Christmas day

The kids said they were waking us up VERY early to open presents. Of course we told them they couldn't wake us up if there were no presents under the tree. That is when they threatened to move to Africa if there weren't. Although we were tempted to return everything we wrapped the presents and put them under the tree. I woke up at about 7:15 and looked out the door. No one had come to wake us up. Then found the kids waiting patiently on the couch. Sure they were plotting how to "accidentally" wake us up.

Dad with is new router. Not the kind that goes to the computer and the one that didn't come with bits!

D actually cracked a smile with this one

K contemplating an outfit

R finally new shoes smile

L so happy even with the socks that were in the bag

H having trouble unwrapping but re-packed everything anyway!

Christmas cooking

This year three of the kids had to take cookies to class before Christmas break. So Mike pulled out his moms recipe and started making dough. We had to do this two times because the first time cookies were made they all went to school. We made some on Christmas Eve and everyone got to decorate and actually eat some cookies.




























As we were coming to an end of the cookie mess Mike decided to give the kids a little competition. WHO CAN DECORATE THE BEST COOKIE? Knowing all of our kids this was a challenge. They are all competitive (wonder where they get that from) and did some creative decorating.










The cookies turned out great, we didn't save any for friends and neighbors but still working on that. We are hoping to make something yummy for New Years Eve.

This is a picture of me making the traditional Christmas Eve dinner of cannelloni, although the family claims I only make it once a year. Good news is I didn't forget to add the water this time. Mike decided to take a picture. NOT my favorite thing and it is amazing that it even made it to the computer let a lone the blog. But figured even though I was in charming attire with no make up on, someday this may be my good picture. :-(

HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Our house is finally getting decorated for the holiday. We have attended a Creche display at our church. There were over 200 different Nativity scenes on display. They also had some beautiful music throughout the open house. We were able to get there during the hand bells. It was beautiful and really great to hear, that still didn't get us in the mood to decorate though.


This weekend we had a Christmas program and dinner at church. Someone went into amazing detail with the menu and was able to feed a lot of families. Reid was Joseph, Laura an Angel and Haley one of the stable animals in the Nativity scene. The primary children sang along with other musical numbers from members in the ward. I was excited to be there until they asked me to say the closing prayer. Mike graciously answered for me and said I would love to! Yes, he is still alive.


After we left the church Mike said he had an idea. He drove to walmart where I was sure he was buying more peppermint ice cream since the kids finished it all in less then 24 hours. But whatever he got was put in the back of the suburban. He just kept driving. We drove all the way downtown then got back on the freeway as if we were coming home. Then he quickly stopped on the ramp to the freeway. We were all puzzled; then as he was getting out of the car he said David give me a hand. They both jumped out of the car opened the back of the truck and started walking into the bushes. So being me I jumped out shut the back doors (in case we had to drive off fast) and watched as they walked into the darkness with some boxes in their arms. When they got back into the truck we found out they had delivered some food, water and candy canes to a homeless camp that is near the downtown area. This started a huge discussion that eventually brought us to the true meaning of Christmas. It also helped bring the holiday spirit into our home. We had piddled around with some decorations but finally everyone was ready to really decorate.

My birthday

For my birthday Mike did a wonderful thing. He took all of us to dinner at PF Changs. He was sure it would cause us to have to take a second mortgage on the house but it really wasn't that bad. We went to this same PF Changs five years ago on my birthday and the kids have never let us forget they didn't get to go. So this time the kids and dad got to go with us. Dad coming with us was a huge deal to me because my dad doesn't usually go out to eat at restaurants.

When we got home there was a mint chocolate cake and peppermint icecream. The icecream comes out this time of year and my mom use to tell me that it came out for my birthday. Not sure why I believed that as a child but it was a good story.

The kids all made me presents and had great notes with the gifts. The best gift was having them all go to dinner and the looks on their faces when I opened what they so carefully wrapped either in Christmas paper or construction paper. We recently got a king size bed so my big present was a new comforter set. If anyone knows me matching is HUGE for me. Plus I've had my eye on this set for a while. It looks great in our room and adds the right colors to the mocha walls. This has got to be one of the best birthdays ever. Thanks to all the friends that remembered and to my family for making it such a special day!

Do we get a punch card?

We had quite a Thursday last week. Reid and Laura had their very first band concert on Thursday and things were all set for everyone to go and watch Reid with his clarinet and Laura with the french horn. Dinner was a frozen lasagna that the kids popped in the oven when they got home from school. I pulled up in enough time to pick up Reid and Laura and get them dropped off at the school. As I pulled into the garage I ran back to the suburban started it so it could warm up. Yelled into the house, "LETS GO". About that time David said you need to go help dad. I said WHY? I had only been gone about 4 minutes and he wasn't home yet when I was their earlier. Then he said, look at the kitchen floor. When I did there was blood all over. I saw a knife and a loaf of french bread. Sure that was the culprit. As I got upstairs, Mike was in the kids bathroom running cold water and trying to bandage his finger. There was blood all over. He was bleeding through the bandage. He kept saying that he was going to be fine, we needed to get to the concert. With all that blood we were going to the emergency room. David, Krystal and Haley got the camera and were told to be nice and take good pictures. Of course Reid and Laura had no idea why we weren't there. But the other kids smiled (as instructed) and took pictures. We will buy the DVD.

When we got to the ER it was the same nurse that helped us with Haley earlier in the year. It is our families third visit to the ER this year not including my moms visit in November. Mike asked if we could get a punch card or frequent flier miles? They asked where the tip of his finger was. We figured that the dog may have eaten it??? They couldn't stitch his finger but they bandaged it really well and told him not to get it wet for 24-28 hours. Mike was walking around with his #1 all weekend. It is amazing how quick they take you back to see a DR when you have blood coming through a towel! The culprit wasn't the knife and loaf of bread. Mike was putting a bowl back in the cabinet and hit the edge. He was worried I'd be upset that one of the bowls broke and didn't realize he was hurt for a few seconds.

Reid and Laura didn't believe the kids when they said that Dad was in the ER. So when the kids sent a text message that the concert was over Mike stayed in the ER while I went to pick the kids up. Our normal tradition is to go and get ice cream after school performances. So David, Krystal and Haley got dropped off at home and Reid and Laura got to go back to the ER. We ended up stopping at the grocery store getting some drumsticks home for everyone and calling it a day!

We are grateful that my sister Jill could come and sit with mom while we were in chaos mode. The kids also all stepped up and did a great job without us around. That was a wonderful surprise. ( if you read the blog back in September they had a lot of fine while Mike and I were in California).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

So this morning started out with a bang! Mikey woke up to the kids standing at the bottom of the stairs singing, happy birthday. He stood on the landing conducting with his hair sticking strait up and that great smile! David made an omelet for him and the rest of us made french toast ( a whole loaf of texas toast) and 2 lbs of bacon. Although the kids complained it wasn't enough food. Mike was happy even trying to get the kids to cross their eyes which they couldn't all do. Laura made a wonderful card with a golfer on front. Although Mike got his Steven King book for his birthday. He also got tickets to Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt which came to Colorado Springs in October.

(yes he owes me Kenny)

For dinner Mike made everyone tri-tip. I know that should be my job but there is no competition with the way he cooks it. Earlier last week he said he wanted a homemade cheesecake. He said it with a smirk on his face like I wouldn't be able to complete the task. He says it is because he wasn't sure he would deserve it not because he didn't think I could make it. It ended up being an awesome cheesecake! Mike claims it was the best cheesecake he has ever had. So either he is just a great husband and says the right thing or a great liar! The kids all liked it too and Krystal requested a cheesecake for her birthday. So couldn't have been too bad.

Here are a couple of the presents he got:

David on his "sweet 16"

Today is David's 16th birthday. It is crazy to think that he is so close to graduating and making his own decisions as an adult. We got him really good this morning. All he has been talking about for about 2 months is a drum set. We acted like we didn't have room or that it wasn't an option. Last night he asked that for his birthday we make Krystal go to seminary and he get to sleep in. We knew this wouldn't work if we were going to set up his drum set and told him, NO! Then he started talking about the drum set again. I told him that Mike would take him to pawn shops over the weekend. Mike said, NO-I'm not taking him there. David was not happy! This morning on the way to seminary we had this conversation: David-wow... I didn't expect this from Mike of all people! Mom-what? David-that he would act like this over a drum set. David was flat out GRUMPY!
When he got picked up he took his time getting to the car. He came into the house and went straight downstairs! We stood at the top of the stairs waiting for a scream of excitement or drums to start playing but nothing! So we opened the door to the basement and he was still standing at the bottom of the stairs with his mouth hanging open. He was shocked!!! He couldn't believe that the joker himself got fooled. It took him a while to actually sit down and play. David just kept staring at them like they would disappear. After staring at them for a while he did start to play. I said to Mike....wow these are loud! Mike's answer was, baby they're drums! The drums were still here when he got home from school and he played for at least 2 hours straight. We did get to pull him away for dinner at 3 Margaritas. It isn't a car but definitely a present he won't forget and most likely something we'll regret! But we sure love our grumpy boy! Especially when he cracks a smile! Love you David James

SEEING RED

This week was a lot hectic, but life goes on! Mike was a champ and can't explain how happy I was to being married to such a wonderful man. When I told him that last night he said, "can I go get a tape recorder". He has dealt with me leaving before 7 am to go see mom and even made dinner almost every day this week. He even made dinner for a family that we helped at church.

Last night it was my turn to host bunko at our house. That means the house is full of woman and that no kids or husbands are allowed. He took the kids out to eat then to the mall. One thing that I've been dying for is a red toaster. Finally found one online and at a decent price. When he got home after 3 hours of entertaining the monkeys he walked in with a red toaster and red coffee pot (obviously for him). The kids all tried taking credit for it but I knew he was the one behind the deed. Finally we having matching appliances in the kitchen. Not that it matters but if anyone knows me....it does! So here are some pictures of the new set up in the kitchen!

Mom

So it has been a week since mom falling down the stairs. It was a good thing she had her cell phone, because she would've been on the floor for at long time before someone found her. She was able to call Diana so she headed over then called Mike to come over. They thought they were just going to pick her up and get her to a chair. When they got their they realized how bad the fall was and that she was really hurt. After 13 hours in the hospital and a surgery things finally started to calm down. Mom broke her tibia and fibula along with dislocating her ankle. As you know if any of us do anything we go full force, now we know where we got it from! She is now in a rehab center for a couple of weeks until she can get some strength back and able to come stay with one of us girls. She does not like being stuck in bed or not at home. But we are grateful she is healing and that she didn't break a hip or hit her head.

Top 10 signs you're too old to trick or treat!

10. You get winded from knocking on the door.


9. You have to have another kid chew the candy for you.


8. You ask for high fiber candy only.


7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, you lose your balance and fall over.


6. People say: 'Great Boris Karloff Mask,' And you're not wearing a mask.


5. When the door opens you yell, 'Trick or...' And can't remember the rest.


4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders.


3. You have to carefully choose a costume that won't dislodge your hairpiece.


2. You're the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker.


And the number one reason Seniors should not go

Trick Or Treating...


1. You keep having to go home to pee.

David playing against his old team

David is in front of blue #37. He is making a tackle. Although you can't see him very good.

blue #78

warm ups