Christmas 2010

My favorite memory of Christmas was waking up to see the Christmas tree lite up, all the presents and the balloons that filled the whole floor - I think that is one of my most fondest memories as a small child and that was when my parents were still married.

This year it was soooo exciting to be home and enjoy the Christmas holiday with Sam, Kaylab and Preston.  Once the boys were safely tucked into bed and we were certain they were asleep I began to pull out all the gifts I had hidden behind the Christmas tree (weeks before) and fill up all the balloons to make for a morning surprise.  

Christmas Morning . . . I don't know who was more excited the boys or me! I was horribly sick, but I had waken up every hour thinking the boys were going to wake up before Micah and I did - And I really wanted to see the look of surprise when they walked out into the living room.

Preston had a goal that he wanted  to see Christmas presents under the tree all the way into the middle of the floor. Boy was he surprised when the gifts poured over to the other side the the entertainment center.  There was certainly something about this year that I had wanted everything to be prefect and wonderful and I think it was having Kaylab and Preston join the family this year.

Sam received from Santa new sleepers, cologne, Cookie Monster shirt & hat, Michael Bubble CD, Utes Snuggie, Dress shirts and sweater vests.

Kaylab received from Santa a Stellers Jacket, a bucket to fill with all his new star wars and SWAT Legos, Dumo Hat, lots of clothes, and Mp3 player with SD card.

Preston received from Santa a Chargers Jacket, Paper Jam Drums, bucket to fill with his firefighter and army Lego sets, Mp3 Player with SD card lots of clothes too.

Micah must of been a good boy this year Santa brought him a new watch, the Wii Firefighter game and some new smell goods and a BIG n RICH cd.

And I to must of been pretty good . . . I got a new perfume (after 9 years of wearing the same one), Lady Antebellum cd and new sleepers.

Christmas Eve

As a family we decided that it would be best that we drew names and did a gift exchange; and for the younger boys we also agreed that no one could spend more than $5.00 and something of the gift had to be homemade.

It was a HUGE success and everyone loved the gift they gave and the gift they received!

Micah picked Kaylab - He made Kaylab a football holder out of on of those kits from the Home Depot.

Tanya picked Preston - I made Preston a half of dozen CD's with all the country music and songs I knew he would love to have - Boys of Fall is his favorite!!

Sam picked Tanya - And I LOVED my gift! Sam bought me a DVD about four 'brothers' who had been raised by their foster mother and come back together during her funeral and his homemade gift was a CD of songs that he chose for various reasons and my all time two favorites were on there; You're Gonna Miss This which makes me always cry thinking that one day Sam will be gone away from our home living his life and the other song was Boys of Fall which I cry to also. I was never a true LOVER of football, but there was something about sitting in the stands watching YOUR BOY play!

Kaylab picked Micah - Kaylab made Micah Banishing Muffins (and some for the whole family) and had sewn a bag during home economics.

Preston picked Sam - So Preston and I made Sam a huge can (to use to save his change) and we filled it will his favorite trail mix.

After wards we all piled into the Tahoe with some hot chocolate to go drive around and look at some Christmas Lights before heading off to bed.  I am proud to say everyone was tucked into their bed before 10 and was able to get a good nights sleep - Kaylab and I were starting to get a cold!!

Primary Childern's Hospital

I snagged this photo from Jenn, I had left my camera in the car.

Today we went with Sadie and her kid, Jenn and her kids and Veronica and her kids to Primary Childerns Hospital in Salt Lake City to donate toys for the children at the hospital.  

It had started out as a rough day (for me), but I was lucky to have Ame here for the afternoon and she helped me through it.  The boys seemed to have a good time knowing they were doing something good for other children.

RIP Bluzi

I know that most people are not cat lovers . . . after-all, who can just love and adore something that uses a box for the restroom, scratches your furniture for fun and can make noises like nails on a chalk-board, but in all honesty Bluzi was my companion.

My people say Dog is mans best friend, however, Bluzi was mine.  She loved all the same things that I did - she only liked people that she wanted to like, she disliked being touched and adored (unless she requested it), she loved to sleep and hated to be woken up, like me she was picky with her food, and countless other things.  

The last few weeks she was with me I couldn't help, but hold her and love her - I miss you Bu-Buz.

Ashley Wright Photography . . . December 2010

Temple Square Trip

11th Day of Christmas . . . Temple Square

After looking at all the lights we headed back to the Front Runner Station to catch our train home . . . of course we were also an hour early so we hung out on the train.

On the 10th Day of Christmas . . .

The boys and I with the help of Oma & Daniel made Gingerbread houses.

Celebrating Christmas with Oma, Opa and Daniel

My parents came to Utah a few weeks before Christmas not only for a vacation, but a chance for Little Daniel to see the snow . . . what snow you ask!?!? That's right here we were in the first part of December without any snow!!

It ended up being a nice visit - Unfortunately both my parents and little Daniel ended up getting sick with colds, but that did not stop any of us from enjoying the Christmas Spirit. We had made plans to build gingerbread houses, see one of the missionaries who taught and prepared my parents to be baptized (last June), see the Temple Square lights in Salt Lake City, celebrate Kaylab's 13th birthday, have Breakfast at Jeremiahs (in Ogden) and various other things my parents enjoy

We also took this time to celebrate Christmas . . the kids were SPOILED and so were Micah and I! Kaylab got a bounce it, tech-decks kits, and some other item he was able to pick out & Preston got a bounce it, a paper jam and a fire truck.

Happy 13th Birthday, Kaylab!!!

This morning Kaylab woke up and found that he had been 'taped' into his room by streamers . . . .  then found about 50 balloons in the living room leading to his Birthday Table.

Today, was also part of our 8th day of Christmas with a tag that read "Let's Celebrate Kaylab's Birthday Tonight; Dinner, an Activity and a treat as a family!!"

 Tonight off to Check E Cheese we went where a kid can be a kid . . . or a TEENAGER in this case!!!  I feel for this guy I had no idea how I was going to have a birthday party in December and try to figure out a time everyone could make it. 

Syracuse Titan Football Banquet

Titan Football has came to an official end . . . 
Tonight was the Football Banquet and it was a nice chance to spend some one on one time with Sam - I think Micah and I had a good chance to be able to hang out with Sam and recall all the good memories from this year and the year before Football Season.

Oma, Opa and Daniel took Preston and Kaylab 

out to dinner and were nice enough to babysit while we went to dinner with Sam.

This Guy . . Got his Permit Toady

On our way to the Titan Football Banquet . . . .  

2nd day of Christmas

December 2010

This year I wanted to do something extra special for the Christmas season so I looked around for some great ideas; and the one I loved the most was having a count down to Christmas.