Our Little Family

December Daily Day 25

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  We woke the kids up at 7. We wanted them to sleep as much as possible without being late to anything. Briggsers was especially (not) pleasant while we opened presents. Guess we learned our lesson. Don't wake him up. Adi was of course excited to see that Santa had visited our house. We opened our presents and hurried and got ready to go to church. I grabbed some of Adi's presents that she really wanted to play with and opened them in the car. 

We went to Adam's parents ward, and they had a great Christmas program. I was happy that our ward had our's last week so we got to have two! Last week was wonderful too. I am so happy that we got to sit and listen to beautiful music that let us feel the spirit so strong. I never feel more love for our Savior than through music. I am so grateful that we had church on this Christmas day to remind us the true meaning of this holiday and to try to teach our kids that. I'm so grateful that the greatest gift this world would ever receive was born in the humblest conditions, in a stable, and laid in a manger with the stinky animals. What a blessing we have to know Him! Through all the hustle and bustle of the season, I need to try to remember more every day, the real meaning and reason for this season. 

We spent the rest of the day at our families houses. Here are some of the pics from the day.

Briggs either held this phone or one of Adison's crayons in his hand all morning. Adi was so excited to get this pricess art kit from Briggs. She wanted it forever.

Adi standing next to her big present from us. It was a dollhouse! Adam got tools, and I got a new camera! Yay, I've wanted it for two years. One of my favorite presents was from Adi that she made at preschool. Look at that darling picture on the front of that cookbook!

This one kind of explains the morning.

Adam took pictures of all the loot. I realize it looks like a ton of stuff. BUT, it was their stuff from santa, us, cousins, grandmas & grandpas. Still spoiled. Hope everyone had a good day! I'm exhausted.

December Daily Day 24

Christmas Eve! We had a busy busy fun day. Little recap. First we went to the annual movie with the Gardner side, Arthur Christmas. I thought that we'd have to go in and out a ton with Briggsers. But he did awesome. We didn't have to leave once. He even fell asleep for a little bit.

Then it was onto Grammy & Papa's for dinner and the Nativity,and a couple cousin presents. Camie took way more pictures than me- some day I'll get them. We did the Stewart family tacos instead of our regular feast. It was a big hit! 

Chelsie's friend let us borrow their costumes this year. I guess we better start working on that for next time... Adi loved her wise man's hat. Don't you know shepherds brought lip gloss to the baby Jesus?

Briggs got a book, and Adi got a play doh set that has proved to be one of her favorites!

Next Papa read The Night Before Christmas as he always does. 

I love Briggs laying down on the table pointing to the book.

Then it was off to the Gardners to open jammies. See busy! Good thing our parents live 5 minutes away from eachother!

These are the best we could get... These kiddos were a little excited.

Kyden gave Briggs the cutest little BYU hat that he picked out all by himself. It looks so cute on him. Too bad Briggs was d.o.n.e. with the day. (Maybe paying for that short nap). We actually tried for this picture for a long time.

Then it was time to go home. We put out cookies and milk for Santa, sprinkled our reindeer dust outside, left some carrots for them to much on, and went to bed. Of course Adison had to listen to the special The Night Before Christmas book that grandma and grandpa recorded, again, and then it was off to bed.

 

December Daily Day 23

Today was spent cleaning. A lot. You know when some days it just isn't ok that the house is how it is? Today was one of those days. I guess I thought Santa wouldn't come to our house unless under the fidge and oven were cleaned, and believe me it needed it! I think I have gotten ready once this week...

Don't mind the disgusting vacuum in the back. Yes Briggs got a bath after this. He really likes the vacuum attachments, he really does not like when the vacuum is on. And yep he's still in his jammies at 2 pm.

And yes he got right into another pair of jammies. Adam broke out his old car mat, and both the kids loved it! Adam's on break for TEN days! HOORAY. Adison keeps telling everybody that her dad is on a break. It's so funny that little boys automatically know how to drive cars on everything. Today was one of the first time he really did that. Adam left his hat out, and Adi hurried and stole it. She loves that hat.

At about 7pm we started working on a special project. We decided to make Papa his very own polka polks blanky. Adi was SO excited about it. She helped me trace the felt circles and glue them on. When it was done she would not hear of not taking it over right then. I was so tired, I didn't even fight it. So, we got in the car and took it over. She was a pill, but Papa loved it. On the way home she told me- now I don't ever have to be scared that Papa will take my blanky, or be mean to him, cuz he has his very own!

Here they all are with their polk a polks!

December Daily Day 22

Got some presents under the tree. FINALLY! And Briggs didn't even unwrap all of them yet.

And Adi found the joy of her finger puppets. My favorite was when she put them all inside a ball and was putting on a puppet show for Briggs. They were rolling off a mountain.

December Daily Day 21

Briggs is 11 months old! I can't believe it. He's devoloping quite the little attitude. He's starting to be funny. He does this little fake laugh that is hilarious. And pulling some awesome faces. I will work on capturing them! His favorite toy ever is a rubber spatula. He discovered that one day while helping me unload the dishwasher. Seriously if I need to get something done, give him one, and I am good! He is pretty attached to me and whines if I walk in and somebody else is holding him (boo), he also really loves his daddy and sis. The other night he heard Adam's voice while he was in the garage right when he got home. Then Adi shut the door and he flipped out. He was only happy if Adam was holding him for the longest time after that. He's still an on and off sleeper but most the time is pretty good. LOVES his binky. His tricks are waving, clapping, putting his fingers to his lip and making noise, (you know, what's that even called?), dancing, pulling himself up on everything, walking along the couch or while pushing something, and CRAWLING! He did his first real crawl on Sunday. Big boy. We sure love him, and can't believe he's almost one!

He's pretty happy about it!

Other news today, we went to mcdonalds for lunch and to play with emily and her boys, and I forgot my camera. Then took a daring trip in the mad traffic of Orem to the hair story, deseret book, and COSTCO. I was meeting my mom there and she called me saying it looked like people were coming to a basketball game. That about did me in.

December Daily Day 20

Really BORING day. Cleaned from the second I got up till I laid down for bed. When I was talking to Adam about my day, he responded, "that sounds like that Christmas song. 6 loads of laundry, 5 dirty diapers, 4 hours of dishes, etc.." I laughed. Adi had Eliza over for a playdate and Briggs was grumpy. I did finish the last of our neighbor gifts. Finally.

I think they turned out pretty cute!

December Daily Day 19

I wasn't feelin so great today. We stayed home all day until it was time to go over to grammy and papa's to have fhe and celebrate the December birthdays. AND guess who came for a visit?  SANTA! Adison was having a few hard moments and I really didn't know if she would go sit on his lap. But when he called her name she jumped right up and shyly sat on "the real Santa's" lap. He is very thorough when he talks to the kids. Asks them what they've done good this year, what they could work on, and what they would like for Christmas. Then he gives them all a new pair of jammies. He even brought her the penguin jammies she asked for in her letter she sent with out elf! When he asked what she does that is good, she said she cleans her room, which is hilarious, because that is what the majority of our battles are about! Briggs on the other hand is pretty much terrified of Santa. My dad asked me if we wanted to try again because cousin Mykell was so cute when she sat on his lap, but I told him this the 4th time he's seen him, and it gets worse every time. See for yourself.

Happy boy right?

That's more like it with his papa, in new snuggly jammies.

The girls helped me blow out my lots of candles birthday cake.

In other news Briggs is 11 months today! Can't believe it. I'll do that post later!

 

December Daily Day 18

Ahhhh, sigh of relief. Today is over. We handed out all the new Primary binders to teachers, cds for each family, Christmas treats for the teachers, on top of all the every week stuff! I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but it really is!

I made pretzel hugs for all the teachers and some others. It ended up being a lot more than I thought. There are a few observations I learned while making these. It was my first time, now I'm pro.

1- There are significantly more red m&ms than green in the holiday package.

2- I would like to watch how they make hersheys hugs.

3- I now only like these frozen.

4- They take longer than you think to make.

5- After making 350 I really really don't want to make one for at least 6 months :)

In their Christmas church clothes:

of course there isn't a great one of both of them.

And last, oh Adi. This girl. We had my parents over for dinner tonight. She was somethin. My dad really likes to tease her. He especially likes to tease her about taking her favorite blanket, which she calls polk a polks. Anyway, they were leaving and my dad was trying to say goodbye to her. She was standing on the stairs, sighed, rolled her eyes and said "Papa I am not dealing with you right now." I said "WHAT?" And of course my parents both lost it laughing. This just eggs my dad on more. They had to turn around so she couldn't see their reactions while I tried to do a little parenting. After they left she said "mom you know why I said that to papa? I just didn't want him to tell me he was taking my polk a polks AGAIN." I don't blame ya sis, you just can't say that to people... (In my defense I never say I'm not dealing with YOU. BUT I do say (a lot) that I'm not dealing with THIS. When she's throwing a tantrum, if I kind of ignore it, it dies down quicker.)

Today while I was at my Primary meeting. Please note she insists on wearing her swimsuit in December. She really loves any kind of berries!

December Daily Day 17

Today should have been called Santaday intstead of Saturday! We slept in until almost 9! Hurried and went to the ward Christmas breakfast with Santa. I didn't really think Adi would want to see Santa since we already did this week, but she did! She is so funny. She gets it in her head every year that she is supposed to ask Santa for what she wants, then he will give it to her right then. Briggs does not like him. At all.

I spent the rest of the day (literally) working on Primary stuff. Busy time of year :) until we went to Riverwoods (again) with Adam's whole family. This idea was really promising. Everybody get together and go to dinner. Whoever wants to can go see Santa (again) and then go to provo beach resort for games etc... Too bad our kids were horrible. Well, they lasted ok till provo beach. Then, I would like to forget. Adi wanted to sit on Santa's lap AGAIN! I can't believe it. She must want to make sure that he really understands that she wants a strawberry shortcake itty bitty market! 

All the cousins that live here on Ado's side: Kyden, Taylor, Adison, Scout, Shae, Kamdyn, Jace, Briggs, Gage "hiding".

 

December Daily Day 16

Tonight Adam and I went to my friends party. It's really the only non family party we ever go to, but Alesha is Adam's cousin so technically it's family too. Anyway. We (the girls) try to get together once a month, but for Christmas we bring our hubbys. Tonight was seriously fun. We had a fancy dinner, white elephant gifts, and I laughed SO hard while playing the game. Thanks to Adam's parents who watched the kids. It was such a fun night out!

Nicole, me, Alesha, Melina, Debbie, Mary, Ashlee. Yes I know I'm short.