Christmas...Finally!

I'm rebelling!!! I'm leaving my dishes in the sink, Taylor's crying himself to sleep, Tanner is watching Duck Tales for the ___th time today, and Ryan is re-formatting the hard drive in his laptop...I'm going to BLOG!!!

While working on Tuesday, December 23rd, I made an executive decision that we would leave for St. George the following morning instead of after opening Santa's goodies on Christmas Day as originally planned. We are glad we trekked across Utah on such a good day! The roads only got yucky after Cove Fort, and we heard (and saw when we returned) that we were blessed with some WONDERFUL snow on Christmas Eve, but yucky driving conditions in SE Idaho.

We had such a fun time with Ryan's Parents!!! They are working at the St. George Temple for the winter, and they showed us around the temple grounds on Christmas Day. Their apartment is slightly smaller than ours, and just because it rained the three days we were there, didn't stop us from picking Pecan nuts from the temple grounds, touring historical sites, and going for nice, wet walks! Tanner especially loved the Visitor's Center, which was also a fun place to visit...quite a few times, I might add!

I TOTALLY suprized Ryan with a GPS system...no worries, he's already returned it though for a bigger and better model...I wonder if we'll actually use it!!! I also got him this cool book about Idaho, with trails and locations, all with GPS coordinates...when my dad saw it, he was in love...so we let him keep it and will get Ryan another one.

I think the highlight of our trip was actually going swimming in an indoor pool not far from St. George (...Santa Clara?). It had a nice warm pool, a water slide, 'lazy river', etc...that was PERFECT to wear out the boys before our long drive home the following day. Sadly, but for your sake, I got no pictures of these events. We were so relaxed we forgot to take the camera with us anywhere...it sat at our hotel the entire trip!!!

After arriving at my mom and dad's house in Chesterfield following a never-ending 8 hour drive on Saturday, we were so relieved that we were almost home. While in Chesterfield, we had a really fun time with family, eating, laughing, laughing, laughing and more laughing!!! Sunday morning we all dressed and got ready for church. My sister Stephanie was supposed to speak in Sacrament Meeting, but church was canceled due to ____. We have no idea. The weather was yucky, but it wasn't a complete white out. Perhaps some of the widows were drifted in, I'm not sure. Nevertheless, we all piled into cars and drove th 11 miles into town to hear Reed's friend report home from his mission.

Monday, while still at my parents, we had an absolute BLAST playing in the snow!!! The temperature was in the 30's and after hauling our snow clothes clear across the desert and back, we were going to use them, by darn!!!

Where's Ryan? My little brother, Clay, and Ryan built, or should I say, DUG this AWESOME snow cave from all the snow in the driveway! It had three separate openings, and was big enough for us all the crawl through...needless to say, I had a panic attack when I was inside, after hearing about so many avalanche victims throughout my life and feeling like the whole thing would cave just to see if I knew what to do!!! (think: cover head and make air pocket to breath, but don't breath hard!)

Deseret was a trooper and played with Tanner while Katelyn and I BUILT a snow fort for our war later that day...I could barely see over the top when it was all done. I think it goes without saying that we lost, the boys won. We even recruited Stephanie to come out and help us bomb them, but Tanner became a prisoner, and we had to free him while catapulting the guys. :)

After completely demolishing our sturdy walls, Ryan, Tanner and Deseret went on a short ride on the sled...Tanner was nervous at first, but loved it! I lovingly forced Ryan to wear a helmet, since he would be driving just around the house and close fields...we couldn't find helmets small enough for the other two...I had to apologize to Ryan afterwards...but he does look like he's ready for some serious riding! They didn't get too far before we saw our crew walking back from a field...the machine actually quit on them...it's quite a funny story but this is already getting too long!!!

When we arrived home, we found that Santa made a small drop-off at our house. Our kids are so confused!!! Tanner keeps asking, "Santa coming to our house today?" and I have to remind him that Santa only comes to our house once a year, but this year he forgot! Silly kid! We were blessed with a lot of necessities...clothes, shoes, you know, underwear, the works!!!
I'll end with an overall...Christmas was wonderful! Our families are so good...too good to us. We are so blessed, and know that our Heavenly Father loves us so much! We really enjoyed ourselves and our kids did surprisingly well for the week we were gone. We are glad we trekked the trek and enjoyed our families! We hope your Christmas was full of fun, family and good food, too!!!

{Traditions}

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Brown Paper Packages tied up with strings...no kidding. We {heart} brown paper at our house!!! Too bad it's more expensive that regular wrap! There's just something about that brown paper and twill tape.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real...I don't think we EVER had a fake tree growing up...cedar tree from Central Utah...but never a 'wanna-be'. The tradition continues!!!

3. When do you put up the tree? Between Thanksgiving and Christmas...the most logical time...usually the day or two after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down? Before it becomes a major fire hazard...usually within a week after Christmas. I did it Christmas Day once...don't know if that will happen again.

5. Do you like eggnog? I know it's like earning a rite to passage, but I'll take my milk with cookies...no raw eggs, please!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I loved my American Girl doll, but I think the gift I treasure most is my 'Puddin' Doll...she's a Madame Alexander doll, and I loved her to pieces!!! She would cry when you tilted her backwards and forwards, and her eyes would open and shut. To this day, she has no bangs (we tried to re-curl them and melted them off), her hair is...well...needing some work (too many hair-dressings by mommy Deanna), and she has no eyelashes. I don't even think she cries anymore. I cherish her, and treated her like a real baby, probably till I was eleven or twelve. (This image is of one on e-Bay...apparently she's vintage and worth $200...My Puddin is Priceless!)

7. Hardest person to buy for? Ryan...he just buys it if he wants it that bad, and I can't keep a secret...though this year, I am bound and determined!!! I hope he likes it!!!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Tanner...he knows what he wants!!! Not to say that he gets it, but he keeps reminding you, over, and over, and over, and over!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Kinda-Sorta. I have a cheap set from Deseret Book for the boys to play with, but they're choking hazard size. My Grandma Crandall gave me a carved nativity...of Mary and Joseph holding the Christ Child, carved from olive wood. I think the birthday following that Christmas she gave me three camels to go with it...I'd like to add to it... Someday I also want a Nativity with a removable baby Jesus...funny, I know, but my set is carved and attached. We had a tradition growing up that each morning (during the Christmas Season) to get Baby Jesus from the mantel and kiss him before catching the school bus. Fond memories!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Hmmm...Totally Mail...but I was going for inexpensive this year, and those of you who were not blood related got our 'blog-mail card'...if you 'happened' to get a card, your address is known. Everyone else, consider yourselves hugged. (I do have four left...any takers?)

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmmm, again...I remember one year I had been pleading for a new watch...mine had broken and I really needed one at the ripe ole' age of about 12. Well, Christmas Morning came and my little sister, Stephanie, who was probably 6 got a watch...was she even in 1st grade? I don't remember, but I do remember catching my mom looking at my dad with a "that went in the wrong stocking" look as my sister was fastening it to her wrist...they didn't have the heart to make her give it to its intended owner...I laugh now, but I was pretty bummed.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Gotta say that one about Sesame Street...We watched it EVERY YEAR! I kinda miss it. When Ryan and I got married, I begged for us to have the classic "Frosty" and "Rudolf"...the one where he gets stuck with the misfit elf who wants to be a dentist...yeah. Those are my favorite.

13. When do you start shopping? With three birthdays two weeks before Christmas, we shop starting with the sales after Christmas for the following year. Just to spread out the expense, you know?

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Can't really think of an instance, but I do recycle the gift bags, if they look presentable...and Ribbon is if can be pressed and re-used. I know, I'm a dork.

15. Lights on the tree? Only wrapped around every single branch and twig! We grew up with color, and until this year, I used the lights my mom used...wow. I think when she 'graduated' to a nice tree without all the kids' ornaments, she got white lights and I got the old, shorted out ones. I have finally thrown them out, but am keeping the tradition of colored lights alive by purchasing our very own, four strands of multi-colored lights. No shorts this year! (rest easy, Stevie!)

16. Favorite Christmas song? Any Christmas hymn, particularly Angels We Have Heard on High, Picture A Christmas from the Children's Song book, and Amy Grant's version of The Night Before Christmas.

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? This year we're changing it up a bit by driving to St. George after opening presents on Christmas Morning to celebrate with Ryan's parents. They're working at the Temple there for the winter. We have always spent it at my parents' house, and not to break tradition, will stop there on the way home for a few days. It's going to be a quiet Christmas morning at our house...I think we'll keep it that way. It's too frustrating to haul everything down and back.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yes. Can You?

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? Currently, a red light...Our star is too heavy, but it's also new. Up until this year, I had a bow, with the 'tails' streaming around our tree.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Morning? What kind of question is that!?!? Christmas Morning, always. Exceptions: Pajamas on Christmas eve, and things bought for Christmas before Thanksgiving that we couldn't live without...yeah, those are opened right away. :)

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". I can respect other's beliefs, but somehow, it wouldn't be CHRISTmas without CHRIST. Some have forgotten the reason for the season.

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? My favorite color has to be red, especially for this time of year, but I someday want a Christmas tree filled with Stars. And not just on the top.

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? hmmm...something that says comfort...Like Ham and Au'gratin potatoes and pistachio salad. I think we're doing McDonalds in Tremonton this year...unless we are on top of things and fix peanut butter samwiches for our cruise to Southern Utah.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? For us to arrive and return safely from St. George and all that traveling and screaming in the car. I'd also like for us to quit finding things to buy...maybe learn to exercise some self control on the spending side of things. It's starting to get a little out of hand.

25. What is your all-time favorite Christmas Tradition? My all-time favorite would have to be going to our grandparents' and great-grandparents' and some aunts and uncles to 'perform' the Nativity. I usually got to be Mary, Keith got to be Joseph, and whoever was the youngest was always the Baby Jesus, everyone else filled in. I know it was hectic for my parents, but we really did enjoy going to visit family and making those memories...no matter how many times we went kicking and screaming.

Do share! What are some of your traditions...from growing up, or what you've started with your own families?

Bring on the Christmas Cheer!

Check out the dance moves we've been working on this holiday season...don't forget to cut the music clear at the bottom of the blog! Enjoy!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

{Are you kidding me?}

Yeah. How long do you think {this} took? Taylor had a teeny-tiny corner...I sure couldn't find it. I left them alone for ____ while I visited with a sister from our ward at the door...it wasn't for as long as you might think...when Ryan asked if I'd like to see our new interior decorators. Hmmmm...let me think on that....(gently usher sister back outside)...Bwaaaa! I put back every item just moments before the doorbell rang...Seriously.

I'm actually laughing at this now, but at the time, it wasn't funny. I just had to keep reminding myself..."nobody's hurt, nobody's hurt. It'll be alright."

I'd like to share with each of you mothers out there (and any fathers...wait, you're probably putting the kids to bed or doing dishes or somethin noble like that) my new motto. It goes for anything and everything...

Next...some random pictuers...just wanted to share.

For my {Super Tanner}. I totally stole this idea from plum pear apple. I am not offering or even slightly willing to do this for anybody else...maybe Taylor, but he could really just use Tanner's...so if you want one, go to the website above! It wasn't complicated, actually quite fun, but it took me three episodes of The Office and one or two CSI's to get me through...needless to say, it was three o'clock in the morning when I finished this bad boy. ***Side Note: never, ever, EVER start any sort of project after 11:00 at night. It's just not a good thing. Therapy, maybe, good thing, not. ever. well, maybe sometimes....

{Nudie Babies!} I just couldn' resist. I'm suprized they haven't drown each other, honestly! This is actually one of the best times of the day, if I haven't drown next to the tub. They {heart} bathtime, and love to play with their new sea aminals. Especially the walrus and the shark (don't ask me why...I thought the octopus was especially cool). :)

Below are my two youngest {studmuffins} in their new cowboy git'up from Grampa and Gramma Crandall...gotta love birthdays!!!

"I a cowboy, mom. A cowboy!" end quote. (Santa, could you bring a little boy a little hat?)

Just dancin'...This ballerina shot was captured at our Ward Christmas Party...Tanner was totally stoked to get to see "Sanna Cawse".

Hope you're all enjoying life...and if you aren't, just look around you and count your blessings! (My mom is especially good at telling me this on a weekly if not daily basis, just thought I'd pass the noteworthy advice along. Take it as you wish.) I know I'm pretty blessed, which makes me kinda wonder exactly what I'm doing right...the Lord has blessed us beyond measure, and we sure are thankful for our two most precious gifts...no matter how many times the Christmas tree is pulled down.

Good Day Anyway

Alright, so I was feeling down and out last night...maybe a little stressed. After reading through that post, it was downright depressing! So sorry for that.


I realize we all have down days, but today is looking up, so I want to rejoice!!! Even at 4:22pm, I think I not only will survive, but I'll make it out with only a scrape or two.


Tanner is playing a vTech game console Ryan's sister kindly passed on to us...I personally can play it better than any wii game...move over Tanner!




As I was panicking last night about a 'deadline' for work, I tried doing it at home, then opted to wake up at the crack of dawn and go into work before my kids would be awake...from like 6-7ish. After all, I promised Ryan he could do homework ALL DAY LONG! I got up at five, persuaded Ryan to help me get the computer working (operator error, duh!) and got my work done before the kids were awake, at home!!!


I ran several errands after Ryan come home for a break from homework, played with some friends outside, made four dozen ginger cookies, and ate one of those dozen (with the help of Tanner...he had a couple...I hope :) ) and I'm hoping I'll get my visiting teaching done for the first time in a long while. I got 5 loads of laundry done...and only have one left to put away...it's still in the dryer...it has to age to be good, you know!


Here's a few pictures from the last LONG while...



We put the Grizwalds to shame. The ride home after Thanksgiving Dinner was pleasant and we had no problems! Thanks Dad and Keith, for rigging this!





One VERY happy boy...Gramma and Papa Crandall gave Tanner Bwoo Cowboy Boots! for his birthday. The boy is in HEAVEN!





Tanner with his Bwoo Shark Birfday Cake. The fishies are flatened Starbursts...and that shark is his favorite tub toy! We'll have to sanitize it before Saturday:)

It's hard to be one, and it's hard to have a hand full of frosting when you're tired and just want to finish your nap.

"Mom! Mom! Mom!!!" Yeah...by like the seventh time this tree has fallen over, we have almost given up! Poor little thing!

" I didn't do it!!! I was only looking at the lights! With my fingers."

"Whose birthday part is this anyways?" I don't think Taylor opened a single present...Tanner was a big helper...I think it will be like that for a while.

Conclusion:

"Birthday Party" for Tanner at our house,

Saturday the 13th at 3:00 pm.

We'll be eating cake (shark cake) and ice cream and playing a fun game in the snow or something if there isn't snow...Come if you'd like!

Come if you've got nothing else to do!

Slacker Mom

Ryan's Birthday was last Wednesday, the 3rd, Taylor's was Thursday, the 4th, and Saturday the 13th is Tanner's birthday.

{I am such a slacker mom!!!} I didn't post a single thing, and am contemplating not doing a 'party' for Tanner...he'll never know, right? Grandma and Grandpa Poulsen and Grandma and Grandpa Crandall and aunties and uncles came on Sunday to 'celebrate', and I'm all caked out! Anybody want some cake that two little boys have 'creamated' with their little fingers? I'm not even eating it!!! & I'll eat almost anything with frosting on it.

Maybe, just maybe, I can pull myself together and pull a party together...and make another "bwoo shark birfday cake!!!" that a little boy has been vividly describing for months.

I think I'm already too late to send out 'invites', so if you need something to do on Saturday at 3:00, party at the Poulsens' place! Call us or email us for directions...and if you're that desparate for entertainment, bring it on! It's free, and there'll be cake...lots of cake. Lots of cup-cakes with sprinkles inside!!!

Bring your friends and their kids...if there's snow maybe we'll make a snowman or something. MMM....gotta have snow. Pray for SNOW!

Alrighty, off to addressing Christmas Cards...which brings me to another important point.

I've already printed close to the same amount of cards as my parents, and because we live in this great electronic age, I'm wishing you all an impersonal Merry Christmas through our blog unless you are blood related (Aunt, Uncle or Grandparent). Here is our Christmas Card, feel free to copy and print it...sorry I can't get it any bigger.

Apparently I need a big lump of coal, I'm running out of STEAM!!! Good thing I'm taking tomorrow off, to take a chill-pill...I love that I can just tell {work} I'm not comming in...now if only my paycheck would pay for the darling little house I want...hmmm...gotta work on that, literally! Guess this will be my last 'day off at will' for a LONG TIME!

{Good Food, Good Company, Good Memories}

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with family in Chesterfield, and I've finally gotten our pictures to our computer...so for your viewing enjoyment...

Good Food - We always have yummy hors d'oeuvres, and then a scrumptious dinner...unfortunately, something went horribly wrong with my mom's oven and our turkey was roasting for a good nine hours...it was still moist and yummy, we just had to eat it for desert. None of us can figure out what went wrong!

Good Company - All of us were home but Reed, who is serving a two year mission in Phnom Phen, Cambodia. I think he went to the senior couple's home for dinner...Grandpa Crandall was a good sport and came for dinner. I know we wear him out, and we're a handful, but we really enjoy his company and love to have him here.

Good Memories - We all had a lot of fun, helping to get dinner ready and making this a pleasant experience...I know, an odd way to phrase our preparation for this feast, but it's true...Many hands make light work! Whomever wasn't in the kitchen was out removing skunks from the barnyard and playing with my boys (thanks, everyone, who helped!). The pictures I took of us eating didn't turn out...but I really liked these ones... We used my grandma's china, and the food was delicious! This photo was taken the day of Thanksgiving...it was so warm outside, we didn't even have jacktes on!

For the past 18 years, we've ALWAYS gone to the ranch in Wyoming to harvest a Christmas tree ... this year we decided to change it up a bit, after living in Idaho for ten years, we went just behind the ranch here, and got four darling trees. The gorgeous tall one for my mom and dad, one for us, one for Keith and Tricia, and one for Stephanie's apartment at BYU. These Idaho trees are definatly not as prickly for wrapping lights, but they hold slightly less ornaments...they just don't have 'the bone structure' that those Wyoming trees have! Nonetheless, we love our tree, and always joke our trees are "Charly Brown" trees, when they are actually absolutely beautiful!!! (even after our kids pull them down repeatedly!!!) I am obviously taking the picture, so I'm not in this fun one, and Taylor is asleep on the floor in the cab. Poor baby, had nasty pink-eye the whole weekend...Thankfully nobody else has contracted it...yet!
We hope and pray you all had a memorable Thanksgiving as well, and wish you all a happy holidy during this Christmas Season!!!

(I should have grabbed Taylor for this picture, our FIRST IDAHO CHRISTMAS TREE, but couldn't bring myself to wake my sleeping babe.)