Christmas 2011

Rex and Lyle's First Christmas

and

What Bryant really wanted for Christmas...

...followed Jen and I home on our walk.
So, the kids loved and played with it for a few hours before we took it home.
They affectionately named it "Ernie."

The surprise...
James received an Ipad from his family for Christmas. Something he really wanted, but would never dream of getting. He was humbled to silence.

Good Bye 2011

I wanted to title this post "Good Riddance 2011!" but James reminded me that we should look at the tender mercies that have kept our family in one piece although we have felt "broken" most of the year.

We couldn't go out without one more "bang" chalked up for 2011. Surprisingly, and gratefully, it didn't involve a trip to the hospital. Sariah wanted to keep her blanket from the ambulance though as a souvenir.

Sariah was in the passenger seat. The airbag did not inflate.

This year we have miraculously survived:

• pre-term labor and birth (Rex, Lyle and I)
• emergency c-section (me)
• erythema multiforme (Hyrum)
• 16 days in the NICU (Rex and Lyle)
• blood clot (me)
• anaphylactic shock (me)
• strep throat (Bryant)
• sinus and ear infections (Talmage and I)
• bone spur surgery (Talmage)
• split chin (Sariah)
• SERIOUS post-partum depression (me)
  
• ER visit for "concussion" (Talmage)
• car wreck (Sariah)

That does not include my extended family:

• Torn ACL and surgery (Laryn)
• Emergency appendectomy (Dave)
• Grandpa Webb's passing
  
• Torn ACL and surgery (Vard)
  

Thanks to healthy and helpful parents and a dad who has kept us anchored and given many priesthood blessings.

Tonight, we are all home, and safe.

A few runny noses, but other than that, I am thankful to say we are all well and happy.

Last Sunday

All dressed up!

Rex and Lyle

Simultaneously (although short lived):

Hyrum

Talmage

Rex

Lyle

Bryant

Sariah

James

Can you believe it? I couldn't, hence the pictures!
Dreaming of future Sunday afternoon naps.

We also had our extended family Christmas party.
Here is my sister and cousins, all with new babies this year!

A Successful Christmas

My Mom says a successful Christmas has 3 parts:

1) A great second hand find.

2) A gift project.

3) A great surprise.

Here are mine this year:

1) I found 6 sweaters at Value Village in 1/2 hour for less than $40!
I've been enjoying them all Christmas season.

2) Primary Scripture blocks
(Thanks to Lizza they turned out super cute.)



3) Can't Tell! :)
(No matter how I try it won't be as exciting for everyone else as last year. But

All I want for Christmas

is my two front teeth!

Holiday Festivities

Ward Christmas Party...

Sariah wishing for a phone...
Santa said "no" (thank goodness) and made her give him a second choice.

Talmage wishing for a gyrocopter.

Hyrum, brave but speechless. He was so cute!

Bryant, sadly, was on the "naughty" list that night learning that
Mom and Dad will follow through with consequences.

We are also making a lot of Reindeer Tracks for neighbors and teachers.
They are the perfect combination of salty and sweet, chewy and crunchy.
And the kids came up with their perfect name. (They look like a hoof print in the mud.)

Ingredients: pretzels, rolos, pecan halves.

Layer pretzels and rolos on cookie sheet. Line cookie sheet with tin foil or parchment paper.

Warm in oven on 250 degrees for 5 minutes.

Press pecan halves into warmed chocolate.

Let cool or refrigerate until cooled.

Package as you like:

Rex and Lyle ate mixed vegetables for dinner last night.
Slept worse :( .
Rex eats more cleanly than Lyle.
Lyle must prefer toes.

Early Out

How does Talmage choose to use his early out?

Serenading, and...

Reading Christmas stories to Rex and Lyle.

Love it. (And...so do they.)

It's been a long time...

It' s been a long time since I posted any pictures. Here's what we are up to lately.

A little R and R at Grandpa and Grandma's house over Thanksgiving break.

Helping Grandpa cut and load wood. (Love that feel and smell at Grandpa's house.)

Some little feet, don't know who's whose :).

Rex and Lyle. Better late than never. These are our first babies to use bumbos. Wish we would have had one for the others. By the way, our house has been overrun by baby things, bouncers, bumbos, butterfly mobiles, cribs. One baby has a lot of gear. Two is outrageous!

"Are all these yours?"
Haven't taken them all anywhere at the same time yet, but I'm sure it will happen some day.

"We are all enlisted..." Everyone gets a turn to perform this often occurring routine.

Much needed family time outside.

Today.

Yesterday on the way out of the house for some treasured date time, I saw a pizza crust on the floor. Then, I kept walking. You know what, it didn't hurt anything.