Highlights from Christmas Morning 2012





Christmas didn't seem as stressful this year, as it has in the past.  We had a very pleased group of kids this morning...and not that they would have said otherwise, but there was a lot of squealing and anticipation that started just before 7am this morning. It was fantastic that for once we aren't having to load up the truck to head off somewhere to deal with treacherous road conditions or grinchy hosts.  Home is definitely the best place to spend Christmas morning. 























We got to enjoy warm beds, gooey cinnamon rolls, and a rather joyful sunny morning together.  You could tell that it was going to be a good day when Dad started to show a little affection for Molly ;)

Braden got a Nook...an electronic reader that you can download books on to.  I was questionable about this one--but he was totally excited!  Even Nathan murmured that he wanted one of those.  That's funny. I originally bought 3...and then returned 2 of them because we opted to get cameras for Nathan and Cameron. 

The cameras are for capturing all of their adventures in scouting, school, and upcoming trips.  And Camera LOVED his camera...so it's all good, right?!  Nathan and Cameron got different brands and colors of cameras. There won't be any brawling over who's is whose. Dad got them some healthy memory cards to go in each camera, so we should have a slue of pictures to see when they get back from some of their activities!  I smell a couple of merit badges coming on....























And there was many a funny t-shirt.  The kids traded names and had $12 to spend on each other. Jessica had Cameron's name and she got him a "Save the Twinkie" t-shirt.  He loved it!

Nathan's favorite saying right now is "Like a Boss"!  He says that just about everything.  So when I came across this shirt...I knew that he would love it!  And I was right.

Everyone got a set of Lego's--even Jessica.  I have to admit, I think that pink and lavender Lego's are the BOMB!  I would have loved these as a kid. 
















Braden wanted an airplane set that would keep him busy for awhile.  I think 500+ pieces should do it!
























Jessica got an MP3 player, loaded with the new Taylor Swift album, Red; and Ashley got a Taylor Swift perfume gift box.  Both girls got most of what was on their wish lists...so Santa rocked it this year! 
























Ashley will smell good in her cute coat and new charcoal gray dress.  She also got the black furry wool boots she wanted as well.
























Ties were a fashion hit as well.  The ever-growing collection has been started, at the tender age of 12.  Nathan and Cameron were pleased with their new fancy plaids from the Mens' Wearhouse!

I got spoiled with a gift card to the Texas Roadhouse...and a beautiful amethyst flower necklace set in Sterling silver.























Jeff got a new suit (and he looks HOT in it!) and I made him my very first afghan. 



















I was a little ambitious for the first go around, because I followed a Trip Around the World pattern, using granny squares in jewel tones.



















Yep.  I was still working on it till midnight last night...and about 8 hours earlier in the day...and hours and hours over the last month, or so. And it's still not done.  My sewing machine went into the shop and I didn't get to finish it the way I wanted to.  I'm going to add a fleece back to it...but that should be done before his birthday, in August.  It can be a 2-fer gift!























Look!  Molly and Ashley has matching necklaces! Actually, I made the girls some necklaces using a wooden scrabble letter and modge podge.  (Gotta love Relief Society crafts that are actually completed.)  They turned out darling...and were winners with the girls.













Braden got a Nerf gun and kept popping the dog in the mouth and butt with foam bullets.  Needless to say, she went a little ballistic, and had to be corralled in the corner of the couch. 
















Books.  Another item on the wish list....a success.  Everyone wasn't doing cartwheels over the socks and underwear--but it was a great filler around the things that they really wanted.























Jessica wanted to find her baptism dress under the tree...in the worst way.  But she'll have to wait and see what she gets for her birthday next month.  She did, however, get a set of scriptures with her name embossed on the front.  She thought that was pretty stellar! 

















All the kids were super excited about the Christmas cash from Grandma and Grandpa Eibert, Aunt Gale, and Great-grandma Ida Mae.  Oh, the plans they are making on how to spend it...and the places they are wanting to go!  But I think they should just save it until we get to St Louis in May...but I'm sure that it will be long gone by then.

It was a fabulous morning.  The turkey is cooking, the kids are playing, the music is humming in the background.  As we read Luke 2 last night, it was a wonderful reminder that the birth of the Savior was indeed a celebration. A new star.  The angels singing. The shepherds watching. The wise men bearing gifts.  The heavens were full of light and the world was full of hope.  Every Christmas should be that way.  Ours was wonderful.  And now it's time for a nap and more happy thoughts about how fortunate and blessed we are.

Multi-Tasking Imaginary Visitors

In all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, something happened that didn't draw enough attention.  Jessica lost another tooth.  It wasn't just an ordinary tooth.  It was a silver tooth.  It was the one that cost mom and dad a whopping $2500 and was the envy of many a cute kid in her kindergarten class! (That was  little awkward explaining to the parents that wondered about this "awesome" tooth that Jessica got!)

The permanent tooth is already visible in the spot that Mr Silver just came out of.  But what caused all the drama and fuss regarding this particular tooth...was that it was put in a baggie and taped to the fridge last night.  Apparently the Tooth Fairy was too busy playing Santa and wrapping gifts...that the tooth was overlooked and the silver was not exchanged for any green.

Jessica has lost her faith in the Tooth Fairy and so brought the tooth into our room tonight to remind us exactly why we "owed" her some "green".  I told her that she's just going to have to wait and see what Santa brings her.  (Phew.  Close call).  I'm hoping that Santa doesn't forget to help the Tooth Fairy out tonight (wink, wink, wink!)

I slipped a dollar in the bag while everyone was checking out their new Christmas gifts.  Somebody said she'd already checked the bag this morning...and there wasn't anything in it.  Hmmm.  Thanks be to the powers of the ever-rich Tooth Fairy!

Christmas Jammies

 



It was NOT easy getting a couple of good pictures to mark the occasion for this year's Christmas picture! It took a few minutes, a few lap punches, and a whole lot of giggling...amongst the boys!  They could be the poster children for the three stooges...if they ever leave Sesame Street!

The girls are definitely a lot calmer.  Jessica was the most anxious to open the package with her new Christmas jammies in it.  She's still the most child-like in her anticipation for Christmas morning.  They have marching orders that they are not to be up before 7 am.... 























We'll see if they make it!

Sock Party

 

 

 On Saturday, Ashley had a few of her friends from church over, for a Sock Party and Brunch.
 After a buffet of breakfast casseroles, cinnamon rolls, fruit, and juice...it was time to get down to business!
















Everyone brought a wrapped pair of new socks to exchange.  The general rule is--the crazier the better!  The first girl started by opening a package.  Then the next girl had to decide whether to "steal" the pair the first girl had just opened or to continue on by opening another gift of socks.
















There were some pretty fun and cool socks to choose from, so not everyone went right for an unopened package!  There was quite a bit of strategy in play and some stealing going on!

















When it was all said and done...it was time to model the sock trophies! Even after a few tricky turns, no one was disappointed new and crazy socks. 

Gingerbread Houses

We had a fan-tab-u-lous day yesterday!  The Becksteads' joined us for a day of feasting, fun, and family traditions.  After an amazing ham dinner, we set the kids up to decorate gingerbread houses.  They made quite an array of colorful creations.  Some of the candy went missing, but nary a house was lost...thanks to the power of the almighty hot glue gun ;)  I did forewarn the kids to skip the "house" part of their nibbles later.

 

 





































Suckers were an addition to the candy selection this year.  They made for cool chimneys and pathways to the houses.  OK.  What we really saw was just the sticks left on the "path"...but it was the thought that counted.














Some of the houses were top-heavy with candy, while others were covered in cereal. Cameron's house had four layers of Life cereal before he was satisfied.



















It was a lot of fun to have friends join us in our yearly tradition.  Cody remembers doing this at preschool with me over three years ago!
















After we were all cleaned up, it was time for movies and games to finish off our day.  I have a new favorite Christmas movie...Elf!  I'm still laughing at his quirky one-liners in my head today!

Journey to the North Pole

On Friday, 12/21/12...we headed to the North Pole--via Lake Coeur d'Alene.  We surprised the kids by taking them out to dinner at one of our favorite places in Idaho--Cafe Rio.

Then we went down to the waterfront to see all the beautiful Christmas lights.  The kids could see the lit ferries out on the water and got all excited...saying that they wished they could go out on one!  So Dad said that we should walk down onto the pier to check it out.  Of course, they didn't know that I already had tickets for the 6:30pm cruise in my pocket.

All the lights around the marina were sensational.  "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" was playing on the big screen inside our boat in case it was too chilly to go out and watch from outside. 


















As we pulled away from the dock, the Grinch appeared outside and started shaking his fist at the kids.  It was a hoot.


















The kids ordered hot chocolates from the bar tender and headed upstairs to get a better view of the lights around the lake.  Being on the water is one of the things that Jeff really likes to do. He stayed outside till he couldn't feel his fingers anymore!

Unbeknownst to the kids, as we arrived, there was an elf at the door that asked the parents for all thekids' names. 

When we got to the other side of the lake, we stopped at the "North Pole", where Santa and one of the elves appeared on the dock to welcome everyone and explain more about the incredible light features.  He said he also had a list of all the kids that made on the "Nice" list.  He then proceeded to read every child's name that was on the boat!  The kids LOVED it!!















It was a bit of a jaunt to walk the pier and do all the steps around the waterfront, but Braden kept up.  Afterwards, there was a palpable excitement and enthusiasm on the ride home that hadn't been there before. I'm glad we took this opportunity to see the lights and make some great memories with the kids.  There only little once!