Christmas with Nelson

To finish up the celebrations, we partied with Ben's dad and step-mom. We of course had to have dinner and yummy yummy munchies that Deann made and once we were done, we played games. Gabbi is spoiled and she was given cute clother, an outfit and pajama's, and she also got a doll. She loves dolls. They gave us a start on our food storage. I am so excited. I have been wanted to start one for a long time and we now have the funds to do a little each month. Can't wait. Us kids gave Nelson and Deann a new Wii remote, they only had one. It was perfect becasue one of the games we did was a new game for the Wii, some flying game. It was pretty cool. Of course the boys played that and while the boys played the girls played trivial pursuit. Man I discovered how dumb I really am. I am not good at answer question games. Oh well, it was still fun. By the end we were just looking at question seeing if anyone could answer them.

Snow Day

While watching Jenny's kids, it had snowed enough to play outside. While I was shoveling the kids played in the yard. This was Gabbi's first official time to play in the snow, snow suit and all. She was a little apprehensive to walk in it, but once she got the hang of it, it was all fun and play. Thanks to Kayden and Miranda who played with her.

Christmas with Angela

The Monday after Christmas, now that we were all together, was planned for our Christmas party. We got together at our place, it seems to be big enough for everyone to come. We had hoggies for dinner and once we were done and cleaned up we did gifts and games. Angela, Ben's mom, made Gabbi a hat and scarf. Gabbi loved it. She into being able to put the hats on herself and walk around swinging the scarf. She had a blast with it. We drew names because there are so many of us; Gabbi's aunt gave her a scarf as well. She was literally on cloud nine. She wore them the rest of the night. Ben was very excited to get two new books. He loves to read. And I got some really nice perfume. Once the gift exchange was done, we played games. Some had to leave, so those that were left we decided on playing in a pickle and battle of the sexes. It was pretty sad during battle of the sexes. After about 15 minutes neither team had answered a question correctly. Needless to say, we changed the rules a little in hopes that it would make it better. Well we were able to answer some questions but cut the game short because it was getting to be late. We still had a blast though and of course the girls kicked the guys butts.

Airport Homecoming

The reason why we hadn't planned to got see Ben's family is because we weren't complete. One sister, Amanda been in Germany for the last 7 months with her fiance, Dan. They were there for his work. So, the Sunday after Christmas we all headed to the airport to surprise them. He told us when they were coming home and he wanted us to surprise Amanda. It was great to see her face. We had balloons, a huge poster, and lots of noise makers. Everyone watching probably thought we were crazy. It felt like forever waiting for their plane to land. But eventually it did, and we got to surprise them. Once they got all their bags we headed to Roy, where we had planned to have dinner, play games, and have an all night celebration. Everyone was staying the night, but since Gabbi doesn't sleep in different places very easily, we just went home once we were tired. That was about 1:30 in the morning. We're crazy, I know.

Shopping

I know how everyone loves to shop the day after Thanksgiving, well this year, my shopping was the day after Christmas. I have been wanting to get new Christmas decorations for my tree and I took advantage of it this year. I got some great stuff from Walmart and Tia-pan. When I got done shopping I redecorated my tree for the Christmas party at our house. I didn't get everything I needed, but it looks pretty good. I still need a new tree skirt,a tree topper, and some ribbons. I can't wait for next year.

Christmas Day at mom and dad's

After we spent the morning at our house opening gifts, we headed to my mom and dad's. We have Christmas breakfast there every year, mom always makes the best breakfast meals. Once our tummies are filled and everything is cleaned up, we head into the front room for gifts. Mom and dad got Gabbi some really cute clothes and like a true child, she rips them out of the box and throws them aside to see if there is anything else in the box. They also gave her the actually quiet book that goes with the pages we got her. She had fun looking through the book and playing with the doll. Dressing it in all sorts of clothes. Grandma Shupe gave her a really cute toy CD player that sings about shapes, colors, and the alphabet. So cute, and Gabbi just loved it. She dragged it around all day and wouldn't put it down. Ben and I got money for tires for our jeep; they wouldn't pass inspection. Yeah, new tires. Not what I wanted, but hey, needs before wants. Us kids were very excited to see the expressions on mom and dad's faces when they saw what we got them. They got a gift card to Lowes to fix their garage door. Mom got a watch; the kind where you can change the beaded band. She had been talking about getting one for a while now.

Now I can make her some just like the ones I've made. Dad got an air hog. He was a like a little kid. Pulled it right out of the book and started playing. It was definitely the toy of the day. Good day, good times. We spent the rest of the day at my parents house playing games. We had plans to celebrate with Ben's family in a couple of days.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was better then I had hoped for. We had planned to all meet up at mom and dad by 9, so we ended up waking sleeping beauty and only hoped that she would be happy. Normally she sleeps until 9, we woke her at 7, to make sure we would be done in time. She's a slow opener. So Ben went in a got her and she was pretty excited the second she saw was she got. Gabbi is a stuffed animal maniac, no thanks to her mother, but she received a very large stuffed bear. Bigger then her. That was the one thing she looked at and the only thing she cared about. She walked up to it kind of afraid to touch. but the smile on her face made us realize that it would become her favorite toy. She threw herself on top of it and wouldn't let it go, not even to open other presents. If we tried to move it or take it away she freaked out. It was the best. So as long as the bear was touching her or right next to her, she was okay to continue. She got the tradition clothing; pants, shirts, and a Christmas dress. She also got pages for a quiet book for church, I think I was more excited for that then she was. And her big gift from Santa this year was an art easel, loaded with crayons, chalk, and a lot of paper. She likes to color when she is in the mood for it. So once we pulled out the crayons she had some fun.

It was a great morning. Ben and I got a Wii system for Christmas even though we have had it for a few months. Got a really good deal on it, so we jumped and have enjoyed it ever since. The day was starting out beautifully and now on for more Christmas fun.

Christmas Eve

This year was Christmas eve at mom and dad's. I love Christmas eve. My favorite part is the pajama's and the story. This year I helped mom make all the pajama's. It was more cost effective to make them, but I definitely wouldn't say easier. Mom taught me how to sew and together we sewed 17 pairs of pajama's. It took a while to get them done, but between the both of us, we completed the task and everyone said they loved them and that they were their favorite set so far. This years Christmas story was a magnet set of the Nativity. It had a really nice poem/story to go with the pieces. Now Gabbi will be able to act out the story on her board at home. All the kids thought the magnet pieces were pretty cool. We spent the night playing a horse card game. It's a new board my mom bought, and we have all grown to love the game. We play it all the time now at family dinners. The kids played and watched movies, and once us adults were tired it was time to end the evening and await the soon arrival of Santa Clause.

Funny Video

I was watching Kayden and Miranda and this was just really funny. They always have an act for being able to make Gabbi laugh like crazy.

Christmas Village

We actually made it out to see the Village this year. We go every year for the parade and lighting, but it seems that we never go back to walk around. Well this year we finally made it. It was cold, but it was fun to be with family and walk around. We even ran into a couple of friends. Also I had to go and see the banks display. Jenny was volunteered to help with their display and she borrowed a sleigh and reindeer that I had. So I had to go and see how she put it all together. It looked great. Good Job Jenny!

Hall Chirstmas Party

We had the Hall Christmas party this year at Grandma's. It's crazy to see it continue to grow year after year with more family. I am amazed that we can all fit at grandma's. Even though it may be crowded sometimes, it's great to see everyone. This year Gabbi was able to participate in the pinata, last year she couldn't even stand. Ben had to help her and show her what to do, but she had a lot of fun trying and she even hit it twice. She seemed pretty happy with herself when she hit it. It may not have caused any damage, but at least she had fun. She even got to keep the hat once the snowman was down. Ben made me model it off when Gabbi refused to wear it. She just wanted to carry it around. We were trying to show her it was fun to wear the hat, she didn't fall for that. The adult game was just as fun. I love the gift exchange to see what everyone brings. This year we lucked out for Swedish fish. Ben had just got his braces off and he was very excited to be able to eat them without ruining his braces. Grandma and Grandpa had a blast opening their gifts as well. Grandpa got an I-pod touch. We are trying to bring them into the electronics stage one step at a time. Next step, better Internet service. Just kidding. But its always fun to see the looks on their faces when they see what they got. One of the best parts of the night was watching Gabbi play. Her and Kade ran around the whole evening. It was so cute. They followed each and played copy-cat. It was so cute. I love it when kids can play and nothing goes wrong.

Sagez Christmas Party

This year Brian and Karen were in charge of the Sagez Christmas party. They did a very good job. We had it at the Harrisville Cabin, it was great to have it there instead of at someones house. There was much more room and it was at a central location which worked for everyone. We did dinner and the traditional games; bingo and a gift exchange. Bingo is the best part, everyone really gets into it. We all had a great time, it went really well. Gabbi even had fun playing with cousins and opening the bingo prizes.

Ben up-dates

After months of getting ready Ben finally got his CDL license. He's very excited because now he can apply for a higher paying job at his work. Other great news, he also got his braces off. After a year and a half he is finally done. He is very excited about that too.

Wedding Cake

Beth, Ben's half sister, asked me if I would help her put together a wedding cake. Her boyfriends sister is getting married on Saturday the 19th and the person she hired to do her cake backed out 4 days before the wedding. Not really enough time to find someone else, so Beth volunteered to make her one and I agreed to help. It was actually pretty fun, and not as bad as I thought it would be. Beth found a picture of a cake online and the bride approved, so we went from there and got our supplies. I made all the cakes and we both decorated it. When we were done we sent a picture to the bride through a text and she cleared and said it looked great. Hopefully it's okay when she sees it in person. For amateurs, I think we did pretty good.

Family Home Evening

Family home evening was planned by Brian and Karen this month. Karen's dad has done Ginger bread houses for years. Ones that he has even sold. We were lucky enough to get invited this year. We were both looking forward to it because we've heard great things about his ginger bread houses. When we got there we were ready to get going. We helped set up the table with all the different kinds of candy and then we sat down and decorated. It was so much fun. Each one came out different and beautiful.

Ward Christmas Dinner

Our ward did a Christmas dinner as well. They started off with a Christmas program done by the primary kids. They did the manger scene to music. They did a really good job. Then we had dinner and towards the end of dinner they had a Santa come and visit the kids. We decided we would try one more time. Same thing. She did however let daddy hold her next to Santa this time. She was still whining though.

Military Christmas Party

Every year during their December drill, the last day of drill, families are invited to come and celebrates. They do a lunch, games and activities for the kids, drawings for gifts, and they even have a Santa. We wanted to try Santa once again, but it was a repeat of the previous Santa visit. So Ben went up and got his picture taken just to see if that would help, nope, not even daddy's influence convinced her. Santa was very nice though and still gave her a candy cane and a coloring book. Hopefully she doesn't get scared every year.

Santa

Here are the pictures from my Mom and Dad's ward Christmas party.

Ward Christmas Dinner Cont.

pictures to come soon

Ward Christmas Dinner

While we were at the Military dinning out, Jenny and Brian watched Gabbi for us. They went to mom and dad's ward Christmas party. They had a Santa Clause there and I asked Jenny to take Gabbi and get pictures. Well it was hilarious. Gabbi freaked out and wouldn't let go of Jenny. She had a death grip on Jenny. They got in line with her in hopes that she would see the other kids and then be okay with it. Nope she whined the whole time and it was a quit move to put her on Santa's lap, take the picture, and then grab her and leave. Jenny said that Gabbi was the only kid that cried. It was funny to hear how she acted. She did just fine last year. I'm waiting for pictures from my sister, but I'll put them on soon.

Military Dinning Out

This year Ben's unit did a Military Ball for Christmas. It was very interesting following protocol on dinner manners, tosts, and how the evening was to unfold, but it was really nice. They had a quest speaker, eating, and a lot of visiting. It was a great evening.

Uniform

Once a year Ben had to put on his duds and be checked off to make sure he has everything he needs for his uniform. I finally got a picture of it. It needs a couple of badges and things to be sown on, but it looks pretty good on him. Sadly they are going to new ones soon, so there is no point to up-date it.

Novemeber Family Home Evening

For our November family home evening, Ben and I planned to decorate ginger bread houses. When we were at the store we saw lots of different kits and we decided that the tree was the cutest one. At least that's what I thought. It was pretty fun to do as well. I had never done anything ginger bread, ever. So I was really looking forward to it. It went off without a hitch and I would say that we all had a lot of fun.

Even Gabbi had fun decorating. Well, what decorating we let her do.

JD turn 3

J.D. has turned 3. Can't believe it, he is growing so fast. He was so excited all month long about his birthday. Every time you talked to him, he told you about his birthday. This year he was in a dinosaur mood. So Jeff and Tiffany did a dinosaur theme. It turned out really cute. He got a giant T-Rex for Jeff and Tiffany and he thought that was the coolest thing. It was pretty cool, more then half the size of J.D. We got him a much smaller one, but he still thought that was fun too.