Christmas day

Here are the boys after the door was opened and they came rushing into the family room. As you can see they were in a complete present frenzy.




Last year Santa forgot his bag. We left it out this year and he filled it again;)



We had a very good christmas this year. The boys were very spoiled. But it was fun.



We only made it to my families this year. I wasn't really going anywhere unless I could go in my Pajamas I know lazy. So we did go to my mom and dads for a little while and got the opportunity to see everyone in my family. We missed Craigs family but next year will be better. We still had a great christmas this year.



Yesterday Jumba became a victim of his own stupidity. Unfortunately I don't know that dogs really learn any lessons so hopefully it won't happen again. He hates and I mean absolutely hates other animals. Doesn't matter what kind they are birds, mice, cats or dogs he hates them all equally. He also likes to dig holes in the yard over on the side where the swimming pool is. When the snow falls though he can't always see the holes that he has dug. Yesterday some animal tried to enter the yard causing him to go crazy (for those of you who have seen it you know what I am talking about) and in his frenzy to defend the neighborhood he fell in a hole that was disquised by snow.



Our vet was closed for the holidays and it took four different vets before we found one that could fit him in or was opened. Then he got to spend the afternoon getting poked and prodded. He had a very exciting afternoon. He got to ride in on a pet stretcher and it took three people holding him down to get him knocked out for his xrays. He did put up a big fight they ended up using twice as much medicine as they thought that it would take to knock him out and he fought and was strong right till the bitter end. So now one exciting afternoon later 500 dollars less in the bank we are hiding medicine in his food for 5 weeks and hoping that this goes away.



Oh and Jumba also got to come home with a band aid on which Jacob just loves. Something about the dog wearing a band aid just like him. He follows him around the house and covers him with an old blanket as soon as he lays down. At first he tried to move out from under it everytime he covered him but eventually I think that he realized that it wasn't going to stop so he might as well just accept it. He was having a hard time moving yesterday but is much better today. He is still not up to his old self but much better then last night. Last night he was sitting funny and could hardly get up and down the stairs today he seems to be able to sit normally again and can do stairs. He still takes a rest but is getting better.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve PJ's. The boys get to open one gift on Chritmas eve. Unfortunately it is only pajamas. And yes the boys tried everything that they could think of trying to convince us to let them open another gift. When we suggested that they just go to bed instead and open nothing they decided that even pj's were better then nothing.



We also started Sunday presents this year. When I was a kid we got a sunday present eery sunday. They were nothing expensive mostly dollar store things but it gave us something to look forward to every week and seemed to help with the waiting for Christmas. Zach was dissapointed that he didn't get a new wii game every week though so I am now rethinking Sunday presents. I thought it was fun.



We didn't make it up to temple square this year to see the lights there just didn't seem to be enough time. But Jacob's class went and saw the Ballet west nutcracker and then all of the first grade classes put on an abridged version of it. It was the night after my surgery so I didn't make it but Craig was able to go along with Zach and they enjoyed it. We also got a copy of it that they Hale center theatre filmed and put together so I was able to see it from home. They did a very cute job. No pictures though. I think Craig forgot the camara. Hope that everyone had a great Christmas and have a Happy New year.

Oh and ps don't tell Craig that I let the kids stand on the couch to pose for the picture. They thought this was great fun and we did it all with out him noticing:)

Chocolate pretzels

We made Chocolate caramel pretzels about a week and a half ago.



They didn't turn out as pretty as I had wanted but they still taste good.




The boys also enjoyed helping make and eat them.



I also wanted to thank everyone for all of the love and support that they have offered to us. My surgery went really well and I have been home since last Friday. I know that this is a very busy time of year for everyone but we have been overwhelmed with generosity from friends and family. I can't thank you enough for the meals that have been brought in and the visits. Thanks so much for taking time out of this busy holiday season for us. We love you all. Thanks again. We hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season and that you know how much we appreciate each and every one of you.





P.S.
A friend gave these to me and I think that I will have to say I crave them both so I am not going to share either of them they are all mine;) Merry Christmas to me, they look yummy!

wrapping presents

If you can tell from this picture Jacob feels the same way about wrapping gifts as I do.

We are finishing up our last minute Christmas projects. The boys put together their little class gifts the other night. Jacob actually put them together Zach doesn't really like to do that kind of thing so he finished an art project for school instead.








Craig comes home tomorrow and we are excited to see him and have missed him. We are also excited because this was his last trip of the year. Hope that everyone is staying dry and warm.

DARE graduation

Zach had his Dare graduation this week can you see him in the picture? He is on the right hand side back to me just barely still in the shot shaking hands with the Murray mayor. I didn't realize that my batteries in my camera were barely still alive till I pulled it out to use it. So the picture just looks like a shot of the Murray city police chief and Miss Murray. I guess not all pictures can be perfect :) right?



It is nice and cold here the snow looks very pretty. We are now completely ready for Christmas Yea. I even got everything completely wrapped yesterday while the kids were out. Well there are actually a few more extended family gifts for the kids to wrap but everything else is done.

gingerbread houses

Yesterday we went to grandma and grandpas house to make gingerbread houses. The kids had a great time. We worked with one adult per child and the adults handled the frosting. This worked out pretty well. Jakson was napping so he isn't in any of the pictures. Craig is also out of town in Vegas so he wasn't there either. After we finished I had everyone that was willing to pose with their houses.




First we have Zach. His only real concern with the houses was that he be able to eat them.



Jacob is next.




And last but not least we have Gage. I tried to get Paige to pose with hers for a picture but never could. The aprons are the ones that Grandma made for them just for making the houses. This was a ton of fun and we are hoping to make it a yearly event.

Final verdict: Naughty

Actually the boys have been pretty good this year. Aside from the occasional fights. But we have found that when they are limited on their electronic time that they get along better. Go figure. They are both anxiously awaiting Christmas break they think that they will be playing that wii from morning till night. Unfortunately that isn't the case. We will probably give them a little extra time though after all it is christmas.

We are getting ready to send Craig out of town for his last trip of the year. Then we will have him home for a few weeks straight. Yeah. We had wanted to have family pictures taken before christmas to go in the cards. It is looking less and less like either of those things are going to happen. I did get the coordinating sweaters bought. Does that count? We will definately have to get them taken right after the first of the year.

Zach is excited that the only christmas program he has at school is a singing thing with the whole school. He is also counting down the days until he is out for the rest of the year. He has just had strep throat and is still finishing up his medicine, but feeling good. We did finish the second book in the peter and the starcatchers series and have started the third. He has read the Lightning thief series on his own and is very excited for the first movie coming out in February.

Jacob is excited that his class is performing the Nutcracker he is a pennywhistle and happy that he doesn't have a speaking part. His teacher talked with them before the did parts and told them about stage fright and he is pretty sure that he already has it so he is happy to not speak. His class went and saw the Ballet West performance this week and he enjoyed it Craig is jealous since he has never seen it.

The boys are both looking forward to making gingerbread houses at grandmas this weekend. Jacob has asked everynight this week to go over and start but they have been in Tennessee all week.

The ornament at the top is Craig's from a few years ago. When I was a kid every year at christmas everyone got a new ornament and then when we moved out all of our ornaments were ours to take with. This insured that no one had an empty tree. We have continued the tradition in our family. In fact Grandma and Grandpa Schroder still give everyone (grandkids included) a new ornament every year. So the kids actually get two. The ones that we buy usually have something to do with a trip that we have taken throughout the year. This year however the boys both wanted Jazz ornaments. I couldn't get a good picture of them and will have to try again later. But the Jessica Rabbit ornament is Craig's.

Paige's Birthday

We celebrated Paige's birthday this weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's.



Notice her cute Tinkerbell PJ's I was waiting for her to get dressed so I could steal them but she was on to me (I wasn't the only one that wanted them either) and she wouldn't change out of them.

The week of thanksgiving we rearranged the basement so that we could get the Christmas tree up. We completely moved everything around. This is the rearrangement before the tree.



Then the day after thanksgiving we got the tree up and decorated. We only put up the one tree this year. Just the one for the family room, usually this is all disney ornaments but since we aren't doing the other upstairs I did leave some of the disney off so that we could put some of our favorite non disney ornaments on. It was still hard to decide which ones to use and which to leave off.



Of course there was no question as to which topper had to be used. It isn't Christmas till Tink is on the top of one of our trees. This topper was bought the first trip that we took to Disneyworld. To celebrate our first anniversary. We have been back several times since but that was the only trip for just the two of us with no kids;)




Hope that everyone is having a great holiday season.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

The kids have been making Candy Canes. They are making them with pipe cleaners Jacob especially loves making them and then we are hanging them on the little pine tree that we have up in the living room so it can be decorated for christmas to. We took the stuff to grandmas last week when we went for dinner and all of the grandkids made them however Jacob was the only one that wanted to pose for a picture. He will always pose for any camara available. Hope that everyone had a great thanksgiving and holiday weekend. Hopefully no one was stampeded at any of the black friday events.:)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!



We want to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving. This picture was actually taken a week and a half ago. We were on our way up to park city two saturdays ago. In the snow. It was very pretty. No snow today so far. Not sure if it is going to snow haven't seen the weather forecast yet. The kids had a fun week of celebration at school and are enjoying being home now.

Jacob's class studied the pilgrims all month everyday they had an activity following the pilgrims journey. It all ended on Tuesday when the parents showed up with food to share for the final feast. He learned a lot of new things and so did I. Unfortunately I walked out the door without my camera. I got some pictures with the iphone and while it has a lot of cool apps pictures are definately not a strong suit. They were so blurry I decided not to bother with sharing any. We did have fun though.

Craig and I went and saw Blind Side last night with friends. No kids how is that for lucky. The movie was very good at the top of my list for movies this year. Craig is trying to claim that it is a chick flick. But I say it was a sports movie. No matter what it was very good and that whole family was very amazing and very blessed.

I am grateful today for all of my many blessings. Most importantly though FAMILY. I have two great boys who make me proud to be their mother every day. I have a wonderful husband who makes me laugh everyday... and sometimes it is at him, but more often then not it is with him. I also have a great extended family. Parent's who love me and have always supported me and a brother and sisters who are always there also. I am truly blessed and very thankful for all of my blessings.

I am also very thankful to all of the many military members who have served and are still serving to protect mine and my families freedoms. I am also grateful to their families who sacrifice so much for all of us.

Hope that everyone has a great day today and that you are able to spend it with those who matter most.

Oh we also hope that you are able to see Santa Claus in the parade:)

Happy thanksgiving we love you all.

Jackson's Birthday

Sunday everyone got together at grandma and papa's to celebrate Jackson's birthday.




It looks like he has Grandma's hidden talent and I got a picture of it.



We all had a lot of fun and are looking forward to Thanksgiving on Thursday. Craig and I just went and saw New Moon and it was good. I told him he is spoiled since that is the first Chick flick that we have seen in the theatres all year. Last year we also saw only one and it was Twilight. Although most of what we see is kids movies I believe.

In book club this month we are reading The Guernsey literary and potato peel pie society. I think that I am going to add this to my list of top ten books. It was very good. The boys and I are just pages away from being finished with the second Peter and the Starcatchers book and are enjoying it also. Those of you who have already read it please don't spoil the ending;)

Kids are off for the rest of the week for Thanksgiving yeah. We are almost completely done with Christmas shopping. Friday we are decorating and if all goes as planned next week I am planning to get everything wrapped. This is all being done in prep for my surgery but I am really thinking that I need to remember how nice it is to be so prepared so that maybe I can make this a yearly habit. How cool would that be.

We hope that everyone is enjoying this wonderful wonderful time of year. Hope that everyone has a great thanksgiving.

We took the kids to see the disney version of A Christmas Carol over the weekend. We went with the whole family it was a little hard on the younger kids. They didn't find it as interesting. But everyone got plenty of popcorn and drinks so what more can you ask for right?



Paige also wanted to pose with the chipmunks but her younger brothers weren't interested.



We all had a lot of fun and are looking forward to it again sometime. Maybe next time we can go and see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Peter and the Starcatchers

I hope that everyone had a fun halloween. We had a great one. The boys and I just finished reading Peter and the Starcatchers the beginning of this week. We are now started on the second book in the series Peter and the Shadow theives. Everyone is really enjoying these and we highly recommend them.

We are looking forward to a three day weekend. It was SEP conferences this week (parent teacher) and I am proud to report that the boys are both doing fabulous in school. Zach had to set some long term goals for his and one of them was that he wants to be an NBA player. She was great and told him that it is important to have an education to fall back on since you never know when you might be injured but that she thinks that it is good to have dreams. She then told us about a sixth grader that she had a few years back who always told her that he was going to be a famous football player when he grows up. His name is Brian Keel and he has just gone pro this year.

I am teaching the art literacy in Zach's class every month this year and in Jacob's every other month. Last month we studied primitive art. This month we are studying Michaelangelo. This month I have been told that the art projects are fairly difficult and it also happens to be the month that I have the first graders also. Yeah. It should still be fun though. I know that it will be fun. I really enjoyed it last month.

Hope that everyone is planning and able to have a great weekend.

Pumpkin carving

Oh pumpkin carving the kids have been dying to do this for weeks now. I have to wait to buy the pumpkins till the last minute. Once we buy them they are constantly asking to carve them.



We start by drawing the faces on the pumpkins...



Of course we draw them erase and draw again several times. Craig finally had them draw them out on paper with pencils and then we copied their final drafts onto the pumpkins. There are just so many pumpkin face possibities and even though they are big we only allow one face per pumpkin. I know not fair.



Here is the finished masterpieces? Right side is Zach, middle is Jacob and left is mine.



HAPPY HALLOWEEN.

Gardner Village

Today we went to Gardner village with Grandma and Uncle Mike.






It was really cold this morning but we had fun wandering around and looking at all of the witches.








We took a quick bathroom break.



Then it was back to witch watching. We tried to talk the kids in to wading out to help this witch fish. We even tried offering candy they said they would rather wait till tomorrow night when they are sure that they will get plenty.



And of course it wouldn't be a witchfest without the wicked witch of the east.



Hope that everyone is enjoying their Halloween weekend. Hope that it is wickedly fun. Enjoy.

Halloween parade

Today was the kids last day of school before halloween. Here are two pictures from the annual halloween parade. This first one is of Jacob he is the mummy.



And here is one of Zach the ninja.



After the parade I took a field trip with Jacob's class. We went across the street to the TOSH center and they got to walk through the building and trick or treat. The kids all had a lot of fun. Then they went back to school for a party. Zach's class also had a party. I went to the store and stocked up on candy for the big night. Hope that everyone has a great halloween.

New snuggies.

The kids are always begging for these whenever they see them on tv. And today we found them made from spongebob material. And even better then that they were two for the price of one. This wasn't really supposed to be but due to employee error that is what I got them for.



As you all know Zach has to be in the mood to be in pictures and today is not the day. Jacob is always up for pictures though. So we had spongebob be proxy for Zach. What do you think not nearly as cute as Zach but a lot less moody;) This second picture is the pose Jacob gave me when I asked him to smile for the picture. He refused to open his eyes wanted to pretend to be asleep.



I guess that everybody needs a snuggy. I am going to make one for Craig and I next. Now I have a pattern. Hope that everyone is doing good and gearing up for a fun Halloween.