Christmas 2008

BEFORE CHRISTMAS:

"Santa's Workshop" was in my bedroom this year.  All I needed was a table, a comfortable chair, a TV, a bag of chocolates, and a diet coke.

CHRISTMAS MORNING AT HOME:

Before the kids came downstairs.

Santa always leaves the kids reindeer milk in exchange for the cookies and milk they leave for him.  

The past couple of years, we've been taking the kids to an inexpensive store for the kids to buy each other a present. This year I told them that they could buy something, but maybe they could think about making each person something instead. I was amazed at the thoughtfulness each of them displayed this year.

Noah made each family member something out of wood. He designed, cut, sanded, and painted each one. 

For Taylor & I, he made a big red heart, when pieced together says "Mommy + Daddy = Love!!".  He made Hailey a princess wand with a star on the end, Jordan a wooden IPod, and Benjamin a sword.  He wanted to make something that represented each person best.  I was so impressed with how creative and thoughtful he was with these gifts.

Okay, I have to admit this melted me.

The wooden sword Noah made for Ben.

Jordan made a snake out of pipe cleaners for Benjamin.

Jordan gave Noah two beta fish.

  

Jordan's big gift from us and his grandparents was a good camping backpack.  Now that he's in Scouts, he'll be going on more and more campouts, so this will be very needed.

Whenever we are reading the Book of Mormon, I'm always trying to figure out when/where everything is taking place.  This year, Taylor's sister got us the coolest thing.  It's a huge poster timeline of events that take place during the Book of Mormon.  It is definitely going to make it easier to get it all together for me now.

Last year, Benjamin received his favorite present of all time. The GeoTrax. This year, he got an addition to those trains called GeoAir.  Benjamin can just stare at these planes flying round and round for hours at a time.

I have been wanting to chuck our old kitchen sink and get a single basin sink for a long time now.  It was the only white thing we had in the kitchen, and I couldn't stand the divided sink.  Thankfully, Taylor's parents made that possible this year.  It is AWESOME!!!!  

GRANDMA & GRANDPA KOCH'S HOUSE:

I noticed that it's considerably more difficult to get the grandkids lined up for our traditional Christmas lineup before going to see the stockings. This was the best shot I could get of all the kids.  Oh well.

Adam shows off why he's "The Man, The Myth, The Legend".

Another tradition, more like obsession, for the Koch's is picking zits.  We swooped in on Adam like a bunch of monkeys.  I thought it was funny how he just sat there as if nothing was happening, focusing on his sports website.

AFTER CHRISTMAS:

My sister Rachel and her husband Tom blessed their new baby girl Claire Noelle on December 28th.

The Bjorkman, Caron, & Koch families

Mason turned 7 just a few days after Christmas. His mom always makes a wonderful effort to make sure his birthday is special, especially since it can be drowned out by all the festivities of the holidays.

Reese & Charlie entertain the family with their piano talents.

Get it Reese!!! 

Sometimes I feel like eating cake this way too.

Audrey & Hailey figured this was the best way to share licking the spatula after the cake batter was finished.  Mmmmmm.

The kids love playing with my brother Michael.

The girls decided to go out to lunch the day after Christmas. We decided we need to do this annually. Only nursing babies are allowed to join the party. I feel bad because I forgot to whip out my camera before Nora & Amy had to leave.

Pre-Christmas Extravaganzas

I realize this is a little late....okay a lot late.  Not that anyone cares about what we did for Christmas.  I'm trying to think about blogging more as journaling.  That way I at least have something documenting what our life has been like.  So bear with me.

In order from left to right & top to bottom:

- The guys sneaking in the back room to watch BYU on TV.  Go Cougars!!!

- Ben & Adam's son Charlie spinning on the chair.  I love their smiles.

- Santa & Mrs. Claus always visit our family & give the kids one gift that night.

- Jordan, Bradley (cousin) & Noah looking so thrilled watching Santa.

- Noah with Santa.

- Jordan with Santa.

- Hailey with Santa.

- Benjamin with Santa.

- Me & my stud brother Adam.

- Audrey (cousin) & Hailey listening to her IPod.

- My Aunt Robin & me.  She is an amazing woman!

- All the great-grandkids waiting for their turn to sit on Santa's lap.

Ronnie (The Killers drummer) and Jordan at the family Christmas party. 

Jordan loves the fact that he's related to him.

Christmas at my parents' house is always a little wild. We usually start out with the Nativity.  I always love the costumes my sis in-law Amy brings for her kids.  This year she had a sheep costume for Clara.  It was so adorable.  We also had a real live baby Jesus, thanks to baby Claire.  Then the angel had awesome butterfly wings.  I love family nativities.  They are always so pieced together, but always end up being so cute.

Next, we each get one present to open from my parents.   Fortunately, it's pajamas for everyone.  That way we're able to go straight to bed once we get back to our house.

The little boys' pajamas (their faces remind me of the happy and sad theater faces)

The little girls' pajamas

The big boys' pajamas

Dad & David (brother)

Michael & Adam (brothers)

We have a tradition that came about many years ago (really feeling old now that I think about how long ago this was).   My grandma's friend Margaret used to knit slippers for each of us 7 kids every Christmas.  At first we weren't very thrilled since they weren't the most comfortable things to wear.  We soon realized that these slippers were pretty slippery on the wood floor.  After some experimentation, we began running down the long hallway, and sliding towards the end.  Thus, the name "Speed Slippers" was born.  A couple years ago, some felt that the floor wasn't quite slick enough, so they began slicking it up with lemon oil.

Greasin' up the hallway with oil.  

Adam getting completely into Speed Slippers

The little kids needs some help sliding so there's no cracking open of skulls.

Hailey with a little help.

Trying it out on her own.

David even showed off a little of his "breakdancing".  What a performance!!!

R.I.P.

Barney has been a staple in our home for many years.  The kids have all loved him when they were small, and now that Benjamin has outgrown him, we decided to let Katie adopt him as her latest "baby".  Her babies are stuffed animals that she carries around, and she's VERY protective of them.  However, when we tell her to "get her baby", she starts whipping them around, much like an animal trying to kill its prey.

When she's alone, she chews on them until their stuffing comes out.  Barney was such a trooper.  He lasted WAY longer than any of the other babies. 

Good thing Katie's fixed, or we'd have to report her to CPS.

We'll miss you Barney.....just not the stuffing all over the house.

So Proud

  Last year, when we talked to Jordan about receiving the priesthood, he told us that he really wanted his Great Grandpa Bill to do it.  He was worried that Taylor would be upset about his decision, but nothing could be farther from the truth.  We knew that he had prayed about this decision and it was important to him.

On Sunday, December 14th, Jordan received the Aaronic Priesthood.  Grandpa Bill, Taylor, 

 my dad, Taylor's dad, and all of Jordan's YM leaders were able to participate.  It was a really neat experience.  We are so proud of him!

Jordan Turns 12

December 2nd was Jordan's 12th birthday.  Jordan had some phone calls wishing him a happy birthday, but my favorite was when my dad called not just for him but for me.  He said that he thought of me because he remembered when his first son turned 12.  That milestone really made him feel old.  Yes, that's something Taylor & I have been talking about for a few years now.  It always seemed like a far off event, but it crept up on me faster than I thought possible.  Scary how fast time flies.

I don't often have friend birthday parties for my kids, but this year I thought I'd give it another round.  Now, I knew boys were generally louder than girls, but I didn't know how much louder until a bunch were in our home at one time.

  

Wouldn't you know it, the first thing they did was tackle each other for 20 minutes.

I'm not sure what the name of this game is, but I do remember playing it with some groups up at BYU many moons ago.  You pack flour into a bowl, turn it upside down, place a quarter on top of it, then each person cuts chunks of flour away from the quarter.  You can cut as little or as much as you want, but if the quarter falls when it's your turn, you have to get it out.... 

....with your teeth. 

 
It started calm, but after the first one round, they ALL wanted to be the one to lose.

After several more rounds, and several heads shoved in the flour pile, they all decided they wanted faces covered with the white stuff.  I'm sure their parents wondered what in the world we did at this party.

Caden's mom always wraps $ presents in very interesting ways.  When Jordan unwrapped the paper, all he saw was a Special K cereal box. Inside that was a Crystal Light container.  That contained a pink purse (which Hailey now loves), and inside that was some money. Very creative....and funny.

Now this is something I would do.  So embarrassing for Jordan.....yet so fun for us.  

Mommy-Daughter Date

We recently realized that RARELY am I ever alone with Hailey since Benjamin is usually around.  Since the older boys are "too cool" to go see a Disney movie now, we decided to make an official Mommy-Daughter date out of seeing the movie Bolt. 

 

I'm not a big fan of 3-D movies.  Not that I mind things coming at me from the screen, but it's those dang glasses you have to wear.  Fortunately, the glasses they give you at the theater aren't paper, and they aren't red/blue, so they're much more bearable.   The 3-D in the movie also didn't have the intention to throw things at your eyes constantly, but to make the characters seem more real.  I enjoyed the movie and thought it was pretty cute.

She was so excited that she got all dolled up for our "date".....even sneaking to put on make-up (hard to tell in the picture).  I didn't notice until we were already at the theater.

We went to the 12 o'clock showing in the middle of the week, which generally means not as many people would be there.  Not only were the crowds low, we were the ONLY ones in the theater.

I made her pose in front of the poster, and it happened to be a very cold day that day.  

Poor girl.

Psychotic Dogs

I think these two were separated at birth.

Thanksgiving in Utah/Idaho

Yes, amazing but true, a picture other than my foot.  I'm sick of it just as much as the rest of you are.

For Thanksgiving this year, our family took our yearly trip up to Northern Utah and Idaho. We always look forward to getting together and doing things we would never get a chance to do in a place like Las Vegas.

Marijke is very into planting trees, plants and flowers.  On her back fence, she has grapevines producing the most wonderful grapes.

Bill has a room designated only for his trains. This picture just shows one section of this amazing room. Benjamin was in absolute heaven here. He ran around showing me everything. Dadoo Train is the name the kids have called him since they could speak. Hmmm, I wonder how he got that name?

Can you believe the view they have from their balcony?

The first place we went to when we arrived in Rexburg was a pizza place named Craigo's. This is one of our favorite places to eat when we're there.

Not many know that I have two veneers on my front teeth. Weeks ago, one unfortunately popped off. Because that tooth is dead, it's much darker than the rest and in order to get a good fit they need to file down that tooth before to have a base to work with making it look even darker. May sound archaic, but in order to save time & money, I superglued that dang tooth on instead of having a new one made (my dentist would kill me).

Craigo's just happened to have a pizza named "Hillbilly". I felt so at home!

Although it was very cold, surprisingly there was no snow up north. The kids were able to play on their cousins' swingset, ride dirt bikes and four wheelers, and go bowling in a alley that oddly doesn't reek of smoke. Ben preferred to just watch the others outside from the doorway (bottom left). They live so close to the Rexburg temple. It's a picture-perfect view at night in their family room (upper right).

Marijke and Nicole stuffing the turkey. Both of these women are fantastic cooks. Benjamin fell asleep before we even ate (upper left and right).

Taylor finds another lucky participant to walk on his back.

Baby Will was born two months ago.  Everyone loved to hold him, and I'm sure Nicole enjoyed the break.  

It was so nice getting my baby fix each time I held him.  I now realize how grandparents feel about their grandchildren.   It's so fun to hold them and take care of them, but knowing you can hand them back whenever you are done makes it even MORE fun.

Saturday night, we decided to go to Temple Square. Instead of driving, we took the Frontrunner, a double-decker train that stops in each of the cities from Ogden on down. Then we hopped the Trax (trolley type of train). It took over an hour, but it was nice not to have to find a parking spot downtown.
Santa also played the bagpipes in a kilt just outside of the gates. Good times.

Of course we stopped by Great Grandma Scheer's house (Marijke's mother) to visit before we drove home on Sunday. She is always so excited every year to put out all of her Christmas decorations. She can hardly walk, but that doesn't stop her from showing the kids around her house, having them push all the buttons to make the toys work.  Ben couldn't tear himself away from anything that moved or made sounds.

She may be getting older, but her sense of humor is sharp as a tack. She loves to freak everyone out by taking out her dentures and giving that crazy smile (upper right).

Thank you to Marijke & Bill and Nicole & Jared for giving us a place to stay for the week. We had so much fun spending time with everyone, eating, playing, eating, talking, and did I mention eating? We hope all of our friends and family had a wonderful Thankgiving this year.

My Peeve

I have a few pet peeves.  Actually, when I really think about it, I guess I have more than my fair share of them.  Some of those peeves include men who clip their nails in church (YUCK), someone using my bath towel, not washing hands after the bathroom, speeding through a school zone, etc.

One of my recent peeves is finding grocery carts in places other than the store where they belong.  Now, I know there are companies whose soul purpose is to pick up these stray carts and return them to their rightful owners, but please.....we all know how entirely long (if ever) this takes to actually happen.

I realize it's not the carts' fault that they aren't where they should be.  It's the loonies that feel that they are allowed to take these carts home with them that irk me.  And I'm not talking about the homeless who use it to hold all their belongings.  

Rarely do I actually SEE these wandering carts with their temporary "owners".  They just happen to show up on my street, down some side alley, and even up alongside someone's house.  Several times I have even seen people using them to transport their children!  WHAT?!  What kind of crappy stroller is that?  How uncomfortable for the poor child sitting in the basket, no padding, bumping along a side dirt road.  Places such as Walgreens have really been smart and installed locking mechanisms on the bottom of their carts.  That way you can get your purchases TO your car and not use them AS your car.

We've made this annoyance into a family fun-time though.  This picture shows the first time we brought one back.  Noah was so good about doing this.  Now when we find them, I lift up the door  in the back of our van, he sits inside and holds onto the cart while we drag it back.  I'm sure it looks so odd, but it's pretty fun for us.