Christmas.... 3 months ago.

Christmas this past year was a good one.

We bought a live tree. It was beautiful and fun to decorate.

We had to string the lights a couple times because the first time Tommy put the lights on the tree the poor tree looked like it was being held hostage, it was wound so tight! Once we let the tree go, and tried again Tommy did a great job.

Our tree usually looks uneven usually decorated more on top or on the bottom. It's always fun to watch the boys decorate and how they do it.

In the end though we had to take the tree down. It was dead... I mean REALLY dead. It wasn't drinking the water that we were putting in the thing. We decided that a dead Christmas tree is a fire hazard so we took it down. It was kind of sad taking the tree down well before Christmas but it was necessary. And it's a really good thing that we did. While Tim was taking the lights off the tree they were shocking him! We would have had a fire! So it really was a blessing in disguise, and I am grateful!

It was a lot of fun shopping for the kids. Shopping for them is the best part of Christmas for me. I love seeing how surprised they are with what they got each year.

We got something for Swim to climb on... our little monkey loved his slide.

Christmas morning is always so fun and there is so much going on.

Can you get over these eyes!! I love her! It was a god first Christmas for her. Like all the babies, she loved the boxes and paper more than anything else.

The snow missed us by 4 days, so it was a beautiful sunny day on Christmas. Here's to another year!!!

Welcome 2015!

Quick Christmas Re-cap

I seriously don't know where the time has gone!!! I blink and it's Christmas. I turn around and we are in the middle of the summer. When will it all stop?? {or slow down at least}

Christmas was small and perfect. There were a few gifts for each boy and they have all seemed to enoy what they got.

For the first time with all the boys we went to Temple Square. It was nice. There weren't as many lights as I remember but it was fun to be there again. And it was fun to take the boys as they have never been before. {and we didn't loose anyone in the crowd!}

This was the best picture that we could get with the boys.... Benji was more interested in the sign that says "Do Not Touch" than taking a picture.... figures}

And I thought this was a god on of Swim and I. So often I am not in the pictures as I am the one who carries the camera and demands... encourages everyone to look at me.

Then on Christmas Eve we decorate the gingerbread house. This year I was ambitious enough to make it and it actually turned out!! {I did buy a back up from Target just in case....}

I am in charge of the frosting and the boys tell me where they want it. Their vision is usually different than mine.

We have the family f bears bringing the tree home....

And what I can only assume is the carnage left over from the battle of the Bears vs. the Snowmen.

We decorate it Christmas Eve and then they are allowed to eat it Christmas morning. It was pretty picked over by the end of the day.

After the boys were in bed and instructed not to leave the bedrooms until we came to get them, they were tucked in for the night... and surprisingly stayed there!!

Our plan was to wake them after Swim woke up... which of course was the day that he slept in. The boys were awake at about 7:00 and we could hear the giggling, so we left Swim to sleep and let the boys enjoy the morning.

Benji got a giant dinosaur which is almost as tall as he is.

 Tommy got a breif case..... this was on his list and it was something he really wanted.... not sure why but he was so happy to have it.

James got a Kindle and was so happy! There were things that were already installed so he was able to play a few games and read books.

Tim got a Pogo Stick and a Perplexes ball {a maze inside of a ball}

 Benji also got a space helmet and now he can "blast off!!"

{there's that Perplexes}

And Swim got a little stackable toy.... I think he appreciated the effort....

But in the end.....

he was happy with the paper towel tube.

It was a quiet Christmas and it was nice to enjoy the time with the boys without worrying about going anywhere or cleaning or anything.

And to top it off it was a white Christmas!! So it made for a very "Norman Rockwell" type of day.

Poor Baby Jesus...

Years ago I bought this little glass nativity from the Dollar Store. It wasn't much but I like the simplicity of it. Last year we lost poor Joseph in the move.

This year things did not go well for the baby Jesus.

Let me say that James has good intentions... he tries really hard to be careful, but you know how some people are accident prone.... that's James. Poor guy.

So.... we were hanging out as a family one night. The TV was on, I was doing dishes and Steve was wiping the table.

All of a sudden there was a shriek from the family room... "OH MY GOSH!!! I JUST BROKE BABY JESUS!"

 and James was on the floor trying to salvage what was left of the poor Christ child.

He was so distraught.

And I.... I tried hard not to laugh.

He tried to gather all the pieces to fix it for me but it was glass and there was no way to fix it.

It was an accident, and it was fine. He felt bad enough for breaking  baby Jesus, but I will never forget the way it came out!

Twas Christmas

Christmas time at our house was pretty mellow this year. I have just been so tired lately that I really didn't put much effort into it.

I also didn't realize that the boys now expect certain traditions that we have started to carry on regardless of how tired I am. And honestly I am thankful that they made me follow through.

Every year on Christmas Eve, we decorate a ginger bread house. We build it that day and then they are allowed to eat it all day Christmas

 I was pretty impressed this year... they worked really hard together and I think they did a pretty good job.

Every year Steve reads "Twas the Night Before Christmas" in a Scottish accent. Even when Steve was over seas he would call on Christmas Eve to read the book over the phone for the boys. Again, something that they have come to expect and I love that we do it.

This year I thought of something funny that we are going to do every year.

We decided to move the tree in the middle of the night into the other room. We wanted to see what the reaction would be when they come down the stairs in the morning to find.... nothing!

However... it backfired on us when with out us knowing, James snuck down stairs in the wee hours of the morning to see if Santa really had come. Then he prepped every one to where the tree would be. Next year though... we will be better prepared to deal with little boys who seek out of their rooms...

Here is what they woke up to this year... nothing big, but a lot of fun. Santa brings a stocking full of goodies {no socks and underwear here} and their favorite cereal... the kind that mom won't buy.

{I think we need one more strand of lights for the bottom of the tree}

Here we are in the morning, the boys were told that they couldn't open presents until 6:00 in the morning... this way we - Benji got more sleep. And it actually was nice too... everyone was happy when they were awake!

Another tradition.... Santa leaves candy canes on the tree. Benji couldn't care less about presents with "candy corns" on the tree... in his reach... and able to open.

There were weapons to be had this year. Everyone got a nerf gun to shoot each other in the house, Tommy got a Darth Maul lightsaber that he has been practicing with...

And James promised not to shoot his eye out

With his Red Rider BB gun.

It was a good year. Our Christmases are not ever really big, but they are fun. We always enjoy each other and the memories that are made.

2012 will go down as the year mom was too tired to make muffins, when Benji got pink eye, and 200 nerf bullets on the floor.

Merry Christmas from Us!!

 

Merry Christmas from the Grammers!!

{Well, this is as good as it's going to get this year...}

We had a great year and new adventures where had.... her is our top 10

1. We found out in May that we are expecting again, and June we found out that we are expecting BOY #5! We expecting his arrival in January.

2. I am still homeschooling, and this is our 4th year and we are still enjoying it.

3. Tommy started piano lessons this year and is doing great!

4. Tim learned how to ride a bike, and now is a crazy two wheeler rider and loves it.

5. Benji's vocabulary has exploded and he will talk and talk to you all day long. He loves to sing, he love dinosaurs, trains and fire stations.

6. James is still playing the violin, and was able to play in a children's symphony in the summer.

7. We moved... again... to North Carolina, after lots of thought and many prayers we decided that we are to be in North Carolina. Steve is working in a great office.

8.The boys and I have started GeoCaching and it has been so fun, the boys love finding treasure, and are really good at it.

9.We have had a year of no stitches or broken bones! Pretty good with 4 boys!

10. Steve GRADUATED!! He is officially a Doctor now! 3 years have paid off! {now we have the grand opportunity to pay back all the school loans that we have acquired}

It's been a wonderful year. We are looking forward to 2013 with open hearts and minds. We are looking forward to meeting our newest member and welcoming him to the family. I hope that the new year is a joy for you as well with lots of love and happiness.

We love you all!!

{hopefully next year there will be an actual card in the mail!!}

Christmas 2011

Christmas day was early magical!!

It was late night with friends Christmas Eve as we giggled over gifts and paper and wrapping, and ate all the left over goodies. {and falling into bed at about 2:00}

Christmas morning I was startled awake by James who was informing me that he was awake and that Santa did in fact came to our house and that he would be really quiet and won't wake anyone up while he opens his presents.

In the groggy state that I was in I told him that nothing can be opened until the brothers are awake too.

Apparently I was not clear enough about that.

Ten minutes later he came back to tell me that Tommy and Tim were in fact awake and they were going to open presents.

I rolled my body out of bed and pushed Steve out too. The boys were ready and they were going to open present with our with out us.

It was nice... even at 4am

It was small but it was really nice. And when it was over we hunkered down and watched a new movie that James got. I fell asleep again as I was snuggled up next to Tim.

It was a wonderful Christmas. I love the simple, small Christmases that we have had, and I will always remember our time in Florida.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house....

 The baby apparently didn't like the ribbon, so he took it upon himself to fix it. As I was getting up to thank him for his help, he giggled and ran away.... I took that to mean he changed his mind about the ribbon.

 My poor Jello creation did not turn out what I had imagined.... it was a complete disaster!

 James, Tommy, Benji and I went to the Ward Christmas party. Poor Steve and Tim were sick so they stayed home and played the Wii. Just so all know... Benji did get fed but then he went around to each table to see who would feed him.

 Santa did come to take last minute requests.

 James....

 Benji was less than enthused... rather upset actually.

 Steve decided to make a trifle, and it turned out perfect! I made an angle food {from scratch} and Steve made some custard {again from scratch}

 On Christmas Eve we had a big dinner with some good friends and the Missionaries.

 After dinner, dessert, and clean-up all snuggled down for Steve's annual reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"... in a Scottish accent

{and even Elder Rumsey was enjoying the story}

 All my babies!!! I love them all so very much!

And I especially love the faces of this fat little guy. I can't get over how cute he is.

And to all a Good Night!