Christmas 2013

It all started a few days before Christmas. Amelia and Cooper hadn't received their emails from Santa yet, which included their naughty or nice decision, so we waited anxiously for those.

Cooper waiting to hear the final decision. They both ended up with nice.

Then we had the Christmas Eve bash at our place. Lynnli and Amelia played with their babies while talking on their phones, Courtney tried to fix my slow computer, Joey and Jojo chilled and visited, and by the time the rest of the family joined us, we were well on our way to a rockin' Christmas Eve party!

After the family left, we had our traditional Christmas Eve cocoa, put out cookies and milk, opened new pajamas, read stories, and tried so hard to go to sleep. Cooper crashed early, but Amelia didn't settle down until after 9pm. Santa was having a hard time holding out until everyone was asleep!

Visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.

I'm pretty sure she was still faking when I took this picture.

Christmas morning happened about 6:15am, and we all rushed out to see what was under the Christmas tree. Amelia and Cooper were thrilled with all their gifts, especially the ones they got each other.

They are showing sibling love for the gifts.

 After we opened presents and had breakfast, we headed down to Blackfoot to spend a couple days. It was so nice to get away and visit with family and friends. I don't think I got to bed much earlier than midnight the entire time!

Courtney and Lynnli.

We also played out at Nana's school, put away our Christmas decorations, and celebrated New Year's Eve day with lunch at Leo's and then rolling skating. It was Cooper and Amelia's first time, and they did really well. It was my first time in around fifteen years, and I must say I was quite proud of myself. I only fell once, and I call it more of "taking a knee" then a fall. Of course, depending on how I feel tomorrow, I may call it a fall!

Amelia at Leo's. I couldn't get Cooper to stand still long enough to get a pic.

Amelia and Cooper at Nana's school. Cooper was so proud he climbed to the top and wasn't scared of the height!

New Year's Eve plans are to watch a "Duck Dynasty" marathon, each Mrs. Powell's cinnamon rolls, and see who falls asleep first---it could very well be me!  Happy New Year!!

"Nutcracker" and News

Amelia had her yearly performance of the "Nutcracker" last weekend. She was a cherub, and in my opinion the cutest little cherub that ever played a harp. She did a fabulous job, and is still angling for the role of Clara in a few years. Again I explained to her the Sugar Plum fairy dances more, but she held firm in her decision, telling me, "Clara has a prettier dress AND she gets to give permission for the all dances to begin." Well, we can see where my fashion-minded, power-tripping little darling's heart is, can't we?

Here she is before and after the performance:

Isn't she so pretty?

In other non-related news, Cooper lost another tooth, bringing his total to three. As you can see in this picture, it was one of his bottom ones. And when I say he lost it, I mean COMPLETELY lost it. We never found it. After breakfast one day I noticed he had a gap in his teeth and asked him if he felt it come out. He said no. So, the mysterious tooth was either swallowed, spit down the drain, or in the same place all the socks with no mates end up.

School has been particularly crazy these last few weeks as the semester finishes up. I needed to get a massive project done, so I put Cooper next to me doing a puzzle, thinking I'd have an hour on the inside to finish it. Well, twenty minutes later Cooper told me he was done with his 100 piece puzzle.

I was awed and impressed, but still had to get my homework done. So I told him to go look for his tooth.
 

In weather-related news, we hit a heat wave Thursday through Saturday (25 degress!!!!) so I took the kids sledding.

That's it for this week. I am really working on those Christmas cards, I promise. I'll finish my engaging and witty poem this week and try to have them all in the mail or email by Friday. I  know email is not as fun, but you get it a whole lot faster. Merry Christmas!!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree!!

Yep, we decorated the Christmas tree. The kids were so excited the whole tree was laden with ornaments by the time the song "Believe" from the Polar Express was over.

Best ornament on the tree.......sigh. He's so handsome.

I had to coax Cooper to put his ornaments all around the tree, not all grouped in one spot. The next day they were all in one spot. I asked him why he moved them and he said, "So I don't have to walk around and around to see them all." Good point.

Amelia putting up her ornaments. She liked to put them on the window side so everyone outside could see her pretty ornaments.

Not a great picture, but at least they're standing still!

I can't believe how fast Christmas is coming. I still have a Christmas poem to write, cards to send, goodies to bake, and last-minute shopping. Life is so crazy I don't think the Christmas spirit will hit me December 24 at 10pm. :-) Happy Holidays!