerf Gun. It is HUGE! and fully automatic. He loves to ambush people as they enter the front door...so be careful!!!

He was super excited to see Hayzlee, his future wife. Yes, she is taller than him now. Maybe he'll get a growth spurt and pass her some day. He is super protective over her. If anyone even mentions her, he is like, that's my girlfriend. I'm going to marry her when I get older. We will be sure to remind him to call her a few weeks before her 16th birthday for their first date!

This is the awesome cupcake cake Grandma made for Noah. It was awesome! Better than I could have done!

Noah getting ready to blow out the candles on his cupcake (with NO frosting!!!!)
Noah with some of his friends who came to his party. Aren't they all so adorable!?!?!?!?

Christmas Pics take 2!

Once again, Melanie was gracious enough to come over and take more Christmas pics of the kids. Here is a few of them. These came out so cute, I had a hard time deciding what to post..... and look at the beautiful roses she brought me! What a wonderful visiting teacher I have!!!!

Christmas Pics take 1

We had our first set of Christmas pics taken today. We will be doing more on another day. We were losing daylight fast, so we did what we could. Melanie was wonderful to do these for us. Enjoy!
The two girls.
Ariana
The Boys
Kids being kids

This is one of many family pics taken...but I didn't want to post too many...

Ariana, isn't she beautiful!
Noah Nutball.......being a nutball!
Aiden John.....one of the only ones with him smiling. He was Mr. Serious today.
Jinelle crinkling up her nose like usual. There are so many cute ones, all with different expressions from her. She is such a ham!!!