Christmas Day Recap

On Christmas Morning, we:

Figured out that Santa really did come.

Watched the kids' excitement over their mountains of presents.

Well, Luke and Ryan were excited about the presents. Evie was mostly excited about her sucker.
Opened presents. And more presents. And more presents.

Luke was generous enough to offer his present -opening services to anyone who needed them (or, really, anyone who didn't need him).
Luke's favorite? His geotrax airplane, along with stuffed Stegosaurus ("Steggy"). He also loved his packet of cars (with his name on it) from Grandma and Grandpa.
Daddy got a PSP and a ton of games.
Grandpa got a new hat -- this is in remembrance of his old Indiana Jones hat that met an untimely end on a cruise ship a few years ago. Doesn't he look dashing?
Ryan's favorite present by far was the box of fruit snacks from Aunt Danica.
I got a new purse from my parents and a new, wide angle lens for my camera from Ken. Plus some very cool stuff from China (silk scarf, jewelry).

We spent the rest of the day playing games, enjoying the snow and making a snowman, an just hanging out. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Luke

Today the first day of 2009 (what? I'll never remember to write that on things. Never.)

It's also the 5th birthday of our oldest son and my first baby.

5 seems so old to me. Like the beginning - of the end.

School. Kindergarten. Riding the bus and being grown up then asking to borrow the car and taking girls out and getting married.

(I might be a little crazy).

But I love this boy.

I love his determined spirit and sense of leadership (this is the boy who at 2 years old was rounding up and leading games with the neighborhood kids).

I love his efforts to help - he cooks with me, puts away dishes, tries to help with Evie.

I love watching him with his baby sister. He reads to her, entertains her, begs to sit next to her during dinner, even shares his coveted fruit snacks.

I love his smarts. This is the boy who essentially taught himself to read (and was all put out a few weeks ago when we parked at a spot at the gym labeled "for parents with small children." He got a horrified look on his face after reading it and cried out "but Mom! I am not a small child!"). This is the boy who spent an hour last night practicing German words with his Daddy.

I love his big dreams. In his mind, he can do anything. This is the boy who shed tears this summer because he couldn't spike the "beach volleyball" (aka the 6 foot high volleyball net in my parents' backyard) over the net like he had seen them do in the Olympics. He's already planned out who he's going to play football for -- the BYU Cougars, Michigan, the Vikings, the Bears and the Packers (because "that's your favorite, Mommy").

I love his consistancy, attention to detail (some might call it O.C.D. I call it attention to detail). Life is good when everything has a plan. He reminds everyone -- including our nanny when we're gone -- that we read scriptures and say prayers every night. We sang "Silent Night" until at least mid-May because he loved the song and couldn't bear to put it to rest.

Happy birthday, my old little boy.

Christmas Eve Recap

On Christmas Eve, we:

Continued cooking lovely (and totally calorie free, of course) treats.
A new personal favorite? Pretzel + rollo + melt in oven for 4 minutes + squish with pecan + cool = heaven.

Played in the snow (some more):


Had our first real (sort of) nativity with all of the Walton grandchildren:

Luke AKA Joseph (notice his staff - perfect for whacking the shepherds)
Our wisemen (and wise - grandma)
The lovely Mary (being the only girl grandchild has some major benefits - no one to fight you for the role)
The shepherds. Best costume award goes to Uncle Michael for his role as "Sheep."
Aunt Danica as the fabulous narrator. Notice Ryan, also a shepherd, who kept attempting to abduct the baby Jesus (played by his prized, beloved Cowie)
We read some Christmas stories, dressed the kids in their cute (and homemade) pajamas.

Luke was the official writer of the Santa note:

Then we bustled everyone in bed, waiting to see if Santa would come. And boy, did he ever.

Merry Christmas

I'll post more pics and recap later. Suffice it to say we were very spoiled.

We have been enjoying family, good food, an entertaining rendition of the nativity (note Ryan's cowie as baby Jesus), beautiful snow, and being together.

We are thankful for the Christmas season, for the opportunity to give, and especially for the birth of our Savior.

Merry Christmas to all.

All Dressed Up

A few photos of us in our Christmas duds.

I love my children all dressed up. Don't they look proper?

(It's all a farce)

Flying - and wardrobe malfunction

We made it to Utah, despite our flight landing at 1230 am Minnesota time.

Luke was a little sad due to a wardrobe malfunction - his zipper broke as we were boarding for the flight, so he stayed bundled up in a sweatshirt and blanket.



Evie did pretty darn well. (It's way, way easier traveling with 2 parents).


Ken won most of our bet (I was betting against the fact that the kids would sleep the whole way - he is the eternal optimist). She only screamed the last 10 minutes of the flight.

Both kids were overjoyed to be greated by grandparents and puppies.

We were excited, mostly, to get into bed.

I love to be with you

A little video for you to enjoy.

And Merry Christmas, everyone.

(We're getting a plane to go back to Utah tonight - if we don't get snowed in, anyway!)