mom2four

Happy New Year!

While I was in Utah I looked at Nate's Grandparents fridge and noticed that the pictures of my kids that they have hanging up are about 3 years old and I figured that I should update them. I also thought that Nate needed some picture's for his wallet before he left for Iraq. So I took a couple of different pictures of the kids but I think that I will only develope the portrait pictures of the kids for the wallets. But there is no way that I can just take the portraits of my kids. I had to throw in some other poses too. The whole set of pictures took about 20 minutes for me to do. I think my kids are way to used to me doing their pictures. Oh and I threw some of the dogs in too. Poor Otis. You will see what I did to him. HEHEHE!

Santa fun run.

My dad and sis ran the Santa 5k fun run in Las Vegas at the beginning of December. There were over 8000 Santa's there to participate. Everyone who participated got a Santa outfit to run in. I am proud of you guys keep up the good work.

Doesn't Ash looked ashamed of being dressed up as the Santa?

My sister in the middle of her two friends that ran with her.

My sis on the end on the left and my dad in the middle.

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve we always have a huge dinner at home. We try to make all of the fixins so that we have minimal cooking over the next few days. This year we had the Spencer's over to our house for the dinner. We had a wonderful spread of Ham, Scalloped potatoes, corn, salad, rolls, and Mac and Cheese. With cookies and log cake for dessert. We had a great time with the Spencer's. Before dinner we played Apples to Apples and after dinner we played Rock Band. After the Spencer's left we opened our Christmas Jammies and settled into our night with a Christmas movie. Nichole wasn't feeling good so she opted to go to bed. We watched about half of the movie before everyone decided that they wanted to go to bed. Nate and I of course had a long night. Nate's longer then mine because he decided to stay up until 2 a.m. so that he could finish reading Fablehaven. We had some wonderful family time together.

Christmas Day (really, really long post with tons of pictures- Just warning you)

A wonderful Christmas was had at the Musil house this year. Beside the fact that poor Natalie was sicker then a dog. We woke up (okay I woke everyone up) at 5:30 in the morning. Right after this picture was taken Natalie ran into the bathroom with her hand over her mouth and threw up. But she was a trooper and wanted to come out and open presents with us. She spent the majority of the day in her room. We were very blessed this year.

First the kids dug thought their stockings and looked at what Santa got them for Christmas.

Natalie and Nichole got a camera, an ipod speaker/alarm clock, and a Scentsy (they wanted the same things this year).

Tyler got 2 wii games, Lego Rock Band and Super Mario Brothers, and a MP3 player.

Ella got a clock radio, a nail decorator, and swim to me puppy

Then we opened presents. Everyone got an outfit for church and for school. Nichole got a project runway design game (she loves designing clothes), a camera case.

Natalie got a girl talk jenga game, and a camera case.

Tyler got a razor scooter and a magic kit.

And Ella got a barbie and Polly pockets.

Look at this mess in my living room.

Tyler and Ella listening to his ipod.

The kids playing Lego Rock Band.

Ella having fun with her toys.

Nate got an ipod touch, clothes, and a headlamp. I got an ipod touch, a speaker for it and Beatles Rock Band.

The rest of our Christmas was spent playing games together and watching movies. We all had to figure out how all of our goodies worked too. I hate spending time in the kitchen on Christmas so we had finger foods all day long. Only stuff that I can turn the oven on and walk away from.

The next day we did our day after Christmas shopping. We went to Target and bought Christmas stuff for next year. We bought wrapping paper, bags, and ornaments. We also hit Old Navy and the bookstore. Then we went to my aunt and uncles in Boise. We hung out with them and had a yummy brunch. When we were done in Boise I dropped Nate and some of the kids off at home while Nichole and I went to Walmart and did some more day after Christmas shopping. we bought cups, bowls, and Christmas cards. Later that night poor Ella started to get sick. The next day it hit Tyler. And on Monday Nate and I both started not feeling well.

Trip to Utah the Banks version (a.k.a. I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause)

We left for Utah Friday night after Nate got off work. We knew that there was a chance that the roads could be really bad but we left anyway (I wasn't convinced that we should leave during the night), Nate didn't want to loose all of Saturday driving. We woke up both Saturday and Sunday mornings and spent it with my parents. As well as late in the evening since we were staying there and all. Monday I got to hang out with my sister. We went shopping so that I could get the rest of my Christmas shopping done. I also went to lunch with my friend Carolyn who was spending the holidays in Utah instead of W.V. I had a great time hanging out with her and seeing her kids. After hanging out with Joy, I went to Mindi's house. We made bread and Christmas treats. It was a great day. On Tuesday my dad had a work party at his house. I was invited to stay but the kids weren't. Nate took the kids over to his parents house and I hung out for the party. My dad made some yummy food. He made sliders, chips and dip, french fries, and mini milkshakes that he served in shot glasses. After the party my mom and I went shopping so she could work on finishing her Christmas shopping. Then the kids came back to my parents house and we had a Christmas party there. My dad had a Santa outfit so he put it on so all of the kids could sit on his lap. When he took it off Ella said " I knew it was you." But you could tell she was unsure of that for quite a while.

My mommy kissing Santa Clause!!!

Ella was mad and didn't want to sit on his lap. She had just got into trouble for something. So Santa pouted right along with her.

Then all of the kids tried on the outfit.

This was a change Santa got to sit on my sister's lap.

After dinner Rock and Meagan showed up and we opened up presents from them. All of the girls got a blanket while Tyler got a Sponge Bob Square Pants mug and Hot chocolate set. They got the family a Apples to Apples Jr. game.