Christmas in Review

(Just so you know, I wrote this a LONG time ago, but didn't post it because I had used up my limit on Picassa for photos and didn't make the time to figure out how to add memory!! Sorry for the overload. Maybe I can get back into the swing of things now.)

Emmaline told me the other day that she was pretty sure we were the last people in the country with their Christmas tree up. I've taken that on as a challenge. I think I'll wait until Tyler comes home before I take it down. Then he can share a little bit of Christmas with us! On second thought, I don't want to clean up that many dry needles on the ground and I don't know when Tyler's coming home. Maybe I'll take it down later.
But I am pretty sure that I'm the last to blog about their holidays. I think anticipation makes it all the sweeter though, right? Please excuse the quality of my photos. I decided that I would just always use my iPhone since it was handy and I didn't think the pictures were too bad. I've decided differently now. Oh well!
Before Christmas, I tried really hard to make sure we kept up on all of our usual traditions. That made it all the more frustrating when Emmaline kept saying, "It just isn't Christmas without our dad." AHHH! To kick things off, we saw "The Players" do their Grinch re-enactment at the Public Library. Georgia, John and Johnny joined us.

I was able to go was able to go with Oliver and his class to see "The Magic Fish." Very cute
reminder for the kids of being satisfied with what they have. (This is Oliver's friend Cameron.)

Savannah had a dance performance at school. They have a new dance teacher and it was absolutely amazing. Every child that performed (including Savannah) looked as if they knew what they were doing!

Morgan came and spent the night before he headed home for his last Christmas before his mission. He was very patient with Oliver who sat beside him the ENTIRE time and asked a million questions. Oliver was so thrilled to have someone have a sleepover with him in his room.

Emmaline had her Christmas Party. I was a little worried about this. She asked me if she could have one, then printed out the invitations and passed them out before I could check things over. She invited 25 kids! Luckily only 15 showed up (maybe because she forgot to include our address?!). They enjoyed dinner and had a "White Elephant" gift exchange.

The day before Christmas, Judy and LaVar flew in so they could spend the holidays with us. It was a great distraction from missing our Dad.
On Christmas Eve, Neal and his family flew in. We had dinner, and the kids put on the Nativity. The Nativity is my favorite part about Christmas. I even enjoyed it when I was growing up and can remember helping Martha's boys put it on, even after I left for college. (Thanks for the pictures, Leslie.)

Simon was a a somewhat reluctant baby Jesus.

Oliver was really upset that he couldn't be one of the "bad guys." (Doesn't every story have a bad guy? He could only be soothed by being allowed to bring Chloe, the dog, along.) As you can see, it was a little chaotic, but fun!

Christmas Day morning was a little crazy as I tried to watch the kids open presents and video them and send Tyler pictures. He was a little frustrated as well.. "What did Oliver just open? What was that? Have my parents start taking video- I'm missing stuff." Unfortunately, I ordered a mandolin for Emmaline on eBay and it got stuck in a snow storm. Instead, I wrapped a picture of the mandolin in a large box. When she opened it, she said, "That's not funny!" She thought I was only giving her a picture of what she wanted. What does that say about what she thinks of me as a mother?!!

Can't forget the pomegranate jello.

The day after Christmas, we had a get-together with the Huntzingers and Hightowers that were in town. It was so great to see them and their kids. It's been WAY too long, and must be repeated when Tyler gets back! =)


Oliver asked for an autograph from Chelsie. That couldn't have been prompted by a sister, right?!!


Emmaline did a good job of entertaining the younger crowd. Dress up is a must in these types of situations!

On Tuesday we went to Fallon to visit with more Huntzingers.




It was quick, but really great. Tucker did amazingly well with the drive. My kids REALLY want a cat now. Tucker spent most of the time almost petting cats and telling them "No, no" when they climbed on the backs of chairs.

Tucker likes to attach himself to people that remind him of Daddy, I guess. He sat like this for SO long!!
Since we got home from Fallon on New Year's Eve, it was a bit anti-climatic. Most of us were asleep well before midnight.

On Friday Neal and his family came to spend one last night with us before they headed home. It was great to spend a little extra time with them (and everyone else that came for dinner that night). We made a quick trip to my kid's favorite restaraunt, Chuck-a-Rama, before taking them to the airport.
Too bad Tucker missed his nap and slept through it.


All in all, it was a great holiday. I probably dreaded the holidays more than anything else about Tyler being gone, so I must say, I AM GLAD IT'S OVER!! Now if we can just get him home before the next one hits. Emmaline asked the other day if he would be home for her birthday. Since that's in June, all I can say is... it BETTER be before that!