Happy Holtdays...

So I tried doing a thankful post but my computer did some crazy things mid-post and ended up spending the day in for repairs. Mat and I decided this year for Thanksgiving that we were going to attend only one dinner and spend the day with our own cute little family. Originally we were planning on just having a little dinner at home but ended up at my parents house instead. Before we headed over to the Nelson house Mat took the boys quail hunting and since Bailey had slept at her friends the night before I was able to take Peyton on a six mile brisk walk before getting ready. This turned out to be fantastic since I lost a few ounces instead of gaining a few pounds of turkey. After dinner we headed down to the park and played a great game of kickball. It's kinda fun having the kids a bit older since we're a pretty competitive family we don't have to take it easy on them anymore. :) I realize sooner than later they'll be taking it easy on us but for now I'll just enjoy. We decided to take the kids to an earlier showing of Christmas Carol in 3-d. Great idea since the lines were HUGE as we were leaving. Great show and it put us in the Christmas spirit. We usually decorate the house the day after Thanksgiving with lights, the tree, and the whole bit. This year Mat had thought ahead (with some encouragement from me) and put the lights up last week. We also had the tree decorated still from last year so we ended up decorating on Thanksgiving night. The house looks great and I really think it was a great way to start the holiday season off for the Holt's. (BTW if you change the "i" in holidays to a "t" you get Holtdays. Just a bit of info if you want a change in any of your decor. :)

We used about twice as many strings of lights this year as our plants and trees just keep getting bigger. The house looks great. I love it!
Mat doesn't care for my wreath hanging from the chandelier much but it's one of my favorite decorations. I'm excited for the advent tree in the background also. I've been coveting it for a couple of years but we allow ourselves a certain budget for decorations each year and this year I could finally work it in. It has large pockets so that each day before Christmas the kids get to take a note or treat out to enjoy.

I was going to have pics done of me laying on a bear skin rug for Mat but how can I compete with this???

Three of the cutest kids around. We don't seem to have anymore room for more stocking on the mantle. I suppose no more kids for us. :)

We started last year letting the kids decorate a tree in the den themselves. Mommy does the family room tree and no one's allowed to touch it but they can go to town with whatever they want on this one. See...every one's happy. :)

Halloween 2009

Halloween has come and gone and what a great year! I LOVED it landing on a Saturday! Friday the kids had their parties and parade at school. Later that evening we had our ward party. I admit the ward party ended up stressing me out more than it should have. The biggest stress was the cold front that whipped through at the beginning of the week. I wanted it to be nice weather badly. Luckily, the weather was beautiful! Halloween was even nicer. We woke up, cleaned the house, went to the boys soccer games, and came home a snuck a nap in! The kids didn't even wear jackets as they trick-or-treated. Easton hung out with me while Bailey and Caleb decided they were too old for that and went with their friends. The pair ended up at the Orton's house and from the sounds of it had a great time! Easton dominated however, with twice as much candy as the "older" kids.

I love this part! The kids gather all their candy and sort it. Easton's stash is in the middle.

Three out of the four costumes were homemade this year. Bailey borrowed hers from a "friend" who happens to be a boy. She swears he's not even cute! Haha!

I love this shot. My parents house is the first house the kids trick-or-treat to every year. Easton fits the old man look to a "T". (He's just picking his seat for later.)