::spontaneous::

It was the 26th (the day after Christmas, aka "play play play all day day"), and we were talking about how we were kinda sad about how Matt's mom and dad were down on the golf trip and we weren't (by we I mostly mean Matt). So we kinda said "ok, let's go!" So we did, and the next morning, we headed South.

The kids did awesome in the car! It's about a 5 hour drive, and the DVD player wasn't working for about the first 2 hours! I thought we were going to have to stop and get a new one on the way down, but it suddenly started working (thank goodness!!).

We got to the hotel...

...and played on these things (like always).

We at at the buffet (not my fave, but Matt loves it).

looking at a big fish tank

The next day while the guys were all golfing, the girls headed into St. George to do some shopping. The kids and I went here...

We saw lots of animals. We were a little scared of some of them, but it was fun. There were even thunderstorms going on inside there with lightening and everything.

Port was a little nervous about the alligator, he wouldn't take his eyes off it.

a different kind of buffalo than we're used to

Coop pushed his stroller a lot

lots of bears-we saw a grizzly from AK that was over 7' tall!

gettin' a closer look



the playroom

the bugroom (we didn't stay in there too long)

The next day we all went to see The Princess & the Frog, and we LOVED it!! What a cute movie! I loved the music and the story and everything! The shadow man was a bit scary (even for Port!), but it was ok. I want to go see it again! I can't wait 'til it comes out on DVD!!

We got home Tuesday. The kids did great on the way home too-even when we all had too pee so bad we thought we weren't going to make it to the next city. Matt kept saying "we're almost there" and we told the kids we're going to stop at the gas station to go potty. Portie said that when we got there he was just going to pee on the gas station. When we got there we were getting our shoes on, Chloe and I walked around the car to help Porter out, and by the time we got him out and zipped up our coats, we turned around and saw a little bare butt. He was peeing right there in the snow where you pump your gas!! Matt and I kinda looked at eachother and laughed. I just said "well I guess I don't have to take him in with me." I guess when ya gotta go, ya gotta go!!

It was a pretty fun trip. We're glad we went. Matt had lots of fun golfin, and he did pretty well-which makes it even better :)

Thanks Grandma, Papa, & Jennie for puttin' up with us and lettin' us crash your party!!

Love y'all!

::Christmas is here!!::

We went to bed around 3:30 in the morning (after getting all of our stuff done). Then Chloe came up at 4 to tell us that Santa came 'cause our stockings had been filled and set on the floor (since we don't have a fireplace, they hang on the garland and then he sets them on the floor once they're filled 'cause they get kinda heavy). So we made her go back to sleep with us 'til about 7:30. She says she watched "that Christmas movie" (Christmas Story) twice. So we don't think she actually went to sleep-poor kid! I bet the suspense just about killed her!

Finally, some presents!! And Santa was good to us...

for Chloe: hair salon kit, princess castle, Ariel v-smile game, my size barbie doll, princess loofas, princess bubble bath, princess umberella, lip gloss, sparkly lotion, princess coloring book...

for Porter: BUZZ!!, buzz blanket with a stuffed Buzz, buzz loofas, bubble bath, woody figures, v-smile cyber pocket, Toy Story v-smile game, coloring book, basketball goal...

for Cooper: lots of clothes, tadoodles coloring stuff, leapfrog magnetic truck thing, trucks, musical globe, a big boy toothbrush (to go with his new teeth)...

all the kids got some playdough, a few games, and some mega bloks

me in my snuggie (I have the same feelings about snuggies as Sarah) :) (Matt & I got some other things too-thanks Santa ;) )

It was a fun Christmas morning. We had our usual cinnamon rolls-another tradition of ours (it was tough too-very time consuming! I thought of Matt's Grandma Halling a lot while I was making those. The whole time I just felt like "why do people do this, just go buy the ones in the tube!!), opened lots of presents, played a bit, had some visitors (Matt's mom & dad and J & Sae (which we LOVE-we love that they all come visit on Christmas morning!!).

After that, we got ready and headed down to my parents' house for more fun and some dinner.

They spoiled us too, as usual...

Buzz wings, buzz & princess dishes, bouncy ride-on thing (for Coop), sticker books, legos, easy bake stuff, bathtime ariel, notebooks.....and lots of fun stuff for the grown ups too.

We had a Swedish Christmas dinner this year-the Denams were in charge of the theme.

Mom did such a great job with the food and the decorations! We had mostly traditional Swedish Christmas dishes. They were different from what we're used to for Christmas dinner, but that's what makes this tradition fun! It's fun to try new things and learn how to cook new things. We ate on mom's fancy dishes and drank out of the fancy glasses-she even had plastic goblets for the kids :)

We had such a great Christmas this year. We do every year, and we're so thankful for that. We're thankful for good health, home, job, and eachother. We're glad we understand the true meaning of Christmas and giving gifts, and we're going to try to remember that meaning throughout the year.

We love you all and hope you all had a Merry Christmas too.

::a late night::

...not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...

After baking some cookies (for Santa), making some bread (for Christmas dinner), making Grandma H.'s homemade cinnamon rolls (which was not easy), putting a couple of things together, wrapping a couple of things, putting a couple of kids back to bed, putting gifts under the tree, stuffing the stockings, moving the furniture back to make way for the morning, and taking a few pictures,

now we're ready for Christmas morning.

::Christmas Eve::

We always celebrate on Christmas Eve with Matt's family. We get together at his mom and dad's with all his brothers and sisters and their families and exchange gifts. We talk a bit about what Christmas means and how much we love this time of year and eachother.

This year, Matt's mom and dad presented a challenge to all of us to set aside some money each month for each child (from chores, allowance, etc) to donate or provide a service for somebody for next Christmas. We love this idea! I love the "sub for Santa"/angel tree types of programs, and we love to give back. We've already decided how much every month and everything, and we're excited about it.

Stefanie, Brandon, & Cooper

The kids got some presents from the name exchange that we do, and also a couple from Grandma & Papa...

Chloe got a princess game set, a book, and Twister Hop Scotch

Portie got a Buzz "fishin'" game, a book, and a Buzz "doll"
(do you call it a doll when it's for a boy??)

Coop got an ABC drum and a lawnmower & a book

Matt and I got a book, a scentsy warmer (which I LOVE!!), some money, gloves, and a scriptures DVD.

They spoiled us as usual :)

After we do our little party, we head over to their church building ('cause it's the only place big enough for all of us- 75 of us this year!) for the Halling Christmas party...

We have a great dinner (I was in charge of sweet potatoes again), and then gather 'round to listen to Matt's Uncle Steve play Christmas carols on his guitar.
the little ones all like to dance while we sing

All the great-grandkids do a gift exchange. The sit in a circle and walk the gift they brought over to the person it's for. This year they had to get something that started with the same letter as their first name-kinda fun :)

Cooper got Car keys (Porter got paint & Chloe got a clutch)

Towards the end of the party, when most are getting ready to head home, the sisters do "sister gifts." I've thought this was such a neat thing ever since the first time I ever saw it 7 1/2 years ago...

Each sister gets the same gift for each other sister and herself; so they all have matching gifts. A lot of the family gathers around to watch the exchange. They like to see what the gifts are. They're all unique and special-like each sister :)

Deanne gave some rare old photos of their mom and dad and a poem about "spending Christmas with Jesus this year" which made us all cry.

Alaine made these pillows out of Grandpa's overalls (which he ALWAYS wore) and his flannel shirts and also some pockets of some of their mother's shirts. Chloe came over and saw them. I explained what they were made out of, and I told her that any time Grandma Snowman misses her mom and dad, she can just snuggle her pillow. She understood and got a little teary herself.

Then we headed home! Christmas eve is when we do our gifts from eachother, which is always jammies.

We also open presents from Gramma Ruby on Christmas eve. She sent some magnetic "paper" dolls for Chloe, a train set for Port, and a lightup bug and sippy cup for Coopie, and a few things for Matt and I. Thanks, Gramma!

So, we always do jammies, and I was telling Chloe how I didn't have any jammies for Daddy yet and that he already has lots of jammies and maybe I should get him something else and she says: "Mom it doesn't matter, we always do jammies! You have to go get him some, that's what we always do, and it doesn't matter if he already has some. That's what we do!" So I got him some jammies.

And we also opened this...

...and I'm in love with it :)

And here we all are in our new jammies :)