Catching up on Christmas....

Christmas morning was such a blessing in our house. Getting ready was making me a little crazy, and I wasn't as excited as I should have been. After all was said and done Christmas morning I realized how greatful my children were. We do home made gifts for each other, and how thoughtful they had each been towards their siblings. It made my heart grow 3 sizes that day. Not that I am the grinch or anything. LOL Here are some highlights of the morning.
The kids were really excited! We couldn't put presents under the tree. Brynlee would have had them all open. So I placed them all there Christmas Eve after the kids had gone to bed. They were amazed at how many there were.

Cole and Brynlee waiting to open their gifts.

Shane in his new sunglasses.

Shaylee and Kailin watching the rest open presents.

Trey loves the remote control that his grandma and grandpa McLaws got for him.

Shaylee getting her new book bag!

Cole surprised by his MP3 player.

Daddy and Kailin

Brynlee loves all she got. She was the one that stopped opening up gifts. All she wanted to do was play with the one she opened first.

I love my family, and I am so thankful to be able to share Christmas with them. I know it won't last, but I will have wonderful memories! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Christmas Eve

Every year we go with the Johnson family for Christmas Eve. I love it! We always start at Shane's Grandma and Grandpa Johnson's with all his cousins. Something that has been a tradition since Shane was a little boy. His family is close and I love to visit with them all.
Our children have now picked up on the tradition and always look forward to seeing their own cousins. It is fun to see the friendships build.
Shaylee and Jaquel

Trey and Jarrin

This is a chicken that Shane would ride on when he was little. Now all the great-grandchildren play on it. It has been around forever. Grandpa Johnson keeps welding and fixing the wheels so they will all remember it.

This is my awesome brother-in-law Alex. He is so cute when you can catch him on film.

After Grandma's we head over to my mother-in-law's. She gets her box of magic out and transforms her grandchildren. Dean reads from the scriptures as the kids perform the nativity. I love the spirit in their home.

This is one of the only good pictures of the nativity I got this year. Marcia you are going to have to share yours pictures.

It was a wonderful evening of worshiping the Savior.

Chicken Pox and Family Pictures

It is no surprise that for Christmas we give our parents and other various family members a family picture as their gift. This year I have had a lot of my Christmas done early, and was feeling pretty good about it. One of the last things on the list to do was get the family picture taken. Something Shane just loves to do. We were planning on doing it when Shane got sick. Put off again. Then I wanted to do it on last Saturday morning. Now, I have bought new outfits, and scoped out the spot.
The night before I thought would be a good time to take pictures Kailin broke out into the chicken pox. AAAGGGGHHHHH!

Now what? I thought if we took them in the morning it would be fine. At least their weren't any on the face yet! I get all the clothes ready to wake up and find it snowing! AAAGGGGHHHH! Now what? I called Kendra about in tears to see if she would go look at the spot and see if we could freeze long enough to get one shot. Nope, not going to work. That is when my wonderful friend came up with the great idea of doing it in her garage. She said if they didn't turn out then we would at least have something in the frame and just tell them that we would get them one later. I love them all. They turned out so good. I am so happy with them, and Shane won't have to have his picture for another year!

Thanks Kendra!

Wisemen still seek him...

So this year for Christmas.... Yes, we are doing something not normal again. No, it is not a homemade Christmas again. Shane and I needed a way to not over buy for our children. We (OK, I decided and Shane went along with me) to do 3 gifts total to represent the 3 Wisemen. We told the them that is what was going to happen they all agreed and that was it. I figured they weren't really listening and would flip Christmas morning when there was only 3 gifts under the tree.
So I Cole was listening. He was over heard telling a friend...
Cole: "You know what we are doing for Christmas this year?"
friend: "What?"
Cole: "We only get 3 presents for the 3 Wisemen. Man, I wish there were 10."
Lucky for my budget there were only 3. lol

Cold Snow......Warm baths.......

Yesterday it snowed. The girls had so much fun playing in it! As you can see by the time we got enough snow off the lawn to build a snowman the rest was melting away quick.

Chloe and Kailin spent a good part of the morning out gathering snow for the snowman.

Kailin was born to live in the cold. Mom not so much. I was sipping hot chocolate and watching the girls from the window. Yes, I am a whimp.

After all the playing she need a bath. Shaylee bathed the little girls and did the fancy styling of their hair.

What makes you white trash?

So lately I have been thinking a lot about what makes a person white trash. A couch in your front yard? (*cough*neighbors*cough*)A dresser ripped apart and torn to pieces forming the "coolest" hut? Or keeping your broken window together with mod podge? I guess it really doesn't matter. All I know is my kids are happy, and hopefully the window will stay together long enough for the new glass to come in.

This happened when my little guy Cole (age 6) decided to test his hypothesis out. He wanted to know if a rock would bounce when it hit glass? Of course when he told me that I said, "Well, I guess it didn't." He was quick to reply, "actually it did." When he saw the steam I am sure was coming out of my head that is when he backed down and said, "or not." At that point I couldn't help but laugh. After 24 hours and 3 lbs of chocolate therapy I am OK enough to blog about it. lol
Now, I can only hope Shane gets a Christmas bonus to help pay for it! Wait a minute Shane's Christmas bonus last year paid for a broken window by the same kid. Maybe I need more chocolate!

Flat iron giveaway...

I have been needing a new flat iron so when I saw this giveaway I jumped on it. This is an awesome hair blog to look at as well!
http://www.princesshairstyles.com/

Crazy People...

This is what crazy people do to get a deal, or to just have fun with friends. Last night we started shopping at the outlet mall at 10:00pm. Then we headed to Denny's for a little fuel and some hot CHOCOLATE! You know if I stay up late like this chocolate WILL be involved.

Yes, we had to have proof of our late hours.

We took the opportunity to have our picture taken by the waiter. My only regret was Summer our other com rad was not there for our pictures. She was still shopping. Go Old Navy!

Then we headed over to Target at 3:00am. Yes, they did not open their doors until 5:00am. Like I said we were crazy! What makes me insane is I have Christmas done I just wanted to go for fun! lol This is how we started out. Happy and semi warm.

A little later...

By the time the line started to move we were all bundled up in our blankets so you couldn't even see us. I heard someone next to us say, "Why is she in shorts?" That is when I knew there are people more crazy than I.

We had a blast and made it home after being awake for 30 hours straight thanks to Summer. I hope she gets a nap! My friends got a chunk of their Christmas done, and I got a few FUN things. Thanks Bridgette and Brigham!

Thanksgiving...

So this morning started out good! Shane left at 6:00am for work so that is when I got up to do my pies. Brynlee was awake so she was very helpful! After all the baking was done I took a shower. I now know unless I shower before the kids are awake I shouldn't take one until they are sleeping. This is what I found this morning when I came out after my shower. Caught red handed! At least I know the pie was good! No, she was not hungry when it was dinner time. Do you blame the little thing scarfed a half an apple pie.

We cleaned Brynlee up again and headed to my mom's house. This is some of the crowd that gathered there. THIS IS MY FAMILY. Well, I have a brother, a niece and a few nephews missing, but there they are and I love them ALL!

We hope you had as good of a Thanksgiving as we did!
P.S. Happy Birthday Easton!

Things I am thankful for...

Brynlee's kisses...
Kailin's smile...
Cole's laugh...
Trey's brotherly love...
Shaylee's helpfulness...
Shane's work ethic...
My family...even though it is a large one.
The best In-laws...Natalie they are the greatest!
The temple and knowing I will be with Shane Forever...yes honey I know it is a long time!
My friends...I have such good friends I don't want to name in case I forget someone. If you think you are in this category you are.
Late nights crafts...OK, so any crafts really!
My ward family...It was hard feeling like I fit in now I can't get out! lol
Beautiful mountains...
Flushing toilets and electricity...
Food... Yes, this includes Chocolate!
Surprises...
Trials...Don't ask! BTW I love my new sewing scissors and Brynlee's new hair cut.
Most of all I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who sent me here, and all of you he knew needed to be a part of my life!
I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Things that Shaylee are Thankful for...

I just want all you readers to know I did not help her with any of her answers.
Family...
Horses...

School...
Four wheelers...

Friends...
Food...
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ...
Nap time...

Mom and Dad...
Cars...(Only because grandpa lets her drive. lol)

Things Trey is thankful for...

Family...
Friends...
House...
Bed...
Food...
Brother...
School...
Church...
Jesus Christ...
Music...
Computers...
Art...
Talents...

Things that Cole is thankful for...

Family...

Friends...

Cousins...

Grandma's and Grandpa's...

Forts...

Animals...

Uncles...

Things that Kailin is thankful for...

Her blanket...(of course these are not done in any order lol)

Sisters...

Homemade bread...( I can never leave bread to cool without it disappearing!)

Mommy... (Yes, she really is thankful for me.)

Full tummy... (she likes her food. She is always hungry. Her favorite is peanut butter and jelly. Just ask her nursery leader Sister Cook. Who I am thankful for)

Hiding places...

Imagination...(she loves to pretend, dress up and play in a make believe world)

Things Brynlee is thankful for......

Sisters...( This is my favorite thing to wake up to!)

Beds to jump on...

Brothers...

Clothes...(even if she gets stuck in them lol)

peanut butter...

Cousins...