Christmas, Christmas, and more CHRISTMAS!

Just like everyone else the month of December was absolutely crazy. We had five Christmas parties to go to, three Birthday Parties, five sicknesses, and then all the Christmas shopping to do. It was stressful, crazy, and a ton of fun! The first party of the month was the ward party. There was good food, nativity, and company. The second one was a work party that they provided a dinner up at This Is The Place Park in Salt Lake. The third one we went to was my moms side of the family. Since my grandfathers passing this last year not all the Aunts and Uncles wanted to do the traditional party anymore they wanted to do their own traditions with their own families but, the rest of us party animals went forward another year. It was at a different location than it has been for twenty five plus years but, we tried to do some of the same traditions. We had some good sloppy joes, some caroling until Santa and Mrs. Claus came bearing gifts, and then the breaking of the pinata. I'll admit it wasn't the same without Grandpa and Grandma and all the rest of the family but, it was still good to see the other part of the family that we only see once a year or so. 

  Ty is finagling Santa

We finally got Jordyn on Santa's lap. It took a little bit because she was worried that he would think she was naughty for cutting her hair.

 Reggie just wanting to grab the present and run. Hey at least he isn't screaming like last year. My baby is growing up.

 A swing and a miss!

 Jordyn and Ella going over their stash from the pinata

 Get it Reg!!!

 The next party we went to was for the Russell clan.  We again had great food and company. We did the brother and sister gift exchange and told stories of our favorite Christmases. Oh what cute smiling faces:)

 Then the next one we did was The Slade party. We went up to Chuck'O'Rama in Draper and then we were all going to go up to Temple Square to see the lights but, it happened to be the start of a number of blizzards that night so we miss out on that. Instead we all decided to go to Thanksgiving point and do the drive through light thing. It was cute! We liked that at the end they did some pictures about what the true meaning of Christmas is about. Then we got to go see "Dasher and Dancer". Nice Rack huh?!

 Reggie, Ella, and Jordyn we giving us all a little performance on the stage they had set up. Loved it!

 Every once in a while you got to get a picture that isn't about the kids. It always reminds me what a cute couple we are:)!

 The Sunday before Christmas Grandpa and Grandma Russell came over bringing their gifts to the kids. This is what they gave Jordyn. It wiggles it's ear and tail to a tune of "Hot Stuff". As you can see Jordyn found it totally hilarious.

 They then brought the boys wood truck and tractor that had a do it yourself paint kit. It was a fun project!

 Christmas eve we did some of our yearly things. We made fudge for the neighbors and the two little ones helped me make peanut butter cookies for my Best Friend (they are her favorite) and for Santa.  They always love getting the beaters after.

Then when I make the Christmas Eve goodies Cory helps the kids make a gingerbread house. They think it is so fun and I love that it gets dad involved. Then before bedtime we read the Christmas story from the scriptures and we watched a short little video on lds.org that they had about Christs life. We then talked about all the things at Christmas time like the candy canes, presents, the angel or star on the tree, etc. and how they all tie in to Christ, his birth and his life. Then of course they got to open their one gift and then off to bed for the Big Man to come.

Christmas Morning!!!!!!!!

 Jordyn rockin' her new bike

 Reggie liking his new toy so much that he is drooling chocolate from treats in his stocking

Cory thrilled with his gift and I do have to mention that this is the first year that he didn't return anything. Yea!

 Ashton and his stash

 Ty Checking out his stocking. Then after the raid is over we get ready and go to G-pa and G-ma Slades for the best breakfast and another fun gift exchange. Then home in the evening to take a deep breath and pass out because we made it through one more year.

It was a wonderful season for us and I hope it was to all of you as well.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hoping that this year will help us reach our goals, good health, family unity, love, and answers to our prayers.

My worst fear has come true!

It is something that every family goes through but, when it happened to us I was truly hoping for the best. Instead I got almost the worst. I know I am being kind of silly but, it has happened my beautiful little girl decided to cut all her hair off.  Make fun all you want but, I totally cried. My sweet Jordyn was known by her hair. We couldn't go out in public without at least one person telling her how pretty her hair is. I think the part that breaks my heart the most is that I am pretty sure that her gorgeous ringlets that she has had from birth I will never see again:( 

 We went from this......

 and this.....

 to this. This is the mug shot right after she did it. Now after frantically finding someone on a Sunday to fix it we now have this......

 She even tried it on a doll and about a week later on herself again. I caught her in time so that there wasn't much more damage. She has now been told by not only myself but, by Aunts and Uncles what will happen if she does it again. For example Uncle Joe told her that she won't get any more treats when she knocks on his door to say HI after school and there were others. Mine wasn't so nice, so I am hoping it will happen no more.

Yep it is all gone!!! It has broke our hearts but, she is still my beautiful little princess.  I decided after now two weeks I must let it go and stop frowning when I see it because we had a Ward Christmas party last night and she didn't want to sit on Santa's lap because she was afraid that he would see her hair and put her on the naughty list. I told her she is beautiful and that he will love her. So she went and asked for finger nail polish! OYE!!!

We will survive!!

I tease Cory a little bit lately that if the world goes to crap and we have to revert back to hunting our food that we would starve, because he has gone fishing a number of times with the boys and has yet to catch anything. Also, Cory's good friend talked him into to going hunting this season. The first hunt was for an Elk (bull) and he didn't bring anything home that time either. So just to get him riled up I tell him he has to pick his game up so we don't starve. Then he went on the deer hunt and called me on his way home telling me how disappointed he was and didn't want to hear me giving him a hard time. When he got home he asked one of the boys to go out to the back of his truck and get something out of it and they found a stinky, dead deer in the back! My kids thought that it was the coolest thing and Cory and Dan was bouncing around and saying in your face to me.  They may of had to shave a little hair off the ears to measure the horns to make it legal but, hey they got something and I am so proud. Cory was so ecstatic and we got some yummy jerky out of it so it was a successful trip. Now in January they are going to try and get a Elk (cow). So I am crossing my fingers!

They hiked in a bit so they had to lug the deer quite a ways back to the truck. This picture makes me laugh:)

Belated Holiday

Happy Halloween!

Halloweens coming, Halloweens coming, Halloweens coming

OOOOOOOOO Boo!!!

Witches, Bats, and big black Cats

and creepy Skeletons are coming after YOU!!!

This was a favorite song sung by Jordyn all Halloween season:)

Once again I am a slacker and way behind on my postings but, here it is anyway.

 Jordyn's pre-school class does a little parade around the cul-de-sac at the end of school on Halloween for the parents to come and watch and then they so patiently line up for a bunch of pictures. Sooo cute!

 Jordyn picked out this super pretty Periwinkle costume this year.We put sparkles everywhere and I loved it.

 The boys Elementary school does a parade also first thing Halloween morning. Is it Ty or Jack Sparrow?

 Yes we have now begun the gory costumes with Ashton. I was impressed by the dripping blood affects.

 You may recognize this because all the boys wore it around the same age. But, everyone looked great in it.

 This is the first year in eight years we didn't get a picture with the Wilson family so it is just my kiddos (and a cute strawberry shortcake neighbor). I was a little disappointed but, life is getting too busy as the kids get older to coordinate our schedules. Even with my own kids we had to divide and conquer. I took the two little ones who are slower and Cory took the boys all the way to kingdom come and back.

 I just had to get a picture of this. Watching the boys dump their loot out to see what they got and to divide, trade,and eat it made Cory and I very nostalgic.

Yum! I deffinately snatched a few pieces. I feel like it is only my right to make them pay a little taxes:)

Jordyn's #4

Happy Birthday Jordyn!!!!!

 

I don't know why it is that as you get older the years seem to fly by faster and faster. My one and only beautiful little girl is quickly growing up. She is now, officially four, in pre-school, a sunbeam in primary, silly, very girlly yet a tom boy at the same time, daddy's little precious, and mommy's little helper. She loves to play computer games, ride her trike, jump on the tramp, play with friends, dress up, bake cookies with mom, and wrestle with the boys.

 

While she was sleeping the night before Cory and I decorated her room with balloons and left one present (a birthday outfit) out for her so that she would wake up to a fun surprise. While the boys went hunting for a few hours we stayed home and I made her favorite breakfast and we got ready for a fun day.

 

 

 Once the boys got home Grandma and Grandpa Russell stopped by for a Birthday visit (and I totally forgot to get pictures duh). Then after they had to go we went to go play at Hee Haw Farms. As long as we have lived here we have never gone so it was a new adventure. The very first thing we did was hold the bunnies. Jordyn loved them as you can see:)

 Ashton loved these cool things. I gave it a whirl later and Cory said he would have loved to get a picture but, darn it my batteries died on my camera.

 This is the animal train ride

There was a play area where there was a big slide that the kids just loved. People were giggling at Reggie because once again he should no fear going down face first. Then we walk over to feed some animals. After seeing one of the bigger goats that wouldn't leave me alone and it kept jumping up on me Jordyn was a little nervous to feed them.

 

 Reggie on the other hand couldn't get enough. He was feeding them, chasing them, and giving them loves.

 Cory thought it was a nice clean fun experience (lol)

 I am sorry I just had to take a picture. I thought this was sooo funny this goat had an itch that it just couldn't reach so it got some help from this tree.

Then all the kids got to go on a pony ride. This was Jordyn's favorite!

Ahhhh my cute family

 

 Reggie liked to Pony too

 What a handsome devil

 Ashton thought it was the rodeo.  Later in that some corral they did a pig chase and Ashton caught a pig and won a free soda. He was stoke!

 

 

Don't you just love TRACTORS

 

 After a few hours at the FARM we went out to dinner at Applebees.  This is the kids table.

 This is the adults table, a toddler, and one baby. Bryndee took this picture and she loves Cory's face that he always likes to give her.

Opening Presents

 

Dinner was completely crazy. I wouldn't recommend Applebees for a kid friendly restaurant it is too crowded.  All the kids kept getting in the waiters way because the isles were so close together and anytime we got up to help the kids we were in the way.  So it was great to see everyone and we are so glad they came to celebrate with us but, we got out of there as quick as possible.  It was good timing though because the kids were very tired from their busy day, they all fell asleep in the van on the way home. I wish I had a camera for that one.

 

It was a GREAT day! We are so happy to celebrate our baby girl coming into our family four years ago.