New year's eve

Since mom had been overwhelmed with all the holiday stuff she wasn't feeling the best, so she gave the planning of the New Year's Eve party to us kids. Jeff and I planned the festivities for New Year's Eve. We planned on everyone bringing a pizza for dinner and then goodies to share through out the night. We planned to have the party at Jeff and Tiffany's so dad would be able to participate when he got home from work. We were all very excited for the upcoming night of fun.

When New year's eve finally came, it was kind of a bummer. Mom was still feeling yucky, so she didn't join us. Jenny had text Jeff and I around 3 saying that both her and Brian were sick and that they wouldn't be joining us either. Oh well, we would still have fun.

Jeff had sent me a text telling us to come whenever we wanted since everyone else wasn't coming. We kept it the same time because I had a loaf of bread in the bread maker. I was so excited to use it. When the bread was done, we took it out and then headed for Jeff and Tiffany's.

When we got there we put the pizza in the oven so we could get the kids fed and get them playing in their rooms so the adults could use the table to play games. Once the kids pizza was done, we put in the Chicago for the adults. We took it out once because the crust looked just right. The top layer of crust was not. We had to throw it back in the oven. When it was done, we finally sat down to eat. Yum. I love the Chicago stuffed pizza.

After dinner was cleaned up and done, we were watching a pumpkin chucking special with the crew from Mythbusters. Groups of men and women made different types of machines to chuck pumpkins. They were competing to see who's machine could chuck a pumpkin the farthest. It was quite entertaining. While we were eating, dad came home and he sat down to eat dinner while we finished the show. When the show was over, we pulled out Star wars Monopoly. The game tradition is to play monopoly or risk, depending on the majority vote. This year was monopoly. For the first time ever, Jeff didn't win. He was the first to be taken out. Then dad, then myself. Tiffany and Ben called it a tie. It was a pretty good game. While we were playing the game, the ball had dropped and it was the new year. We put the kids down and then watched a riff track. When the show was over, we headed home.

Christmas evening with Annie and Greg

The Saturday after Christmas was the day planned to get together with Ben's mom and Greg. We had planned to get together early evening for visiting, dinner, and fun. Annie and Greg made a turkey and we all brought the sides to go with it. Everyone brought some pretty amazing food. Very yummy. We all pigged out. After we were all done eating all the kids were playing in the front room while we were all scattered throughout the house visiting. I love the holidays, you get to visit with family. Ex specially family that you don't see very often, maybe once every few months.

After the chit chatting, the kids couldn't wait any longer. They kept bugging Grandma and Grandpa to let them open a gift. So they quickly cleaned up their mess in the front room, so we would have space to open gifts. Annie started off giving the kids a little wind up toy car. The kids thought those were the coolest things. That kept them occupied until it was time for another gift. While they were playing with their cars we exchanged sibling gifts. We had Regina and Ben was very excited for her to see what we got her. We got a set of Frisbee golf Frisbees. She got a set for her birthday, but luckily the set we got her were different weight. She looked excited. I hope she like it. Megan had us and we got a set of game. We got a card game and the Don't spill the Beans game for the kids. It also came with a kid game pack or checkers, memory, and go fish; I think. Gabbi ripped it out of my hands before I got a good look at it.

Grandma Annie continued handing out gifts. The kids were very excited every time it was their turn. They were truly spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma made each of the kids a rag blanket. They were so cute and both the kids love them. They have become the blanket that they sleep with at night. The each got a stuffed animal to match their blanket and a book of some kind. The kids were in 7th heaven. They were also spoiled with little 4 wheeler toys, the girls got a basket full of play food, and Owen got a set of play tools. Grandma and Grandpa out did themselves. All the kids were so excited for their new toys. They all wanted to pull them out and play. The best thing they got, at least to us mom's were the pajama's. Annie had made them all matching pajama's. We made the kids put them on and take a picture. It was adorable.

After the grand kids were done they handed out gifts to us big kids. Ben was very excited for a model car, well model motorcycle. It looks like one that he had looked at in the Kawasaki shop. He has so much to do that he's not going to know what to do first. He also got a set of wrenches. Ben had a grin from ear to ear.

Us girls each got the same thing. That's always the best. They have done that for 3 years now. Definitely makes it easier. This year we got a bread maker. I was so excited. I have always wanted one. I have been wanting to steal my moms because she doesn't use it anymore. Now I have my own. I can't wait to use it.

Intermingled with everyone opening their gifts Grandma and Grandpa got to open a few as well. We gave them a gift basket of goodies and a gift card to Hastings to either rent some movies or buy some that they have been longing for. Annie got some clothes a camera along with a gift card to a gluten free store while Greg got some clothes, a fish clock, and a T.V.

It was a great night. Everyone had a lot of fun and Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa we were all spoiled.

Holiday Break

Luckily for us Ben had saved up time at work and was able to get some days off. He had a total of 8 straight days without working. Needless to say, we did a lot of fun things. We had a few night of riff tracks with Jeff and Tiffany. If you don't know what a riff track is, you are really missing out.

A riff track is a group of guys ad libbing jokes while watching a movie. I've been told its like Mystery science theater 3000. Well you choose the riff you want and you play the riff and the movie simultaneously  They run together and the jokes they make to go along with the movie are just hilarious. During Ben's break we watched 3 with Jeff and Tiffany; Hunger games, Fast and Furious, and Ocean's 11. They are so funny. At first when Jeff asked us I thought that it would destroy the movie I enjoyed watching. I was wrong. It make it better some how. We have been watching riffs with Jeff and Tiffany for years now. Any chance we get with some extra time, we like to watch a riff.

Another fun activity we did during his break was to go and see the movie Les Miserable. It came out Christmas day, but we wanted to let the crowd die down a little. We went and saw it on the 27th. Jenny was nice enough to take the kids so we could watch it. It was such a great movie. I loved the music. We have seen the play once and am excited to say that we have tickets to see it again when its here in May. Needless to say, I was very excited for the movie. The actors did such a great job and the part that I love best is that they sang the songs themselves. I was in tears, it was just amazing. Very well done.

Christmas Shopping

The next day brought on the adventure of shopping. Never go shopping the day after Christmas. Everyone is out it seems. Almost as bad as black Friday.

Ben wanted to go to the music store and get the guitar check out. They had suggested that to me when I bought the music books. When we got there, they answered all his questions. When they looked at the guitar they said it was in great condition considering we live in Utah. The weather is not the best and suggest that he get a guitar humidifier. We did and he also needed some strings. The guitar was missing the 6th string, so he got a whole new set. They were on sale and he was able to get a deal that gave him three sets. He's good with strings for a long time. They showed him how to put them on and then sent us on our way. Ben couldn't wait til we got home.

After the guitar store we headed to Hobby Lobby where Ben got the wood burning kit. I wanted to look at the book me mentioned with ideas of what to do with it. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to do it because I can't free hand draw worth a hill of beans. When looking at the book, I decided that I was right. I asked Ben how he would feel if I returned it and he said that it was fine as long as I got something I wanted. After looking at the wood burning stuff we walked over to the model cars. Ben was looking for the paints that he would need to start his model cars. Sadly they didn't have the colors he needed so he left the store empty handed.

After leaving Hobby Lobby, we went to Toy R' Us so the kids could spend their Christmas money from Grandma. Owen picked out a set of wooden blocks and Gabbi picked out a baby Cinderella doll. The kids were very excited to be able to pay for their toys with their own money.

After we were done there the kids were getting hungry so we headed to Iggy's. We had a gift certificate to the Layton restaurant and decided to take advantage of it. With the weather being kind of icky, they weren't very busy at all. It was the best service I have had in a long time. The food was great and the kids weren't too bad either. Sometimes they can be a handful when we eat out.

After we were done eating we headed to mom and dad's to play games with Grandma and mom. Dad was getting ready for work, so he didn't get to play much. In the midst of our shopping we also went to Walmart to get Blockus, the game we played at Nelson and Deann's. We played with Grandma, mom was tired and didn't want to play. She just watched. When Jeff and Tiffany got home, they came up and we played May I, a card game. It was a lot of fun.

Christmas afternoon at Nelson and Deann's

After spending the morning at mom and dad's, we headed home to get ready for the day and to celebrate with more family.

When we got home Ben wanted to play with his guitar. That didn't surprise me at all. I hope he sticks with it and achieves what he has planned for. He tried once before. His previous boss used to be in a Band while in college. Ben had mentioned once that he wanted to learn how to play. He borrowed the guitar to Ben. When Ben left that job he gave the guitar back and hasn't mentioned it since. However that last couple of drills he has been to, the Chaplin brought her husband to help with some musical numbers and he plays the guitar. Made the idea of playing again come back to his mind. He couldn't wait to play and I didn't blame him. While he was in the front room messing with the guitar, I was putting Gabbi's new comforter on her bed and hanging up her new wall decorations. She was very excited to see the room when I was done with it. She loves her new room as she calls it.

When we were done with her room we headed into Owen's. We set up his train table. We put together the tracks so he could play with his trains. He was ecstatic about the train tracks. He was very angry when it was time to go.

When we were all ready to go we headed up to Nelson and Deann's to celebrate Christmas with them. We snacked on goodies while we visited. Grandma Sagez was coming over as well as Brain and Karen. When everyone got there the kids played while the adult caught up on the events of the morning. It was a lot of fun, The girls are really cute when they play. Even little Cami, so animated ans excited for every new adventure to come her way. We visited for a while and then Brian and Karen had to run to visit more family. 

After they left we played a game. Nelson and Deann and just bought a new game called blockus and they really wanted to play it. It was really fun. So much fun that Ben and I decided that we were going to get it. After the game we gave Nelson and Deann their Christmas gift from us and Grandma Sagez gave us a gift. She had painted a picture of the Brigham City Temple. It was beautiful. She is a beautiful painter. We now have a few pictures she had painted. She gave Gabbi a dress she had made, which Gabbi put on then and there and was really excited. Gabbi loves dresses. She gave Owen a truck. You know boys and their cars, he loved it. Ran around the house with it til we left.

When we left we headed for mom and dad's to play games while Grandma Shupe was still here. On the way back Ben wasn't feeling so good. He was feeling the way I was the night before. I told him we could go home, but he told me that he didn't want me to miss out on playing games with the family. So we went and he went into the office and laid down while the rest of us played games. My poor honey.

Christmas morning at Mom and Dad's

After all the excitement at our house, we packed the kids in the car and headed to mom and dad's. Gabbi was so happy to be wearing her new sleepers. Once everyone was there we gathered around the kitchen table for breakfast. The one thing we will never change about Christmas morning. Mom makes Belgian waffles with all the fixings and sides. Its the best part of Christmas. Luckily I was feeling much much better and was able to eat the really yummy breakfast.

After everyone was done eating and we had everything cleaned up we all headed into the front room to open presents from mom and dad. The kids went first. Mom and dad started with the youngest from each family, which meant Owen got to go first. He got a quiet book for church and an outfit. Now the kids wont have to fight over Gabbi's quiet book on Sunday's. I love Owen's, it has a train on one of the pages. Owen loves trains. Slowly each kids got to got and then it was Gabbi's turn. She got dress up clothes. She was really really excited about these. She has been bugging us since Halloween to get her a Cinderella dress and a Sleeping Beauty Dress. Well that was she got and some gloves, crown, and wand to go with it. She wanted to open them and put them on right then. It was hard to get her to put them down so the rest of the kids could take their turns.

When the kids were done we gave mom and dad their gifts. We gave dad a remote control helicopter. One as big as his gas powered airplane. He thought that was the coolest thing and was just like a kid when saying, "I want to go fly it right now." Sadly he was not able to, you aren't supposed to fly it in weather colder then 40'. He was kind of bummed. We got mom a duffel bag on wheels. That way she could take the train down to Orem when seeing Grandma and had a descent duffel bag that held everything she needed for her trip.

After mom and dad, the cousins got to hand out their gifts. We started with the oldest and made our way down to the bottom. Gabbi got a jump suit and a pair of dress shoes to got with her dresses and Owen got a cowboy blanket. Its a really cute blanket. It has a hood on the top and secret compartment for your hand so you can get wrapped up good and tight. He loves blankets, so this was perfect.

One of the best things about the cousins gifts was Cameron's. When he opened his up is was a box and it looked like the ultimate controller. Cameron looked at, very puzzled. He had no idea what it was and walked over to Brian. Brian started to read the box to explain to Cameron what it was. The ultimate controller. Would work with many different game units, had a built in fan to cool you of, and even a spot for a drink. Kind of like those beer hats. Cameron still didn't understand, but everyone else was laughing. Cameron was a little upset to see everyone laughing. He then opened the box and it was a spoof box. He really had a blanket inside like the one Owen got, except it was a turtle; his favorite animal. IT was so funny to see the looks on his face that morning.

When all the cousin gifts were done, mom and dad handed out pictures of them to all of us kids and Christmas money. Ben and I got a printer/scanner, and then whatever money was left over from it. We really needed a scanner. It helps out when I'm doing my lessons for preschool. The Grandma got to open a few and she handed some out as well. She gave all the kids money to do with what ever they wanted. It was a very nice Christmas. We were all very spoiled.

Christmas Morning

After a rough night, we woke the kids at 8:30. I was surprised that we had to wake them up. I figured that they would be up with anticipation. I was wrong. They were dead asleep. I went into the front room to set up for the perfect shot with the camera while Ben went and got the kids.

When the kids came in, they didn't have very happy looks on their faces. They were to worried about the blinding lights. Ben had a grin though. He saw his big present that was too big to wrap. He was very excited. But he suppressed his excited in order for the kids to open their gifts first. They started off with the gift from mom and dad. Gabbi got items to decorate her room and Owen got the train track and trains to go with the table he got for his birthday. Santa was nice enough to visit and left the kids a stocking full of stuff. The each got some books, a movie, and some slippers. Gabbi was very excited about the slippers because it was one of the items she told Santa that she wanted. They had a good morning and wanted to just sit and play with their new stuff.

When it was Daddy's turn to open presents, Gabbi really wanted to help hand them to him. She did very well being my helper. Daddy was very excited to get models cars and things to help him learn how to play the guitar. He was very excited to see the guitar. He has been talking about getting one and teaching himself for a long time now. I was luckily enough to have a wonderful Grandma Shupe, who allowed us to use one of her. He will try it out and then we will arrange paying for it. Thank you so much Grandma for making his Christmas wishes come true. He plays it every day and the look on his face is worth every moment of it.

After daddy calmed his excitement he decided that is was my turn. Gabbi again helped him hand out the presents. Ben got me some really pretty jewelry, a wood burning decorating tool, and a knitting loom. He seemed kind of bummed when I wasn't as excited about my stuff that he was with his. I assured him that I was plenty excited. He smile and then we started to clean things up.

While I was cleaning, Ben and the kids we sitting down laying on Gabbi's new pillow reading the new books that they got. Such a sweet moment admits all the chaos of all the presents excitement.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at mom and dad's house this year. We decided not to do a dinner and do snack food instead. When we got there we set out the smorgasbord of food and let the kids go at it. We had a various amount of food from veggies and dip to tequitos. All of it was really yummy. I wasn't feeling so hot, so I didn't get to try everything I wanted. I really didn't want to upset my stomach more then I already had eating the things I chose to eat. After we were done with our goody plates we wiped out some games. The kids went into the front room and played rock band. The adult were in the kitchen trying to play Tripoly. It had been such a long time since any of us had played the game. It took a good 10 minutes to read the instructions and answer every one's questions. The best way to learn is to start playing, and we did. We play a couple of rounds and then Jeff and Tiffany got there.

When they got there we decided to break out the tradition Christmas pajama's and our Christmas story. By now I was feeling worse. I made in the front room to see the kids open their pajama's but that was about it. I told mom and dad to go ahead and start. I stayed back in the bathroom expecting the worse. Nothing happened, Thank Heavens. I was able to hear some of the story through the bathroom door. It was a really cute story of how Santa became Santa. Mom did really good this year picking out the story. When the story was done, I told Ben that I wanted to go home. This was not like me, I wanted to kick myself in the but for backing out. I really wanted to stay and play games, but my stomach wasn't feeling any better. I just wanted to go home and lay down. So we said our goodbyes and headed for home. 

On the way home, Ben stopped at Walgreen's to get me some pinwheel mints. When I was pregnant in the past I used to eat mints to settle my stomach. Ben figured it was worth a shot. He did good. I started to feel better, enough for us to set up Christmas and finish a movie we had started earlier that day. When all was said and done, we headed for bed and waited for Santa to come, in the words of the kids. I felt so bad about feeling yucky. We had even made brownies to set out for Santa and we forgot to set them out once we got home. Gabbi was really bummed when she realized it the next morning.

Christmas Pictures

We try to get a picture by the tree each year. Its fun trying to figure out the timer after a year of forgetting how it works. They worked out okay. The kids where really not in to taking pictures that morning.

Hall Christmas Party

The Hall Christmas party was planned by my Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Dave. The put together a fun party. We all meet at their Church building and were all given assignments for food. Once we got there we each had a set place to sit and eat. It was meant for us to mingle. I thought it was a really good idea. We were seated with my cousin Heather and her family. It was a lot of fun to sit, eat, and visit with them. After we were done eating all the kids got ready for the show. They were acting out the Nativity. Gabbi was an Angle and Owen was a Sheep. All the great grand kids had a part to play. They all were very quiet and did a great job while Grandpa Hall read the scriptural account of the Savior's birth. We were all surprised how quiet the kids were. Gabbi did a great job standing in her place. Owen not so much. I had to sit with him and then when we were almost done, he didn't want to sit with me anymore. He got up and moved closer to one of the other cousin's playing a sheep. I took that am my clue to leave the stage. All the kids did great.

After the play the kids ran around the gym while the adult cleaned up and put some tables away. We had to make room for the pinata. The kids favorite part of the Christmas party is the pinata. All the kids were able to take a few swings. Miranda was the last to swing and she knocked it down. She had some help from Kayla. She started the hole in the top. When the candy scattered, so did all the kids trying to get as much candy as they could. It was funny because the kids started to walk away with their treasures and there was still a bunch of candy on the floor. Us adults decided it was fair game. After the pinata, we said our goodbyes and headed to put some very tired kids in bed.