Peyton....and his gun!

I was playing with my camera and I was able to get this picture of Peyton with our Christmas tree...I love it!!!It is a tiny bit blurry...but you get the idea. It reminds me of that saying....
"It doesn't matter how big your tree is,
they are all 7' tall in the eyes of a child!"











This is how Bubba fell asleep tonight (and has many nights since Christmas Day!) I love it! He is so CUTE!!!! He loves his gun. He wouldn't of needed any of his other gifts (all though he is grateful for them.) He is my little hunter!

Missing Family!!!

Okay...I am a big ole baby...but I am missing my mom and dad! This will be the first Christmas that we won't be seeing them at all during the Christmas Break! I know, I am spoiled there are LOTS of people who won't be with family or see them at all this year...but this is my blog and my turn to boob about it! It is always super crazy at mom and dad's during the visit with everyone there and I think we all like the first 24 hours....then we are all ready to go home, that doesn't matter, I am missing them all right now! I am grateful to have Brady and Kayla and the kids close! They help with the homesickness....and I will see Cody, Angie and the kids on Monday, and Grandma and Grandpa Smokey tooo....but right now I miss mom and dad!! Mandy and Seth and the kids, Anthony, Hailee and Kyson! So in honor of my homesickness.....I dedicate "Blue Christmas" by Elvis..(on my play list pop out) to you who I miss this year!!! My mom will love it!! :) Love you all! See some of you soon (is March soon enough?)

Christmas Day.....finally! :)

After much anticipation this WHOLE month (more like the last 2 months..) Santa finally arrived! I believe Santa out did himself! The story is...Jentrie woke Dallin up fairly early, but because the rule was not to get out of bed until mom and dad got them up, they went into the girls' room to watch a movie, at around 7...Jentrie came in an asked if it was time to get up yet.....so we did! Everyone found their spot, Daddy past out all the gifts starting with the Santa gift and everyone took turns starting with Dallin, Peyton, Valerie, Jentrie, Daddy, Mom....Of course, they opened the Santa gift first...which we have since decided that will be the last gift open next year...getting thru the rest of the gifts proved to be a challenge! :) Dallin was pleased with his Compound Bow and Arrow set, Jentrie her Christmas Barbie Eden, Valerie was most happy with her Cinderella Baby, Peyton was thrilled with his gun...which shoots little red pellets that really sting...Daddy shot mom in the behind...so I really know they sting!!! Daddy got "hot grips" for his 4-wheeler handle bars to keep his hands warm and mom got a new cell phone (if you have been trying to call me and couldn't this is why...my phone magically disappeared!!!) The kids were also very happy and surprised to all receive MP3 players already downloaded with favorite songs....that sneaky Santa!!! I am not sure that was such a great gift...they can't hear me but I can hear them!!!!! Sing at the tops of their lungs!!! They also received wonderful gifts from mom and dad, grandpa and grandma McDonald, Uncle Anthony and Aunt Hailee and the Pratt's! We had a very great day enjoyed our day doing nothing!!!! Uncle Brady and Aunt Kayla came to visit. It was nice to see some family this day! We truly miss all our family who are located everywhere!!! From Kanab to Florida and many places (West Virginia!) in the middle! We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!





Peyton heading out the door to go hunting with his new gun! Who cares if he goes in his jammies...it's Christmas!!




This is what happens at our house if you try and open gifts before it's time....the whole thing is wrapped in clear packing tape......a gift to Dallin from gma and gpa McDonald...which he loves and took scissors to open...lol!

Christmas Eve!!!! Tradition....

We had a YUMMY Christmas Eve dinner....Leg of Lamb & Halibut (a nice Christmas gift from one of Rhett's football players! Thank you!), Salmon and Shrimp! Yum...side dishes of Roasted Potatoes, Mixed veggies (broccoli, white broccoli...(aka -cauliflower), carrots, squash...and rolls....we were very nicely fed! We had our annual Christmas Eve present.....Pajama's.....they loved them, I didn't make them this year because my sewing machine isn't working, but Rhett and I found some super cute pj's that all matched! They look darling don'tcha think! We read from Luke about the birth of Jesus and and watched the movie about "Christ's Birth". It was around 9:00 pm and we checkedd the Nordic Santa Tracking to see where Santa was...I believe he was some where around Cuba at this time and off to sleep they all went...They were all out by 10 o'clock! Time to clean house! Merry Christmas y'all! (At 2:30 am Santa had already been to Texas...but not Utah....soon!)

December happenings.......

Along with our kitchen remodel we have had many activities....Ward parties, class programs, homeroom parties, elementary programs, faculty parties.....I have a few pictures and some video from most of them, I am going to attempt posting the video's. First to view is Valerie's Kindergarten class singing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas...." I am sure you can figure out which sweet little girl is Miss Valerie! lol!


Valerie was "Mama Mouse" in 'Twas the night before Christmas"













The kids meeting with Santa at our Ward Party.....



























Rhett laying the last tile.... YAY!!! Kitchen is back together...almost....still waiting for the dishwasher to be in use.....maybe tomorrow....











Dallin, Jentrie and Valerie all sang in an Elementary School Program, Jentrie's class song video's is located at the end of this post. Jentrie's class sang "We are Santa's Elves" and Dallin's class sang "Marvoulous Toy", Valerie's class sang "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree"...here are some pictures, they did a good job and were very CUTE! I am still trying to get the other songs to down load... if that happens...they will be at the bottom of the blog it's self.















Decorating the Christmas Tree...only a few weeks later....we usually have the 'Fake' on up the week of Thanksgiving..which is what I was getting ready to do when I found the 'leak', therefore the tree did not get put up until I think I finished decorating it about 10 days or so before Christmas....We did get the real tree in only a week later than normal, it also snowed this week. Oh and Peyton has Strep...hum...wonder what else will happen...kidding...everyone ended up with the flu or sore throat or SOMETHING!!! I liked the way the new tree looked like without the flash....














Christmas Cookies....they are having way to much FUN!
I gave the kids 4 cookies and their own frosting....you know they like to lick the knife and all.... :)
this little activity kept them busy for a good hour...I even showed them how to use a decorating tip..... Yummy...all the frosting colors mixed together...glad they get to eat them!













Mine....they look a bit more edible....I promise...I didn't lick the knife...Merry Christmas!















We took our annual trip to Cove Fort on the 23rd to Celebrate Joseph Smith's Birthday by going to watch "Praise to the Man" it is one of our favorite Christmas activity's...it makes me cry every time! Grandma and Grandpa Jackson met us there on their way to Kanab for Christmas Eve....









Dallin's Class singing "A Marvoulous Toy"...he is located on the top row in black about 10 kids or so to the right...I know, also hard to see..... (I cannot for the life of me get this to download....) Mom, I will keep trying....


Jentrie's Class she is located on the 3rd row straight up from the 'G' on the floor...I know kinda hard to see....