The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

A little late posting about the holidays...but better late then never, right?

The kids love opening a present on Christmas Eve every year. Of course they were expecting pajamas, but I tricked them this year and got them new bathrobes. Zach was the most excited about his. He'd tell you it's his most favorite gift he got this year. Before they went to bed we had to put out carrots for the reindeer and cookies for Santa.





I love Christmas morning...still wondering when our kids are going to wake up before us though. Matthew's 10 and still doesn't wake up on his own. We usually have to go into their rooms yelling Santa came, Santa came...crazy! I think they all got what they asked for except Zach, he was really holding out hope on a dog. It didn't help that Ellie got a Fur Real cat that kept purring and making noises wrapped up under the tree. Zach thought it was his dog :( Matthew's so excited about the cell phone he got. He doesn't realize that it's for Mom's convenience not his :) Santa came through and brought Gracie her princess bike. It was so cute to see how her face lit up when she saw it....that's the magic of Christmas that I can never get enough of!









I'm sad to say that Gracie was the only one who got to sit on Santa's lap this year. We took her when the rest of the kids were at school because I was trying to avoid the long lines. Santa's helper got mad at Josh for taking this picture They wanted us to pay for one of theirs. Yes, we're cheap! Gracie asked Santa for a princess bike. He thought she said a Christmas bike and repeated that back to her. She said, "No, I said a princess bike not a Christmas bike." Leave it to my fiery read head to get short with Santa Claus :o)




We usually try to get up town to see the Christmas lights but decided to try something new this year. For family night we took the kids up to the Christmas sing-a-long at the ESA. We rode up on tracks, (which is an experience in itself ;o) and than had a free night of singing Christams songs, being entertained by the piano player Jon Schmidt, (the kids LOVED this guy) and shopping for the gift of the person in the family whose name we picked. I think this one will be a tradition in the years to come for sure. We all had a wonderful time!!!!








Devin and Vanessa put on a great Christmas party this year. The theme came from the movies "The Christmas Story," and "The Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." Both are family favorites! We all wore our "Ugly" Christmas sweaters. It was a fun night!!!


Devin made up his own games that themed both movies. One was a hit and on the other one, we all decided that our little bro's got WAY TOO much time on his hands. He took the game Mad Gab and made his own version of jumbled up Christmas words. We weren't getting it. The winners got to drink eggnog from Clark's moose-head cups :o)


Mom and Lynette (Vanessa's Mom) Notice the lamp from The Christmas Story in the background...love it!







Phil and I took home the prizes for the best "ugliest" get-ups. From these pictures below, I'm sure you can see why :o) I was going for the 80's look....and yes those are red Ranglers, aren't I hot???? LOL



Phil was sporting a woman's sweater vest with red turtle neck. It was a great party! Thanks guys for the fun night!

Happy Birthday and Baptism Day Zach

Zach had a fun-filled day on his birthday this year. We call him our Thanksgiving baby because his birthday falls on or near Thanksgiving every year...pretty crazy that the kid hates pumpkin pie though. Mom and Dad got Zach this basketball arcade. The boys love it and it has been well worth the money. Zach's become one popular dude on the block since he got it. The neighbor boys are knocking on the door every day asking to play it. Zach's loving the attention!!!





Here's another one of my attempts at a homemade birthday cake. They're basketballs going through a net in case you can't tell ;o)



We had a great time bowling for Zach's birthday party with cousins and friends!










We ate at Wingers per Zach's request. He loves their wings and it doesn't even bother him how "Hot" they are. I think he ate about eight of them.





I think he's wishing for a dog here....keep wishing boy, keep wishing :o)



Zach was spoiled as usual from his grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins with presents. He got everything he wanted....except for the dog that is:o) I've been teasing him that Santa doesn't need to come because he doesn't have anything left to bring him.

He loves his cool new shirts that Peyton and Noah gave him.




Uncle Devin and Aunt Vanessa gave him a Lego Bionicle.



Grandma L gave him some basketball shoes. He'll be playing Jr. Basketball in January.



Grandma and Grandpa B gave him a collection of Bakugans and he got $8 from EJ and Eli. I'm telling ya, this kid got spoiled! Thanks everyone!



Zach's baptism day was so special. I asked him how he felt after he was baptized, and he told me he got a ticklish feeling in his tummy when he came out of the water. I thought this was so cute, and it reminded me of what our Heavenly Father teaches us at such a young age so that we can recognize that feeling (the spirit) throughout our life. We are so proud of you Zach and feel so lucky to be your parents!!! Happy #8 son!!!!!

Way to Go Cougars!!!!

Josh and I were able to attend the MOST exciting rivalry game between BYU and Utah ever! (I can say that because BYU won:o) This one went right down to the wire and our cougars were able to pull out the win. This picture shows the mayhem that erupted after the game on the field. Josh was on his phone with a friend that is a Ute fan who had been heckling him the entire game. He had to call him back and rub it in that BYU won :o) As we like to say at our house, "You're Better Dead than Red." Gotta take advantage of the bragging rights for as long as you can because this rivalry is SO unpredictable!!!

Halloween and Matthew's Championship Game

Halloween was quite the adventure at our house this year. Matthew spent most of the weekend on the couch being sick. Poor guy, one of the worst holidays for a kid to be sick!

Ellie's a black cat and Gracie a pumpkin.

Zach as a ghost.

It's when I'm sitting at the kids Halloween parade at school that I realize how fast the year's gone by...seems like yesterday I was sitting there watching them parade from the year before. Ellie's in the picture below and then Zach is in the one below that. His friend Kenadee is the cute pink witch.


Matthew had his football Championship game on Halloween as well. He was pretty upset that he wasn't able to play in it because of being sick. It was an exciting game to watch and a great end to their undefeated season. Here he is receiving his medal and then a picture of him and his dad. He loved having his dad be one of the coaches. Now it's time for basketball season for Zach.


Thanks to talented friends of mine I was able to make the girls costumes this year. Their tutu's turned out SO cute!

The kids had a great time at our ward Halloween party eating pizza, playing games and getting more treats.



Here are my cutey pies right before they were ready to go trick or treating. Matthew begged to be able to go...I let him go because he had been fever free for 24 hours.

Ellie and Gracie with their friends Aly and Cole. Aly was the cutest cupcake and Cole was Dash from The Incredibles. I just saw him today and he still has his costume on. I don't think he's taken it off since Halloween :o)

Devin and Vanessa had the funniest costumes. Check out that mullet and chest hair on Dev.


I think Matthew had-had it by this point. Doesn't he make a scary Skeleton??

Cute little Lily!

Mom dressed up for the trick or treaters that came to the door. Those coconuts are sagging side-ways Mom :o)