Happy Holidays

I didn't have time to get out Christmas cards this year - I just couldn't get it all together. We wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. We are grateful for all of our blessings this past year, and for all of our wonderful family and friends. Thank you for the wonderful cards - it was great to hear from all of you.

Happy Holidays

Love The Claysons

Welcome Molly

On December 26th, my sister Heather, after 4 weeks of bed rest was induced, and Molly Lynn Haws was born at 10:30 p.m. She weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 21 inches long. She has a ton of hair!! We are so excited to finally meet her. Congratulations Heather, Aaron and Lilly!

Christmas Day

After our fun Christmas morning at home, we decided to brave the roads and visit Chad's family. I was a little nervous because it had snowed a ton, and the roads weren't to great, so we decided to take the pick-up (thank goodness). We made it there, but had to go through plenty of snow drifts. We opened more presents (we are blessed), and then went outside to play in the snow before dinner. I was worried about making it home, but Chad is a great driver in the snow (even though he likes to scare me!). We made it home and crashed from all of our Christmas festivities.

Claire and Owen came outside to go sledding, but they didn't like that the sleds were hooked to the back of a 4-wheeler. I finally convinced them both to give it a try. Owen just cried, and Claire laughed/cried, but at least they tried it.
Our finished Frosty. The kids had so much fun making him.

Christmas Morning 2008

Christmas morning was so much fun. It was so nice to be at home, and I think Chad and I were more excited than the kids. They slept in, so we didn't even open presents until 8:30. We actually had to wake Owen up, so he wasn't to excited about his stocking at first. He would look at things, and then just throw them behind his back. It was so funny. Claire thought Santa was going to come to her door and bring her presents, but she was happy to see that he just left them under the tree. We only had a slight problem. We had gone to Costco and bought a ton of AA batteries because we assumed that Owen's gift would take that size - nope it took AAA. So, Chad had to put the pickup in 4-wheel drive, and go down to the gas station to get new batteries. I think we paid more for 12 AAA batteries than we did for all of the AA batteries we bought. Oh well!!
Claire got a princess castle and some princesses to play with. She loves to lock the princesses in the tower while they wait for their prince to come - only one problem, she didn't get any princes.
Owen was so excited to get his GeoTrac. He hasn't stopped playing with it since he opened the package. He also got an extra train and some extra tracks to go with it.
We were so glad that J.R. could come and stay with us for Christmas. It was so great for the kids to get to know him better, and I think he might have even enjoyed himself.
Yes, it took all three of these boys to put together Owen's GeoTrac. I think Chad and J.R. had more fun with it than Owen.
Grant had no idea what was going on. He actually slept through the present process, and woke up after all the excitement had worn off.

We started our Christmas Eve festivities by decorating cookies. Thankfully my brother J.R. came to visit for Christmas this year, so he helped the kids decorate the cookies, and we just got to watch.

This is how Grant helped us make cookies.
Then Heather, Aaron, and Lilly all came over and we had a nice dinner. Then we opened a few presents and had a great time just visiting until it was time to go to bed and get ready for Santa to come. Don't you just love the kids new P.J.'s - their Aunt Jeanna gave them those (I love Owen's cape).

J.R. proudly showing off his Mickey Mouse coloring/story book - boy was he excited!!



Opening presents from cousins.
Last but not least, leave cookies for Santa and carrots for the Reindeer.

Clayson Family Party

This year we had the Clayson Family Party on Christmas Eve, Eve. The weekend before we had had Chad's Grandparents Christmas party, so the kids were a little confused when I told them we were going to Grandma's for a party. Owen just looked at me and said, "Again??" As always, there was lots of fun, and everyone had a great time. The kids were especially happy to see that Santa made an appearance. We started the evening with Grandpa telling the kids "The Night Before Christmas." We decided it was a little like nursery because they are all so young, and no one sat still for very long. Everyone got a chance to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what you wanted. It gets a little harder to decide what you want the older you get I've decided. We also read the Christmas Story, and all the kids dressed up to fit a part. Owen didn't want to dress up to be Joseph, luckily Uncle Brad stepped in. Owen decided after everyone was dressed, that he wanted to be in the pictures though. Claire was so excited to be Mary, she took her part very seriously and took very good care of Baby Jesus (Grant). It was so much fun to watch. The kids exchanged presents from cousins, and Claire was so excited to get a new tutu, and a book. Owen got a remote control car, which after trying to find batteries for, he wouldn't put down. Grant got more clothes, which are much needed. I didn't think I would have to buy much with the second boy, but they were born in different seasons. We also exchanged gifts with Chad's brothers and sisters. We got an awesome popcorn bowl from Kerry and Jason that will be put to good use. We had a great time, and it got everyone excited for Christmas.

Let it Snow!

This morning we woke up with a ton of snow. It had snowed all day yesterday and last night, and then the wind blew!! I decided that I needed to help Chad out with the shoveling so I got the baby to go to sleep, we put on our snow clothes, and out we went. Owen couldn't even walk because the snow was so deep. We had fun for a few minutes, and then decided we wanted to go inside and have hot chocolate.