Christmas pics...

I still can't find my camera!  I get so frustrated over my camera situation that I can't even think about it.  How do they vanish from the earth?  It's so annoying!  I've only had one key for my mini van since we bought it four years ago & I've never lost it, yet I lose my camera all the time.  Luckily I'm usually with Marci & she always has her camera so I took these pics from her blog.  It will probably be our last Christmas at my parents Sandy house since they have their house in St. George now.

*Christmas Day*

I really want to sit here & procrastinate cleaning up the Christmas disaster but I can't find my camera.  I'll have to steal pics from Marci's blog when she blogs our Christmas day party at my parents house.  Let's just say I went into the ugly cry when my parents gave us a generous check and said it was also from my Grandpa.  My Grandpa Turner has continued the tradition of giving us a card with money in it on Christmas day, even after my Grandma passed away.  He'd even write our names on the envelope & it was hard for him as he got older.  It brought back memories of always being with my Grandpa Turner on Christmas day.  It just doesn't seem right to not hear his deep voice say "Good ol' Justy nobody likes him".  It really made me miss him a lot!  I really appreciated my parents giving us some money and making Christmas extra special, just like they do every year.  They always makes the same delicious food that I look forward to every year.  Thanks!

Christmas morning was so much fun with the boys.  We bought Camden a locker dresser for only $25 on ksl.com & Jason stayed up late cleaning up the graffiti & painting the drawers.  They were all very happy with what they got.  It's always a relief to see them so happy on Christmas!  Last year I seemed to get it all wrong & they were nice about it but you could see a little disappointment on their faces.  This year they were all smiles!  The only thing I messed up on was that I got the wrong blue bouncy ball for Keaton.  Luckily Grammy gave him a blue bouncy ball at the party & when he opened it he said "this is the exact one I wanted".  I can't read minds!!!  Santa even left a present on the roof again this year.  He really needs to make sure those elves are paying more attention.  Luckily we saw it & lucky for me there was a surprise for me in it too!  The big present had a race car track for Keaton & Kody (dumb toy was cheap & is already not working), ipod touches for Caleb & Camden (they were shocked beyond belief), AND an iPad for ME!  I was shocked and I really shouldn't admit this but I was so shocked that I broke out in tears!  Jason reminded me that I didn't even cry when he proposed but I cried over an iPad.  Jason got cowboy boots but said he'll only wear them if we live in a small town or camping so I'm returning them and he also got a bunch of much needed new clothes.  I simplified Christmas morning this year and only made some easy cinnamon rolls that come out of a box.  I've always made a big breakfast but I've learned that they are all too excited to eat & really appreciate it so we'll save the big breakfast for Christmas Eve instead.  Christmas was great but my bank account, my weight & my sanity are all happy for a quiet January.  I'm already thinking about my resolutions & of course they involve working out & budgeting.  I can't wait!

I just found these pictures of Grandpa from a few years ago.

*Christmas Eve*

 Keaton loves his pillow pet and ball blankie.  I was in the kitchen & laughed when I turned to find my little buddy all comfy on the kitchen table.

 The boys were playing with the camera again.  I love to see what pictures come out of their little photo shoots.

Grandma Dianne was here today for a Christmas Eve party. 

 Camden took this picture of Keaton & Grandma Allen.  I love how his arm is around her.  The kids love her!

 Jason woke up feeling like poop but luckily felt a little better for the party.  He is not allowed to be sick on Christmas Eve!

 Mary & Grandma Dianne

 Ben, Mary, Chris & Sam

 Grandma Dianne got all the kids to sing.

 Ryan

 Ashley

Sam

 Keaton telling Santa AGAIN that he wants a blue bouncy ball & blue remote control car.  It's a good thing Santa found a blue remote truck today because for some dumb reason Santa had a red one.

 Ben

Santa told Cam that he's one of his very favorite kids.  Cam was trying to hide his cast from Santa because he didn't want him to know he got it from hitting his brother's super strong shoulder bone.

 Grandma Dianne gave Kody these pajamas & he put them right on & loves them!

 Austin-- We gave him a mini pool table & he said "Thanks guys, now I won't have to hit the bar".  I'm not sure if everyone thought it was funny but for some reason we couldn't stop laughing at that comment coming from a 12 year old.

Santa had Taylor sit next to him instead of on his lap.  Taylor looked very cool tonight with his goatee & cool t-shirt.

 Santa kicked back & just hung out with Grandma Allen.  He said he's known her for a long, long time.

 Her is ribbon man.. I mean Caleb.  He came in last night covered in bows & said "Never underestimate the power of ribbon man" & then he started throwing bows at us.  Camden is known as the funny one in the family but I have to say that Caleb is now taking his place.  O.K they are both funny!  I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings here.

 Here is the Emily.  Adorable!

We were happy to host the Christmas party at our house this year.  Thanks to my mom's directions my turkey turned out pefect!  Who knew that you don't need to get all fancy with cooking a turkey?  I sprayed it with butter spray, added salt & pepper & a wee bit of water, wrapped it really tight w/ tin foil in a tin foil container, cooked it on low for seriously about 12 hours & WOW it was so tender & delicious!  Everyone brought wonderful food to go with it.  Santa even showed up with gifts for all the kids.  Grandma Dianne had some fun games planned.  The party was even better this year because Monica is back from the Peace Corps & Grandma Allen traveled from Orem even though her knee is still hurting from surgery.  A grand time was had by all!  Yay for Christmas Eve, presents, food, memories & hanging out with family. 

Camden gets a cast

 Camden broke his finger today & will get his permanent cast in a few days.  He wants a glow in the dark one.  I've watched this kid fall hard off his bike, fall out of trees & get in some crazy fights with Caleb where I definitely would have thought he'd break something.  Today all he did was hit Caleb's boney shoulder (Caleb claims he flexed his shoulder & has a special bone that pokes out as his weapon) with the side of his hand.  It quickly started to swell up & look bruised.  I called Dr. Marci & Dr. Robb for an opinion on what to do.  Then Jason got home & we called Dr. Potter (great doctor) to see where we should take him.  Jason took him to insta care & he said that when the doctor came in & said it was broken that Camden couldn't help but smile:).  He's loving this and said "I bet I'm going to get so much attention for this tomorrow & I'm gonna love it".  I can't believe this is the first broken bone our kids have had.  It really wasn't as traumatic as I would have thought.  At least I didn't have to see a bone sticking out & I'm glad Jason was the one to take him to insta care!

Of course you must salute when you have a cast on.  It's a good thing he hurt his right hand since he's left handed.

YAY for Christmas cupcakes

I'm in the middle of laundry hell due to some stomach flu issues where the boys missed the toilet.  I want to get it done before Santa comes in a few days.  I really didn't want to stop & decorate cupcakes so I decided to let them decorate all on their own.  They feel pretty cool & I'm sure that most the frosting is ending up on their face instead of on the cupcake.  They are so excited for the big day & want to be doing Christmas stuff 24/7.  Today we went to Chickfila with friends & to a movie w/ Grammy, Marci & kids.  It's now time to stay home for more than 10 seconds & get shiz done!  Is it bad that my boys don't think piss or shiz are bad words?  At least they don't say shit anymore.  Shit really is a gross word.  It's poop & we have enough poop talk around here.  I think a resolution for the new year will be for me (I'm worse than Jason) to quit saying bad words.  And one cute thing that I loved hearing the other day was Camden saying a prayer, pleading to his Heavenly Father to please make him feel better.  The poor kid was hugging the toilet (been there, done that;)) & praying.  It was pretty cute.  His prayer worked & he didn't throw up anymore.

Hangin' out w/ my boys

 Don't be afraid to eat stuff from our house.  I promise we only deliver food to people when I've made it & not the foot in the picture:)!

 Keaton & Kody were so happy to be making Christmas cupcakes with me while we listened to Christmas music.

 They wanted me to take more pictures of their sillyness.

 Camden finally got a haircut today.  I let him tell the hairdresser how to do it.  He loves being able to make his own hair decisions.  He loves his long hair but it was getting hard to comb through so it was time for a little trim.  I should have taken a before picture.  It was pretty crazy!

I have loved this holiday season.  Thanks to some early planning & help from the most amazing Grandmas on the planet I have managed to enjoy nearly every minute of December.  This blog is mostly for the good memories w/ an occasional dose of me bitching about something.  Weird that I can't seem to find my camera to document the moments where the house is a disaster & I'm having nag fest.  So Jason's mom (referred to as Grandma Dianne) stayed at our house during the first weekend of December so Jason and I could get ALL the Christmas shopping done in one day.  I've been able to spend my spare time hanging out with my boys, instead of spending it running to the store for Christmas shopping.  We've made gingerbread men, cookies, salt dough ornaments, Christmas cupcakes, played w/ friends, played at the zoo, played at Discover Gateway, drove around & ranked houses on how well they decorated, delivered around 25 neighbor gifts (just salt water taffy in a Christmas bag) & lots more FUN stuff.  For the most part (remember I don't report my whining or nagging) the boys have enjoyed a nice Christmas time mom instead of the one they've seen in years past.  This is also due to a new tradition that was made this year to wrap all the presents in one night.  Me, Marci & my mom met at my mom's house for a night of wrapping.  It only took us 6 hours to get it all done.  We did take a break to eat some Chinese takeout.  My mom even started our wrapping party out by giving us a gift.  It was giant scissors with tape on the end.  What a great invention.  I always lose the tape when I'm wrapping so this was delightful:).  My mom (mostly referred to as Grammy) didn't even wrap her presents she just helped us with ours.  So a million THANK YOUS go out to Grandma Dianne & Grammy for making my holiday stress free, hence making me a good mommy with no guilt about ignoring my kids while I stress.  Thanks to my parents I always remember Christmas as an enjoyable experience & I want the same memories for my kids.  So Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night.

Cleaning Lady

I kept a little secret from Jason.  I hired some people to come & clean the house.  I've only had them come twice but I can't wait to have them come again.  I told him I had a secret & that he had to guess what it was.  He never figured it out so I just told him the other day & he wasn't mad.  I just have to say that hiring someone to help get me caught up once a month is the BEST treat I could ever get.  Seriously walking in my house after they'd been here was amazing.  The amazingness of it is right up there with getting married & giving birth to my children.  I highly suggest trying it.  I know it's expensive but I had to think of things to cut back on so I could give myself this treat.  I can't wait to do it again!  Amazing I tell ya, AMAZING!

Legos -the best toy in the universe-

A few years ago Santa brought the boys a butt load of Legos.  We've since added lots of Lego sets to our collection.  Sometimes they'll go a few weeks without playing with them so I'll think maybe they are growing out of it, but then all of a sudden they are playing with them 24/7 again.  I'm so glad I had my boys so close.  Sometimes I look at families that have their kids spaced out with 5 yrs. between each child & it looks a lot more organized & I wonder if I did it all wrong.  I don't feel like they have the messes I have but it's nice to have Caleb & Camden playing Legos together.  They would all be so bored without each other.  I'm not the best mom when it comes to watching cartoons with my kids or playing toys with them.  I love to cook & read with them so I'm not horrible but at least they have each other to hang out with.  I never feel like I'm neglecting them when I spend the day cleaning because they have each other to hang out with. 

Keaton & his girlfriends

Keaton said this is a picture of Jason driving the car & he's in the back with his girlfriends.  It's Quincey, Macey & Lauren (Bridger's sister).  Keaton is always talking about his girlfriends.  He wants to have a party and invite all the girls.  I said "what about the boys" & he said "oh yeah sure I guess we could invite Walker".  He really loves hanging out with girls.  He played with my cousin Shelly's daughter Sydney (he calls her Sigme) at our family Christmas party & he really liked her & can't wait to play with Sigme again.