"These are a Few of Their Favorite Things"

I absolutely love the expression of joy and happiness on the faces of children on Christmas morning. They get so excited over each present and they just exude love to those around them. We received so many "thank-yous" and hugs from the small ones and big smiles from our Ethan. It was a wonderful Christmas morning. We started by singing "Silent Night" and then Dennis offered a prayer (everyone could tell I didn't get much sleep because I was crying and emotional). I just felt such overwhelming joy and love for our Savior and was filled with gratitude for the Greatest Gift ever given! A perfect way to start this fun but sacred day.

Santa Gifts 2010

He came! Jake and Brad were a little worried because they like to fight a bit. But Santa came just the same. Ava got her horse and 18" girl, Jake got his 18" girl, Julie, Brad got the "Avatar: the last Airbender set, Ethan got a gift card to Wal-mart and a $50.00 gift card for itunes, and Dennis and I both got shoes. Santa left the kids a note and ate the cookies and drank the milk. Jake was so wound up and worried that he got up at 11pm then at 2am and again at 5am. I finally let him wake the others at 6:30! (yeah-I got a total of 3 hrs sleep;)

December 24, 2010

Rick, Elena, and kids arrived the afternoon of Christmas Eve. We were so excited to see them and visit for a few hours before we went to the annual "Ralph" party at Dale and Anita's house. We do the same things every year for Christmas Eve. We dress the kids up and Grandpa reads the account of Christ's birth found in Luke. We play the "pass around game" where we buy $1.00 gifts (just the kids) and we wrap them 5-7 times and then the kids pass them around while the Christmas music plays and when it stops they each take off one layer of the gift they happen to be holding. When it finally comes down to the last layer of paper, a name will be on it and that person gets the gift. The kids eat this up and they get to feel like they are unwrapping a lot! The kids also get to open a homemade present from Grandma. This year she bought each of them a towel and stitched their names on them. I can't even tell you how excited the kids got over this. They absolutely loved it!! Of course we also eat and eat and eat. Anita goes all out and makes so many delicious hors-doeuvres. It's so fun to just visit and let the kids enjoy their time with their cousins.

New Insight into Santa

Jake has had this baby picture of himself on his little magnet board for several months now. Last night he added this note to Santa. I about died laughing when I saw it. Who knew kids loved Santa because he's good with animals? This boy always thinks of things that I would never think of. Merry Christmas!!

The Shaw Boys Ring in Christmas Vacation!

After making goodies and gingerbread houses at Grandma and Grandpa's, the three Shaw boys decided they would like a sleep over at our house. Autumn and Jake stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's for the night. It was almost 5pm and I did not want to cook any thing else so we stopped at Wendy's for supper. When the boys got to our house, they spent the next 2 hours building a fort (with snowballs with rocks for ammunition), and snowmen. They even put a snowman on our front porch. He was so cute and little I just had to take a picture of him with the kids;). It's 10pm and they are all still going strong! I need to sign off and make them go to bed!

Aunt Rachel's Gingerbread Project

Rachel's kids were supposed to go to school today, December 21. But their school was cancelled because of this huge snow storm (about 2 feet at least!). Hunter and Jesse were supposed to do fun things and both cried because they were going to miss out on the fun. So Rachel bought some graham crackers and icing and candies and we all went to mom and dad's. Most of the roofs caved in but they had fun anyway. (We also made 2 batches of peanut clusters, 4 batches of m&m cookies, and a batch of pecan balls).

Jake and Brad's 1st Snowmen of the Winter

First sufficient snowfall for a snowman. The boys were so excited about it that they built two. I love the first one with no neck! Ava didn't help but wanted her picture taken anyway. And Tess loves to bite hands and gloves so she got in on the whole thing too!

Temple Square-2010

Carolyn suggested we go to temple square on Sunday, so we did. Jill was in town so she and her kids joined us too. The weather was perfect. I think it was a little over 50 degrees. Everyone had a great time and for once we actually got pictures. Jill and I have a standing joke about our outings to temple square. We've gone for the past several years together and she takes pictures (of course I always forget my camera). Her camera has always pretty much blackened out the people and just the lights show up. So when we called her to see if she could meet us there she said she'd be sure to bring her camera;) But for the first year the pictures turned out! After visiting temple square, everyone came back to our house for a spaghetti dinner. We ended up visiting until after 10 pm. Such a fun day!

Dennis' 38th Birthday!

Dennis' birthday was actually on a Sunday this year so we went out to celebrate on Saturday. He wanted to go to Eagle Mountain and eat at a little place called Village Pizza. We would often have this on Friday nights when we lived there. After that we took him to Deseret Book and he picked out a couple of books that he wanted. We did try to celebrate on Sunday as well but he wasn't home much that day. He did manage to stay with us for an hour in the afternoon and have a nice dinner with us and then when he finally did get home, we all watched a movie together. It was a busy but fun weekend.

Visitors from Hawaii

My sweet sister-in-law, Carolyn and niece, Chelsea, arrived Thursday, the 16th for a few days. They are living in Hawaii right now as David is working for the Church at the Polynesian Center. He is an accountant and gets to meet with the First Presidency at least twice a year. Right now they are trying to not only make the Center more appealing but profitable as well. Anyway, Carolyn and Chelsea have been having fun together on their mother-daughter get away. And we've been able to meet them for lunch (Chelsea picked Fuddrucker's) and the movie, "Narnia" last night. They came from beautiful 80-90 degree weather to 18-19 degree weather. They are a little cold and Carolyn said it has been years since she has driven in snow (they formerly lived in Florida). It has been snowing here since yesterday evening and it shows no signs of stopping! I wish I could take pictures but alas, I still have no camera. I may have to take Dennis' keys and "rob" the clerk's office of it. Carolyn and Chelsea are staying until Monday afternoon. It's been fun getting to know these two a little better.

My "Baby Love" turns 38!

Yesterday was Dennis' 38th birthday and I didn't have a camera to take even one picture of him on this special day. (Dennis took my camera to church to take pictures of the ward members as they meet for tithing settlement).
His birthday was busy (as we knew it would be) so we celebrated on Saturday by going to an old favorite restaurant, the Village Pizza in Eagle Mountain. Then we took him to Deseret Book and he picked out a couple of books he found interesting.
Yesterday I made a roast dinner and a birthday cake which we enjoyed the hour he was home. Then he had more appointments and visits until later in the evening when he finally came home for the night and we watched a movie together.
I love my Dennis for so many reasons but the thing I love most about him is his willingness to do anything the Lord asks him to do. A close second is his love for everyone else. Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Christmas Fun!

Here are the kids showing off their felt ornaments and their pictures of Christmas that they did for FHE. We did the "draw in the dark" game. Everyone enjoyed it except Ava. She kept crying and saying, "I can't see". Yesterday we made stawberry cupcakes with green frosting and decorated them for Christmas. Ava's friend, Finn, was sick so she took him a plate of Christmas cupcakes:)

The day before Alisa had Meg

These pictures were taken Saturday, December 4, 2010. The day before Alisa had Meg. I caught Grandpa and Brad "fighting". Brad has to have one good round with Grandpa every time he sees him. I also took a picture of Grandma and Grandpa giving Ava her Gingerbread Man and of them looking at the book "Humphrey's First Christmas" sent from Ellie. It was a fun Saturday and Dean helped Grandpa put up the rest of his Christmas lights outside.

Humphrey

Ellie sent us a book titled, "Humphrey's First Christmas". It is such a heart-warming story about the birth of Jesus from a little different perspective. Of course I cried when I read it. This morning I read it to the three younger kids while Ethan was helping Dennis put up the outside lights. When we finished, Jake said, "I think I know what this story means. It means when you help other people you feel warm inside". We talked of how Humphrey was sad and only concerned about himself at the beginning of the story but that once he focused on Jesus and shared what he cared most about he changed and was "warmed" all over. It was a nice little reminder to think of others and to be willing to share ALL that we have! Thank you Ellie:)