Christmas Overload

Well, after all of the planning & preparations, it's all over in the matter of a day, if that long. We had a great Christmas. We had many fun parties with family & friends, some great activities, & some wonderful memories made. So, here goes, this is going to be the mass blog of about 2 weeks of good times. Big deep breathe, OK, are we ready . . . here we go. . .

Santa arrived right on time on Christmas morning, I think the kids did great & got quite a haul. At least, they both have seemed quite happy, isn't that all that truly matters!

Opening presents; finally it's all I have heard for the past 2 weeks, was about opening the presents. I did well myself, Clayn always does great on gift giving, he's very thoughtful.
I got a new coat, a printer for the computer (YEAH), Julie & Julia DVD, Bon Jovi cd, Glee soundtrack 1 & 2, 2 shirts, & a sweater. Clayn got 3 sweaters, 3 movies, a itunes music card for his ipod, a book, a new game for his ps2. we had a great day.

On Christmas Eve, we made a gingerbread house & the kids had a great time decorating it.

Tess's gingerbread girl.

The finished product, so cute!

The kids always get to open a present every Christmas Eve, & they get new pj's

We read 2 Christmas books & watched Joy to the World, put out by the church & had candy cane ice cream.

Getting ready for bed & for the BIG day.

A letter to Santa, a plate of cookies & milk for him to take a break & enjoy on his busy night.

The children were all nestled all snug in their beds with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

On Wednesday the 23rd we headed to Salt Lake to do a little shopping, eat at the Spaghetti Factory, & see the lights at Temple Square. The Clayson's met us to eat & see the lights. we had a great time.

Ahh, sleeping Parker!

Trolley Square

Tess, Piper & Zalia loved coloring.

Lane was the spot light on entertainment, & I'm very sad that my pictures with him using the spoon as a pirate eye & sticking the spoon on his nose were blurry.

Parker with ice cream on his face.

Zalia did it! YEAH!

The Joseph Smith Building.

I love this picture it turned out great!

Clayn & Parker

The Clayson's

The Lambert's (a little blurry)

This was Beautiful, I love it!

I must add right here that on Monday night the 21st, we took the kids to a nursing home with 2 other families & sang some Christmas carols to them & then, we came back to our place & had some yummy dips, treats & drinks, the kids ran & played & had a grand time. And of course, I forgot my camera, REALLY!?!

Last Saturday was a very crazy day, Tess had her Christmas Dance recital and my Grandma Jones had her Christmas party. It all worked out, but there was alot of running.
The recital was so good. They danced to Angels We Have Heard On High & Tess did so good. I love seeing all of the progress through the years. This is her 4th year of dance & it was so good. I must add here that whenever she is on the stage dancing, I cry! I'm such a baby. But, it's just one of those moments that I find so amazing that this is my baby girl, oh how I love her! She is such a good girl.

On Friday night we went to Bear River & took the kids to the Christmas dance, & Santa made his grand entrance. The kids love this, they get to go & be with their cousins & play & dance & have a visit with Santa. Tess was so cute, she was a little hestitant.

Parker wasn't sure if he was ready to have a visit with the "BIG" man.

Waiting for Santa.

I love these 2 pictures, seeing my brothers with their kids. Cortney with his girls is so cute, he loves them, & they know it. And then Tyler with little Seth, he is such a good dad. I love these guys, they are great!

Oh, this is the newest edition to the family, Cortney & Ashlee had their 3rd girl, little baby Mallory. What a little doll! Parker was so cute, he has never really held a baby & he really wanted to hold baby Mallory.

Tess was in heaven also, the picture is a little blurry, sorry!

And of course, me, I love this little baby girlie. I can't get enough of her. I wish we lived closer & I would just go & hold her a lot more. There is nothing more precious than a little baby.

Beautiful Mallory

Parker & Tess getting ready to go to the dance & they all want to ride with uncle Doug.

This just made me laugh & I had to share this, Parker wrote this, no mom or Tess in his room. What a kid!

Tess going to her Christmas PJ party at school. She was so excited!

Tess had show & tell the day of her Christmas Program at school. And she wanted to take her Dad to show & tell. It was so cute. Mrs. Rodriguez loved it. I was sick that day. I had strep throat & a sinus infection, imagine that I decided to stay home, nobody wanted me there. So, Clayn recorded her program at school for me. They sang 4 songs, it was so cute. I was very sad that I missed it. We also, missed my Grandma Naef's Christmas Party at Downatta, our fun swimming party, because we were so sick, but what do you do.

Tess ready for the School Christmas Program.

And we did get some Snow! Happy Holidays to ALL!