Christmas part 2!

Christmas needed an additional post.  One of the best parts about Christmas is spending time with family.  Easton even mentioned that he wished he could just play with our family EVERYDAY!  I wish we could too!

 The night before Christmas Eve we threw a small party together so that the Orchard's could spend some Christmas time with all of us before they headed back up north.

 The kids absolutely love hanging out with their cousins and I'm sure the kids could have played all through the night. We played the white elephant game and attempted I've never but not every kid understood how it worked.

 Peyton had two of her favorites in one spot.  Her cousin Riley and Grandpa Gene.  Needless to say she was one happy camper.

 After the many hours spent Christmas morning playing with gifts, we finally got all of us dressed and went to visit Grandpa Holt and Grandma Wendy.  It was a GORGEOUS day outside (bordering in the high 50'2 low 60's) and the kids wanted to "see" the horses.

 Of course these are my kids we're talking about and seeing just isn't enough.  So the horses got some passengers.  Peyton LOVES horses and was thrilled to be riding one!

 Easton thinks he is an old pro and kept showing off all of his knowledge on how to get the horses to go and stop.

 I watched Caleb and thought that I was really watching a mini-Mat and it warmed my heart.

 Bailey was just pretty and graceful as always.

We had a blast riding and finally convinced the kids to go back home to play with their gifts more.  We played the wii (which seems to have became a Christmas day tradition) and watched a new movie.  We stayed up late again and once again just felt VERY blessed!

So this is Christmas..

Christmas has once again come and gone in a flash at the Holt house.  We hosted SEVEN Christmas parties among trying to keep every other tradition we have alive.  Next year I think we will be taking a break from the parties all together.  We love having our family and friends over and the parties are always such a blast but I felt a little bad the day before Christmas when Bailey mentioned that it just didn't feel like Christmas.  It didn't, I admit and I believe some of it is that even though we still "fit" everything in, it was just that, "fitted in".  The past few days have been wonderful.  Mat's been home to celebrate with us and Santa treated us well.



The kids were so excited for Santa to come they went to bed at 9:00!  If you know us, that is pretty early for the Holt kiddos.  They must've gone to bed a little too early because at 11:30 they were up and checking out what Santa (who must've been rather quick) left for them!  They wanted to open their gifts of course but Peyton was still asleep and wanted to stay that way.  I admit, I was envious of her.

We gave in and let them open their gifts and Peyton remained asleep throughout the noise.

Easton's big gift of the year was a "ginormous" box!  He told everyone how he had asked Santa for a ginormous box and was sure he was getting one.  After he saw it he came running into our room telling us we MUST see how huge it really was!  All of his gifts were inside the box and he had a blast going in to get each one.  He now cannot stop talking about his box and frankly feels mighty rad to have such a treasure.

The kids must've used their two and a half hours as their power nap because they stayed up until 4:00am playing with their toys and were back up at 8:00 to play some more.

Peyton finally emerged around 9:30 am and found her new bike that she has been talking about for months.

All of the kids were completely spoiled with gifts.  Peyton was especially fun to watch open hers.  She marveled over each one and they all made her so happy.

The best gift given and received however, belongs to me!  My sweet little boys made me a new cedar chest.  Made in my preferred style (shaker style with white lacquer) and made almost completely by their seven and eight year old hands.  Along with the cedar chest I received a packet full of photos showing my boys building it from start to finish.  It filled my mommy heart with so much joy!

We been having a blast with all of our gifts.  The kids have seen mom cry over the season on more occasions than they would like I'm sure, which overall I think makes for a fabulous holiday!  Blessed, always very blessed!



1st Cheer Comp of the Season

Bailey's cheer team had their first cheer competition last week.  This is her 3rd year of competitive cheer.  She loves it!  Not only is she an AMAZING tumbler but thanks to her size (and of course skill) she is an AWESOME flyer!  Her team placed 2nd.  It was the first time I have EVER seen bailey fall from a stunt, much less a pyramid.  Her poor team has had several injuries over the past few weeks and they haven't been able to hold practices where the entire team performs together.  They did great regardless.

After the competition was over and the teams were on the mat waiting for the results Mat and I noticed a mother walk in with 2 sets of Raglan colored balloons.  Smiling to myself, knowing who the mother was, I got out my camcorder and videoed Bailey's "boyfriend" being nudged by his mother to go onto the mat and give the balloons to Bailey.  He finally gained the courage to go onto the mat only to find that Bailey was more scared to receive than he was to give.  Both kids had to be pushed together and then they both hurried away after the transaction was made.  Of course this only made me want a photo of the 2 of them. :)

Peyton LOVED the competition!  She could watch the girls cheer for hours.  Of course once all the teams came onto the mat and started dancing she wanted to be in the middle of it.  The cheerleaders all thought Peyton was as cute as she must have thought she was.

Feeling pooped?

Although she will likely hate me for this later in life, I felt this moment needed to be recorded in the Holt family history.  Peyton has been potty-tranied for months.  We put the training seat away and never looked back.  Until...she decided one day that she in fact didn't want to go in the potty.  It was a full week before we got her back into the swing of things and luckily it was in time for our trip to California.  Ever since then however, she has a few quirks.  She uses an ENITRE roll of toilet paper each time, and sits on the toilet FOREVER!!! I have to check periodically to make sure she isn't on it too long or she will get a rash.  The other day I went to check on her and found that she indeed had gone "potty" but had sat there a bit too long for a tired little two year old.  Haha!

I almost got off the hook...

Since before Mat and I were married I have helped with the Jubilee of Trees.  Each year decorating a tree to be auctioned off with the proceeds going to the hospital.  Each year, Mat begs me to say no.  It is such a great cause but I admit takes a lot of time and a lot of extra cash out of our pockets.  Last year I made a promise to Mat that I wouldn't volunteer at all.  I kept my promise and loved it!  I didn't get off quite as easy this year.  The foundation called and asked if I would decorate a tree and I declined.  However, I did commit to helping the students at our school decorate their tree for the Jubilee.  I themed it "Under the Same Stars" and had each of the 4th grade students write a letter to the troops and decorated it American style.  It was my favorite school tree to date!  We had a rough time getting down to let the kids look at the trees but finally made it then Sunday of after church.  They had a blast making sand bracelets and gandering at the trees.  Peyton didn't care for it a whole lot since she slept the entire time we were there.  We got to see Santa, even though it took some convincing to get Bailey to go.  Such fun memories and I'm always glad when the Jubilee is OVER!!!

We may not have an income for the month but we have this...

 We had a neighbor a couple of months ago wanting Mat to build two custom beds for her daughters.  I gently nudged Mat into accepting the job based on the fact that I knew if he was building two, he would build three.  What I didn't realize is that even the materials alone for him to build it would cost us more than simply buying her a bed.  Not to mention the hours spent on the bed and not on paying clients projects.  However, our little girl wouldn't have THIS bed!  Made by her daddy with love.

I was so excited to see the finished product.  Not only did he do an amazing job but he also chose the bedding!  What a lucky little girl to have a daddy like that!

Gobble gobble...

All of Utah over the past week, had a lot of anticipation over a storm set to hit the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  From what I hear up north, it didn't hit too hard but nevertheless did make an entrance.  Mat and I watched weather.com as the predicted temps kept dropping and dropping.  We took precautions on Monday night by insulating pipes and the air condensers.  I really have no idea how cold it did get but it was cold enough Wednesday night that we woke up on Thanksgiving morning literally watching all the leaves (that the day before were still all on the tree) cascade off each one.  It had gotten cold for sure.

 Of course the kids went right out that morning and instantly began gathering "their" piles.  This amazingly led to fighting, because of course, how DARE someone try to take some that weren't part of their pile!  Of course this is what prys into my sanity daily.  Also the fact that the temps in the morning hours were still in the 20's and MY kids went out in t-shirts and shorts.  "No mom, it's not THAT cold!"

 Peyton at least put on boots and a coat...

 I spent my time indoors preparing for my first Thanksgiving dinner at our house!  It couldn't have been a more perfect arrangement for me.  Mat's family did all the cooking (they are all AMAZING cooks) and I got to decorate the tables.  I was having some grief with not having all matching plates and no spare $$$ to buy the ones I wanted. 

 I hit the jackpot last week by finding the plates and goblets at a price I could afford...at the DOLLAR STORE!!! Haha!  I also had everyone that would be attending dinner a few days prior send me the top 5 things they were thankful for and the kids glittered pine cones and we stuck our "thankful" feathers into them to make turkeys for the table.

 We had an AMAZING dinner at our house and then quickly loaded the car to go to my parents dinner.  Still full from the first dinner we didn't eat much but ended up staying HOURS at my parents while the kids enjoyed spending time with their cousins.  I love that they would rather play with family than anyone else.

 I love November.  I spend all month it seems recalling everything in my life that I am grateful for.  From the silly things to the most important what it all comes down to is this picture.  One beautiful, happy family!!! We are truly happy.  We have SOOO much to be thankful for!

She's one speedy chick!

 Bailey's school holds an annual "Geckathon".  It is a triathalon for the students who attend Lava Ridge.  Bailey had mentioned it and of course knowing what a quick little bugger she is, we started right away trying to convince her to participate.  After much coaxing and a little bit of bribing we convinced her to give it a try.  She was VERY nervous as the race day grew closer.  She would be swimming 300 meters, followed by a 4-5 mile bike ride, and end it with a 2 mile run.  It seemed like a lot for such a little girl.  I admit I wondered if it would be too much for her.

 Since Bailey was participating Mat and I were asked to volunteer so we didn't really get a chance to see her once she left the pool.  One of the boys in the swimming lane that I was helping with mentioned he didn't have a towel.  I thought I could just sneak into the girls locker room and grab Bailey's since I was sure she would be finishing up with it since she had just gotten out of the pool.  Not only had she dominated in swimming she was one of the first girls on the bikes!  She had already left the locker room when I went in there!  Mat and I rushed from the pool once our time to volunteer was over hoping we could watch some of Bailey's racing.  We called my dad and asked if she was running yet.  He said yes, and she was in the lead!!!  Once we parked we high-tailed it to the school hoping we wouldn't miss her crossing the finish line.  We made it in time to watch her last lap around the running course.  Mat ran up to her and told her she was in first and needed to keep pushing.  He stayed with her until the final stretch and my mommy heart couldn't have been filled with more happiness at seeing my baby girl run that final stretch with no other competitors around her and looking amazingly strong!

After she came across the finish line and we checked her time we realized that a 7th grader who was quite taller and had a bit better bike came in a couple of minutes before her.  We didn't care.  She ROCKED!!! Out of around 40 girls she placed 2nd and Mat and I were bursting with pride over our tiny little girl who left so many in the dust!

Goodbye warmth...I will miss you!

 It is that time of year again.  I detest buying tomatoes at the store!  I'm quite sad to say goodbye to our lovely garden.  Despite the fact that it was more neglected than ever this year, we were still able to enjoy many delicious tomatoes, and other veggies from it.

Soccer season is no over which is also a sad day for me.  I do enjoy having Saturdays free once again but Mat and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching our boys play a fantastic season.  On to basketball I suppose.

 I will miss the warm afternoons spent in our backyard.  I will miss being warm period.

 How grateful I am to have such a wonderful family that truly enjoys working in the garden and enjoys the fruits of their labor as well.

 Goodbye to our green lawn. You will be quite missed!

We love living in Southern Utah with all of it's surrounding beauty.  I love that even mid November we can spend time outdoors in our shorts, barefoot, spending glorious time together.

Shutterfly Promo

I'm copying Rachel and posting about Shutterfly's free 50 card promo if you blog about them.  I've used Shutterfly before for their photobooks and also personalized thank you cards. I've gone through Costco for my Holiday cards previously but Shutterfly's selection is quite a bit better.  I'm planning on ordering my family Chirstmas cards as well as Mat's business cards from Shutterfly this year.  Here's the link if you would like to try it for yourself. http://bit.ly/sfly2010  And a couple of more: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery


I'm thinking this is quite the sweet deal!  I hope it works.  If not, I'm blaming Rachel.  Haha!

Oh the fun of Halloween...

 We had a fabulous Halloween! Caleb originally wanted to wear the boys ghille suit. It is a moss-covered hunting suit and while it looks super cool, it certainly wasn't the best choice to wear in So. Utah trick-or-treating. Maybe if the kids were trucking through a snowstorm. It is one HOT outfit! We brought up the idea of a nerd and he jumped on it. Seriously, he fit the part a little too well.

                                    

 Easton...I love the kid and he comes up with some pretty funny costume ideas.  Last year he was an old man so this year he switched it up to be an old lady in a wheelchair.  We were able to borrow the wheelchair from my parents and my dad brought it over a few weeks early.  By the time Halloween came Easton had mastered the "wheelie" and showed his skills to EVERYONE!  It was pretty impressive that he could wheelie around the school track during the parade I must admit.

 Riley came over to play with Peyton on Halloween which pretty much made Peyton's day.  She LOVES her girl cousins her age and they all get along so well.

 Bailey went from wearing one boy's football uniform last year to wearing a different boys soccer jersey this year.  The boy she borrowed it from wore a Raglan cheerleader uniform to school as well.  Pretty cute.

 The past two years I've had Peyton wearing a tutu skirt for Halloween. I wanted to go a different direction this year but had a difficult time deciding on what she should wear. I never really care for the run-of-the-mill store costumes and have no talent on my own to make one. Lucky for me there are others out there with talent and I was able to order her an handmade "Alice" costume which turned our sooo CUTE! Of course as soon as I ordered it I also had to buy the Alice in Wonderland DVD so that she could fall in love with the costume idea before it even came in the mail. She did of course!

                                                  

Peyton wouldn't cooperate for a group shot as she just wasn't feeling well this year but she did warm up to having her grandpa and cousin Riley take her trick-or-treating around our circle.

 

I loved Halloween but I admit I'm looking forward to the winter holidays.  I'm truly so grateful for so many things this year I feel extra emotional about Thanksgiving coming up and I always love Christmas.  Can't wait.