Sunday, December 25, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve
We are ready for Santa to come. If only 6 little kids would fall asleep....
Last night we went to the hospital to visit Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jo and give them their Christmas present from us. We planned to be there at the same time as Marc and Kenna, so we were finally able to meet baby Avery, and gave Marc and Kenna their Christmas present from us. This afternoon we made the drive out to Homedale to deliver presents to our Kraupp cousins. We usually have big Howell family get-togethers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but with Scott's dad in the hospital this year, Christmas just isn't the same.
Since the usual family gatherings were off, we've tried to fill our day with other fun stuff. This morning Scott took the kids out to finish delivering neighbor gifts, while I stayed home with Owen and cleaned. After they got back, we went out to Homedale and the kids had fun playing with their cousins for a few hours. After we got home, Scott ran to his office to get a little work done (he's taken the last few days off and needed to catch up on a few things before more days off for Christmas). While he was there, the kids and I made cookies for Santa. After he got home, we had dinner--homemade pizza. Then we put on Christmas jammies and took our traditional in front of the tree pictures.
This is what our tree looks like every year. But even with all the ornaments out of Owen's reach, they aren't completely safe. Owen grabs on to the bottom branches and shakes the tree till a few ornaments fall to the ground. Then he grabs them and runs away with them as fast as he can.
A bedtime story for all the kids.
The kids are having a sleep-over tonight in the bonus room. It's become our Christmas Eve tradition. We drag all the mattresses off their beds and pile them on the floor for them to sleep on. It's really fun for them to be all together, but with that much combined energy, they don't easily fall asleep. It's almost 11 and they are still going strong. Hopefully they'll fall asleep soon because he have an extremely big day tomorrow. I can't wait to tell all about our Christmas tomorrow!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Last night we went to the hospital to visit Grandpa Mike and Grandma Jo and give them their Christmas present from us. We planned to be there at the same time as Marc and Kenna, so we were finally able to meet baby Avery, and gave Marc and Kenna their Christmas present from us. This afternoon we made the drive out to Homedale to deliver presents to our Kraupp cousins. We usually have big Howell family get-togethers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but with Scott's dad in the hospital this year, Christmas just isn't the same.
Since the usual family gatherings were off, we've tried to fill our day with other fun stuff. This morning Scott took the kids out to finish delivering neighbor gifts, while I stayed home with Owen and cleaned. After they got back, we went out to Homedale and the kids had fun playing with their cousins for a few hours. After we got home, Scott ran to his office to get a little work done (he's taken the last few days off and needed to catch up on a few things before more days off for Christmas). While he was there, the kids and I made cookies for Santa. After he got home, we had dinner--homemade pizza. Then we put on Christmas jammies and took our traditional in front of the tree pictures.
This is what our tree looks like every year. But even with all the ornaments out of Owen's reach, they aren't completely safe. Owen grabs on to the bottom branches and shakes the tree till a few ornaments fall to the ground. Then he grabs them and runs away with them as fast as he can.
A bedtime story for all the kids.
The kids are having a sleep-over tonight in the bonus room. It's become our Christmas Eve tradition. We drag all the mattresses off their beds and pile them on the floor for them to sleep on. It's really fun for them to be all together, but with that much combined energy, they don't easily fall asleep. It's almost 11 and they are still going strong. Hopefully they'll fall asleep soon because he have an extremely big day tomorrow. I can't wait to tell all about our Christmas tomorrow!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Haircuts
I've been thinking about cutting my hair for a long time. I LOVE my long hair, but it's a bit of a pain. Blow drying it takes forever. And it's always getting in the way--it hangs in Owen's face when I'm feeding him a bottle. Such long hair isn't really practical for a mom of 6 kids. But I really loved my hair, and it had become such a part of my identity (or so I thought). After having so many kids and getting older, the rest of my body is showing signs of tiredness, but I felt my hair was something I could be proud of. I kind of felt like my hair was the only thing I had going for me. Silly, right? I mean, it's only hair. And I'm so much more than just my hair. But still, it was so hard to think about cutting it off.
Savannah's hair had also become quite long, and she was ready to chop her's off (and donate it to Locks of Love). I decided that I would join her, and cut mine too. I asked my friends if I should cut it, and I received almost unanimous yesses that I should go through with it and chop off my hair. So I did.
My pile of hair.
Savannah's donated ponytail.
The after pictures.
I love it. It's short and fun and easy. It takes no time at all to dry and style. I feel more free and youthful. I love it....until I look at the before pictures. I loved my long hair, and the pictures make me miss it. But, my new short hair is a fun change, and I can always grow it back out. I think I'm just a little self conscious, because I used to feel like all people saw when they looked at me was my hair, and I could just hide behind it. And now I worry that people will actually focus on what my face looks like. I worry that I won't be "pretty" without my hair. I guess it's time to get past that and just be happy and proud of who I am. But, it's going to take some time to get used to it.
Savannah's hair had also become quite long, and she was ready to chop her's off (and donate it to Locks of Love). I decided that I would join her, and cut mine too. I asked my friends if I should cut it, and I received almost unanimous yesses that I should go through with it and chop off my hair. So I did.
My pile of hair.
Savannah's donated ponytail.
The after pictures.
I love it. It's short and fun and easy. It takes no time at all to dry and style. I feel more free and youthful. I love it....until I look at the before pictures. I loved my long hair, and the pictures make me miss it. But, my new short hair is a fun change, and I can always grow it back out. I think I'm just a little self conscious, because I used to feel like all people saw when they looked at me was my hair, and I could just hide behind it. And now I worry that people will actually focus on what my face looks like. I worry that I won't be "pretty" without my hair. I guess it's time to get past that and just be happy and proud of who I am. But, it's going to take some time to get used to it.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Ward Christmas Party
Our ward Christmas party was on Saturday. It was a breakfast, followed by a visit from Santa. And since you can never have enough Santa lap pictures, here you go...
Nate's Preschool Performance
Last week Nate had his preschool Christmas program. He was a shepherd, and was perhaps the cutest shepherd I've ever seen.
He waited patiently for his turn....
This is the face he made when the angel told him the news. (I was videoing the performance, so these pictures are re-enactments after the play.)
After making his shocked face, he delivered his line perfectly--"Yes! Let's go!".
After the play, Nate was happy to show his baby brother around his preschool room.
His teacher had a cute little table set up with kid-friendly nativities and a tree with family pictures for each of the kids (we are at the top).
I was so proud of Nate. He did such a great job!
He waited patiently for his turn....
This is the face he made when the angel told him the news. (I was videoing the performance, so these pictures are re-enactments after the play.)
After making his shocked face, he delivered his line perfectly--"Yes! Let's go!".
After the play, Nate was happy to show his baby brother around his preschool room.
His teacher had a cute little table set up with kid-friendly nativities and a tree with family pictures for each of the kids (we are at the top).
I was so proud of Nate. He did such a great job!
Gingerbread Houses
While Scott was in Alaska on his last trip, I had a friend babysit Owen and Nate so I could go help in Josh's class making gingerbread houses. It was so much fun. Josh got to bring his gingerbread house home this week. We got some pictures of it....
And then everyone had a great time tearing it apart and eating it.
This week was Scott's office Christmas lunch, and he brought home a professionally created gingerbread house. It was beautiful.
After the kids had their way with it....
And because I threatened Scott that these pictures would end up on the blog, and he really didn't believe me, I had to add these. I was trying to get a picture of Josh with his gingerbread house, and Scott decided to give Josh a dose of his own medicine. Josh is famous for sneaking into other people's pictures. He can't help it. If he sees a camera come out, he can't help but lean into the picture. Or give bunny ears. And usually there is food in or on his mouth (we were eating tacos, so Scott intentionally positioned taco meat in the middle of his front teeth--go ahead and look close, it's so attractive).
And then everyone had a great time tearing it apart and eating it.
This week was Scott's office Christmas lunch, and he brought home a professionally created gingerbread house. It was beautiful.
After the kids had their way with it....
And because I threatened Scott that these pictures would end up on the blog, and he really didn't believe me, I had to add these. I was trying to get a picture of Josh with his gingerbread house, and Scott decided to give Josh a dose of his own medicine. Josh is famous for sneaking into other people's pictures. He can't help it. If he sees a camera come out, he can't help but lean into the picture. Or give bunny ears. And usually there is food in or on his mouth (we were eating tacos, so Scott intentionally positioned taco meat in the middle of his front teeth--go ahead and look close, it's so attractive).
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