Merry Christmas!

This is the first Christmas as a parent that I really felt like the kids understood what it was about. We had a couple family nights where we talked about The Nativity, and watched a short film depicting the Saviors birth. Although the kids wanted presents, I feel that they, well, Sarah, really "got" what it was about.

We wanted the kids to appreciate how much they have, even if it isn't much, so we started a new tradition of giving to a charity. We didn't have much to give, but Sarah was happy to give a barbie and some books. Steven saw a train we were trying to give away and wanted to trade something else for it. We chose The Road Home's charity this year, and look forward to doing something like this each year.

After "torturing" Sarah for weeks, the big day finally arrived. This year Santa did a really good job. I told Sarah that sometimes Santa gives us what he thinks we'll like, rather than what we ask for, which made buying gifts easy. When asked what she wanted for Christmas she'd reply "a barbie." When asked what Barbie, she's just say, "Santa will bring me one he knows I'll like." :-) She was thrilled to get a Rapunzel barbie and Pet Vet barbie.

Steven asked Santa for a "biting airplane" and a "lightning airplane." We had actually already bought them as future birthday gifts for him, so this was another easy win for Santa. Steven loved his airplanes so much, that he didn't want to open any of his other gifts. He simply said "no thank you," and played with his planes. Sarah ended up opening most of his gifts.


What do you give the baby who has "everything"? Socks. :-)


And what did Santa bring Mike and me? Mike is getting to use my "basement finishing fund" to take our family to Disneyland in January. I got my much desired waffle maker. YAY!


After celebrating at our house, we joined Mike's parents and siblings for breakfast and more gifts. Steven was in ready to open every ones this time. They are in toy heaven.





I'm sure I believed in Santa when I was younger, but I can't remember ever believing. I think it is sweet, and almost odd how easily children believe that a big man in a red suit enters their house on Christmas Eve and gives them gifts if they were good. Sarah was visiting a friends house a few days before Christmas, and her friend was in trouble for something. Sarah told her that if she apologized, and obeyed her parents, she could be put back on Santa's nice list. (her dad loved it) Steven kept misbehaving and saying he wanted to be on the naughty list. What can do with that?

Although I probably shouldn't, I kind of feel like I'm deceiving them with the Santa beliefs, so I only talk in "maybes". "Maybe Santa will bring you that." "Maybe he comes in the door if we don't have a chimney." etc... I'm just glad it is magical for the kids.

I hope you all had a special Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Each year we trade off holidays with my parents and Mike's. When we're in town, we always enjoy Christmas Eve at Mike's grandparents in Bountiful. The Starley's get together for food, fun and family.

We've started a tradition of giving the kids pj's on Christmas Eve. I was going to sew Sarah's, but that didn't happen, so she got "Tangled" pj's. (she's worn them every day since) The boys got army pj's to celebrate Mike's brother Andy coming home for Christmas from his training.


The only picture I took at the Christmas Eve party was of Adam with Mike's Aunt Mary.


Mike's grandparents are as sweet and kind as grandparents get. They send me a card for my birthday, a gift on mother's day, and a card for Christmas. Although marrying Mike would be enough of a blessing, I'm grateful I get to be a part of his family as well.

My little Nightingale

One of my greatest pleasures as a mother is hearing Sarah sing. I love to hear her little pixie voice sings songs she knows, as well as ones she creates. When I ask her to sing to her brother's she creates sweet lullabies and sings them so softly and sweetly.

Last night was Sarah's Little Learners Preschool performance, and the sweet, soft voice of love was...on vacation. :-)Sarah sat front and center, and YELLED every word of every song throughout the entire program. This might sound bad, but I tried to shush her a few times by putting my finger over my mouth and also mouthing "quieter", but she just smiled, waved, and signed "I love you." I thought it was really cute and sweet, but since her voice drowned out the others, I'm hoping the other parents didn't mind. I stood next to a nice mom who's son was shy the whole time and she told me not to worry about it and be happy it wasn't the other way.

I love my little performer! I have a feeling she will excel in drama and choir. ;-) (we'll have to work on her volume)

The video is ~22 minutes long, but you can get an idea by watching the first song. They learn sign language at her school, so a couple of the end songs are singing/signing. I'm proud of my little nightingale.



Mike just informed me that the teachers kept saying "louder" to the students, so Sarah, being ever obedient as she is, was just listening to them. :-)

Sarah's Dance Recital

Today was Sarah's dance recital, and it was really cute. They dance to Taylor Swift's "Love Story" song, which happened to be one of Sarah's favorites. Her bff Lillian Smith takes dance with her and they "practiced" all the time. There were some shy girls on stage, so it shouldn't be hard to pick out Sarah in front wearing the dark pink skirt and doing some improv. Lillian is right next to her in the light pink skirt.


I think it's cute when she falls and then pops right back up and poses. I also love the cute girl in the middle that covered her face with her arms and stood there the whole time. Her class was for 3-4 yr olds, so some were a "little" nervous. :-)



Next year she and Lillian are going to take ballet, because I want her to learn the fundamentals, but she really enjoyed Pop Rox.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

We have finally put up our tree. We let the kids decorate it this year, and it came out very "creative." While I thought it would be nice to spread out the different colors, they thought it would look best if the colors were lumped together. :-)




If you noticed that only the top half of the tree is lit, one of our cats, and I won't say who, chewed through the cord minutes after it was up.

And, if you'd like a little De Ja Vu, here are some pictures of Diamond in our tree. She likes to swat the ornaments off from the inside.



And, here is Mosey the first year we had her. I know you're all jealous you don't have cats that do this. Since I love all of you, I will allow two of my blog readers to each take a cat. Yes, you read right. Free cats! :-) (I can only dream)

Hello Snow

On Thursday we finally made it outside to play in the snow. Our friends the Smith's came over to go sledding in front of our house. Sarah and Lillian lasted about 10 minutes and then went in to play princesses. Steven and Malcolm stayed sled for quite a while. Steven is such a boy and loved to fall off the sled and stick his head in the snow.




Mosey likes the cool air and hung out with us the whole time.