Christmas. (a novel)

I know I skipped over Thanksgiving, but I didn't take any pictures of it. We went to Brent's family's house and it was a lot of fun! It was very relaxing (so much in fact I fell asleep on the couch) and just enjoyed out time together... especially having Brent around.

On to CHRISTMAS! I've decided that Christmas Eve is by far my favorite holiday... I love, love, LOVE it!!! The chaos, food, parties. I love it all. This year it FLEW by!!! I had some last minute shopping to do (which I don't mind doing), and then we went to visit my Gma and Gpa Hukill's house to hang and eat peanut brittle. It's always relaxing over there, just hanging out with them. 5:30 is when the real party began!

We always head up to my Grandma Staheli's house for the first part of the night. We have been doing it for years and it is so fun! My grandma makes her delicious chili, special egg nog (I said special, not spiked), and other snacks and crackers. After we all mill around, make fun of each other and do the traditional Indian Leg Wars, Grandma brings out her HUGE gift bag full of our LEFT/RIGHT presents. I'm sure everyone knows the LEFT/RIGHT game where you pass the presents according to the story. I don't know how long we have done this, but without fail, it ALWAYS gets messed up and confused and we have to stop at least five times to get everone a present. Sad thing is, its never the kids that mess it up! It's part of the fun though. After that game, we have to wrap it up there and head over to the Martin's for the gift exchange there!!!

We arrive in TOTAL chaos, everyone in their new pajamas, on their sugar rush, and ready for a night of presents and more sugar. It is pure madness but we all LOVE it!!! THe kids did the cousin exchange and then Grandma and Grandpa Martin give the kids their gifts. We head home after that and send the kids right to bed (seriously, its 11:30 by then). Luckily our kids are still young enough to not be completely STOKED about Christmas so they sleep all night. I told Makenna that she couldn't come out of her room until the morning, and when she woke up she had to come straight to my room. She woke up that morning and said "Mom, I woke up and had to go to the bathroom, but I didn't go because you told me not too" Sad huh?! At least she listens. :)

The kids were ECSTATIC to come out in the living room. Gavin got a(nother) Buzz, a Mack truck with all of the Cars, pillow pet (dang things are now on sale for $10 bucks!) and a few other items. Kenna got a new baby, Barbie (I curse you Barbie), Jessie doll, and some other little things as well. They made out pretty well and had a great Christmas!

We then head up to my Moms for their gift exchange and breakfast!!! It's always fun up there with a fire (with real wood), good food, and lots of laughs. By one, we headed back to the Martin's for a pasta bar!

It was a SUPER long day, but we loved it and had a great time. I am finally just recovering from Christmas and now we are throwing their birthdays in the mix... here we go!

Idaho.

So, my little brother is married. That's right. M.A.R.R.I.E.D. Are you asking yourself if he just got home off his mission?! Yes, yes he did. Six months ago. And met his new wifey two days later. And now they're hitched.

Which is great! We love her and think she's great. Just not where she is from. As from the title... you can guess she is from Idaho. Rigby, Idaho to be exact. Which meant we got to truck up to Idaho Falls in the middle of DECEMBER to go to it. It was freezing. FA-REEZING. Bitter cold. But we survived and are glad they are married! Now here are the pics.

Do you think Gavin looks like Ty!?

Brent?

Or me?! (haha just kidding on that part)

So precious huh!?

My fave picture even though Gavs is grumpy!!!

The Dentist.

The only reason I am blogging about the dentist (because nobody really cares about if my kids had cavities or not), but it was Gavin's first time there, and as any good decent mother would, I would brag about it and remind him in 20 years that he didn't have any teeth problems when he was two. And that he sat there really good and opened his mouth the whole time. What a good little boy he is.

Makenna was a total pro and also didn't have any cavities. So she has made it five years (knock on wood) without cavities. Let's hope Gavin goes the same way. Notice the pictures. See, I am a good mom.





Only a few more catch up posts to do.... read down below if you care about Zions, Halloween or dance... just saying.

Date in Zion.

I thought it would be fun to take the kids up to Zion for a day. We had been running around like crazy and I felt like I had been neglecting the kids (which I'm sure I had been). So we packed up a picnic lunch and headed up to Zion.

It was a BLAST!!! We did two hikes and a picnic on the lawn of the lodge. The kids were in heaven. I wanted to do it again, but unfortunately it got cold the following week and we weren't able to make it back up. We will definitely be doing it again a lot more in the spring.

Halloween?!

So it's January. And I'm blogging about Halloween. Big whoop.

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. Both kids totally got it and liked it for the most part. We had a Toy Story theme (is that really a surprise) and had both Jessie and Buzz this year. Gavin was a total hit with his battery operated wings. Every few houses he would push the button and they would come up and the house people would laugh. It was cute. They both got a good half bucket of candy each and it was thrown away by the second of November. Yes, I know I'm mean, but they would think the dentist was meaner if they had to get their teeth drilled.

Dance & Cheer.

I went to Dixie, couldn't be prouder... wait. OK, so I really didn't have all that much "pride" in high school, but now we don't live in "Flyer Territory" and its kind of weird. Especially when Makenna went to a cheer clinic at Pine View. Even though she was cheering for the "Panthers" it was so adorable and she L.O.V.E.D. it. She still does the cheers.

Kenna and Callie

Kenna, Callie and Megan

Kenna has changed dance studios and I LOVE it... First off, its cheaper and the teachers are GREAT. Love them!!! She has learned 4 of the 5 ballet positions and the cutest Christmas dance ever. She did it everywhere. Wal-Mart, Olive Garden, parking lots... She was able to perform at the Jubilee of Trees and the Dickens Festivals. She did awesome!!! She knew the words and the dance. She always says, "Mom! I'm going to be so embarrassed when I get on stage!" But, she doesn't. She always rocks it. Smile on her face the whole time and everything.

Getting ready for her recital

Makenna and Alyssa

GO! BIG! BLUE! I mean, Panthers!?