LOVEly Christmas Memories 2009...

*** I LOVE the movie "A Christmas Story", it's just one laugh after another. I was even given the "Christmas Story" version of Monopoly for Christmas last year, and we have enjoyed playing it with Jackson this season. One of the most memorable parts of the movie is when Ralphie receives homemade pink bunny pajamas from his Aunt Clara on Christmas Day, and his mother begs him to try them on. Poor Ralphie is already crushed that he didn't receive his Red Rider Bebe Gun (yet), and having to wear the humiliating pajamas only adds insult to his already broken heart. Anyway, my 6'6 brother Caleb, has been joking around for years about finding a pair of one piece pajamas that would fit him. This Christmas, his wish finally came true. Our brother Andrew found pink bunny pajamas (bunny ears and all) not only for Caleb, but for his wife Lauren as well. It was hilarious to watch him open the present and hear him say "Oh, I think this one is for Lauren!" It was even more funny to see them wear the pajamas together! They were such good sports, and I have to say that will definitely be a lasting Christmas memory from this year!


*** James got me a gift certificate to Elase (medical spa specializing in hair removal). Of course any girl would LOVE this gift, but what is so special about it is that I didn't ask James for it, or even throw any hints his way. He thought of it all by himself and was excited to give it to me. He wrapped it up in a very odd package with a false bottom, so at first I thought nothing was really in the package! That was his favorite part!

*** I LOVE how we got Jackson and Paul exactly what they asked for, and so did my parents, but their favorite gifts were from Uncle Andrew - they always are. They have loved playing with their finger board ramp and lazer tag set! Who would have known... Uncle Andrew!

*** We went shopping for Jackson's skateboard shortly after Thanksgiving, and I had to beg James to try out the different boards to see which one would be most suitable. He reluctantly rode on a couple before he ressurrected some nostalgic childhood feelings about the fun of skateboards, and I asked him if he wanted one for Christmas. He immediately said "NO", as if it were a silly question, then 20 minutes later (as if he had been deeply p0ndering), he said "maybe I do want a skateboard for Christmas!". So, my parents bought him one, and I got him a Tony Hawk skater jacket :) I just thought it would be fun for when he went to the skate park with Jackson, but he has worn that jacket everyday since Christmas! He already has a pair of Vans, so he is all set. He may be the only 33 year old dad out there with his son - I LOVE it!

*** I LOVE the bar stools my mom bought for our kitchen. They go perfectly with our kitchen, and I LOVE that I didn't have to shop for them! The boys love eating at the bar now, and it's so much easier to clean up after mealtime!

*** I LOVE that I won the game of Settlers both times we played over Christmas - Lauren doesn't though! (This will be the test to see if anyone in my family will acutally read this ridiculously long post, it's my journal though!) Just teasing Lauren, I love your competitive gaming spirit! I'll never beat you in Ticket to Ride!

*** I LOVE that Caleb insisted that we have Asparagus Souffle, and about 3/4 of it has been sitting in my refrigerator for a almost a week now! Come up and eat it :)

*** I LOVE how excited Luke and Andrea are about being pregnant. Luke bought Andrea the cutest maternity clothes that grow with you through pregnancy, and she is already wearing them because she likes them so much!

*** I LOVE that Jackson and Paul tell me at least once a day that Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas! I'm so thankful that they have been taught that, and I hope they can always remember it!

Christmas Slide Show...

Weekend Getaway...

This past weekend, James and I were able to have a fun break from the kids. My dad gave each of my married brothers, and us, a free hotel room stay, and he and my mom watched the kids for us. We swam with the kids in the nice warm indoor pool before we sent them off though. I think they will be talking about it for months! I found it very humerus that my brothers both seemed disappointed that we weren't keeping the kids with us! Parenthood might be very eye opening for them :)

We had a fun triple date to Johnny Carino's (my favorite Italian Restaurant!) with Caleb and Lauren, Luke and Andrea. Then we did some shopping - fun girl shopping at DSW and Nordstrom Rack. I had James try on the most ridiculous looking coat at the Rack, and we tried to snap a picture before he took it off, but he wouldn't have it! We stayed up late playing Ticket to Ride and eating yummy treats from the gift basket my mom put together for us. It was so fun to just have a break in the midst of all the holiday bussiness and play with some of my most favorite people in the whole world! The kids LOVED spending the weekend at their grandparents house of course. They decorated sugar cookies for us, and we shared In'N'Out with everyone when we went to pick up the kids. Too bad every weekend can't be like that!

Much Awaited News!!!!!!!!!!!

I can finally announce...I'm going to be an aunt!!!!!!! My youngest brother Luke, and his wife Andrea, are expecting their first baby this July! I have waited for so long for this to happen that I can hardly even believe that it is happening! I'm so excited to have cousins on my side of the family, and I'm so excited to watch Luke and Andrea experience the joys of parenthood. They are going to be amazing parents, and they are going to have one very loved baby! We are SOOOO excited for you two!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

We attended Paul's "Breakfast With Santa" at preschool this past week, and I was so proud of my kids for actually sitting on Santa's lap! It seems silly, but there were only a few preschool kids that would go anywhere near Santa! Breakfast was actually served without Santa, because the majority of preschoolers wouldn't go to the table with him there.

Paul wants a toy laptop computer from Santa this year. After reading many reviews and weighing out the options, I just decided to get a cheap computer without a full screen. At Costco yesterday as we strolled down the toy section, Paul pointed out a Star Wars computer and said that's what he wanted. I took a look and told him that I would pass on his request to Santa. I "sneaked" back over and put one of the computers on the bottom of the cart, sure that it would be hidden since he was riding at the top of the cart, and my main bin was full of groceries. At the checkout counter, I hid the computer under our food, and requested that it remain hidden and put underneath the cart again. The cashier very covertly slipped it under the cart, and Paul seemed oblivious to my secret operation. I again took great care to hide it in the back of the van. During our drive home, Paul asked me if he could play with his new computer when we got home! I was flabbergasted! I convinced him that I hadn't bought a computer and I didn't know what he was talking about! Then when we got home, I left him strapped into the car, and quickly folded up the computer in my jacket to hide it inside. My little stinker got inside, and asked me where I hid his computer! I told him he was crazy, and he said "Sarah, I saw you bring that computer inside!"

Later that night after the kids were in bed, I pulled out the computer to get James's approval. He was so excited about it (the perfect toy for a Star Wars computer geek), that he immediately opened it and set off the Star Wars theme music! I told him he had better run to another room so we didn't have to hear "Sarah, I want my computer. I heard you and J-dog playing with it last night!" Thank goodness, Paul hasn't mentioned it. Even though I was soooo careful, I think I ruined his Santa surprise!

Thanksgiving Vacation...

Regrettably, I failed to recharge my camera battery before heading up to my parent's house for Thanksgiving, and I didn't get any of my own pictures. My parent's took plenty, so I will have to get those and add them in sometime. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving feast prepared mostly by my mom, served on china in her fancy dining room. The day before, when she started to prepare the food, my mom called and told me not to pack up yet because her oven broke! They headed out right away to buy a new one, and luckily everything worked out and they ended up with a very nice oven that did the job! It was great to have the whole family there to play games and just visit and relax.

I have been meaning to write about what happened while I was gone celebrating my b-day with friends 1 1/2 weeks ago! After being gone for about 10 minutes, James called to inform me that the boys had, again, pulled every last thing out of their closet to form a "dam" to block the door. When he got through the door, he discovered that they had been using an ink roller to basically paint the bedroom! There were ink hand prints on everything, several articles of clothing ruined, and a couple spots on the carpet that are still discolored after attempting to rid them of ink! I had no idea that the ink roller was packed up in a box that hadn't been opened since we moved into this house. We were sooooo frustrated. Of course, we asked them why they would make such a horrible mess, and we got the usual answer of "we don't know"! UGGGGGGG!

Paul didn't learn his lesson. He found a black Sharpie at my parent's house and decided to write all over her newly painted (I'm talking a few weeks old) bathroom walls. Everything I read online about removing ink ended up taking the paint off anyway, so the wall must be repainted. My mom was a much better sport about the mess than we were!

Our family has 5 birthays from November 3-December 3, so we had one big Birthday Celebration on Saturday. Lauren made this amazing smothered chicken copycat from Outback Steakhouse, we went and had our obligitory "Santa" at the mall picuture, and then played kickball at the park. I would highly suggest playing kickball with your parents - it's very entertaining. My mom explained that the top half of her body wants to run, but the bottom half doesn't get the message. She fell flat on her face laughing during her first run to first base! I hope we play again soon :) I'm looking forward to the upcoming holidays as well - we decorated for Christmas 3 weeks ago!