Before reality starts

One last day of Christmas break.  I felt a little jipped because the boys were so busy with basketball/skiing/friends that I told them today was my day and we were going to hang out.  We started off by running errands then I did take them to lunch and bowling, so it wasn't all just boring errands. 

December

I've collected a few pictures from my phone, but haven't gotten them posted so I'll just do a quick rest of December post.  It all went by in a crazy blur and last night we bid 2017 away and woke up to 2018.  2018 is going to bring some massive changes in our family.  They are good, but still it is going to be a crazy year. 
Davis's Christmas concert at Fremont. 

Christmas sing a long at Gators school. 

Ryan and Christine invited us all over to dinner last night.  I didn't get any pictures though, but it was yummy food and good company.  Owen went to a friends house and Davis had a party to go to.  So we had a little pre party while Davis was still home.

The real deal with Gator.  We went outside at midnight and watched some fireworks and sorry neighbors she was the screamer. 

 No break in basketball.  There was still practice and games.  I hope their season continues as well as their pre season has, because they have done great. 

 Basketball season has also started for Rocky.  It is a pretty short season, but they've got a great team, and it will be a good season for them as well. 

 So much hair.  The boys have both decided to boycott haircuts and they have so much hair!  I finally got them to agree to a trim tomorrow, I'm so excited to get them cleaned up a little. 

 I took Gator and Lainee ice skating during the school break.  I say it every time I take Gator skating, I need to get her in lessons.  I just don't know what we would get rid of to have time for another thing. 

Dessert in the middle of the day, why not?  Christmas break, there is no schedule. 

 At activity days, the girls learned how to make pillowcases.  I think that was back in September, but ever since then Gator has wanted a sewing machine.  She is having a fun time learning how to sew.  We are going to sew a skirt for her to wear to church and she wants to make a tote bag for church as well.

 This winter has been a huge bummer for Davis.  He has been watching the weather forecast daily waiting for enough snow to open Powder Mountain.  Well finally for Christmas they were able to open and Davis spent some time during the break up skiing.  He loves it!

 They were getting along!  They hung out for a couple hours playing PlayStation and not a single fight.  They are actually doing really good together.  They have their own groups of friends, but they also have a group together and they hang out quite a bit together.  They just still have to tease each other because they are brothers. 

Since I wasn't with them at midnight, I stole from their Snapchats.  I actually hate social media to the hundredth degree, but I do like it to spy on my kids. 

 

 Gator has gone a couple years without losing a tooth, but December was a big month for her and her adult teeth. 

 We've played lots of games over the break.  Our current favorite is either Ticket to Ride or a card game called Garbage. 

Owens Christmas shopping.

 

Still Christmas Breaking

Christmas Break is awesome, I love the break from school/work.  Today, we were so lazy and finally decided to go out about 12:30.  Well, Davis left early to go skiing.  Powder Mountain has finally gotten enough snow to open and he is planning on that for the rest of the week.  If I want to see him in the winter, I may just have to start skiing again.  But the thought of it just terrifies me now.  Owen and his friends had a birthday/pick me up party for a friend that just lost his house to a fire.  My  boys are at the age that they are usually with friends, so I take what I can with them and Gator and I usually find some fun. Today we went sledding again with Krissy and her kids.  We had a blast, poor Dallin he needs Jace to grow up and be on the boys team with him, because we got him good in the snow fight.  But he started it, so I don't feel at all bad for him.  After sledding, Mat, Andrea & their kids invited us to go swimming.  Sure, we like to play so we went and picked up Tyler, Millie, & Blake and went to Bountiful for a couple hours of swimming.  There was a water obstacle course that the kids loved.  Between that and the diving boards that is where we spent all our time.  It is going to be so hard to go back to work next week. 

 

Sledding

Today Gator and I went sledding.  The boys didn't want to go, but Gator and I are not going to let good snow go to waste.  And good thing we went when we did, the Christmas snow is already about gone with no more in the forecast.  But that Christmas storm was a surprise, so we'll just keep praying for another surprise to play in again. 

And Christmas Afternoon

One more Christmas party.  Another crazy loud get together, but fun and not done nearly enough.  Merry Christmas everyone, it was a great holiday.  Thank you everyone, I love you all!

Gator will not put poor Jace down, he is attached to her hip when they are together.  Good thing he is a small guy. 

I got a picture of all the kids.  It isn't too often that we have all 19 with us.  But I was being sentimental knowing Owen wouldn't be here next year and all the kids agreed to be in a picture for me. 

The nut winners from todays party.  Owen won both times, he made quite a bit of money this weekend.

 

Yay, finally enough snow to play in, and make some koolaid snowcones. 

 

 

Christmas morning

After about 2 hours of sleep, Gator was awake again ready to have Christmas morning.  She went and woke up Davis and they waited not so patiently for Owen, I finally had to go downstairs and get him.  But then we had fun opening presents and hanging out.  I love just going slow on Christmas morning and talking, laughing and being together.  Owen got a weighted blanket, in hopes it will help him sleep better and not feel so anxious hoping he doesn't sleepwalk so much.  He also got a pillow, book, charger, car seat massager/heater, and a concert ticket.  Besides bindings for his skis, and a concert ticket, all Davis wanted was clothes.  He is my Mr fashion, he loves clothes and shoes.  Gator got a camera and sewing machine, along with some legos.  She has been building her legos all day.  My favorite gift I give them every year is their picture books.  It's so fun to go through all the books I've made and smile at the memories.  I take so many pictures in a year, the books are quite the job, but I love doing them.  We are having a little bit of down time before the family all comes to our house for our soup party.  Just enough time for me to post some pictures before I take a ton more.