King's Day 08

MarKaye, DeLane, Braden, Wendi, Dennis, and KateLind

Patrick, Gk, & Heidi

Dad, Dave, and Mom

Dennis, Jackson, Markaye, Jodi, & Dane

Jackson, My Mom, Dave & Gk, Uncle Randal, & Wendi

Riley & Peyton He had his arm around her and it was so cute! Right when I took the pic he took his arm off. He is so funny! 

Love ya Che Chah!

Juli (with brown hair!) & Gk

Kaycee & Riley

What Is King's Day? Have you never heard? My Mom created it a few years ago to help us put Christ and Family first in Christmas but still get the excitement of presents. It is a really good idea. I recommend it 100%! What we do is on Christmas we visit and get together and think about our family and how much we all mean to each other and the great miracle of the season. Not "Oh no! I forgot Juli's present!" or "We don't have time to go to Grandma's house". We get together when we all can, not always at the same time and not always all together on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and we draw names. Then on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (or whatever day works best for us it was December 30th this year!) we get together have a party at Crystal HoT Springs in Honeyville. 

It is so nice to not be rushed to go to another house/party. 

And to not be exhausted from the Holiday hubbub. 

And the kids are really excited about their presents. 

And you get to soak in hot pools and go on a way fun water slide.

(I think I went down that slide 20 times It was freezing but it was so cool because you couldn't see where you were going because of all the steam. My feet are still cold from climbing the stairs) 

It is fun to cash in on some of the after Christmas deals too. 

I could go on and on. We always have the best food and everyones favorite game is the White Elephant present which isn't really a game but it is! So Happy King's Day To You All! 

Can't Wait Till Next Year!

On Christmas Morning Patrick and Gk woke up first. Then they woke me up and Santa Came!

He spoiled us rotten, though Gk really would have been happy with the wrapping paper.

And I think we could have just put a bow on Gk's head.

He just realized that she existed! He will look at her and just laugh!

It is so cute!

Here he is attacking her. I think they'll be the best of friends some day.

We had the annual Finn and Hattie Christmas Breakfast.

Jason and Jennifer were able to make it (they came before the storm)

Scott and Vickie are always so thoughtful to invite my parents and brother to breakfast.

The whole day was filled with family, food, and presents.

Gk has been the best gift I could ever get!

I am so grateful to the amazing boys in my life! 

They have changed me forever, for the better.

Sometimes it is hard to keep the true meaning of Christmas in mind

I know it will get harder when Gk gets a little older

but when there are so many amazing people it is easy to remember just how important family and good friends are!

Christmas Eve

Every Christmas Eve we get together with Patrick's Mom's Family.

We have a lot of fun. Every year we rotate who is in charge and it was our year!

The nice thing is that we didn't have to travel very far.

We have to have it in a church building because there are so many of us.

The bad thing is that we live kind of out in the boonies and not everyone got right directions

Sorry! But we were glad that everyone made it safe.

We always have soup and breadsticks for dinner. It was delicious!

I just absolutely love McKell's CHEESEY smile.

I can't look at this and Not Smile!

I Love You McKell!

Benton is such a Babe!

He is so handsome.

After dinner we have a talent show.

LeAnne always plays Winter Wonderland, she is a good sport.

It is fun to watch the little kids put on the show, they are growing up so much!

For the longest time these little guys were the "babies" of the family.

Ralph always reads the Christmas story in Luke and Reynold reads Tommy's prayer.

We conclude our party with a pinata.

I think it is the kids favorite part and Gk even got in on the action!

When we got home we watched National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and opened up our Christmas jammies!

Gk hardy slept all day but he was still really good! I think he had the best Christmas Eve Ever!

Naughty Santa!

Naughty, naughty, naughty Santa!

Uncle Dave!

On Sunday Morning my big brother Dave got in town to celebrate Christmas with the Family!

He was here in February last so it has been a long time since we've seen him

and it was Gk's first time meeting him!

We had a delicious dinner and Kathy Conder came over for a visit!

(Gk just loves her! She makes him the cutest blankets!)

A lot of people say that Gk looks like a cabbage patch doll

With his round face and blue eyes I agree.

The day after Thanksgiving I tried to find one that looks like him but I couldn't.

The first one that I got was a little boy with blue eyes and brown

 hair.

I still had it in my parents attic, so I made my dad get out all my old toys that I am making them keep for some reason.

But I found my little Cabby.

Then we went downtown to see the lights.

It has been a long time since Dave has seen the lights.

I think he was disappointed. They don't light 'em up like they use to.

But it was still fun. I like how they have all the nativities.

Patrick was making sure Gk could see baby Jesus.

But Gk was more interested in something over there!

Thanks everyone I really wanted to go downtown.

The weather was perfect! 

And the lights were beautiful!

Saurday

On Saturday we got together with Patrick's family (minus Jason's)

We went to the Old Spaghetti Factory.

I love the mizithra and spamoney!

After went and played some games at Lyndsey & Adam's.

Week in review!

I haven't blogged in a while,

but we really haven't been up to much.

This is what we have been doing...

After the snowstorm I let Gk play with some snow...

He's not a huge fan, yet!

I took a picture of a crying baby I know,

but if you look closely you can see his 2 teeth!

Sorry this one didn't turn.

Gk got to try some peppermint ice cream.

It's a favorite around here!

That about sums up the past week!

...Is My TWO Front Teeth!

Okay so I haven't got a picture of it yet.

Trust me I'm working on it.

But, Gk has his 2nd tooth in! 

Poor thing.. It has to hurt.

But he's been really good.

All I Want For Christmas...

He loves to play with his toes when I change his bum

Well today Gk and I had a very eventful day! 

We got to go to lunch with all the girls from work!

I love them all and miss them very much.

(Even Kelli and I just met her today-she took Hana's place)

Anyway we had lunch at Archibald's at Gardner Village

They have the absolute best Fried Green Tomatoes.

Gk was pretty good. It was so good to see Diane she looks great!

It was fun to hang out with them when they weren't working....

(Diane, Heather, Maddie, Teena, Gk, Kelli, Mindy, and Julia)

Aren't they all beautiful!

Then we went shopping with Jenn, just for a 

minute... .

they looked so cute in their matching outfits...

Then we came home and had to finish a project or two.

All day my sweet little boy hasn't really slept.

He's been happy, but something was up.

When Patrick got home he noticed the same thing, so he tried putting him down.

But he wouldn't go down for a nap.

Not even in the swing, which is weird

because he'll always fall asleep in the swing.

So Patrick did some investigating.....

and..

a tooth! Holy cow! A tooth in my little baby's mouth!

I know it's kinda hard to see but it is there!

I took him to the dr. yesterday and I asked her about all his chewing and drooling.

She said it was normal. Babies don't usually get teeth until they are 6 months to 1 year.

Well at 4 1/2 months this kid broke teeth!

My baby is growing up!

Santa! and Festival Of Trees

We are so lucky!

 Santa came by our house on Friday and G.K. couldn't have been more excited.

He must really be a good boy, 

Santa never came to my house just to say "Hello" and get a picture taken with me! 

I know Gk looks a little possessed, but he was really exited.

Once Santa held him, he calmed right down.

I Love Santa!

On Saturday Jenn My Mom and I all went to the Festival of Trees.

There are a lot of trees. It was fun though.

I love that all the proceeds go to Primary Children's Hospital.

My favorite tree was a glass one

(it looks like the ceiling in the Bellagio)

Anyway Thanks Jenn and Mom.

I really know better!

Today I was going to go to the Festival Of Trees with Jenn, but she wasn't feeling well and neither was Gk. We really didn't get much sleep last night with his stuffy nose and sad little cough. So after we took a nap, I decided to try making my Grandma's Peanut Brittle. It is a super easy recipe, and really yummy! Best of all you can just make it in the microwave. Here it is if you wanna try it! 

I cup granular sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

microwave for 3 minutes

add 1 cup peanuts

microwave for 3 minutes

add 1 T butter

1 t vanilla

microwave for 2 minutes 

add 1 t baking soda

pour on cookie sheet/aluminum foil

Pretty easy and you should only dirty one dish so the cleanup is super easy.

Making this really made me miss my Grandma, she was such a good cook and a wonderful woman! Her house always had home made candy and treats. And she let us have pop with lunch.

Anyway I think she really would have laughed at my first attempt...

Oops...

I really know better!

Ginger Bread

My sister Jodi is the best! Every year (for about the past 15 or so years) she gets everyone together to make gingerbread houses. She doesn't just get us together she makes the ginger bread and all the frosting for how ever many people will be there. This year she made us dinner too. We always have so much fun. The Graham's are so sweet, they sure know how to party~

This is Jodi holding G.K. for me while I am decorating my house.

Riley and Kaycee with G.K.

Riley with her house

Kaycee with her house

We were just being silly. Juli started it, Riley took a picture and Juli was making the weirdest face (I had to promise not to post it or else I would have.. It is awesome!) so we all wanted to make a funny face.

These two are Pro's!

These are all the houses that we made. There were a few that weren't decorated yet. 

Mine is the one on the back row on the very right.

Thanks Jodi~! It wouldn't be Christmas without this!