Ice Skating

With everyone home for Christmas break we decided to make use of our new Children's Museum passes.  We put everyone in the car and made the drive downtown.  When we pulled into parking lot there were no spots to be found and at least twenty other cars circling looking for spots.  I have been to the museum on busy days and it was miserable, this looked even busier.  Frankly, it looked like a headache instead of a fun activity.  So instead we decided to go ice-skating.  I've wanted to take the girls all winter but it's not something I can do by myself right now.  We put skates on everyone, even Kelton, and I watched as they skated around the rink.  

Cambrie picked it up pretty fast and did awesome all by herself.  

McKenzie was a lot more comfortable with the walker support, but was still having fun.

  She really liked it when she and Jeremy would practice their spins together. 

Kelton loved going fast with Daddy.  

The boys would go around twice then Kelton would take a break with me to watch his sisters for a bit, then go back out again.  

I loved watching them, it looked like a lot of fun.  So even though it wasn't plan A, it was still a hit.

Broncos v. Bengals

For Christmas this year Jeremy and I received tickets from Bruce and Leesa for the Broncos v. Bengals game.  I have never been to an NFL game before and was super, super excited.  It's hard to find home games on Monday nights, so even though we've been in Colorado five years this was my first time at Sports Authority Field.  I was a little nervous about the weather forecast for the game: 16 degrees without the windchill.  Geesh, that is cold weather!  My layering decisions were made even more difficult by the fact that I am nine months pregnant...none of my cold weather gear fits very well.  I should be grateful that I can still zip up my coat and that gloves don't need to come in maternity size. 

 I had to meet Jeremy before the game since he was at work that day.  We wanted to go out to dinner but were getting nervous about our timeline.  We decided to eat at one of our favorite Mexican restuarants, La Loma.  I pulled up before him around and asked what the wait was for two.  It was 5:30 and kick off was at 6:30, it was going to be tight.  The hostess surprised me by saying there was no wait at all.  Fabulous!  Jeremy showed up about five minutes later and our waiter came to take our order.  We told him that we, like nearly every other orange and blue clad costumer in the restaurant, were heading to the game and we were hoping dinner would be really fast.  We ordered our meals and sat back to wait-hopefully not long.  He brought out our water and chips, then three minutes later he brought out our meals.  I couldn't believe it.  I've had fast food take longer than that.  We gobbled our delicious food, left him a very nice trip for making our night stress-free, and walked out to catch a shuttle going to the game.  We had to wait nearly 15 minutes for the bus to show and once it did we filled it to the brim.  I was standing right in the front trying not to fall down the stairs.  I couldn't see a thing but it didn't require looking out the window to know that our driver was going around in circles.  It is one mile to the stadium from the parking lot and you don't even have to turn off the road.  It took him four U-turns and another 15 minutes to get to the game.  I was super bummed we missed kick-off, but at least the situation was ridiculous.  

By the time we made it to our seats we had missed the first few drives of the game, but that didn't matter.  We were sitting on the last row before the box seats which was awesome for blocking the wind and keeping us warm.  

Jeremy's staff made us signs to take the to the game so we had to snap a picture to send them as a thank you.  

The first half of the game was good, but there wasn't any guarantee we were going to win.  Drives weren't necessarily pulling together, there were a lot of turn overs, and we went into half time behind 14-0.  We needed to win for a playoff spot so anticipation was high.  

During half-time we picked up some hot cocoa to warm up and settled in for what we hoped would be a great victory.  

We were not disappointed.  The Broncos came back and had a chance to win the game with a last minute field goal...that went wide.  The crowd was silent.  No one could believe that McManus missed it.  Overtime always makes me nervous  You just don't know which team is going to rally and pull it out.  The Broncos were able to drive down and score a field goal, and we just hoped the Bengals wouldn't make it into the endzone.  We were totally taken by surprise when there was a fumble recovery by Demarcus Ware that locked in the Broncos win.  There were high-fives flying and the stadium roared.  It was loud even as we walked out of the stadium that night.  It was definitely a good game to get tickets to and we has so much fun!

Christmas

Because of baby, this year we celebrated Christmas at home.  I truly love the magic of Christmas time with little kids.  I love that my kids believe in Santa and magic.  I love their excited little faces as they see the Christmas tree loaded with presents that they are receiving, but also giving to others.  I even love that they wake up at 5:00 in the morning to see what magically happened overnight while they slept.  I wish that Christmas mornings like this never ended.  The night before the kids opened their Christmas jammies and their new ornaments.  

We also made cookies for Santa and left a treat for the reindeer too.  

Then before we went to bed we watched the new Nativity video put out by the Church this year.  I loved hearing Kelton talk about Baby Jesus and his Mommy.  That kid really is attached to all mommy stories.  We sang Christmas carols and tucked the kids in bed.  Christmas morning the girls let Jeremy and I sleep until 6:00, but they had been up admiring the gifts much earlier.  They opened the gifts from each other first.  McKenzie gave Cambrie the globe she was hoping for.  

And McKenzie got a new hedgehog for her collection, Zipper.  

They couldn't wait for me to open my gifts from them either.  McKenzie gave me a new case for my phone, and Cambrie gave me some bubble bath and a scent for my car.  They both insisted on using some of their own money for the gifts and were pretty proud of themselves.  

Jeremy's Christmas definitely had a theme.  He got a new wetsuit and sharkskin for his races, running gloves and a tool pod from the girls.  

McKenzie had a sixth sense for what each wrapped present contained.  Before she even started tearing open the wrapping paper she new that it was Caroline's new treat table.  Both girls are really excited that they don't have to feed their American Girl dolls bouncy balls anymore.  

New umbrellas.  

And the most surprising gift of all was an iPod touch for Cambrie.  She was totally not expecting it but so excited.  

She and Jeremy spent all morning getting it set up.  Trying to decide on passcodes and account names for an eight year is tricky business! Now she can listen to music (once we get more downloaded), face time all she wants with Grandpa (who is just as excited as she is for this new toy), and her first ap purchase was a stargazing ap (which she has used every night to find constellations and planets before going to bed).  

By the time the girls finished unwrapping their gifts the sun was just starting to rise and Kelton was still asleep.  

We finally decided to wake up the kid around 7:30, which is late for him.  He remembered how this present -opening thing worked from Nana's house and went right to work.  It was probably a good thing he was the only one with gifts left because he just went from one present to the next.  McKenzie and I each gave him a giant dinosaur and it was fun watching them play.  

He also got a new monster fleece blanket from me.  He saw me working on it all week so it wasn't really a surprise, but he was still super happy it didn't have any pins in it anymore!  

He gave mommy some new jammie pants, and a great Christmas hug.  

Then he opened up more of his gifts.  A shark boat from Grandma-Great Stratford that shoots gold dabloons. 

 A new mix-and-match book.  

Cars.  

And a remote control car!  Watching him drive his car is hysterical!  If you push just one lever forward it spins in circles, so you have to push both simultaneously to get it to go forward.  Because of the design it doesn't get stuck in corners, it just flips over on its back and keeps going.  With new batteries that sucker is fast too!  

For the first time in our marriage, Jeremy and I were able to spoil each other this Christmas.  I can't tell you how much fun it was to buy something nice for Jeremy that he really wanted and not worry about it.  It only took us ten years, but we made it :)  I gave Jeremy a new pair of Zipp wheels for his bike.  The best part was, he was completely surprised.  He was coddling those things (as well as you can coddle a bicycle wheel) all morning.  He almost didn't dare touch them because he was so in awe that they are his. 

 Jeremy bought me a new pair of diamond earrings.  The best part?  The are from Tiffany's.  I was literally speechless when I saw that blue box.  The diamonds are so, so sparkly.  I love them!  

After the madness of present opening was done, we hung out and watched some of the kids' new movies.  This picture I call, "Where's the kid?"  

We finally decided to dig out of the chaos early in the afternoon to take out gift pictures.  Each of us seems to be missing one or two things in our pictures because like I said, it was chaos.  But I have to say that even without the gifts, it was a pretty awesome Christmas.

Christmas in South Jordan

The girls spent all day on Saturday eyeing the pile of presents underneath the Christmas tree and were so excited that they could open them after church on Sunday.  Of course we had to make them wait...patiently of course...long enough to get some pictures of everyone in our new shiny Christmas Sunday clothes.  Torture I know! 

We also had to wait for Christmas dinner to cook.  While we waited the boys played with Tiawna, obsessed over the train, and gave loves to anyone who asked.

 Finally it was time to open the presents.  My kids had some fun expressions this year as they ripped the wrapping paper off their gifts and as a general rule were just excited to be there with everyone. 

Gift for baby from the girls.

Broncos tickets!

Alysha and Brody announced that they'll be moving to Utah in February which is super exciting.  They are going to be getting a playset in their new huge backyard.

Gifts for the boys.

New DJ sound boards...I think the big boys liked them as much as the little ones.

Boxes work just as well as toys.

Panda hats and scarves for all the kids from Chengdu.

Christmas plates in honor of Leonard.

Everyone with our stockings full of yummy goodies.

And the grand finale with all their spoils.

 When it was time for dinner, Stockton didn't want to put down his new trucks.  

 The roast beast!

 

I've gotta say, it was a pretty great Christmas in South Jordan.  Then it was up to Jeremy to load up the car and get all of the gifts home.  I took the easy way out and flew home, luckily neither one of us has any problems.  Thanks for a great celebration Bruce and Leesa!