Family Letter - Christmas edition

Last week was a great week. It started on Monday with Ang and Hyrum flying into town and stopping by for a visit. That night, Tyler wanted to go to the Utah basketball game as a family, but first we stopped to eat at Gourmandise since it was the last day to use our Groupon there. Unfortunately, it was very crowded with people also using their Groupons. The service there isn't the best (read: slow) and they had run out of my top two choices, so needless to say, we missed the game. Too bad for Tyler since it was probably his last chance to see his team win this season. :)

Tuesday night we invited the siblings over to hang out (the parentals couldn't make it). Korrin made her famous caramel corn and I made Swedish ginger cookies. The girls had fun with their cousins and we had fun talking and watching basketball. After the Dicksons left and the girls went to bed, we played Spades with the Marstons and Hewitsons. The girls kicked some major butt!

On Wednesday night we hung out with our friends Rachel and Steele. We'd never seen their new house, so we went over there and enjoyed pizza & pumpkin roll and laughed a lot. We always have so much fun with them. Their sons Ashton and Jackson are the same ages as Ada and Kate, so the kids had fun playing too.

Thursday night was Kate's preschool Christmas program. She was lucky to have my parents, Tyler's dad, and Angie & Hyrum come watch. She was so adorable with her curly hair and red dress. When it came time to say her part, she thought for a minute and said that her favorite part of Christmas was ice cream. Typical Kate! Everyone had a good laugh over that. All the kids looked so cute doing actions to the songs they sang.

On Friday morning the girls and I went to my friend Amber's house for brunch. Kim and Shano were also there. We had fun catching up and seeing each others' kids (and some spouses). I don't get together enough with my friends! That night Tyler and I decided to stay up late to assemble Christmas gifts so we wouldn't have to do it on Christmas Eve. We were up past 1 a.m., but glad we got it done.

Christmas Eve was filled with baking and getting ready for all the Christmas festivities. I made two pumpkin rolls and a chocolate peppermint one. On the way to the Squires', we stopped by my grandma's house to say hi. She had fun presents for the girls. Unfortunately, Kate was a little too tired and decided she liked Ada's gift better, so she had a major meltdown. Good times! We enjoyed our traditional candlelight dinner at Tyler's parents' house and then the kids acted out the nativity. We played the dice game that Tyler's mom always puts together, but she changed it up a little this year and we all enjoyed the change. We also opened sibling and grandkid gifts. It was a fun night. Tyler and I really enjoyed playing Santa when we got home. We just couldn't wait for the girls to see their stuff!

Kate was so funny on Christmas morning. She had fallen asleep in the car the night before, so she wasn't really prepped for what was to come. She was the first one awake and just wanted to go downstairs and play Candy Land. Ada soon woke up and was anxious to go down. We made sure to continue our tradition of reading Luke 2 together before we go see what Santa brought. Ada and Kate were so excited to see their gifts. They love their Barbie house and Ada said it was just what she wanted. Kate preferred to play with that than see her other presents. Lyla got a swing, Tyler got a bike, and I got clothes. Tyler surprised me with an ice cream/sorbet/frozen yogurt maker and had stuff all ready to make sorbet. He then surprised all of us with an Xbox and Kinect! We were really spoiled this year. We then got ready for 11:00 church. It was nice to go to church on Christmas and enjoy musical numbers and testimonies. I played the piano for a flash choir performance (they invited anyone who wanted to come up and sing). After church we went back to the Squires' to open more presents and eat lots of food. Then it was off to the Dicksons' for our traditional Honey Baked Ham dinner. After we ate, my brother read from Luke 2 and we had a little program. The bigger girls each did a talent. Ada sang the months of the year in French accompanied by a dance and Kate sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' complete with actions. Ella sang and recited a poem and Grace sang. Grandma Dickson told a story and Grandma Bateman gave us all a good laugh by singing and dancing to a song from her Kindergarten-teaching days. We then opened presents. Kate's face was priceless when she opened her Olivia house/pirate ship from my parents. Everyone had a great time. We are so blessed to have everything we need plus a lot more and to have family to spend time with.

Family Letter

My sister started sending out weekly family letters updating us on their lives.  I decided to follow suit and post it to my blog.  It might bore everyone but it's a quick and easy way to keep track of stuff.  Here goes nothing...

Last Monday, Lyla had her 2 month check-up at the doctor's office.  She weighed in at 10 lb 6 oz (37th percentile).  She was not a happy girl after receiving a few shots.  Poor thing.  Tyler was able to meet us there and then we got lunch at Chick-Fil-A.  That is seriously one of my favorite places to eat.  I'd eat there at least once a week if one was close.  That night we delivered gifts to the neighbors and then, per Ada's request, drank hot chocolate around the Christmas tree.  I tried talked about the nativity story, but it didn't go so well as the girls couldn't sit still and then Kate spilled her drink o the floor.  Oh well. 

On Tuesday, Ada had her Christmas performance at her ballet class.  Mom and Dad were able to come as well as Tyler's mom, as well as, of course, Tyler, myself, Kate, and Lyla.  It was cute to watch.  Ada is about the tallest as well as most flexible girl in her class.  We got sundaes from McDonald's afterward and that night I got to take a break from the children and go to a Relief Society activity.  The Woods Cross High madrigals sang and we enjoyed a hot chocolate bar afterward.  I just ate the candy.

On Wednesday I got to go to Kate's preschool and spotlight her in front of the class.  I read them 'Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog' (one of her favorite books) and handed out M&M's, her favorite candy. 

I don't really remember Thursday.  I think Tyler was gone that night making visits.

Friday night we got to attend Tyler's work Christmas party.  We dropped all three girls off at Mom and Dad's and went to La Caille.  It was fun to see Tyler's co-workers and their spouses.  The food was pretty good.  We were probably the first ones to leave since we had to get back to feed the baby.  It was fun to get away for a bit.

I watched the Cougs lose a close one on Saturday and that night we went to a Christmas party for Tyler's dad's side of the family.  Tyler's mom made big plans for us to do a flash mob performance of The First Noel.  She was really serious about it and told us it would be our Christmas present to her (we did get her something else).  During dinner, we all stood up and sang a'cappella and then sat down as if nothing happened.  After the party and putting the kids to bed, Tyler and I watched 'The Help' since we both recently finished the book.  It had been a while since we'd seen a movie!

Sunday was our ward Christmas program.  Tyler sang with the ward choir and Ada got to sing two songs with the Primary.  Kate was sad that she didn't get to go up, but she will be a Sunbeam in January so that won't be a problem anymore.  She'll be jumping right in on the 1st: she was already asked to give the opening prayer (and Ada was asked to give the scripture).  It will be fun to be in there to watch on her very first day of Primary.

Other things of note: we found out that Tyler passed his PE exam, which is a very big deal and a huge relief.  I am so proud of him!  We also paid off our student loans.  Overall, it was a pretty good week!