.....notes from our holiday

I am forcing myself to sit down and record a few happenings from our holiday so that I can contain my desire to run through the house and take down every decoration in record time.  I am feeling a bit cluttered.  Especially with the new toys that Santa brought.   It is hard to find a home for everything when there are extra knick knacks hanging around.  So yes, I am a taker downer.  One of those people who has everything down by New Years.  

We had a lovely Christmas, spent at home for the most part with a few quick visits to celebrate with friends and family.  I always find myself worrying that I didn't get enough presents for everyone but somehow it always works out and the things that I thought they would absolutely love are tossed by the wayside while the $2 last minute grab is played with all day.  

The favorite gifts were:

Travis:  (aside from my new body art) framed KU NCAA tickets OR the custom airbrushed shirt from my brother, Dallin, who had his name.  Awesome.

Me:  a toss up between Crest Whitestrips and fuzzy slippers

Jordan:  Lego Star Wars video game

Emma:  Spotted Leopard Webkinz

Halle:  princess nail polish and Sleeping Beauty DVD

Eli:  wrapping paper 

Other happenings:

~I am now officially a person who prints addresses DIRECTLY onto envelopes (only took 3 whole days to figure out mail merge)........I am also a person who sends multiple cards to a few lucky people.  We like you, we  r e a l l y  like you. 

~I have not cooked a decent meal for my family since Christmas.  My cooking mojo was all used up for the month of December by then.  

~Our Webkinz population has reached maximum capacity.  I think they are even reproducing on their own while we sleep.  It is embarrassing how many we have accumulated over the last couple of years for birthdays, holidays, and bribery for good behavior.

~The kids drew names to encourage a "giving" spirit.  Emma chose a rock tumbler for Jordan, and Jordan made Eli a leaf shaped pottery piece at school.  Halle picked out a HSM bracelet for Emma, and Eli got some Polly Pockets for Halle.

~Santa brought a Wii Fit for all of us and it is hilarious!  We all get the giggles every time we turn it on and see how dreadful our balance skills are and how our avatars directly resemble our body shapes.

~Our disposal broke, our gutters need to be professionally cleaned, and pieces of our roof are now residing in our front yard.  No time like the holidays for home repairs.

~Being a parent is exhausting.   But also awesome.  

~I am not sure that I can still endorse the Elf on the Shelf.  By a few days into it, my kids were having major competitive issues regarding who found it first each day AND I was using it far too often to inspire good behavior.  Anything that involves being "first" at this house, aside from sports, causes a lot of grief. 

~ I took my two oldest to see the movie, Marley & Me.  It was a really good movie but probably not the best to take young kids to.  I thought it would be fine with the PG rating but I had to cover their eyes several times.......and their ears.  Maybe we have sheltered them a bit much but they got a little more "education" on the birds and the bees than I was bargaining for.

All in all, we had a great Christmas and I am excited for things to settle down for the next few months with no big events looming that require late night preparations and/or cooking overload.

I can't remember if this picture was taken while she was waiting and waiting for Santa to come OR if it was afterwards when she was asking where all the rest of the presents were.