mom2four

Friday, January 1, 2010

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.

My mom and the girls getting in really close for the picture.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Trip to Utah the Musil's version.

The family and I headed over to the Musil's house around noon on Saturday. We were supposed to be having a Christmas party there but didn't end up doing it that day. We went to see Grandma and Grandpa Swenson (Which by the way Grandma Swenson finished painting a beautiful picture of my kids. It was like the one this page that is the 4th one down. Just a little different. I can't wait to get it so you can see how beautiful it turned out. It still had one more coat of medium to put on it and for it to dry so I couldn't take it home with me). We hung out for several hours and then went back to Pam's house for dinner.

We have a magic dog that can levitate rubix's cubes. Nate bet his sister that he would be able to do the rubix cube in under 5 minutes by the time he saw her next. Which he can now.

The next day we went to church with the Musil's where they had a wonderfully spiritual Christmas program. And Pam taught in Relief Society. It was nice to get to go considering i haven't been in years. She taught on Mary the mother of Jesus. It was a great lesson. Could you imagine being the mother of Christ? What an amazing women she must of been. She handed out a poem that I thought was wonderful so I am going to post it on here.

It's over

These long and precious months he had been

Heartbeat of my heart

And breath of my being.

Now he is here,

And he is whole and perfect.

I have borne a son.

That he is the Son of God is no less a miracle to me

Than any who believe it so.

Oh, every birth is a little miracle-

A miracle of faith and love

And God's own wondrous working.

Yet none so great as this;

For Gabriel said, "That holy thing which shall

be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

I wonder why this humble place-this stable.

Does it portend the life of God's own son,

Amount the lowly one of earth?

Perhaps.

Yet kings will bow before him,

And wise men listen to His word,

And little children love him.

The babe is quite now.

Already my moment fades.

Let earth receive her King.

The Son of God is born.

It gives me the chills every time I read it. What a different perspective that poem gives to mothers of the Savior birth.

It was also a special day because my niece Olivia was blessed. All of her aunts, uncles, and cousins were there. Also her grandparents and great-grandparents were there to celebrate her birth as she received her special blessing.

After the blessing and dinner we opened presents. Nichole and Natalie got a gift card from Grandma and Grandpa Musil.

Ella got a Piggy Bank that keeps track of the money that you put in there.

Tyler got books although he didn't want to have his picture taken. Olivia got a bouncy chair. She slept through the whole thing. And check out Matt's face. What a dork.