Christmas {2009} Wrap-Up

{The Tree}

It was {better} this year. I actually didn't hate it.

I hated all of the pictures I got of it though.


{Parties}

It was our turn to host the annual "Dirtbag" party this year. We had the white elephant game, as usual, but this year we did it "traditional" style which means no nice gifts. Here were some of the gifts....

Butt Face Towel-which we also used this idea at 2 other white elephant parties.

(says face on the other side and there is a funny letter that goes with it)

Aunt some body's ashes (can't remember the name)

This was Cameron getting our gift...a fish tank with fish in it. Can you see how excited he is?

Other gifts not pictured....Authentic signed picture of Will Ferrell posed from Semi-Pro with a strategically placed basketball, the singing poinsettia, Family Feud game (not so bad), an ad that was posted on Craigslist for Brig's services (not really posted)-this one was funny because people doing stuff like that was actually part of the conversation over dinner.

One of the gifts we got can not be shown or described here, but one of the other gifts involved a 48DD forest green lacy bra that came back from last year (which was supposed to be nice gifts). Somehow, several days after, our kids found this bra and Tate picked it up and said "Macey! It's your new jacket!" while trying to put it on her. It was hilarious!

***

We also had a Christmas party for my family I just did not take any pictures. We had our favorite soups and soup bowls. The kids played bingo while the adults had their white elephant gift exchange-nice gift style. There was a little more stealing going on this year and it was fun! Then...there was a knock at the door...it was Santa! The kids all took their turn sitting on Santa's lap and getting a gift from him. We had a great time being together with family!

{Christmas Eve}

Our Christmas Eve was very uneventful, just the way I like it. It was a night at home with some Papa John's Pizza and Christmas movies. The kids opened the usual pajamas. Macey and Emmy got robes that they are always begging for and Tate and Claire got the day after Thanksgiving $3 special-Minnie Mouse for Claire and Mario Kart for Tate. The kids were off to bed and then the Christmas set-up began. We had all of the presents wrapped ahead of time so all that was left was the unwrapped set-up which takes FOREVER! We kept Christmas "small" this year and it took longer than the years we had trampolines to put together. Scott found 3 whole Thomas the Train sets for dirt cheap at a garage sale and it took longer to put those together than a trampoline.

{Christmas Day}

Morning @ Home:

Tate being a scarecrow (?that's what he said) with Scott's (feminine according to him)beanie.

The Hot Wheels Tate insisted Santa was bringing him

Morning @ Grandpa & Grandma Phillips:

Yummy breakfast

Blankets from grandma

Christmas music by Jared and Shannon

Evening @ the Williamsons (which also counted as the Williamson Christmas Party):

Cousin gift exchange

Then there was also an adult gift exchange that we do white elephant-nice gift style. There was a lot of stealing going on which makes it fun! We brought the butt face towel and the person that picked it to open was the last person we wanted to choose it-Scott's mom who wouldn't even say butt when reading the letter. We then replaced it with the real gift of Harkins movie tickets and cup.

***

Even though we couldn't get any shopping done before December we still had an enjoyable holiday season. Not too stressful, not too busy, not too much time off of school. It was perfect. Just enough to do so you're not bored and not stressed. I would venture to say it was the best holiday season we've had which just supported the idea that the amount of presents or money spent at Christmas isn't what makes Christmas great. I am happy that it all worked out and we were still able to {enjoy} it!

Cindy Lou Who {The Grinch}

My Cindy Lou Who today.

[results from yesterday's hairdo after today's nap-messy face and all]

R.I.P.

Mugsy

January 13, 1999-December 11, 2009

Our 1st baby who we actually acquired prior to marriage:). After looking back at these pictures I realized how sick he actually was for the past year. He was definitely a part of our family and it was really hard to make the decision, but we finally decided he was suffering more than was fair to him and we put him to sleep.

***

People always thought he was a pug or asked what he was and I would always just say he was a mix you haven't heard of or I would tell them he was a Brussells Griffon mix and if you are familiar with the movie "As Good as it Gets" that little dog that jumps over the cracks is a Brussels Griffon. He get the under bite, smashed nose, bug eyes and little gray beard (as he got older) from that breed. He was definitely one of a kind. We got him at a pet shop (I know I know) and out of the litter he was the only one that looked like him-the rest all looked scraggly and like the pictures of a Brussells Griffon if you look them up, but Mugsy was the one and he just happened to be on sale:)

***

As a puppy (well for several years) not only would he sleep on the bed with us, but he would sleep under the sheets down at our feet-all night! After I got sick of dog hair on the sheets he wasn't allowed to do that anymore.

***

Anytime we would drive in the car Mugsy would insist on laying on my neck-yes my neck. It was not that comfortable and probably not that safe and I got a lot of looks and pointing when we would be out but he insisted until he got too big and I put a stop to that.

***

For years Mugsy would walk on his hind feet and even jump up into your arms. Until he got to fat/had sore joints then he stopped that.

He went with us on many vacations...

including the cabin where he followed us everywhere up and down the hill and chasing Scott on the four wheeler. We finally had to start leaving him at home because his joints would get so sore he couldn't even get out of his bed for a day, yet he would still insist on running up and down that hill following the four wheelers. It was really sad.

***

As you can see in the slide picture above, Mugsy insisted on following us everywhere which was either because he was insecure or very protective. He definitely thought he was a big scary dog and you would've heard that anytime you knocked on our door.

***

As much as he could be annoyed by kids-especially at the end when he was so fragile (aka an old grumpy man) he could always sense age and treat little babies differently. I always watched him around the babies he definitely knew they were little babies because he would never jump on them and seemed to be extra careful around them.

Actually that's the same look he gave the chicken before he ate it! OK maybe not:)

He also loved my parents house! He would always run straight to the back door to go out and visit with my parent's dog, Buster. Although their dog is almost 100lb lab mix Mugsy was always the boss. After visiting for a little bit he would want in. He really loved my brother and sleeping in his room with him. My mom was watching him one time and he was at their bedroom door like he needed to go to the bathroom so she let him out but instead he ran straight to my brothers door wanting to be let in. My mom said it was so sad she let him in their only for him to see that Toby was not even home. He definitely became attached to certain people and over the years it changed from me to Scott and always Toby.

We loved Mugsy and he will be missed!

Whew OK that was a really long post and I would not be surprised if you didn't read it but I figured I better record it all.

Santa {?} is Coming!

So the comments so far this year as to the existence of Santa...

Macey: I figured out last year that dad gave me my bike not Santa
Me: What are you talking about
Macey: Because I looked at it and it said "Made in China" on it
Me: {laughing}What's it supposed to say "Made in the North Pole"?????

Somehow the conversation changed so we dodged it again until today!

Emmy was eating dinner and curiously asked a question after helping bring the wrapped presents downstairs to put under the tree earlier today...

Emmy: Mom why was there a present to Tate from Santa?
Me: {laughing and looking at Scott} oh, oops.


I could have easily explained that one away but she didn't really seem to care much. It was the Hot Wheels that Tate keeps telling everyone that Santa is bringing him-even though he does not need one more car I figured he better get the one thing he has been insisting on.

So, I am afraid (secretly hoping) they may have actually figured it out this year!

A Day That Will Last for {Eternity}

On Saturday {December 5th, 2009} I was able to take advantage of the $25 Southwest flights to head over to San Diego for the day to witness the sealing between my sister Shannon and her husband Dustin in the beautiful San Diego temple. It was a such a special day and the kids were all angels. So glad I could be there and take part.

{Love this family}

It was a cloudy day-perfect for lots of picture taking so you know I did!

A perfect occasion to practice and get better:)

{The Happy Couple}

{ All of the Kids}

{The Boys}

{+Dad}

{a snapshot of Hayden-future heartbreaker}

{The girls}

{+ Shannon}

{Going in the Temple}

Who invited blue steel?

{Afterwards, family + Dustin's parents}

Emmy's Sleeping Habits

Emmy pretty much never stays in her bed. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that she insists on having so much blankets and stuffed animals on her bed that their is no room for her-who knows?!??! She always starts there but at some point during the night she ends up out in the loft. When I came upstairs to go to bed last night this is where I found her sound asleep by the tree (barely put up at bedtime and not decorated).

Notice all of her stuffed animals arranged around the tree? Hopefully she never ends up on that hoarders show with all of her stuffed animals!!!