Christmas

Terry and I had planned another trip this year so we knew Christmas would be small.  But this year for some reason the girls all wanted to use their own money and buy everyone gifts.  It was a lot of fun and made our Christmas seem like we got a lot.

 traditional picture of the kids waiting on the stair to come up.  It was fun having Tim join in on our traditions.

Right before Christmas the high school soccer coach emailed and said there were getting new uniforms next year and if we wanted to we could buy their state winning green jersey.  So of course we did it and then Terry wondered if we could buy Jadyn's state winning jersey.  He said yes and we were so excited.  And the girls loved it!!

 Everyone getting ready to open their present from Santa.

 I can't believe I forgot to take a picture after they opened them but i was too busy telling them about our fun trip.  Anyway they each got a pair of cabin socks and in the socks was a ski lift ticket I had made up that said what the ticket included:  We rented a condo in Brian Head from Dec 30-Jan 2.  And we were going to ski/snowboard one of the days and enjoy the other days sledding and spending New Years eve up there.  Everyone was very excited!!!

 Jantz napping with her gifts!!
Some of the other things they got were
Jadyn: inta pot cook book from Jaice, Nike ear/headband and Jersey from Jantzyn, Home decor from Jorrin, neck pillow from me and Terry, and her favorite gift was a new betta fish from Tim and Jaice.  Jake: yard gloves and homemade tie from Jantzyn, Grill cover from Jaice, Grill cooking tools and Mt Dew from Jor, exploding kittens extension from Terry and I and his favorite new work boots from Tim.
 Jorrin got: Gift card to hope ave from jadyn and jake, bath and body stars perfume and shower steamer cubes from jaice, lime chips and jewerly from Tim, Black sweater from jantz, and a laundry bag and money from terry and I.
Jaice got: wallet from jadyn and jake, jersey and snow gloves from jantzyn, rings and aux cord from Jor, hoodie from Terry and I and Tim gave her a promise ring!

Tim: home made tie and hiking socks (for when he's in poland on marches) from jantz, jadyn and Jorrin gave him his scriptures and pencils, and we gave him the case to go along with the scriptures and a travel kit while he's in poland with soap, tp, hand sanitizer, chapstick, q-tips (to clean his gun), warm gloves and a knights beanie. Ctr ring, custom engraved dog tags (he cried when he open and read the dog tags), open when letters, and photo album from jaice.  He loved loved his scriptures and wouldn't put them down the rest of the time he was here (to Jaice's annoyance sometimes).
Jantz: eyelash growth stuff, airheads, and bbq from Jor, necklace from jadyn and jake, nike headband and snow gloves from Jaice,  blanket from Tim, and Terry and I gave her hoodie and shoes.
Me: Jor Jay and jantz gave me a $60 gift card to hurst along with Jor gave me some relaxation stuff and a pretty picture of Jesus.  Jaice gave me a beautiful necklace with a nice card to go with it, and Tim gave me a blanket.
Terry: extension cord and gift card to home depot, and a book about bon jovi from Jorrin, another home depot card from Jadyn and Jake, a new shirt from jantz,  snow gloves from Jaice, and Tim gave him a Red Rider bb gun.  He said he never had one as a kid and loved it.

We got up around 10:00 and did gifts then spent the rest of the day enjoying being together eating Christmas dinner with my parents and playing Jakes new game.

My dad telling about his experiences in the Army.  I hadn't heard a lot of these stories and it was so fun to listen to him.  I learned a lot about my newlywed parents that night.  They had so many fun adventures!

Terry spent the day counting how many times this girls went around the church in her skates.  He watched her go from amateur to pro during the day...haha

2nd half of December

After 4 1/2 months of waiting the day finally came....December 20th, Tim flew in to Vegas.  So we all headed down to pick him up.  We got there a little early so we could eat dinner and then he texted and said his flight was a 1/2 hour early so we ate faster and headed to the airport.

He had joked about wanting signs, so we couldn't dissapoint him..we made a couple and proudly stood there displaying them until he came.  We weren't sure which way he would be coming into baggage so we stood facing the escaltors but kept looking down the long  hall way just in case.  Pretty soon.  I told Jaice I think that's him.  We just stood there waving his signs and yelling his name until he got close enough for Jaice to run and give him a hug and kiss.  He eventually made his way over to the rest of us.  It was a very happy and tender moment for them.  Everyone bet me I would cry, but I made it without crying.  I was just so happy they finally got to see one another again.

We spent the rest of the days before Christmas trying to cram as much Christmas tradition stuff as we could.

They did take time to just enjoy being together too.

One thing about Tim is he is very very observant about what is going on around him.  We were watching a episode of the office when he gets up goes to his room and them comes back with an army patch that he had noticed in an episode.  It was so funny!!

We had the family party Saturday night.

Jorrin and Lollie napping together.  Well until Lollie stunk it up and woke Jor up.

Tim gave each of the girls Pink Tasers and pink pepper spray.  Of course Jaice had to try it out on herself.  I couldn't believe she really did it but she did.  She ended up having two little red marks for a couple of days but was fine.

We opened up our family PJ's.  They didn't know but I did them Cabin themed for our big Christmas Present.

We decided we could take them ourselves with the timer.  It took about 7 tries but we finally got a decent one to work with.  It was so much fun doing it though.  We were laughing so hard!!  And Tim was so excited.  He said it was his first time ever getting pj's and being in a christmas photo.

I was so excited to have all my kids come over and go to our ward Christmas program.  Tim even bought church stuff to wear.

That night we went and looked at the temple and then to the Desert Gardens.

Jor just standing there alone in between the two couples...haha.

I seriously wish one time I could get a picture with everyone trying to smile...haha

On Monday after dinner we went driving around to look at lights.  My mom had been bugging my dad to at least put up there lamp with he carolers...this is as far as he got.  And they didn't even turn it on...haha!! After light's we came home and watched Home Alone and the kids went to bed around 1:00 am.  (Christmas is a on a seperate post)

After Christmas we still had a couple days before our trip so we continued to fit in a much family time as we could.  We went bowling and had Wingers (We all love it and wanted Tim to try it).

 We tried to go ice skating and shooting in one day but we just couldn't do it and settle for shooting instead.  Im so glad we did.  It was so much fun!!!

 us trying to do the self timer again.  It only took three tries this time.