Merry Christmas

We have thoroughly enjoyed Christmas this year. We did our best to keep things simple and light. We also tried to spend time with extended family, as well as establish some of our own traditions. Christmas Eve day was spent in Coalville with Grandma and Grandpa. We played in the snow and laughed and ate food - what a great day! Just to clarify a little, the adults went sleigh riding behind the 6-wheeler in the field, while the little boys hung out with Grandma and Grandpa. What a kick in the pants - I thought I was going to pee my pants from laughing so hard (mostly at myself)!! We enjoyed a wonderful meal together and opened a few gifts before heading for home. Thanks Mom and Dad, Lacee and Bones!

When we got home, we put Luke to bed and tried to watch a movie...we fell asleep.

Christmas morning was wonderful!! Luke let us sleep until 8 AM. We got up, watched him play with toys from the night before and opened our gifts. We finally got Luke to stop playing with his train long enough to discover Tinkertoys and a tool bench. The train is still the highlight for him. I got a very cute purse (much needed - thanks Mom) and a calendar (I love to be able to write my stuff for January). Rich got some games and socks (much needed - thanks Mom). We also are excited to try out our new camp stove! Maybe I'm more excited than Rich, but that would only make sense. I keep thinking of things I can cook outside instead of inside - then I remember how cold it is and I'm glad I CAN cook inside (at least until Spring). Overall it was great! We spent the afternoon at Rich's brother's house in Riverton. We planned to play games, eat dinner and enjoy each other's company. We did all this, but amid the games and dinner cooking, the power went out for at least 3 hours (no watch). All's well that ends well...After a blessing on the food and a prayer for the power to come back on - it did! Yea. We had a great time - thanks Mike and Jill!! (Maybe we should have taken getting stuck in the driveway on the way to their house as an omen for the rest of the day? Not really).

Today Rich gets to go to work, I get to finish cleaning up the house a little, and just hang out with Luke! I'm rather excited to be home today.

We hope you all had as great a holiday as we did!
I'll add pics as soon as I get them downloaded from the camera.

What a guy!

So, the past few weeks I haven't been feeling well. That also means that I haven't cooked, cleaned or done much of anything productive. I got home from school this afternoon to smell a freshly-cleaned house, complete with mopped floors, scrubbed toilets and clean laundry.

I don't know how to say how happy I am that I married the great guy that I did, but I'll try to do it without using the word "hubby". Rich is the kind of guy that keeps me sane and happy - I hope I enrich his life half as much as he does mine...what a guy!!

By the way, I'm still not feeling great, but I do know why...baby this summer!! Yea!

hello, are you still there?

Wow, how time flies. I can't believe it's been ONE month since I last posted anything. Much has happened. Luke finished swim lessons (sort of). Actually, we just quit going. I wasn't feeling well and Rich wasn't about to take him, so we practiced in the tub and called it good.

All of Rich's family made it into town for Thanksgiving...27 people for dinner. What an awesome sight of food, family and fun going on! While cousins were around, we went to the dinosaur museum - four hours of entertainment. See:

Don't they look entertained?

Actually, the kids had a blast in the erosion table and the fossil dig

It really was a great way to spend an afternoon.
We did many family activities that week...the adults and big kids went downtown to handout lunches to people in need. I stayed back with the little kids and we played and played and played. Reports from the top say the lunches were a success...may we'll repeat every Thanksgiving.

We did a little shopping on Black Friday, nothing much to speak of. It was good to get out.

All the family was on their way home by Saturday...hm.

It's not often all the siblings are able to get together at the same time...I think it was awesome!

Since then, my nephew turned 2, his mom announced they are expecting another baby in June, and Rich had a birthday, too.

Here's the Birthday "cake" for Maddux

I went back on track, so I've been hanging out with all 23 of my munchkins again. This time of year is crazy...lots of sugar, lots of anticipation, lots of wiggles. They've all been pretty good, I can't complain.

Here's Luke's Christmas outfit, courtesy of Grandma...thanks.

What a handsome little guy.

I'll post more about Christmas as the time gets closer...keep watching.