Christmas!

Here's two of my great-looking boys, ready for church.  Andrew has had his suit for the past year, but Joey got one from the Kazmierski Grandparents this year, and he has been dying to wear it all weekend!  Look how happy he was!  He was so exited to show everybody at church.  He wanted to leave it on after church, so Grandma Jane could see, but I told him I'd put it on the blog so he could wear play clothes.  Bye the way, this is the fourth or fifth picture I took.  The first few were pictures of wiggly little boys being silly.

Ben's Christmas Eve tradition is to wake up the kids really early, take them to breakfast, and then shopping for my present.  This year, everybody but the baby went.  Grace looks a little disheveled, but she had a great time.  They ate at IHOP then went shopping.  Grace picked me out some very beautiful, very colorful socks with pink stripes and hearts.  The other kids picked out a nice, warm, red bath robe.  Thanks, kids!  I love them!

Later that day, Matthew fell asleep while cuddling with Andrew.  He never does that!  He just snuggled right up and went to sleep.  Andrew was so proud of himself!

Christmas morning started officially at 7:30.  However, Joey had walked into our room at 3:30 in the morning for some reason.  We cuddled a little while in my bed, and then I took him back to his room.  I don't think anybody peeked early, but what do I know?  I'm sure they'll all fill me in later on all the stuff that got past me.  Just don't tell me now.  Wait about 20 years so I don't punish you!

Here's the boys discovering things:

Grace's favorite presents were her pink cuddly bathrobe and her new pajamas from the Kazmierski Grandparents.  Her favorite thing is to be comfy!

Matthew noticed Haley opening some good stuff, and he wanted some too.

This is his favorite toy: a top.  Remember those?  I love it!

Even Shoji got in on the action.  She got a giant bone that scrapes the walls when she walks around with it hanging out of her big mouth (tail wagging the whole time).

The boys enjoyed their Star Wars helmets and "guys".  They'll be busy for weeks.

We got Jerry vintage Red Sox and Celtics shirts.  What he didn't know is that we got the kids some to match!  We just had to get a picture.  I better have them washed again before Grandpa Day!

Eric got the kids this great building set called Toobies, or something like that.  We made a big house out of them, and the kids loved the fort.  Grace got comfy right away, and Matthew just put up with it, I think.

It was a great Christmas again!  We are enjoying the giant flat screen in the basement.  After Ben installed it, he was standing right next to it, and I noticed how the guy on TV was the same size as him!  So now we watch life-sized TV.  It's very interesting. 

I hate to say goodbye to the holidays, so we'll leave the decorations up for another week or so.  There's just something sad about putting them all back in the boxes!

Gem of the Day

My favorite thing that happened today was when Ben was leaving for work while singing songs from Sesame Street!  There's nothing like a grown man with a suit on going through the door singing Sesame Street songs!  Thanks for making me smile, honey!

A Question for Grace

Yesterday, I asked Grace a question:

Mom: "Grace, do you think you're on the naughty list, or the nice list?"
Grace: "The cute list!"

Nice!  Grace, if there is a cute list, I'm sure you're on it!

Sledding Fun

Ben took the kids sledding the other day at the park.  It has a nice, long, slow hill for sledding.  It was Grace's first time, and they all had a blast.  And thank you, daddy, for going instead of me.  I'm not fond of standing out in the cold for any period of time.

Fabulous Friends

We've had a great week with our favorite friends.  When Melissa took the older kids to the rodeo this weekend, we watched her youngest two.  We had so much fun, and I'm so glad they love to come over and visit.  They just feel like family!  Here is Ryan enjoying dinner:

Then the monkeys had to get some energy out.  They decided jumping on the bed would be the best way to do that.

Here's one more of the monkeys.  I thought it was a funny picture, with Grace in the air, and Matt climbing up.

After a few hours, we got tuckered out and watched Tinkerbell.  The girls snuggled up together.

The boys found a spot with Ben.  Little Ryan snuggled there with him for an hour.

Matthew eventually went to bed, but Ryan was content.  Ben was tired.

We had our annual Christmas in Other Countries FHE with our buddies.  We learned about France and Mexico during the holidays.  They had some great traditions that we tried.  We ate a Yule Log (which I had no idea what it was before last night).  And we drank Mexican hot cocoa, which tasted okay if you like dark chocolate and not a lot of sugar.  Some of the eleven kids loved it, some not so much.

Ryan was happy to sit and share with Ben and Matt.

Can't wait until next year!

Tea Party Update and Joey's Christmas Program

Just in case anybody's wondering, I finally mustered up enough courage to go peek in the bathroom during the "tea party" (see below).  Here's what I found:

Matt had a lot of fun in the bathtub (which thankfully was void of water), but only AFTER he threw out all the toys.  I wondered what he was doing in there.

But who needs toys, anyway?  He found several things to occupy his time.  This was one favorite plaything.  It kept him busy for a full five minutes:

And here is the actual "tea party".  At least they were using sink water, right?

Joey had his preschool Christmas Program today.  It was every bit as cute as it sounds!  Joey graced us with his presence, then was totally bored, even before it started.

If Joey loves anything, it's girls.  After that, he loves singing.  He knew all the songs, but everytime he looked over at us and caught us making goo goo eyes at him (I couldn't help it!  It was so cute...), he rolled his eyes.  At least he doesn't growl at people anymore.

Matthew was entertained for about five minutes.  We were lucky enough to get out of there before he tore the place apart.  Barely, though.  I had to pick up several Hymnals and other random pieces he managed to scatter.

Grace almost fell asleep.  But she was a good girl, mostly just standing near Grandma Nan, and enjoying the music.  Gotta love the chubby cheek shot:

We got some good video, so I'll share some as soon as I figure out how.  I'm a little technically challenged, so it might be awhile.

A Peek into Joey's Brain

As we were driving today, Joey and I had a great conversation.  It started with him asking me how to wish on a star, because he wanted to be one of Santa's reindeer so he could fly.  He also would like to be a buffalo.  Then the conversation drifted to resurrection, and how we'll have really cool bodies that can't die or get sick.

I said, "Isn't Heavenly Father's plan great?  We can go back and live with him forever if we're good here and try to be like Jesus."

Joey said, "I'm good, aren't I?"

I said, "You're very good.  We all have to try to be good our whole lives."

Joey said, "Okay.  I'm not ever going to pick my owies, and never bite my nails, and never pick my nose.  Okay?"

I said, "Good plan, Joey."

Now I know what Joey's definition of being bad is!

Be Afraid

Most frightening words I heard today:

"Mom!  We're having a tea party in the bathroom!"

Oh my.  Should I even go in there?  What kind of doom awaits me...

Does anybody want to borrow some kids for awhile so I don't lose my mind?

The Deep Freeze

We've been in a terrible deep freeze for the last couple of weeks.  There were very few days it was even above zero.  I'm already sick of winter and it hasn't even started yet!

Then finally yesterday it was about 17 degrees, I think.  We didn't even wear coats.  That's why I laughed when my mom sent me this.  It is completely true.

COLD IS A RELATIVE THING. . . . . . .BRRRRR!!

65 above zero:

Floridians turn on the heat.

People in Montana plant gardens.

60 above zero:

Californians shiver uncontrollably.

People in Montana sunbathe.

50 above zero:

Italian & English cars won't start.

People in Montana drive with the windows down.

40 above zero:

Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, wool hats.

People in Montana throw on a flannel shirt.

35 above zero:

New York landlords finally turn up the heat.

People in Montana have the last cookout before it gets cold.

20 above Zero:

People in Miami all die.

Montanans close the windows.

Zero:

Californians fly away to Mexico .

People in Montana get out their winter coats.

10 below zero:

Hollywood disintegrates.

The Girl Scouts in Montana are selling cookies door to door.

20 below zero:

Washington DC runs out of hot air.

People in Montana let the dogs sleep indoors.

30 below zero:

Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.

Montanas get upset because they can't start the Snow-mobile.

40 below zero:

ALL atomic motion stops.

People in Montana start saying...'Cold enough fer ya?'

50 below zero:

Hell freezes over.

Montana public schools will open 2 hours late

Isn't that the truth?  I can only remember one time in the last 31 years that school was closed due to cold.  It was 40 below zero, without the windchill.  I remember playing outside in the back yard that day...my boogers froze.

Don't all you former Montana dwellers miss the cold that is so bad, your boogers freeze?  We don't call it cold here unless it's booger-freezen' cold!

Look Out, Darth Vader!

You better run and hide, Darth Vader.  This squadron of highly trained fighting machines is out to get you, and they are ready for a fight.  They are armed and dangerous.  They train several hours everyday.  They are led by a superb high-ranking Jedi.  She is both fast and furious.  If her light saber doesn't do you in, her angelic face will.  She is flanked by her two most trusted fighters, Boba Fett and Captain Rex.  Together, they leave no evil man alive.  Their skills are unmatched. 

So run and hide.  They are coming for you.