Best Christmas Evah!!!!

I really think this was the best Christmas ever and the kids agree! This past year and a half has been VERY TOUGH on us all and this Christmas we are all grateful for the many blessings in our lives and for the greatest gift given, our Savior. We are hopeful that this new year will have wonderful things in store for our family (and yours).

I have got to brag a bit. I was able to do Christmas for $500.00 this year for the kids and they got everything they had asked for! Shopped Black Friday and got some AMAZING and UNBELIEVABLE deals!!! Yay Me!!! Then I came across an AMAZING deal on a laptop (which we desperately needed). With all my photo editing and the kids school needs for the computer, we were all fighting for computer time. Obviously that blew the budget I had set for us. Thankful for the deal we found on the Dell laptop!! One of those QVC deals where they break the payments up into five payments. In lieu of Christmas gifts for ourselves, Damian and I got the laptop and called it a family gift for us and the big kids. Feeling a lot guilty about the purchase. Aww heck, I always feel guilty about big purchases.

We were up at the butt crack of dawn to open gifts (thanks Olivia!). After gifts we had yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Grammy and Richard treated us all to Harry Potter and snacks. It was Jack's first experience at the theater and he did GREAT!!! Although I am very disappointed with the "inappropriate scene" in the movie when Ron is attempting to destroy a holcrux. Had to have my kiddies close their eyes. Heck, my eyes were burning!!!

Upon returning home to a messy house, Damian and I got to cooking an awesome Christmas dinner. We never disappoint with the food we make around her! Honey Baked Ham (thanks Richard!) and all the fixins!

I think we were all in bed around 7:30 pm.

So today we are attempting to finish straightening up the house. I am sure there will also be Nerf Gun battles, Starcraft on the new laptop, leftovers, and Glitterizing everything Barbie.

It was a magical holiday for us all despite our many challenges! We are truly blessed!

For the record...

Too much arguing over whose turn it is to put the star on top of the tree. For the record...Jared did it this year. Next year it is Olivia's turn.

Holiday Happenings

Have a mentioned how much I love this time of year (a bajillion times I'm sure)! It's been a busy week with holiday events!! Really, I don't know how we did this all and survived. Normal everyday life (homework drama, science fair project, photography stuff) was hectic also and to add these events, well as you could imagine, Damian and I were blubbering idiots. Totally worth it though!

Tuesday night was Jared and Nick's district band performance. They were fantastic! Not a ton of picture opps, but I managed to get group shots.

Jared's middle school band



Nick's elementary school band


Friday was Polar Express Day in our classroom. Our principal read the story all decked out like a train conductor to the kindy kiddies in the cafeteria. We used our document camera to flash the pictures on a screen. There was no way 128 kiddos could see the pics in one book. It was the perfect solution!

Oli and her BFF Lyndsey


Boarding passes for the imaginary train ride and story


Hot cocoa and donuts while watching the movie





Last night was our ward's Christmas party and physical therapy for me knee. This weekend starts itself out with a baseball tourney for Nick, dance for Oli, Jared's science fair project, a photography session and lots of editing to name a few. I figure if I can make it through this next week, Christmas will be a breeze!

Naughty or Nice?

Which list did you make?