More Holiday Fun

We have had so many fun things going on with it being the holidays! So here is a little bit of the things we have been up to.

December 17, 2009

Jada had her first choir concert of the year. They did such a great job, and sang lots of fun songs. Their last three songs were Christmas songs. She really enjoys music, and is very excited to be starting piano lessons the first part of January. I might be biased, but I have to say she looked pretty darn cute that night!!

She was surrounded by friends at her concert. It made it very convenient for pictures.
Back row: Bailey, Jada & Ally
Front row: Allyson & Annie

Jada especially loved the kazoos they got to use in one of the songs.
I love that they got to keep the kazoos, and bring them home :/.

You did a great job Jada!! We are so proud of you, and the accomplishments that you achieve. You did a great job!

December 21, 2009

Finally, just in the nick of time. I made, finished and delivered our neighbor treats all in the same day. Wow... that was cutting it close. It is such a relief to have that part of the holidays finished. I love doing it, but it is an all day process. I started around 10 am, and they were delivered between 7:45 and 9:15 pm. We would not have been so late this year, but we kept going back to the houses that we did not catch people at home. I wanted them all delivered that night. I know I am a freak :)

The finished product!!

December 22, 2009

I got the opportunity to help at Brayden's school Christmas party. They made gingerbread houses! It was a bit crazy, but the kids had so much fun. I took Dawson and Bryce with me, so they got to make a house of their own. They loved every minute of it.

Brayden hard at work!

It was so funny to see the difference between boys and girls gingerbread houses. The girls were so careful, and the boys just dumped lots of frosting and candy every where. Brayden's did look awesome piled so high.

Dawson and Bryce with their masterpieces!!
They were both so well behaved. I love these boys!!

Braydens finished work!

Dawson's accomplishment!

These houses were awesome. The lady that assembled them was very wise, and put them together with a hot glue gun. Very smart, especially when you have to build 31 of them! We had a great time with Brayden at his party! Brayden and Jada love when I help at their parties, because they usually get checked out early :) So yes, they got to leave school a little over an hour early.

Next, I just had to post a picture of Jada's cute Christmas artwork that she brought home. I love the kids works of art. She did a great job!!

This beautiful artwork is decorating our wall at home!!
Thanks Jada

December 24, 2009

Well, Christmas Eve is here. I am so excited, but sad at the same time. I really love Christmas, and I can not believe it is almost over. The first part of the day was a bit crazy. We actually went and did some shopping. I must admit the stores were not as bad as I thought they would be. I still did not want to be out shopping today. It was mostly shopping for groceries, but we did stop at a couple of other shops. One of which was Bert Murdock Music. This is one of Daxton's most favorite stores. I need to grab a couple of items for him, but we also let him take some time to try out a few guitars. This is one of his favorite past times!

Daxton trying out an Epiphone SG!
He really liked this guitar, and is going to start saving his money for a new one.

We finished shopping, and went home to cook all of our fun treats to have around. I like to make all of the same treats for my family to enjoy that I put in our neighbor gifts. The kids (I have to be honest, Dave and I also) enjoy having these around! Next we opened Christmas Eve gifts (the pajamas).

Getting ready to open their pajamas!

They are looking awesome in their new pajamas!

I love Christmas! This is just about the only time that I can have my kids in the same room together, and they don't kill each other. They are too excited for Christmas to fight. Jada always sleeps on the floor in the boys room on Christmas Eve. They stay up and talk about what they will get.

Dawson loves his bed so much, and he looked so cute I could not pass up
this picture!

Well, then the kids went to bed around 8:45 pm, so that Dave and I could finish wrapping presents. I mean literally wrapping Christmas presents :). We are usually up until till 4 0r 5 am finishing the wrapping, but this year I really tried hard not to do that. Yes I succeeded :) We got to bed at 3:30 am :(. Hey I gave us an extra hour of sleep this year!!

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!!

Here are some of the wonderful Holiday experiences our family has been enjoying. The season is going so fast, and there is so much to do.

December 10, 2009

Well we finally got our Christmas tree. We have had our fake one up since Thanksgiving, but things have been crazy so we did not get the real one till December 10. We had a good time, but lets just say it was a bit cold. It was 9 degrees while we were out, so we choose very quickly.

The kids were sitting in the car waiting for Dave to get the tree tied down.
Daxton now strikes a pose in all our pictures!

We got our beautiful tree home and realized the trunk was curved at the bottom.
I guess the cold made us a bit hasty, so we had to put a couple of Thomas the Train
tracks under a couple of the legs of the tree stand. It worked great!
The tree looks like it stands straight now :)

December 12, 2009

We have been getting dumped on with snow. We have done much shoveling, which I really enjoy doing.

Well Dave and I have done a good job keeping our driveway clear this year, but I can not say that our city has done as good a job. They pretty much only plow the main roads, so our street never gets done. It gets really bad :( They finally came and plowed when we could barely make it up our street. So frustrating! Hey I can not complain, at least we will have a white Christmas!

December 13, 2009

We finally got around to decorating our tree. This is one of my favorite parts of Christmas. (Well that is after I get the darn lights put on.) I love watching the kids decorate. I was so sad, Daxton did not want to help decorate. I guess he is just to old for this part of Christmas :(. What was even worse is since Dax didn't help, Brayden decided he was to old also :( :(. So just Jada and Dawson decorated this year. They did a great job!!

Dawson could not wait to put up these little red ornaments.
He would not let anyone help with these. He would not let them out of his sight!

Dawson hard at work

Jada deep in thought!

My two dedicated helpers!

I think the days of getting a cute, nice picture of my kids is coming to end :(
They all are so put out to get a picture taken, well except Jada and Dawson.

The finished product!
I so love at night when the lights are out and the tree is lite up :)

December 16, 2009

We had a full night last night. We started at 4 p.m., and didn't get home till just after 11 p.m. Only to get to wake up bright and early to be at yet another dental appt. at 8 a.m. Crazy times :/

We started off the night going to the mall to see Santa. We only had to wait in line for a little over an hour :(. Most of that time was waiting for Santa to just show up. Once he got there the line went pretty fast.

Our cute kids!
Some not as thrilled as others to see Santa.

They have a whole area that kids can play with while in line to see Santa.

Maybe I am a bit bah humbug, but I was not that thrilled with this Santa this year :(
He wasn't very friendly, not to mention their pictures suck,
and they cost $5 more than last year :(

At least Santa paid some attention to the one that mattered the most... Dawson.
All Dawson has been asking for is a motorcycle, but when it came to telling Santa his hopes
for Christmas morning, he blurted out a toy gun.
Great, I was really hoping Santa would come through with the motorcycle. Now I am going to
be responsible for that, and Santa is going to get off easy with a toy gun :/

Next we picked Dave up at work and went to ride Trax up to Temple Square. We have a tradition to ride Trax, eat dinner, and go see the lights.

On the platform waiting for Trax.
Thank goodness the weather has warmed up. It was the perfect night.
The temperature was 40 degrees :)

Dave & Jada

Dax, sporting his new picture face!

Dawson, Me and Brayden
Dax & Dave did not want to ride Trax this year, but Dawson was so excited. Plus, it is
tradition :) Sorry Dax

Next we went to the Gateway to have dinner. The Gateway was so fun, and decorated so beautifully.

You can not tell from this picture but they had the water dancing to Christmas music.

They had big fire pits to get warm by!
I love my fire pit, but wow I would love one of these huge built in fire pit in my backyard!
Dear Santa: This is what I want for Christmas :)

Our old tradition was dinner at Crossroads Mall, then we would go to the candy store (also
in Crossroads). The kids would get to pick out a pocket full of candy to eat
while we looked at the lights.
So here is a picture of our new candy stop before the viewing of the lights!!

Finally we were on our way to Temple Square. Like I said before, it was the perfect evening to go. Even after so many years of viewing the lights, I am still in awe. It is incredible what they do to Temple Square.

I love my cute family!

You can barely see it, but the old Tabernacle is behind Jada.

I sure do love this guy!

I love this picture of this simple manger scene, with the temple behind it!

Finally, it was the Trax ride home. Wow, it sure was a long night. Hey at least Jada was still smiling :)

No wonder Dawson was falling asleep... He had just thrown one of his major fits. He really freaked out, and everyone at Temple Square was starring. I've finally learned not to let it embarrase me. Hey, but look how darn cute he is when he is sleeping. There is nothing quite like a sleeping baby!!

I love this tradition we have. What a great way to spend some of the Christmas season. I am so grateful for such a great family, even if our kids fought for the better part of the evening. I want them to know that even though I get stressed out with all their fighting, I still love them with all my heart. Hopefully one day they will out grow the fighting phase :/.

Quick Update

December 16, 2009

Dawson & Dax
My two cute guys that this post is about!!

Just a quick update to yesterdays post... we just got back from the dentist for the 3rd straight day in a row (not including we were there last Friday). Dawson had his very first dental work done, and he was awesome again. They had to fix a broken tooth. They did not give him a shot to numb him, they just used that local that they apply with a q-tip. They drilled, and filled, and he did not even flinch :). He is amazing. Also, they have a hard time numbing Dax, so they tried a stronger numbing medication. It worked, and he did not feel to much. My prayers were answered. I was very nervous for Dax & Dawson. I am so grateful for small blessings!!

First Dentist Appointment :)

December 15, 2009

Well Dawson had his very first dental visit today! I was a bit worried, but they said that it would only be a happy visit. They wouldn't really do much, just let him figure everything out. Well, someone didn't inform the assistant of this, and she went ahead and did a full visit :/ Amazingly it could not have went better, as you can see from this picture. (I forgot the camera, so this picture was taken with my cell phone so it is not the greatest.) Dawson was AWESOME!! He loved every minute of it. They have a t.v. in the ceiling, so he just enjoyed some cartoons!

My awesome big boy!

Here is the assistant working on him, and he did not even bat an eye. I don't think there was ever a better idea than a t.v. in the ceiling!! Well, good news... no cavities!! Unfortunately, he has a broken tooth on one of his molars. So we are going back tomorrow to get that fixed. So wish us luck. Hopefully he does just as well tomorrow when the shots and drills come out :(. It was so cute to see such a little guy in one of those big dental chairs.

Well, we were not so lucky with all our other kids :(. Lets just say we have many cavities to fill before the end of the year. BUMMER!! Dawson was very excited about his special treat bag from the dentist. He got a Diego toothbrush, Sponge Bob toothpaste, a timer (so he knows how long to brush), and floss. Plus, since he did not have any cavities, he got a spinning Wally toothbrush. No wonder he liked the dentist.

We are having such exciting times at the dentist. Only 4 more visits to go in the next week :/.