New Years Eve and Illegal Fireworks

We spent New Years Even in style this year. My parents came so we started off with Owen's favorite dinner "dip sandwiches." After dinner my parents treated us to a movie (I can't recall the last time we even went to a movie, so it was very special). The girls and kids went to see Tangled, and Chad and my dad saw True Grit. Grant had never been to a movie, and the previews were playing as we walked in. He wouldn't move, he was so fascinated. It was a great movie, and we all had a good time.

After the movie the illegal fireworks came out. My dad loves fireworks, and he always has some good one on the 4th of July and New Years. The kids had a great time, and we let them do sparklers, and let one firework off. Then, they were off to bed. The adults played games, ate food, and then at midnight toasted, and sent Chad outside to let off more fireworks. What a guy, it was soooooo cold, and he would light one, then run back inside. It was a great night, and we couldn't have spent it better any other way!

A Visit from Grandma and Grandpa Farmer

Grandma and Grandpa Farmer came to visit us on New Year's Eve. They had to take Amber back to BYU-I so they came a few days early to spend some time with us. We were so glad that they did, and so were the kids because we saved their Christmas presents from them until they came. It was one of the first things we did when they walked in the door. Owen got an Iron Man hand, Claire got a new pair of snow boots (thank you!) and a new Barbie, Grant got a really cute truck, and Ava got a new outfit. They also gave us some BBQ tools, but then quickly took Chad shopping for our new BBQ.

All I Want for Christmas . . .

Claire came up one morning during Christmas break, and was missing her front tooth. We are still not sure where it is, but I'm pretty sure that she swallowed it. She left the Tooth Fairy a note, and was so happy with her dollar. It is so fun listening to her talk, and I was so excited that she lost her tooth before Christmas so we could sing a fun song together!

Christmas 2010

Christmas was a lot of fun this year. I always look forward to it because of the kids. I want it to be the best day for them, and something they look forward to. We had a wonderful dinner on Christmas Eve with our friend from the ward and his kids. We read the Christmas Story and then watched the Christmas DVD by the church. It was very nice to remember our Savior, and why we celebrate Christmas. The kids were very excited, put out the cookies for Santa, and went straight to bed.

Claire woke up first, but we made her stay in our room for awhile. She was very good about walking straight upstairs into our room since this was the first Christmas in her new room. She held off until just after 7:00 and then the madness began.

Santa had a hard time trying to figure out what to get Claire for Christmas. You can only have so many Barbies. Santa decided that since Claire loves to draw, and is always using her mom and dads good paper that she would love an Art Easel. She loved her art easel and her new art box. She also got a couple of new outfits, and some easel paper.

Santa had an easy time picking out what to get for Owen. He loves so many things! He got a walking Iron Man, "which is exactly what he wanted," some superhero cars, some superhero squad cars and a box of superhero costumes so he could save the world all by himself.

Santa also loved getting everything ready for Grant. Grant loves Toy Story, especially "Guzz" (Buzz). He got a talking Buzz Lightyear, a Buzz blanket for his bed, some Toy story figures and a Mr. Potato Head for the bathtub. It was so much fun to watch him figure out what Christmas was, and how much he enjoyed unwrapping the presents.

Santa got Ava some very practical Christmas presents. She got some new bottles, a new mattress pad, a new blanket and a couple of chew toys. She mostly wanted to play with all the paper that was all around her.

Mom and Dad got exactly what they needed a new TV. Their TV was very old and not working very well. They also got a new Blue Ray Player so that they can watch Netflix movies upstairs. It is very nice, and has made us very happy with our purchase. We were also lucky to get a new BBQ from Mom and Dad Farmer and a new handmade picnic table from Mom and Dad Clayson. We are now all set for the summer BBQ season.

Christmas Best

This year I had so much fun dressing my family for Christmas. Chad wouldn't get in the picture because we were in a hurry, but he also has a matching tie. I just wanted to make the boys a tie, but I had enough material to make Claire a skirt and then the girls got matching hair things, although Claire couldn't find hers. It was so much fun for me, and so great to hear all the comments at church. I'm not sure I will get Chad to wear matching ties very often unless I get a little more manly looking material.

Ice Cream

After Claire's dance recital we went out for ice cream. Chad gave Ava her first taste, and she was in love. I think Chad was just as dirty as Ava. Claire was so happy to get to have a special night. We can't wait till the next dance recital.

Claire's Dance Recital

December 16th was a big day for our family. It was the last day of school for everyone, the beginning of Christmas Vacation, and of course Claire's dance recital. She was very, very, very excited. The theme for the whole recital was the 70's, and it was great. Her dance teacher just started this year, so this was her first dance recital. There aren't many classes, so she put a short skit in between each dance. Owen was laughing louder than anyone, and he loved the music. Chad said this was the best recital he had ever been to. It was a lot of fun. Claire danced to the song "Dancing Queen." She did great, and of course loved wearing making the best. I was very proud of her, and she is getting much better. She is still taking dance class with her friend Elise, and now Ellie and Maddi our neighbors are dancing a different class. It was fun to see them all do a great job.

Clayson Family Christmas Party

This year our annual family party was hosted by Trevor and Shana. Chad had to work all day, so luckily the kids and I made it there with the help of some family. We decided not to exchange sibling gifts instead we adopted a family from the local shelter. The kids helped pitch in and wrapped all the presents. Hopefully they got something out of it. Then we played games, and had time for us all to perform our skits. I will honestly tell you that Chad and I were not excited about that part. It was a big source of contention at our house, so Chad came up with a short little thing. Everyone did a great job. The kids exchanged books, and then we were visited by Santa. It was a lot of fun, and we can't wait till next year.

Random Cuteness

O Christmas Tree!

The kids could hardly wait to decorate the Christmas Tree this year. They were put off a couple of days because I got sick and then we had to let the tree settle the next day before we could decorate it. They had so much fun and are getting so big. We still had most of the ornaments on the bottom, but they are getting better. Thankfully dad was helpful and lifted them up to the top many times. Ava loved the lights, and Grant finally figured out how much fun it was to decorate the tree.

Oh No, you didn't!

OK, I know I'm a little behind again on blogging, but I did something today that I can't believe I did!! Seriously. I am actually quite proud of myself. So, the kids and I were sitting in the mall parking lot waiting for Chad's bus to come. We try to go for a ride when we have a Saturday with not much else to do (besides clean the house!). I was parked in a spot specified for mothers who are pregnant or with infants. I love those parking spots. It makes me feel like someone actually appreciates that I have my hands full. I won't even park in a spot like that unless I look very pregnant, or have Ava with me. Well, the spot across from me was also marked for the same people, and a few minutes earlier someone had come out and got in their car with a teenager. Seriously!! It just aggravates me, those people can walk a little farther. So next comes a little VW Bug with two teenage girls in it. I watch the driver read the sign, and then they both shrug, and park there anyways. I was mad. These girls don't look pregnant, nor have a little child with them. So as they were getting out, I got out of my car, and asked them if they saw the sign. The driver looks at me like "who cares." So I proceed to tell her that I watched her look at the sign and that she should move her car. I told her it was marked for specific people and unless they had a baby or were pregnant, they should move. Then I asked her if she wanted to drag my 4 kids across the parking lot by herself. She gave me this look of "whatever," got in her car and moved it. I honestly thought I would feel guilty, but I don't. But, I still can't believe that I did that. I think I'm getting old, and today I was that old lady who told someone what to do. Oh well, maybe next time they will think before they try to break the rules.