Christmas 2008

Thought i'd better hurry up and add these before its 2009!!! I somehow convinced my whole family to come to Texas for Christmas, they sure do love me:) It was so great finally getting to hang out with my long lost nephew ty, oh ya and everyone else too. We crammed in everthing from Santa's Wonderland, to baking cookies, to reading Twas the Night Before Christmas, to watching The Polar Express and making a train of our own, to NASA, to games and eating:) It really was a wonderful Christmas! And a Texan message to my fam...

The best way to spread Christmas cheer...

is singing loud for all to hear..." -ELF

A White Christmas

While the rest of you were sipping hot coco and shoveling snow....my kiddos helped wash the cars half naked in 80 degrees. Gotta love Texas. (I hear its supposed to be 39 degrees tommorow though)

I heart being an Auntie!

My increasingly sophisticated niece turned 9 this month. In a gift dilemma to get her something that wasn't too kidish I decided on a movie date to see The Tale of Despereaux since we both adore the book! It was pretty much a gift for me too:) Love ya Leilani.

My little Musicians:)

In the past week....

*We held a Christmas Piano Recital... (picture is missing...hmm maybe later) I started teaching lessons again in August and absolutely love it! Saturday everyone came over we listened, we sang, we ate. I'm sooooo proud of all my little students!!!! *We attended the ward Christmas Party....where we waited FOREVER to sit on Santa's lap only to have the children cry, of course. *I went crazy and decided to rip down wallpaper in the playroom. I told Daniel it could be his Christmas gift to me. After peeling off paper for two days, sanding the walls, priming the walls, and adding texture we finally completed the first coat of paint. Tonight the second one is going on. Just in time for all my family to come in a couple of days. (Those masks really came in handy while we were sanding and mixing the texture di!) *I caught the nasty cough that everyone and their mother has had. Kolby put ME down for a nap. He tucked me in and read me a book, "Once Upon a TIme...there was a bunny and a cat. The End" Did you recognize The Tale of Peter Rabbit ? *Discovered that KOlby is prone to be a drug addict. He came down with this awful cold and a fever. He told Daniel that "the pink medicine makes me happy, it makes my mouth happy". I do love the fact that my hubby is a teacher around this time of year because now I get to enjoy him being home for two weeks and he didn't even have to take any vacation:) This weekend we will finish the playroom, fold a billion loads of laundry, clean the house, clean the cars, do the lawn and buy one more Christmas present. Or I might take some sweet drugs and sleep a lot:) Let the festivities begin.....

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

i love love love christmas!!! its been so fun the last few weeks decorating the tree, dancing to christmas music and watching my favorite christmas classics. Perhaps its the season that brings out the joy in me but i can't help but feel so happy. We met with the Bishop last sunday just for tithing settlement and i started tearing up just thinking about how blessed I am. Daniel and I joke that Heavenly Father must know that we'd be snobs if we ever had money so He has blessed us with a lack of finances to keep us humble:) Its pretty obvious and easy to see all the things I don't have but I suddenly realized that I already have everything I always dreamed of having. I have a testimony of the Gospel, I have an amazing husband, two adorable children, and supportive friends and family. I'm sealed to my family FOREVER, my husband has a job that he loves, I get to play with my kiddos as much as I want to and we have health insurance. There was a time when I didn't think I could have any of these things. Really what more do i need? :) ok i'm not really that much of a saint i still have my list of wishes but i was just grateful for that moment to recognize how much I have, how much I can give, and how much i am loved. i usually don't get all personal-journalish and sappy but hey, its Christmas! For some random entertainment: I fit olivia's hair in a braid (or rat tail) Here's some pics of the kids decorating some cookies at my friend's house today. Olivia had no problem ditching her "lady-like" manners and joining in with all the boys:)

Let it Snow!

Its a Christmas Miracle! It snowed yesterday in Texas!!!

sniff sniff....grrrrr!

I cry when I get mad. I don't know why. It really doesn't make sense. Crying is for sad or spiritual feelings right? Not, "I want to rip your head off" feelings. My power went out on Sunday. This caused my internet to be down once again. The "technicians" came out today. After 2 hours they said they fixed it and let me know the set-up was easy. After i felt technology-retarted I called the company back. on hold both kids crying me crying lady on phone asking why baby is crying. I let her know exactly why all of us are crying! I got transfered A guy explains that technicians can't come back til tomorrow because their systems filed my house as a "job complete". I'm holding back profanities. I insist that he walks me through whatever his worthless dishonest technicians would have done if they were here. After 3 hours start to finish i know a whole lot of weird router codes, get a tight knot in my throat when ever i see a comcast van, found out kolby can make his own pb sandwich, and drum roll.....have working internet. My sweet polite hubby is always so embarrassed by my reactions. sorry hun. Dang, and I just told him that for one of my New Year's Resolutions i wanted to learn to chill. Guess i gotta another month:)

Thanksgiving

The entire Lawton clan got together for Thanksgiving. What i didn't get a picture of... all 35 of us...or really any of us (although my i will soon have a professional one) thanksgiving dinner...HELLO! my adorable nephews and nieces (tori was my only model) my newest baby nephew who almost ALMOST made me want a baby Sea World (this one's not my fault. i wasn't there and daniel refused the camera) What i did get a pic of... my sis-in-law and I happened to have the same shoes, our hubbys went out and bought theirs together A beautiful walk in the historic district after dinner at mom and dad lawton's...and some random old man on a bicycle. Daniel and I shopping at 5am for his Chrstmas present at Home Depot. A Ryobi tool set plus free tool. I grabbed some Pointsettas too. Then daniel dropped the tools on them :( He didn't understand why i was taking pictures. I guess i just felt guilty for not documenting anything all week. I think i totally redeemed myself with these babies:)